Here’s a short summary of Crown of Coral and Pearl:
Every year, in a seaside village, a girl is taken to the kingdom capital to be married off and never to be seen again, like a piece of prized cattle. Nor is sure her sister - with lovely eyes and a gentle demeanor - will be taken, due to Nor’s long, arching scar. However, in an attempt to escape a loveless, treacherous marriage, her sister scars herself using jellyfish venom, and Nor is to take her sister’s place, posing as her instead. From the insides of the palace, Nor has to take down the system and stop her homeland - and the places far from that - from the destruction the capitol will enforce.
Here's a short review of the novel:
After reading The Pearl, by John Steinbeck, practically all about pearl-hunting had been ruined for me. However, when I picked this novel, it completely changed my interior opinion - this novel with no other word to describe it was intricate. It filled up a place in my heart and gave me ideas I’d never gotten before. All of the characters were easy to like - except a few, I must admit - and easy to understand. The writing never got out of hand, but it was formal and sophisticated like reading a historical novel. Nor was a strong protagonist who had pitfalls and flaws that made her unique and intriguing. The sister was harsh in judgement and stubborn, though there was a sweet, gentle kindness that flowed like gooey honey. The story itself was cliche, but as expected, it held onto my heart like a lifeline.