Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

On the night they were born an evil sorceress killed their parents and took over their kingdom forcing Briar and Calla to go into hiding. Twenty years later they exit their hiding, each with their own purpose. For Briar it is to marry a prince from an ally pack with hopes of forming an ally that will help take back their kingdom. Calla on the other hand was raised to be a shadow for their sister. Both a body guard and a backup plan that no one but the prince and King know about.
When the sorceress returns it is up to Calla to fight for their kingdom, their family and their friends. Journeying through wolf kingdoms, fighting monsters, finding love, and discovering who they are now that Calla is out of the shadows.
I really enjoyed this read! It has been awhile since I’ve read a story about werewolves and it was a fun aspect of this story.
This book really thrives in a couple places. One was in the found family that was formed as the story progressed. I am a sucker for found family and I really loved all of the side characters we gathered. The second place was seeing Calla’s self discovering as they went on this journey. Along with the journey to the kingdom Calla also goes on an exploration of gender identity. Some of the interactions and conversations between Calla and Ora were some of my favorite moments.
The aspects that kept my rating a bit lowered was the pace of certain parts of this book. Both the beginning and end felt like they happened too fast to the point where some of the end felt like the characters were just making bad decisions and having this just work out for them.
Overall this was a fun read and a series I will definitely continue.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this arc in return for my honest review!

The world needs more books like this!!!

It was empowering in the best way possible. The representation 👏🏼👏🏼

I cannot wait to read more of Callas story!

"A River of Golden Bones" by A.K. Mulford begins with captivating worldbuilding but loses some momentum towards the end. It employs familiar tropes like fated mates, childhood friends turned lovers, and a slow-burning romance that pays off satisfyingly. Drawing inspiration from Sleeping Beauty, the tale introduces unique elements, although the story's strong suit lies in its side characters, who shine with vibrant personalities and depth, enriching the narrative.

Noteworthy is the LGBTQ+ representation, particularly the inclusion of a non-binary main character in a fantasy setting. The plot evokes nostalgia for the werewolf book era of 2008-2012, but Mulford's execution keeps the story fresh, contemporary, and engaging. "A River of Golden Bones" is a commendable journey, despite a slightly uneven ending.

Thank you to Harper Voyager US and Avon Books, Net gallery for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

What a lovely surprise. I received an ARC copy from NetGalley. I chose this book based on the cover and description. From the first chapter, I was hooked. I love how the world builds throughout the story, adding more complexity and depth. Calla is a fierce main character, and her journey of discovery and figuring out who she is and how to express that to others is so inspiring and sweet. I always love a good found family trope. They all come together for each other and to create a better world by breaking traditions that hold people and wolves back. This novel also has shifting wolves and elements of Sleeping Beauty.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story of Calla and her sister Briar, the last 2 golden wolves left. Her sister is the chosen one, met to marry the handsome prince and they will take back their ill fated kingdom. The sorceress that left them orphans comes back on the night of her sister's wedding and Calla must step up and step out of the shadows she has always been more comfortable living in.

I liked the story enough to give it 3 stars and will probably read the next book, but elements in the story felt too easy at times. Calla and Grae would be talking about how they needed to do something for several pages and then conveniently it quite literally landed at their feet. It also felt that Calla's plot armor was WAY too thick. Without giving any spoilers, I'm looking at you Veilla's final appearance. That felt entirely too contrived and just wasn't a satisfying ending for me.

The pacing was off for the entire book, dragging in certain parts and the ending was extremely rushed. Then when they finally got to the spicy, it felt weirdly inappropriate at times. Like you're quite literally running for your lives and trying to rescue a kingdom and you have time to stop here and now?! I get wanting to have the spice, but it didn't feel right one scene.

I do love the inclusiveness in the book especially in this world and the world we currently live in. This was an easy and enjoyable read, I got through it in 2 days and 2 sittings. Like I said I will most likely be picking up the next book in the series.

I read about 100 pages before giving up on this title, it just didn't capture my interest. It had many good things going for it though - wearwolves, a medieval setting, forbidden attraction, but there was a general lack of action.

Arc from netgalley

3/5. This is the first book I’ve read from this author. I believe this was tagged as adult but read very YA to me. It was good, would recommend to YA readers but as an adult going into this thinking it’s adult. It’s not. Everything felt very juvenile.

While I didn’t quite enjoy the prose as in Mulford’s previous body of work, this book was great read. I think my issue was that I was iffy about the first person narration; I never really clicked into it. That aside, I enjoyed the setting and characters a lot, and I love the cocktail shaker of both paranormal and fantasy romance tropes, and how they came together to be more than the sum of their parts. I loved the main character’s journey of questioning their gender, and how it played into their subverting the gender roles and tropes associated with the genres. This was a really strong series starter, and I hope it’s not too long before the next installment.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me this ARC for my review!

