I really enjoyed how this book was a sequel, in so much as it was set in the same universe with some overlapping characters, but that it's entirely independent and can easily be read as a standalone novel. Set ten years after the Aska and Riki ended a bitter blood feud in order to defeat the Herja, we're brought back to the mountain and the fjord as a new battle rages. Only this time the story centres around the sweet and curious Halvard as he makes his way as a leader and a man, and also Tova, a bewitching Truthtongue with no memories of her past and the weight of a people on her shoulders. Together they navigate the treacherous future carved out as the Svell attack the Nadhir and seek to maintain the peace established by Eelyn and Fiske. 

Now, I'm not normally a fan of passive/ submissive female characters, but I ended up really enjoying Tova. Yes, she is basically a captive of the Svell, manipulated but their Tala into doing his bidding and used as a tool of war but she offers continual acts of resistance in small ways in which she is capable. She sneaks into meetings from which she is forbidden, tells the truth even when it will anger her captors, and is unbelievably brave in the moments when courage is needed the most. She lies to her chieftain, plucks up the courage to attempt an escape, and when battle looms she takes up her bow. She might battle with her braids and struggle with dresses, but dang that woman is fierce!

 Harvard too plays on some pretty strong emotions. He is a child of peace thrown into war, a fisherman's son pushed into leadership at a young age, and through it all a young man trying to find his way in the world. Although he is a fierce warrior he is also sweet, and soft, and thoughtful in the kind of way that sucks you right in. The fear and apprehension of his pending responsibilities is only natural and entirely relatable. His coming of age showcases his varied experiences from those of his clansmen and demonstrates that there is strength in sensitivity. 

I loved that Halvard continued his friendship with Asmund and Bard even after they left to become aider and the rest o the community turned their backs on him. It was touching that Halvard was frightened of being so much power as a leader and that he remained more concerned about doing right by his people than any sort of personal gain. And was absolutely gutted by how he always considered the implication his actions would have on family - if only everyone were so thoughtful! I found him to be a relatable and enjoyable character to read - equal parts awkward and burgeoning man, but what I loved most was how he read as a sweet young man. That's right, he actually felt like a teen. Okay, okay, a highly trained and particularly deadly teen, but he felt his age and it was glorious!

Perhaps my only complaint is that I wanted more.

I wanted to know more of what happened between the battle with the Herja and the attack from the Svell. I wanted to know how the Aska and Riki navigated the joining of their clans and the quashing of their blood feud. I wanted more than passing glimpses of Eelyn, Fiske, Iri, Runa, Espen and Aghi. And I definitely wanted to know more about the Kyrr! A little extra attention to world building would have gone a long way but I'm greedy and this just wasn't that kind of story. All I can say is take that desire fore more as a complement as this story sucked me right in, and as much as I enjoy jumping into a 400 page behemoth I completely understand that value of something that appears approachable on the shelf while simultaneously covering all it's bases as a complete and compelling story.

Young's writing is dynamic and approachable to a wide variety of audiences. As an adult reader I certainly enjoyed my time with this book, but it's simple style and quick paced plot is sure to appeal to a younger audience as well. The romance in it is sweeter and more innocent than that of Sky in the Deep, but then again, so are all of the characters. Regardless, get ready to get your heart ripped out, say goodbye to some old favourites, and fall in love all over again. I absolutely adored this book, and hope that there are more to come.

3 1/2 stars

This bookcover is simply amazing and had me ready for an incredible read....

Tova has been rescued from the sea by a rival tribe. Even though they basically despise and fear her, they keep and raise her for their benefit. Since she is a truth tongue, they believe she can foretell the future. She has never felt at ease within this tribe. A betrayal occurs and opens the door for her to make a bold move that could alter the future. The real question is will it be for the good or bad?

Halvard is the other main character that we follow through the book. He is a young warrior who struggles with the effects of war on the people around him. He is destined to become chieftain of his clan. He is a passionate and caring person who truly wants the best for his people.

Tova can't figure out why but she is convinced, after seeing Halvard for the first time , that their fates are intertwined with one another. Because of this, she is convinced that she has to protect him and be sure he isn't killed in battle with the clan that she's been living with and working for.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was a bit of a slow start for me. There were a lot of different names to keep up with, different clans and following along with the timelines that went back and forth also required a little more concentration. For this reason, the first half of the book was more work than fun (for me at least). However, around the halfway mark, the excitement of The Girl the Sea Gave Back definitely kicked in.. From that point on, I thought it was a strong book that provided a little bit of everything a reader is looking for.

