Crown of Coral and Pearl (Crown of Coral and Pearl #1) by Mara Rutherford

Crown of Coral and Pearl by Mara Rutherford is a the first in a YA Fantasy series of beauty, marriage, and sacrifice.

“For generations, the princes of Ilara have married the most beautiful maidens from the ocean village of Varenia. 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…

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 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.

Then Zadie is gravely injured, and Nor is sent to Ilara in her place. 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. 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.

In order to save her people, Nor must learn to negotiate the treacherous protocols of a court where lies reign and obsession rules. But discovering her own formidable strength may be the one move that costs her everything: the crown, Varenia and Zadie.”

Published: 27 August 2019

Publisher: Inkyard Press

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Pages: 432

How I Read It: eARC from NetGalley

*Disclaimer: I requested a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All my reviews contain my honest opinions only and are not influenced in any way*

I was really intrigued by this book. The unique plot line and drive in the story was interesting and kept me wanting more.

In their world, beauty determines who gets to become the next Princess and marry the Prince. So when two sisters find themselves being pressured to be the best beauty, their survival is on the rise because if one isn’t chosen, how will they be able to afford to eat?

It’s definitely a character-driven story featuring a sister bond. You are thrown into all the feels from anger towards their selfish mother to cheering the main character on as she becomes the heroine.

There’s a lot of political intrigue, family cruelty, and even some romance. It’s a book that has it all, and I’m excited to see where the sequel takes us! This book deserves the full 5 out of 5 stars!!

Interested in reading this book for yourself??