In the second book of this series we get a continuation of our story through the eyes of Calla and Sophie. Calla and Grey are navigating their new royalty and in trying to establish their Court, they are threatened by Grey’s father, Nero. They take off in search of allies with Briar and some of their human companions.
At the same time Sophie and Maze take off to another kingdom me Maven, who is hiding something and Sophie must nuzzle up to him to try to figure that secret out while fighting her hurt from his rejection.
Throughout these two separate adventures, both Sophie and Briar end up betrothed to o different wolf royalty, despite their feelings for others.

Again, I overall enjoy the story in this series. I continue to find it to flow well. I was worried with the two POVs in this installment that things would get confusing, but thankfully the two timelines progressed at the same time.

I really enjoyed the two narrators in this audiobook. It was really needed and helped the story!

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Voyage, and HarperAudio for this ARC!

Thank you NetGalley for the ALC of this novel.

I will admit I was super hesitant going in to this. I absolutely love this authors dedication to having a diverse cast of characters and having as much representation in their books as possible.

Book one fell flat for me. The diversity and representation carried it for me.

Book two? Whole different ball game! The plot seemed much more fast paced this time around and interactions between the characters didn’t feel forced. The plot twists were delectable and I honestly can not wait until the next book now. I know this isn’t even released yet, but I’m ready when you are A.K. Mulford!

The audiobook had decent pacing for me. Full disclosure, I listen at 2.5 speed. The narrator did a great job switching up character voices and spoke very clearly. No notes!

Make sure you check out the author’s Instagram page for some sneaks from the book. I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy. Those end pages look stunning.

Super enjoyable read!

Thank you to Avon, Harper Voyager, and HarperAudio Adult, through NetGalley, for an advanced reader copy of the e-book and the audio book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This was a great follow-up to the first novel in the Golden Court series. I enjoyed this one more than the first. The pacing was better, the characters more comfortable in their skin, and the stakes even higher. The magic system is more thoroughly fleshed out and is unique. At times I found Calla and Grae to be frustrating in the first installment, so I was happy to have shifting points of view here to see the perspective of a new set of "main" characters in what is really more of an ensemble cast situation.

The romance scenes for Calla and Grae felt forced and unnecessary to me. That relationship was already fleshed out in the first novel, and felt to me like it did nothing to drive the plot forward. Admittedly, I skimmed those pages. This is the main reason for my drop to 4 stars for the review.

Navin's character development in this installment is by far my favorite. His development was well paced over the entire course of the book.

I'm excited to continue (complete?) the series in the next installment. The world is really interesting and the characters engaging. I recommend particularly for fans of fantasy, romantasy, kingdoms with power struggles, LGBTQIA+ representation, wolf-shifters, magic systems and fated mates.

I can’t believe I forgot all the characters. Had to look them up from the last book to remind myself. I received the audio and digital ARC from NetGalley. I do wish there was a recap because for the life of me I cannot remember what Navin did to betray Sadie but luckily more on them in this book. I love the narrator for Calla and Grae. I wanted to love their story way more in this book but I feel like Calla lost her strong independence with Grae. I still enjoyed and will continue the series.
The audiobook narrator for Calla and Grae I love. It was hard to get into the audio parts with Sadie because I did not care for that narrator but since Sadie is half the book I pushed on. I do like the spice level of the book and would recommend.

This sequel amped up the spice and twists. I love the dynamic between Sadie and Naven.
my one complaint.... petty complaint... too many of the names sound similar and I find my dumbass getting confused often. but that could be a me problem. It's not a story problem.
I look forward for book 3.

This fantasy keeps you entertained from the very start! I couldn’t book the book down because I need to know more. The romance in this book is definitely a slow burn but it did have some spice. Enjoyed all the twist and turns this book had and loved the magic system! Would definitely recommend if you love fantasy.

I was lucky enough to get both the ARC and ALC for this This book was fun! It took me a little longer than I would have liked to get into the book, but for those who love a good slow burn, this is definitely the book for you! The book was cute, and I genuinely enjoyed reading it! I highly recommend this book as a followup to book 1! 4/5 for me!
I definitely think having the audio book helped me love the book even more! 5/5 with the audiobook.

Sorry to say this was a ‘miss’ for me.
I feel like it was very much aimed at Young Adult, which I am NOT…so, that’s probably the problem.
I’ve read many wonderful reviews of this one, so this is only MY opinion.

Also, this is book # two in the series, and I did not read book one. (But I am not going to now, either)…

If you enjoy ‘romantasy’ mixed with other worlds, shape-shifting and Magicks, this one might be for you!