"We gave you to the sea, Tova. But the sea gave you back."

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was epic!! I enjoyed every minute of it. The first book was amazing, and this book was even so much more! I loved the story telling! This author sucked me into this world from the very first page!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

The Girl the Sea Gave Back is the second published novel from Adrienne Young, a story set in the same world as Sky in the Deep (which was one of my favorite reads in 2018). This novel switches back and forth between two character POVs: Tova, a gifted young woman who is searching for the place she belongs as she resides with a tribe that is not her own, and Halvard, a young man forged in a time of great conflict who has been bestowed with a heavy legacy of leadership. Readers will get to know both as the story progresses, and personally, it was all too easy to get invested in their individual journeys (and how they end up intersecting eventually). As it was in her debut novel, Young’s writing is compulsively readable and all too easy to fly through. And while there are plenty of nods to events in Sky in the Deep, it’s not necessary to read that story first – you can certainly check this one out as a standalone. In fact, it might even make the reading experience better for you, as both books share very similar plot elements (two tribes in opposition who are forced to decide between conflict or peace) and it was very noticeable to me, as someone who absolutely loved Sky in the Deep. This is not to say that the stories are the same, however; there’s just enough of a difference in the character personalities and external elements to allow this novel to stand on its own and still be an enjoyable book. So, while I didn’t love this one nearly as much as Young’s debut, I still really enjoyed The Girl the Sea Gave Back and would highly recommend it to both fans of Sky in the Deep and those readers new to Young’s work.

I had really high hopes for this one since I really enjoyed this author's debut book SKY IN THE DEEP but this one missed the mark for me. While it started out in the middle of strife with the death of a baby, it quickly lost steam and momentum as the storyline progressed. I wasn't privy to the fact that the girl had such a low opinion of herself yet still being the only one who could tell the future for her captors. They clearly had to rely significantly on her opinion and yet she still had very low self esteem due to the way they treated her. It should have been obvious that the people group were complete hypocrites and shamed her while still valuing her ability, and she should have been able to get out of such a weak mindset.
I can appreciate if for what it was, since so many YA books about teenage girls are the opposite - the gal is strong and from the beginning, she usually lets her opinions be known through words or actions. I never realized how much I appreciated that cliche.

I love this title, and am so happy to have read it! I loved Sky in the Deep, and while this one mentioned some characters mentioned in that one and had a similar style, it's also so refreshingly different, and completely different! I loved this different focus and seeing Adrienne Young own writing style progress in this one!

I’m sorry, but… was Adrienne Young murdered and then her murderer took over her author life and wrote this book?! It’s the only explanation I can come up with for what a disappointed this book was. I guess I should say half of this book because I DNFed at 50%. I wanted to DNF at 25% but I tried to push through because I got an ARC but you know what, girl has job applications to fill out. I don’t have time for this.

The whole time I was reading I was confused about the world, and hello half of it was from Sky in the Deep but I was STILL confused. I didn’t think I had to reread that one since it’s a companion novel but apparently yes? Okay, so the world is from a different perspective. Did the world expand? No. I learned nothing new about this world even though we were with a different clan and Tova has cool future seeing powers. But of course she knows nothing about her magic or background so then I know nothing. And yet, she somehow knows how to call the Spinners?! HOW DOES SHE KNOW THIS IF SHE WAS ABANDONED AND KNOWS NOTHING?! Of the book that I read, it read like I was supposed to just already know everything about the world? The Spinners and the All Seer were thrown around a lot but it took a while to state what they actually were. Tova knows nothing, I know nothing, I’m super confused the whole time.

And don’t even get me started on the magic system. Which was nonexistent and surprise. Confusing.

The timeline was weird and hard to follow, with the lot jumping around. Present, back ten years, present, back six years. Okay, usually this isn’t an issue for me, but it just didn’t work. I’m blaming it on Adrienne’s murderer.

The characters were meh. Like WOAH once again, who the fuck wrote Tova?! She is so… small and scared, and boring. Halvard was whatever. No one stood out.

50% nothing happened and everything was mediocre.

AND I PREORDERED THIS BOOK THINKING I WOULD LOVE IT LIKE SKY IN THE DEEP.

Never again.

I've been dreading this review a little bit, to be totally honest. It's not going to be entirely bad, but going into The Girl the Sea Gave Back, I thought it would be a guaranteed five-star, rave review. And that it is not.

