J.K. Rowling published The Ickabog online for children to read free in 2020.
She released the story in installments on a dedicated website during the COVID-19 pandemic, beginning in May 2020. Rowling described it as a political fairy tale and said she had originally written it years earlier while working on the Harry Potter books.
The printed edition was published later in 2020 by Hachette Children’s Group in the United Kingdom and by Scholastic in the United States. Proceeds from the book were directed to charities supporting people affected by the pandemic.
The story is set in the fictional kingdom of Cornucopia and follows a ruler, a frightening legend, and children who challenge an unjust system. It is not part of the Harry Potter series and uses a separate fantasy world.