J.K. Rowling published The Ickabog online for free during its initial serial release in 2020.
The Ickabog is a children’s fantasy novel set in the fictional kingdom of Cornucopia. Rowling published chapters on a dedicated website from May to July 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Readers could follow the story as new installments appeared online.
A print edition followed later in 2020. The book is separate from the Harry Potter universe and does not feature Hogwarts, Harry, or the wizarding institutions from Rowling’s earlier series. Its plot concerns political power, fear, propaganda, and a legendary creature associated with the kingdom’s northern marshes.
The project also invited children to submit illustrations for a competition connected with the book. Proceeds from the print edition were directed toward charities supporting groups affected by the pandemic, according to the book’s publication information.