This is book 2 in the Golden Court series, and it was such a fun, fast-paced romantasy. I’m a total sucker for anything wolf or werewolf-related, so the fact that most of the characters are wolves? Loved that.

I actually liked this one even more than the first. The chemistry between Sadie and Navin was so good—witty, intriguing, and full of tension. With her being a wolf and him being human, their relationship has that forbidden vibe, plus the slow burn is chef’s kiss.

I’m usually not into political stuff in books, but the wolf politics here worked for me. Maybe because it’s not the usual human drama—it felt fresh and interesting, especially with how the wolves and humans interact.

As for Grae and Calla—yeah, I get their chapters were important, but the spice felt a bit much at times. I mean, we get it, you’re mates and super into each other… but maybe chill a little when things are falling apart?

Definitely check this out if you’re into:
• Multiple POVs
• Magic and paranormal stuff
• Fun banter

Let me start by acknowledging that I’ve always gravitated more toward vampire stories than werewolf tales. That said, I’ve made an effort to expand my reading into new mythologies and tropes, and this series felt like a promising entry point. With werewolves at the center of the narrative but fae and other magical beings present in the background, it offers a broader supernatural world without overwhelming complexity. In that respect, it delivered: the book is accessible and easy to read, which made for a pleasant experience overall.

While I may not connect as deeply with werewolf-centered stories as some readers might, I can see this being a strong pick for those who enjoy that lore. The first book served primarily to introduce the cast and establish the broader world, and I appreciated how this installment began to expand the stakes through a more politically driven plot. The presence of larger power dynamics and maneuvering among various factions gave the narrative a welcome layer of depth.

Interestingly, while the previous book focused heavily on Calla, this one shifted some of the spotlight to Sadie, one of the wolves in her pack. I hadn’t anticipated that, but the change in perspective worked well and allowed more characters to take center stage. That said, Sadie’s romantic arc felt a bit rushed. Her relationship went through significant emotional swings—from falling in love, to a break of trust, to reconciliation—all within a short span. Given the intensity of those emotional shifts, the pacing felt a little too compressed to fully resonate.

What stood out most to me, however, was the book’s commitment to diversity. The range of representation—across sexuality, gender identity, cultural background, and belief systems—was refreshing and thoughtfully woven into the story. Even though I felt somewhat removed emotionally at times, I still found the plot engaging and would recommend the book, especially to readers looking for inclusive and approachable fantasy.

Content warnings: references to the death of friends, scenes of blood and gore, and themes of war.

This is a fantastic story. I love that you get two POV. The world building continues to expand in truly glorious ways. I love the way that the author feeds the readers information. The characters continue to expand their slept. There are some truly shocking parts to this story. I was left with my jaw on the floor many times throughout this story. I highly encourage you to read this series.

A Sky of Emerald Stars is the next book in Mulford's Golden Court series and follows Sadie and Calla as they continue to fight for their pack and community against past foes.

This was such an enjoyable read! It felt like a natural progression of the story set up in A River of Golden Bones, full of romance and twists to keep you hooked. I was caught off guard by the POV's to be Sadie and Calla, but it was fun to revisit the story from their point of view. I cannot wait for the third book to come out to see how it all ends!

Unfortunately, I don't think I will be continuing this series. That's not to say the story isn't good but I just don't feel a strong desire to know more or have an urgency while reading. Not every book is for every reader and that is OK!

That being said, you may absolutely LOVE this series. This romantasy story features wolf shifters, political intrigue, oppression dynamics between wolves and humans, waring kingdoms, multiple POVs and strong LGTB+ representation.

This installment shifts some of the focus away from Calla and Grae's story and brings some side characters in to share the spotlight. We spend part of the book following Sadie and her relationship with Navin. Both stories are interesting in their own right. Calla/Grae are traveling to a neighboring kingdom in an attempt to secure soldiers to rescue a dear friend and Calla is struggling with how to own her identify without it negatively effecting her friends/kingdom. Sadie and Navin were sent to a different kingdom in an attempt to secure their loyalty for the upcoming fight with Grae's father. This had a dual purpose of forcing Sadie to confront her feelings for Navin, as well as the hurt/betrayal she felt at the end of book 1. We get introduced to a whole different magic system in this book and the political stakes get more complicated.

Overall, I didn't dislike the book by any means! The story has good bones but it doesn't excite me as much as some other romantasy series I am currently reading so I will be focusing my time elsewhere.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC for my honest opinion.

I really love this series. A K Mumford has done a wonderful job with this story and bringing us back to this world but with focus on other characters. I really enjoyed it!!

This book picks up right where the first one left off. Calla is queen, Briar is with her mate and happy. Everything seems to be okay for now as they wait for Nero to decide if he is going to make war against them. Everyone is moving on except for Sadie who is still mad about Navin choosing his brother over her.

The book starts out a little slow and while stuff is still happening and it’s exciting it also moves at a slow pace. The story doesn’t really get going until about the halfway mark where all their plans start to fall apart and we learn about a big secret Navin was keeping that could destroy the world.

The relationship between Sadie and Navin is believable and while there is a little bit of the miscommunication troupe in there it more about him not telling her everything, keeping secrets. Although I understand why, it also felt like he could have told her some things, like who he really was, if he trusted and loved her.

The part with the Ice queen and Calla being afraid to be herself and then deciding she isn’t going to cower or try to hide for anyone was done really well and I loved how she stood up for herself in that moment and wasn’t afraid to really be who she was.

A great fantasy romance with twists I didn’t see coming. The ending was done so well and left me needing to read the next book.

Unfortunately this book was a bit of a let down for me. it wasn't horrible, but it didn't wow me. I think I enjoyed book one more.
the characters felt a bit flat, the pacing was a bit too slow.

