A River of Golden Bones: Book One of the Golden Court (The Golden Court, 1)

Calla has lived her life hidden in the shadow of her twin sister Briar as they await the day they can announce their existence to the kingdom. Briar is arranged to be married to the charming Prince Grae, who also happens to be Calla’s childhood friend who she has a deep connection with. The sorceress that took their kingdom and killed their parents has returned with another diabolical plan to set in motion. When Briar is abducted, Calla turns to a few surprising allies to rescue her sister and potentially win back the kingdom she lost.

The relationship between the sisters is amazing for the support and genuine understanding they have of each other. This flips the typical sibling dynamics common in fairytales and offers a strong representation of true sisterhood. The relationships are complicated but are rooted in building trust, connection, and love. Mulford does a splendid job of building romance steadily over the course of the adventure. Calla’s journey has several threads that explore her role as a woman in this society, who she is outside of her sister, and how to accept love in her life.

A River of Golden Bones is a breath of fresh air, with a blend of political intrigue, magic, and conflict in a tale that explores gender, sisterhood, and relationships.