This was such a nice breathe of fresh air while o was reading this book and having it centered with wolf shifters instead of the normal fae or witch type of character . It was so heartfelt to read about their journey of self discovery while trying to regain her kingdom that they once lost. The ending I felt was alittle predictable but it was still a fun and easy read and a great introduction to the world and series!

Very interesting plot I can’t wait to see what happened in the future of this book. Also I love a good twins saving each other plot that never gets old for me. I will say at times it was a little confusing but I loved it and the cover art is magnificent

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager and A.K. Mulford for this eARC of A River of Golden Bones in exchange for an honest review.

One of my favorite things about A.K. Mulford is her ability to craft a long, interwoven series, but still have each book bound within a generally standalone story. Both her Five Crowns of Okrith Series and the start of this Golden Court series have singular main plots within each individual book, with a larger story line woven into each book in the series. Why do I love this? I am not sitting on horrible, awful cliffhangers that make me hate my life until I get the next book. I'm invested enough to want the next book in the series, but I'm not wasting away with a horrible book hangover. You're left satisfied and only slightly wanting. ;)

Another thing we all love about A.K. Mulford is her intentional inclusion of LGBTQIA+ representation. This is the second story I've read where the main character is coming into their gender fluidity, and I think Mulford takes such great care with these difficult (and unfortunately controversial) topics.

This has some of our favorite tropes: fated mates, found family, SHIFTERS. I think this is a great coming of age story that any romantasy lover will enjoy. Super cute, fun read. Calla & Grae forever.

Also, this cover?! Are you serious? So good.

+ Wolf Shifters
+ Fated Mates
+ LGBTQIA+ Representation
+ Sleeping Beauty Vibes
+ Found Family

If AK Mulford writes it, I am reading it. I don't care if she publishes her grocery list. A River of Golden Bones was a step away from the world of Okrith that I love and into new territory.

First, let me say that the just acceptance and understanding of genderfluid characters and being true to one's self is so beautifully done. AK Mulford takes such consideration and care into each of her characters that really shows across the pages.

Calla's journey of self discovery is easy to get lost in. From always living in their sister's shadow as the hidden heir, we see them struggle to come to terms with their true self and what it means in regards to gender and sexual orientation. This journey is not done flippantly, and instead really captures the feelings and stages of the journey.

The side characters really added to the story and felt like fully fleshed out characters that were easy to love. The found family aspect of the story as Calla adventures to save not just the kingdom that the twins lost but also their sister, Briar, from a sleeping curse is sweet and there were so many characters I loved that it was hard to pick a favorite.

If you ever felt like you did not know who you were or where you belonged in the world, this is for you. To finding a family and friends and your own self, anyone can find a piece of themselves in A River of Golden Bones.

Thank you so much to Harper Voyage US and Avon for the ARC! I absolutely love being on AK Milford’s hype team and have not stopped talking about this book since.

A.K. has done it again with this start to her/their sophomore series! I was completely taken by this story from beginning to end, and I can’t wait for the rest of the series!

A River of Golden Bones is a fairytale spin off/retelling where the two children of a Sleeping Beauty-type character have found themselves as outcasts hiding from the evil sorceress who destroyed their family. The eldest, Briar, is meant to wed the prince of a neighboring kingdom who befriended the two as children, while Calla has trained her entire life to be a guard. However, things take a drastic turn on Briar’s wedding day when Calla discovers the inlaw kingdom is not all it's cracked up to be, and more than one surprise and betrayal are unveiled, including that of someone close to her/them. Calla is then forced to strike out alone in search of a way to regain and protect the kingdom. Along the way, Calla finds the space to discover herself/themself, meets with a wonderful found family who takes her/them in, and finds love in an unexpected place.

If you love found families, friends-to-lovers, enemies-to-lovers, and “there’s only one bed” tropes, and you love stories of self-discovery, warriors, shifters, and wandering minstrels set in a high fantasy realm, this is a story not to be missed!

Calla is such a strong and cunning character. She/They is self-reliant, self-sufficient, and utterly determined to face her/their own fate head on. I loved the mentor she/they finds among the found family members and how Calla comes into the person she/they wants to be, the person she/they was all along.

The love interest initially gives off Gail/Dain vibes (for those Hunger Games/ Fourth Wing readers), but what A.K. does so well here is to give him opportunities to redeem himself that are completely heartwarming (and steamy!).

If you have a chance to read this book, please take it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the eBook ARC!