This book was kinda slow, but ultimately got me in the second half. It definitely took me a moment to remember who everyone was, but once we really got in the thick of the drama, I had a great time! Navin was an interesting character, and I wish it wasnt completely glossed over that they were agender. But I should have known that all 3 books were gonna be queer! i'm definitely looking forward to book 3, especially after that crazy ending!

A Sky of Emerald Stars by A.K. Mulford is a strong, emotionally driven follow-up to A River of Golden Bones. With dual POVs from Queen Calla and Sadie Rauxtide, the story blends magic, politics, and romance as they each fight for their people and navigate complicated relationships. Calla’s journey of identity and leadership feels heartfelt, while Sadie and Navin’s slow-burning trust and connection add a nice romantic edge.

The worldbuilding is lush and diverse, with settings that feel vivid and real—from frozen courts to fiery strongholds. The pacing dips a bit at times with the shifting perspectives, but overall it’s a solid mix of action, heart, and fantasy. If you're into character-driven romantasy with themes of resistance and self-discovery, this one’s worth picking up.

I requested this with not having read the first book. I have tried getting through the first book to read this but unfortunately I just could not get through it. So I won't be able to read this one as I don't think I'll continue on with the series.

Okay sooo… A Sky of Emerald Stars had me excited (like super excited) after how much I LOVED A River of Golden Bones — but this one? Ehhh, it kinda missed the mark for me.

Don’t get me wrong, there were some really great moments!!
Sadie’s POV?? LOVED.
More of Calla?? YES PLEASE.
The worldbuilding?? Gorgeous as always — like, seriously, A.K. Mulford never fails to create a setting that feels rich and magical and alive. I felt totally immersed in Aotreas again and was so here for all the icy courts and wolf politics!!

BUT… the pacing?? Oof. I felt like I was in one long side quest that never quite hit its destination. I kept waiting for something big to happen, and it kinda just… didn’t? It dragged in a way that made it really hard to stay locked in, even while tandem reading with the audiobook.

And okay — Sadie + Navin?? I wanted to root for them, but the second-chance romance didn’t fully convince me. Like yes, enemies-to-lovers is my jam, but middle of a battle confession?? That whiplash was real. I literally went back thinking I missed a chapter or something. I needed wayyy more buildup and resolution for that “I love you” moment to land.

Also… this really could’ve been a novella and I think it would’ve packed a stronger punch. The pieces were there, the characters were growing, the world is so good — but the story just felt stuck in limbo instead of taking the next big leap.

3/5 stars from me
Still love the series, still love Calla, and I’m definitely sticking around for book 3 because the potential is HUGE… but yeah, this one wasn’t my fave.

PS: Navin, I am watching you.
PPS: Sadie deserves a full arc, not just romantic drama!!
PPPS: Calla’s journey with gender identity?? Beautiful and real — more of that please!!!

Here’s hoping the next book brings the FIRE!!!
Still rooting for Aotreas… but I’m gonna need more DRAMA and less filler next time.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

This was a great follow up to the first in the series. I do think that there were more slow portions of the plot than I was hoping for which is the main reason for 3 stars overall..

Holy crap!!!! I wish I started this series sooner! I love love loved it! It’s an action packed fantasy that is perfect for werewolf loving readers! What a great way to continue! I thought this book was better than the first book!

What a solid follow up! This sequel filled in just the right places in the story to keep it connected to the first book, while still opening the universe up a little more in a really inviting way. The continuation of the story and the continued character growth felt honest, natural and authentic. This is another really solid LGBTQIA+ story that never feels forced or overdone.

This book started out really slow which made it really hard to get into it. However, I did really enjoy the world building and character development!

Badass FMC: ✅
HOT MC: ✅
Wolves: ✅
Romance: ✅
Slow burn: ✅
Banter: ✅
Let me take care of you: ✅
Enemies to Lovers: ✅
I ate this book up! It was truly such a joy to read and I highly recommend this to anyone who loves these tropes and more!

⋆.˚✮ 3.5 stars ✮˚.⋆

⤿ Thank you to Harper Voyager for the arc through netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

let me first admit that i have always been a vampire girly, werewolves were never my favorite but as i have evolved in my reading i find it fun to try to explore more tropes and mythology. this series seemed like a great first step, as it includes werewolves at the helm of the plot but fae and other magic users exist. i would say thats accurate, this is an easy book to read and that is one thing i enjoyed about this story.

like i said, i might just not connect with this book in the same way others might because i don’t prefer werewolves. however, for those who enjoy them this is perfect. the first book is a lot more about exploring and introducing the main characters for the rest of the series, but i really liked how political this story was. the reader is exposed to a lot more of the political figures at play and expanded the stakes.

the first book focused on Calla, and while she still had some chapters it was a lot more about one of the wolves in her pack, Sadie. I didn’t expect this but I thought it was good for more characters to get focus. however, her romance that was developed a little too fast for me. she had fallen in love with her romance interest in the last book, ended up hating him, and then eventually in this went back to loving him. the way it was written and with events happening it just felt a little fast to me.

my favorite thing about this book was how diverse it is. there’s so many different kinds of characters and their sexuality, gender, cultural values, etc. overall this is actually an interesting story even if I felt a bit detached, so I recommend!

↬ trigger warnings: death of friends mentioned, blood and gore, war themes

Calla is the new Queen of Olmedere and needs to save her sister and create an environment where wolves and humans can live together. Nero on the other hand disowns his son and rages war because he doesn’t feel a Queen should rule. There is courts who join them and then in return help the enemy to try to take down their court.

There are LGBTQ characters, wolves, magic. This story is all inclusive.