Apparently, this is a second in a series, which I did not know until I went to check a good ways in, so there may be some worldbuilding that I missed in the first book. However, the world building was fairly flat, and I wished there was more for this book. There was never any real explanation for why the Svell hated the Kyrr but the other clans did not. There also needed to be more behind the individual clans history and how fate/religion worked. After that, this was a pretty standard YA fantasy with insta-love and a very passive heroine until 75% of the way through the book. That is the problem when everything is blamed on destiny. There is no responsibility really for massive mistakes made and everyone feels rather passive. Also, not buying the romance at all so the ending just felt flat. Otherwise a very fast read and thanks to NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I did not get around to reading this because of other things that happened in my personal life, I do plan on purchasing and reading this sometime in the future, I'm not sure exactly when yet. When I do get around to purchasing and reading I will be posting my review on my blog The Tea Reader and my Goodreads pages, and linking it on my other social media.

This was a cool read. The Viking like setting was fascinating. I hadn't realized that this was a companion novel but I did not feel that I was lost jumping into this. Tova was a really interesting character and I would love to see more of her story. I do plan to go and read the first one now.

The Girl the Sea Gave Back is the second book in Adrienne Young's Series. I absolutely loved Sky in the Deep, so I knew I needed to read this one. Harvard is the protagonist in this one! I absolutely loved Harvard in the last book, so I was glad he was the main character in this one. Tova and Harvard had great chemistry and an amazing relationship throughout the book. My only issues were that I did not seem to care as much about these characters as I did in the first book.

I enjoyed the book and the main character-so much so that I actually bought a physical copy of the book. I did not realize that this is a sequel of sorts-or takes place in the same realm as a previous book-before I started reading. That being said, I felt like there needed to be more world building, but I assume that most of that took place in the first book. However, besides from that I feel like this is a standalone book, since I wasn't lost in the storytelling. The author's writing style is beautiful. I really enjoyed the book and plan on going back and reading the first.

I DNF’d the author’s first book and sadly lost interest in her sophomore novel. Writing was good, but I was so bored throughout.

4.5 stars

It was definitely nice to return to the world I was introduced to in Sky in the Deep, but as a companion/sequel, this one didn’t quite live up to the first book. Yes, this is supposed to be written in a way that you can read it even if you didn’t read the other book, and that is true and valid. My issue is that if you don’t know the world-building from the first book, then this book has very little to offer you in regards to expanding or fleshing out the world. You just have to accept having the bare minimum with this story.

Tova was an interesting character as well, with an intriguing skill set. Yes, she was a much different protagonist than the previous book. Tova is not a warrior at all, though she is still important and powerful in her own right.

The really nice surprise for this book is that it also follows Halvard, who was basically a child in the first book, but he’s certainly more grown in this one.

Also on the positive side for this book is the fact that the writing is still lush and beautiful, and it flows nicely. I enjoyed my time reading this book.

Unfortunately aside from wanting better fleshing out of the world, I also wanted a bit more on the different basically viking clans, and I definitely wanted more of a romantic relationship between Tova and Halvard, because while it was there, it wasn’t exactly strong enough for me.

I did like that we got to check in on Eelyn and Fisk and Iri from the first book, because this does take place ten years later.

Still, I’m glad that I read this book. I look forward to reading both Sky in the Deep and The Girl the Sea Gave Back together at some point in the future.

Given how much I ADORED Sky in the Deep and the themes it so beautifully brought to light, I was more than a little disappointed to finish this book and realize that if fell flat for me. It was still a quick read and Adrienne Young has a beautiful writing style, but I found myself unable to connect or relate to either main character. I lost interest in the plot a couple of times when the story seemed to lag, and I was disappointed in the insta-love ending. Given how fully fleshed out Young's debut novel was, in my opinion, I had high expectations that were just a bit let down. I will still read books from this author as I am intrigued by her take on folklore and the diverse culture she includes in her stories, but this was not a favorite of mine.

I wanted to love this book so bad! (I mean, look at that cover!) But something fell short for me in The Girl the Sea Gave Back.

I found the book to be a really quick, easy read - as with Sky in the Deep I truly appreciated the focus on family and protecting everything they hold close to their hearts. The way in which the author writes the entire book was clean, and I mean - this book should set the standards for what YA books should be.

However, I felt as though the story lacked a bit of character development in certain areas, for example, side characters who were interesting to me - and I wanted to know more about them, but there was no history to them. The plot also missed the mark for me, I knew what the author was trying to do with the plot, but somehow it felt rushed and lacked a certain element of depth that ticks all my boxes.

That being said, I adored Sky in the Deep! And I'm so excited to see what Ms Young comes up with next.

I really loved Sky in the Deep by this author so I was very excited to read this. Unfortunately, it didn't do it for me like the first one did. I felt like the story dragged a little bit.
Still will continue to read this author in the future!!

Not quite as food as Sky in the Deep but still another wonderful book from this author. I was glad to see some old characters return and I can’t wait to see what comes next from this author.

As a very big fan of Adrienne Young, I had to read this book. I absolutely adored Sky in the Deep and this one did not disappoint.

This book was slow until about almost halfway. After that, it definitely had me invested as a reader and the plot began to flow a little quicker. I hadn’t read SKY IN THE DEEP and have seen people refer to this book as a sequel, but it is marketed as a stand alone. I do think if I’d read it first, I probably would’ve been into it earlier on. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it.

Unfortunately, this author's writing just doesn't seem to click with me. I've read both of her books and found them hard to get into. I think part of the reason is that they are slow build, slow plot books that focus more on the relationships and cultural dynamics that any big adventure twists and turns. Which is great if that's what you are looking for. This book is a follow up to her first and I enjoyed seeing her previous characters reappear in this one as well. A good fantasy book if you like this type of setting and writing

Loved it! Initially pacing was a bit off but the flashbacks were just right. I loved how this story unfolded and how the characters were drawn to one another. It's that slow burn of a romance but it was perfect in the end.
It was great to see the other characters from "Sky in the Deep".
Highly recommend!

Big thanks to Netgalley for this wonderful opportunity to read and review this book.

When I requested this book I was barely starting the first book of this standalone series.

Huge mistake.

I know I said "standalone series", so I should give this book a try, right? I KNOW THIS. But I just can't find it in me to want to get past the first chapter. I've tried, BELIEVE ME.

The first book ended up being such a disappointment, I just can't get past that.

I finished The Girl the Sea Gave Back a couple months ago, shortly after finishing Sky in the Deep, and really enjoying it. While I can still recall the plot and details of Sky in the Deep, I had trouble remembering everything about The Girl the Sea Gave Back and thought I must have been forgetting something because I only remembered a few things happening in the plot. But that’s exactly it. Nothing much happens, until the end. I can appreciate that this is a wholly different novel from its predecessor, and I was looking forward to discovering more about the world and the new characters this book introduces. However, I found both main characters to be flat and forgettable. Events in the story that should have made me feel some emotion left me cold, because I never connected with the characters.

The romance was strange and halted for me. It takes way too long for the love interests to meet, and even once they had, it seemed like the only connection they had was “fate”, which is not a compelling love story. I was even a little surprised when a kiss finally happened, because it didn’t seem to fit with the relationship that had been built at that point.

In spite of all of the above, Adrienne Young really can write some great battle scenes, and the last few chapters of the book were truly riveting. I just wish I had been hooked before the end.

Overall this was a great sequel to Young's first novel. I loved getting to know more about some of the other characters from the first book as well as getting introduced to some new ones. And there was just enough intrigue to keep me guessing the whole book long.
My only negative comment, is that the time skips to the past at times caught me off guard and messed with the flow of the story. But then, I'm not often one to enjoy time skips.

Wonderful companion/follow-up book to "Sky in the Deep." While you don't necessarily need to have ready "Sky in the Deep" to understand "The Girl the Sea Gave Back" you will appreciate the setting, conflict, and characters more if you have. Young builds tension around the mystery of why Tova was sent off as dead in a funeral boat from her people and how her life in entangle with the young leader of a rival tribe. The alternating POVs along with flashbacks provide insight and motivation allowing this book to stand alone solidly.

Beautifully written, dragged a bit, would have loved a tiny bit clearer ending (explain the ruins girl! please!) but tbh I loved it. 4.5 stars, and I did truly love it. I know it was a seperate story from the first but I did miss the OG characters viewpoint.