The story had a very promising story line... The love aspect was good but needed just a hint more. The mom disappeared and there needed to be some more storyline on the parents after the fact.

Lately, it’s been rare for me to find novels on NetGalley that I enjoy. Crown of Coral and Pearl was a diamond in the rough, and made my long subway ride feel like a hot second. It’s by no means a flawless read, but it stood out from the pack thanks to Rutherford’s beautiful writing.

In comparison to the last book I reviewed (”Gravemaidens”), I felt the bonds of sisterhood in this one. Nor and Zadie are identical sisters who live in a small village surrounded by water. The village is known for beautiful maidens, and sending a bride to marry the royalty of Ilara. (Yes, vapid, but that’s the point.) Nor is itching to see the world, but only the woman chosen to be married is ever allowed to leave the village. And she has a permanent scar that determined years ago her sister, Zadie, would win the Crown Prince’s hand. In a twist of fate, Nor is sent to Ilara to marry the Crown Prince in her place. Her future husband is Prince Ceren, a cold, quirky boy who lives in a castle devoid of sunlight. He’s not easy to like, so good thing she fell madly in love with his half brother, Prince Talin, at first glance.

Let me be clear - there are no surprises in this one for a well-read individual. You watch the plot unfold, but don’t feel like you’re in it with the MC in all the twists and turns. There is no murder mystery. The romance is kind of crap to be honest. What was interesting for me was watching Nor make the choices she does. I know that sounds strange, but it’s kind of intriguing as she unravels every little thread and realizes how big the world she lives in really is. Her world was her village, and she discovers that in the grand scheme of things, Ilara has way bigger fish to fry. Reason why it was also so fun? Nor is a strong, opinionated character with a set of morals she stuck to the whole book. Weirdly enough, it’s a rare sight to see such a predictable path from MCs, and I admired it.

World-building was A+. The pacing was great. And if Talin and their quick, vapid romance wasn’t involved, Nor was a fun character and a loyal sister. You felt how much she cared through the pages. Also, this cover is gorgeous - not sure who designed it (legit impossible to find), so A+.

Crown of Coral & Pearl: 3.5 stars

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! Fair warning: this review may look a bit scattered in my excitement. A more thorough and organised review will be posted on CelticsLibrary.com by 7-11-19. I loved the story revolving around the love and sacrifice Nor and Zadie are willing to make for each other. Nor must take Zadie's place when her sister is willing to do something drastic in order to stay in her home village despite being chosen to be sent for the prince as his bride. Ceren is cold, calculating, and yet there are hints that he is not a total monster under his hard exterior. He hides it well, but you can almost feel his desire to be chosen above others and feel affection. However, he does not want to admit it himself. He feels safe keeping people at a distance. He wants to be strong, stronger than his brother and father. He craves the crown and does not care who he has to step on in order to get everything he wants, even if it means possibly wiping out an entire village of people. The ending promises a sequel (thank goodness!) and that things may not be as pretty and wrapped up as they appear. Great ending, great story!

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

A much better love story than Frozen. I loved that the love between 2 sisters kept them going during the horrible times in the kingdom and in Varenia, and that though Nor was "flawed" she learned that she was absolutely perfect in the eyes of those that loved her.

This is such a fantastic fantasy! It's such an awesome ocean, sister, and just all around amazing book.

I received a free copy for an honest review.

This is one of the best books I've read this month, and is a running candidate for one fo the best books I've read this year.

This is one of the best books I've read this month and is a running candidate for one of the best books I've read this year.This book was beautiful, entertaining, and meaningful. It was truly as beautiful was a crown made of pearls and corals. I love so many things about this book, but I'm going to try to make this review more organized so that it's less of a rant by kind of "categorizing" my favorite aspects:


The twins - Zadie and Nor, the pearl and the coral
The relationship between Zadie and Nor is the most precious and beautiful sibling relationship - specifically twins - that I have ever read. I'm also especially enjoying this aspect of the book after reading The Wicked King (Holly Black fans where are you at). It's like the "restore my faith in sibling relationship moment" because finally a book took a sibling relationship and turned it into something beautiful instead of making it more controversial through treachery and twistedness.

"Because you are the twin of my soul. You know me better than anyone ever has or ever will. Because I trust you more than I trust Sami. And because you are the strongest person I have ever known. Only you can help me".

The relationship between the twins and how it intertwined with the story and the symbolic references between pearls and corals truly reflected positively in the author's writing. She was able to make the purest and beautiful love between the siblings without making it too unrealistic or too cheesy in any way. They struggle overlapped fantastically with the twin's own characteristics and storyline but it still managed to convey the pure love between them despite the struggles that threaten to tear them apart. This was truly a precious pair that needs to be protected, and I cannot think of pair of siblings in another fictional work (especially twins) that so well conveyed the meaning of the term " the twin of my soul".

"'You have been everything for me,' she said, her voice thick with emotion. 'My arms when I wasn't permitted to row, my legs when I wasn't permitted to dive. My lips when I couldn't defend myself from Mother. Now I need you to be my hands, Nor".

The storyline.
I believe one of the hardest things to do when writing the "plot" is adding the layers. A good book - a good plot - would have multiple character motives and storylines overlapping with different arcs to make up this one ultimate arc, while still making it all work and not a disastrous mess. That to me is what I called "good writing", specifically in the story-line aspect. I think this book did a phenomenal job in that aspect. Different character motives fit perfectly with each other to allow the story the continue like pieces in one giant machine, and different storylines intertwine to make up the whole book while still making it "work". This book did a really great job using different character motivations and storylines to contribute to the flow of the protagonist' ultimate goal - making this book really complicated and in-depth but still extremely organized.


The reoccurring symbols and themes.
The symbols representing different themes and characters also heavily contributed to the book's depth and my excellent reading experience. Aside from the obvious symbolism between the pearl (Zadie) and coral (Nor) and how their relationship correlates with the formation of the pearls and blood corals in the book, the author using its fictional culture to link back to real-life themes such as deception and trust is another example of the utilization of symbolism in the story (and how well its done).

"But we weren't just to be aware of lionfish; we were to steer clear of anyone too flashy, too proud"

I think it was a brilliant move to utilize lullabies to communicate another vital lesson. Not only does it help strengthen the world building by acting as another example of the Verian's culture, it made the world even more meaningful by hinting warnings to the children since a young age, which to me is really clever (not just on a parenting standpoint, but on a writing standpoint as well).

To make this even better, the references/symbols used in the lullabies are also directly used to convey Talin and Ceren and is used to make some fantastic dialogue and character interactions.

"The stonefish was even more dangerous than the lionfish, in part because it had stronger venom but also because it was hard to see. a stonefish could blend into the rocks around it so well you wouldn't know it was there until it was too late and you'd placed a hand or foot directly on top of it. The message there was clear: be careful and cautious with your heart, for things are not always what they seem. At least the lionfish made its presence known."


Nor.
Nor is not a stupid protagonist!

*Cue overly sarcastic-overdramatic gasp*

You have no idea how HAPPY I was when I saw this quote:

"I wanted to tell her my own story - it seemed only fair, considering I was asking for hers. But we'd just met. It would be stupid to assume I could trust her."

Oh my god, a protagonist that doesn't trust every first person that they come across??!! NOR WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN WHEN I WAS SUFFERING THROUGH ALMOST EVERY SINGLE YA BOOK EVER.


The romance.
Okay so I think I may be losing you because this review is getting a bit too long so here is all you need to know:
- Great chemistry/dialogue/interactions
- Great view *wink wink*


Please just go read and support this book! This book was great and really such a fantastic read it got me out of my reading slump.

