Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by booksnapsandcatnaps
A Sky of Emerald Stars by A. K. Mulford
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I jumped into A Sky of Emerald Stars by A.K. Mulford right after finishing A River of Golden Bones, and I’m glad I did because it picks up exactly where we left off. Having everything fresh in my mind definitely helped. That said, as a follow-up, this one fell a little flat for me.
My biggest critique of the first book was that it focused more on Calla’s journey of self-discovery than on the actual plot. And somehow, A Sky of Emerald Stars felt like it had even less plot movement. It honestly just felt like a filler book.
On the plus side, the magic system is better developed in this one. But at the same time, it kind of came out of nowhere, which made it feel a little disconnected.
This series shines when it comes to queer representation, and I do appreciate that aspect. Overall, I enjoyed the story, but it’s not something I’m rushing to tell everyone about. If the pattern of last-minute betrayals between side characters continues into the next book, I feel like I already know what’s coming—and honestly, I’m not sure I care enough about the new characters based on what I’ve seen so far.
Like I said in my review of the first book, this is a solid pick if you’re new to fantasy and want to dip your toes into the genre. But if you’re a seasoned fantasy reader looking for something groundbreaking, this one might not quite do it for you.
My biggest critique of the first book was that it focused more on Calla’s journey of self-discovery than on the actual plot. And somehow, A Sky of Emerald Stars felt like it had even less plot movement. It honestly just felt like a filler book.
On the plus side, the magic system is better developed in this one. But at the same time, it kind of came out of nowhere, which made it feel a little disconnected.
This series shines when it comes to queer representation, and I do appreciate that aspect. Overall, I enjoyed the story, but it’s not something I’m rushing to tell everyone about. If the pattern of last-minute betrayals between side characters continues into the next book, I feel like I already know what’s coming—and honestly, I’m not sure I care enough about the new characters based on what I’ve seen so far.
Like I said in my review of the first book, this is a solid pick if you’re new to fantasy and want to dip your toes into the genre. But if you’re a seasoned fantasy reader looking for something groundbreaking, this one might not quite do it for you.