I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book! The narrative was so absorbing that I just couldn't stop reading. The novel is a twist on the Sleeping Beauty tale - with an exploration of gender roles. It was my introduction to shifter romance fantasy, and I really enjoyed it. Additionally, Calla’s exploration and expression of their gender identity to be a profoundly touching part of the story which could resonate deeply with readers.

The novel did fall short in some places, however. At times, the writing style seemed a bit awkward and tended towards repetition (for example, characters frequently clenching their hands into fists), and I believe the character development left something to be desired. But as this is the first installment in a series, there's room for growth and expansion in future volumes.

The romantic elements were somewhat lacking in depth; it was a tale of destined lovers, yet I felt there could have been more groundwork laid to solidify their connection. The spice, though? Absolutely delicious. It more than made up for some of the problems!

It had a satisfying ending with a great set up for future books, but it also felt very rushed. I would have loved l a more expansive exploration of the antagonist's backstory, as the fleeting glimpses we received hinted at a complex and intriguing character.

Overall, this was a fun, quick read with some heat! I wanted a little more from it, but I will definitely be picking up book two when it arrives!

Snapshot:
Werewolves
Fated mates
Friends to lovers
Touch them and die
Gender fluid rep
LGBTQIA+ rep
Found family

5/5 Stars

Thank you to Harper Voyager, Netgalley, and A.K. Mulford for providing me with an arc.

I have been arc reading for AK Mulford through her street team since Rogue Crown so this is my third book from them that I have had the privilege to arc read and I have loved all of their books. This one I think is my favorite so far, the commentary about accepting yourself and learning who you are outside of your friendships and relationships was amazing. This is a wolf shifter romantasy with sleeping beauty inspiration, fated mates, and found family with the added theme of finding yourself.

Calla and Briar have been raised in secret as the lost daughters of the gold pack wolves and are hiding from the evil sorceress that killed their whole family. Calla has to live in the shadow of her sister, no one except her childhood best friend and his father know who she is because the world only knows that there was one baby, Briar, born the night the Gold Pack wolves were killed. But when Briar and Calla finally are allowed out of hiding for Briar’s marriage to Grae, everything isn’t what they expected and when the sorceress that killed their family shows up, Calla has to stand up and try to not only save her sister but their whole kingdom.

The genderfluid representation was spectacular and as someone who kind of just leaves their gender in a box that I don’t touch I really loved it and felt seen. I have loved the representation in all of Mulford’s books but this one truly stands out to me. Calla has to learn that it is okay to be different and that maybe being different will help her feel like she is their own person. I can’t wait to see how Calla fully leans into who they truly are in the rest of the series because I know it is going to be amazing. I also loved how much Grae instantly understood what Calla meant when explaining that their gender isn’t female and is more fluid than that, his reaction was just pure love and it gave him a word for what he already knew.

I love a good fated mates moment and this was very solid. We learn that Calla and Grae always felt a connection during their childhood but neither thought it could go further for many reasons that are explained. Calla’s main thing preventing her from going any further was the fact Grae was engaged to their sister. Grae has a lot of deep trauma that we learn about and it is the cause of his actions.

I can’t wait to see how this series continues as I can tell this is going to be an amazing series and it has everything I could want in a romantasy series. It is diverse, has good representation, fated mates, found family, and some good political intrigue. I highly recommend this book and please go check it out.

A River of Golden Bones is a Wolf Sleeping Beauty retelling, with the story following twins Calla and Briar. A sorceress cursed their mother with the Sleeping Curse before their birth, which was broken by their father. However, the sorceress came back the day of their birth and killed their parents. Their mother’s dying wish was granted by a faery, which allowed both Calla and Briar to be protected until Briar is married. On Briar’s wedding day, the sorceress comes back and places the Sleeping Curse on Briar, prompting Calla to go on a journey, both physical and mental, to save their sister.

