There was nothing "wrong" with this book, the writing was good and the story was good but for a fantasy it was not the kind to inspire a fandom or have students talking in the halls about it. It just doesn't have the depth and engagement that comes with the really good fantasy novels.

That said, it was good. I enjoyed reading it as someone who likes fantasy books.

First off, wow, I would not want to live in Zadie and Nor’s village of Varenia. Aside from the difficulty of having enough food or funds to care for a family are enough of a problem, but the insane pressure put on young women to be beautiful and to preserve that beauty it astounding. Nor has the tiniest little pucker of a scar on her cheek and with the way her mother treats her you would think Nor was a horrible cripple or a leper or something.

At least Zadie and Nor had each other to rely on. They are best friends as well as twin sisters, and it is clear from the beginning that Nor will do anything to protect her sister. This reminds me of the determination and protective instincts of siblings such as Katniss Everdeen. So when Zadie is chosen to marry the prince, when she is already in love with a local boy, Zadie decides that she won’t go, and that she is willing to injure/scar herself so she’ll no longer be beautiful. The problem is that a sketching of Zadie has already been sent to the castle, so the village is put in a problematic position because sending a defective girl will mean grave punishment for them all. This sets Nor on her path to save and protect her sister and her home. Covering her tiny scar with makeup, Nor pretends to be her sister and goes in her place.

And that is all I will say for specific plot details because that is all pretty much stated in the synopsis as well. The mystery and danger and political intrigue of this story is all rather well done, and I especially enjoyed the relationships Nor built while stuck so far away from her friends and family.

I was so drawn into this story, and found the characters to be rather intriguing, and the potential for romance was pretty great.

While this book could stand on its own, I feel like it did leave a number of questions unanswered, so I was supremely glad to hear the announcement of a sequel/conclusion to be released later this year. I am absolutely delighted to find out what will happen for Zadie and Nor and Talin and Ceren now, because it should be a pretty darn fascinating and dangerous and wonderful conclusion…or that’s my hope anyway.

This was soooo stinking good! I honestly was intrigued just by the cover, but I am so HERE for this. A unique story and world with characters who don’t fall into overused tropes. I literally couldn’t put it down and stayed up late to finish it. Nor is such a strong and brave lead, you immediately like her and have a vested interest in all characters. I am waiting on the edge of my seat for the next one! I have so many questions and suspicions...

This was a fun, fast read that I really think readers of young adult literature will get on with. I personally enjoy fantasy that has more political intrigue than true fantasy elements and so that was a lot of the reason that I got with this. The atmosphere of a seaside setting along with tropes that I typically enjoy (brothers who are princes, sisterly bonds, intrigue) made this a really engaging read and a promising first book.

An enjoyable but somewhat forgettable YA fantasy. I enjoyed the relationship between the two sisters, Zadie and Nor. Some of the world building particulars, such as the effects of the poisonous red coral, were really nicely done, though I had a harder time with the romantic elements and the palace intrigue, which weren't bad but did feel a bit banal and forced, respectively.

The writing was good. The contrasting atmospheres of sea and land were palpable; I could imagine everything as I was reading, down to the drops of water on rock. This stayed with me long after I had forgotten most of the plot details.

But I do wish the book had done more to undermine the idea of girls' beauty being paramount. The book's premise seems to indicate that it will, but ultimately it didn't go far enough.

I did not care for the instant love that was formed between the main character and the love interest. I wish we had less of the romantic aspect and had more of the sibling love that was shown between Nor and Zadie. They have one of the most touchingly authentic sister relationships I've encountered in a while,

Rutherford's writing style and worldbuilding really shine in this novel. While the teen characters sometimes rubbed me the wrong way with their actions and attitudes, I doubt that would be a problem for readers of an age with said characters. Recommended for any teenaged fan of fantasy, but especially for sisters.

Crown of Coral and Peral was the debut book from author Mara Rutherford and overall I am quite impressed with the outcome. Though the plot was pretty basic for YA novel and filled with tropes, for example, our main character Nor becomes a spy for her people in an unknown kingdom surrounded by handsome princes and political drama, which is far from the first I have read in this genre, I found certain elements like the characters, the worldbuilding, and the writing well enough to make up for it. Mara Rutherford did an excellent job creating an imaginative experience for the reader as she describes the various locations of Ilara such as New Castle and Old Castle and Nor's home of Varenia. Rutherford's writing flows artfully and she exhibits great skill for a debut book. Overall Crown of Coral and Peral is a great beginning to a series that will hopefully branch out in a more unique way compared to its fellow books in this genre!

Books always have cliches or you know where something is going to go but that doesn't make the book any less fun to read. Crown of Coral and Pearl was such a fun read ad it doesn't hurt that the audiobook was just as much fun to listen to. I would totally recommend it.

I loved certain aspects of this book. The sisterly component was amazing, and I loved how this bond of friendship, loyalty, and family was portrayed. I also really enjoyed the world-building and overall plot build up. The imagery is amazing. I'm a huge fan of ocean books, and I loved how everything was described.

