Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with the ARC. I was very excited to get approved for this and thought this was a great read!

I love the premise, but just felt it did not deliver on the substance. Nor is the main character, and it seems she is intended as a heroine, but it just isn't conveyed well enough. There is no acknowledgement of the selfishness of her twin, and the the impact of her actions on Nor which would have provided great character development and more substance. The brother dynamic was basic fantasy: one light, one dark, one evil, one good. Again, missed opportunity for characters that could feed a fandom. While a standalone now, a sequel could elevate the fabulous world-building and create a story line I can invest in.

I absolutely loved it! Maybe because I like water and Nor and her family live around water? A bit of it reminded me of the Red Queen. One sister is "better" at what she does but when she gets hurt, the other sister has to go in her place. I'm sorry that I love the bad guy. Even more than his brother who's good. I loved the intensity. Nor is really a fighter. The plot flowed really well, nothing boring about it. I know this won't be the end.

First off, I'll get to the reasons why I think Crown of Coral and Pearl is worth the read despite some of the faults I had with it.

• Ceren is a very compelling antagonist. He is a young man with a realistic and complex personality. I love that the author exhibited his many dimensions and I found him to be one of my favourite characters, despite hating his personality.

•The relationship between Zadie and Nor and crafted perfectly. I loved that the author spent so much time fleshing out the powerful bond the sisters had with each other. It really helped to establish the differences in their personalities and draw out their complex emotions pertaining to their situation. The first part of the book was my favourite because of that.

• I thought the world building was solid for a fantasy that doesn't take on a very large scope. I FELT the culture shock that Nor experienced when she was uprooted from her simple life in Varenia to a luxurious one in Ilara. I had a clear idea of the differences between each culture as well.

The one glaring fault that I can't ignore is Nor's relationship with Talin. I thought Talin was a solid character. He seemed just as complex as any of the other characters in the book. However, I felt as if the two main love interests did not get enough time together for their relationship to, believeably, develop into what it did. The instant attraction was fine. However, I felt like there should have been more steps in the process of their relationship development after Nor first saw him again in Ilara. It went from 0 to 60 very quickly, in my opinion.

That being said, I believe that the pros outweighed the cons with this one. I didn't read it for the romance so I'm not too disappointed. I think that the author did well with fleshing out all the main characters. I would even love to see a spin-off in Zadie's point of view!

I really enjoyed this book and the cover adds a little extra to the story. Honestly they are so many books now that have crowns on them or in the title. It’s kinda hard to know if the book will live up to the hype compared to the last book that had a similar title. I really adored this story though and would definitely recommend it and buy the physical copy for myself! The cover is beautiful! I look forward to seeing how they make it stand out against all the others.

Book – Crown of Coral and Pearl
Author – Mara Rutherford
Series – None
Cliffhanger? - No
Publication Date – August 27, 2019
Genre – Fantasy
Rating – 4.5 out of 5 Stars

Complimentary copy generously provided by the author through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My Thoughts - Story

Hmmm…I think the number 1 thing that irked me the most about this book was how much I despised Zadie and the crap that she put Nor through. Which, don’t get me wrong, isn’t a bad thing…it shows how talented an author is to get the reader experience feelings whether negative or positive. It made me think back to when I was young and watching “Little House on the Prairie” and how much I hated that character “Nell” and my mother would tell me that just shows the writers knew what they were doing that you hate the character as much as you do!

Sorry, I went off on a tangent there but back to the story. I thought this was so imaginative and I absolutely LOVED this world on the sea. I ached for Nor – all the tough breaks that she had and how no one saw her inner beauty, which to me radiated the most out of all the characters. It broke my heart the relationship she had with her mother and how terrible her mother treated her.

The other downside I felt to this book is the romance between Talin and Nor ---- I just didn’t feel it until further in the book – I’m not a big fan of insta-love and felt that there were times that Talin didn’t really deserve the affection of Nor.

Now to the good stuff! I ate this book up – another fantasy I couldn’t put down from beginning to end. I connected with Nor – I really felt her in my heart and in my soul. I loved the undercurrent theme of the beauty underneath and how vain some people can be. What is most important in life? Outer or Inner Beauty?

I LOVED the world building and after reading, I wanted to go live on the ocean like Varenia!

I would like to see more of this book and have it developed into a series because I just need more of Nor!


Reason for Reading – NetGalley Review
Story – 5 out of 5 Stars
Steam – 4 out of 5 Stars
Angst – 5 out of 5 Stars
Writing – 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Content Flow – 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Would Read More from Author? Definitely
Recommend To – Readers who love a strong female protagonist

Very enjoyable book about the bond between two sisters and what they would do for each other I would recommend this to everybody!

Crown of Coral and Pearl by Mara Rutherford
Rating 3 stars

When I started reading this book, I expected it to be a full fledged romance. I basing this on the synopsis which originally had drawn me in. But this book was not so much a romance but rather a love story about two sisters and their inseparable bond.
I loved and adored the relationship between Nor and Zadie. In all the books I have ever read, I have never found one that captured the true dynamic between sisters, that is until I read Crown of Coral and Pearl. I find that the dynamic between Nor and Zadie is incredibly similar to the dynamic and relationship I share with my younger sister. There is nothing in this world I wouldn’t do to keep my sister safe from others and occasionally herself. Like I said earlier, I had expected this book to be a romance between Nor and her love interest Talin, but this book was more so a story about the love shared between sisters.
Don’t get me wrong, I loved the romance between Nor and Talin. I loved the tension between the two of them, I loved the complicated emotions, I loved their relationship in general. But what I loved most of all was the fact that Talin was not Nor’s rescuer. No, Nor was perfectly capable of saving herself and the ones she loved.
The other thing that I absolutely adored about this book was issues that it addressed. First and foremost, Crown of Coral and Pearl addressed a the issue of women’s value in society. In the world that Crown of Coral and Pearl takes place, the queens are chosen based solely on looks and appearances. This tradition creates a toxic atmosphere where girls are raised valuing beauty more than anything else. Because Nor had scars people thought she was worthless, but in the end Nor discovered that beauty isn’t everything and beauty does not equal value.
The only major issue that I had with this book was the ending. I personally felt that the end was a bit rushed. I felt that the end resolution was a bit disjointed from the rest of the novel. I had been sure of how I thought it would end but then new information was thrown in that threw me off. I think that some of the revelations that were revealed in the last couple of pages could have been explored more throughout the book to give it a more coherent ending.
Overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for an amazing story about the bond shared between sister, an intense romance, and royal intrigue.

I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of the book really reminds me of The Selection. It's a familiar plotline but the author's execution and the unique writing style really sets it apart.

I really liked the characters. They were really strong but still doubtful and insecure of themselves. I really liked how the author showed you can be strong and tentative at the same time. The characters are written beautifully flawed and well developed.

The plot was really gripping and the action was well paced. The world building was really unique and refreshing and the characters were as well. Everything from the plot to the setting to the writing to the characters was amazingly well done. I really hope this book gets the success it deserves.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the chance to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

First things first, can we just change the title? Please. That's all. This book as a lot of potential and it will be sad once it gets trampled on by the million other titles of "Blank of Blank and Blank."

Now that I've got that out of the way, this is a pretty surprising YA fantasy! It follows a rare duo set of twin girls, Nor and Zadie who reside on Varenia. The whole premise basically consists of your classic YA plotline. The prettiest sister will be chosen and sent away from her family by the royalty of the Kingdom of Ilara. Yes, I said it. A familiar plotline but I think the authors writing style really sets this apart. It did for me anyways..

I loved Nor. I thought she was a really strong character, even though she doubted herself and her ability, and she was fiercely protective of those she held dearest to her. The theme of sisterhood is strong between the pages and I desperately wanted to know how the story ended. I found it to be very gripping, refreshing and well-paced.

All things considered, I really enjoyed this. It gave me what every bookworm deserves: a wonderful and worthwhile reading experience.

Enjoyable fantasy stand-alone about a village at sea and the nearby kingdom with a castle literally carved into a mountain. Though the twin sisters at the center of this book have a healthy and loving relationship, the two half-brother princes are as different as night and day.

