SKY IN THE DEEP was a notable 2018 standout for me and -- similar to my recent dilemma with Erin Bowman's IMMUNITY -- its followup is tonally worlds apart from the predecessor. THE GIRL THE SEA GAVE BACK is a much quieter, more character-driven book than SKY IN THE DEEP. The story hinges around Tova and Halvard, who belong to rival clans and are each on a journey to keep their clan from going to war. The tension between the two clans is shown through the contrasting perspectives of Tova and Halvard; most of the story deals with the two of them confronting struggles individually, which wasn't what I was expecting based off the reviews I'd read prior to starting the book.

I found the amount of characters really hard to keep track of, particularly as the relationships between people in power in both clans is very important to understanding the plot of the first 30-0r-so percent of THE GIRL THE SEA GAVE BACK. The shifting perspectives also drove me nuts. Often, something exciting would happen from one perspective only for the next chapter to just be the other character's view of the events I had just been told. It slowed the story down and felt really repetitive.

It seems from other reviews that people either really liked SKY IN THE DEEP or THE GIRL THE SEA GAVE BACK. The two books, though both are about vikings, feel like very different stories. If you like more character-driven books, maybe this will be the Adrienne Young book for you.

The Girl the Sea Gave Back is another Viking-inspired story with a female heroine, and once again I truly enjoyed Adrienne Young's work. Also, the cover is gorgeous!

This is a standalone, but I personally think it would go much better as a follow-up to Sky in the Deep. In fact, I wish I had reread that book to make this one that much richer. There were reappearing characters and references to events that happened in Sky in the Deep, and I couldn't remember everything as well as I would've liked.

Tova and Halvard were the two viewpoints in The Girl the Sea Gave Back, and both were flawed, yet strong individuals. Not to mention, both ended up being pretty badass in battle.
I wish the romantic aspect was more developed. There was such potential!

I still enjoyed the book as is, although I wouldn't mind seeing a sequel that continues Tova and Halvard's story.

***I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley.***

I was so excited to dive back into the world introduced in Sky in the Deep in the sequel that follows the events of the first book after ten years have passed. But I was utterly lost. In order to fully enjoy The Girl the Sea Gave Back, readers will need to reread Sky in the Deep. There are some subtle details and cameos in TGtSGB that would have been really delightful if I'd had the first book fresh in my head!

TGtSGB is told from the alternating perspectives of Tova, a girl and outcast reading runes for the Svell, and Halvard, who has now grown up to become the next chief. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Halvard's perspective, but Tova's story felt incredibly rushed with gaping plot holes. The connection between the two characters also felt forced, and I did not finish the book feeling satisfied with the resolution.

Ok I did not like Sky in the Deep but I was seduced by the cover so I ended up trying this one. I think this author may just not be for me. I had some serious issues with her previous book (the constant use of rape threat rather than actually creating characters for instance) and while this book doesn’t duplicate those issues, it also doesn’t quite fix things like pace and structure either. Plus the fight scenes are not good. That’s putting it mildly. The author’s style has bloomed however. The prose was lovely in this book. The story just didn’t capture me. TBH if you’re after Viking tales with romance Marie Louise Jensen’s Daughter of Fire and Ice and Sigrun’s Secret are a far better bet, IMO. This just wasn’t for me.

*The links to reviews will go live on August 7, 2019*

I enjoyed this so much! I really liked that The Girl The Sea Gave Back had a different feel compared to Sky In The Deep but still had a lot of familiar elements and people from it. We got to be introduced to two more of the Viking clans in the area. The Svell, which is the clan Tova has pretty much grown up with, and the Kyrr, the clan that Tova is originally from. And with this book taking place ten years after Sky In The Deep, we get to see not only how the characters from Sky are doing, but also how the joining of the Aska and Riki clans affected the clans around them.

