J.K. Rowling’s 2020 children’s fantasy novel first published online during lockdown was The Ickabog.
Rowling released The Ickabog online in installments from 26 May to 10 July 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. She described it as a standalone fairy tale and made the story available free to read while inviting children to create illustrations for a competition.
The finished print edition was published in November 2020. Its story is set in the fictional kingdom of Cornucopia, where rumors about a legendary creature called the Ickabog become entwined with political fear and official deception. The book is separate from the Harry Potter universe.
Proceeds from the book were intended to support projects helping groups affected by the pandemic. The Ickabog’s unusual online serial release distinguished it from Rowling’s earlier novels, which were launched through conventional publishing and heavily publicized release events.