A Court of Splintered Harmony (A Court of Thorns and Roses, 6)

Sarah J. Maas, the #1 bestselling author of the Court of Thorns and Roses series, returns to the courts of Prythian . . .

Romance, danger, and intrigue await you in the stunning new installment.

The full Court of Thorns and Roses series includes:
1) A Court of Thorns and Roses
2) A Court of Mist and Fury
3) A Court of Wings and Ruin
4) A Court of Frost and Starlight
5) A Court of Silver Flames

Also available from Sarah J. Maas is the bestselling Crescent City series, beginning with House of Earth and Blood, and the bestselling Throne of Glass series, starting with Throne of Glass.

Sarah Janet Maas (born March 5, 1986) is a #1 New York Times bestselling American author who has fundamentally shaped the modern "romantasy" genre. Born and raised in Manhattan, Maas spent her childhood exploring museums and reading global fairy tales, though she often felt frustrated by the lack of fierce, compelling heroines in fantasy literature. Drawing inspiration from strong pop-culture figures like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Sailor Moon, she began writing the stories she wanted to read.

At sixteen, Maas started drafting a dark twist on the Cinderella fairy tale—imagining her not as a servant, but as a deadly assassin. She serialized the story, originally titled Queen of Glass, on the writing platform FictionPress, where it quickly became one of the site's most popular works. She continued developing her craft at Hamilton College, graduating magna cum laude in 2008 with a degree in creative writing and religious studies.

Her debut novel, retitled Throne of Glass, was published by Bloomsbury in 2012 and became a massive international hit, ultimately spanning an eight-book epic series. In 2015, Maas launched her second major series, A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR). Initially a loose retelling of Beauty and the Beast, the series transitioned her work into the "new adult" and adult fantasy spaces. The ACOTAR series became a viral sensation, largely driven by massive popularity on TikTok. In 2020, she introduced her third ongoing adult urban fantasy series, Crescent City.

With over 75 million copies sold worldwide and translations in nearly 40 languages, Maas stands as one of the most successful contemporary authors. She currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, whom she met in college, and their two children.

The sixth installment of Sarah J. Maas’s globally phenomenal A Court of Thorns and Roses series marks a profound transition in the overarching narrative, pivoting away from the concluded arcs of Rhysand, Feyre, and Nesta to shine a highly anticipated spotlight on the final, most enigmatic Archeron sister: Elain. Because the definitive, beat-by-beat plot of this specific volume remains closely guarded within the author's expanding universe, the story is fundamentally understood through the intricate, unresolved threads meticulously laid down in A Court of Silver Flames. Elain has long been perceived by her fiercely protective family as the gentle, fragile sister—a quiet soul who tends to her gardens and seemingly shrinks away from the brutal, bloody politics of Prythian. However, this next chapter is universally positioned to shatter that delicate illusion, forcing Elain to grapple with her chaotic, lingering trauma from the Cauldron and her frightening, uncontrolled abilities as a Seer. The narrative promises a deep psychological exploration of a woman who is desperately trying to find her own agency and voice in a world filled with overpowering, alpha-driven personalities.

The central conflict driving Elain's story revolves around a complex, deeply fraught romantic and political triad that threatens to destabilize the delicate peace of the Night Court. Upon being forcibly turned into a High Fae, Elain was instantly bound by a sacred, magical mating bond to Lucien Vanserra, the exiled, charismatic son of the Autumn Court. Despite the revered, almost undeniable nature of this biological tie within Fae culture, Elain has spent the ensuing years consistently and painfully rejecting the mating pull. Lucien, carrying his own profound scars and a complicated lineage tied to the Day Court, has respected her distance, choosing to act as an emissary in the mortal lands with the Band of Exiles rather than force his presence upon her. This unrequited bond creates a palpable, simmering tension that ripples through the inner circle, presenting Elain with a monumental choice: accept the destiny the ancient magic of the Cauldron has chosen for her, or actively fight against her own instincts to forge a completely different path.

Complicating this dynamic exponentially is Elain’s undeniable, quietly electric connection with Azriel, the Night Court’s brooding, deeply scarred shadowsinger. Throughout the previous installments, the narrative has heavily teased a forbidden, intensely mutual attraction between the two, culminating in moments of dangerous yearning that directly defy the accepted laws of their society. Azriel, who has spent centuries harboring unrequited love and battling a profound sense of unworthiness, finds a unique, calming solace in Elain’s gentle presence. However, their potential romance is fraught with catastrophic political consequences. Rhysand, acting as High Lord, has explicitly forbidden Azriel from pursuing Elain, acutely aware that an affair could incite a violent, blood-feud challenge from Lucien and completely sever the Night Court's fragile diplomatic ties with the Autumn Court. This agonizing love triangle forces the characters into a corner where duty, politics, and raw desire violently collide.

Beyond the intricate web of courtly romance, the narrative of the sixth book is poised to address the massive, looming supernatural threats left unresolved in the wake of the mortal queens' initial defeat. The primary antagonist stepping into the forefront is Koschei the Deathless, an ancient, terrifying death god confined to a dark lake on the continent. Having been teased as the ultimate master manipulator pulling the strings behind the previous conflicts, Koschei possesses the horrifying ability to control minds and bind women to his will, transforming them into shadow birds. His dark presence hangs heavy over the characters, particularly concerning the cursed firebird queen, Vassa, who is desperately seeking a way to break her servitude to him before her time runs out. The impending confrontation with Koschei represents a shift toward a darker, more mythic scale of warfare, requiring the courts to unite against an entity older and far more insidious than the King of Hybern.

Furthermore, the story must navigate the breathtaking, universe-expanding revelations that Maas has recently introduced, connecting the world of Prythian with the sprawling lore of her Crescent City series. The scope of the overarching conflict has fundamentally expanded beyond the immediate borders of the Night Court, hinting at ancient, interdimensional histories involving the Fae, the dread Daglan, and lost magical artifacts. The characters are no longer simply fighting for their own lands; they are standing on the precipice of a multiverse-spanning conflict that could rewrite the entire history of their species. Within this grand, cosmic tapestry, Elain’s unique, often misunderstood powers as a Seer become incredibly vital. Her ability to glimpse the shifting threads of the future may be the only weapon capable of anticipating Koschei’s immortal schemes and navigating the colliding dimensions. Ultimately, this installment promises a masterful blend of intimate character growth and epic fantasy, challenging Elain to step out of the sunlit gardens, embrace the terrifying depths of her own power, and finally decide who she wants to be.