Kingdom of Sea and Stone by Mara Rutherford
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Thank you to the publisher, Inkyard Press, for providing me with an ARC of Kingdom of Sea and Stone in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Gist
Can I tell you a secret? I truly struggle writing book reviews for sequels and Kingdom of Sea and Stone is no exception. There it is; I said it.
I keep staring at my computer screen, wondering what I should include and what I should leave out.
At the very least, this is still a review and not a summary or your Wednesday evening book club discussion.
Yet, some plot points, details and character traits have to be mentioned in order to show the progression from book number one to book number two.
I’ll give it my best shot.
The Details
As it has already been established, Kingdom of Sea and Stone picks up exactly where the first book left off. I like that. It doesn’t make me feel like I’m struggling to catch up with the characters and trying to puzzle together what they have been up to in my absence.
We also get to learn more about Nor. I appreciated getting the opportunity to see her grow as a person and share in her struggle as she tries to find her own way.
Having Zadie around brought a different dynamic to the story. Mostly, because in book one we saw Nor coming to terms with being separated from her twin sister.
Now Nor comes to terms with the fact that it might not be just her and her sister moving forward. A hard pill to swallow at times.
Then we have Talin. I feel bad for him. A little. Well, maybe. Usually it’s a male character that strings the female character/love interest along. In this case, he just has to take a backseat while Nor figures things out for herself. You go, girl.
We are introduced to a handful of new characters. We see new places and get a broader sense of the world we fell in love with during in book one.
The pace is a little slower and the author takes some time to address a few issues that are prevalent in reality.
The writing is just as good in this installment as in the first one. It throws one right back into the story and it is very easy to imagine this fantastical world.
The Verdict
Overall, I really enjoyed Kingdom of Sea and Stone. I liked the world building, the imagery and the struggle the characters faced, which gives them relatable attributes.
This is a wonderful duology and I would definitely recommend it.
About the Author
Mara Rutherford began her writing career as a journalist but quickly discovered she farpreferred fantasy to reality. Originally from California, Mara has since lived all over the worldwith her marine-turned-diplomat husband. A triplet born on Leap Day, Mara holds a master’sdegree in cultural studies from the University of London. When she’s not writing or chasing afterher two sons, she can usually be found pushing the boundaries of her comfort zone, whether ata traditional Russian banya or an Incan archaeological site. Mara is a former Pitch Wars menteeand three-time mentor.
