Кралство от море и камък

Crown of Coral and Pearl #2

by Mara Rutherford

Тя рискува всичко, за да спаси кралството си.
Но бъдещето на короната все още е застрашено...

„Жестокият принц“ на Холи Блек среща „Принцеса на пепелта“ на Лаура Себастиън във вълнуващото и дългоочаквано продължение на зашеметяващия фентъзи дебют на Мара Ръдърфорд „Корона от корал и перли“.

До неотдавна мечтата на Нор е била да опознае Илара – тайнственото кралствo на сушата, съвсем различно от родната ѝ Вариния сред безбрежната океанска шир! Съдбата я отвежда там, за да заеме мястото на близначката си и да се омъжи за коравосърдечния принц на Илара, ала Нор копнее единствено да се завърне вкъщи при любимите си хора.

Желанието ѝ се сбъдва след множество опасни перипетии и още по-опасни дворцови интриги в столицата на Илара, разположена дълбоко в планинските недра. Но връщайки се във Вариния, някогашното озарено от слънцето средморско селце, чиито обитатели живеят според природните повели, тя сварва страната си тънеща в лишения. Всички обвиняват Нор, че им е навлякла гнева на иларския принц и ги е обрекла на гладна смърт.

Още преди Нор да се завърне, изкупителна жертва на варинианците е станал най-добрият ѝ приятел. Той е прокуден в океана и Нор ще трябва да го спаси с помощта на сестра си Зейди.

Междувременно принц Талин пристига във Вариния с лоши новини, затвърждаващи подозренията ѝ, че предстои ожесточена битка за короната на кралство Илара. Необходими са нови съюзници, готови да се присъединят към армията на законната наследница – сестрата на принц Талин.

Надвил смъртта, някогашният ѝ годеник, узурпатор на иларския трон, се завръща по-силен от всякога и Нор трябва да впрегне цялата си издръжливост и находчивост, за да спаси близките си и да се пребори с древни сили, за чието съществуване тя и приятелите ѝ не са подозирали.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Young Adult Fantasy, Magic, Audiobook, Fiction

328 pages, Paperback

First published October 6, 2020

About the author

Mara Rutherford began her writing career as a journalist but quickly discovered she far preferred fantasy to reality. A triplet born on Leap Day, Mara has lived all over the world with her diplomat husband and two sons. She is the author of Crown of Coral and Pearl and its sequel, Kingdom of Sea and Stone; Luminous; The Poison Season; and A Multitude of Dreams. Her next book, A CURIOUS KIND OF MAGIC, releases Fall '25 from Wednesday Books.

Reviews

[jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

i like that this is a duology. i think it was a very smart decision because i know this would have suffered ‘second book syndrome’ if it was stretched out any more.

this a nice conclusion to the series. everything is wrapped up exactly as the reader expects it to, so not many surprises along the way. i also like that the narrative incorporates a recap of what happened in the first book within the first couple of chapters. i also like how the fantasy aspect of the story is explored more.

overall, a decent ending to a fun story.

↠ 3.5 stars

[Arini · Rating 3 out of 5]

#1 Crown of Coral and Pearl — 3 Stars
#2 Kingdom of Sea and Stone — 3 Stars

Thank goodness this is a duology!

I’m sorry, but the villain was the dumbest and most ridiculous character ever. However, that wasn’t the worst thing to be because no one was more bland than the love interest. Also, Roan (nobody important that should’ve been given a more prominent role), why couldn’t you have shown up sooner?!

This was a nice conclusion. Coming from me, that probably didn’t mean much considering I was never crazy over this series. I feel like I didn’t get enough of the things I liked from the previous book in this one. But that was okay because the new characters were awesome and this book wasn’t so bad.

We were too young to have such burdens hanging over us. But perhaps Father was right: some of us were not meant to have easy journeys.

I know I didn’t say good things about Ceren earlier (because how can you when he was so easily outsmarted and defeated by Nor at the end?!), but to tell you the truth I felt for him too. He used to be an interesting and creepy character. Here, he was a lonely and weak bad dude. After learning about his backstory, I was just sad for him.

Nor and Zadie, where was the lovely sister bond dynamics that I adored in the last book? Zadie sort of faded into the background and was busy being with Sami while Nor did all the work with finding Sami, saving the Varenians, and ending the war. If anything Zadie was replaced by Adriel.

Not that I minded because she was wonderful and I liked her friendship with Nor. I also reallyyy liked Roan. He would’ve been a better love interest in my opinion. I always thought Talin was too flat, too soft and proper. Roan had a bit of arrogance in him and was more witty/playful. He just had more personality.

“Nor, people fight, and the people we love the most fight the hardest because they care the most.”

It was sweet seeing Talin being affectionate with Nor. At the same time, it was also a little weird because their love was insta in the last book and I didn’t remember seeing them being all lovey dovey. The plot, I felt like, was spent too much on worrying about the “Will they? Won’t they?” narrative rather than actually doing something about it.

