I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up Crown of Coral and Pearl by Mara Rutherford. Would it be the standard YA fantasy fare? Would it feel repetitive? But no, I enjoyed this new addition to the mermaid-inspired fantasy trend and if you enjoy this genre I think you will too.

The best thing about Crown of Coral and Pearl is that it is, at its core, a beautiful little novel in so many ways. The easy flow of the writing, the thought and detail in all the descriptions, and even in the culture of the people in this book. Beauty itself is a sort of theme in this book, one of the kingdoms in which it takes place even values beauty above all else, drawing fascinating questions about what kind of world that builds. This book was gorgeous, I felt like I could see and feel every luxurious detail, and I loved how this concept was woven into the story. Very smart.

Overall, the world-builing in general was a fascinating piece of this book. Each kingdom felt full and lived in, and the issues they faced felt real and layered in complexity. I especially found the politics and relationship between the two kingdoms to be so interesting and could have read a lot longer on these topics alone. I was swept up into this world so well and that is one of the things I appreciate most about reading.

Another thing Coral and Pearl does so well is in showcasing its tough, feminine, relatable main character, in Nor. I found all of the characters in this book interesting, but her most of all. Nor is clever, compassionate, driven, and a great female character. Most of all, I loved the incredibly close but surprisingly difficult relationship between Nor and her twin sister. Watching that relationship develop over the events of the book, in both victories and struggles, was an interesting dynamic considering how close their ties are. Even the villain of this story drew so much empathy and depth of feeling.

My only detractor is that the romance in this book didn’t quite work for me. Overall, it didn’t take away from the overall story but it just…didn’t need it? It seemed too quick and more like infatuation than anything else, so I struggled to root for this facet of the story as much as I did the others. Nor is such a strong character that it was frustrating to see her make certian choices for a romance that felt somewhat out of character. One of the central themes of this book is that beauty is more than just a physical state, its something deeper, and yet for the life of me I couldn’t see any other factor but physical attraction here haha. But hey, that’s valid too, I guess.

Overall, I enjoyed this. It could use a little polishing when it comes to the romance and maybe the ending, but it was a solid debut into the crowded field of YA fantasy novels right now. I am loving this sea-inspired trend, it’s hitting all my nostalgic Little Mermaid buttons, and this just fit right in. Crown of Coral and Pearl was well-paced, interesting all the way through, and set on a great premise. Would definitely recommend.

Keep an eye out for this one in stores on August 27th!

Mara Rutherford’s stunning debut, Crown of Coral and Pearl, is a richly detailed fantasy full of drama and political intrigue that sadly stumbles toward the end of the book and collapses under a rapidly increasing pace and cramming way too much in the last few chapters.

Crown of Coral and Pearl is following in a long line of YA fantasies that border on the dystopian and focus on the idea of beauty as a commodity. In the village of Varenia, which is located entirely on the ocean, beauty is prized more than any other trait, as all the eligible young women compete to be chosen as “most beautiful” so they can be sent to Ilara as the king’s bride-to-be. This is a custom that goes back centuries, and no one quite knows why it continues. Twins Zadie and Nor both know Zadie will be chosen, but she is in love with the son of the village chieftain and Nor desperately wants to escape their tiny village and see the world. After Zadie risks her life to take herself out of the running, Nor must take her place.

Rutherford did a fabulous job with the setting; it was so easy to picture the stilted houses that make up Varenia and the opulent caves of Ilara’s New Castle. Most of the characters are just as well-developed, and even the villain is humanized in such a way that, while you might not agree with his methods, you can still empathize with the idea of a motherless child watching his father die of unknown circumstances and worrying he will meet the same fate. Unfortunately, Talin does not seem to have much going for him other than his appearance, and we are warned multiple times not to base things on beauty. His “romance” with Nor is shallow and completely on the surface, which is sadly a continuous trend in media. Just because they are attractive doesn’t mean they’re meant to be. I was hoping their relationship would be fleshed out more, but it never quite gets the depth that it should.

