Harry Potter publisher Bloomsbury has reported its highest ever profit, largely driven by the popularity of fantasy novels by American author Sarah J. Maas. For the fiscal year ending February, Bloomsbury’s pre-tax profit surged by nearly 63% to £41.5 million from £25.4 million the previous year. Total sales rose by 30% to £342.7 million.

The publisher credited Maas, who has written popular series like Throne of Glass, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and Crescent City, for a significant part of its success. Her books, known for their romantic fantasy elements, have captivated a large audience, boosted by a substantial promotional campaign and social media channels, notably TikTok’s “BookTok.”

Nigel Newton, Bloomsbury’s chief executive, described Maas as a “publishing phenomenon,” noting that her works have sold over 38 million copies worldwide. Despite the impressive performance, the announcement that there won’t be a new title from Maas in the current financial year caused some investor concern, leading to a 6% drop in Bloomsbury’s shares.

Bloomsbury also stated that the Harry Potter series remains a strong performer 26 years after its debut. Other bestsellers include cookbooks by Poppy O’Toole and Tom Kerridge, and the young adult fantasy book Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell. However, sales in the academic and professional division dipped by 7% due to a shift toward digital learning post-pandemic.

The company expects slightly higher trading performance in the next financial year and mentioned that six new books by Maas are contracted. Additionally, it was announced that Chairman Sir Richard Lambert would stand down after the annual general meeting in July, with John Bason set to replace him.