Sarah J. Maas Shifts Licensing for ACOTAR Series
Author Sarah J. Maas moved her licensing operations to IMG in June 2025 as the ACOTAR franchise scales into major retail markets.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Books
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Since moving licensing operations to IMG in June 2025, author Sarah J. Maas has significantly altered the retail landscape for her A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) series. The move has centralized merchandise production through major retailers like Target and Barnes & Noble while ending licenses for many small businesses.
Why it matters
The transition reflects a strategic effort by publisher Bloomsbury to maximize commercial reach and capitalize on the massive success of the series. The company anticipates these expansion efforts will drive fiscal year revenue to a record $474.7 million.
The ACOTAR book series has sold more than 10.5 million copies in trade paperback format. Bloomsbury projects that upcoming series releases and merchandise will push annual revenue to a record $474.7 million.
The players
Sarah J. Maas
She is the best-selling author behind the A Court of Thorns and Roses book series.
IMG
This global agency represents hundreds of intellectual property clients across the entertainment and corporate sectors.
Bloomsbury
This publishing company is the primary publisher for the ACOTAR book series.
Knix
This apparel brand collaborated with fans to launch an ACOTAR-themed clothing collection.
The details
Smaller creators who previously held merchandise rights report their licenses were not renewed following the shift to IMG, which also represents global brands like 7 Up and Breaking Bad. Meanwhile, major retailers have ramped up their presence, with more than 500 Barnes & Noble locations recently hosting release parties for the latest installment.
Timeline
2018 marked the debut of the ACOTAR series and the rise of fan-made merchandise.
June 2025 saw Sarah J. Maas transition her licensing operations to IMG.
October 14, 2026 was the launch date for the Knix clothing collection in New York.
October 27, 2026 served as the publication date for A Court of Splintered Harmony.
January 2027 is the scheduled release timeframe for the seventh installment.
Industry Dynamics
The transition of Maas to IMG follows a pattern set by the F. Scott Fitzgerald estate licensing model, where brand representation is centralized under a global agency. This move marks a departure from fragmented, small-batch licensing toward a strategy prioritized by major retail partnerships.
Fans can now find exclusive ACOTAR merchandise at major retailers like Target and Barnes & Noble rather than through independent creators. Consumers should expect upcoming book releases to align with large-scale retail promotions and nationwide store events.
The takeaway
The move toward centralized licensing indicates a shift in how popular literary franchises are monetized beyond the printed page. Readers should look for branded collaborations in mainstream retail channels as the series continues to expand.
What happens next
Bloomsbury is scheduled to release the seventh installment of the ACOTAR series in January 2027.
Further reading
Explore more industry updates on our Books page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by PublishersWeekly.
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