So many of the things I loved about Adrienne Young's first book, Sky in the Deep, are missing from this companion novel. Let's start with the big one- the romance. Holy moly, the romance was odd this time around. I'm all for a good slow burn, but to me it felt like Tova and Halvard hated each other, then they felt nothing,  and then the book was almost over and I was like, "Huh, maybe it's not a love story, that's cool!" Except then all of the sudden it was. I felt absolutely no chemistry from these characters, and nothing on the page made me think they should or did actually care for one another. It was definitely one of the strangest love stories I've read. And maybe it's because I just didn't connect with either of the main characters, but it didn't work for me at all.

Half way through the book I thought to myself, "So the characters and love story were a let down, okay. Not all is lost though! Maybe soon the plot will take off!" It did not. There were a few exciting moments, but overall, it really felt like a whole lot of nothing happened in this story. Sure, it made for a really fast read. But at the end I just felt like I'd read an entire book about...nothing. So even though the pacing worked, the story itself wasn't exciting enough to hold my attention very well.

Like I said, not all was lost though! I do think Adrienne Young has a beautiful way with words, and that was really the one redeeming quality of this book for me. Her sentences are beautiful, and lend themselves to being read quickly. I think if anyone else had written this story, I probably would have given up half way through.

After thoroughly enjoying her first book, I've found myself severely disappointed by this one. I do think it will appeal to many of her readers though, I'd just warn any who are planning to give it a read to not go into it expecting a whole lot of action. Plus, I love a good love story, so this was a huge letdown for me, but for those who are less into that kind of thing it may actually be perfect! I do know I'm going to continue reading Young's books, I just hope that future ones are a little more exciting than The Girl the Sea Gave Back.

This was a bit slow to begin but it had to be with the background information. I didn’t read Sky in the Deep prior to this one and didn’t feel that I had to to fully understand this title. The Girl the Sea Gave Back is a beautifully written story full of Scandinavian culture and mythology - reminiscent of the Vikings television show in it's authenticity and mythology. The two POVs between the two main protagonists plus added flashbacks really helped you fall into the story and world. The language was magical, and the characters believable.

3/5 stars for this YA Fantasy.
I absolutely LOVE the cover for this book, it's everything! I wanted to love this book so much, especially after chatting with the author. I think viking type books just aren't my thing. If you enjoyed books like Warrior of the Wild and Sky in the Deep, I highly recommend this one! I just couldn't connect with the characters, but the storyline was really interesting!

When I first starting reading The Girl the Sea Gave Back, I went in with an open mind. I knew that if I went in comparing this to Sky in the Deep, I’d be disappointed because I really did love SITD so much! The world building was done so beautifully, and the cultural aspects of the story truly captured me. Despite going in with this open mind, I stay comparing the two.

Throughout the novel, I found many phrases, ideas, and storylines repeated. Whether that be a phrase like “the sea gave you back to us,” or someone who’s not supposed to be alive being alive trope, or trying to uncover the past, it felt very unoriginal in terms of Young’s debut novel. I know it’s a companion, but this wasn’t something I was excited about while I was reading it.

That being said, I started to sort of get invested around 50% of the way through, and that’s way too late to get invested in a story in my opinion. I didn’t care for the characters or the world in the same way I did for SITD, and that absolutely breaks my enjoyment of this novel. The book itself, like SITD, is such a quick read, but it isn’t because the story flows so quickly. It’s because the writing is kind of basic and lacking in excitement. Yes, there is a slow build-up, the plot thickens, and there’s an interesting historical aspect behind it (which I think was one of it’s bonuses), but it just wasn’t enough.

Overall, I’m giving The Girl the Sea Gave Back a 2.5-3/5 star rating. I do enjoy the historical fiction aspects of this, though it isn’t as heavily viking implored as Young’s debut. The truth-seer element of Tova’s character combined with her internal struggle between fate, the future, and her purpose in it is done so well. I also continue to appreciate that Young doesn’t force a romance throughout the novel to help carry it. I’m slightly disappointed because of the difference in the debut and the companion, but it was a quick read nonetheless.

The writing style of Adrienne Young is absolutely beautiful. I can't wait to read more by her. I haven't read the first book in this series, so I'm going to get to that ASAP because I loved this one.

It took a little while to get into, but once it picked up I couldn't put it down! As I kept reading, everything came together and I loved it!

Thank you #NetGalley for an early copy of #TheGirlTheSeaGaveBack for review!

3.5 Stars.
I was super excited about this book (was it 60% because of the cover and 40% because of the description? Totally.) The concept was very interesting but there were several things that brought down the rating.

I wasn't aware this was a sequel and the book jumped in almost immediately with names and places that took me a hot second to figure out and place. I also wasn't aware just how Viking-esq this book was going to be- not that it's a bad thing, it was just very unexpected. I also found the ending kind of predictable.

The Girl the Sea Gave Back is a magical sequel! Readers who fell in love with Sky in the Deep will enjoy this wonderful follow-up story. The beginning was a bit hard to get into, but it picked up after several chapters and drew me in. Based 10 years after the previous book, we're introduced to new characters, and able to revisit one we already know and love. I'm crossing my fingers for more in this series!

You'll enjoy it if you enjoyed Sky in the Deep. But as a standalone it left something to be desired.

Not only is the cover amazing and beautiful, but so is this book.

Adrienne Young writes like she’s there and retelling the story for us readers to relive it with our own eyes.
Tova and Halvard are growing up before us in a very short period of time, with decisions that can change the fate of two tribes. The ending was perfect. Can’t wait to read more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to author, publisher, and Netgalley for an advance copy of The Girl The Sea Gave Back.

Okay y’all, so at first I was like wow Adrienne Young writes some beautiful sentences. The. I was like well this is a little confusing with the jumping back and forth and here and there and who are all these people with the funny names??
Then I was like okay I’m understanding the jumping around, but this story is a little bit too slow burn for me. AND THEN I was like ooh this is getting interesting. Then it was like p-p-plot twiiissst and I was like okay now this slow burn is working well for me. Then I was like 😱😱😱 and then it ended and I was like wow I’m not satisfied but also fully satisfied, how does that even happen?!

And let me stress one more time, Adrienne Young writes beautifully. I probably highlighted 30 sentences that I loved.

I can’t believe I’m about to say this but I didn’t enjoy this at all. In this we follow Tova who is a brand new character from a new clan with new gods. And Halvard who we remember from Sky In The Deep. This is a dual perspective with chapters jumping back and forth between Tova and Halvard, and we also get flashback chapters where we go back as far as 13 years I believe, which was before Sky in the Deep was set. Tova’s clan the Svell, and Halvard’s clan the Nadhir are at war, but things happen gradually through the book. The thing I loved about the first novel was that it jumped right into the action and it had a main character that I loved and understood. The only thing I could say about Sky in the Deep that I believe it missed was the brutality. I felt like it was very light for a Viking inspired fantasy and there is nothing wrong with that I still absolutely loved Sky in the Deep but in my opinion it could have used a bit more brutality. I thought we would get that in this second novel but to no avail. Everything I loved about the first book was missing in the second. I was bored to tears reading about Tova and I felt like I didn’t get a whole lot from Halvard. I couldn’t connect to any of the characters and I was just going through the motions whilst reading this book. Also the very little hint of romance you get in my opinion was completely unnecessary. I hate to be so hard on this but I was really looking forward to this book and I was severely let down.

I received an arcade of this from net galley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Ok so let me start by saying I adore Adrienne Young then to see this cover I knew I had to read it ASAP.

This book is just beautiful from cover to cover and everything in between. I love the Viking characters and backdrop. I think Viking culture is so rich and so under represented. The stories entwined within this had me enamoured. I think this was a beautifully woven story that are perfect for sky in the deep fans like myself. I am almost at a loss for what else to say aside from it is a must read. It is a must read that you have to let envelope you in its rich stories and history!

Ever since she washed up on the shore as a child, Tova has lived among the Svell people. Never truly viewed as an equal, she uses her gift as a Truthtongue, an interpreter of runes, to help the Svell. Now the leaders of the Svell are divided on the subject of war and turn to Tova to cast the stones to decide their fate. In doing so she sets off a chain of events that will change her world forever.


To be honest, I didn’t love this book. When I started it I was unaware that it was sort of a sequel to the Sky in the Deep, and I think that was part of the problem. I quickly became confused with the story. There was a lot of similar-sounding names and characters, and I had a hard time keeping track of who was who and what tribe they were apart of, etc.


I liked both Tova and Halvard as characters and enjoyed their unique perspectives. The story was interesting, but not compelling, and by the time I became interested in the storyline and the characters, the book was mostly over. 


I think this was really an example of judging the book by the cover. I instantly fell in love with the gorgeous cover art and intriguing title and thought the story would have more to do with the sea and mythology. Instead, it was focused on war, superstition, and belonging. It was a good story, just not for me.