Apparently this author is another TikTok sensation, though that's not how I came across this book. I found it while browsing titles on NetGalley to read while breastfeeding and/or trying to get my son to sleep. Honestly, NetGalley has been a huge lifesaver for this bookworm momma, but that's not the point here. The reason I picked up this book was because, a) the cover looked super cool, and b) the synopsis read like it was going to be a reimagining of Sleeping Beauty. Spoiler alert: it's not. And I'm almost upset about that. Don't get me wrong, the story was actually pretty good and I plowed through it in just a few days. I appreciated the complexity of the themes and the action and adventure of it all, but as much as I wanted to love it, I was sorely disappointed in the writing as a whole.

For a book that's listed as an adult fantasy the writing is rudimentary and, frankly, childish. It reads like a YA fantasy, or even a middle grade book. That's not a bad thing if you're writing specifically for that audience, but this book is definitely not for kids. There seemed, to me, a huge inconsistency between the first and second halves of the book. This is very much the kind of book I would have picked up in the 8th or 9th grade, and would have mortified my mother to know I was reading. The first half of the novel seems totally fine, but then all of a sudden there are multiple sex scenes seemingly out of nowhere, and rife adult language. Now, as a parent, I'd probably still let my kid read this if he wanted to, with the understanding that this is fiction, and he could come to me with any questions, but that's just the kind of parent I am choosing to be. I know many parents who would absolutely not want their teenager reading something like this. And that's fine too. This is just a content warning. Though, theoretically, one wouldn't find this book in a section at a bookstore or library where their teenager was browsing. Anyway, my point is, it's a really low reading level with really grown up content.

Speaking of the content, I will say I am grateful for the exploration of gender identity as depicted in this book. This is why I'm a bit disappointed in the book in general, because I absolutely love the idea that more writers are exploring LGBTQIA+ themes and identities. I wanted to love this book, because the story had great potential, but the characters are pretty one note and tropey. The best part of this book was Ora, and they're not even the main character. They're the most thought out and well developed part of the story, and their place in the narrative is pivotal. Calla, the actual main character is built on the insecurities of a teenager. I suppose one could argue that they're only 20, so of course they're coming to a point where they're just figuring out their place in the world, but again, that's why this book reads like a YA fantasy novel and not the epic it seems to be aiming for.

Another thing that irks me about a fantasy book is when an author comes up with new mythological beasts or creatures and doesn't provide some sort of glossary about them, or, at the very least, weave some of the lore into the beginning of the story. This author just dropped several different creatures (I can think of three off the top of my head) into the beginning of the book, made reference to them throughout, but didn't explain what any of them were until the last few chapters when the characters actually encountered them. Now, this isn't the first book Mulford has ever written, so I don't know if maybe these monsters exist in some of her other works, and are more fleshed out in lore there, but I came into this book blind, as many readers might. It just seems prudent to offer some sort of description well ahead of time if you're going to make quips about them, so that readers might be able to imagine or understand the relevance of an expression or fear, or what have you, better. I don't want to be distracted by wondering what an animal is when I'm trying to enjoy a good book.

It's a shame, really. I probably won't go on to read the rest of the series as it comes out. Not because it's bad, but because it's not mentally challenging. Honestly, it reads like fanfiction, and that's okay. Even fanfiction has its place in the literary world. It simply won't be high on my priority list.

I wasn’t personally feeling interested so strapped after chapter 1, but it’s very easy to read and follow. I could see it doing well in the New Adult Romantasy space.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the ARC.

Thank you Harper Collins and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.


Before I can begin to talk about what I just read, I wanted to say to the team marketing at HC.

HOW F* DARE YOU!?!?!?!? Send me an ARC copy when this title doesn’t even come out till December 2023 and I am currently sitting in my home library staring at the wall, bowling my eyes out bc I just finished the most beautiful story I’ve read in fantasy this year and I have NO ONE TO TALK ABOUT IT WITH! But also, ILY and THANK YOU ♥️😭👀

Now that that’s out of the way, If you all thought that A. K. Mulford couldn’t outdo themselves then THINK AGAIN because they literally came in for next level ✨EMOTIONAL DAMAGE✨

They were able to give us a Fantasy story filled with all the emotions and RAW ONES, like, UGH, I cried. So, we have an enchanting Fantasy Romance story Where Love, Found Family, Loyalty, Friendship, Wolf shifters, Sorcerers, Fated Mates, Politocal views, Incredible Queer representation, BAD ASS FMC, and possibly a sleeping beauty retelling? Are the main ingredients and if that’s not a recipe for GREATNESS then IDK what would be.

Grae & Calla love story is the one you didn’t know you needed.