First lets talk about our faves from Sky In The Deep. We get to see Eelyn, Iri, Fiske, Halvard and Myra again. This just made my heart so happy. I wasn't expecting them to have such a huge role but definitely wasn't disappointed about it. So we find out that the unified Aska/Riki clans are now called the Nadhir. And that Halvard is set to become the next Chieftain of the clan. Guys, little Halvard grew up! He is chosen to be next in line because of him being in the first generation that did not have to fight in the blood feud, the first generation brought up as Nadhir. Despite his own doubts about being Chieftain and whether he's up for it, he really proves himself worthy of the title. We also see the bond that Halvard built with Aghi, Eelyn and Iri's dad. I really loved that Aghi was also like a father to Halvard, especially considering Halvard lost his own when he was younger. I also liked that we got flashbacks into the past, of Halvard's view of certain events that happened in Sky In The Deep. I feel like it definitely not only gave me a better view of those scenes in Sky In The Deep, but also how those events shaped Halvard as he grew after the defeat of the Herja and the clans unified.

Now lets talk Tova. I found her character really interesting. She's a truthtongue. She can cast the stones and read what the future holds with them. She's not the hardcore fighter that Eelyn was as a main character, but I loved that. She is Kyrr by birth, but brought to the Svell in a funeral boat her parents sent her out to sea in because they thought she was dead. She isn't liked within the Svell and the only reason they really keep her around is because of her ability to read the stones. Most of them even blame her for all the misfortune that goes on in the story even though she only reads the stones. It was interesting seeing her live among people that hated her. Even more so when the Svell decide to go to war with the Nadhir. Tova can sense that so much about the war is wrong, but no one will listen to her. They think that when she cast the stones initially that starting the war would change their fate. While Tova is convinced that its wrong and the war is what causes the fate she read in the stones. We really see Tova struggle with the war since she feels like its her fault so many people are dying just because she cast the stones. Even though it is her "father figure" Jorrund, and the new chieftain Vigdis, who keeps insisting the stones mean the opposite of what Tova tries to tell him they mean.

I really enjoyed the end, even though I found one particular thing predictable. I loved seeing Tova make her own decision on who to side with based on what she believed from her castings. I also loved seeing what she did for Gunther, who tried to help her when she was younger and even looked out for her and covered for her near the end of the book. I also loved seeing Halvard lead his people in the fight against the Svell. I had this feeling right from the beginning of the book about the Svell and what their outcome would be and I was right. With the way they acted, I just could not see a positive outcome for them. Now the bit I did find super predictable was how the Kyrr came in to play in the war. While they might have always stayed in their own lands, I knew the moment Kjeld left Halvard and his companions on the way back to Hylli after seeing Tova, the only other Kyrr outside of their lands, that they would be playing a part in the ending. However I really did enjoy the outcome with Tova and the Kyrr. It was beautiful. And even though we don't get to see what the stones she cast said, based on the reaction, I suspect its something good and not involving war.

I did not finish this book in whole. Unfortunately, it wasn't a good fit for me. The plot was intriguing, but the pacing and the characters were not enough to keep me hooked.

•Spoiler Free Book Review•

•I was given a free copy by #NetGalley and @WednesdayBooks in exchange for an honest review•

"Augua ór tivar. Ljá mir syn."
"Eye of the gods. Give me sight."

"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... She has found a fragile place among those who fear her, but when two clans to the east bury their age-old blood feud and join together as one, her world is dangerously close to collapse."

First of all, "The Girl the Sea Gave Back" by @adrienneyoungbooks is no "Sky in the Deep." Sorry not sorry. That book came to an end. A BEAUTIFUL ending. This book may take place in Hylli but that's where the similarities end.

TGTSGB is just as beautifully written as SKY. The characters just as rich, the twists just as awe inspiring, and the ending just as beautiful.

I loved how the story jumped back in time throughout the book, giving us insight into what has happened these past 10 years since the Riki and Aska joined together. How Halvard grew up along the fjord and how Tova came to be with the Svell and developed her Truthtongue gift from the gods.

