J.K. Rowling published The Ickabog online as a free serial during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Rowling released the first chapters of The Ickabog on a dedicated website in May 2020, making the story available to readers at no cost while many children were at home during pandemic restrictions. She had written the fairy tale years earlier but returned to it, revised it and published it online in installments.
The story is set in the fictional kingdom of Cornucopia and follows the legend of the Ickabog, a mysterious creature said to inhabit the northern marshes. Rowling invited children to submit artwork for the story, and selected illustrations were included in the later print edition.
The complete book was published in print and digital formats in November 2020. Proceeds from the e-book and other editions were directed to charitable causes supporting people affected by the pandemic. The Ickabog is separate from Harry Potter and is not set in the wizarding world.