However, I liked that we got to see beyond Ilara and Verania even though I must be missing or forgetting something about the world building because I don’t get how Nor was suddenly a witch. I mean, it was because of the red stone (?), but why didn’t it have the same effect on Zadie or Ceren?

Also, what’s with the HFN instead of a HEA?!

(Read as an Audiobook)

[✨ Helena ✨]

I received this complimentary ARC from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

[Lucie V. · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I wanted to prove to her, to everyone in Varenia, that I was worth more than my appearance.”

✅ Sister bond
✅ Quick read
✅ World-building
✅🆗 Characters
🆗 Action
🆗 Plot
🆗 Romance / Ending

I like that Nor gets more confident about her worth in this book. She also questions her choices and tries to figure out what will really make her happy, it is refreshing to have a female main character willing to tell the handsome prince that she loves him, but she will not be happy to be a royal wife. Her plans for her future did not necessarily fit with Talin’s plan and they both acknowledged it and respected it. Honestly, I was hoping that she would end up with Roan (a new great character introduced in this book, and I wish we would have seen more of him) and live a life of freedom and adventure with him.

Overall, it is a good book, but I was just not impressed by it. It is a nice ending to the duology, but it was the usual recipe for a “good guy fighting the evil king” fantasy: gathering allies, attacking the castle, the evil guy dies, everyone lives happily ever after. The characters, besides Nor (and maybe Zadie), were quite useless in this book. They just followed Nor while she decided where they would go, what they would do, and as she tried to save everyone and was even willing to sacrifice herself while doing it (for people that shunned her family and were ready to banish her to the sea).

Some characters were also introduced in the first book and in this book, but I have no idea what they brought to the plot. I am mainly talking about lady Hyacinth and her 3 lady friends in the king’s council here. She is described as a brilliant strategist sitting in the king’s war council at 21 only, but all we’ve seen of her is a spoiled noble lady, except for one time when she asked Nor questions about her people in the first book. She seems to have a grand scheme to get rid of Ceren, and has a weird conversation with Nor about it, but all in all, she was useless in both books.

Ceren and Nor’s weird relationship in this book reminded me so much of Mare and Maven in Red Queen, or even Alina and the Darkling in Shadow and Bone, but not nearly as good. The weird connection, the visions, the obsessive way Ceren was trying to win Nor’s affection, and the way she kept on trying to find some good in him… I liked that we learned more about his past and the reasons leading to his behavior and his emotional difficulties, but I didn’t like the way it all ended for him.

Actually, the whole ending was not that satisfying, I can’t exactly say why, but I was just expecting more… Or something different at least. It is a good closure, and it ties all the loose ends left in the first book, but overall it was nothing extraordinary or original.


1. Crown of Coral and Pearl ⭐⭐⭐.5


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[⊹ ⁺ ₊ ✧ she's book obsessed ✧ ₊ ⁺ ⊹ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kingdom of Sea and Stone
⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was fast paced, but a typical sequel. There was unnecessary uncertainty between Talin and Nor, he was underestimating her all the time. I felt like it was just there to keep the storyline "interesting" while nothing really happened. Speaking of relationships, I also felt like Sami and Zadie were just "there", in the background. I had no connection to those two characters whatsoever.
I HATE it when the main character and the love-interest splits up! Although it didn't last for a long time in the middle of the book, they basically split up on the last page as an ending, which was extremely frustrating...
The antagonist was complex enough, he had his reasons to do what he did (other than just being evil).
This book was not as great as the first one, and it didn't live up to my expectations.

[Nana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kingdom of Sea and Stone is the sequel to A Crown of Coral and Pearl.

When I finished the first book, I picked this one up right away because I wanted to know more about this world and all its characters, but I can say that even though this second part is shorter, I felt it was weak, this conclusion of the story it was somewhat disappointing.

In the first book, I fell in love with that atmosphere, the main scenario that was the sea. And I loved the writing and how the author described so magically all those places, but in this one, the scenario changed a lot.

In this book, we see how Nor, together with his sister and Talin, the prince who won his heart, moves through Ilaria to gather strength and plan strategies to defeat Ceren and do justice for his people.

New characters appear, some others I would have liked to have had a more important role in this conclusion, although I still liked the character of Nor our protagonist, and unlike the previous book in this one there is more romance, without eclipsing the plot that was what mattered, and I liked how it happened, I do not get to fall in love, but I think it was good that they were together.

It was not bad, but when it is fantasy and the plot somehow involves kingdoms at war, that is what I hope there is war, destruction, action and unfortunately this one lacks it.
The end all happened too fast, and I wouldn't have minded if the villain put up more of a fight, he gave up too easy.


Overall, It was a very entertaining story, I liked the concept and the construction of the world, even more so in the first book. This one was not up to the first one, but hm is not the only one, I have read trilogies or sagas in which the first one is better. Still, it was nice to know how this would end.

[Diabolical Duckling · Rating 3 out of 5]

“As an old enemy resurfaces more powerful than ever."