Crown of Coral and Pearl has probably one of my most favorite reads of 2019. Y’all. I couldn’t put this book down. I finished it at 2:30 in the morning and it was one that I definitely won’t regret staying up late for. Rutherford knows how to write a book that will leave you wanting more…. Especially with how it ends.
Crown of Coral and Pearl follows Nor, a twin from Varenia, who has grown up in a culture that puts beauty before anything else. When the crown prince of Ilara comes of age to take the throne, Varenia sends them their most beautiful girl due to a thousand years old agreement between the two places. For all of their lives, Nor and Zadie were the front runners to be chosen until Nor survived a deadly accident which left her face permanently scarred. Zadie, now being the frontrunner indeed gets chosen to go to Ilara. There’s one problem: Zadie has fallen in love and no longer wants to go. After an incident at Zadie’s planning, Nor ends up going in Zadie’s place as the future queen of Ilara. Once on land, she finds out that the dreams she’s had of what it would be like is nothing like she’d hoped. The emissary that visited after Zadie was picked, Talin, was actually a prince, the prince to which she’s betrothed, Ceren, is actually a danger to himself and others, and Nor now lives in a mountain away from the sea she’s grown up in and the sun and air her lungs are used to. As she starts to learn her way around the castle, she finds that Ceren’s inventing something dangerous to her people. As she finds a way to stop him, Talin realizes who she is and things for Nor start to get messy. What follows is a story of survival, courage, and sacrifice that will keep you glued to the pages and you won’t want to put it down.
Starting this book, Rutherford does a really great job of setting the story up. And also creating and integrating it’s own mythological system for Varenia and Ilara. I loved getting more of these kingdoms and their cultures. Especially since in the book, these two nations/kingdoms/territories are intertwined.
Also, overall, I really loved Nor’s story. After all she did to make sure her sister was safe, she ended up once again making the biggest sacrifice for her sister in order to keep her from further harm. Granted, the whole book is from her perspective, but still. There’s something about Nor’s character that has always been strong. As she pretends to be Zadie, she realizes how much strength her sister had in order to see the good in everything. But as herself, Nor, constantly being told she was other due her “lost” beauty, finally gets a chance to see herself how someone else sees her both with the stain to cover her scar and without. Nor is probably one of my favorite characters to date. She does her best to not let Ceren get under her skin. She tries her hardest to understand the culture of the court. She secretly wishes that Talin would know it was her and not Zadie as the twin that arrived but knows that if he knows she might be in danger. Also, she’s fiercely loyal, not just to her family, but also to those that she knows can’t defend themselves or innocent, like Ebb and the page boy.
I absolutely loved everything about this book. If I had one complaint is that the ending felt a bit rushed, a bit completed, and a bit unfinished. Crown of Coral and Pearl was sold as a one-book deal. While that does mean there is a bit finality of this book, it also left ends that could be picked and finished in a second book. I really hope that there’s another one because I need more of this story, more of these characters, and I really need to know what happens next. Rutherford has created a cast and world that you don’t want to leave. The suspense and action will keep you turning pages and I was so surprised when it ended.

This book captured me from the first page. The world that was built was unlike any other and the characters had so much depth. The story was amazing. I loved hearing about the different cultures and learning about the characters. The plot twists and betrayals were amazing.

First and foremost, I would like to say thank you for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. Now let’s get on to the review story. This story was not what I expected in so many ways, it was an everyday fiction novel with a splash of fantasy in there. I do wish the fantasy aspects were explored and explained more, they just kind of left me with questions. Overall I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to seeI got what else this author has to offer.

This was SO good! I loved the relationship between the sisters and it was a well written, well paced story.

Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was nothing like I first thought it was going to be! The world was so enchanting and unique while the characters made you feel exactly what they were feeling. I loved experiencing the love of a twin and the love of adventure in our leading lady. The idea that beauty is the only way to escape a hard life was very interesting to read about and so many plot lines were carefully planted throughout the story that I cannot wait to learn more about them in the next book!

The cover and the premise of Crown of Coral and Pearl initially drew me to this story, but I will have to say that my likes and dislikes of the book are pretty equal.

I enjoyed the world-building of Varenia immensely. The ocean village seemed simple and beautiful all at once.

I also loved the twin bond between Nor and Zadie. I always like these kind of relationships in books, and I felt this one was done well.

Nor herself was a strong, stubborn character who made for a great female protagonist...except when she was around Talin. With him, she mostly came off as a silly, insipid girl who fell in love with a man on sight and had minimal interactions with him throughout the book. This was quite disappointing because the romance aspect could have been so much better.

New Castle was dreary and depressing, but again, I thought the world-building here was good because that's exactly how I felt about the place, depressed.

