*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

3.5 stars!

The Girl the Sea Gave Back is a companion novel to . Set 10 years in the future, we follow the now united Rikki and Ashka as they face a new threat to the east in the form on the Svell. Halvard, Fiske's younger brother, is on his way to a leadership position in the tribe. Tova washed up on the shore of the Svell's territory when she was only a young child, and uses her scrying power to help determine the course of war for the Svell.

Young's writing is absolutely gorgeous. She sets the atmosphere and tone right off the bat, and you are transported back to the time of the Vikings. It's clear that her books are very thoroughly researched, and peppered with Viking mysticism, beliefs, and culture. She also excels at writing emotional character arcs.

I enjoyed the increased touch of the supernatural in this installment. I would describe Sky in the Deep as a historical fiction, with no fantastical elements whatsoever. However, in The Girl the Sea Gave Back there is a fantasy element introduced with Tova's Truthtongue powers. Through her abilities, we also learn more about the belief systems in all of the different tribes.

I really felt for Tova. She struggles with feelings of abandonment and not having any place to truly belong. She wants to do what's right, beyond loyalty to the tribe that has taken her in. Halvard, on the other hand, struggles with the brunt of leadership and his confidence in being a just and fair ruler. Where this book lacked for me is the relationship between these two characters. We just scratch the surface of what their relationship could be. This novel almost felt like a pretense to the real development between them. I just wish that the book continued so that we could see what happened between them. The ending left me feeling pretty unsatisfied.

Overall, this story is gripping and emotional, and the lush yet brutal Vikings time period is he perfect setting for this tale. If you liked Sky in the Deep, you will probably like this one as well!


Link to goodreads review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2722370796?book_show_action=false

I received a advanced readers copy of this from the publisher for an honest review.

For as long as she can remember, Tova has lived among the Svell, the people who found her washed ashore as a child and use her for her gift as a Truthtongue. Her own home and clan are long-faded memories, but the sacred symbols and staves inked over every inch of her skin mark her as one who can cast the rune stones and see into the future. Ten years ago the clans of Riki and Aska put aside their differences to become a single clan, the Nadhir. The leaders of the Svell wish to go against the Nadhir and conquer them.
Among the Nadhir Halvard prepares to become one of the next clan leaders. Their paths collide when an attack brings the two clans into war.



First of all I absolutely freaked out when I received a copy of this, it was one of my most anticipated books of the year after loving Sky in the Deep last year. I loved being back in this world full of Vikings and it took me right into the woods and the fjords. I loved seeing these characters again. Tova was a great new character. I loved that there were flashbacks for each character, they really added to the story. My only thing is that there was barely any romance in this book.
I do think I need to read it again to take it all in. I can't wait for my physical copy to arrive on my shelf.

This book is stunning! Norse mythology loosely based. Beautiful prose throughout the book! This sequel, I feel was better than Sky in the Deep! I loved it! Everyone should pick this up for a gripping, stunning read!

I loved this book so much! Adrienne is such a talented storyteller; her descriptions are incredibly vivid and I always feel transported when reading her words. This companion novel definitely feels different than Sky in the Deep, and is less character-focused and more plot-focused, but I really enjoyed exploring more of the world, the different clans, and more of the mythology. The one thing that I felt was a little jarring were the flashbacks to the past in third person, but they were still interesting to read and provided insight into Tova and Halvard's characters. It was also fun seeing some of the characters from Sky again.

A richly woven story of vikings, war, and Gods of old. Tova as a child, is saved by a Svell clansman when the boat she was in came ashore through the fog. Marked as a rune caster with tattoos of the Kyrr tribe, she lives with the hatred of the foster tribe. Halvard and Tova's lives have been thrown together as war descends on the surrounding clans. Although a little slow, the story was gripping and emotional. I would recommend this to all ages. Having not read the first novel by Ms. Young, this read as a great standalone in this world. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book from Netgalley.

The Girl the Sea Gave Back by Adrienne Young is poignant and beautiful.. I loved every moment.

Some pieces of this story tugged me down into dreamland when I read it at night, which I'd never thought would be a compliment about a book, but it's not that it was boring, (it wasn't), but Adrienne's cadence as she's writing. There are places where the sentences are so lovely, so smooth-edged, that they were like a lullaby.

Of course, the story isn't a gentle one. It's a tale of warriors and bloodshed, but there's also a strand of tenderness woven through it that was lovely, and even comforting . It's a different story than Sky In the Deep (a favorite of mine, by the way) but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to fans of Adrienne's heart-tugging, emotionally-gripping writing.

Also parts of the book gave me intense Muse of Nightmares vibes, and I feel like fans of that duology would enjoy this. It was absolutely a five star read.

(Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for a free advanced copy of this ebook.)



