Bloomsbury had its highest sales year ever thanks to Sarah J. Maas

• Bloomsbury had its highest sales and earning year ever in the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
• The publisher credits much of its success to Sarah J. Maas, whose sales increased 161% for the period.

Bloomsbury Publishing is crediting fantasy author Sarah J. Maas for its record-setting sales year.

On Thursday, Bloomsbury released its preliminary audit for the fiscal year that ended on February 29.

The report stated that Bloomsbury had its highest revenue and profit ever from 2023 to 2024. It reported £343 million, or about $436 million, in revenue.

According to Bloomsbury's report, the company's success largely came from its booming sales in the consumer revenue department, which grew by 49%.

And the company said that growth comes largely from one author: Sarah J. Maas.

Bloomsbury's CEO credits fantasy author Sarah J. Maas with driving the publisher's growth

In a statement on its financial report, Bloomsbury's CEO Nigel Newton pointed to Sarah J. Maas as the source of much of the company's financial achievements for the year.

Maas is a prolific romantasy author who has published over a dozen books with Bloomsbury.

"Recent success has been principally driven by the increasing demand for fantasy fiction," he said. "Sarah J. Maas is a publishing phenomenon and we are very fortunate to have signed her up with her first book 14 years ago."

"Her books have captivated a huge audience, supported by major Bloomsbury promotional campaigns, driving strong word of mouth recommendation, particularly through social media channels," Newton went on to say.

Maas, who released her latest book in January, brings millions of readers to the publisher annually. Sales of her books increased 161% for the fiscal period analyzed in the report.

Other fantasy titles boosted Bloomsbury's sales for the period as well, particularly in the children's sector. The publisher's report pointed to JK Rowling's "Harry Potter" books and Katherine Rundell's middle-grade novel "Impossible Creatures," which was released in September 2023, in particular.

Maas is best known for her 'A Court of Thorns and Roses' series

Maas released her first book with Bloomsbury in 2012, publishing the first installment of the "Throne of Glass" series.

It became a New York Times bestseller, and the eight-book series proved to be Maas' first success with the company. She went on to publish the "A Court of Thorns and Roses" and "Crescent City" series with Bloomsbury as well.

"A Court of Thorns and Roses" — known as "ACOTAR" to fans — went viral on TikTok in 2020, with fans falling in love with her story of human Feyre Archeron being pulled into a world of faeries and magic. The success of "ACOTAR," which has five installments to date, skyrocketed Maas' already impressive sales into another realm altogether.

Her website states that Maas has sold over 38 million copies of her books worldwide to date, and she is the bestselling author of 2024 so far, thanks to the third installment of the "Crescent City" series, "House of Flame and Shadow." The book connected Maas' three series in a multiverse — or a "Maasiverse" — much like the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Maas' works have also helped to bring success to other authors who write romantasy books, which combine fantasy and romance. Books such as "Fourth Wing" by Rebecca Yarros and "The Serpent and the Wings of Night" by Carissa Broadbent have dominated bestseller lists in recent years.

Maas is under contract to write six more titles under Bloomsbury. However, the company said in its financial report that it doesn't expect to publish another Maas book until after the financial year that ends in February 2025.

However, Maas has already revealed she's working on the next "ACTOAR" book, so fans can expect more from the author soon.