And she has a great relationship with her sister, which makes me appreciate her even more. Seriously, she was a combination of all the great females in fantasy. Nor is one of the best characters in YA fantasy today. Twin sisters Zadie and Nor, meaning pearl and coral, reflect the environment not only in their names, but also how unique and well described they are. The characters make the setting even more vibrant. The descriptions of the floating houses, the ocean that surrounds the people, and the hard life they live on the water are vibrant.

It really has the potential to be next great book for YA fantasy fans.Ĭrown of Coral and Pearl starts in a floating village called Varenia and it’s one of the most incredible and unique settings I’ve ever read about. Crown of Coral and Pearl is engaging and dynamic and so unique. I say about a lot of books, but for this one it is extra true. But discovering her own formidable strength may be the one move that costs her everything: the crown, Varenia and Zadie. In order to save her people, Nor must learn to negotiate the treacherous protocols of a court where lies reign and obsession rules.

And as she grows closer to Ceren’s brother, the charming Prince Talin, Nor uncovers startling truths about a failing royal bloodline, a murdered queen…and a plot to destroy the home she was once so eager to leave. To Nor’s dismay, her future husband, Prince Ceren, is as forbidding and cold as his home-a castle carved into a mountain and devoid of sunlight. Then Zadie is gravely injured, and Nor is sent to Ilara in her place. But when a childhood accident left her with a permanent scar, it became clear that her identical twin sister, Zadie, would likely be chosen to marry the Crown Prince-while Nor remained behind, unable to ever set foot on land. Nor once dreamed of seeing the wondrous wealth and beauty of Ilara, the kingdom that’s ruled her village for as long as anyone can remember. But though every girl longs to be chosen as the next princess, the cost of becoming royalty is higher than any of them could ever imagine…

Summary ?įor generations, the princes of Ilara have married the most beautiful maidens from the ocean village of Varenia. Say goodbye to the typical fantasy tropes - the protagonist is female, and is the strongest character in the series, her love interest doesn’t distract her from her goals and she kicks some major butt. I am so happy I got an ARC for this book because it is refreshing in the best way. In case you didn’t read my last post about NetGalley, it’s a website that gives readers an advance copy of a book in return for a review.Ĭrown of Coral and Pearl by Mara Rutherford will be available to the public on August 27, and let me tell you - if you are a fantasy fan you are going to want to get it ASAP. I’m so excited to be sharing this review with you! I got the chance to review another book from NetGalley.

The crown of coral and pearl