I’ll be honest, the first half of the book had me highly disliking Calla. Calla was whiny and made stupid impulsive decisions because they couldn’t understand why someone might make a different choice than them. They’re furious when their childhood friend acts different when he’s home but it is clear from the writing that he is terrified of his father, who is described as a dangerous man! That would make anyone act a little different! And Calla says they can’t trust him, yet he didn’t really do anything that was untrustworthy (yeah, he didn’t make the best decision and didn’t stand up for them, but there was definitely a reason for that). Plus, they goes on and on worrying about how they can hate him yet want him at the same time but uh, y’all are fated mates so obviously destiny or whatever would cause you to want him?! Plus, Calla has clearly had a crush on him for most of their life and that doesn’t just go away! Once Calla has the realization that none of that makes sense, they get so much better as a character. I really loved the gender journey they go on. I loved getting to hear their thoughts and seeing them bond with Ora as she slowly figures out they are nonbinary. We don’t see a lot of non-binary MC’s in fantasy, so this was refreshing.

The plot was predictable and I noticed some inconsistencies (like when Calla is worried those chasing after them will be able to scent her but later, that isn’t a concern anymore?) but, overall, it was entertaining! I definitely had a fun time reading this and will likely read book 2!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun new take on the werewolf story, it was so fun and inclusive and just overall a joy to read. The main character is so relatable and goes through an amazing self discovery arc that I hadn't read in a fantasy setting before. I found that plot line so compelling and framed in such a happy and accepting way I loved it. The fantasy world was interesting, I wanted a little more set up of the world but overall I felt like I understood the magic and the main elements of this land. Most werewolf books I have read are YA and I liked that this one was about 20 year olds finding themselves and who they want to spend their time with. The themes of acceptance and found family were so well done and just put a smile on my face.

Thank you to Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for allowing me access to the eArc in exchange for an honest review.

This book teems with an overabundance of tropes:
Wolf shifter
Fated mates
Friends to lovers
Hidden twin
Evil kings and sorcerers
Fairytale Retelling
LGBT Inclusion and racial equality.

And yet, the author somehow seems to make it all work.
A River of Golden Bones was a fun Romantasy that made for an entertaining quick read.
The author does a fine job of world building full of both scenic detail and interesting characters. The main characters are a bit one dimensional, but I really enjoyed the supporting character of Ora, who is a wise person who becomes a good friend and mentor to the main character. A word of warning to readers. I enjoy a romance book that gets a little steamy now and then, but this book got a bit spicy and the graphic sex scenes got a bit repetitive.

I wish to thank netGalley for an advanced review copy of the book. I enjoyed it and will be looking forward to reading more of this series. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a spicy romantasy.

As far as variations on Sleeping Beauty go, I enjoyed this secret twin, LGBTQ+ variation of the tale. You’d think I’d get sick of Sleeping Beauty retellings, but nope! It continues to be one of my top fairy tale retelling/remixing/variation starting points for a plot even after all these years. In the case of A River of Golden Bones, it helps that the infamous Sleeping Beauty isn’t in the driver’s seat and the actual FMC is on a journey of self-discovery with a whole lot of burning questions in their metaphorical pocket.

As the first book in a new series, you do have to put up with some of the typical hang-ups that come with a new series: exposition, worldbuilding, magic systems, hierarchy, cultures, politics, and since this is a wolf shifter romance you also need to learn how the shifter world works in this universe and how it interacts with the humans. All of that, plus the plot, is a lot to cram into 400 pages. Mulford does an admirable job of it, but it’s not the smoothest ride it could be.

One of the best ways Mulford engages with exposition is via having our FMC and supporting characters join up with a band of traveling musicians. As they ride together across the lands in the musician’s wagon, the shifters learn more about the humans and the way the world works for those who aren’t wolves. It’s a great way of showing and not telling in a manner which is subtle and completely connected to the plot. If you didn’t think to look at it as exposition you might not even notice it.

I had a lot of trouble with the ending, because it seemed far too convenient for my tastes, but it’s still a really entertaining and engaging read. I will be waiting with anticipation for the next book!

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. This review was written without compensation. Thank you.

File Under: Book Series/Fairy Tale Retellings/Fantasy/Romantasy/Fantasy Series/Found Family/LGBTQ Fantasy/LGBTQ Romance/Shifter Romance/OwnVoices/Spice Level 1

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher Harper Voyager for review copies!

A River of Golden Bones, the first in a new series by A.K. Mulford, is an enchanting, queer fantasy romance loaded with wolf shifters, fated mates, a sleeping curse, a wicked witch, and fresh fairytale vibes.