My main issue with Crown of Coral and Pearl is the pacing. The first probably three quarters of the book are done well; the setting is established, the characters are introduced, you are starting to get a sense of the villain and what his motivations are, and if you’re paying attention you can probably figure out some of the things that aren’t being said. However, once the book approaches its climax, things start happening much too quickly. This title was sold as a one-book deal, which explains why Rutherford felt the need to give it an ending, but the ending it has is very Poochie’s home planet needs him. I hesitate to call it a deus ex machina, because I think there was enough groundwork laid that it didn’t come completely out of nowhere, but I can understand how some readers may feel that way. There is going to be a sequel, which will hopefully smooth out some of the rough edges of the ending.

I think this book could have done with a little better structure. Some of the plot points introduced at the very end would have been much better served in the sequel; even if a second book wasn’t guaranteed at the time, there are ways this could have ended without stuffing all of this information in the last chapter. As such, my opinion of the book went down a few notches. This could have been one of my go-to recommendations, but the ending sours it. Will these issues be fixed in the next installment? We shall see.

3.5 stars

Crown of Coral and Pearl told the story of two sisters who were taught that their beauty was of the utmost importance. Due to a long history, their tiny village had to send their most beautiful woman to be sent as the mainland crown prince's bride. What should have been an interesting story of betrayal and plot twists lost itself in the instalove between two characters and I found the story to be lacking. The plot was pretty straight forward which lessened my overall enjoyment. I probably won't continue the series, but I don't regret reading it.

I'm sorry to say this book was just not for me. I'm so disappointed because it had so much potential to be a favorite!

im sad too bc the imagery of their life in the sea was so so good! I could smell the saltwater, the brine, the sun beating down. But the plot was too slow and the characters were too bland to carry the story.

the "twist" if you could call it that, was just so obvious.

idk I'm actually v disappointed. I was mostly reading b/c I had so many questions, but the reveals were so unsatisfactory. I kept thinking there was going to be a devious twist, but nothing happened. and then it was over.

While I had trouble following the plot at times, I liked the descriptions of Varenia and Illaria. Also, I enjoyed the sister relationship between Zadie and Nor. Whilst I wasn't the biggest fan of Zadie, I still found her compelling to read about and their bond reminded me vaguely of Frozen.

Over all this seems to be a standalone, which is a good thing since I'm not sure I would have read a sequel. It was an okay read but once I saw the direction it was heading in, I did struggled to finish.

Rating 3🌟

Varenia is an ocean kingdom and for generations only the most beautiful maidens are sent to marry the princes of Ilara. Every girl longs to be chosen as the next princess, but the cost of becoming royalty is higher than any of them could ever imagine...

Nor once dreamed of seeing the beautiful kingdom of Ilara, until one accident left her scarred. Since that day, she always new her twin sister Zadie would be chosen in her place to marry the crown prince.

Then Zadie is gravely injuries, and Nor is sent in her place. Her future husband, Ceren, is forbidding and cold as is his home. A castle carved into a mountain devoid of sunlight. As she grows closer to Ceren’s brother Talin, she starts to uncover startling truths about a failing royal bloodline and a plot to destroy the home she once was eager to leave.

To save her people, Nor must learn to negotiate the treacherous protocols of a court where lies reign and obsession rules. But learning that strength is more important than beauty might be the one move that costs her everything.

You guys... I have not read a YA fantasy novel as good as this since Red Queen. The timeline moved along perfectly! Rutherford did an amazing job with descriptions an creating such a unique world. When it ended I wanted more! Thank goodness there is going to be a second book because I have so many questions! The ending left a lot open and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here! This beauty publishes August 27th. So if you love YA Fantasy you are going to want this book!!!

Good, solid fantasy read! I feel like this is one a ton of people will overlook just purely based on the number of YA fantasy novels that are released. Would I have picked it up if not for getting the ARC? Probably not, again, just purely based on the number of fantasy books I had my eyes on, but I'm glad that I got around to this!

The book centers around a kingdom where beauty is worth a fortune. Our main character, Nor, has a scar that basically puts her out of the running to mary the Crown Prince. However, her twin sister is injured, and Nor has to step up and take her place. When Nor joins the kingdom, she finds that not everything there is as beautiful as it might seem.

