This is the second book in the series, and even though I liked how the story continued, I wished the pacing band character development had been more at the forefront.

Despite there being major lulls in the storyline, I think this set itself up for more stories in a fun and built out world.

A secret song. A Hidden fortress. A world on the brink of war.

A Sky of Emerald Stars is the second book in the Golden Court series, continuing on the same trajectory that its predecessor left us with. While remaining in the mind of Calla and continuing their journey, we get to also learn more about Sadie, a wolf-shifter who has pledged her life to the Golden Court, but whose heart is also broken after a break-up with Navin, a human singer, and is grappling with the fact that she feels as if she doesn't have a place in this new world. When a friend of Calla, Ora, is captured, this forces Sadie to go on a journey alongside her ex in order to save them from the King who wishes to destroy the Golden Court and Calla. We revisit old friends and discover new secrets that threaten to upheave the very court that Calla and their friends have created.

I loved this book. It pieced so perfectly with the first that I decided to do a quick read of the first in order to bring myself back into the world of Aotreas. A.K. does it again, bring a rich world to life, creating characters that experience growth within themselves as well with others, and they have a way of bringing depth into the characters where you want to root for as well as feel a connection to.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ALC as well as A.K. Mulford for the Arc, as I am in their Patreon. I absolutely hope you give this book a listen, a read, and dive into the world of Aotreas as well.

My initial review was "I want to ask Mulford, wtf happened to happiness and why can't these wolfies have that?" A Sky of Emerald Stars was a 5 star read for me and it falls in line with me being absolutely besotted by Mulford's "second in a series" book. I preferred this story to the first as it felt like higher stakes (and more likely, because I am not a huge fan of instant/pre-established lovers). This story was less about identity and more about the greater problems that exist in their world. I am excited for the next installment!

A.K. Mulford’s A Sky of Emerald Stars is the captivating second installment in the Golden Court series, seamlessly blending political intrigue, personal discovery, and rich world-building. The narrative alternates between Queen Calla, who seeks alliances to fortify her realm against looming threats, and Sadie Rauxtide, a royal guard on a mission that challenges her loyalties and heart. Mulford’s storytelling shines with its intricate plot and character development, though some readers may find the pacing uneven at times. Nevertheless, the novel’s exploration of identity, love, and courage makes it a compelling read for fans of romantasy. 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 🐺 Wolf-Shifters | ⚔️ Political Intrigue | ❤️‍🔥 Romantic Fantasy

I was super excited for this but to be honest I had a hard time getting into it. I felt it was a little all over the place. I couldn't get attached to the characters and it moved real slow

Action, court politics, wolf shifters, romance, Sleeping Beauty vibes and an evil sorceress! What more can you ask for? I loved this book as much as I loved the first book. Calla is such a strong and complex individual. Amazing lessons and gentle reminders for compassion and diversity. I feel like I learned something about myself too.

Fav tropes:
Fated mates 💞
Slow burn 🔥
Friends to lovers 💘
Shifters 🐺
Sorcery 🔮
Sister bond 👯‍♀️
Found family ⛓️

I loved the first book and loved this one just as much. Our main character is a badass who is fierce and doesn’t let anyone in until she meets the one. I’m a sucker for a fantasy romance and this book slayed! It had political war and wolves and who knew I’d love it so much!

I adore this series. I was so happy to get a dual POV in this book. Oh Sadie and Navin how I adore their story! The additional magic was very intriguing to me. I love these characters and how they find themselves and just start really living once they find them. Wolves, humans, monsters, love, found family, betrayal, friendship and everything in between! Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and A.K. Mulford for letting me read this book. I am excited for the next one in the series!

absolutely love AK Mulford's writing!

A Sky of Emerald Stars is a perfect 2nd installment to this new wolf shifter series and I will continue to recommend these books!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a miss for me. It took me a hard time to get into it. When I finally did, it was too slow and to predictable.

