Mara Rutherford

Crown of Coral and Pearl has had me excited to read it for nearly an entire year now and to have had the opportunity to read an ARC and review it for this tour is an immense honour for me. You could tell by the amount of squealing and screeching that could be heard throughout the Orlando area when I got the news. My neighbours know when I've got a good book, okay? And Crown of Coral and Pearl was a good book, y'all.

"Your mother taught you to believe your scar made you ugly, but it has made show more you brave."
I applaud Ms Rutherford. Her writing is vivid and captivating. In Crown of Coral and Pearl, she created characters that drew me in and held me captive every step of the way. I loathed Zadie and Nor's mother with every fibre of my being and I felt not just pity for Lady Melina but also a deep respect for the woman's bitter (ah, so bitter) resolve. Throughout the story, you can see Nor's character develop from a naive girl with a brash sense of bravery, where she acts without weighing risk and outcome, to a judicious and indomitable young woman who understands what she's risking when she rebels. I was actually on edge at several parts of this story, worrying my nails away, as I held my breath. Because of scenes involving a certain fictional sociopath, I have no nails left, y'all.

"Sorrow is good for the soul.....Those who have never known pain or adversity are as shallow as the waves lapping on the shore.
And what is wrong with being shallow?
What lies beneath the surface of shallow waters? Nothing. It's only when you go deeper that the ocean comes alive. The deeper you go, the more mysteries and surprises await."
Crown of Coral and Pearl was an amazing read for me. To save her sister and her country, Nor volunteers to take the injured Zadie's place as Prince Ceren's bride, knowing she'd never see either again. She goes in the hopes of making Varenian lives better but quickly learns that the shark, jellyfish, and blood coral she grew up diving around pales in comparison to her intended and his court. The only ones she somewhat trusts in Ilara are Prince Talin, Lady Melina, and her lady's maid, Ebb. Right from the start, Nor (and me!) can sense something off with Ceren and begins to understand the new depths she's found herself in.
"Mother always made Varenia sound so perfect. She said there was no violence or crime. I imagined it as a paradise. And when I came to visit, that's what I saw. I saw you."
The romance within Crown of Coral and Pearl is woven throughout, but it doesn't overshadow the actual story, the love one Varenian girl has for her sister and her country and what she'll do to save them both. I hardcore ship Talin and Nor, y'all. I'm not really a big 'forbidden love' triangle mess fan but sign me up! Talin first sees Nor when he visits Varenia before the girls switch places and when he meets Nor masquerading as Zadie on her way to Ilara, he suspects the truth and begins to fall more and more for her throughout the story despite her being destined for his brother. Nor begins to understand Zadie's reckless actions that lead to the switch the more she's around Talin. Ebb is the ultimate fangirl and does as much as she can to help the pair get together. We are all Ebb, okay.
"It's like a tiny star marking you as something special for anyone too senseless not to know it."
Overall, I'm giving Crown of Coral and Pearl all 5 of my bright and shiny stars. It gets 1 flame for the romance, no hot and heavies, just a light, slow burn throughout. I am absolutely in love with CoCaP and I cannot wait to put a physical copy on my shelves. I'm also willing to pledge fealty to Thalos to read the sequel when it's ready. I'm just saying. Content & Trigger Warnings are available on my site (https://www.onceuponatimeireadabook.com/2019/08/blog-tour-giveaway-review-of-crown-of.html) show less

Eminently satisfying, made more so by the author's note in the back. Imagine being a minority during a plague that has everyone terrified and pointing fingers. You're pressed into a new role, that of impersonating one of four princesses, all daughters of a mad king. You're hated by one, tolerated by another, and extremely close to the third. The king favors you, unless you try to make him see even the slightest bit of reason. When that happens, no one can predict the results, but they are show more often lethal.
This is Seraphina's grim reality as she plays the part of Princess Imogen, who died of the bloody plague on her way back to the castle. The king's paranoia has led to all windows being boarded over, a looming food shortage, and death to any trying to escape. Add in the fact that some outside the castle have survived, not always in good ways, two young men who have interest in Seraphina, plus some interesting sub-plots to keep your fingers turning pages. Read the book and find out everything else. I doubt you'll be disappointed. show less

A Multitude of Dreams by Mara Rutherford doesn't look like a complicated story. The plot is straightforward - survivors of a plague go out into the world and discover what remains of post-plague society. While not exactly a tale as old as time, it certainly is a tale told often.

Except, A Multitude of Dreams is anything but simple. In one novel, Ms. Rutherford combines themes of plague and survival, isolationism, anti-semitism, mistaken identities, fresh beginnings, coming-of-age, and show more vampires. It is a lot.

In fact, it is too much. Ms. Rutherford threw in so many themes and tropes that she couldn't develop any of them. It is like one of those "hold my beer" memes. I feel like Ms. Rutherford was laughing to herself the entire time she was writing A Multitude of Dreams, cackling over the idea of adding vampires to themes of anti-semitism. (By the way, the two have nothing to do with one another. Vampirism doesn't discriminate!)

Moreover, she is so busy adding these plot points that character development suffers. I never clicked with either main character and didn't care whether they lived or died. Without the synopsis, I couldn't tell you their names, and I certainly cannot give you any other details about them. They were just there, our love-struck heroes, as generic as possible.

A Multitude of Dreams is a victim of its own ambition. Or, to put it another way, there is too much going on, and the individual elements suffer. There is no depth to any of the characters or the plot. The story is so ridiculous that you can either quit reading it and move on to something better or continue reading it to find out how Ms. Rutherford ties all of it together. I chose the latter and don't regret it, only because cramming that many themes and tropes into one novel is a marvel all its own. show less

A CURIOUS KIND OF MAGIC by Mara Rutherford is not quite a cozy fantasy, but it is still the type of story that fills your heart with hope and soothes your soul. Willow Stokes is not your typical heroine, but her uniqueness made me love her. The way her mind works will be familiar to anyone who suffers from anxiety, and her antics are highly entertaining.

A CURIOUS KIND OF MAGIC struck me as a Disney-esque story. The plot wanders a bit, and there are very few surprises. You know what is going show more to happen or, at least, how it will resolve, and you are happy with that. It is not the type of story that needs plot twists, red herrings, or surprise endings. Instead, it is meant as entertainment, ideal for a lazy weekend afternoon, where you can relax in comfort with a novel that doesn't demand much from the reader.

I say that A CURIOUS KIND OF MAGIC is akin to a Disney story, but that description does not relate to its heroine. Willow is the antithesis of a Disney princess. She is awkward, stubborn, antisocial, rude, fiercely independent, and yet I loved her. She doesn't hide behind social niceties and does not hesitate to speak her mind. She lets her natural curiosity lead and doesn't pretend to be anything other than who she is. She is young and still suffers from the loss of her father, but she is eager to learn and willing to admit her mistakes. She has a sharp tongue, but a good heart, and I can't help but love her for her relatability.

I enjoyed Ms. Rutherford's attempt at a cozy fantasy a lot, partly because it isn't as cozy as it seems. Willow finds herself in some precarious situations that are anything but cozy. While you never fear for her life, the danger she actively flirts with does cause a few moments of concern. They also make for some highly entertaining scenes.

More than anything, A CURIOUS KIND OF MAGIC is the type of story that reminds you of the important things in life. Its simple messaging buoys you among the storm of negative news that surrounds us all. It entertains as much as it fills you with hope that love conquers all and that the bad guys never win. A CURIOUS KIND OF MAGIC is fun, a balm for the soul, and the perfect temporary escape against the news. show less