Crown of Coral and Pearl
by Mara Rutherford
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Release Date: August 27th 2019
Crown of Coral and Pearl
by Mara Rutherford
CrownOfCoralAndPearl #NetGalley
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Published: August 27, 2019
This book was received as an ARC from NetGalley,in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own
For generations, the princes of Ilara have married the most beautiful maidens from the ocean village of Varenia. But though every girl longs to be chosen as the next princess, the cost of becoming royalty is higher than any of them could ever imagine…
Nor once dreamed of seeing the wondrous wealth and beauty of Ilara, the kingdom that’s ruled her village for as long as anyone can remember. But when a childhood accident left her with a permanent scar, it became clear that her identical twin sister, Zadie, would likely be chosen to marry the Crown Prince—while Nor remained behind, unable to ever set foot on land.
Then Zadie is gravely injured, and Nor is sent to Ilara in her place. To Nor’s dismay, her future husband, Prince Ceren, is as forbidding and cold as his home—a castle carved into a mountain and devoid of sunlight. And as she grows closer to Ceren’s brother, the charming Prince Talin, Nor uncovers startling truths about a failing royal bloodline, a murdered queen… and a plot to destroy the home she was once so eager to leave.
In order to save her people, Nor must learn to negotiate the treacherous protocols of a court where lies reign and obsession rules. But discovering her own formidable strength may be the one move that costs her everything: the crown, Varenia and Zadie.
Crown of Coral and Pearl starts in a floating village called Varenia and it’s one of the most incredible and unique settings I’ve ever read about. I really enjoyed the authors world building of the floating houses and the ocean that surrounding the people. You feel connected to the trial and destitution of the people and their struggles.
The character building makes the setting even more creative .Twin sisters Zadie and Nor, meaning pearl and coral, reflect the environment not only in their names, but also how unique and individual the twins character development is.
The Authors writing allows you to feel the love and sacrifice the sisters have for each other. The sister relationship throughout the story was spectacular. What really stood out for me was the positive sibling and familial connections in this novel
The Crown of Coral and Pearl, Mara Rutherford has created a fantasy a world filled with intrigue and adventure, with an a standout POV.
I am looking forward to reading the book from this author
Mara Rutherford began her writing career as a journalist but quickly discovered she far preferred fantasy to reality. Originally from California, Mara has since lived all over the world, from Russia to Peru, along with her Marine-turned-diplomat husband and two sons. A triplet born on Leap Day, Mara holds a Master’s degree in Cultural Studies from the University of London and would rather study the folklore of her next post than the language (which she has found is a lot more fun but not nearly as useful). She is a former Pitch Wars mentee and three-time mentor. Her debut YA fantasy, CORAL AND PEARL, will release from Harlequin Teen in Fall 2019.
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