The #Booktok favourite author of hit series ACOTAR, Throne of Glass and Crescent City has just signed this historic merch deal, suggesting the full franchise treatment of Harry Potter
Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) universe continues to expand, this time with a franchise development. Ahead of the sixth ACOTAR instalment, rumours of filming have started to bubble as new products are set to release.
The viral Romantasy sensation that has taken #Booktok by storm is set to receive the full franchise treatment, with a worldwide exclusive deal with IMG Licensing, promising fans a vast selection of merchandise, spanning across all of her literary series – Throne of Glass and Crescent City included.
Her global success boasts more than 70 million English copies sold worldwide, with translations of her work in 38 languages. Dubbed one of the most influential modern authors, Maas has acted as the literary knight leading the charge for Romantasy, now an established genre in its own right.
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The Hollywood Reporter wrote how the multi-year deal will both manage and develop a huge licensing program to create interaction points for the loyal fantasy base of Terasen, the Night Court and Crescent City.
Maas’ adored literary-verse will extend from its pages, transforming into clothing attire; makeup; lifestyle and homeware products; wine and spirits; food and beverages; toys and games; collectibles; cosplay items; and immersive fan experiences, reports THR.
IMG Licensing Vice President, Samantha Chang, commented on the exciting deal, saying: “Representing Sarah J. Maas and her extraordinary literary worlds is an incredible honour. Together, Sarah and her fans have created a cultural phenomenon that has redefined fantasy fiction”.
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She added that the company are “excited to launch a dynamic and carefully curated licensing program that offers fans meaningful new ways to celebrate the characters and stories they love”.
Fore fronting every aisle of its genre in bookshops, Maas’ Romantasy has helped inspire a new theme of independent businesses – genre-specific stores. England’s first Romance specific store, Saucy Books, now open in Notting Hill, London.
Sarah Maxwell, founder of Saucy Books, explained: “The numbers don’t lie — romance is consistently one of the highest-grossing genres and the most passionately discussed online. Readers are clearly craving connection. But for all that energy, there’s been no dedicated physical space in England to gather, celebrate, and explore the genre together.
“As an American expat, I’ve been watching the rise of romance bookstores globally and felt it was time to bring the concept to London — a city with a rich literary history and a passionate romance readership. That’s why I’m so excited to launch Saucy Books: a space to turn that love into something real, rooted, and wildly fun. I think Jane Austen would approve.”
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