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Despite stormy weather with heavy rain and strong winds, about 30 dedicated fans gathered in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, to celebrate the release of Sarah J. Maas’s newest romantasy novel, *A Court of Splintered Harmony*. This book marks the sixth installment in Maas’s highly popular *A Court of Thorns and Roses* (ACOTAR) series and was eagerly awaited for five years before its midnight launch. The event took place at The Secret Bookshelf, an independent bookstore tucked just off the town’s main street, where fans hoped to be among the first to get their hands on the latest title.
Among the attendees were friends Katie Mccabrey and Amy Savage, who, like many others, seek refuge from daily stresses through immersive fantasy reading. Amy expressed her love for tales of otherworldly realms, explaining, “I just love reading these kinds of fantasy books because the real world is a little bit terrible and I love to escape into a fantasyland of fairies and anything other worldly.” Katie echoed this sentiment, highlighting the shared desire to find an escape from everyday life, stating, “We’re all here tonight because we all share just needing to escape from everyday life in common and this is a great way to do it.”
The bookstore had arranged several engaging activities to keep fans entertained as the clock ticked toward midnight. These included felting, friendship bracelet making, and a dedicated space for readers to discuss their fan theories. Some participants dressed comfortably in pyjamas and slippers as they patiently awaited the release. Katie confessed to feeling nervous and unable to sleep due to excitement, while Amy joked about struggling to focus on another book because her mind was occupied with thoughts of the ACOTAR characters. She said, “So I’m going to have to go back and re-read the book that I’m 300 pages deep in because I’ve been so busy and so excited for this new launch.”
For those not familiar with the series, *A Court of Thorns and Roses* is a fantasy romance collection set in the fictional land of Prythian. Over the years, Maas’s work has significantly contributed to the surge in popularity of the romantasy genre, especially through social media conversations. The series includes five previously published books: *A Court of Thorns and Roses* (2015), *A Court of Mist and Fury* (2016), *A Court of Wings and Ruin* (2017), *A Court of Frost and Starlight* (2018), and *A Court of Silver Flames* (2021). Following the latest release, Maas has announced the seventh book, *A Court of Forgotten Melody*, scheduled for publication on 12 January 2027.
The midnight event was organized by Jo Zebedee, owner of The Secret Bookshelf alongside her husband, Chris. Drawing inspiration from her experience with the Harry Potter midnight launches, Jo aimed to create a similarly magical atmosphere for fans of this beloved romantasy series. She explained, “We are a big fantasy shop, I’m a fantasy, sci-fi writer so it’s in my blood, so we very much celebrate the world’s that sometime can be difficult to find a space in mainstream books,” adding, “There’s something around the excitement of books and just that whole vibe of here’s something to really celebrate.. we just wanted to bring that all together to make a fun night.” Jo also emphasized the role of independent bookstores in fostering a love of reading, saying, “I think events is when a bookshop comes to life… It’s about a love of books and tonight is just such a love of books.
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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