A fresh romantic fantasy trilogy begins with A River of Golden Bones , the latest fromauthor A.K. Mulford , known for their Five Crowns of Okrith serial publication . It ’s described as “ a bend on Sleeping Beauty , ” and the spin is a big one : thetwin protagonistshavesecret beast identity .
The tress is disclose in this description of the book ( and it ’s hinted at in the covering art ) , the first entry in the Golden Court serial . Keep read to see the full cover — follow by an exclusive Chapter One excerption from the December departure .
A sleeping curse . A fallen Margaret Court . A secret twin .
Image: Harper Voyager
Twins Calla and Briar have drop their entire lives hiding from the powerful sorceress who destroy their kingdom … and from the humans who do n’t lie with they are Wolves . Each twin has their own design in life : Briar ’s is to marry the prince of an friend pack and save the Golden Court . Calla ’s intent is to remain a secret , her counterpart ’s shadow … the backup architectural plan .
No one knows who Calla truly is except for her childhood friend — and sister ’s betroth — the distractingly giving Prince Grae . But when Calla and Briar journey out of concealing for Briar ’s wedding , all of their well - made plans go awry . The evil sorceress is back with another dormancy hex for the last heritor to the Golden Court .
Calla must step out of the shadows to save their sister , their land , and their own legacy . Continuing to conceal as a man and deny who she sincerely is , Calla embarks on a quest across the realm , discovering a whole world she never know existed . Outside the confines of rigid Wolf society , Calla start to wonder : who could she be if she dared to try ?
Image: Harper Voyager
Full of adventure , love , sex geographic expedition , and self - find , A River of Golden Bones follows Calla ’s journey through treacherous Wolf kingdoms , monster - satisfy kingdom , and the depths of their own heart in this thrilling romantic fantasy .
Chapter 1
The gilded baby buggy kicked up rubble as townsfolk rushed to the streets , packing every window and stoup . They waved their handkerchief at the two coaches , craning their necks , trying to get a peek at the crown prince . The villagers did n’t know why he was there , but I did , and it made my heart jump into my throat with turmoil . I knew tomorrow I ’d be leaving township in one of those gilded carriages back to his castle .
A rook cawed above me , iridescent wings shimmer as it landed on a maple branch . I scowl at the midnight skirt — a bad omen . Sawyn ’s regular army of mask guards brandished the same moniker . And now , whenever I get word them , my stomach turned sour , sobering me from the thrill of the impinge carriages .
With a frown toward the rook , I leapt from my trusty rod . I did n’t take any speculative omens today of all days . My intestine lurched as the wind hotfoot around me and I landed in a crouch . I did a warm CAT scan of the clearing , though I knew no humans were nearby . Their scent would ’ve carried easy through the juiceless summer forest .
I peer back at the maple tree , but the rook had disappeared into the dense foliation . I insert my amber necklace back under my neckline and dust the leave of absence off my threadbare dress . joint snapped under my spare foundation as I flash downhill . My dress snag on a coppice of thorns and I pulled it gratis , pull a face at the speech sound of textile tearing . Vellia would have to mend it again . I hated dresses , but Vellia importune I bear them when I ventured from the cabin , as wearing tunic and rear of barrel would only draw more attending .
As if I was n’t gaze at anyway , being one of the two strange girl who lived in the Grant Wood .
I shielded my eyes from the glinting sunshine as I lean — not from the rook , though it still had me a bit spook , specially with who was come , but towards the road . My bare toes clung to the rough bark of a fallen tree diagram as I cross the minute brook , hurry toward the purple rise . In one of those carriage was Graemon Claudius , the treetop prince to the Silver Wolf realm of Damrienn . My friend had take back at last .
My heart bone up in my ears . I wonder if he looked the same . We ’d still been pups the last time I get word him in this form , only thirteen old age sometime . Full moons were the only time his Padre , King Nero , permitted him to visit us here , and only ever as a Wolf — it was too hazardous any other way . For if anyone discovered a Gold Wolf in this village , the intelligence would certainly diffuse to Sawyn …
I glint up again , to see if I could espy a rook spying back on me .
When no birds get my eye , I light up the timberland with a fleet bound . My bare feet slapped against the dust-covered cobbles as I rush toward the throng of well - wishers . It was with a sentiency of puckish contentment that I knew I would be find out the world through their human optic one last time , pretend to be just another among them . My lungs pant sweet-scented air as I pushed my leg faster . Rushing past break cart and traveling bag of spoiled grain , my hair whipped behind me as I steered toward the main road .
I sidestep down a shortcut and heard the gang roar . I turned my head toward the sound , not ascertain up in the lead , and bang into an unyielding target . My foot slide out from under me as I bounce off what I realize was a cloaked figure . Arms wheeling , I braced myself for the laborious thump onto the stone when two powerful hands seize me mid - air and hoist me back to my feet .
“ apology , ” I blurted out , even as I scrambled for the paring tongue in my frock pocket . Vellia would n’t let me lend my dagger , but I could apologize a paring tongue for scrounge .
The figure chortle — a recondite throaty jest that made me still my mitt .
“ Hello , short fox . ”
The familiar rasping of his low vocalization made my eyes go widely . My abdomen somersaulted at the sound of my nickname . Brushing the lock off my cheek , I narrowed my eyes , peer into the dark of his hood . Only one someone ever called me that name — and that person I had n’t run into in seven years .
Someone who should be in one of those baby carriage alternatively of standing before me .
“ Grae ? ” I cut down my paw from my tongue ’s handle .
He pull back his bonnet and the sight of him rattled me more than collide precipitately into him . This was not the boy I had known . No , this was not a male child at all . I ’d never see a more stunning man . He had classic Damrienn feature — obsidian hair pulled to a small knot at the crown of his psyche , golden dark-brown skin , and hooded umber eyes . But he was also twice my sizing , towering over me , the peak of articulatio humeri muscles from his neckline denote a warrior ’s soma . He was gorgeous , and yet still wolflike even in his human form , with glisten cuspid and a hardened jaw . His angular cheeks dimple as he smirked down at me .
“ Wh - what are you doing out here ? ” I asked , scanning the vacant backstreets .
“ We ’re chew the fat , of course of action . ”
“ I mean what are you doing here , in this back street , ” I said .
His grin let out . “ I wanted to see the village where you maturate up without being detect . ” His voice was an musical octave lower since last I ’d heard it . “ Maybe a bit too unnoticeable , seeing as you ran straight into me . ”
That voice . god , help me . His Wolf voice had speak into my mind during his visit , but we had been thirteen then . hear it now was . . . distracting .
“ Briar and Vellia are waitress at the cabin for you , ” I whisper . It was all I could think to say as my gaze solicit on his nerve , dumbstruck .
How was it possible this is what Grae looked like ?
His dark eyes twinkled , relieve oneself the hair on my arm stand on end . “ take the air with me ? ”
Adapted from A RIVER OF GOLDEN BONES by A.K. Mulford , published by Harper Voyager . Copyright © 2023 by A.K. Mulford . Reprinted good manners ofHarperCollins Publishers .
A.K. Mulford ’s A River of Golden Bones will be released December 5 . you could pre - regularize a copyhereorhere .
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