Aside from the fantasy elements, I loved the bond Nor had with her sister.

Overall, it was a good fantasy and I'd recommend it to anyone interested in the genre!

“And what is wrong with being shallow?” I’d asked him.

“What lies beneath the surface of shallow waters? Nothing. It’s only when you go deeper than the ocean comes alive. The deeper you go, the more mysteries and surprises await.”



This quote describes exactly how I felt about this novel. The deeper I fell into the story, the more I found I loved it.



I felt engaged in this story from the very beginning. It’s funny because when I was trying to explain the concept of the book to someone, they mentioned that the basic bones of the story were similar to A Bug’s Life. I had to laugh because I suppose part of that is true. Nor’s people sacrifice their lives to provide something the Ilarians require of them ever since a tragic accident took their previous Queen. This story was fast-paced and build-up for the climax points of the story were expertly done. Mara’s writing style is beautiful and detailed but she has another special talent…creating amazing characters.











I honestly think the characters are what I loved most about this book. They were flawed and that just made them more believable. I can relate to a character more if they have flaws, it makes them more enjoyable and gives them room to grow and improve. I could spend all day talking about each character but I think today I’ll stick with my favorite one, the main character.



I had sacrificed all of that to come here, and I would be damned if it had all been for nothing.



Nor: She is the most selfless and brave character that I’ve run into recently. She would risk her own life not help not only her family but her entire village. She faces many different challenges and always holds on to her core values and those of her people. Though much of the time she was away from her sister, she never forget why she came and what she was fighting for. The relationship between her and Zadie (her sister) is refreshing to read. My sister and I were close growing up but never that close. That is something that every sister dreams of having.







I do feel that I have to mentions there is a romance here, the instant love kind. Not all instant love stories are bad, I actually enjoyed this one. The desperation to be together, it just made me feel for them.





I absolutely love the world-building in this story. The history of the two villages was well thought out and delivered in a digestible way rather than being dumped on us from the start. With such detail that I could see the color of the coral and feel the smoothness of the pearls. I could imagine diving for pearls and hoping to find one so that I can buy food for my family.









Crown of Coral and Pearl has some great underlying themes regarding outer beauty.



Your mother taught you to believe your scar made you ugly, but it has made you brave.





Hiding our scars doesn’t mean they’re not there. Just as beauty cannot disguise who we really are beneath the surface.



People in Nor’s village are pressured to grow up as beautiful and flawless as possible. Due to an accident at a young age, Nor is left with a scar, one that her mother makes sure she knows is ugly. What she doesn’t know is that she is still beautiful and having a scar such as hers, she has had time to become brave. She is the bravest and selfless character in this entire book. Though some might not see her as beautiful by their standards, she has the most beautiful heart.



Inner beauty is not the only deeper theme here, the book is full of them.



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 the 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.



Overall, this novel offers characters that are relatable and engaging, a fast-paced storyline, and some dreamy detailed world-building. This was one of my most anticipated releases of 2019 and I was not disappointed.

3.5 stars

This is a fast paced story filled with political intrigue, fantasy, and family. I enjoyed the characters, and I found Varenia to be fascinating. The only thing I didn't enjoy was the romance. But, that's just my personal preference. Other than that, I thought it was pretty good. I would definitely read more from this author.

This book was sweet and very well written. The characters were well-rounded and the relationships were interesting, strong, and well-developed. The story simply just was not for me. I would recommend it to certain people for sure. Particularly, my younger students.

First off, let me just say that this cover is freaking gorgeous! Honestly, I would buy this book just on the cover itself. Instantly eye catching.

 Crown of Coral and Pearl is your typical YA fantasy with a unique and all out infuriating story. Twins Zadie and Nor (meaning Pearl and Coral and I am insanely ashamed at how long it took me to connect their names) are raised to value nothing more than external beauty in order to one day be chosen to move to land and marry the Prince, as is tradition custom.

 On land?

 Are they mermaids?

 No, although that would be pretty cool.

