A.K. Mulford weaves the most beautiful stories! A Sky of Emerald Stars is a stunning queer shifter romatasy book and is the second book in the Golden Court series. Every book I read from A.K. Mulford is better than the last and I truly cannot pick favorites because each has a special place in my heart. ASOES is full of even more action and adventure, a new magic system, political unrest, and lots of twists and turns! There is not a dull moment as we follow Sadie and Navin’s tumultuous love story. We also get Calla’s POV as she tackles her role as the Queen of the Golden Court so you will definitely get to see all your favorite characters from book one, A River of Golden Bones.

Fantasy books overall, whether purposefully or not, tend to reflect current political and social climates. Fantasy lets us explore tough topics through a different lens. It often leads the reader to experience “first-hand” the struggles of the main characters. ASOES, along with the first book, explores gender and gender roles specifically with shifters. I think this an amazing concept as, generally, wolf-shifters in literature often have a rigid patriarchal social structure. I think the author does an amazing job of highlighting current sociopolitical issues by immersing you in the stories of her characters.

Overall, ASOES is a stunning sequel in the Golden Court series and I cannot wait for the next book! If you are a fan of A.K. Mulford’s Five Crown’s of Okrinth series (and are craving more like me) or are a big fan of romantasy, I think you are really going to enjoy the Golden Court series!

Happy Reading!

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for providing this book for review via NetGalley!

A Sky of Emerald Stars by AK Mulford is the second installment in the Golden Court series, a fantasy romance saga of werewolves, royal courts, and political intrigue. Following the reign of the tyrannical sorceress Sawyn, this book introduces new conflicts as the Golden Court rebuilds and faces the looming threat of the rival Wolf King, Nero. With dual points of view, the story splits between Sadie Rauxtide, a royal guard on a mission to secure allies and confront her attraction to the enigmatic Navin, and Queen Calla, navigating diplomacy, personal identity, and prejudice in their quest to save Ora and preserve peace.

Unfortunately, this sequel didn’t improve my experience with the series. While the addition of Sadie’s perspective initially seemed promising, her characterization felt frustratingly similar to Calla’s. Both protagonists are consumed by self-doubt, impulsiveness, and explosive anger, which made their actions feel repetitive and juvenile. Their personal struggles overshadowed the broader stakes of the plot, detracting from the high-stakes revolution and potential for rich world-building.

The narrative itself felt disjointed, with revelations that lacked impact and pacing that made it hard to stay engaged. What could have been an intricate exploration of identity, diplomacy, and resilience instead became bogged down by underdeveloped emotional arcs and predictable conflicts.

Though A Sky of Emerald Stars aimed to blend themes of self-discovery and adventure, it ultimately fell flat for me. With this installment failing to address the issues I had with the first book, I’ve decided to part ways with the Golden Court series. Fans of the first book may still find elements to enjoy, but this series hasn't capture my interest enough to continue.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

This sequel didn’t quite live up to my expectations, but held some interesting elements nonetheless.

I wish there were more Calla chapters. I think this book is divided into ⅔ Sadie chapters and ⅓ Calla chapters, or maybe even ¾ vs ¼. I really loved her character in the first book, and her relationship with Grae, so of course I was a little sad they only got this little page time.

Sadie was… well… she was whining a lot and definitely felt like a flat character. She got on my nerves for the largest part of this book. Partly (but not limited to) it was because I would have preferred for her to follow through on some of the (threatening) promises she made, yet she didn’t.

The plot twists in this story (plural, because yes there are multiple twists that will blow your mind), on the other hand, managed to surprise me and get me more invested while reading this story. Also, just like in the first book, identity and discovering who you are, coming to terms with limitations and short sightedness, yet never giving up, play a major role in this story, and I loved that.

I’ve read the ebook and the audiobook, both were great. The writing style and the way the narrator brings the story and characters to life are definitely two reasons why you should pick up this book (written or audio) if you’ve read book 1 already.

Still, I’m eager to find out what will happen in the next and last book of this trilogy.

3,5/5 stars for me.

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Voyager for this eARC.

A Sky of Emerald Stars picks up where A River of Golden Bones left off, and some of our beloved characters are struggling. As the threats against the Golden Court increase, Calla and Grae must take some risks to try to secure the support needed to protect their kingdom. A Sky of Emerald Stars also gives us Sadie’s perspective as she deals with the fallout of the events from A River of Golden Bones.

Ultimately, the core group of characters is divided, with different people taking on important missions. This doubles the risks and allows us to both return to familiar places visited in book 1 and explore new locations relevant to book 2. As the groups travel and attempt to complete their missions, they face new threats that increase the risks and up the stakes.

A.K. Mulford takes her time to develop the characters and their arcs, and I consider that a plus. We get to know the characters better and there’s no magic switch flipped to solve their problems. The struggles Sadie faces are ones that she wrestles with, and they’re presented realistically. It does make the resolution more meaningful because she thinks about everything and considers the implications of her decisions.

We also learn more about the history of the courts and the relationship between the wolves and humans. It’s clear some have twisted the stories to give themselves more power and justify the mistreatment of humans.

While there are some surprises and obstacles along the way, there’s a sense while reading this that things are almost too easy. There’s almost a false sense of security as everyone works through the challenges they face without dire consequences. Of course, that only makes the events at the end of the book hit harder. The stage is set for confrontation in book 3, and the consequences of failure weigh on everyone. There was definitely a shocking development at the end that I didn’t see coming, and I’m definitely curious to see how things play out in the next book.

I really just couldn’t get into this book this time. The pacing of the book was really slow and nothing major happened that would grab your attention. I listened to the audiobook and I just couldn’t remember anything memorable about it in which I remember liking the first book. Just overall I I didn’t like it.

I want to thank NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

ARC REVIEW: A Sky of Emerald Stars by A.K. Mulford ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon with Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the 2nd installment in A.K. Mulford’s Golden Court fantasy shifter series. A Sky of Emerald Stars is told from both Calla and Sadie’s POV in alternating chapters, instead of solely Calla’s point of view. This allowed for the group of wolves to split up and set out on different missions in order to try and garner alliances against the ongoing threat of war. This one suffered from “middle book” syndrome - the reader received a lot of important information, but ultimately the plot wasn’t advanced very far forward.

I loved getting Sadie’s point of view! In a way I wished we stayed with her the whole time, even though I know we needed to see what Calla was also up to. Although, it seemed like Calla’s POV mostly served to give us smutty scenes with Grae, which felt like pure distraction. Sadie felt like a very raw, real character and I can’t wait to see more of her journey. This book lacked that unexplainable magic that the first book had, it’s hard to put into words because I enjoyed reading it but also felt disappointed. I will definitely read the 3rd book to see how things resolve with our wolves!

A Sky of Emerald Stars will be released Decently 24th 2024!

Being a while since I had read the first book, I had some trouble getting into things. However, I do enjoy the new POVs and the better look we get in to more characters’ heads.

A Sky of Emerald Stars by A.K. Mulford (Release Date Dec 24)

Okay, I’m pretty sure the second half of this book my anxiety had anxiety 😂 I honestly ended up loving this book, and now I need answers for what’s to come. I literally need them and I needed them yesterday. This world has such a unique magic system, history and storyline I’m becoming so invested. Not only that the representation, the character relationships, and growth that occurs is *chefs kiss* I loved that we got more points of view, and learned so much more about characters from the first book. Also the spice and plot twists 👀

Needless to say: I blushed, giggles, laughed, gasped VERY loudly, and tried to speed read various times 😂 if you enjoyed book one, please for all that holy read book two.

