This book is good in a way that sneaks up on you. It felt familiar as soon as I started reading it because of its "Briar Rose/Sleeping Beauty"-ish references. In the same way that ACOTAR's first book has a SLIGHT B&TB Vibe. This only adds to your immediate investment/understanding of the vibe around our MC. If the sister is like "Aurora" in the way that she lives in a magical fairy cottage i the woods, then the MC is as self described in the book her "shadow". Always there. Always right behind serving as a way to make their sister look brighter and even more elegant in comparison. I don't want to give too much away but this book definitely has a great found family & fated mates plot with a good representation of NonBinary characters & growing self awareness. It is definitely worth the read!

Now that it is fall, I am craving all the fantasy romance books. I received an ARC of this book and figured it was a good time to pick it up. The author does an amazing job of world building and developing the characters. I felt connected to them and was rooting for them throughout the book. Once I hit the 50% mark in the book, I could not put it down and finished it way past my bedtime. It is a very loose Sleeping Beauty retelling which I'm usually not a fan of but I enjoyed it in this book. A few buzz words for this book are fated mates/wolves/humans/dark magic/found family/take back the throne. If those intrigue you, I would recommend this book to you.

**Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an Advanced Review Copy. All opinions are my own.**

A River of Golden Bones by A.K. Mulford is an exquisitely crafted fairytale fantasy, woven from the remnants of a wickedly imaginative world and infused with tantalizing allure. Prepare to immerse yourself in this captivating tale of wolves and indulge in its irresistible charm.

A River of Golden Bones is the first in a new trilogy from A.K Mulford. I am a huge fan of this author’s High Mountain Court series so I was super excited and thankful to receive an ARC for this!

I think this book was a fun read and a great start to the series! I love a good fated mates trope and this did not disappoint! Calla is an excellent character and their journey of self discovery was engaging. Hoping we get to spend more time with some of the other characters as the series continue.

I did feel that some of the story dragged a little bit in the middle so that is the only reason I’m not rating this a full 5 stars.

I would definitely recommend this if you like fantasy!

I really enjoyed A River of Golden Bones, once I picked this up it was hard to put down. I read at the airport, a resort, a local pool, in the pick up line at school (in park- before the kids were let out.) it was brought everywhere. I very much enjoyed the variety of representation in this book. The plot was solid. The characters and setting building were fantastic. I am guessing there will be a second book and I greatly look forward to it. If you like fantasy & / or romance this book would be an excellent choice.


Thank you so much for the ARC.

Ok so there’s a lot in this one and much to love!

We have: a sleeping beauty retelling for not one but TWO generations, a troupe of traveling bards turned warriors that will steal your hearts, and one non-binary badass leader who has a friends to lovers arc that will burn you right up.

Did I mention the healthy dose of fated mates?

So much fun!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy to review.

A River of Golden Bones is a beautiful story about a badass gender fluid warrior who is on a mission, she needs to save her sister and save her kingdom. Calla has been hidden her whole life, to the current ruler of her kingdom she doesn’t even exist. This has filled her life with conflicting feelings. On the one hand this has given her an advantage in her fight for her kingdom but on the other hand it has left her all alone despite always having the love and support of her sister. Now she’s left without her sister who has been put under a sleeping spell by the sorcerous ruling her kingdom. Along with her mate, Calla sets off to right the wrongs set forth in her kingdom and to save the only person who has always been by her side. I highly recommend A River of Golden Bones. You will be sucked in to the story from the beginning. You will laugh, you will cry, you will a tad mad at Calla’s mate but it’s okay. They make up for it in the end!

The hidden twin to a princess promised to a prince in a rival wolf pack is forced to reveal herself when the same sorceress who killed their parents and forced them into hiding at birth disrupts the wedding that was supposed to free them. To save her cursed sister, Calla, the prince and those loyal to them create a found family that grows along the way and is full of fast paced adventure and a friendship that evolves into a fated love.

This book explores gender in a really unique way that I felt was really well done.

I recommend this book to those who love paranormal romance, found family, friends to lovers and fated mates.

I received an ARC for this book through Netgalley. all opinions are my own.

A fun and innovative new adult series. The first book is a retelling of the beloved fairytale Sleeping Beauty but with a refreshing twist. Instead of the expected prince charming, we have Calla, the twin sister of Briar, who is on a quest to save her sister from an internal sleep and reclaim their lost kingdom from an evil sorceress. Along her path of self-discovery and retribution, she finds love and acceptance that will last a lifetime. I'm eagerly anticipating what twists and turns this series will deliver next.

I really enjoyed this story! It is not something I typically would’ve picked up on my own so I am super thankful that HarperVoyager sent me this book!! I am incredibly grateful that I did let this one fly over my head!