Ceren was simultaneously disturbing and interesting, and I actually found myself pitying him at times.

I'm not sure how I felt about the pacing of the book. I was bored, per se, but it did seem to take a long time to move along. Then the end came up very quickly and wrapped up in an odd, unsatisfying way. There was closure of sorts, but there were many loose ends that could have been tied up much more neatly because I don't think this book needs a sequel. If there is going to be one, I'm not sure how a well-fleshed out book could be made.

***I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley.***

Wow! I wasn't sure what to expect when picking up this book... Throne of Glass, Waterworld, Wrath of Dawn, The Belles? I think if you combine all of those together you wind up with this book. Seriously!

I'm loving the fact ocean inspired books are in this year, being a coastal gal I'm totally vibing off of it, but more than that the way it's becoming a thing in fantasy. Personal love for the ocean aside, this book really has a fascinating concept. Original folklore and politics ensure that the sea folk who live on boats/floating houses cannot step foot on land without being abducted/punished severely. Not to mention a beauty is selected for the King's male heirs to wed to appease the sea god, Thalos, and to keep the peace.

Nor, the leading lady in the novel, is strong and stubborn but not cold in the least. She has a heart of gold, and it is her bond with her twin sister that is front and center throughout the novel. Everything Nor does is for her sister, for her family and her people. I didn't find that she grew throughout the book, but she didn't need to—she remained the same for the better.

There is romance and it doesn't hit us until halfway through the book or more which was nice. Overall the plot was solid, and the pacing was steady. There were times I would have preferred it to pick up but it was a steady read.

Mara Rutherford created a fascinating world.

3.8 savvy crowns.

I couldn't really get into this but honestly, I think it's a case of 'it's not you, it's me'. I don't really like water type Fantasy stories even though they all sound so interesting and sister stories are a hit or miss. Unfortunately, this was more of a miss. The sisters spend much of the story apart. I would still recommend Crown of Coral and Pearl to others and with all The Little Mermaid drama currently I want to recommend it even more.
***Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin TEEN (Inkyard Press) for providing me with a review copy of Crown of Coral and Pearl.***

SUCH a good book and I loved the bond of sisters in such a fierce, loving way. I also enjoyed that even though you knew one of the characters couldn’t be trusted, you had your doubts about other ones and this made you want to keep reading to find out more. I devoured this book in less than a day.

This book was excellent, a perfect summer read. The story centers on the brave and resourceful Nor, who lives in a society where all the girls train their whole lives to be chosen as the next queen to Ilara, the country that rules them. Nor’s twin sister, Zadie, is originally chosen, but when an injury puts her life in jeopardy, Nor volunteers to take her place and marry the cruel Prince Ceren. Along the way, she finds herself caught up in the intrigues of court and some unexpected romance.

I thought this book was really unique in its premise, it’s character, and it’s world. It evokes thought about how how women are viewed in society and what true beauty is. The sibling bond between Nor and Zadie is really well done. I also enjoyed the love triangle between Nor and the two princes. Ceren is a really well developed villain. I loved every twist and turn of this book. Fans of the Hunger Games, To Kill a Kingdom, and Red Queen will love this boo. Go read it!

I admit I was so looking forward for this upcoming release, because it had such an interesting synopsis and I tend to love stories that are more focused on the sea or sea living (especially in fantasy), so I went with pretty high expectations into Crown of Coral and Pearl, and overall I have to say that though it didn’t blow me away as much as I hoped, it was a solid read and I enjoyed it.

The thing that I found this particular book had was that it was a pretty common YA fantasy plot. I feel I’ve read these characters and this type of plot before in other young adult books after all these years, so it wasn’t as refreshing as I thought. Though it was a super fast paced story and it was so easy to get into it, it’s true that sometimes, especially once we reached the half mark of the story, that plot weaken and I had the sense that nothing was actually happening. The beginning and ending were a bit stronger and I liked them more, because there were some actual things that kept the plot flowing.

Another issue that I had was regarding the magic system and the world building. Though we got time to explore the world and the society a bit throughout the novel, there was a lot of info dump thrown at us in the first couple of chapters, and I personally like my fantasy books to provide that information as I keep reading the story and not everything at the very beginning, because that’ll only make me more confused and I’m not going to remember it in the end. Also, I felt a lot of explanations about the magic were a bit lacking. The concept of corals and pearls was super unique, and I just wish we’d known more about them.

