Are you looking for a book to read next? Well, I definitely have to tell you about this book. The Crown of Coral and Pearl has everything and more than you would expect in a book. It is a fantastic choice for kids and adults, especially teens. The cover does not describe how good the book actually is.
The Crown of Coral and Pearl is written by Mara Rutherford, a creative person who would rather live in fantasy. She started as a journalist but soon realized she would rather write fantasy books. The Crown of Coral and Pearl is a fantasy fiction for young adults.
It kept me on the edge of my seat, and I was always guessing what was going to happen next. The book is about a pair of twins named Nor and Zadie who have lived their whole lives in Varenia, a small island where they have been forced to dream about only one thing in their lives, being married to the Prince of Ilara.
I don’t want to give too much away, but this book contains adventure, romance, violence, excitement, and mystery. This book is recommended to teens rather than pre-teens, as it might not be completely appropriate yet due to violent elements.
Nor and Zadie look different in only one way: a scar. Ever since Nor was hurt in childhood, she has known Zadie was destined to become royalty, while she would be forgotten. The beginning is interesting, but I would say the middle and end have way more excitement. I got hooked as I read the first few sentences, drawn in by the author’s writing style.
As they uncover staggering secrets about the Kingdom of Ilara, danger follows, and the twins realize that they are part of something bigger than themselves. It’s always been Varenia’s tradition to pick the most beautiful girl on the island to marry the Prince of Ilara, so these girls have been preparing their whole lives for this. Nor is forced to impersonate her sister and marry the Prince of Illara, Ceren, but there she discovers the dark secrets that could put her life at risk. One thing that kept me reading the book was the cliffhangers; the author didn’t give too many details all at once, which kept me wondering what was going to happen next.
The characters definitely felt relatable and realistic, especially Nor and Zadie’s twin relationship, which was a strong bond but not too unbelievable. The other characters are also developed across the plot, making the story interesting because they have more sides to them, seeming more human. Prince Ceren, her betrothed, is not what she expects; he is cold-hearted and villainous, a complex character with a heartbreaking backstory to his treacheries.
The story gets more complicated when Nor falls in love with Prince Talin, her future husband’s brother. Nor is an interesting character, and her internal conflicts are relatable as she navigates her way through the royal court, figuring out who to trust. The story is told from Nor’s first-person perspective, making the other characters more mysterious. The settings between Varenia and Ilara are contrasted, creating a more compelling and intriguing backdrop for the story. The plot travels as she discovers a sickly king, a murdered queen, and the plan to destroy her home, Varenia. The ending is more complicated and disheartening, but the sequel makes up for it.
To sum it all up, this novel is a story about sisterhood, love, acceptance, belonging, dark secrets, and unquestionably, danger. Here is a link to Goodreads, where you can see other reviews. If you want more book recommendations, read our post on 3 fun books to read this year.