YOU SEE BITCHES? YOU SEE? Ceren is NOT dead. Hoo boy. We have a lot to be afraid of in the next installment. I can't wait for this book because I am a huge sucker for ocean kingdoms and creepy corals growing from people's hearts and political intrigue. AHHHHHH. October couldn't come quick enough.

Edit: 12/24/2020

So I finally got to read this book. I would have eagerly gobbled this shit up in October, but because I’m a cheap bastard I waited until I could get a free copy, which I did. And my thoughts? Honestly I enjoyed Crown of Coral and Pearl far better. This book was okay, but the bar for YA literature is in HELL itself so anything semi-decent manages to get a pass from me. I know that I bitch a lot about greedy YA authors making everything into a trilogy, but in all honesty, I think that this series would have benefitted immensely from being three books. Mara Rutherford is a talented author with some awesome ideas and I feel that she was robbed and her talent squandered by forcing this series to be a duology. Do you hear, that, Mara’s editor?! STOP WASTING THIS WOMAN’S TALENT BY FORCING HER BOOKS TO BE DUOLOGIES. Tons of crappy YA authors get deals for trilogies and even 9 fucking books but decent authors like Rutherford and Erin Craig get duologies and stand alone novels?! There is no justice anywhere. Goddamn. But before I get too far off the mark by ranting, let me first tell you what I did like about this book.

THE GOOD

1. The Ending and Resolution

I was really happy to see that the author did not fall into many of the craptastic and typical YA tropes in regard to the resolution of this book and its romance aspect. I enjoyed how Nor’s character arc was developed, and how the author didn’t just shove her character’s agency into a corner like many other YA authors do to their protagonists. Nor’s romance with Talin was also decent and I wasn’t bored to death by their dynamic together, which says a lot for a YA novel. The bar is in hell, I know.

2. The Setting

Once again, I really enjoyed seeing the dynamics between Verania and the creepy cave dwelling mainland society, Rutherford’s strength clearly lies in her ability to create lush and unusual settings. I enjoyed the general mythology behind the kingdom and the origins of the dispute between Illara and Verania. I wanted more of this weird and strange world, and whichever dipshit who forced Rutherford into making this series a duology ROBBED me.

THE BAD

1) This book’s overall Underwhelming Nature

I loved Crown of Coral and Pearl, and know in my blood coral heart that she can do much much better than this. Crown of Coral and Pearl was weird and creepy and it gave me old school fantasy kids book vibes. I loved the mythology of the drowned princess who founded Verania, the creepy cave-dwelling royals, the mysterious woman king, ALL OF IT. Nor was a compelling and believable heroine. Talin was a interesting and suave love interest. Ceren was a creepy cave gremlin and I was eating all this shit up. Unfortunately, this book took all these wonderful elements and squandered them. There was not nearly enough political intrigue present as in the first book, and I was almost certain that Nor would end up returning to Ceren to fuck with him far earlier in the story. Honestly, this series would be improved by doing one of two things. What are those things, you ask? Well....

Option #1: Crown of Coral and Pearl is made a stand-alone novel. Honestly this could have worked out much better if the editor didn’t hate Mara Rutherford and actually worked with her to improve the meatiness of the first book. If Crown of Coral and Pearl was a good 400 pages longer, we could have resolved the issue of the woman king, developed Talin and Nor’s romance more, and solved the Veranian exile problem to boot. When Nor stabs Ceren in the dungeons, he dies. AND HE STAYS DEAD. I lowkey felt that Ceren surviving in this book was a cheap cop-out just for Nor to have some vague revelations about being a witch or whatever. If Rutherford had better guidance, because I’m 99.7% sure that her editor and publishing executives secretly hate her and want her to fail, they would have persuaded her to condense these two books into one, single, strong ass volume. Goddamn. How beautiful that would have been. But as it stands, we got robbed, homies. ROBBED.

Opinion #2: Crown of Coral and Pearl is made into a trilogy. Yes, I know how I love to wail about YA trilogies and how it’s a shameless cash grab. HOWEVER, this series is the rare example of one that would have been improved with just a tad more elaboration. Rutherford could have had this book be about the group wandering around in Galeth, more elaboration and shenanigans about the Woman King, maybe a betrayal here or there, and the cliffhanger ending of Nor giving herself up to Ceren in exchange for the freedom of the Veranians. It would have been a totally wig-snatching King’s Cage move, and since Rutherford is a better writer by FAR than Victoria Aveyard, I know the last installment would have been full of creepy Nor/Ceren battles, and maybe a dual POV of Zadie helping the woman king’s war efforts to free her sister. I would have been willing to wait an extra year for a third volume if the entire series was made more compelling as a result. But alas, we were robbed again. God DAMN it.