It is told from multiple POV’s, and it took me most of the book to keep up with who was who…
Although I did enjoy some aspects of it, there were many others I did not.

Kings, Queens, Knight’s, Wolves, Dragons, Musical Abilities and so much more. Multiple family members and courts…and so on…

Lots of killing (and I mean in a totally horrific way… bones crunching and bloody detritus left behind…)

So, for me, I’m going to give 2 1/2 ⭐️⭐️💫, rounded up to 3.

#ASkyOfEmeraldStars by A.K. Mulford and narrated by Bridget Bordeaux and Vico Ortiz.

Thanks so much to #NetGalley, #HarperAudioAdult and # HarperAudio for an ARC of the audiobook which is due to be released on 12.24.24. So, look for it then!

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3.5 stars
This is book two in the Golden Court series. I’m enjoying the new adult romantasy plot, especially with the werewolf main characters. There’s a lot of fae going around these days and vampires are the OG, so werewolves deserve more of a moment! I appreciate all the rep in this series too!

In A Sky of Emerald Stars, we return to the Golden Court to follow wolf-shifters Queen Calla and Sadie in this whimsical romantasy series.

This 💫Sleeping Beauty-esq 💫 tale is perfect for readers who enjoy romance and are possibly new to the fantasy genre because it has a very easy-to-follow magic system, steamy romantic scenes, and diverse character representation.

+++👂🏼The audiobook narration features performances by Bridget Bordeaux and Vico Ortiz who deliver accurate emotionally resonant performances that showcase their range as voice actors and bring a lot of depth to the cast of characters.

Rosy Moments 🌹
- Diverse character representation (including gender fluidity in main characters)
- Reminders from Book 1 are subtly incorporated to help the reader without seeming repetitive - very well done!
- Spicy scenes beginning at 25% into the book from characters you met in Book 1

A Few Finger Pricks 🪡
- The dual POV lacks crossover and while the cast is split up it begins to feel like two separate books vs a collaborative storyline
- 70% Romance / 30% Plot Split… and I simply prefer a little more plot

🏳️‍🌈 I respect Mulford, a former wildlife biologist turned fantasy author known for their dedication to crafting inclusive stories that spotlight diverse characters and cultures.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, HarperAudio, and A.K. Mulford for the advance reader copy of this book!

⭐ 3.5/5 Stars – I recommend this spicy fairytale romantasy if you’re looking for a lighthearted adventure!

I have to say I liked this book more than the first one and I did enjoy the first one. I loved having Sadie’s point of view. Honestly she is my favorite character in this series.
I enjoyed the twists and turns of the adventure in this book and the betrayal. I found it a bit at some points in the story but overall it kept me engaged.
The slow burn romance usually isn’t my thing but I very much enjoyed how this was done. And the banter in this book is 👩🏼‍🍳😘. I look forward to finding out what happens next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper audio for the opportunity to read this ARC and to give my honest review.

"A Sky of Emerald Stars" picks up Calla’s story and introduces a second main character, Sadie, creating a dynamic and engaging dual POV narrative. Both characters are grappling with their identities, the truths they’ve been told, and the paths they must carve out for themselves.

From opposite corners of the realm, we follow Calla and Sadie as they navigate their own challenges—stumbling, struggling, and finding the strength to rise again. Their journeys are raw, emotional, and deeply personal, yet they’re woven together by themes of resilience and self-discovery. It’s fascinating to see how their perspectives bring different facets of this richly imagined world to life.

This sequel doesn’t just expand the story; it deepens it, pulling you into their struggles and triumphs in a way that makes you cheer for both of them.

A book in a series that does not have that 2nd book syndrome!
This in my opinion was just as good as the 1st book, I really liked the multiple POV's! I have read quite a few of this author's books and this series is my favorite so far. The writing is detailed just enough, the characters are fun and engaging, and the story is exciting!

Book 2 of the Golden Court was exactly what I needed. I really loved the first one and enjoy the main characters a lot. I have a bad habit of not reading blurbs or anything so I came in with no expectations and was pleasantly surprised with the dual POV between Calla and Sadie. I absolutely love both characters. Strong female leads that do anything for their people. Their love interests are also top tier!

Narration was perfect as always.

This book gives me YA vibes with some spice. A very good balance IMO. I love the storyline and how both FMC are having their own adventures. When both POVs collide it was all I needed. It was the perfect amount of world building and fantasy.

A fantasy novel that touches on the challenges the social construct of gender. This book is the redemption arch for the first book in the Golden Court series.