4/5 🦝🦝🦝🦝
3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️

What you’ll find:
* Fated Mates
* Found Family
* Wolf Shifters
* Insane Magic System
* Battles & Quests
* TENSION & SPICEY SPICE
* Forced Proximity
* Second Chance
* LGBTQ+ Representation

This book is the second in its series. Like my typical reading style, I started with the second book of the series without reading the first. This book had a backstory I missed and need to catch up on!
As far as this book, the characters were interesting, and the history and storyline were good. Overall, I enjoyed this book and the adventures of the characters. The ending had quite the blindside and cliffhanger.
My favorite part of the book was the way they explained musical magic, which was very interesting, and I love the idea of musical magic.
I feel invested in this series and am ready for the next book.
Thank you, NetGalley, Harper Voyager, and A.K. Mulford, for the opportunity to read this for an honest review before publication.

I was a little nervous going into this one because I LOVED Calla and Grae so much and I wasn't sure I could do a whole book of Sadie. But luckily I was completely wrong. Sadie is such a solid character and I really enjoyed her part of the story and getting to learn more about her. Nevin was also a surprise for me - there was SO much more to him than I originally thought. I love that this is like a wolf version of sleeping beauty and that I still got some Calla and Grae in this one. I am definitely looking forward to book 3- so much was left up in the air and I can't wait to see where it takes us.

A Sky of Emerald Stars is book 2 of A. K. Mulford’s Golden Court Trilogy. The story picks up shortly after the events of A River of Golden Bones. Calla and their king consort Grae are working to rebuild their kingdom - a place for both wolves and humans - after the defeat of the evil Sawyn. But war is on the horizon. King Nero of the Silver Court will not let the slight against him and his kingdom go unpunished. Unable to get to Calla directly, he takes his wrath out on the humans of his lands. People flee the Silver Court in droves. Things only get worse from there. Ora, Calla’s friend and advisor, goes missing, believed kidnapped by Nero. Navin is hiding something important and it is unclear the extent of his secret and what it could imply. Calla needs allies against those who threaten the world they want to create. Sadie, Navin, and Maez are tasked with the diplomatic mission to bring the Onyx Court to their side, while Calla, Grae, and Briar travel to see the queen of the Ice Wolves. What comes next is a wide sweeping story of love, betrayal, and second chances.

I enjoyed this second installment much more than book one. The story has found its flow and the characters have come into themselves. They had much more depth and personality. Calla and Grae, while still important to the story, take a bit of a backseat. The focus is more heavily placed on Sadie and Navin, which I’m personally glad for. They have quickly become my two favorite characters. Sadie is strong and sassy but still flawed. Navin is much more than the soft musician I thought. Sometimes I want to punch him in the face, but the dynamic between the two of them is largely very cute.

Feeling very YA previously, book 2 finally finds its footing start reading like the new adult romantasy it’s advertised as. The writing is more fleshed out and mature. I enjoyed the writing much more. Unfortunately, the spicy scenes often feel out of place and forced. Calla and Grae are newly mated, I understand, but their timing could be better. It doesn’t add anything to the story. It feels like it’s there to appease the people who complained about the lack of spice in the first book.

I love the gender exploration that takes place. Calla is still coming into their chosen identity and everything it entails. I don’t completely understand why the wolves are slow to accept being nonbinary when they have no issues with same-sex couples (Briar and Maez are both female and fated mates). Also, why does Calla still call themself “queen” of the golden wolves when that is an arguably feminine term? These little things bugged me, but I like the overall representation.

I’m eager to see how the story concludes in the final book.

Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Voyager, and A.K. Mulford for supplying me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved how we still got Callas POV but also we got Sadie’s! I didn’t expect to love Sadie as much as I did! Her story is beautiful and seeing her fall in love with Navin was amazing. Sadie is so fierce and loyal to her friends but she also has a soft side especially when it comes to Navin.

There was many twists and turns, and a little bit of spice to keep my attention. I feel like this book flowed better than the first one did! The prose was executed brilliantly!

A Sky of Emerald Stars is the second book in A.K. Mulford’s Golden Court trilogy and I loved the story of Sadie and Navin intertwined with Calla and Grey’s continuing story. This book leaves off a HUGE cliffhanger.

I loved the flow of this book. I feel like A.K. Mulford did an amazing job at the smoothness in transition between characters. I read her first book as an ARC and this one by far was my favorite. Sadie and Navin might be one of my favorite couples and I love the expanse of the kingdoms and the magic systems that are brought up in this book.

