A review by dylwaters
A River of Golden Bones by A.K. Mulford

adventurous hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

Forbidden love is one of my favorite tropes, so of course I was drawn right to this book. The plot was super interesting and well thought out, and the characters were very relatable and lovable. 

The writing in certain parts did feel a bit more like a young adult novel or lackluster, but that never took away from the plot. It was very well written majority of the time.

The chemistry between Calla and Grae was amazing. Too often in books the chemistry between the love interests seems forced and awkward, but this one was far from that. 

The gender exploration woven throughout the book was perfect. The way it was slightly hinted at in the beginning of the book by Calla’s disgust at being referred to as a girl, and their questing and exploration after meeting Ora and the crew was beautiful.

One thing that did bother me was Sawyn forcing Calla to come out to Grae. I know she’s meant to be a horrible villain, but I think that it could have been done better.

This was a super fun read that I thoroughly enjoyed, and I cannot wait for the second book to come out. I also want to read more of Mulford’s work after reading this.