Okay, officially, i will be reading the entire AK Mulford catalogue this year. The whole freaking thing. I LOVE when I get an ARC (like this) and it turns out it's a 2nd or 3rd book in a series, because i often discover something new that i love. This is such a case. I read both books in The Golden Court in 2 days. Waiting for the next book feels a bit like torture. This romantasy series has found family, fated mates (the first time EVER that has been a plus for me, as I usually hate that trope) and so much good, solid spice. They are unapologetically queer, and heartfelt in their love of queer characters. Highly. Recommend.

This was a great conclusion to the series. I loved this book just as much as the first one. Definitely recommend for any fantasy readers who want some romance as well

This is the perfect example of a sequel. It had betrayal and romance and spice and action. Everything needed to keep the reader wanting more!

great expansion of the world and magic system from the first book in the series, good plot and character development.

I’m absolutely loving this series! The twist and turns have kept me guessing. There’s no predicting where this may go. The lgbtq+ rep in this series is amazing. I’ve never read another book like it. Wolf shifters, a new and unique magic. Great world building from the first book that’s carried on into its sequel. Very well rounded & fleshed out characters that are believably real. A plot that keeps you hooked. Just the right amount of spice. You really can’t go wrong with this series.

I want to preface this by noting - although Avon/Harper have released my favorite Adult Romantasy series to date (Sarah A. Parker's Moonfall series and both of C.L. Wilson's) - I’m not the audience for A.K. Mulford's Golden Court series.

My goal is to be respectful of the work that went into this book, so while I will provide feedback here in NetGalley, I’ll refrain from reviewing this work on my book socials. (Additionally, readers should note this is the second book in a series. I didn’t notice that when I requested this book on NetGalley, and again, out of respect for the publisher and author, I did go and read book 1 first.)

As a fast-paced plot told in dual POV, A Sky of Emerald Stars (and the Golden Court series) will find its readers, but I ultimately can’t recommend it.

For what it’s worth, I think this could have been an amazing YA series (with very few, but very significant, edits).**

There’s such an important social/political message here. However, as written, I found it too heavy-handed for most adult readers. We can be trusted to understand the political message—and why it matters—when it is first introduced.

Certainly, the questions this text asks are important ones. But, when you have this much repetition (words, plot points/situations, even nicknames) with this little world-building and detail around the characters’ motivations…I just can’t see how this is going to resonate with avid Romantasy readers.

**Note: this is NOT a YA book. It has quite a few moderately spicy scenes – yet, honestly, none of them were needed or added to the plot (and I say this as a reader who is fine with spice). It was such a quick burn, no buildup or time to connect with the characters.

As ever, I want to thank Avon Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.

A Sky of Emerald Stars by A.K. Mulford - eArc provided by NetGalley

The second installment in the Golden Court trilogy does not disappoint! AK Mulford continues to deliver complex and rich characters that make the story so engaging. Told through dual POVs, the book plunges readers back into the thrilling world of shapeshifting wolves and werewolves, rife with political intrigue, looming war, epic battles, and journeys of self-discovery.

With twists and turns around every corner and just the right dash of spice, this book kept me hooked from start to finish. Mulford's writing style is a standout—her prose is effortless to binge, and she knows how to craft characters that linger in your mind long after the final page.

If you're looking for a read with intrigue, action, and heart, this series is a must. I can’t wait to see how the story unfolds in the next book!

This was a lush and gorgeous sequel. I enjoyed every page of it! The characters were well-rounded, and I really enjoyed the dual POV. The world-building was fantastic, and the pacing was great. I can't wait to see what else A.K. Mulford has in store for us! I really loved this book!

This was such a fantastic follow up to the first one! I don't expect anything less from AK Mulford because their books always deliver, but I loved this one just as much!

There are dual POVs in this one which was done SO WELL because I wasn't ready to give up on Calla's story, so toggling between Calla and Sadie's stories was perfect. I can't wait for book 3- this ending was even more suspenseful than A River of Golden Bones!!

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyager for this ARC Copy!

When I read book 1 of this series I enjoyed it but it took me a while to really get into. I was not sure if I would want to continue with the series but I decided that since there are so few mainstream shifter books our there right now that I had to give it a chance and I am so glad that I did. There is nothing I love more in a book than a well written political storyline and this one was very enjoyable and balanced really well with the action and battle scenes.

I am definitely looking forward to the final book in the Trilogy!