Why I Moved My Release Date (And Yes, It Involves ACOTAR)
If you’re in the fantasy romance world right now, you’ve probably heard the news: a new book in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series is expected this October.
And honestly… I couldn’t be more excited.
Like so many readers, I fell in love with the world Sarah J. Maas created. I read it back in 2022, and it was the first series that really got me into both reading and fantasy. There were many times while reading it when I had to stop the audiobook in my car and scream at something that was going on—because WHAT DO YOU MEAN FEYRE DID ALL THAT??? (high lady behavior)
And as of right now, it’s one of the—if not THE biggest—romantasy series out there.
So when I found out it would be released the same month as Rely on Death, I had to be real with myself. There was no way I was going to publish my book two weeks before the ACOTAR release.
Why I Chose November Instead
This isn’t necessarily for any competitive reasons; other authors are colleagues, not competitors. But, I couldn’t imagine myself planning a release when the majority of the book community (including me) will be dropping everything to DEVOUR the next ACOTAR book.
Like, I need to know if (SPOILERS AHEAD) Elain chooses Lucien or Azriel, and what that means for the mating bond. And what happens with Gwyn? Will Elain join the Valkyries? What new threat is going to rise in Prythian and challenge the Archerons, the Night Court, and the Illyrian warriors? ARE WE GOING TO SEE TAMLIN? Are we going back to the Court of Nightmares? WTF IS UP WITH MORRIGAN? Are the Throne of Glass (TOG) characters going to make an appearance and crossover into the ACOTAR world, or Crescent City (CC)?
I need to know!!!
So, I will be clearing my schedule, cancelling all plans, and staying up the next 72 hours reading 🙂
That being said, I want to be present for my own release. I want to celebrate it, talk about it, connect with readers, and actually enjoy the moment. And I want readers to be present, too. I fully understand that when Sarah J. Maas releases that book, that’s where most of the focus is going to be. And that’s okay.
From Reader to Author
At the end of the day, I’m a reader first. I write romantasy because I love romantasy. I love morally gray characters, enemies-to-lovers, high-stakes and dark plots, spicy romance, monsters, fae, slow-burn, tension (and much more). Stories like ACOTAR are part of why Rely on Death exists in the first place.
So instead of trying to publish in time with a major release, I made a choice that felt right: Let October be for reading. Let November be for Rely on Death.
What This Means for Rely on Death
Moving the release to November gives me more time to:
build excitement
connect with readers
and make sure everything is exactly how I want it
And honestly, it just feels right. Because when Rely on Death comes out, I want it to have its own moment.
But first, I’ll be right there with everyone else, completely consumed by the world of Velaris and Prythian.
And then in November, I’ll be inviting you into mine.
But now I want to hear from you…
What are you most excited for in the next A Court of Thorns and Roses book? Who are you rooting for? What theories are you holding onto? I could talk about this for hours, and I would love to hear what you think.
You can always come find me and share your thoughts on:
Whether you have theories, predictions, or you just need to scream about a plot twist, my messages are open. Let’s survive this release together… and then I will see you in November for Rely on Death.