Title: Crown of Coral and Pearl
Author: Mara Rutherford
Publisher: Harlequin TEEN

Note: Review to be posted to Goodreads on May 6, 2019 and on retail sites (Barnes & Noble, Amazon) upon publication date, August 27, 2019.

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

Mara Rutherford’s debut novel, Crown of Coral and Pearl, completely captivated me from beginning to end. With each word, I was spellbound by this story, which dazzles from Rutherford’s gorgeous world-building and standout cast of characters.

In the ocean village of Varenia, a woman’s worth is determined by her beauty as the girl deemed most beautiful will be selected to marry the crown prince of their kingdom. Here we are introduced to twin sisters Nor and Zadie, who are inseparably close and considered to be among the most attractive girls in their village. However, it is understood that Zadie is most likely to be chosen as Nor is seen as imperfect due to a scar on her cheek from a childhood accident.

Unsurprisingly, Zadie is chosen to be the crown prince’s bride; yet following a complicated set of events, Nor is sent in her sister’s place. Although she always dreamt of seeing the world beyond her village, Nor slowly begins to discover that her dream may actually be a nightmare. Told solely from Nor’s perspective, Crown of Coral and Pearl follows her journey to self-discovery as she navigates a dark new world of court politics and intrigue.

As an adult reader, I loved that Rutherford’s writing included more mature elements that are not always present in YA books, such as the message that real beauty does not lie only on the surface and the overall feminist undertones present (i.e., queendoms, woman kings). Furthermore, one of the standout elements of this book was its memorable female characters, especially Nor, who reminded me of Feyre from the A Court of Thorns and Roses series (one of my all-time favorite heroines). Nor is a strong, independent woman who loves fiercely and stands by her values. Within the first chapter, I felt a strong connection with her and thoroughly enjoyed watching this story unfold through her eyes.

My only critique of Crown of Coral and Pearl is that the last several chapters felt a little rushed, with a lot of information and plot twists thrown at the reader within the span of a few pages. I think the full effect of these turns in the story would have been more dramatic if they were spread out over several more chapters. That being said, I was satisfied with how this book ended and felt most loose ends were tied up neatly. However, I would love to see this story expanded into a series.

Crown of Coral and Pearl was an impressive debut novel and a standout of the books I’ve read thus far in 2019. I would love to read more from Mara Rutherford in the future (this book continued to a series or otherwise)!

YA/teen fantasy with romantic elements and some violence. Nor and Zadie are twin sisters that grow up in the seaside village of Valeria, whose economy is dependent on export of pearls to the sovereign kingdom of Ilara. Zadie is chosen to marry the crown prince of Ilara, but because Zadie is in love with someone else Nor ends up taking her place. The court of Ilara is not what Nor expects and she must figure out who to trust and how to save Valeria. I like how principled and brave Nor is, and the loving relationship she shares with her twin. There is also plenty of YA melodrama and a love triangle of sorts. The main love interest could have been better developed (a bit of “insta-love” there) but overall entertaining read. I couldn’t tell if it was the first in a series - ending was satisfying but also left the door open for more later. Note: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Inkyard Press and NetGalley for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved everything about this book: the title, cover art, unique plot, setting, writing style, characters… It hooked me from the start and was a pleasure to read.

The character relationships, particularly the sisterly “twin bond” between Nor and Zadie, were wonderfully depicted, and I even enjoyed the scenes between Nor and Ceren. In fact, I felt Ceren was a callous, despicable (and incredibly well-developed) villain, which the stories I’ve been reading lately have lacked. Ceren was so complex that my feelings about him were complex, as well. He may have even been my favorite character as I felt his actions and dialogue were rich and completely inhumane. I despised him as much as Nor did, and yet I held such a fascination with this character throughout the novel and couldn’t get enough of him.

My one complaint, I suppose, would be the very end of the novel where everything sort of unraveled. I ultimately felt that the final fight scene, the romance, the truth about a particular royal, and what should have been a special reunion was rushed, which left me a bit unsatisfied as a reader. Of course, another reader may feel completely the opposite.

Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and hope it has much success upon being published.