Something I liked about this book is that we get to see the other characters develop. While I appreciate the adventure and hardships that Calla has gone through to get to this point, I enjoyed the story of Sadie and Navin much more. I'd have loved to hear from some of the other characters, like Briar, Ora, or Maez. I think this book is setting up for a more installments, but it didn't disappoint. If anything I enjoyed this one more than the first.

My favorite thing about this series is the exploration of gender fluidity. I think there needs to be more of this in fantasy writing. Gender is a social construct and this series really digs into that. There was a bit heavy on travel and dialog in the first two thirds and the end picks up with some surprising twists. All in all, it was well written, I enjoyed the dual narration of the audiobook. I will definitely pick up the third installment. A solid 3.75 rounded to a 4.

4.5/5

I was so excited to go back to the world of The Golden Court! And unlike The Five Crowns of Okrinth, we stay with the main character of the first book and we get to see Calla be Queen. The characters and character relationships are so good in this one. A.K. Mulford is incredible at creating complex relationships with each and every character, and that is no different with Sadie.

I can't wait for the next and final installment of this great series! I wonder if we will get another POV in that book....

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free audio arc of this book.

I figured I would give the second book a try in hope of the plot actually going somewhere this time around and the dialouge improving between the characters so it didn't sound like a strange mixture of YA/adult and adult themes thrown in like in the first.

I was pleasantly surprised where the book does seem more adult throughout the story. The characters become more comfortable with themselves, and the story does have more of a plot to it. However, is it really anything to write home about? Unfortunately not. Overall, it was entertaining, but something that you can quickly forget about once you finish it. This time, I think I'm truly done and do not plan to continue on with the series.

This book jumped right in! While the first book was development and weaving of this world, A Sky of Emerald Stars threw us right into the deep end, especially in the last half of the book. We're met with a slight shift of focus in this book to Sadie and gaining some perspective into her and the relationships she's forming. We get broken trust and the divulging of some big secrets from book ones' side characters. I certainly didn't see some of the twists coming, but loved how they added to the intrigue and development of the story. There's so much to like here, I wasn't bored with some of the spotlights and backstories, like I could've been. I felt invested in the characters, drawn in, and interested by the magic system that A. K. Mulford introduces us to!

The only thing that kept this from being a five-star read was at times, the spice felt like it didn't belong in the scene. While the spice was lovely, a couple of times, I felt like, "ya'll this is not the time". 😂

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Audio, for this ALC!

A Sky of Emerald Stars is book 2 in the Golden Court trilogy and switches off between two POVs: Sadie, a strong warrior who will do anything to protect her Queen and wolfpack, and Calla, a newly ascended Queen of the wolves who is finding her way and working to create peace and acceptance in the kingdom among wolves and humans alike.

Both Sadie and Calla have their own missions that they are working to accomplish in this story. They go on journeys and are confronted with obstacles to overcome but the action felt much slower paced to me in this book and seemed to take a second seat next to the romance. Sadie’s relationship with Naven and Calla’s interactions with Grae seemed to take center stage and although interesting, often felt forced and out of place.

The main message that I got out of this book was that people or wolves should be able to love whomever they want to love and not be persecuted or attacked for the way they identify or whom they choose to partner with in life. Gender was very fluid in this book among characters and love occurred in all forms. This story had great LGTBQ+ representation bringing a diverse perspective to the romantasy genre.

I listened to the book through NetGalley and got easily confused in the beginning by the two female narrators. They did a great job voicing the characters but I had a hard time distinguishing who was talking at first. I eventually got used to the differences in their voices but it would have been nice to see their names listed with each chapter so I could easily identify whose story was being given at the moment.

Book 1 swept me away but unfortunately I was underwhelmed with book 2. I would have liked to dive more into the wolf politics and the issues dividing all the packs. More focus on moving the plot forward and less on the romantic lives of the characters would have made the story more engaging to me. Overall, I don’t feel that this book was for me and I don’t plan to continue on in the series.

Many thanks to HarperAudio Adult for allowing me to listen to this audio ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Audio review: This book adds a second POV and narrator from what was in the first one. Bridget Bordeaux joins Vico Ortiz, who did a great job once again. I liked both narrators and thought that they fit the characters well. Overall it was a high quality and good audiobook!

Book review: This was definitely a middle book to me. I don't think much happened to move the story forward, and I still feel that this series reads like YA (aside from the age of the characters and the copious spicy scenes) - on that note, the spicy scenes started to get tedious, I thought there were just too many. I like the way A.K. Mulford handles inclusion, self love and acceptance, strong and healthy relationships, and control and discrimination. A lot of heavy topics put in an accessible way. Overall a decent book!

Book: 3/5
Audiobook: 4/5