Ms. Young is a gifted writer with the ability to paint the most extraordinary story. I was sucked in almost instantly and binged the book in about 2 days. Overall giving The Girl the Sea Gave Back ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 stars)

The battles were brutal and and Awesome

This was a bit slow to begin but it had to be with the background information. Though I did not read Sky in the Deep prior to this one and didn’t feel that I had to. I ended up truly loving this book, but it reminded me quite a bit of Vikings on the History channel and Halvard was an awful lot like young Ragnar Lothbrok. I can only hope he stays that way.

The story was about Tova who was found at six years old on the shore by a surrogate father, Jorrund. She was in a funeral boat that was partially burned out and it was obviously to him that she was a kyrr truthtongue which is a seer of sorts that uses stones like runes and reads them. He decides to use this to his political advantage and tells her that she was a sacrifice to the gods by her people. She grew up thinking that. The Svell whom she lived with hated her for being the messenger of bad things. They treated her like the things she saw where her fault even though they were the ones that would ask for the readings, mostly during dire situations or in times of war.

The battle scenes were brutal and like the Vikings TV show they were extremely detailed so that was another thing that reminded me of the same. But I was loving it. Tova tries to do what is right and nobody wants to let her, and nobody ever stands up for her. Though when it comes down to the major battle there is a scene where I found myself crying, then cheering out loud. It was an awesome moment. There were a few of those in this book. I love a lot of action.

Really enjoyed this book. I hadn't realized it was sort of a continuation of The Sky in the Deep (I had hoped it was, but somewhere along the way I thought people were saying it wasn't) You don't need to read Sky in the Deep first, but it definitely helps give background.
Love all the characters and the viking world. A lot of "Ooo what's that mean" and things that you think you know, but don't. So yeah. XD

**Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review**

3.5 STARS ROUNDED UP TO 4 (due primarily to the last 30%)

I'm absolutely thrilled I got to read an ARC of this book as its been on my wish list since the cover reveal. I loved Sky in the Deep and had all the grabby hands for this one.

This book happens ten years after we finish Eelyn and Fiske's story, written with a timeline that fills us in with the major plot points for the characters in flash back chapters. I really enjoyed this choice from the author and thought it was well done and unique.

In this stand-alone but sequel to Sky in the Deep, we follow Tova (new) and Halvard (not new). I really enjoyed the role these two characters played and the dynamic between them. Their character arcs were fully developed and i loved watching them grow.

The story is full of tension and the plot was unique and exciting. The last 30% really went above and beyond and I thought ACT III was well executed and I could not turn the pages fast enough.

I struggled with the pace up to that 70% mark though. It felt like the author wanted this to be both a stand-alone and a sequel. In order to make it a sequel, she basically recapped the entire novel of Sky in the Deep. Like all of it. And it really bogged this book down. I'm not sure I needed all the reminders of every detail from SitD. I think that if this had been branded a sequel, it would have been understood that SitD comes first and a lot of this back story could have been cut, cleaning up the pace, but as it stands, its too much. It affected (effected?) the way i connected with the characters and how long it took me to push through the book. That said, I found the last 30% worth the push so would still recommend the read.NOTE: DESPITE THE BACK DETAIL, I STILL THINK READING SKY IN THE DEEP FIRST IS HELPFUL.

This book is dark and really takes you to the brink of the darkness these characters experience. The writing is wonderful and engaging. The characters are interesting and the timeline is unique.

Solid 3.5 STAR RATING FROM ME :-)

This book is set in a Viking world.
This is a time of mysterious gods , unknown , unforeseen forces.

Our story begins with death and will come full circle. A young mother so in her love with her child , but the child is not meant to survive . The spinners have foretold this. Our poor mother places her cold , blue child to be delivered into the afterlife. The funeral boat is then lit never to be seen again .
The three spinners decide the fates of mortals , good or bad . Jorrund of tala has coming seeking advice , wisdom , guidance . A flash of white catches his eye and leads him a spinner . A fate spinner. Life or death. That is what this spinner has brought to jorrund .
Jorrund come across a blackened boat with a small child inside . A pale young girl , not a dead infant . A truth tongue , one who will eventually be able to read the runes and see the web of fate . This is truly where our story begins.
Tova is a truthtongue . She decides life and death and war . War with another clan is where we start and end.

