So past, sick Morgan majorly failed and forgot to schedule this review. 😭
Better late than never, though, so here’s my review of the seriously fantastic Crown of Coral and Pearl. 🖤
And shout out to the Fantastic Flying Book Club for giving me the opportunity to be on this tour!
Crown of Coral and Pearl by Mara Rutherford
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Release Date: August 27, 2019
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Synopsis
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.
Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
sisterly love + royalty + sacrifice + mermaid-inspired + strong women + inner beauty + romance
This book checked all my boxes. Sisterhood? Check. Fantasy with a dash of romance? Check. The characters (Nor is one of my new favorites). The world building (oh my gosh, the kingdoms and cultures were complex and believable). Check, check. And I’m here for all the mermaid-inspired fantasy books. 🖤🖤🖤
Favorite Quotes
🖤 ”I’m the perfect seashell you pick up from the ocean floor, only to turn it over in your hand and see the crack.”
🖤 “You have the power to do anything and everything you dream of, more than any person I’ve ever known.”
🖤 “What lies beneath the surface of shallow waters? Nothing. It’s only when you go deeper that the ocean comes alive. The deeper you go, the more mysteries and surprises await.”
🖤 “Nor and Zadie. Coral and Pearl.
Powerful and beautiful because of each other, not in spite of each other.”
🖤 “I had sacrificed all of that to come here, and I would be damned if it had all been for nothing.”
About the 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.
Check out Mara on her website or over on Goodreads, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram!
Book Links
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Kobo | Google Books
Giveaway
Enter the giveaway to win a copy of Crown of Coral and Pearl!
- End Date: September 2, 2019
- US only
Book Tour
Check out the rest of the stops along this blog tour!
Morgan Vega 