Newly Revealed ACOTAR 6 & 7 Covers Hint At ToG Crossover With Two Fan-Favorite Characters

Warning: Spoilers ahead for A Court of Silver Flames and House of Flame and ShadowA Court of Thorns and Roses is officially returning with not just one, but two new books. Sarah J. Maas caused a major stir amongst fans when she cleared her Instagram of posts and updated her website. Now, the author has gifted her fandom with two new book covers and titles suggesting a big shift in where the ACOTAR story will end up.

Maas released two new covers, including A Court of Splintered Melody, which is Book 6 in the ACOTAR series, and A Court of Forgotten Melody, which acts as Book 7. However, many fans are focusing on the titles underneath the main titles on the covers, and they are The Valkyrie Cycle: Movement I and The Valkyrie Cycle: Movements II & III. The Valkyrie Cycle has been discussed more specifically in A Court of Silver Flames, with characters led by Nesta Archeron, Gwyneth Berdara, and Emerie responsible for helping to revive what was once lost.

Now, fans are beginning to piece together what the future of ACOTAR could look like and whether we could potentially be traveling back to the original Valkyries, or just maybe that Maas's other bestselling series, Throne of Glass, could end up entering the universe.

All The Signs That Point To Nesta Being The Main Character

While this may be a controversial topic amongst fans, Nesta's future in ACOTAR seems to already be cemented. In A Court of Silver Flames, Nesta is responsible for reigniting the legendary and long-lost order of the Valkyries. As she rebuilds the ancient warrior legacy after centuries of it being lost following the war, Nesta, alongside others, helps form a powerful bond of sisterhood and heal from past traumas.

However, Nesta was the central focus in book 5 (A Court of Silver Flames), with many fans believing Elain Archeron would be the next primary antagonist. But this wouldn't be the first time multiple books in the series follow a single character, since Feyre was the lead for the first several. Nesta leading the charge for the next book makes sense due to her connection to other Maas multiverses (Maasverse) and is a vital bridge between ACOTAR and the Crescent City series.

Bryce Quinlan gives the ancient sword Gwydion/Starsword to Nesta at the end of House of Flame and Shadow, as well as urging her to discover the meaning behind her eight-pointed star tattoo. The star tattoo was prominently featured on Maas's website ahead of the cover release and is also featured on A Court of Forgotten Melody's cover. The connection seems to be undeniable that Nesta will play a prominent role in the upcoming novels.

How Throne Of Glass Could Enter The Maasverse

Maas has spoken about the Thirteen, who are an elite and fiercely disciplined coven of Ironteeth witches created and led by the character Manon Blackbeak in Throne of Glass. They live by the motto, "We are the Thirteen, from now until the Darkness claims us." Manon handpicked the strongest young witchlings for her clan and eventually was recognized as a true Witch-Queen.

However, the Valkyries and its members nearly round up to thirteen members themselves, with 11 women trained by Cassian and Azriel and the additional head priestess Clotho and Mor. The potential for maybe Manon herself to enter as the thirteenth member, given that she is the only one left of her own clan, signifies the potential for the Valkyries to become ACOTAR's own Thirteen. Manon's temperament is often compared to Nesta and, given how powerful both are, they could create the most powerful of alliances.

A Court of Forgotten Melody's synopsis states:

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.

With heavy emphasis on "the Night Court’s Inner Circle disperses far and wide," meaning that the Maasverse and its collision with each other may already be written in the stars. With stakes seemingly low for ACOTAR's characters, perhaps an ally as strong and as powerful as Manon could provide just what the Night Court needs to end the new antagonist Koschei and his plans for terror.

New ACOTAR Covers Signals More Beneath The Surface

The cover for book six, titled A Court of Splintered Harmony, shows an image of bones on fire but within the flames you can see a set of teeth. Early theories suggested perhaps it was a reference to the Autumn Court and Lucien, and the bones link to the Bone Carver. The Bone Carver is an ancient immortal death God, who lives below the prison in Prythian. However, new theories are pointing to an even more likely meaning and that is Bryaxis.

Bryaxis is a shadow creature and was freed by Feyre during the Hybern War. From the synopsis available it states, "with Prythian still piecing itself together in the wake of the devastating Hybern War," which could easily explain Bryaxis being used as the artwork. Bryaxis is mentioned in A Court of Frost and Starlight and Azriel was tasked to find the creature after Winter Solstice by Rhysand due to the terrifying Bryaxis not returning.

A Court of Forgotten Melody's cover has signaled to people that Throne of Glass will finally make an appearance in the Maasverse as a whole. The cover shows a spider alongside a thread and needle, which could indicate Stygian spiders are giant and intelligent creations created by Valg Queen Maeve and are covered in indestructible silk. Also, notably shown is Nesta's eight-pointed star and that could also link back to Crescent City and Bryce following their exchange.

Melody and Harmony give a clear musical reference pointing potentially towards Gwyn. However, the phrase "forgotten melody" could be referencing something ancient or perhaps a deeper history in the Valkyrie Circle. Splintered Harmony's synopsis included "What was broken will be remade," and since it does indeed relate somehow to the Valkyrie, then it could lead to Emerie having her wings remade after having them intentionally clipped by her abusive father, which was an outdated and cruel Illyrian custom.

The books won't just simply tell the history of the Valkyrie Circle, but the synopsis states that fan-favorite characters from the Night Court will indeed return as the Hybern War has ended. But maybe, the Valkyrie clan will play a much bigger role for the future of the fae realm and indeed the fates of their loved ones.

ACOTAR Book 6 is officially titled A Court of Splintered Harmony and will be released on October 27. Book 7 is titled A Court of Forgotten Melody and will be released on January 12, 2027.