Such a intense , interesting world .
This book was out of my comfort zone as it’s not my normal style , but I really found myself drawn to the outcome.

I was excited when I heard about this book. I enjoyed it, but not as much as the first. The romance felt rushed and thrown in there at the end. I did love getting to see characters from the Sky in the Deep and what happened to them. I thought Tova and Halvard were great characters. Overall I enjoyed this book and wanted more I can’t wait for more books by Adrienne Young.

I enjoyed Sky in the Deep so much that Adrienne Young became one of my favourite authors from that very moment. Naturally, The Girl the Sea Gave Back has been on my radar ever since its upcoming release was announced, so imagine how grateful I was when I realised that my wish to view the ARC on Netgalley was granted! To make things even more perfect, I actually enjoyed it. I'm still reeling from how fantastically written this is, and I can tell I'm going to miss it.

Since young, Tova has lived among the Svell. But to say that she belongs is an understatement, for the marks on her skin makes her an outcast — a Kyrr. Born with the abilities of a Truthtongue, the Svell makes use of her powers to see the future. All seems to be well until the two clans located in the east joined to become one. The Svells have felt threatened by the merger for a long time, and the question of whether to maintain the peace or go to war has lasted for years. Upon using her stones to read the future on this matter, Tova sets forth a series of violent events without meaning to. It is then she meets one of the Nadhirs by the name of Halvard, a man whose fate is bound to hers.

Once again, Adrienne Young has created an incredible world of the Vikings. Every clan has their own rituals, gods, and differences that make them unique. Learning about their cultures left me intrigued, inducing the eagerness that comes with wanting to know more about the world that the author has built so painstakingly. What's more, we get to catch a glimpse of how the characters from Sky in the Deep are faring. Being reminded of how Halvard is related to Fiske and Iri makes my heart clench, and I wonder when I will have the time to read the companion novel again.

But that is not to say that Tova and Halvard are lacking in any way. They are both very likeable, and I find myself rooting for them all the way. The romance is of the slow-burn category, very much like the one between Fiske and Eelyn but more, so I always find myself waiting impatiently for the next time that the two of them will meet again. Even though their interaction is considered limited, they always send good tingles to my stomach, and I love that.

I will always remember the goosebumps that come up on cue whenever the action scenes make their appearance. The horror, the sorrow stirred by the deaths, and the suspense — so many emotions in this story. I will always remember how awed I feel by what a Truthtongue is capable of.

On the other hand, I actually feel that this could be a little longer? The romance isn't given enough time to develop. I was literally left with my jaw open, and the question of "That's it? What? NO. I need more!" when I finished it. I also don't understand the significance of the chapters that bring readers to the past.

Nevertheless, this book deserves the 5 stars. The good definitely overpowers the bad tenfolds. I'm looking forward to reading subsequent books written by this author!

This review is written based on the ARC provided by the publisher through Netgalley. This book can be read as a standalone.

I have been waiting for this book for a very long time, and it certainly did not disappoint. Though it took me a while to settle into the story (mostly because of the Norse-inspired names) once I began to meet and love Tova and Halvard (again), it became the beautiful Norse story Adrienne Young has gifted us once before. I cannot recommend this book enough, for its story and magic, it's lovely rhythm and minimal focus on the battle. IT's all abut the build up of the battle, not the battle itself, and perhaps that's why I love it so much.

Absolutely wonderful, but definitely be sure to read sky in the Deep first if you haven't already!

I really liked this one, not as much as the first book but still. I thought Tova and Halvard were great characters. I loved seeing what happened to everyone. The only thing I liked less was the quick romance. I feel like maybe it should've been left out. It was just very sudden. Other than that, a great quick read.

