J.K. Rowling’s children’s novel first released online in 2020 is The Ickabog.
Rowling published the story free in installments on a dedicated website during the COVID-19 pandemic. She described it as a fairy tale written years earlier, before being set aside while she worked on the Harry Potter books.
The plot takes place in the fictional kingdom of Cornucopia, where rumors of the Ickabog—a mysterious creature from the northern marshes—become entangled with political power and injustice. Rowling invited children to submit illustrations for a competition connected with the eventual print edition.
A printed edition appeared in 2020, and proceeds were directed to charitable causes supporting people affected by the pandemic. The book is separate from the Harry Potter universe and is not a Hogwarts story.