Everything We Know About ACOTAR 7/A Court Of Forgotten Melody

Published Oct 31, 2026, 10:01 AM EDT

Once head of Screen Rant's Star Wars coverage, Tom's career began as a fan of the fantasy and sci-fi genres, and his love of major franchises has ultimately led to a decade-long career. He'd had the privilege of interviewing writers, authors, directors, actors, stunt coordinators, and VFX artists on a staggering number of his favorite franchises, including Star Wars, the MCU, Stranger Things, Halo, Foundation, and more. He's conducted set visits in the UK, attending major comic cons in New York and London, and reported at Star Wars Celebration 2023 as press. You can find him on Twitter @TomABacon, on LinkedIn @tabacon, or on Muckrack under tombacon.

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At long last, it's time to return to the world of A Court of Thorns and Roses. A Court of Splintered Harmony is the first book in "The Valkyrie Cycle," a new ACOTAR story that spans three books. Don't expect it to be a conventional novel, though; as Maas explains in the foreword:

"There are realities to publishing a physical book. Printers impose limits to a book's length due to the need for the pages to, you know, not fall out... This book—Movement I—is only the opening part of that larger story, told the way I want it, the way the characters demanded it to be told. It is not a novel, nor a 'Book One.' It is merely part of a much larger book.

Movements II and III will soon follow (bound together in one volume), with Movement IV as the eventual, concluding piece. My vision is that these four movements create one story together—to ultimately be read in one go, from Movement I to IV. The journeys of these characters, the pacing of the events in these pages, reflect that vision."

Movements II and III are releasing in a single book, A Court of Forgotten Melody, which comes out on January 12, 2027. If you thought A Court of Silver Flames was long, this makes it look like light reading; it will run to a staggering 896 pages. Here's everything we know about A Court of Forgotten Melody. In the meantime, as you await the next chapter in Maas' exciting new story, you can order the book here.

A Court of Forgotten Melody's Blurb Tells Us What To Expect

Here's the official synopsis for A Court of Forgotten Melody:

The magic continues and the stakes have never been higher in the stunning seventh book in the #1 bestselling Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) series.

What was lost will be reclaimed.

Prythian might never be the same again. Traditional alliances are crumbling, and no amount of diplomacy seems sufficient to repair them. With the continued threat of Koschei the Deathless on the horizon, a united front is crucial – and farther out of reach than it has ever been before.

Bonds will be tested. Power will shift. And old enemies will emerge from nightmares of the past.

As the Night Court's Inner Circle disperses far and wide, desperate for any advantage against Koschei and his mighty allies, peace hangs by a fragile thread. But hope can be spun from the darkest of shadows, and the Night Court has its own part to play in the looming crescendo.

The Night Court's Missions Explained

The Night Court has splintered, scattering across the globe. Feyre and Rhysand remain at Prythian, still attempting to persuade the other courts to come to help defend humans against elven invaders and the manipulation of Koschei. It's proving to be an impossible task, simply because the odds are against them, and so their only real hope lies in discovering more Made objects. Unfortunately, they're in a race against time to discover them.

Mor has been sent on a diplomatic mission to enemy territory, Vallahan, and—secretly, without anyone else knowing—she's taken Feyre's sister, Elain, with her. Elain is a Seer; like her sisters, she has a special connection with Made objects, one that may come in very useful. In truth, though, she's left the Night Court in disgrace after sleeping with Azrael and destroying the Night Court's alliance with her unwanted mate, Lucien.

Nesta, meanwhile, has traveled to the Prison. This location has changed significantly after the Crescent City trilogy. She believes there may be more Made objects at the Prison, and has already glimpsed something calling out to her in the seas nearby. Unfortunately, the Prison's magic is wide awake, and she's already lost the Made sword Gwydion that she'd been given. Nesta has the entire Dread Trove at hand, which means she's probably the most formidable force around right now.

What Lost Things Need To Be Reclaimed?

The blurb teases that these two movements are all about reclaiming what was lost, and the title speaks of a "forgotten" melody. This may well be referring to more powerful Made objects, given everyone is searching for them and they are apparently responding to Koschei's rising. Alternatively (or, perhaps, additionally), A Court of Splintered Harmony has a clear "Chekov's Gun"; a box that will grant its bearer control over Koschei. Apparently the Death-God hid it eons ago, and it has been sought ever since.

The Prison seems like the most important setting here, given its true nature has been concealed for millennia. Nesta is a Valkyrie, after all, and this is "The Valkyrie Saga," so you'd expect her to be a power player in the overarching story. Meanwhile, the short stories accompanying A Court of Splintered Harmony feel like a promise we are yet to see Elain's true potential, so she may also make some major discoveries.

Why Is This Called "The Valkyrie Cycle"?

The title brings us to the core question: Why is this called the Valkyrie cycle? Nesta is, of course, the character who's brought the Valkyries back; but she's far from the only member of the Valkyries, and A Court of Splintered Harmony went to great lengths to remind us of Gwyn's beautiful singing voice. Gwyn only has a minor role in the first book, but the increased focus on music (plus the "movement" analogy) suggests she could yet be quite important going forward.

"Cycle" is an interesting word-choice, too. Maas has used the word "Cycle" before in reference to some of her fiction, but it's significant to see it associated with the word "Valkyrie." In Norse mythology, "cycle" is a contemporary word often used to refer to the Norse pattern of death and rebirth—specifically, the Ragnarok cycle. Koschei is a Death-Lord, making this connection even more intriguing. It's entirely possible the world of A Court of Thorns and Roses is about to undergo its own Ragnarok, emerging in a very different form.