The J.K. Rowling book first released as a free online serial during the COVID-19 pandemic was The Ickabog.
The Ickabog is a standalone children’s fairy tale that Rowling published online in installments in 2020. She had written the story years earlier for her own children, then revisited it during the pandemic and made it available free to families spending more time at home.
The story is set in the fictional kingdom of Cornucopia and concerns a feared creature called the Ickabog. Its rulers and advisers exploit public fear, while the young protagonists confront injustice and misinformation. The book’s publication was accompanied by a children’s illustration competition, with selected artwork used in printed editions.
A commercial edition followed in 2020, and proceeds from the book were directed to support groups affected by the pandemic. The Ickabog is separate from both the Harry Potter universe and Rowling’s Cormoran Strike mysteries.