Calla and her twin sister Briar’s existence has been kept secret from the remaining of the Wolf kingdoms. The day they were born, an evil sorcerer attacked their kingdom and as their Mother’s last dying wish, she was able to summoned a fairy that will protect them till the day Briar turned 20 and married the prince of the silver wolf kingdom ( who happens to be Calla’s only childhood friend) and so as their kingdom is stolen from them by this evil sorceress and the fairy takes the newborns away to a safe place, You will be met with a story about finding who you truly are, where you belong, what you are willing to sacrifice for the name of peace and fight for what’s right.

💫Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for a free arc in exchange for a honest review💫

The absolute wonderful world building is what pulled me into this book and the deep character growth made even better.
The Galen den' Mora is one of the best found family's I've come across in fantasy, I felt at home immediately.
The queer friendly space was a pleasure to read, I'm so glad that it was not questioned in this book as I've seen in this specific sub genre.
Calla's journey to self discovery and acceptance is both moving and frustrating. You feel her sorrow for her people on every page.

I will absolutely be recommending this book to people!

I loved this retelling. Calla was a wonderful mc and I enjoyed how strong their character was. It was refreshing to read about a non binary mc.

A River of Golden Bones by A.K. Mulford offers a deluge of earnest gender discovery in a frankly wonderful sleeping beauty retelling reimagined as a queer shifter romance. Wolf shifters Calla and Briar are famed twin orphans of the fallen Golden Court. Briar was raised to become a Wolf princess that would one day lead her people and marry the handsome Prince Grae. Calla was the child raised to protect her sister and lead armies. But, upon Grae’s return to the twin's hidden childhood home for his wedding to Briar, Calla cannot help but feel something is wrong. She loves her childhood best friend but knows she will never be accepted as Prince Grae’s match even though she knows her sister has never been attracted to men. But at the wedding, expected matches change, and the evil sorceress who killed the twins’ parents all those years ago has returned to muddy the waters further by stealing Briar and placing her under a sleeping curse. Calla will now do anything to save her and return her to safety, even if she/they must run away from the prince who holds her heart. Mulford confronts how one dismantles cultural gender binaries to discover their nonbinary identity amidst romantic heroic quests that sizzle off the page in the first book of The Golden Court series.

Now, queer wolf shifter mates will always be fun, but there is something so wonderful about how it is done here. Briar’s sapphic relationship is wonderful and the central love interests in the story, Calla and Grae are simply perfect. I am a sucker for a friend-to-lovers relationship and the friendship, care, and loyalty they show to each other is so wonderfully done. They are partners still discovering how they will work together and love each other as adults. The Wolf community is patriarchal and heavily relies on the gender binary, so a nonbinary warrior like Calla must dismantle their cultural biases in order to find acceptance and Grae is right there for it all. Sure, they are often running for their lives against a ticking clock to save Briar, but they still have time for deeply important conversations along the way.

It is easy to sing this gorgeous book’s praises. The high fantasy worldbuilding is impressive. The main characters and side characters have some excellent character arcs. Plus, the romance at the center of it all is frankly hot. If anything about queer shifter mates, friends to lovers, lost heirs, or sleeping beauty retellings appeal to you, just get this book, please. You will be doing yourself a favor. Thank you Harper Voyager for providing me with an earc for an honest review of this delicious fantasy romance set to release December 5, 2023.

🐺 TROPES & THEMES 🐺
✔️ Fated Mates
✔️ Childhood friends to lovers
✔️ sleeping beauty vibes
✔️ wolf shifters
✔️ non-binary main character
✔️ diverse cast of side characters
✔️ spicy romantacy

Firstly, thank you NetGalley and the author for the arc of this really fun story!!

Calla has always lived in her sister’s Briar’s shadow. Both golden wolves and sole members of their royal family left, they are protected from Sawyn the evil usurper and sorcerer that ended their parent’s lives by her mother’s dying wish.

Briar is set to marry Grae, silver wolf and prince to a neighbor kingdom. However, her sister Calla was always half in love with him instead.

Chaos happens the night of Briar’s wedding, and we get some very plot twisty reveals. Some tragedies, and then our main character truly starts their journey of not only finding a way to wake her sister from her slumber, but find out about what kind of person Calla truly is inside.

We meet the most incredible cast in this story. It takes a lot for me to like side characters- and I LOVED the ones in this book. They were so special, so kind, and really added so much to this story.

The romance is tension filled and medium burn - with steam paying off about 3/4ths in. 😎

The pacing I enjoyed, I did not find myself getting bored or thoughts going elsewhere when I read it. I was invested the whole time. The story ends like a stand-alone, but I’d love more stories in this world!!

This was a really fresh take on a sleeping beauty retelling with so many twists. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves romantacy books with with self discovery, emotional moments and high steam!