Final Verdict

This book is an okay resolution to a wonderful first installment, and I truly believe that Rutherford was cheated out of success by whoever was coaching her on the progress of her story. This book wasn’t great, but it also wasn’t terrible either. The bar for YA is in hell, and therefore I feel guilty rating this decent book lower than 3 stars. But as of now, I would much rather like to view Crown of Coral and Pearl as a stand-alone book, with Ceren being dead permanently, and with the book’s open-ended yet hopeful conclusion being the finale of this series. Because by God, Rutherford’s writing potential was squandered and it shows. But by all means, go read Crown of Coral and Pearl, as it is a lovely YA book and one of the best YA titles I have read all year.

[Melanie (mells_view) · Rating 4 out of 5]

”... even if love was my greatest weakness, it was also the thing that made me strong.”

Kingdom of Sea and Stone was a great ending to Nor and crews story. We start off essentially right where we left off, as Nor heads back home to share some hope filled news with Varenia. Unfortunately the hopeful feeling does not last too long, and once again Nor leaves her hometown with her sister and Talin, to hopefully take down an old enemy and finally unite the kingdom. Along the way they meet some new friends and reunite with some old faces as well.

KoSaS is filled with political moves, our band of heroes traveling across the broken kingdom, magic, and my favorite part sisterhood. I sort of loved how not only did we get to see more of Nor and Zadie’s bond, but we also see these sisters bond with other women and just each of their growth as individuals.

I don’t want to say too much, because I don’t want to ruin the story, but in this book you will feel bad for characters that you probably didn’t think you could feel compassion toward. I honestly had a hard time fully rooting against certain people. You’ll see if you read. My only REAL complaint is that the end felt very simple and easily wrapped up. Yes, it took a long journey to get there, but for some reason the ease made it feel a bit rushed.

All that said this was a great read, and a great duet overall. If you’re looking for crown game fantasy with a historical sea side kingdom type of feel, then I highly recommend this book.

AVAILABLE NOW!
*ARC

[mads · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think this book had a checklist of everything that irritates me in books and checked each thing off with a malicious cackle.

[Iva · Rating 3 out of 5]

...ами очаквах много повече от краят на историята, но някак не се получи...дали защото книгата е пълна с правописни грешки, после и липсващите страници в книгата, която си купих (но от издателството бързо реагираха след като споделих с тях проблема и ми изпратиха изряден екземпляр) или просто защото не и беше времето за четене, но някак героите ми изглеждаха безсмислено глуповати и действията им някак си бяха на 13 годишни...не знам...не ме грабна краят...

[Sheila G]

1) Crown of Coral and Pearl: ★★★★

I can't wait to get my hands on this sequel!!!

3/9/20 - THIS COVER!!!!!!

[✩ Yaz ✩ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Kingdom of Sea and Stone is the sequel to A Crown of Coral and Pearl and I'm saddened to say this but the sequel was disappointing.

I do not want to prolong this review so I'll split it to two categories: What I liked and What I disliked

> What I liked:

• Nor's development and her questioning her choices and the kind of future she wants even if it doesn't follow Talin's version of the future he wants for both of them.

• Roan was such a fantastic character and I wanted to see more of him.

• The plot was fast-paced and there's more to explore beyond Illara and Varenia.


> What I disliked:

• Talin remained the ever bland supporting character and love interest to the point I was rooting for Nor and Roan to become a thing.

• Unlike the first book, the plot felt underwhelming and I was not invested because it did not offer the excitement and the anticipation the first book did.

• The world-building was unfortunately less atmospheric, which is what made me enjoy the first book.

• It focused too much on the political side of the story without fleshing out more of the world and characters. Really, Zadie should've had a more prominent role in the story, I wanted to see more of the twins bonding.

• The magic was lightly touched upon but left unexplored and I was left unsatisfied.


I must say after reading the sequel that... if the first book was longer and was given a stronger conclusion.. it would've been a very good stand-alone book.

[Caitlin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’ll start it by saying this book was terrible I didn’t even finish the book, from the chapters I was reading early on in the book I could already see the book going down hill. The only good thing about this book were the twin sisters.

The relationship that Talin and Nor had irritated me because I did not ship them whatsoever, so whenever they flirted, I rolled my eyes, I just found Talin extremely annoying I don’t know why maybe it’s because I didn’t really like his character. He’s a nice and everything it’s that I didn’t really him or the relationship he had with Nor 😂

I genuinely think that the first book should have been a standalone, I enjoyed reading reading the first book far more better than reading this.

[iffat · Rating 2 out of 5]

~lowered my rating to 1.5 but rounded because the chemistry was better than the previous book and deserves~

So this book clearly suffered the second book syndrome and idk just WHY IN THE ENTIRE WORLD I finished this book at 3.30 am.

I just-
I didn't want Ceren to die, i mean c'mon man, even my Maven died this way.

This would be far better if the series was standalone.

[Feyre · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Hope is like a kite. Hold on tight enough, and even the fiercest storm can't take it."

