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!

I absolutely loved book 1, A River of Golden Bones, and was so excited for this book, A Sky of Emerald Stars. But it just didn’t meet expectations for me.

What I enjoyed:
- Dual POV: we still get Calla’s pov but we also get Sadie’s POV and I really enjoyed that
- Character development: I feel like we got to see some really good development from Sadie and Calla, as well of some of the supporting characters
- The setting: Mulford never lets me down on her settings and the continuation of this world is no different! It was cool to get to explore more of the world in this book


What I didn’t enjoy:
- The plot didn’t really get anywhere. Like yes this is obviously stuff we need to know to move forward in the series. Setting up for a war and trying to acquire allies. But it just didn’t seem like the plot moved forward. It felt like a side quest.
- The pacing: this dragged. I was tandem reading (ebook + audio) and I still had to take a break because I got so bored.
- The romance between Sadie and Navin: I hate second chance romances. It is so hard to convince me that they can actually make things work a second time. This romance was on the way to convincing me and then!!!! <spoiler>All of a sudden (IN THE MIDDLE OF A FIGHT) all is forgiven and they’re saying “I love you”. I went back to reread because I was SURE that I had missed something. I hadn’t. </spoiler>

I honestly feel like this could have been a novella and It could have been a 5 star read. But here we are almost 400 pages and a 3.5 star.

** thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me an eARC and an ALC**

The second book in the Golden Court Series continues with Calla the wolf shifter. After reclaiming their land, war is still brewing in another court. Enter Sadie, another shifter who is the second POV in this story. She’s on a journey in a magical wagon to gain allies but she’s stuck in a forced proximity situation with her ex.

You do need to read book one, but I will say that I enjoyed book two even more! I had a really good time with this story and these characters. I loved the gender fluid representation.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, A.K. Mulford, and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing this free ARC. This is my honest review! This published on December 24th.

A really good sequel. I enjoyed it a lot. Would recommend especially if you enjoyed the first book and the genre.

Gosh I can’t even begin to explain how much I love this book. The characters, the storyline, all of it!! It was such a good continuation of book 1 and I loved how everyone developed even more.

This was a great continuation to the first book. I enjoyed the pacing of the book, which is not rushed, but allows you to settle into the characters and the story. Having the dual points helped to keep track of everything going on, and the two narrators were amazing.

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.

A Sky of Emerald Stars is the second book in the Golder Court series. In this book we catch back up with Calla Grae but we also get to hang with Sadie and Navin on this new adventure they are on to save the kingdom and our beloved Ora from the clutches of King Nero.

What I love about Mulford is she has engaging and endearing characters that you cant help but fall in love with without sacrificing the swoon-worthy romance and storylines. The world building is solid and the character growth is unmatched.

A.K. Mulford is one of those authors that I will instantly buy when they have a new book out!

A Sky of Emerald Stars is the second in the Golden Court series. Mulford is particularly good at world-building and this story does not disappoint. If you like queer love stories, shape shifters, and political drama, this book is 100% made for you!

I’m sitting here, starring at this book, while frantically checking to see when the third book will be released.

While I enjoyed the first book, this one took it to a whole new level. I loved Sadie and Navin’s dynamic, and Maez was hilarious and endearing at the same time. Once again there was significant LGBTQ+ representation, and the themes of found family and dealing with societal prejudices were central to the plot.

I was able to listen to the audiobook and read the physical book courtesy of ARCs from NetGallery and Harper Voyager (thank you!). I enjoyed the narration as well, and felt like the pacing of the book was perfect.

I cannot wait for book 3!!!