{ St. Martin’s Press -- Per your stated preferences post your review no earlier than 30 days before the book goes on sale, I will post this review on my blog and Goodreads, and share in my caption with a styled image on Instagram on August 4th. Thank you for the opportunity to read it. }

Ooh this was so good! I loved the first book and this was a great sequel. The back and forth between Tova and Halvard, plus the flashbacks really moved the story along and made it easy to read this all in one sitting. The way the relationship between Tova and Halvard unfolded was unique, just these small moments that meant so much. I enjoyed the mystical aspects of the truth tongue, casting the stones, and fate. We also got some glimpses of the characters from Sky in the Deep which made me happy!
Great book!

The Girl The Sea Gave back is a great edition to the Sky in the Deep world.

I loved Sky in the Deep and was happy that this novel revisited many of the same characters years later while it did well to developed a new story, characters and kept things interesting. I especially loved that this book focused on Halvard since he was one of my favorites. Tova and the Svell were an intriguing addition to the world and I wanted to keep learning more about them. The action in this book was just as great as the first novel. There was treachery, fighting, and a fast paced and entertaining storyline. However, the romantic relationship in this book didn’t work as well for me as the one in the first novel. I just couldn’t connect with the characters as a couple but I did love them as individuals so overall found this to be a great read.

I was so excited to get my hands on Adrienne Young’s The Girl the Sea Gave Back because I had absolutely loved Sky in the Deep. While I did like getting a glimpse into the lives of those characters after ten years, the story itself was a bit of a disappointment. It wasn’t that I disliked it - I enjoyed it while I was reading and thought the premise was interesting. My issues was with the pacing. Despite an abundance of intrigue and betrayals, as well as some battle scenes, it felt like nothing was happening. The main characters never even interacted until the final third of the book and the constant flashbacks took me out of the story. I don’t regret reading it, but it wasn’t the follow up I was hoping for.

After falling in love with Sky in the Deep, I went into this book expecting to love it, and I’m so happy that I did!

I’m not going to lie, it took me a bit to get into it but after the 20% mark, I flew through it. Everything got so intense and there were several parts that hit me right in the feels.

Definitely pick this book up when it releases!

I don't know if I should have read Sky in the Deep before attempting to read The Girl the Sea Gave Back or not. I was under the impression that it was a companion novel that I could read alone. I dnfed very early in the book so I don't know if it gets better or not. To be honest, I had forgotten I *wished* for this book because it's been awhile but thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me the opportunity to read it.

I absolutely loved a Sky in the Deep and was super excited for a Girl the Sea Gave Back. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I would categorize this as not something I liked, or disliked.

I love Adrienne's writing style, and her world building in this viking world is wonderful. I felt that this book lacked in a few areas that kept this from being more than a three star book for me taste. I felt like there need to be more backstory in regards to the cultures of the people rather than in Tova and Hallavard's lives (the all seer? the spinners? more more more).. I found T & H's flashbacks to be unnecessary as the information had already been given to the reader. I also don't know why I didn't find the main conflict pushing the plot forward to be believable. The layout of the plot was very similar to a Sky in the Deep, and I found myself not being very invested in what happened next.I felt that this book had a stronger beginning than it did an ending. For so much drama leading up to the final battle, everything ended smoothly and the resolution to the major mystery, to me, didn't match the severity of the stakes that Tova held during her journey. I was happy she was able to get her happy ending when her family showed up and all was made clear. I just don't know if that plot line was integrated well enough into the full plot of the story. Honestly, I think I need to read this again when it's in print for a better experience.

Also. The romance? Very forced. It was almost like it was thrown in at the end to satisfy a check box. It didn't need to be there at all, or it could have been a more focused on part in the plot. But I didn't feel the connection between them that the author was trying to express. I do see what she was trying to accomplish, but I don't know if this romance was successful.

I did enjoy reading this book (mostly for Tova she's a bad ass) but in many ways I feel like this story still needs some more work. And while I loved hearing about the characters from A Sky in the Deep, they didn't have the dimension they had in the last book.

This book is absolutely incredible and I thoroughly enjoyed this! I was thrilled to be able to dive back into the world that the author has created and I highly recommend this book to everyone!

I loved Young's debut, and this companion novel was as incredible as I anticipated. The world building was detailed, fresh, and exciting, and the characters were memorable and well developed. I'm always looking for YA fantasy novels that go beyond the usual "15th Century Europe with magic" and Young's books definitely hit the spot.