In this world, courts of Wolves rule and look down on less powerful humans. The Wolves are the symbols of outdated, conservative traditions. But FMC Calla is about the upend everything. She's a secret twin to the Crimson Princess, who's been betrothed to the crown prince. During a fateful full moon-filled night, chaos and world-changing events ensue, including the establishment of fated mates.

What happens next is a fantastical adventure through excellent world-building, self-discovery, and a traveling caravan of musicians a la Howl's Moving Castle.

Calla's journey of self-discovery and gender expression is a beautiful one. And her fated mate but forbidden romance is sweet and perfectly spicy.

A River of Golden Bones is sure to be every fantasy romance reader's next obsession.

Another MASTERPIECE by A.K. Mulford. An amazing author who writes such amazing novels. As a member of the queer community to see a non-binary author thrive is FANTASTIC

Thank you Harper Voyager for my gifted copy of A River of Golden Bones' arc! I still feel honored to have received it! This review is entirely my own thoughts and opinions!

This is one review that I'm absolutely going to struggle to find words for. This was a book written from the heart for all the people out there who struggle with understanding their place in this world, me included. It's real, it's honest, it's heartfelt. Calla is all of us who have stood in a mirror and could never understand who they saw staring back. So, AK Mulford, thank you for writing this story. Thank you for giving a voice to all of us who struggle to find our own.

This story is incredibly well written. From the first page to the last, Mulford weaves a stunning tale of a young wolf's journey to save their sister and claim their throne. Calla as a main character, is incredibly relatable and very likable. They're surrounded by a host of fantastic side characters who drive their story forward and ensure each page turn is a delight.

The world is vibrant and feels so incredibly real. Their writing is easy to digest and beautiful. I absolutely love the world-building, how descriptive Mulford is, and all the minor details added that fully fleshes out this world, making it easier to fully immerse yourself in Calla's tale.

All in all, this is a story I will scream my love for to the skies and beyond. This is brilliant, it's a story that needs to be told and needs to be heard and needs to be read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this advance reader's copy. This was an interesting book. The world building is well done and I actually enjoyed this twist on the Sleeping Beauty tale more than others I've read recently. Some parts felt obvious, but I enjoyed this book nonetheless. I do look forward to reading the next one as I'm intrigued to see what happens next in this world.

Actual 4.5 stars.

A River of Golden Bones is a Sleeping Beauty re-telling set in a world with wolf shifters who rule over their human subjects. Briar and her secret twin Calla were raised by a fairy godmother after their parents were killed on the day of their birth. Calla, the secret twin, was raised to be the protection for her sister, the Crimson Princess. They leave their hideaway so Briar can marry Grae, the crown prince of a neighboring country, and unite their two kingdoms and reclaim the sister's birthright from the sorceress Sawyn who has ruled their country since their parents' deaths.
Calla's journey initially seems like the predictable one: younger sibling who is not nearly as tall, regal, and gorgeous as the elder, in love with a man they can't have, destined to be a shadow in the background without a story of their own. The night of their sister's wedding changes everything when Calla and Briar are both revealed to have destined mates. Calla is forced to take their life and destiny into their own hands so they can save their sister and kingdom. They fall in with a group of traveling human musicians and with them Calla is able to fully realize truths about themself and find acceptance of those truths. Overall, I thought it was a gorgeous story Calla's journey of self-discovery and finding their identity was so well done. A.K. Mulford does an amazing job at providing diverse representation in characters (and Calla is joining a list of amazing ones from Mulford's other stories). The last third of the book was full of so many twists and turns that kept me on my toes wondering how it was possible to get any kind of conclusion before the end. The cast of supporting characters was well developed and had me rooting for them as well! Without giving any spoilers, I thought there was one thing as the book reached its climax that wrapped up just a bit too neatly. However, I'm definitely looking forward to continuing The Golden Court saga and can't wait for more from Calla and their Golden Court.

I would like to thank Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A River of Golden bones, a fairytale retelling, follows twins - Briar and Calla (mainly Calla) throughout their journey to reclaim their kingdom as the last gold wolves.

The narrative predominantly centers on Calla whom goes through a beautiful journey of self discovery. At the start Calla is very uncertain of herself and by the end transforms into a much more confident individual.

However, the character Ora stole the show for me. This character added so much to the story that they became a personal favorite.

