Crown of Coral and Pearl by Mara Rutherford
For generations,
the princes of Ilara have married the most beautiful maidens from the
ocean village of Varenia. But though every girl longs to be chosen as
the next princess, the cost of becoming royalty is higher than any of
them could ever imagine…
Nor once dreamed of seeing the
wondrous wealth and beauty of Ilara, the kingdom that’s ruled her
village for as long as anyone can remember. But when a childhood
accident left her with a permanent scar, it became clear that her
identical twin sister, Zadie, would likely be chosen to marry the Crown
Prince—while Nor remained behind, unable to ever set foot on land.
Then
Zadie is gravely injured, and Nor is sent to Ilara in her place. To
Nor’s dismay, her future husband, Prince Ceren, is as forbidding and
cold as his home—a castle carved into a mountain and devoid of sunlight.
And as she grows closer to Ceren’s brother, the charming Prince Talin,
Nor uncovers startling truths about a failing royal bloodline, a
murdered queen… and a plot to destroy the home she was once so eager to
leave.
In order to save her people, Nor must learn to negotiate
the treacherous protocols of a court where lies reign and obsession
rules. But discovering her own formidable strength may be the one move
that costs her everything: the crown, Varenia and Zadie.
(Blurb via Goodreads)
