Stay tuned below for a review and excerpt of Kingdom of Sea and Stone!

Author: Mara Rutherford
Series: Crown of Coral and Pearl #2
Released: October 6^th, 2020
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Warnings: Blood drinking, possession, torture

I received a copy of Kingdom of Sea and Stone in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Kingdom of Sea and Stone is the second (and last) novel in Mara Rutherford’s Crown of Coral and Pearl Duology. I remember when the first book hit the shelves – people went crazy for it. Now, it’s time to see how Nor’s story comes to an end.

Not to long ago, Nor found herself trading roles with her twin sister, taking her place as betrothed. What followed was more dangerous than Nor could have ever prepared for. It changed her life forever, as well as the lives of everyone else around her.

She thought that she had won, that the story was over. She was wrong, on both counts. Nor must once again step up to protect those she loves, all while trying to help hold the kingdom together. Even despite all the pain the kingdom and the people within have caused.

“I knew it would only weigh him down, and we were all struggling to stay afloat these days.”

Whew. I thought Crown of Coral and Pearl was a whirlwind of a read, but then I dove into Kingdom of Sea and Stone! Now that is a rush! Nor’s journey has doubled in size, leaving behind lives and hearts touched all over the kingdom.

What I truly love about this duology is the leading heroine herself. She’s allowed to be human. She gets scared. She certainly gets angry, and she isn’t afraid to love, or to let compassion rule her. She’s all the good in the world that those around her should be embracing. It makes everything that happens in this novel so much more powerful, because how can you not root for somebody like Nor?

Now, let’s talk about that description! Was anybody surprised about that whole “an old enemy resurfaces” line? Because I know I wasn’t! I’ll admit that it increased my anticipation (and fear) a bit more though, waiting to see how things would turn out this time around.

It was better than I could have dreamed up on my own, I can tell you that much. Mara Rutherford has an excellent grasp of poetic justice, meting out everything the heroes and villains deserve, just not in the way they would expect (or ask for). In my mind, that seemed to make it fit all the better.

There’s more politics in this novel (at least, it seemed like there was more), with differing perspectives on the kingdom coming to light. It made for a fascinating read, one that I almost didn’t want to see come to an end.

Likewise, the people in this novel! New secondary characters were introduced, and honestly? There were some that could have carried a novel in their own rights. I doubt that there will be a spinoff series, but I wouldn’t complain if there was.

All things considered, I seriously enjoyed Kingdom of Sea and Stone. It was every bit the conclusion this duology needed, even if I didn’t actually want to see it end. I just took a peek at what Mara Rutherford is currently working on, and guys! It’s about a witch in hiding. Say no more, because I’m all in for that! Cannot wait.

Excerpt

On the day Zadie and I turned thirteen, Father surprised us with a trip to the floating market—our first glimpse of the world beyond Varenia.

I spent the journey perched on the bow of our family’s boat, welcoming the cold ocean spray on my face and the wind in my tightly plaited hair. Zadie sat between Mother and Father, her knuckles white on the edge of the bench, her golden-brown eyes wide with anticipation.

As we approached, I eagerly took in the sight of the intricately carved wooden boats, with their colorful wares and raucous merchants. While Father traded our precious Varnian pearls for drinking water and food, Mother made Zadie and me sit next to each other near the front of the boat where everyone could see us. She had shown us off to every villager in Varenia a hundred times, but today an entirely new audience was at her disposal.

Men and women smiled at us as we floated past, likely because identical twins were a novelty.

“Lovely girls,” one of the merchants said, and I watched as Mother swelled with pride like a pufferfish.

She thanked him and urged us to do the same. But just as I started to speak, the man craned his neck to get a look at the right side of my face.

“Pity about the scar, though.”

I could feel Mother wilt behind me like a seaf lower left out in the sun.

Zadie, embarrassed, settled into the bottom of the boat where no one could stare at us, but I stayed where I was, watching as Father looked over a basket. I was used to these kinds of comments by now, but it felt as though Mother would never accept that one of her daughters was a damaged good, just like the basket Father handed back to the merchant, gesturing to a hole in the bottom.

“Pssst.”

I turned to see a young man—the son of the trader, presumably—motioning for Zadie and me to come closer.

Zadie eyed him suspiciously. Mother had warned us that Ilarean boys were beneath our notice. We were the most beautiful women in the world, after all; that was why we were considered worthy of marrying royalty.

But with my scar, I wasn’t going to marry royalty, and I was curious to see what the boy wanted. I scooted to the edge of the boat. He looked like any boy in Varenia, though his clothing was finer and his hands were as smooth as Zadie’s.

He glanced around to make sure no one was watching, then handed me a small glass bottle. “For you,” he said.

I held it aloft for a better look. The contents were disappointing: sand, salt water, and a tiny yellow shell. All things I could find in Varenia, I thought glumly. But it was the only gift I’d ever received from a boy, and I politely thanked him.

When we returned home with our food and fresh water, I placed the bottle on a shelf.

“What’s this?” Mother asked, immediately recognizing that there was a foreign object cluttering her kitchen.

“It’s a wandering crab,” Father replied, reaching into the bottle. For the first time, I noticed the tiny legs poking out from the shell. “They usually live closer to shore, but I’ve seen a few in my time. They find a discarded shell and make it their home, and when that one grows too small, they choose another, larger shell and move in.”

I held out my hand, fascinated. Father passed the crab to me and it scuttled across my palm, tickling my skin. “It carries its home on its back?”

“That’s right.” Father gently took the crab from me before it could plummet to the floor. “It has everything it needs, right here.”

I smiled, pleased with the idea of such an untethered, independent existence. “It can go anywhere it wants to.” I glanced around our little house, which already felt too small for my imagination, and sighed wistfully. “Lucky.”

“Nonsense.” Mother plucked the crab deftly from Father’s hand. Without ceremony, she f lung it over the balcony, where it immediately sank below the surface of the water.

She ignored my startled cry. “You have everything you need right here in Varenia. Do you think they’d actually accept you out there, with your…” She trailed off, gesturing vaguely to my cheek. “Now hurry up and help me. This food isn’t going to put itself away.”

For a moment I thought Father might protest, but he simply retreated to the boat. Zadie frowned sympathetically.

I watched the spot where the crab had disappeared, knowing it was probably well on its way to somewhere new. It was only a crab, yet already it had seen more of the world than I ever would. I wondered if that was why the young man had given it to me, more of a cruel joke than a gift.

“Lucky,” I whispered again, thinking not just of the crab but also the trader, his son, the ocean, and everything that had more freedom than a girl born in Varenia. Then I did as I was told.