That being said, I found the story ended somewhat abruptly and I wasn't wholly believing the romance.

I would rate this book 3-3.5 stars. It was an enjoyable book.

Ceren is my favourite part of this book, hands down. A fantastic villain who is cold as can be. His reasoning is clear for everything, his fiance gets swapped out with her sister, and the whole thing gets convoluted and confusing for a bit but man, you can't help but sympathize with him. He is a fantastically written character. Other than that, the plot left something to be desired and was poor in pacing in my opinion. Too many jumps between slow and quick.

This book is not perfect; it's filled with cliches and a lack of plot, but it's just so fun. The world is lush and vividly imagined, and though the romance is totally over-the-top and gives me 2010 YA vibes, it was fun to see it come to life. Is this the most transgressive book ever? No. Is it still a nice, quick read? Yes. The creepy prince in the cave castle was a nice touch; I even found myself empathizing with him (not his actions though). I would say he's the most morally complex character, and he sort of carried the characterization team. You can guess how all the other characters will act based on the synopsis alone (OP "special" girl, Knight in Shining Armor half-brother of the prince, A childhood best friend who's all sunshine and rainbows, etc.). This book will be best for those who want a light-hearted read to take at face value.

I had such high hopes for Crown of Coral and Pearl. The story sounded so unique and promising. Unfortunately, the book was fine but that's about all it really is.

I enjoyed reading about the sisters and their relationship, especially how heartwarming it is, as well as the concept of a society in the sea. The characters are good, but not highly memorable, and to be honest a bit plain. The biggest issue with the book was how slow the pacing was as well as the lack of action, as nothing really occurs until halfway through the book and then at the very end of the book. I also found the romance to be lacking, as it felt as if the characters were being forced together and rushed along to complete a type of superficial relationship.

Though there was so much potential for Crown of Coral and Pearl to be a five star read, with a fantastic relationship between sisters and a world-building so wonderfully interwoven, it lacked for me much that would have made it a fantastic read - in regards to romance, pacing, and characters. Nonetheless, if you like a book with an original and unique world, be sure to pick this book up.

eARC was kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

I loved everything about this story. It gave me so many emotions, which is what I look for in a book. I hated some characters and loved others, they were that well written. The plot and world-building was fleshed out so well, I was not confused in the slightest. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Nor. She is such a strong female lead and I can't wait to read more about her (and Talin) in the sequel.

Actual Rating: 3.75

Womp womp. I was really excited about this book (mainly because that cover tho) and it did not meet my expectations. The plot wasn’t really anything new in terms of YA. I spent a big chunk of this book going “Oh this is like Reign the Earth/Grace and Fury/Red Queen” (YA loves its brothers, doesn’t it?). I did enjoy aspects of the world building (specifically the relationship between the pearls and the blood coral. And the environmental requirements for the blood coral to grow.)

I’m looking forward to the sequel, at least.

I think I'm losing my taste for fantasy. It wasn't anything about this book in particular. I'm just not the right reader for it.

This is a tough review for me because there are some really great aspects to this debut. The world, the built in tensions and the danger were all well done, drawing me in from the first page. I liked the original world that the author built. There was a lot of tension just existing in the world right away, plus the added complications of Zadie and Nor's position really heightened the story's urgency. While pretending to be Zadie, Nor's internal struggles are authentic and the world in the castle she is thrust into is both frightening and mysterious.

That said, I had some problems with Nor and Zadie. A lot of the story at the beginning was with them in their home before the switch, but it moved a little slowly for me. Zadie didn't have much character for me. She was beautiful and perfect and didn't want to be chosen. Nor was more interesting as the cast aside, slightly blemished sister. But I couldn't really connect with her as much as I wanted to. Also, I had a problem with some of Nor's choices.

Most of all, Prince Ceren was hard for me. He was sickly and damaged and perhaps evil (not sure yet)? The author goes back and forth between showing sympathy for a misunderstood Ceren and turning him into a monster who murders children the next. These two polarizing personality traits were really hard for me reconcile. I think the author is trying to leave us guessing - is he really as awful as we think? Is he misunderstood underdog? Is Talin as wonderful as we are lead to believe?

Frustratingly, none of these questions are really answered. This is the first book in the series so I understand the need for some open plot points, but I didn't finish the book with an easy feeling of knowing where the story was going, which should be intriguing but instead left me confused.

Overall I think it was interesting and original. I think YA fantasy fans should try it out for its unique setting and commentary on beauty, life and society. I'm not sure if I will continue with the series but I think a lot of readers will enjoy it.

This was VERY slow, but if readers push on I think they will enjoy the world building. Unfortunately, the romance is rather annoying and I felt like not much happened. This book was just ok for me, and I will not be continuing with the series..

I absolutely loved this book. I couldn't stop thinking about it when I wasn't reading it, honestly, it's all I had been thinking of for days. If I didn't have to work, i would've finished it in one sitting. The characters are amazing, even the bad ones. I can't wait for the second one to drop. This was such a beautiful debut. Congratulations!

Magic and Politics. This book was enchanting and engaging. The characters are well developed and I really enjoyed it!