 The most unique part of this book is the world. The village of Verenia, where the girls live, is completely on the ocean where they fish and dive for pearls as trade for the reigning king. Due to a ridiculous urban legend of “star crossed lovers” the Varenians are banned from ever setting foot on land, save for the chosen bride. The kingdom on land also stay away for the ocean village but because they choose to, not because they have to. Doesn’t seem fair, does it?

 So why marry the Prince to one of the outcast ocean villagers instead of a neighboring Princess or, you know, anyone else? Well Varenian women are the most beautiful and who doesn’t like to have nice things? Sure, there are other reasons for this tradition but I’m not going to give you everything. What’s the fun in that?

 I ended up reading this in one day. The pacing was perfect for keeping the reader engaged in the story. YA books in general tend to be a little on the predictable side if you read enough of them so not much surprised me while reading but it was really enjoyable to read anyway. There was this one part that made me question this as a series, though, because I saw it coming but not when it did so I guess I was a little shocked at that point.

 I really enjoyed the character relationships, especially between Zadie and Nor. I think the bond the twins had was presented in a way that, even if you couldn’t relate, you could appreciate. Prince Ceren and Talin….meh. I know there has to be a triangle somewhere but this just didn’t make much sense to me. I found that I was more interested in the villain in this story and I was actually a little disappointed that things didn’t quite work out the way I had anticipated. I tend to take things a step too far and I was hoping that the author would as well. I absolutely adored Ebb and I wish there would have been so much more of her! There’s a fantastic story there and I want to get to know her more!

 Of all the things in Crown of Coral and Pearl that are fairly generic in the YA fantasy genre, the one thing that really stood out for me was the marking of time. In almost every fantasy novel we measure time by fortnights, turns of the moon or some form of reference to the chosen Gods. What I found incredibly interesting in this book is that Rutherford made the choice to modernize the measurement of time, in days, weeks and months anyway. This was really surprising for me but there are elements, in Prince Ceren’s New Castle for instance, where it seems like the author was attempting to show a modernization in this world that aren’t incorporated in a lot of fantasy novels. Don’t get me wrong, it’s refreshing to know that Tuesday is Tuesday and not Thornsday or whatever made up day the author chooses to use but it is also a risky move on Rutherford’s part as it does eliminate a small part of the fantasy aspect the we are used to. I’m still not sure how I feel about this but if this was a conscious decision, it was a bold one and I like that.

 I will say that I was not exactly impressed with the ending, though. It felt a bit rushed for me and felt very anti-climactic.

 In all, Crown of Coral and Pearl is a very quick and compelling read that I would highly recommend to any YA fantasy readers out there. Rutherford has a talent for creating a story and a world that makes you want more and I will be very interested to see where she takes us next!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy of this book to read and give my honest opinion.

I thought the general premise of this was so good. Nor seemed like a really great, strong character, with one main weakness: Zadie. I honestly hated Zadie as a character. She was so selfish and it was annoying that she could almost do no wrong in Nor's eyes. Ugh just thinking about all of the things that Zadie did make me so angry/annoyed, so I'm going to stop thinking about them. In terms of the other characters, Sam was ok, I liked Nor's dad, Nor's mom was terrible, Prince Ceren was a little sad, and Prince Talin was "charming" but just ok. Honestly, Nor and some of the other people in the castle were the only ones I really liked. 

Crown of Coral and Pearl was a very plot driven book, which I really liked, so it doesn't really matter that I only liked a few characters. It's a relatively short book (the e-arc was only 300 some pages while the other ones I read right before it were in the 500s), so the plot line moves at a really good pace. Things seemed a little too neatly tied at the end, so I kind of wish there was a little less neatly tied and a little more on the loose threads end, because I really liked the world and would have loved to read more things set in this world. 

Overall, I really liked Crown of Coral and Pearl and I think you will too!

Beautiful fantasy debut for Mara Rutherford. Family values, sisters love, kingdom and the prince. What else do we need? There were few plots and twists which made this book even more interesting. Very well written with good developed characters, right away I got my favorites and figures that I dislike.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair review.