2,25 stars
Oh my... I liked how this started out but towards the ending, things got more and more confusing and annoying. The way that Ceren, Roan and Talin were portrayed, was not my thing. I liked Galeth and Titania was the best thing about this book. Their plan was totally bonkers (and in the end, they didn't even want it to work?) and I honestly lost track of what everyone wanted. And the (really hasty/ rushed) solution in the end felt a little forced. But I really like the way the love triangle (yeah, the one from the first book which was one member short in the end, was - surprise! - refilled with someone else) was resolved. It was untraditional but I liked it and it was a total fit for Nor.
I'm not taking this series as a waste of reading time but I don't think that a reread is anywhere in my future.

[ella]

dnf page 120

im extremely sad about this one because the first book was absolutely magical and just gorgeous. this one... not so much🤭

i felt like the characters who had previously been well developed suddenly became flat and two-dimensional. the worst part was that the romance between the two main characters somehow seemed to take about three steps back for absolutely no reason? and then there was, take a guess, a love triangle😭✋🏻

i ADORED the vibes of the first book but this one fell so flat :(

[Christie«SHBBblogger» · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Kingdom of Sea and Stone
Series: Crown of Coral and Pearl #2
Author: Mara Rutherford
Release date: October 6, 2020
Cliffhanger: no
Genre: YA fantasy

Before, when I would have given anything to see the world beyond my floating village in the sea. Before I understood just how much I had to lose.

When Crown of Coral and Pearl came out last year, I was completely and utterly obsessed. Not to mention hurting painfully from the cliffhanger at the end. I was desperate to get my hands on the follow up to find out what would become of Nor. Where would she find a home, how would she and Talin be able to have a future together, what in the world happened to Sami, and would the Woman King ultimately rule Ilara? There were so many strings left dangling that needed to be tied together. One big thing I was really curious to find an answer for was why Nor had her unusual healing ability that no one seemed to have an explanation for. The good news is: all of my questions were answered leaving no plot holes that lead into the deep dark abyss of doubt. Hurray!

First off, I want to say that it's been a minute since I read book one, but despite that, the opening pages seamlessly refreshed my memory. There was virtually no confusion or fog, and yet I didn't feel as if I was reading a summary of pertinent facts. Also, if you're like me and found book one to be instantly engrossing, expect the same in book two. There's something about this author's writing that effortlessly engages you. I'm not sure what magical knowledge she possesses to achieve this, but that's pretty impressive if you ask me. I'm having a harder time than ever finding books that I can easily escape into during this time. If you're feeling the same way, I highly recommend trying out this series. I think you'll be so pleasantly surprised at the ease and excitement to be found in Ms. Rutherford's words.

Now to the plot! (If you haven't read book one yet, please don't read any further. There are unavoidable spoilers about Crown of Coral and Pearl.) We take off exactly where things left off. Nor is returning home to Varenia out at sea. Her old life was a simple one consisting of: diving for pearls to feed her family, trying and failing at pleasing her perpetually disappointed mother, and spending time with her best friend Sami and twin sister. There's an expression that fits her situation: you can't go home again. Essentially it means that once you leave home and spend time out in the world, the home you grew up in will never be the same again. This couldn't be more true for Nor. She's been accused of treachery by Varenians, dealt with court machinations, imprisonment by her fiancé, her blood was drained, and she was forced to defend her own life with deadly force. Returning home, she wanted to lick her wounds and find comfort in the familiar. But her old life was irrevocably gone.

We were too young to have such burdens hanging over us. But perhaps Father was right: some of us were not meant to have easy journeys.

Nor is no longer safe anywhere. Not only does everyone in Varenia think that she betrayed them, she's now a fugitive for what occurred with Ceren. Whereas book one was more about Nor's "adventure" in leaving home to explore the world, and surviving the nightmare that she walked into, book two takes a different route. Nor and Talin have a fresh and very fragile romantic understanding. They developed feelings amidst a dangerous situation, and now they must figure out where they go from that point. Nor is suddenly questioning if a marriage and home with him are in the cards for her. Would it make her happy or would it stifle her adventurous heart? As she shuffles through her emotions on this, she works on her hero complex. Always feeling as if she needs to save the day all by herself isn't exactly necessary when you have a group of people around you who love you and want to do their fair share. We see Nor let go of some of the control she feels she needs as she learns to trust those around her to help.

There were new characters introduced that were really intriguing. We have Roan, who is the commander of Fort Crag in Galeth. He has a strong moral code that he lives by which isn't influenced by greed for power, accolades, or money. He wants what's best for his people and isn't apologetic about it. I really liked the fact that he was an empath which you don't see all that often in fantasy (or at least that's been my experience.) Roan is very blunt with Nor in showing his attraction to her, so naturally this causes some snags here and there. I wouldn't go so far as to say that a love triangle develops, but his attention does make things interesting. Another new character was a medicinal witch named Adriel. She quickly formed a bond with Nor and helped to guide her in her quest to learn more about bloodstones and how they work with blood bonds. I think Nor was able to see some of herself in Adriel. They're both very independent women who want to be loved and accepted for who they really are. They're smart, gifted, and perhaps want more than a traditional life that most find.