The story was so rich and the tropes were delicious. Werewolf shifters?? Secret twin?? FATED MATES? AK Mulford hit the ball out of the park with this book! I loved the queer love and representation in this book, the strong family bond, and the plot of this epic romantasy.

The first installment of this book was so promising and I am already waiting for the second book [which is driving me insane since book one has not even officially released yet]!!

AK Mulford knocks it out of the park again. I'm not a huge fan of fated mates but I loved the the stick it through in the spokes of the kings plans here. I loved the representation presented in the story especially with Ora helping Calla find their true selves. The love story was sweet, and the plot to save the kingdom was an exciting adventure

I received a copy through NetGalley for review.

Alright folks, I really enjoyed this one. If romantasy is your thing, fated mates, werewolf shifters (which admittedly is not my thing), fairytale remixes, but also combat, battles, actually good character development, and that yes- sometimes the princess does save themselves, self acceptance, lgbtqia friendly, non-binary mc. You can find all that wrapped up in here.

Calla and Briar and twin Princesses from a kingdom that has been taken over by an evil sorceress- the last wolves of The Golden Wolf Kingdom- the only ones to survive their lone. They've been saved and protected by a faery who granted their mother's last powerful dying wish. And while their mother died during childbirth, one daughter was born when the wish was made, the other came afterwards. And their Faery guardian decided their mother meant the words for both children regardless of the circumstances. Their parents story is a grand romance for the ages as her mother was known as "The Sleeping Princess."

Briar is the "Crimson Princess" - demure, thin, beautiful and perfect shifter, a princess in absolutely every way, will be the one to life their people, their pack out of obscurity and save their kingdom through marriage to Graemon of the Silver Wolf Kingdom, a betrothal made before their birth.
Now of age at 20, it's time for the culmination of that dying wish to be fulfilled, to see Briar through her 20th birthday and to her wedding day. With hopefully with aide from the Silver Wolf Kingdom and access to The Golden Wolves wealth, they can retake their kingdom after being raised in protection and obscurity. Calla is a secret, publicly nobody knows she is Briar's sister and another backup heir her hope is with her sister's elevation- she can be publicly known and find her space in life.

Wolves are big on gender roles within the pack, something that Calla, the second twin doesn't fit into, she likes combat, wants to protect her sister, but grates every time she's called "girl" or has to conform to womanly clothing. She feels more comfortable in a tunic and leather pants. Unlike her sister in every way.

Because this is a fantasy, fairytale remix, we know the evil sorceress is about to make a showing and place her sister under a sleeping curse, just like the one her mother was placed under. History is about to repeat its self. Briar's marriage to to Graemon goes sideways when her mate is revealed at the wedding ceremony, held during a full moon ceremony, it is then for shifters that the goddesses will makes itself known and mates are often revealed. And Briar isn't mated to the promised prince, Calla is. And Briar's mate is revealed to be of the same gender as herself, reflecting on her preferred sexual attraction. Something most wolves won't recognize- gender roles remember.

The Gold Wolf sisters will re-write what is acceptable, pack dynamics will be challenged. A better future can happen for everyone. Human and wolf alike.
But Calla has to save her sister and defeat an evil sorceress first.
And learn to accept herself with the help of others along the way.

I really liked this one, it was emotional, and heart tugging and I cannot wait to read the next chapter in this series. Well done!

Calla has lived as her twin sister's shadow all her life. Briar was the Princess known, loved, and protected. And the one betrothed to Grae. But when Sawyn the sorceress lays a sleeping curse on Briar, Calla must find a way to save her, and take back the kingdom Sawyn stole from her family. This journey leads her to discovering who she is, who she wants to be, and what she could be.

Its been so long since I read a shifter story, and an good one at that. What instantly intrigued me about this story and world is the way the Wolves are organized. Having different Courts felt like the fae system we have been oversaturated to seeing for the past couple of years, but it felt SO REFRESHING to see this incorporated into a world with Wolf shifters existing.

The writing was compelling and the cast was colorful, unique, and likeable. This is a loose retelling of Sleeping Beauty but, while this foundation is present, the book does not revolve solely around it allowing the story to have its own identity. I loved the fated-mates trope and the sexual tension between the main characters. The pacing was also well-done, never giving me a single chance to get bored.

I HIGHLY recommend this book if you're in the search for a spicy romantacy featuring childhood friends to lovers, wolf shifters, fated mates, and a fairytale retelling. Looking forward to reading the next installment of this very promising series!!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A River of Golden Bones by A.K. Mulford - eBook ARC

Wolf Shifters, Sleeping Curses, a Magical Traveling Musicians Wagon, Greedy Kings, Evil Queens, Family Betrayal, Self Discovery, Secret Twins, and Fated Mates: have I hooked you yet? Hope so!

