I am entirely enthralled and in love with this book. The surface of it seems shallow and demeaning to girls and women, and we do get to see both sides of this- but overall the characters recognize that beauty isn't necessarily a strength. The characters realize that their lives aren't their own because of the standards of beauty thrust upon them by their society. Refreshing to see imperfect heroines who admit it! We also see the shallowness and bitterness that imperfection brings to some in personalities that could be true to life.
The world that is built seems very interesting as well. I love the concept of the Blood Corals, the danger and the beauty of the sea being shown but not bashing us over the heads with it. The plot has a few minor twists and turns, nothing drastic but the voice of Nor is complicated and REAL. She yearns for more but is terrified of the prospect. She’s not a fearless and robust get-it-done revolutionary but a girl who wants more than her small village can give her and one with real stakes in the game of change.
My only complaint is the tropey-love at first sight triangle going on. While I was happy with the resolution it’s still something that felt like it could have been more developed. This book is worth a read regardless of this facet of the plot however.

I really enjoyed this book. There were so many positives, that even though I had a few issues it, overall I really liked it and am looking forward to (the hopeful) sequels. At the very heart of this book, and one of my favorite things about it, was the relationship between the sisters. The bond was so strong and really was the lifeline of the book. I also LOVE the trope of a girl between two brothers and this aspect didn't disappoint here. It was quite good.

If I had any issue with the book, it was that it wasn't super original, though honestly I don't really care since I love any kind of books like this (e.g. Red Queen, Ash Princess, etc.). The ending was also a little weak. While I thought everything had been built up pretty well, I was disappointed by the quick resolve of the ending. Hopefully that will be corrected if the author does any sequels.

So I was going through all of the books that I need to review, and even though I finished this book over a month ago, it seems that I still haven't written it. So here goes nothing.

This book was fantastic. The pace was perfect for me, not to slow and not to fast of a read, I found the story very engaging, the characters well thought out, and the premiss of this novel to be vastly entertaining. There were a few tropes in there, however, they played out really well. The ending was a little bit of a surprise and not a bad one at that. I have a feeling that I will be buying all of Mara Rutherfords other works, as this was a nice light and entertainingly easy read that I found left me satiated.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

GO READ THIS BOOK. This is the best YA novel I've read in ages. I was drawn into Nor and Zadie's world from the very first chapter. Varenia is a beautiful village built on docks in the ocean, and the descriptions of life by the sea did not disappoint. The premise is believable, all the characters are well-written, and the romance aspect does not overshadow the plot or limit the characters. Even the "villain" is almost sympathetic.

I also really enjoyed that this was a stand-alone novel and there is no waiting for new books to find out what happens.

Thank you to NetGallery and the publishers for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. As always, my review is spoiler-free and was not affected by the ARC.

First of all, I have to admit I'm surprised by how much I ended up enjoying this book. It had a variation on a lot of familiar themes, but the way they were addressed and handled in this book made them feel fresh again. I was always engaged, always eager to know what would happen next. I liked the characters and the world enough that I would be glad to come back to them should a sequel be published.

Usually the romance in YA really bothers me, but not as much in this one. It wasn't the main focus of the story and they actually had conversations and got to know each other before their first kiss. I would've actually liked even more fleshing out of Talin's character, but since we're stuck in Nor's perspective, we don't get too much. It was nice that there was no love triangle and it wasn't too heavy on love angst, either. It's still there, but again, it's not the main focus of the story.

The world Ms. Rutherford introduces the reader to is an interesting one. At first I didn't like how Nor's society put so much emphasis and pressure on women to be beautiful, but later on this is addressed and I ended up liking how it was handled. I found the politics of the world to be interesting as well. There was still a lot I would've liked to know about-- especially the history of the various countries and their religious beliefs-- but what we got still intrigued me. A lot of what was going on I could see reflections of the real world in them. Yes this is a fantasy, but when things happened I often thought "Yeah, I can see that happening in real life", which I like in fantasy since it brings a relateability to the characters and their circumstances.