This novel continues after the first novel, but it is several years later with a new threat. Things have changed since two enemy tribes set aside their hatred and fought together against a worse enemy. Some old characters reappear along with new faces. The story is told from the points of view of Tova and Halvard, both finding themselves in positions they do not want. To a does not understand why she was abandoned by her family, but the Svell use her for her Truthtongue abilities even though they fear her. Tova reads the stones, to which those interpret her words differently than what their true meaning is. Halvard needs to lead his people, and feels deeply, believing he is not worthy. Yet he fights to the end and tries to understand why he keeps seeing Tova. Tova and Halvard’s destinies are intertwined with each other, both playing a critical role in the war that is just beginning. Tova will learn the truth of who she is and what she needs to do for the future is not written in stone.

When Tova is saved by the Svell's Tala, Jorrund, she becomes their key to peek at the future. Tora is a Truthtongue and has the marks on her body to prove it. As a Truthtongue, she spins the stones and reads the runes to see what fate has planned. With conflicting feelings among the leaders of the Svell, Tova feels more and more out of place. Should they start a war with the Nadhir or come together in peace?

Halvard, a warrior for the Nadhir, has known peace for the last ten years. His brother Fiske hopes the best for their future, but war is easy. The Aska and Riki clans have come together as one, but the Svell push against their borders, just as the Herjas did before them. When Halvard first meets Tova, it's in the worst way possible, but a connection burns to life between them. Fate has a strange way of weaving its threads and Tova has a huge decision to make when push comes to shove.

It was hard to write this review without giving any spoilers because it is so amazing. I was so happy to see that Adrienne Young was adding on to the SKY IN THE DEEP world and she didn't disappoint. I love the alternating point of views between Halvard and Tova and love how everything that's led up to the end comes together. Fiske, Iri, and Eelyn's appearances in it had me even more excited. This was a book that I couldn't put down and I'm so thankful to have received an ARC for it. Just like with SKY IN THE DEEP, THE GIRL THE SEA GAVE BACK is a story that stays with you even after you've finished.


Final Verdict: Fans of Sky in the Deep won't want to miss this spin-off. I would recommend it to fans of fantasy, fate's design, vikings, action, discovering who you are, and mythology.

I was truly excited when I received this ebook to read through netgalley! However it unfortunately didn't turn out at all as I had anticipated sadly. I felt that the first 5 chapters were jumbled the characters ran together I had to keep rereading and going over paragraphs or chapters just to put pieces together! it felt like more work trying to figure out characters or what was going on rather than it being a smooth read that I usually like! The book just felt disorganized and I had to DNF by chapter 6! the point of the book sounds great but it needs a lot of work and the cover was awesome I would tell the author defiantly never change the cover!

Sky in the Deep, was a book I liked, but had a problem connecting with in the beginning. This was not the case with The Girl the Sea Gave Back.

The Girl the Sea Gave Back, is set in the same world as Sky in the Deep, 10 years in the future. It follows the story, of Halvard, a young man that grew up in peace, and Tova, a girl blessed by the gods, raised in fear. From the moment, I read the first chapter/ prologue, I was hooked. It's not a sequel to the first book, but If you have read Sky in the Deep, you can appreciate more the development of the world, mythology and characters. I loved that we meet new clans with different customs, practices, morals and approach to religion. Furthermore, the fact that we meet again some old characters and the new dynamics between them, was very interesting.

The writing was beautiful, with dark mystical vibes, and I love how Adrienne Young make me picture the world and the characters, so clearly in my mind. The end, was one of the best parts, especially the final battle and the events after it. My only problem was the romance between our main characters. Even though it feels very strong, I can't help wishing more scenes between them, and honestly, the book was quick and easy to read and a few more scenes with Tova and Halvard, couldn't hurt it.

In general, I love this world and I think I would like one more book, maybe set in the past and with new characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this e-arc, in exchange for my honest review.

Not having read Sky in the Deep, I came to The Girl the Sea Gave Back with no expectations. However, the book really didn't work for me. I read all the way through, but I was bored from start to finish. The concept of the story sounded good in the blurb, but the world building was underwhelming, the timeline felt disjointed, and I didn't connect with any of the characters enough to care about what was happening to them. The romance element, too, felt lacklustre and devoid of depth. There was nothing wrong with the prose per se; the book simply failed to grab me in any meaningful way. I imagine this is going to be a tale that really divides readers, with people either loving it or hating it, with little middle ground. I wish I could have liked it more, as it contained many elements that appealed. They just didn't come together for me as a reader.

(My review will go live on 13 August at the blog link provided.)

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC, was so very excited to read this!

Unfortunately, it just didn't grab me I found myself struggling to keep up with who was who.

I wasn't fully invested in any character until 30% thru the book, and then somewhere about 80% of the way thru I realized I was nearing the end and just then clear on who was who and why I should care.

Loved the concept, but sadly didn't end up loving the book (and I so badly wanted to).

A few highlights:
-women kicking butt with all sorts of weaponry
-mythology galore, the world building was solid
-The cover is fantastic love the artwork for this!

I wish I loved it!