The action and suspense snowballed in intensity at the end, and I was flying through the story at breakneck speed. There were ambiguous motives, a deeply layered villain, and a kingdom that was hanging on the edge of a deadly power struggle. Talin was a little blind when it came to his mother, Nor was independent to a fault, and those things weren't without their frustrations. But in the grand scheme of things, my reading experience was a positive one. I highly recommend the series to anyone looking for an escape into an original fantasy world with complex characters that will keep you turning the pages late into the night.

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[Athena of Velaris · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I do know what it's like to be misunderstood, to feel like you don't belong anywhere. And I don't know how to make it better. But I do know one thing [...] you're not alone."

This was a basic YA fantasy in every sense of the word. The plot was pretty predictable, the world and characters were nothing special, and the magic system was standard. It was still a fun read, but for me at least, the first one was better. Part of what stood out to me about the first one was the drastic difference between Varneia (a town in the middle of the ocean) and New Castle (a dark fortress inside a mountain). That stark difference was lost, mainly because no one spent much time in Varneia.

"Even if love was my greatest weakness, it was also the thing that made me strong."

I did appreciate Nor's character development, and I loved her bond with Zadie, but the plot was very predictable. Honestly, Adriel was my favorite part of the entire story, though I did enjoy Nor's search for a home. The romance between Talin and Nor was very forced, but I did like how it ended. The magic also sort of appeared out of nowhere, and was vaguely explained, if that. Ceren and Talia were similar, and the way the author played with morality was interesting, if not a little overdone. Overall, Kingdom of Sea and Stone was fun, but average.

[Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

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Thank you Harlequin Books for this book in exchange for an honest review

While 2020 has been a shit year, at least the sequels to our favourite books are getting released!
Crown of Coral and Pearl was a phenomenal book and the sequel was just as good!!
It was great to dive back into the kingdom by the sea but we also get introduced to new places by Rutherford with the same creative descriptions as the first book that leaves you with a vivid image of the world in your mind.
Nor and Zaida are gorgeous and it is so great to be back and experience their sisterly bond but more complex than in the Crown of Coral and Pearl but still enjoyable to read. You get a more in-depth view of the characters as their personalities expand and they evolve throughout the story.

I honestly loved this story, I loved every page. The characters are delightful and wonderful. The world is just intense and descriptive and the writing is bloody fantastic!!!

[~Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent but enjoyable.

If you’ve read ya, then you’ve already read this series bc it’s just all the YA fantasy books mushed together.. which makes it extremely predictable

[Sol ~ TheBookishKing · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed how this duology wrapped up, but I'm not a fan of how fast it wrapped up. I feel like it was a little rushed near the end but overall I really enjoy both Crown of Coral and Pearl and Kingdom of Sea and Stone. I love the ocean and this book made me fall in love with it again and anything sea related is an automatic love for me.

Maybe we'll get more of Nor and Talin eventually but for now I'm happy with how their story ended.

[maegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The potential for me to love it was there, but sadly, it didn’t happen.

One of the things I enjoyed the most from the first book in this duology was its outstanding worldbuilding, but sadly there was none of that here.

Whereas in Crown of Coral and Pearl, the author took her sweet sweet time weaving the story, setting the basis for the plot, developing Nor’s and Zadie’s personalities and intricately fleshing out Varenia and Ileara, as soon as I started reading Kingdom of Sea and Stone I realized that there was going to be none of that this time around.

I just felt like I was rushing through the story. As a reader, I was constantly being pushed from one place to another with no buildup in between and no other revelation other than Sike! The bad guys are after us! which honestly, you just stabbed the king. There were obviously going to be consequences, why is Nor acting all surprised and shit?

Also, could the characters be any blander?

Talin was painfully forgettable and Nor’s spark and interesting qualities just vanished in thin air, or perhaps the rushed plot was the one that did her dirty, but I digress. By way of character development, Nor suddenly developed concerns about settling down which was news to me because, until this point in time, she had never thought about it. But it’s not just Nor and Talin. Zadie, Sami, Adriel…. all of them were flat and one dimensional. I also didn’t understand why the author sort of kinda fleshed out Roan, giving him a backstory (albeit a small one) when it later became apparent that he was completely irrelevant to the plot; same with Grig’s infatuation with Zadie, and many other details… why were they even there?

The romance kept getting in the way of the already very thin plot, and that, coming from a hopeless romantic like me is truly saying something. It didn’t make me feel anything or contribute in any way. We could have had the same results without Talin being anything more than an ally, and possibly, a friend. It was lacklustre at best and I can’t help thinking that my boy Roan would have made a much better love interest. At one point in time, I was even begging the story to be a love triangle, which is saying A LOT.

Also, war strategies and relevant information were discussed or described in three sentences, and the ending... it all wrapped up in 4 chapters after two whole books!
I’ll say it again.. everything felt absolutely rushed. This might have needed to be a trilogy.