Nor is one of the better YA heroines I've come across in a while. Any of the insecurities she may have, like thinking she's not as beautiful as her sister or what have you, are perfectly understandable because of how she was raised. I also like that not only are we told that she's kind, resourceful, brave, stubborn, and curious; we're also shown that through her actions. I don't have a sister but I think that was depicted well, even if they spent way too long worrying over a problem with a very obvious solution. Again, we're stuck in her perspective so we don't really get that much insight into how and why Ceren became what he was, but I liked him (in that "I hate you but you're well-written to be hated" kind of way).

Since this is an ARC, I won't dwell too long on the formatting. I'm assuming they'll fix it in the final product, but I would've liked more of a break between the final sentence of one chapter and the start of a next. Usually books start new chapters on a new page; I'm sure this will do the same. As it was, it did compel me to keep reading, but I still would've liked that break. The biggest editing error I noticed was that every single word that had "fl" somewhere spaced those two letters out. So for example it would read "f loat" or "aff luent". I did eventually learn to expect it but it was still really distracting and constantly pulled me out of the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book a lot. I'm definitely going to be suggesting it to my libraries for purchase. Thanks again for the opportunity to read this ARC!

A beautiful debut with one of the most interesting worlds! Beautifully drawn characters, action scenes that were actually easy to follow, and wonderful twists make this a fantasy to be loved and remembered. Also I’m such a Nor/Talin shipper and I hope there is more to this story and so much more from Mara.

I was not a fan of this book. at all. I will probably not read more from this author in the future...……………………………...

With Crown of Coral and Pearl Mara Rutherford has created a world filled with intrigue and adventure. I was drawn into this story from page one and was a little disappointed when it ended because it meant I had to leave these characters for a while (at least until book 2 comes out).

There is so much going on in this novel, but it never feels like the author is trying to do too much. I found learning about the history and traditions of Varenia was as interesting as the court intrigue in Ilara. Nor and Zadie's sisterhood is beautifully written and I appreciated that Nor is never painted as a martyr - she makes sacrifices, but never acts like a victim. Although getting all of the benefits of life, Zadie does not become full of herself and never forgets everything that Nor has done for her. It would have been easy to write Zadie as selfish, but really she's just a teenage girl who wants some control over her destiny.

Nor is a great heroine because of both her strengths and her weaknesses. She always does what she thinks is right and recognizes when she makes mistakes. I really enjoyed seeing her grow from a young girl looking to escape her small community into a young woman seeking to protect her family and her home. She makes mistakes and doesn't avoid dealing with the consequences of those mistakes. I think Ceren had it right when he pointed out that she is more interested in protecting others than herself - the best part of this is that she doesn't even stop to think about the harm that could come to her and only thinks of others (even though many of the people she protects are strangers to her). In the end she has to do something that goes against everything she's been taught and I appreciated that she didn't just complete this action without emotion.

Ceren is a well crafted villain in that you are repulsed by many of his actions and his selfishness but are also given little glimpses into what has made him that way and left feeling sorry for him at times (although those moments are very very very brief). He is given enough of a backstory to understand why he is the way he is rather than just having him be a stock villain. He is one of those characters that you wonder how he would have turned out had his childhood played out a little differently or if he hadn't grown up in a mountain.

I think my liking of Talin had to do as much with him being a genuinely good guy as with the way he accepts Nor and sees her beauty when so many others in her life have not. He and Nor do not always think before they act which ends up getting them in trouble, but also helps them save one another.

I saw that this is currently a standalone, but I really really really hope the publisher picks up the sequel. There is definitely more story to be told and I look forward to seeing what happens next.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I know some reviewers have felt there was nothing original with this story, but even though some of the elements are familiar they are pieced together in a way that makes for an interesting and engaging story. There were a few twists that I did not see coming and kept it from getting to predictable. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy novels and is looking for a new characters and worlds in which to get invested!

This book is a gem! There are some places you come across in books that you immediately wish to see on the big screen, just so you can step back and take it all in, and Varenia was one of those places for me. I fell in love with this world on page one. Rutherford writes such strong world building here that I was completely immersed within the first chapter. I loved the concept of a people trapped on a village in the sea with the sole purpose of providing pearls to a kingdom, and all because of some myth from long ago. Also, the conversation of beauty and the high expectations society places on its young girls was heartbreaking, authentic, and, sadly, very current in today’s society in this novel. I appreciated Rutherford’s decision to not shy away from that especially in the beginning of this story.

I loved Nor’s selflessness and her all around shining light, but more than once I wanted to kick her twin sister, Zadie, in the shin for being the opposite. And I know that he was the villain and all, but I kind of loved Ceren. There was so much to his backstory that I would have loved to have seen more of, and to dig deeper into his psyche. To learn why he did what he did. And then there is Talin—swoony, dreamy, tanned Talin. Need I say more? No didn’t think so.

This book was a beautiful story, one of sisterhood and strength, and the courage it takes to be a fish out of water (See what I did there? Well, you will if you read the book. It comes out August 19, 2019).

This review will be available on my blog, Cheykspeare, on Instagram, 5/28/19. Link provided.

Beautiful world building, lovable characters, a sisterly bond that makes me super jealous I'm not a twin, and political intrigue? This book has it all in spades. It was just such a wonderful story, and I can't wait to see what else is in store for Nor, Zadie, and Talin.

This book is so completely different than other YA. I'm not entirely sure what is so different, perhaps the water setting or the fact that it is a world of deception, of corruption and star-crossed lovers. The way this book is written is so fast-paced, and we finally get that lovely twin sister relationship! A slow-burning romance, a corrupted prince, and women rulers. I dunno, there's nothing NOT to like!

**Review will be posted on my blog http://pastmidnight.home.blog on June 27, 2019, a month before the book publication.**

Thank you to Harlequin TEEN and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this e-arc.

The beginning of this story is intriguing. We meet twin sisters, Nor and Zadie, and they live in Varenia, a place on the water where the most beautiful girls are from. They are so beautiful, the kingdom of Ilara always goes there to find their future queen. Requirements for being chosen as a queen? The potential queen has to be the most beautiful girl in Varenia. Appearance wise, you have to be flawless, meaning no scars among other things.

Zadie is perfect. Nor, on the other hand, has a scar on her face she acquired from saving her sister’s life. I love their sisterly bond and how they would do anything for each other. I also enjoyed this world of Varenia that the author created, it’s a poor place to grow up in, the people are struggling and the pearls they survive on is becoming more scarce. It’s a beautiful place with gorgeous girls, but the reality is that they will struggle without their pearls. Varenians are a part of the sea, their life is the ocean, but Nor dreams of exploring beyond Varenia.

I think the first part of the book was stronger than the second half only because Nor’s connection is strongest with her sister and her home. When she arrives in Ilara it cuts her off from the sunshine, ocean, fresh air and her relationships. In New Castle she is bereft of all the things she loves and lives with a villain, her future husband.

There is a romance in the story but it doesn’t take over the book, which was fine. I felt like even if it it didn’t have romance, the love between the sisters would have been enough for me. There is also some thrilling action which I enjoyed. But the ending was rushed which is so unfortunate because this book started off so well and I was really into it.

Overall, it is an enjoyable read about a loving sisterly bond and how the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

This book was a bit of a let down. The premise made it sound so great and unique but the characters fell flat. The protagonist specifically had no exciting qualities and the insta love was terrible. I would’ve loved more focus on the villain.

Crown of Coral and Pearl is certainly a stunning cover in it’s simplicity. I’m not usually a sucker for pretty covers… though of late, with Bookstagram accounts (like http://pythiareads.net/ ) and reviewers that include the covers in gorgeous backdrops, I have started to draw my eyes more to the aesthetic choices in a cover. The image of the crown itself, after reading the book, is a perfect representation of the story.

ANYWAY… no one comes to my reviews to listen to me blather on about cover art.

I’ve been a fan of YA books (as an adult, ahem, cough) since the trend of dystopian fiction. You know the ones I’m talking about, right? Hunger Games, Divergent, Harry Potter and all the other pop-culture references books-turned-epic-movie-franchises. I have enjoyed all of them. I finished Crown and Pearl and I instantly wanted it to be turned into a movie. To see the visuals that Mara has so carefully crafted in her writing brought to life would be a breathtaking movie. Are you listening, studios? Give me this movie.

Varenia is a floating village. In the middle of the ocean. Its people are born and raised and die there. They are long lived (Nor references an elder who is nearly 150 years old at one point), and beautiful. They covet beauty to the extreme that a scar of any size could ruin a girl’s future as a bride. For only the most beautiful, unblemished, girl is chosen to be sent to land to become the princess of Ilara.


Gross, right? It’s a good thing this book isn’t focused on the obsession of beauty. It’s in there, sure, but it’s not the point of the book at all.

Romance is in the book too. I was glad that the romance wasn’t a love triangle. Those are trendy in YA and are boring and annoying story devices. Nor’s twin sister is in love with someone who isn’t a future prince. Nor meets a man and feels sparks-and-fizzles in her tummy that continues with her to New Castle and land. The right amount of sparkle is there for those who love a good romance but it isn’t so steamy-and-all-consuming. I liked that about the romance in this book.

Ultimately, this is a book about sisters and family. About having another half that is your twin. I found out at the end of the book that the author is a twin herself. It really made perfect sense that she was writing about twins the way she did. When Nor saw herself in the mirror and instantly realized that would be the only way she would know how her sister would age – since they were never to see each other again – that struck me.

“I realized that my world had never been small. It had been as boundless as my love for Zadie, stretching out before me as far as the eye could see and beyond.”

The villain in this book, Ceren, was never the sort to be redeemable. He wasn’t the villain you love to hate. He was awful. Truly awful. And you never really rooted for him at all. There were flashes of his humanity that Nor saw through and it gave you pause to consider his motives. To consider what drove him to be evil, like Nor does. In these flashes of humanity, I thought the author showcased herself as a brilliant writer. I kept wondering if Ceren was going to have a redemption arc of some kind because of those flashes. Would he be able to overcome his obsessions? Could he see past his anger and hurt? These are the questions that had me flipping pages to find out.

Prince Talin is the good brother – the one you root for. He isn’t Nor’s savior though. Sure, he helps her out sometimes, but he isn’t the source of her strength. The journey Nor takes us on is one of self-realization. Of having inner strength. Of having convictions and following them even when the choices are hard to make. It’s great that there is the spark-fizz of touches and kisses.

I know a lot of people like romance to drive a story and when it’s done well I enjoy it too. Nor clearly feels something for Talin and he for her. It simply isn’t the focus of the story and I was glad for it. I liked that Nor was her own hero, that she drove herself, that she survived because of her own will and strength.

Nor clearly feels something for Talin and he for her. It simply isn’t the focus of the story and I was glad for it. I liked that Nor was her own hero, that she drove herself, that she survived because of her own will and strength.

Sorrow is good for the soul, Father had said after the incident, when I had recovered from the pain and sickness but had still not grown used to the feel of torn flesh on my otherwise flawless skin. Those who have never known pain or adversity are as shallow as the waves lapping on the shore.

I usually check my progress in a book as I’m reading, to anticipate when it’s ending, or to check and see if the plot is following the typical trends I expect. I didn’t check the progress on this book once. I was enjoying the journey and was invested in the characters.


I was absolutely bummed when it ended. I’m pretty sure there will be a second book and I’m super stoked for it. The ending of this book setup another easily and even if it doesn’t set one up, it leaves you satisfied.

I’m adding this to my —

Must Read in 2019 shout out.

I’d rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars. The world building was amazing and the characters were richly written and engaging. The pace of the beginning of the book got on my nerves. I already knew where the plot was taking us (to Ilara) and the waiting for Nor to be The Chosen One made me too impatient to enjoy the story. I’m hopeful that the next book in the series won’t take so long to build-up.

Also, I loved finding out that the author was a fellow Murderino. I was really surprised by her acknowledgement of Karen and Georgia. It really hit me that the community around My Favorite Murder is large and amazing. Stay sexy, and don’t get murdered!

Firstly, the cover is lovely as is the title. I was intrigued right away and then even more so when I read the description. And I am truly glad I read this one! I was hooked immediately by the characters and the setting. The dynamic between the sisters was wonderfully done and you could really feel their love for each other. The setting was beautifully described, the sun, the heat, the saltiness of the ocean. It was all perfect. It doesn't take long for the story to really pick up, either, and once it did it was impossible to put down. The story takes a darker turn, but it is well worth the read. Nor is an amazing and strong main character and I liked her a lot. The only thing about this book was that I found the ending to be rather abrupt and felt it could have been fleshed out a bit more, but otherwise this was just a great read! Highly recommend.

Review to be posted to Goodreads on May 23, 2019 and on retail sites, such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble, upon publication date, August 27, 2019.

This eARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Nor and Zadie are twin sisters from the ocean village of Varenia. They are raised to value beauty above all because the most beautiful girl in their village is chosen to marry the Crown Prince of Ilara, Prince Ceren. Due to an accident when she was younger, Nor believes she will never be chosen and that honor will go to her sister, Zadie, but due to a twist of fates Nor is sent to marry Prince Ceren instead. In Ilara she must figure out the politics of court and the schemes of the royals in order to save her family and village.

I’m not sure if there are enough ways to say how much I love this book. It had a strong message of taking charge of your own fate because the world is a cruel place and only you can make your own happiness. The first half of this book focuses on the relationship between twin sisters Nor and Zadie. They love each other so much even though most siblings in their situation would hate each other. Their relationship was so refreshing and their love for each other was so pure that it made me tear up on more than one occasion. For me, this was the most important relationship showcased in this book and Rutherford wrote it beautifully.

The book felt mature for a young adult novel and had an overall seriousness and darkness to it that I personally enjoyed. All the characters had their flaws but I felt that made them more relatable, especially Nor whose thoughts and decisions throughout the book resonated with me. Nor and Zadie were both fierce, independent characters who faced massive obstacles that fate dealt them but with every challenge they faced they both grew stronger.

Prince Ceren and Prince Talin were both fascinating characters but as different as night and day. Prince Ceren alternated between from being a sympathetic character that you wanted to root for to being cold-hearted and calculated in his manipulation of those around him. Prince Talin was the exact opposite. He exuded warmness and people around him were instantly attracted to him. I thought it was interesting of Rutherford to compare the pure love of sisters Nor and Zadie to the tainted love of brothers Prince Talin and Ceren because it showed what could have happened to Nor and Zadie if they chose to resent rather than love each other their whole life.

Overall I adored this book. It was dark and serious, but also featured some remarkable characters and their complicated relationships with each other. My only complaint is that the book ended so abruptly and left several storylines dangling but I think it set up the opportunity to write a sequel. I would be heartbroken if Rutherford did not continue this series.

**I received an Arc through Netgalley and all opinions are my own***

WOW.

I had such mixed feelings about this book. Mainly because this is a standalone novel (for now, hoping for a sequel!!). It was such a fun world with absolutely adoring characters. I fell in love with all of them, and was sad to see the story end. I want MORE. This book had a good ending of course, but I want to see the outcome after the end of the book takes place. I believe so much more can be done with this story and the world it would be sad to see it go.

I loved the characters. Nor was a strong female lead, who never complained. She was dealt a hard hand her whole life being compared to her sister and having a tiny scar that ruined her chances of becoming the princes betrothed. I felt so much for her character and how she was treated in the novel. I also understood her struggle, and was amazed at the lack of her resentment towards her twin, Zadie. Nor is constantly being outshone by Zadie's beauty and frowned upon because of her scar. She goes to great lengths for her sister, and would do anything for her. Zadie was a great character too, but she was a lot more impulsive. I liked this about her character because it shows how she isn't perfect, and hates being told so. Talin was also a great character, a little rebel himself. A lot of his character is shown in minimal ways, but when you get a glimpse, you fall in love. Ceren was a great antagonist. He reminds me of the Darkling in a way, where you almost admire him, but love him as the villain more. Sammi was also a great side character, as well as Ebb. ALL OF THEM WERE GREAT, WHAT CAN I SAY??

This story was fresh and unique and I really liked it. Some people could compare it to a lot of books and that's okay. It is unique in its own way and I think that comparing this book to others would do it a disgrace. The world was so different (hello, people LITERALLY live on the sea in boats) and the tales of the royal lines always intrigued me. There is a lot of spying, conspiring, and heated romance in this book. None too overwhelming, but the beast fighting scene is by far my favorite. I think the ending had an almost twist that I had not seen coming. I came up with a few theories, but never really guessed the ending. I really wish she would continue on, I would buy it in a heartbeat.

Crown of Coral and Pearl is a wonderful, dark and incredibly rich fantasy novel, so well built and fast paced that I wasn't able to put it down till I reached the end. I was absolutely captivated by the atmosphere, the characters and that the romance ... 🔥

This novel submerges the reader in a landscape so imaginative and detailed that the information of the world building, as complex as it is, never feels forced, and is never difficult to understand or picture in one's mind.

The characters are well-rounded, developed and realistic for the most part. Nor is a lovely young adult, strong, independent and responsible but without ever being cocky. The characters of this book all feel plausible, all have a mission in life and their perspective in the book are all equally interesting.

All in all, a fantastic and well rounded fantasy!

Thank you for the opportunity to review #CrownofCoralandPearl by Mara Rutherford.
A slow burner of a novel that brings the uniqueness of a society on the water with the mix of mythology. The political undertones ties with the fantasy aspect make this novel hard to put down.

Possible mini spoilers, so read with caution

I was a little hesitant when I first started reading this book. Because it starts out pretty slow. There's a lot of setting up and back story that happens.

But a few chapters in, all the action and intrigue really start to pick up. I adored the world building that happened in this story and how descriptive each place was. I really felt like I was out at sea, and then in the mountain/castle

I enjoyed the concept of the story. I haven't read a lot of books that are set at sea (to begin with, at least)

I loved the relationship that Zadie and Nor had. And the relationship that they both had with Sami.

Honestly, I thought Zadie was a little selfish at first. I felt like she only thought about herself and what she would be losing. And then to ask her sister to help her do something so.. terrible! But she did eventually apologize, and it did seem that she grew up a little at the end.

Nor was great. I love how she was able to handle herself even though she was basically a fish out of water (lol) She was pretty scared about things, but she was still able to defend herself and hold her own when she had no idea what she was doing.

Talin. Oh Talin, my sweet Little Bean. He was the most amazing part of the story, and I only wish that he had been a more prominent piece. I kind of had my suspicions about who he was, and I was right. He loved his brother, but at the same time, he hated what Ceren was doing and he didn't support it.

I also liked the fact that, even though Nor and Talin were enamored with each other, it didn't turn Nor into a brainless jellybean. She was able to think for herself, and not be so obsessed with Talin that she was thinking of him 24-7-365.

I couldn't stand the twins' mother. She was absolutely horrid! But their father was great, and he tried to do right by them.

I couldn't decide what I thought of Ceren for a long time. At times he was absolutely horrible, but then he had moments that he was kind of decent. I finally decided that I felt sorry for him. He was so messed up in the head, and he didn't stop to take the time to realize that he had people who would care about him and help him, if only he would pull his head out of his... um..well, you know.

I know the author said this book sold as a standalone, but she also said it has an option for a sequel, and I really hope that sequel happens, because there was so much left undone at the end of this book.

Is Sami okay? He's stranded out in the middle of nowhere! Do they ever find him?

What happens with the Twins and their family?

What about my Little Bean, Talin? Do he and Nor ever get to see each other again? Do they get their HEA?? I need them to get their HEA!

And what about Ceren? I'm still not convinced he's 100% dead. *Squints suspiciously*

And what does Queen Talia do once she's back on the throne? How does that go for her?

All in all, I really enjoyed this book, and I can't wait for it to be available to purchase.

*Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC through NetGalley

My review is live on Goodreads now, and it will be live on my Blog on 5-23-19