While the pacing is a little too slow in the middle for my liking, I overall had a fun reading experience. Mulford crafted an amazing world and I am interested to see where the story goes!

Tropes:
🖤 Fated Mates
♥️ Found Family
🖤 Slow Burn Romance
♥️ Political Court Intrigue

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Overall rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

thank you so much for the early copy of this book! i love a good shifter romance and a retelling of a popular story! this one was sleeping beauty coded and i really enjoyed it. i think the LGBTQ+ representation in the story was also positive point for me. excited for the rest of the series

I really enjoy a new kind of trope especially fantasy books. This is a werewolf shifter genre of book. the plot centres around a twin Calla and Briar (golden wolves). As their mother. the queen of the kingdom was pregnant with them, an evil sorceress cursed and killed their parents and forcibly took the throne. However, before the sorceress get to the twins, the queen asked a fairy to take care of the twins. Briar is bethroted to a prince (silver wolf) of a kingdom while Calla is being taken care of by the Fairy. and when they grew up, Briar was cursed by the same witched forcing her to a deep sleep and Calla has to step up to save her sister and their kingdom. At this point you can probably tell that it has the Sleeping Beauty trope to it. Though, I kinda hate how Calla wasnt fated to Prince Grae but rather to his cousin. The book also has that fated trope too.

Really wanted to love this one but ultimately had to mark it as DNF. Calla, the MC, spent most of the first parts of the book comparing herself to her sister, Briar (aka the Crimson Princess), and insisting that she wasn't jealous of Briar's looks/status/Briar marrying Calla's crush, the Crown Prince Grae, and being satisfied as the hidden sister and acting as Briar's personal guard. While there was obvious tension between Grae and Calla (being that they were closer when they were younger than Grae and Briar were), I couldn't really find myself rooting for them because of how off the energy was between them.

And while the plot did feel pretty generic (though the Sleeping Beauty spin was very interesting), I did appreciate the worldbuilding in this book and the different Wolf kingdoms and systems (albeit archaic) that were discussed. And as always, A.K. Mulford writes wonderfully queer and diverse characters. There's something so comforting being back in a world were being queer is common and celebrated and Mulford's books bring that kind of comfort to readers.

Well, I can say I was intrigued by this book when I first applied for the arc, but I was not expecting it to be as beautiful and touching as it was 🥹

It’s a fantasy story about shifter wolves, pack feuds, wolves vs humans, betrayal, hidden identities, self-discovery, self-acceptance, love, MAJOR LGBTQ rep (like only a few side characters were not LGBTQIA), found family, fated mates and the most beautiful representation of unconditional love 😭 all wrapped up in a loose sleeping beauty retelling!

I just loved it. It was unique, and refreshing. The representation and the journey of self acceptance that the MC went through was so beautiful and I really appreciated their journey.

I honestly have tried to write out a quick synopsis, but so much happens and there are so many layers to this story that I feel I can’t do it justice myself.

While the fantasy plot was great, I was so emotionally invested in the underlying relationships and unique dynamic of the characters. The found family aspect of it really tugged on my heartstrings. Each character played an important role in the story and it was so beautifully woven together. Equally as epic as it was heart felt and emotional. The ending had me in tears, both happy and sad.

Calla, the MC has never been given the space to find out who they truly are. They’ve spent their life being their sister’s shadow and protecting her at all costs, and that was their only priority. But when Calla’s twin is put under a sleeping spell, they feel called to escape their pack and go off on a journey to save their sister and make things right with their people again. Along their journey they meet some incredible people who create a safe space for Calla to dig deeper within themselves and accept who they truly are, where they truly fit in and figure out how to express themselves. It’s beautiful and heart wrenching, and I loved it 🥹

I can’t recommend this enough, if you’re looking for a unique fantasy read, with light sleeping beauty elements and LGBTQAI rep, please pick this up!

Thank you to #NetGalley, #HarperVoyager, and #AKMulford for an advanced copy of #ARiverOfGoldenBones for an honest review! This story releases on December 5, and I definitely advise you go pick up your copy if you want an inclusive story with romance, gender exploration, and werewolves! Here is a spoiler free review of this book.