I look forward to more from A.K. Mulford for the last book in this trilogy. She brings such a diverse writing with her characters but makes it an enjoyable read for all.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an eARC of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

A Sky of Emerald Stars is a delightful follow up to the first book in the golden court series. The authors writing style and character development skills continue to shine brilliantly and I am eager for book three.

A Sky of Emerald Stars is the second book in the Golden Court series and picks up following the events of A River of Golden Bones. It’s told through Sadie and Calla’s POVs as they take on different tasks for Calla’s court. I found Calla’s POV more interesting although both were necessary for the story’s progression. Given the nature of Sadie’s assignment, this book has some of the feels of a first in series. There’s a lot of world building and set up that resulted in a slower pace to the first half. The pacing picks up considerably in the second half. One of the big revelations was something I had guessed at during the events of the first book, but it was nice to see it confirmed. There were other revelations, twists, and betrayals that had me completely blindsided. I can’t wait for the next book.

It's been a while since I read the first book, so I had some trouble getting into this one. The slower pace at the start didn’t help, but as the storyline progressed and picked up, and I became more invested in Sadie's relationship. There’s a lot happening across the two storylines, and I'm looking forward to the next book to see how it all plays out. As always, AK Mulford crafts a fun, diverse, enjoyable read!

Thank you to NetGalley & Harper Voyager for the digital galley in exchange for my review.

A Sky of Emerald Stars is the second book in the Golden Court trilogy and should definitely be read in order. It is told from Calla, the new Golden Court Queen, and Sadie’s, a royal wolf shifter guard, points of view. Calla struggles with leadership and maintaining their Merem identity in this book while dealing with political alliances. Meanwhile, Sadie, Maez, and Navin are on assignment and we follow their journey.

It has been a while since I read the first book and as a result I had a bit of a hard time getting into this one. Being slower paced at the beginning contributed, but it picked up and I became more invested in Sadies relationship. There is a lot of concurrent action across the two story lines and I look forward to reading the final book to see how all of the problems presented are resolved.

Thank you HarperCollins Publishers for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

Honestly this was a great sequel. The progression felt natural and even included pov from the original fix. I was invested in Sadie's story and was impressed with the twist in the story that I wasn't expecting.

A very fun read! I enjoyed this book more than the first in the series. I find Sadie a much more compelling character than Calla, so I really enjoyed getting more of her story.

In the second installment of the Golden Court, Sawyn, the evil sorceress, is defeated, but the Golden Court is scrambling to rebuild and there are still threats lingering. Unfortunately, one of those threats kidnaps Ora, and Sadie is tasked to ride with Navin and Maez to win allies and to uncover Navin's secrets. Sadie is absolutely stewing because Navin betrayed her, but Maez suggests she try to seduce him to learn his secrets. Calla and the rest of the Golden Court go to the Ice Wolves to try to make Ingrid, the Ice Wolf pack's queen, help her rescue Ora and keep Nero at bay. Unfortunately, everything is a hot mess, and no one is being helpful and disaster lurks around every corner.

First off: you HAVE to read A River of Golden Bones to understand anything happening in this book. It picks up pretty much right after that one ends, and it is easy to get lost if you don't remember what happened in the previous novel. This book is so angsty with sooooo much betrayal. I honestly don't understand how anyone trusts anyone else in this universe, especially after the twists and turns in this one. Sadie is kind of a mopey, self-centered pain in the ass who fails to see the bigger picture sometimes, but her chemistry with Navin was great. Navin is a very layered character with an interesting background, so it was annoying to see Sadie fall .

There are some issues with pacing, and I found myself skimming a bit, but overall, this was an enjoyable follow-up to the first in the series. The characters act immature at times, but that seems to align with other new adult books I've read. The spice, while fairly good, is placed oddly sometimes - the characters seem to use sex as a distraction from life-threatening situations, which can be jarring as a reader. However, the big reveals in this book related to Navin and Ora were more than enough to keep me interested despite any other flaws the book may have had.