Overall, and even though I just wrote a whole essay about what I didn't like, this book wasn't bad, but it was weak.

Reading it wasn't an uphill battle, but it was just okay. Pleasant, but overly simple, rushed and predictable.
Simply put, I expected so much more.

[The Girl with the Sagittarius Tattoo · Rating 2 out of 5]

What in the world...? I should have stopped after the first book.

Everything about this plot was set for a trilogy. At well past the 90% mark the book is perfectly on pace for a cliffhanger ending - except that this is a duology. Ceren's story arc is incredibly disappointing. Nor's indecision over a future with Talin (and the romance that goes nowhere with Roan) wraps up in a convenient and unsatisfying way.

Her publisher must have been breathing down her neck because everything ends immediately and awkwardly. Kingdom of Sea and Stone was okay until it turned terrible.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Nor, people fight, and the people we love the most fight the hardest because they care the most."-Zadie

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Rating: 4.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley, Mara Rutherford, and Inkyard Press for the not only the opportunity to read Kingdom of Sea and Stone in exchange for an honest review, but to be a part of the Blog Tour as well.

This is the highly anticipated sequel (and seemingly last) book in the Crown of Coral and Pearl series (duology).

WARNING: some SPOILERS ahead if you have not read the first book.

This is an absolutely fantastic sequel with closure, though maybe there is potential for more stories featuring the characters in future. While Crown of Coral and Pearl held a few open-ended questions, the book was wholesome enough to stand on its own. When I heard there was a sequel, I wasn't sure what to expect, and this book was certainly a fun ride.

Someone presumed to be dead is alive and well, and he seeks power and revenge.

When the Varenian's are taken prisoner, it is up to Nor, Talin, and Zadie to find allies and save their people. As they make their way through the land, they find themselves at the borders of Galeth, a secretive place within the mountains. Galeth doesn't really want to get involved in a war, and Talin is pretty set on gaining allies and joining his mother to attach New Castle.

Amidst the stresses of war, Nor sees visions of Ceren and wonders if they are dreams or real-time. When she meets a witch in Galeth, she learns she may just be of magical descent herself. Nor's connection to nature is the driving force for her previously revealed healing powers.

Ceren, alive and in possession of bloodstones, is able to use said stones to control anyone wearing a bit of bloodstone jewelry, but not without a special ingredient. He needs Nor's blood to be able to control the people around him.

This book is action-packed and the fight for power holds entertaining moves at every plot point. Not only is this book highly plot-driven, but the character development is quite phenomenal as well. I found myself caring about characters who were in the story for only a short amount of time, or even characters that I fell like I shouldn't care about! That's mighty fine writing craft if I do say so. If you haven't picked up the first book yet, you definitely should! The uniqueness of the kingdom, the expansive cast of characters, and the sheer magic of the world will have you enthralled at page one!

[Alyson Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book: Kingdom of Sea and Stone
Author: Kara Rutherford
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Inkyard Press, for providing me with an ARC.

I really did enjoy the first book a lot and was so excited when Inkyard Press reached out. I love the world and the characters that this series brings to the world. However, for some reason, I thought it was a standalone. I thought everything was wrapped up pretty nicely. However, I am glad that we got a second book. I really enjoyed getting to return to the world and getting to watch the characters grow.

I love the use of the sea kingdoms. I think it really adds to the world. Well, not just the sea kingdoms. Just how the different parts of the world are written and presented to us just makes this book. I love that we got to return to places from the first book, but, yet, we got to go to so many new places. No matter where we went, you could tell that Kara had put so much thought and care into each word. This is on the short side for a fantasy, yet the way Kara presents everything, you will find that it has the same world building as a longer fantasy. This is just shows the amount of skill that Kara has a writer. It is like you are traveling through the world with the characters-which is something that we all want in our books.

I loved getting to see the bonds between the characters. In the first book, we get to see them start to form, but here they really start to take shape. We see how many layers all of the characters have and how things are actually a lot more complex than what first meets the eye. I really enjoyed the bond between the sisters. It is one of the strongest that I have read in a long time. I also liked Talin’s character growth. Here, we get to see him being the leader that he is meant to be. I know a lot of people claim that all of his mommy issues were on the annoying side, but I actually enjoyed them. Maybe enjoyed is the wrong word, but I felt that it really added to his character.

The ending was really great. I could feel the pain coming off the page. It was like everything was coming around full circle. However, it was just the way that Kara did it. Again, it all comes down to her amazing writing ability that really made that ending hit home. Like in the first book, everything is tied up, but still, just the way that it was down. Talk about some good stuff there.

So, why four stars? Well, if I am being completely honest, I did not think that is one was as strong as the first book. To me, it kind of had that middle book feeling-I’m not actually sure if this is the last book or not. It just felt like it was missing that punch that made it a five star read. I’m still glad that we got a second book and I would not upset if we got a third one. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a great read.
This book comes out on October 6, 2020.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/-b3vwH0DX6w

[Joyce · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was such a lukewarm sequel and is a shell of its preceding novel. Can you tell I'm really bummed?