This story follows twins Calla and Briar, raised as a warrior and a queen respectively. On the night of Briar’s wedding to Prince Grae, they are attacked by the same sorceress who murdered their parents and their pack on the night they were born. During this attack, Briar is cursed and her mate (plot twist: it isn’t Prince Grae) is taken to prevent a true loves kiss to break the curse. What ensues after that is a tale of Calla doing whatever it takes to get her sister back!

It’s hard to summarize this tale without dropping some spoilers, but just know this is a wonderful Sleeping Beauty retelling! I love the gender exploration of Calla as she/they learns what makes her/them feel comfortable in her/their own skin.

If you love found family with an epic quest story, fated mates, and an overall queer inclusive story, this is the book for you! Plus, who doesn’t love werewolves? It’s about time they had the spotlight!

*Fated Mates
*Secret Princesses
*Non-binary/LGBTQIA+ representation
*Found Family
*Sleeping Beauty retelling

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.
To be honest, this one wasn't for me. I think the overall story was so incredible but the execution of it just fell flat for me - between the characters themselves being flat and the pacing issues. A River of Golden Bones follows Calla, a secret twin princess to a lost wolf kingdom. Calla is raised her/their whole life pretending to be their sister's, Briar, shadow - the sister who is the only known princess to their lost kingdom. Calla's push to save their kingdom comes when Briar falls under the same sleeping curse on the night both twins' fated mates were revealed. Calla leaves the kingdom to save their sister, meeting a traveling troupe of humans along the way, who helps them discover their gender identity, provide safe haven and, supports Calla in their quest for their throne.

The reason this one fell flat for me, is I felt the majority of the book was focused with Calla telling themself/the reader over and over again WHY they left. It was fully noted in the act of leaving, being reminded every other paragraph that they left and why was frustrating. The allusion to the gender dysphoria Calla felt on their journey didn't feel fully fleshed out until they had a discussion with another nonbinary character about how they felt about their body and came out. In the beginning of the book, the impression Calla left was more portrayed with an "I'm not like other girls" mentality, but without knowing their gender identity journey until over halfway through the book, it didn't come across that way. Calla's fated mate, Grae, also fell flat for me - his character arc didn't really progress. He revealed some past trauma and that was the most you really see him as a character - feel like you know who he is and why he makes the decisions he does, other than that it's all focusing on Calla, their quest, and fighting. And that's just the main two characters in the book. I was honestly more invested in two side characters - Sadie and Navin. Their story was so cute through the passing glances we got. The big bad in the story also was continually referenced but never really felt like a "threat."

With all that said - I do understand the reason things were written the way they were - Calla didn't want to leave Grae really - the constant reminders of why they left, was more for them than the reader. They weren't ready to face their gender identity yet, so it was largely ignored by Calla and their inner monologue while on the quest for saving their lost kingdom - until they met the other character that allowed them to start thinking about it in the fringe of their thoughts. The villain also didn't really feel like a threat because Calla didn't know the why behind the villain's actions - so their focus was more on saving their sister than defeating the villain, until they're ready to step-up and claim their birthright.

I think you will like this book if you love the tropes listed above: fated mates, secret princesses, LGBTQIA+ representation and a gender identity journey, found family, and a Sleeping Beauty retelling. This series has a great potential in future books - where the characters themselves will feel more tangible and real and 3-dimensional.

So much love for this book! Not normally interested in wolf shifter stories but this one has a mix of other fantasy to keep it interesting. Sleeping beauty curses, faeries, wolves v. humans, and the wolf politics all worked well together to create a story that flows well. I also like that gender expression / identity is a main point. It didn’t feel forced and it added to the story instead of feeling put in as an afterthought. The romance was also well written and teased the spice between the MC and love interest before finally making it happen. It’s a bit predictable but that didn't take away from the enjoyment I got from reading it.
It sets up the next book without too much of a cliff hanger so the story does feel mostly complete already. Overall, I highly recommend. And thank you NetGalley for early access to this story.

A compelling new romantasy trilogy that has wolf shifters, friends to lovers, fated mates and a Sleeping Beauty retelling!
I really enjoyed this book. The world building is fantastic. Calla is strong willed and determined to fight for her people and get her twin sister back. I enjoyed their self discovery through the story. Prince Grae is swoon worthy. I love the relationships in this book. The romance and the friendships.
This is a must read for fans of Romance and Fantasy. I can’t wait to see where this trilogy goes.