October 6, 2026, is shaping up to be an unusually busy day for A Court of Thorns and Roses fans. Sarah J. Maas’ long-awaited sixth mainline novel is still several weeks away, but readers will have something new to dive into before then, with October 6’s release acting as a herald for the new ACOTAR books.
Just after, on October 27, Sarah J. Maas will release A Court of Splintered Harmony (Book 6), followed by A Court of Forgotten Melody (Book 7) on January 12, 2027. These two titles constitute the start of a new narrative arc called The Valkyrie Cycle and represent the next chapter in the fantasy world of Prythian. As a kickoff to that new chapter, a prologue if you will, players can check out A Court of Thorns and Roses: Fate and Favor on October 6.
October 6 Kicks Off the Countdown to A Court of Splintered Harmony
A Court of Thorns and Roses: Fate and Favor, the first official board game based on Prythian, is set to launch on October 6 (giving fans a new way to return to the world before the books arrive). With pre-orders available through retailers such as Target, the full contents have been revealed, including a game map, 41 Character Cards, 10 Event Cards, seven Player Boards, seven Score Movers, seven Fate Tokens, 112 Influence Tokens, three Dawn Court Gift Tokens, one Autumn Court Hunting Grounds Token, one Summer Court Blood Ruby Token, and an Instruction Manual. For the first official ACOTAR board game, it is a fairly substantial collection of pieces.
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The game itself puts players in the roles of High Lords and High Ladies competing for influence across Prythian’s seven courts. Fate and Favor supports one to seven players ages 14 and up, with its strategy centered around forming alliances, managing relationships, using character and court abilities, and dealing with events that can change the situation during a game. Players can also become fated mates, adding another element to the alliances and rivalries that develop throughout a match.
The Character Cards are a major part of that system, allowing players to form alliances with beloved characters from the A Court of Thorns and Roses universe. Event Cards can introduce new complications, while Fate Tokens and the various court-specific pieces add additional mechanics tied to Prythian’s different courts. Players have to keep track of their influence and relationships while also deciding how to use their available court powers.
ACOTAR: Fate and Favor will launch for $24.99 on October 6, 2026, with three editions planned, including a Target Exclusive Edition and a Bookseller Variant featuring exclusive packaging. The upcoming board game arrives just three weeks before ACOTAR 6, giving fans something new to play while they wait for the next novel (and making October 6 a particularly notable date for the franchise). With Fate and Favor, Splintered Harmony, and Forgotten Melody on the immediate horizon (and Book 8 confirmed), it’s definitely a super busy time for fans of the franchise.