Themes of sisterhood, loyalty and longing all play beautifully in Rutherford's Crown of Coral and Pearl. Lovely, intense character relationships set the tone of the novel, with stark reality and intrigue adding another layer to both the plot and character dynamics. Rutherford's writing is smooth and comforting, effortlessly transporting the reader into Ilara and Varenia. Otherwise a fluent read, Crown suffers slightly at the end -- it is obvious that a sequel was planned, but the novel seems to be written as a stand alone. Let's hope for a second novel!

Zadie and Nor, twins, live on Varenia -- an atoll in that provides the Kingdom of Ilara with two exports, pink pearls and a bride for the Ilarian prince. Raised to be the future queen, the most beautiful sister will be separated from her family and sent to live in Ilara. Nor lives her life care-free, the small scar on her cheek guaranteeing her a life stuck in Varenia, even if she wants more. When Zadie's life is at stake, Nor makes a decision that will alter both her life, and an entire kingdom.

This book just blew me away!! I was hooked the moment I started reading! I just love how beautifully written this book is and how well rounded the characters are!!
As far as Zadie and Nor go, I just love their bond!
My favorite has to be Nor as I love how strong and brave she is! I hope there's another book! I am so happy I was able to get an advanced copy of this!

I really liked the sister bond and the loyalty Nor had to her home. I felt this part of the book was very well developed and got me invested in the story. I was definitely thinking this was a five star read until I got to the ending of the story. I was underwhelmed with the romance plot and felt it was very underdeveloped. If you love a story about sisterhood and family bonds I would recommend this book!

**Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review**

I've been working with Mara on an interview for the blog for the past few weeks, so I was super excited when I was approved on NetGalley for Crown of Coral and Pearl. I blew through this book in two sittings, it was a quick read with an intriguing story line that captured me from page one.

I really loved the bond between Nor and Zadie. Being twins and being groomed to become the next princess of Varenia. Especially how after Nor's accident and how the attention that was split among the both of them was now mostly focused on Zadie. Something that was devastating and that had lasting consequences for Nor made the bond between the twins even stronger. The story shows how far you will go for the people you love and the sacrifices are willing to make for their happiness. I know for me I would go to the ends of the earth for my sister and though we are not twins everything that Nor did for Zadie in this novel, I would do for my sister. Hands down. No questions asked.

I really enjoyed the two different settings the story takes place in. The first half Crown of Coral and Bone take place in the sun on the ocean and Nor feels free. She has the water, her sister and Sami and that is all she ever needed. The people of Varenia get a long, they have a fair governor and though it isn't easy to find pearls, they manage. The second half takes place on land in the darkness of the mountain castle that has little sunlight and keeps Nor caged and in the dark unlike her previous life.

The only issue I had with Crown of Coral and Bone is that I felt that the romance was a bit rushed. I get that Nor's situation was dire. But there was very little development in it before she was "in love" with this character. Don't get me wrong, the romance still managed to make me swoon and I loved it. I just wish it wasn't as rushed and there was more development.

Overall I really enjoyed Crown of Coral and Pearl and I am crossing my fingers for a sequel. I would love to see where these character's are going to go next and the fall out of the events of the end of the novel. If this does happen to be a stand alone, I've created a happily ever after for all of them. But fingers crossed!!!

This was a very unique and refreshing read. I love the world-building in this novel. It is simple but very realistic. I love the characters, especially the villain. The villain was very sympathetic and complex. I love the sister relationship in this novel. Overall, I recommend this for fans of Sarah Fine and C. J. Redwine,

I was provided with an eARC of this book in exchange for a fair review.

I loved loved loved this book! I stayed up WAY too late reading it, finally went to bed when my eyes refused to cooperate, and then finished it today at work! Such a wonderful story with a great cast. The world building was so rich and I loved seeing the contrast between Varenia and Ilara. Nor was such an awesome MC; so brilliant and brave. She proved again and again that she was more than just a pretty face. Talin was fabulous and everything I wanted (although I kept waiting for him to be too good to be true), and Ceren was the perfect villain. He had some serious issues and it made him so creepy. I got some serious Maven vibes. The ending had quite the cliffhanger and I'm not sure things are as hopeful as they seem.
All told, this was a total 5-star for me, and I cannot wait for the next book!