When it comes to the characters, I have to say I ended up changing my mind about them. At the beginning I wasn’t the biggest fan of our protagonist Nor. She was pretty flat and average, and there was something about her that didn’t really make her stand out from other main characters I’ve read in the past. However, I really enjoyed her development throughout the story, and to see her grow so much. She had a very interesting arc, and I liked to see her interact with different characters and stood out for herself.

Another element I really appreciated seeing was the connection between the two sisters. Though we didn’t get to see it that much because during most of the novel they were apart, I feel the reactions and feelings were pretty realistic and made me empathize with Nor and what she was going through a lot more. I love me a good sisters’ relationship, and I think this one was well written.

Overall, though I had some mixed feelings about Crown of Coral an Pearl, it had some elements and tropes I don’t mind seeing in my YA books, and though the plot wasn’t amazing and I would have loved to know more about the magic, I consider this quite a solid story.

Rating: 3.5

Crown of Coral and Pearl is a book about Nor, a girl living in a society that values beauty above everything else. Her twin sister is deemed the most beautiful in the village and selected to travel to the capitol and marry the crown prince, but after an accident, Nor is sent in her place.

I had somewhat mixed feelings about this one. I think it was a book that was much better in theory than in practice. The world building was fantastic, and I felt like there were some unique spins on some of the typical fantasy tropes. It was vaguely Bachelorette meets Little Mermaid meets Stolen Songbird. (The blood coral was SUPER AWESOME. Coral! From dead people! That produces cool pearls!) But there were also some major issues.

Things I liked:

1. Have I mentioned that the blood coral concept was SUPER COOL?
2. I felt like the author did an excellent job of portraying the bond between twins, and the effects of intense social pressure to be beautiful at the expense of everything else.
3. I really enjoyed the portion of the book set in Varenia. Floating city! Fishing! Diving! Oysters!
4. Nor is a fascinating character with some interesting traits - I enjoyed that the things she used to get out of trouble (her ability to breathe underwater) were unique to her upbringing in Varenia.

Things I did not like:

1. I read a few other reviews on here complaining about the "insta-love" between Nor and Talin. I have to admit that I completely agree with them. They have like three interactions before she decides she's madly in love with him. (Check that: it really happens after like one interaction.) You don't actually see their relationship develop, it feels rushed and contrived, and you're sort of left going, "What? Where did that come from?"
2. A lot of the characters are... fairly one dimensional. Ceren is evil! Zadie is so, so, so good and beautiful and perfect! I think there was a bit of an effort to make Ceren more of a relatable character by discussing his family background and mother, but... it honestly didn't work.
3. Nor falls into the traditional fantasy heroine trap: she gets out of every situation without serious harm, her mistakes never end that badly, and she can handle anything that comes her way. (Knife fights: check. Two and a half day ride while suffering from major blood loss: check. Monsters: check.)
4. This book has issues with foreshadowing that's so blatantly obvious you can't steer around it. I saw the major twist at the end coming from a mile away. I think you could probably easily predict the last quarter of the book.

Overall, a fairly fun read with some super neat world building. Characterization and pacing needed some work.

ARC provided by Netgalley and Harlequin Teen in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

I had a hard time getting into this book. The premise was interesting, as was the the world building. Once every generation, the most beautiful girl in the village will travel to Ilara to wed the king. Nor can never be chosen as she has a small blemish on her cheek. Now this is the bit in the beginning where I was put off, I understand that the point was to make a big deal out of something so small but part of me wished that instead of a small blemish it would have been a major scar, I know it defeats the point of the story but since the blemish is so easily covered it seems to defeat the point of her having a blemish at all. I digress. Nor has a sister whom is the obvious chose and does not wish to go so she takes drastic measures and Nor takes her place. My other issues with this book are that the romance in this book is insta-lovey, the villain is a bit one-dimensional and the ending was rushed .

I would recommend it if you enjoy fantasy, but personally there isn't anything about this book that stands out from the rest.