Warning: Spoilers for the “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series below. After Sarah J. Maas announced the long-awaited sixth installment of her “A Court of Thorns and Roses” (“ACOTAR”) series earlier this year, it was only a matter of time before the beloved romantasy saga started making the licensing partnership rounds. Ahead of Tuesday’s release of “A Court of Splintered Harmony,” brands are catering to one of BookTok’s biggest audiences by stepping into the spellbinding world of Prythian with character-inspired fragrances, Bat Boy embroidered panties and even a Monopoly board. (Yes, really.) But these aren’t your typical licensing partnerships. Many popular book series first became blockbuster movies or fan-favorite TV shows before venturing into the lucrative world of fan merchandise, but with “ACOTAR,” brands are exclusively pulling from words on a page. While there is an official colo...
Target has long inspired a particular kind of loyalty. It literally sells its own merch. For many shoppers, the retailer offers more than a place to pick up toilet paper and pet food: It’s where they grab Starbucks and get lost in discovering new beauty brands, finding affordable fashion and seeing both their taste and values reflected on the shelves. But the retailer’s relationship with some of its customers has grown more complicated in recent years, particularly as it has faced backlash over its LGBTQ+ Pride merchandise — or lack thereof — and, more recently, its decision to scale back several formal diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. In February 2026, Target’s new CEO Michael Fiddelke shared his vision for a fresh start, promising a merchandise makeover that includes a new beauty section (and food and other major categories). In an interview with AP , he was asked whether the boycotts over DEI changes affected sales. He adm...