Available Formats
A Heart of Crimson Flames (The Golden Court, Book 3)
By (Author) A.K. Mulford
Book 3
HarperCollins Publishers
HarperVoyager
28th April 2026
United Kingdom
General
Fiction
Epic fantasy / high fantasy
Romance: fantasy and paranormal
Fairy and Folk tales / Fairy tale retellings
Narrative theme: coming of age
Narrative theme: identity / belonging
Hardback
384
Width 159mm, Height 240mm, Spine 27mm
270g
Wolf pack politics, heart-pounding action, dark magic, newfound family dynamics, and shifter romance come to an explosive climax in the incredible conclusion of the Golden Court Trilogy by bestselling author A.K. Mulford.
The only thing more challenging than taming a sorceress is protecting her heart a second time
War has begun, and the fate of humans and Wolves alike lies in the hands of three fierce members of the Golden Court scattered across every corner of Aotreas.
Briar Marriel, once the heir of the Golden Court, is now a prisoner in the heart of enemy territory. But when her ex-lover Maez now a dark sorceress comes to rescue her, Briar must decide if shes willing to trust the twisted version of the woman she once loved or remain under the rule of the cruel King Nero. In a war where enemies wear familiar faces, escape might come at a terrible cost. But if she can harness Maezs newfound magic, could it mean winning the war
Meanwhile, Sadie with the help of Navin races to harness ancient magic that could turn the tide of the war. With their dragon at their side, the Songkeepers uncover long-buried secrets that could save their people or destroy them all.
At the Golden Court, Queen Calla faces an impossible choice: prepare for the looming battle or risk everything to rescue their twin sister Briar. With alliances crumbling and betrayal lurking at every corner, Calla must rally their court and lead their people into war, knowing the price of failure is unthinkable.
As war ravages the land, and love is tested by darkness, Briar, Sadie, and Calla must confront their pasts and find the strength to reclaim their future. In this epic conclusion to the Golden Court Trilogy, the battle for freedom and for love has never been more harrowing.
Reviews for A River of Golden Bones
'The relationship between Calla and these performers becomes the most compelling part of the book, giving rise to questions about gender and the difference between a protector and a tyrant. Defeating evil is important, surebut the real thrill is finding people who make you want to be your fullest self. Its lovely, life-affirming stuff.'
Washington Post
'I was taken by the expert dismantling of the gender binary amidst a quest that is sexy, romantic, and heroic all at once.'
Book Riot
'A steamy romance between Calla and Grae unfolds amid battles against monsters and dark magic, intertwined with Callas fight against patriarchy and oppression and her burgeoning acceptance of her own genderqueerness. This series is off to an exciting start.'
Publishers Weekly
'A beautiful journey of self-discovery and queer identity, filled with heart-stopping romance and page-turning adventure. A River of Golden Bones is a must read for fantasy and romance readers alike. I couldnt put it down!'
Cait Jacobs, author of Medievally Blonde
'I inhaled this novel. A River of Golden Bones by A.K. Mulford is a gorgeously written queer fairytale fantasy conjured with the bones of wicked worldbuilding and laced with decadent spice. Get ready to devour this wolfish tale.'
Charissa Weaks, bestselling author of The Witch Collector
A.K. Mulford is a bestselling fantasy author and former wildlife biologist who swapped rehabilitating monkeys for writing novels. She/they are inspired to create diverse stories that transport readers to new realms, making them fall in love with fantasy for the first time or all over again. She now lives in New Zealand with her husband and two young human primates, creating loveable fantasy characters and making ridiculous TikToks (@akmulfordauthor).