A Crown of Coral and Pearl is one of my favorite fantasy debuts of the year. With the young adult market being flooded with fantasy books, I found this one stood out of the usual stories coming out.
The author made the perfect world and characters to tell such an entrancing story. Nor and Zaddie may be twins but they are nothing alike. The author intertwines the love of siblings and a controlling kingdom and you have the perfect storm. Nothing is what it seems and you never who to trust. 
I was 90% through and felt I knew the outcome but was taken completely by surprise. There were lots of plot twists that made the story great. if you’ve read my past reviews, you know that I love a story that I can’t predict. I also love a story that feels finished but also leaves you wanting more of the characters. 
I highly recommend a Crown of Coral and Pearl for fantasy fans teenage and up. This story is definitely a red pearl in a sea of pink.

TL;DR – Nor says many unwise things and makes many unwise decisions, but is still a likable character. Some things don’t make a ton of sense, but can be ignored.

This book was a little different than I thought it would be but at the same time is also exactly what I thought it would be. Does that make sense? Plotwise, there were many things that the reader knows is going to happen (because of course) but the author takes her sweet time getting there. For example, it took FOREVER for Nor to come to the conclusion that she needs to take Zadie’s place. I understand in the context of the story that it wasn’t that simple, but we probably could have saved at least 50 pages. It’s when Nor gets to Ilara that things take some interesting turns that I didn’t really anticipate.

I thought the relationship between Nor and Zadie was a really interesting one. The author herself is a twin (as I found out in the Acknowledgements section) and that gives authenticity to the sister relationship. Never having been a twin myself, I felt like I understood better what it would be like to go through life with someone always at your side. I appreciated that there was no jealousy between the girls. They were legitimately the best of friends and sisters.

There were some minor plot points that didn’t quite make sense to me. Some of them were explained (kind of), but some weren’t. There were times when Nor’s plans didn’t make sense and I can’t tell if that was purposeful to show her naivety or…what. I also felt like she didn’t act or speak with the appropriate amount of caution, especially when Talin was involved. Ceren is this seriously dangerous dude and she’s just randomly mouthing off to him or snubbing him in favor of Talin whenever possible. HE COULD END YOU, NOR.

As far as the other characters, I felt like the author was maybe trying to create some moral grey-ness with Ceren? But then she also wanted to make sure we knew he was a BAD GUY. It just made his character seem inconsistent and I didn’t feel like that worked with the story. Also, his and Talin’s relationship made approximately 5% of sense to me.

Overall, I actually liked this book quite a bit and will definitely be reading the second. Though, I’m not really sure where the plot can go from here? I have some suspicions, but if my suspicions are correct, I don’t like it. I guess we’ll see!

Overall Rating: 4
Language: None
Violence: Moderate
Smoking/Drinking: Mild
Sexual Content: Mild

Note: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. Talin and Ebb are my two favourite characters, each caring about Nor in their own protective way. I did find that the plot itself moved along rather slowly but the ending set up the next book so well that I'm looking forward to the second book in this series. I love the relationship between Zadie and Nor, so I'm looking forward to seeing them work together in the next book. This series has a lot of potential to grow into a fan-favourite and I look forward to seeing it pop up around instagram!

Crown of Coral and Pearl by Mara Rutherford is a book that I had such high hopes for. The premise sounds so promising, and the world is innovative. Unfortunately, I found the main character very plain, and the pacing and romance are off. This book is fine, but that’s about it.

In a society in the sea, the most beautiful girl is chosen every generation to go away to set foot on land and marry the prince. Nor is honoured with the position, however, an accident leaves her unable to take the position. Instead, her twin sister is sent over, pretending to be Nor in order to marry the prince. I love books that feature sisters, and reading about Zadie and Nor’s relationship is so heartwarming. As well, the idea of a sea world is so intriguing, and the logistics are well-developed.

❀ INTERESTING DYNAMIC BETWEEN THE CHARACTERS

The characters in the book are good enough, but I didn’t find them to be very memorable. Zadie is honestly very plain, and I didn’t really see her do much. The only thing that really makes her stand out is the scar on her face that makes her less beautiful in the eyes of society. I did like the way Zadie and Nor’s relationship is characterized, however, and the fact that they are both rivals and best friends is an interesting dynamic.

