The Ickabog is J.K. Rowling’s first published book for younger readers after the Harry Potter series.
Rowling wrote The Ickabog as a political fairy tale and originally developed it while working on Harry Potter. She set the manuscript aside for years, then published it online in installments during 2020, when many children were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. A print edition followed in 2020.
The story takes place in the fictional kingdom of Cornucopia. Its title refers to a legendary monster whose existence becomes central to the kingdom’s fears and political manipulation. Unlike Harry Potter, the book is a standalone fairy tale rather than part of a continuing wizarding series.
The Christmas Pig, published in 2021, came later and is another children’s fantasy novel by Rowling. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them also predates The Ickabog and began as a fictional textbook and charity publication. These distinctions make publication order important when identifying Rowling’s post-Harry Potter books.