Crown of Coral and Pearl had nearly earned a five star rating from me. It was so entertaining, the characters so root-worthy, and the plot deep and interesting. Kingdom of Sea and Stone had none of that.

The plot and writing were very shallow. With every new problem introduced, I felt like Rutherford only scratched the surface and zoomed right on by. The bulk of the resolution happens in like, three pages. It was too much at once. In addition to a very shallow plot, the writing itself was nothing special. I'm sad, because I was so entranced with Rutherford's prose in the initial novel, so I know she has it in her. I'm not sure why this one fell short of the mark. When I was reading, I felt like I had read every single line and every single plot point before in some other book.

The love interest, Talin, was soooo boring. I could not cheer for him and Nor, because the connection from the first book had diminished to nothing. Rutherford kept telling us that these two were sooo deeply in love, but I just didn't feel it in their scenes.

The characters were also super rushed in terms of development. We're introduced to new characters really quickly. Some large ones just kinda of disappear and are not mentioned again and others are given such a vague entrance, but stick around as one of Nor's best friends. Okay, but how did THAT happen? There was no development!

Nor also became the biggest "not like other girls" girl in this book. She's always just saving the day, taking all the bullets, all the sacrifices, yadah yadah yadah BLEG. Please, no more.

This second book seriously felt like a first draft version of Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. We got the interesting, crazy brother in charge and the boring, Prince Charming brother who's so boring that he constantly blends into the background.

All in all, if you're thinking about reading the second one, I wouldn't. Stick with the magic of the first one and don't ruin the world that Rutherford created in the first book. Here's a spoiler with everything you need to know.

Ceren's not dead, he takes all of Nor and Zadie's people, Nor plays heroine and frees them, Ceren kidnaps Zoi, Talin's little sister, they get her back, Ceren falls off a cliff into the ocean and dies.

[Book Magpie]

Ooooft that cover!!!!

[Inkyard Press]

Categories
Young Adult Royalty, Young Adult Family, Young Adult Social Themes, Young Adult Fantasy
Miniseries
Crown of Coral and Pearl series (Book #2)

[Kristiana Cankowa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Изключително добро продължение и разбира се и хубав край.
Действието тук започва от завръщането на Нор в родната й Вариния. Надяваща се всички там да я чуят и разберат какво е направила за тях, че е убила Серен и очакваща да получат и официално новината, че са свободни. Само че, всички във Вариния продължават да обвиняват нея за всичко случилващо им се, а новината така и не идва. Но, един ден се появява Талин, а Нор не може й да бъде по-щастлива.
Само че, хубавото не идва само, лошото малко или много го съпътства и Талин носи веста, че Серен е оживял, спасил се е чрез нейната кръв и сега я е пожнал за да си отмъсти. Докато разберат какво се случва и окопитят... Серен пристига във Вариния, а Талин, Нор и Зейди отплават за да намерят Сами и да намерят начин да спрат Серен и да помогнат на семействата си и цяла Вариния, а й не само.

Новото приключение за добро или лошо е на хоризонта, запъти ли се към далечна Галития, Талин, Нор и Зейди си нямат ни най-малка напредстава дали Сами е там и дали самите Галитиици ще се притекат на помощ на Жената крал срещу все по-силният Серен.
Нор и Серен - абсолютно съм впечатлена от това как авторката е обединила историята в общата картина на тези два персонажа. Нор се опита да го убие, а Серен източваше кръвта й. Тя е от добрите, а той от лошите и все пак за да остане жив и да има пълна власт над всички и да задържи короната на главата си, той има нужда от нея. Чрез заклинание, двамата биват свързани в едно.
Определено пренебрежителното отношението на Талия (втората му майка) е направило Серен толкова лош, никога не е бил уважаван, никога не е изпитвал майчината любов, каквато Талин и Зои получават толкова лесно. Смята че чрез пълната власт над Иларския трон, кървавите камъни и покорство над хората ще получи всичко това. Само че, доброто винаги побеждава и Нор и компания ще му попречат. И след всички трудности, ще намерят мир между народите, щастие с любимите си хора, нови знания, и така исканата свобода за пътуване и изучаване на целия свят отвъд Вариния и Илария - и знанието, че Талин ще я чака с нетърпение да се завърне при него.
И не на последно място искам да отбележа, от всички нови персонажи които се появиха кобилата Титания се превърна в един от най-верните другари за Нор и дори опора в трудните моменти. Неведнъж, когато и беше трудно на Нор, беше достатъчно да си спомни за Тинания, Зейди или Талин и силите веднага идваха на помощ.

[Elly · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely delicious sequel full of more adventure, more romance, and more surprises. I love Nor and her world so much. If you like YA fantasy and haven't read Crown of Coral and Pearl, you're missing out!