VERY SLOW-PACED

My biggest issues with the book are with the pacing and the romance. This book is incredibly slow paced, and nothing really happens until halfway through, and then it is flat again until the end. I wasn’t wowed by anything, and it took me a long time to get through because I was losing interest. On top of this, the story contains one of the most insta-lovey relationships I have ever seen. I can probably count the number of times Zadie and her “love interest” converse on one hand, and their relationship is completely superficial. It feels rushed, and it just isn’t believable.

Crown of Coral and Pearl had so much potential to be a five star read. The world building is well-executed, and the relationship between sisters is fantastic. That being said, the main character, the pacing, and the romance fall flat. I would recommend this to those who are looking for a book with an original world to escape into, but be aware of the slow pacing.

'Crown of Coral and Pearl' is a fantastic young adult fantasy debut that fans of the genre are sure to love. I'm very impressed that this is the author's debut. You never would guess it from just reading. Her raw talent and storytelling ability shines through almost instantly. I was drawn into Nor's world right from the beginning and lost myself inside of it until I had finished the final words. The author uses a great blend of vivid imagery and detailed descriptions that brought this world to life in front of my eyes. I felt like I was experiencing everything right along with Nor throughout the whole story.

Speaking of Nor, I loved her as the main character. She's incredibly realistic and easy to connect with right from the start. She's complex with both good qualities and flaws. She's strong, brave, determined, a loving daughter and sister, devoted to her family and her people, and has a need to do whatever it takes to save those she loves. Her flaws are physical - the scar on her cheek - as well as others like being stubborn, having a bit of a temper, and not being so great at holding her tongue.

One major thing that I loved about both Nor and the story itself is that it's told from the first person point of view, from Nor's perspective. This is by far my favorite writing style and I love that the author chose to use it for this book. I believe it lets the reader connect on a deeper level with the narrator. We get to know their innermost thoughts, fears, hopes, dreams, memories, fantasies, and everything in between. Without that connection, I almost never have the same kind of positive reading experience and reaction, which is why I'm so glad the author used it for this book.

Although the plot itself isn't wholly original, the author puts her own spin on things to make it fresh and interesting. There really isn't anything with that type of plot and theme that you can change to make it unique enough not to recognize the story line and basic plot structure. However, I really enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it to fans of young adult fiction, fantasy, mythology, and romance.

Crown of Coral and Pearl is about a village in the sea that has to give their most beautiful daughter to the kingdom that rules them, whenever the prince comes of age to take a bride. Nor and Zadie are twins, but Zadie will be the one chosen to leave because of a scar on Nor's cheek. When Zadie is injured, though, the village is forced to send Nor in her place. While there Nor grows close to the prince's brother and finds out startling truths about the kingdom and her village's future all while trying to keep up the disguise that the village didn't send the wrong girl.

I really liked this. It's the exact kind of YA fantasy that I like to read with a strong female character, a kingdom, forbidden love interest, and great fight scenes where everyone thinks she's just a girl, but then she proves herself by being a bad ass. The relationship between the sisters is heartfelt.
I hate that I keep getting these arcs and then immediately want the second book.

Crown of Coral and Pearl by Mara Rutherford is the first installment of a YA fantasy duology. This novel is Mara Rutherford's debut novel as well and it's an incredibly promising start for her. Her writing style is absolutely gorgeous and her world-building is lushly detailed. I particularly enjoyed getting to know Nor and Zadie's village at sea. It really pops off the pages, as do the two sisters. Both Nor and Zadie are quite different from one another in personality and they have quite a strong relationship with one another which is so great to read. In fact, the first half of the novel was my favorite part of the story. Of course, I also enjoyed the political intrigue after Nor takes Zadie's place among the royal court. However, that setting never quite grabbed me to the same degree as their lives in their small village. Plus, fair warning there is a bit of instalove when it comes to the romance and the relationship at the heart of the romance never quite intrigued me as much as the relationship between the sisters at the center of this tale. Overall, I highly recommend this YA fantasy if you're a fan of the lush world of Stephanie Garber's Caraval. I can't wait to see what happens in book two, Kingdom of Sea and Stone.