This book was received as an ARC from the publisher and Author , in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2
As a companion and continuation of Sky in the Deep, The Girl the Sea Gave Back
Is a complex, deep, creative world that the Author has created. with enjoyable character and a stunning storyline.
Compelling narrative writing is easy to read. What really enjoyed was the Author ability to create a diverse multi faceted world with and the detailed complex social classes, and cultural traditions.
What I really enjoyed was the two perspective POV’s and
dynamics of the tribes in these books and the culture and different rituals that go with the world building. I was hooked from the beginning in this emotionally charged plot.

Very imaginative Nordic magic system is very different and I must say that I really thought it was some of the best in a YA novel.
A fierce read, about love, hope, ... and how fate shapes each us!

I am definitely looking forward to reading any upcoming writing from Adrienne Young

I really enjoyed Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young, and I wanted to like this sequel, unfortunately that was not the case. This story takes place ten years after the events of Sky in the Deep. I thought Halvard was a great side character before, but he fell short as a main character in this book. Both him and Tova just had really bland personalities. Frankly, I found Tova to be a pushover with a lot of power in her hands.

The plot was slow going and I did not see any real action until I was halfway through the book. The back and forth between two years ago, ten years ago, and the present became really bothersome. I felt like just some explanation about what happened those years ago would have been sufficient, we did not need to be going back and forth in time every single time something about the past needed to be explained. Overall, I believe my expectations going into this book were set really high and maybe I'm being a bit harsh, but I would not recommend this one.

I loved "The Sky in the Deep" by Adrienne Young, and I really love following Adrienne Young on Instagram, so I was really excited to read "The Girl the Sea Gave Back." I know it's a book her publishers really encouraged her to write even though she initially felt like "TSITD" stood better on its own.
Honestly, it pains me to say this, but I was a little disappointed. It felt like the story took a long time to develop, and I was really looking forward to an epic romance of the proportions I saw in "TSITD," but instead I only got hints of it at the very end. It honestly felt like I got to the end and the story had finally started heading where I wanted it to, and then it was over.
I love how Adrienne Young writes, her prose is beautiful, and I love the atmosphere in both this book and its predecessor. There was a lot of potential in the setting and the characters, I just never felt like I was able to get into it. I was never as invested as I was in "TSITD."
So I guess I spent a lot of time comparing "The Girl the Sea Gave Back" to the previous book, and it just didn't quite live up to it. But I did get through it trying to find out what the answers to the questions raised, and in constant anticipation of the romance that didn't give me quite the satisfaction I was hoping for. So it wasn't a total dud, but it didn't quite live up to my high expectations.

When I first read Sky in the Deep, I thought it was a stand-alone. This book is part sequel part companion book. The main plot takes place about 10 years after the end of Sky in the Deep. It follows Halvard, Fiske's little brother, now a young man; and a young woman named Tova, who when she was a girl washed up on the beach near a Svell village in a half-burnt boat. It follows their intertwined path.

I wasn't sure at first if I would like this book as much as the first one, as it doesn't follow the same characters, they make cameos, but they aren't really in this book. I really loved Eelyn and Fiske, so I wasn't sure if I was going to like it as much. I did though, not as much but I still really liked this book. The world has expanded a little, and the magic that was eluded to in the previous book is expanded more with Tova and her runes. I love the setting of this world. It feels real and ancient.

This book is more plot-driven than character-driven in my opinion. Tova and Halvard, while still great characters, just aren't as compelling as Eelyn and Fiske were for me. They weren't in many scenes together, so their chemistry came across a little more forced and less authentic. The pacing wasn't great either, but this is an uncorrected proof. And while I only noticed one type-o, I'm also sure when the novel goes through final edits everything will be smoother.

I can't wait for this book to come out though. I look forward to reading the final copy. And if you enjoyed Sky in the Deep, I hope you like this one too.

This was a good read, I enjoyed the writing and the plot fine enough. I had a few issues with the main character but overall she was fine. All in all I would suggest this to people who are just getting into the fantasy genre.