Blog Tour – Kingdom of Sea and Stone by Mara Rutherford

**Disclaimer: I was given a free e-ARC of the below in exchange for an honest review as part of a tour hosted by Inkyard Press.**

Title Kingdom of Sea and Stone (Crown of Coral and Pearl #2)

Author Mara Rutherford

Release Date October 6, 2020

Publisher Inkyard Press

Description

Ever since Nor was forced to go to a nearby kingdom in her sister’s place, she’s wanted nothing more than to return to the place and people she loves. But when her wish comes true, she soon finds herself cast out from both worlds, with a war on the horizon.

As an old enemy resurfaces more powerful than ever, Nor will have to keep the kingdom from falling apart with the help of Prince Talin and Nor’s twin sister, Zadie. There are forces within the world more mysterious than any of them ever guessed—and they’ll need to stay alive long enough to conquer them…

Initial Thoughts

I really enjoyed Crown of Coral and Pearl when I read it last year. It was one of the first books I was approved for in NetGalley and I actually met Mara Rutherford at BookCon last year. When I read Crown of Coral and Pearl, the sequel had not been announced so one of the things I wanted to see was a sequel. I’m so glad I got it!

Some Things I Liked

• New setting. While I loved the watery setting of Crown of Coral and Pearl, I welcomed the change in Kingdom of Sea and Stone. I really enjoyed exploring more of the world described in the first book.
• New side characters. Again, another welcome addition. I loved Roan and was really hoping for more of him. But, that being said, I think there are several characters in this series that could merit their own spin-off stories.
• Character growth and unsureness. I loved Nor’s development throughout the story. Particularly, I loved seeing how she was unsure of what she wanted. I loved that this story promoted the message that it’s totally ok to be unsure of the future and what you want.

One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About

• While I welcomed the introduction of new characters and the new settings, they felt a bit rushed. I wanted to get to know these additions to the story more and I felt that this could have been a better trilogy than duology. It would have given the author more time to flesh out the story.

Series Value

I was so bummed after reading Crown of Coral and Pearl and not knowing if there would be a sequel. I’m so glad there ended up being one. Furthermore, I really loved the side characters in this series and would love to see more of their adventures.

Lastly, I love Mara Rutherford’s writing. I would definitely keep reading her books in the future.

Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed this book. I think it was an excellent follow up to a debut novel with a unique setting and dynamic characters.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommendations for Further Reading

• The Princess in the Opal Mask by Jenny Lundquist – if you enjoyed the idea of a duology, twins, and a fight for the throne, try this series.
• Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian – if you enjoyed the idea of a tyrant king and a main character who would stop at nothing to stop him, try this finished trilogy.
• The Kinder Poison by Natalie Mae – if you liked the idea of a troubled villain who you can almost feel sorry for (and dare I say it, but, almost root for), try this new release.

Book Links
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1335146512/ref=x_gr_e_friend_sout?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_e_friend_sout-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1335146512&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/kingdom-of-sea-and-stone-mara-rutherford/1134580655
IndieBound:  https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781335146519
Books-A-Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Kingdom-Sea-Stone/Mara-Rutherford/9781335146519?id=7941582454467
AppleBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/kingdom-of-sea-and-stone/id1485871288Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Mara_Rutherford_Kingdom_of_Sea_and_Stone?id=WEi7DwAAQBAJ

Author Links
Author Website: https://www.mararutherford.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mararaewrites
Instagram: @mararutherfordwritesGoodreads:
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48713842-kingdom-of-sea-and-stone