I discovered A.K. Mulfords books when I found her TikTok Channel. I quickly got sucked into her other Fantasy Series and knew when rumor started she was launching a new series, I would do anything for an ARC. Luckily I didn't have to do "anything" to drastic! Thanks NetGalley! This book after the first few chapters wouldn't let me sleep, or work. I had to find out what was going to happen. The story and the stage is set quickly and all of a sudden when you think all is well, it takes a massive turn. The story is off to the races and you will not be able to stop reading.

I loved the found family vibe, the representation, and most of all the way all the characters served such a purpose in this story. Not a single one of them was left out of the quest, the mission. Mulford has a way of weaving character arcs and storylines together in such a way that although you have main characters, they all feel so important. The love and care she/they have for them is so evident. Not to mention, Calla might be my new Favorite Fantasy Character. The self discovery and how Ora helped guide that process... so stunning. Calla forever! Some of my favorite lines:
"Sometimes I wished I didn't have to play a role in order to be valued"
"I had a kingdom to resurrect and parents to avenge. My sister would marry and make allies and sign treaties, and I would be the nameless Wolf who won back our throne"
"Storming through the castle, my heart thundered in my rib cage. I was sick of waiting on the promises of men. I threw open the door to my chambers and hastened to my wardrobe. It was time for me to take charge"

Mulford, you did it again... I can't wait to devour the rest of this gorgeous series.

3.5 ⭐️
My first A.K. Mulford. This is a Sleeping Beauty retelling with several twists. I liked how we got to focus on a different main character versus Sleeping Beauty. This is my first wolfshifter romance so some of the terminology was off putting to me. Gender fluidity is also tackled in an interesting way. I’m not well versed on the topic so the way it is explained helped me understand it much better. The lead female is very strong and enduringly steadfast in her beliefs. For me, this seemed a little long winded. The writing is very simple and at times that meant that concepts/feelings/action was really drug out. Despite that, I was still to connect emotionally to a few characters. I’d recommend this to someone who enjoys this author’s writing style, wants a meaningful fairy tale retelling, or is interested in gender fluid character(s).

Tropes:
Fated Mates
HEA
Groveling
Quest
One Bed
Found Family 🥰

Thanks to NetGalley and A.K. Mulford for this ARC.

I wrapped my arms around his back, feeling the connection that pulled me back into myself. "It's a start."
"We don't need to fix the entire world tomorrow," Grae whispered, brushing his lips against mine. "You don't need to control every flame. Tomorrow is the spark that will set it all ablaze.

This book is a wolf-shifter romance Sleeping Beauty reimagining. I was not expecting it to be a Sleeping Beauty retelling. I go in blindly to all my books.
Overall, I thought it was good. It took me a little to get into the book. I liked the ending, but I think the evil queen’s view was perplexing. This book kept me wanting to read more and more. I can’t wait till the next book.

Tropes-

Fated Mates
Childhood friends to lovers
Slow burn
Touch her and die
One bed

I want to say thank you to Harper Voyager US and Avon books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Final Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me an E-ARC of this in exchange for an honest review

So, this is actually the first of Mulford's books I have picked up. I have followed them on Tiktok for a while, and the cover of this one caught my eye.

And oh geeze, I do not regret requesting this
Things I loved:
☆This novel is lightly based on sleeping Beauty It almost is a fantastical sequelish (only with wolf shifters).
☆ It has this beautiful story of Gender discovery. This whole book is Queer in a way thay feels very comforting. The LGBTQIA+ rep in this is 5 stars. There are a couple of scenes in this novel that brought me to literal tears.
☆ There is spice in this and it was very very good.
☆ FOUND FAMILY TROPE!!!!!!!
☆The villian in this was multi-demsional. Borderline sympathetic (for an EXTREMRLY short moment)
☆The side characters in this SLAYED
Things I was "Meh" about (but not enough to hinder my enjoyment)
☆ Pacing. Both the plot and the romance seemed to progress really quickly
☆ Speaking on the romance... Something about it bugged me. I loved both characters, and I loved them together. But there was almost a forced feeling to their relationship (I think some of this feeling come from the "Fates mates" trope playing so heavily in this story.) There were moments specifically toward the middle, where the couple almost felt like their feelings were more compulsive (and sexual) than an actual love bond. But the last third fixed this for me completely.

All in all I loved this. And now I have to check out AK Mulford's other works.

4.5 -⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

"You are brave, and smart, and vicious...and so breathtakingly beautiful that it hurts not to touch you."

A River of Golden Bones is the first interconnected standalone in the New Adult Shifter Fantasy series, The Golden Court. In the first entry into this worlds we follow Calla, a young golden wolf and twin to the heir of the Olmdare Kingdom.

After spending their lives hiding from an sorceress who destroyed their kingdom and the humans who don't know their wolves, Calla and her sister finally have their opportunity to regain their people through Briar's marriage alliance with the Silver Kingdom's Heir, a male that Calla cannot help but be drawn to. Yet things take a dark turn leaving Calla desperately looking for a way to save her sister. She must decide if she is willing to step out of hiding and take on a quest where she will see a whole new world and risk the lives of those she cares about...and maybe even see herself for who she truly is.

Inspired loosely off of the the fairytale, Sleeping Beauty , Calla takes us through a journey that fleshes out this world in ways I absolutely adored. She is a strong-willed and determined and has spent her life in the shadow's of her sister as the hidden princess and she has been content with this role. She loves her family and her people and through her journey she is able to find out who she truly wants to be and I loved the sense of expression that brings.

Brae is the Silver Wolf Prince and I loved the self of connection I could see with him and Calla at the beginning. Initially I was frustrated with the sense of duty he felt towards his father over Calla but I do feel his journey allowed him to grow the acceptance and sense of self he gains in this journey is just a strong.

We have an amazing cast of side characters in this book that help strength the story with a found family trope I could not get enough of. Sadi, Hector, Navin, Ora, Mina and Malo all helped Calla and Brae see the world a little different as well as put them through their paces. The camaraderie and companionship drew me in.

In terms of spice, this book is about a 2.5 spicy pepper out of 5 spicy pepper. While the fated mate aspect of the book is build on a friends to lovers connection I appreciated there was still a struggle for both characters. Their relationship is a delicious slow burn that I could not get enough. The intimacy, the protectiveness and the acceptance had me kicking up my feet in delight. I would say spice is around the 70% mark but there is foreplay and tension to build things up. It is explicit and oh so good after all that the character's went through.

"Wherever we are going in this life...we will go together. You and me. Always. And I will tear the throat out of anyone who tries to take me from you."

The world building in this first book helped set the stage for the universe we will explore as the series go on. I appreciated how we got time to sit with the Wolf culture dynamic and the stigmas between human and wolf as we explored the world. I loved there was this sense of reach and distance as we see Calla and co enter new locations that felt truly different from where we started. Ora also becomes a significant character that opens not just the world but the different selfs and identities we as people can embrace.

The story itself truly felt like a quest as the Calla finds herself making plans as new challenges are introduced. I found the time in between Calla is faced with her sister's plight and finding Ora's group was a little slow, especially with Brae's initial noncommittal-ness, but once we started to explore and connect I was drawn in and could not put this book down. I loved the feeling of travel, the exploration, and balance of action and romance. The ending came down to this really poignant discussion if gender identity that resonated and Brae absolutely won me over here. It rounded out the story perfectly and has me invested to see where we go next.

If you are looking a fantasy novel with action, self-discovery, romance, and found family set it a world that feels well built and complex then you are going to enjoy diving into this!

Thank you HarperVoyager and Netgalley for this e-ARC!

A fantasy fairytale story with such a fantastic message. The fantasy element is that there are two races involved - werewolves and humans. Werewolves were granted sovereign.over the land for saving humans from evil. However centuries have passed and werewolves have forgotten. There is prejudice and class system against humans.

When Briar falls under an enchantment of sleep, Calla sets off on a journey to defeat the sorcerer and reclaim her land. Along the journey she learns more about humans. How they are not so different and she undergoes a self-confidence and acceptance of her true self - the most important message.

I love how gender identification is seamlessly incorporated into this story. Lots of metaphors and good analogies. The comparison of old Wolf ways of black and white isn’t right and that there are shades of grey to life. Similarly to the debate now in society about LGBT. However I love that this story does not shove the message down or throats but comes across very natural.

I thought this was a YA book but after checking the genre it is adult because boy! The spice leave is a 3!! Lots of spicy spicy scenes. I love the romance of this book and the ultimate acceptance of one self from those that you love is the most precious - especially your mate!

Even though it’s marketed as a trilogy, the ending of this book completes the quest Calla set out to do. There is definitely more questions and things to address that I can see a continuation into a trilogy. Overall, I would recommend this book to someone who loves fantasy, werewolves, hints of sleeping beauty retelling, and who wants a good story!

I received a free copy of this book thanks to Netgalley and Avon & Harpers voyage.. All opinions expressed are my own!

ALL THE STARS! Fantasy romance with a non binary, gender fluid MC? Yes please.

This book had so many things I love - childhood friends to lovers, found family, fated mates, werewolves, stolen thrones, and more. But simply getting to watch Calla go through their journey of self-discovery and the support they recieved from Ora and Grae warmed my heart. The chacacters in A River of Golden Bones were beautiful and the only disappointing part of reading the ARC is having to wait even longer for the sequel.

I can't wait to see what happens in The Golden Court next!

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for ARC. I received my copy in exchange of an honest review.