![]() ![]() While the contest and Nor’s time at the Ilaran court are at the foreground of the story, it’s clear that Nor and Zadie’s village is suffering. He also spends about 70 percent less time than Ceren creeping around corners and attempting nefarious experiments, so he has that going for him. Talin is everything his brother is not, strong, handsome, and self-assured. Although Nor doesn’t have the words for this, readers will recognize him as having a strong ‘mad scientist’ vibe. It’s overwhelming, and only becomes more so when Nor-as-Zadie meets Prince Ceren, her betrothed, and Talin, his half-brother. She’s never seen a horse, or a castle, or almost anyone from outside her village. Desperate to avoid another reprisal, the village sends Nor masquerading as Zadie. ![]() The last time the Varenians sent ‘the wrong girl’, Ilara cut off supplies to Varenia for weeks. When Zadie is indeed chosen to be the next queen, she defies everyone’s expectations and secretly injures herself, making it impossible for her to travel from the small island nation of Varenia to Ilara. ![]() Nor and Zadie’s mother is obsessed with ensuring one her daughters becomes queen, and after Nor scars her face on a blood coral, their mother turns all her efforts on Zadie. Mara Rutherford’s debut novel, CROWN OF CORAL AND PEARL ( Amazon), follows twin sisters Nor and Zadie who have spent their entire lives being (literally) groomed to be the next queen of Ilara. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |