The Girl the Sea Gave Back by Adrienne Young is such a cool and atmospheric read! It’s set in a world where clans and the sea hold a lot of power, and it follows Tova, a girl who was taken in by a new clan after being found on the shore as a child. Tova has a mysterious past, and as she gets older, she starts to uncover secrets about her life and the people around her. The book also switches between Tova’s perspective and that of a guy named Halvard, who is tied to a prophecy and has a huge part to play in Tova’s future.

What I loved about this book is the whole vibe, it’s a perfect mix of fantasy, mystery, and adventure, all wrapped up in a story about identity and finding your place. Tova is such a strong character, but she’s also struggling with who she really is, which makes her super relatable. The relationship between her and Halvard is kind of slow-burn, but their connection is so intriguing and adds a lot of depth to the story.

The world-building is amazing too. You can really feel the tension between the clans, the connection to the sea, and how it shapes everything. The writing is beautiful, and the pacing keeps you hooked, with just enough action and emotional moments to keep you turning pages.

I really loved Sky in the Deep, so I was looking forward to revisiting that world and perhaps getting some cameos from familiar characters. This book however is very slow going, it doesn't pull you in the same way. I have tried to read other books by this author as well and come to the conclusion that Sky in the Deep was a fluke- it's the only book of hers I have enjoyed.

Super good. I loved the first book I read by this author and loved this one as well. I recommend it if you like a quick engaging read.

The Girl the Sea Gave Back is a story about enemies to lovers, about being an Outsider and where our loyalties lie. While it's set in the same world as Sky in the Deep, you definitely don't need to read the first to understand the second. As a whole, The Girl the Sea Gave Back is a book that is largely propelled by the story, unlike the characters.

I tend to enjoy very character-centric books, but, for me, the characters in this book didn't have enough depth for me to become invested in them. I understood facts about them - that Tova is an Outsider even in the place she tentatively calls home - but I never felt like I connected to their desires, fears or ambitions (except for a basic understanding).

While there is a great deal of time spent discussing the new expanded world, I felt that it was more a case of being told, not shown.
Additionally, while the story is told from Tova and Hallvard's point of view, sometimes it switches to memories from the past, which are well marked, but they can be quite confusing.

I really enjoyed this book! I loved the characters so much. I loved how we got to see a little sneak peak into what happened with the main characters from The Sky in the Deep. I really enjoy Adrienne Young's writing. I want to read all of her backlog of books she released. This is an author I will continue to look out for new releases.

Based on the description I didn't know this was book 2 in a series. I wasn't able to get into it as I'd lost a lot of backstory..

I really wanted to like this book. The synopsis held so much promise, but the book failed to deliver as much as I hoped for from it. I enjoyed it well enough, but with a few tweaks it could have been an even more enjoyable read.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

3 1/2 stars, maybe 4... I'm rounding up to 4 stars because the first book is SOOO good. While Adrienne Young does a fine job in The Girl The Sea Gave Back it just lacks something that Sky in the Deep had. It's a very similar premise in that we have a warrior girl whose just existing and trying to get by. Young gives us a lot more battle, fighting descriptions, and overall bloodiness in this one. I'm not sure it really adds anything to the plot or characterization; but if you like that sort of thing then it's there for you. For those that are less keen on it, you can absolutely skim the fighting descriptions in 90% of the instances (not that I condone that; just saying you can get by them without too much detailed thought or reading).

There are some intriguing discussions about fate, destiny, and love. While our characters are all caught up in it and obsessed (to a point) about if their future lover is already set, or if their death is pre-determined; I didn't feel like there was anything really new or special added to this discussion here. Young doesn't really give much of a different perspective on destiny or fate than we've been given in a lot of other books (YA or not). Although I have to remind myself that YA books today are written for teens today; and those teens are unlikely to read the same books I grew up on. So perhaps it's not fair to say there is nothing new here given that a pre-teen (in particular) would likely have a lot of thought and wonder come out of reading this story.

I wish I could give you more of what I think is really here for substance. The reality is that I was quite underwhelmed. Maybe I went in with too high of expectations after Sky in the Deep? Perhaps Sea Gave Back languished too long at the top of my prioritized TBR without being the 'next actual pick'. I'm not sure. All I know is that I felt like it could have been better.

I was given an eARC of this book via NetGalley; but also purchased a print copy for my own library prior to reading it. Therefore you can be assured this is an unbiased review as I still spent my own income on it.

This book was not as good as the first one. I don`t know why. It just missed something.
I really enjoyed that we got to meet all the other characters from the first book and it felt like comming back. But Tova was not as interesting sadly.

I received this free eARC novel from NetGalley. This is my honest review.

In book one, I really wanted Fiske's point of view, so I was excited to get a dual point of view in this one. And i did enjoy getting two perspectives, but sometimes I got a bit lost with all of the tribes and names and faiths. But i kept with it and had a general idea of what was being discussed.

I really wanted more time with Tova and Halvard together. Like, I really wanted to see them interact more. That ending was a rip off and low key annoyed the heck out of me. I want to know what their future looks like, does Tova's tribe stay. This is one of the few times I really wish I didn't get to the ending cause I'm not happy about it at all.

I loved seeing Halvard as an adult and going through his own battles inside him. He was such a sweet boy in book one so to see him at this stage of his life was fantastic.

So, yeah. I liked it. But the ending really got to me. I need the ending rewritten, or a epilogue, or something.

I will not be giving feedback on this book as I couldn’t really get into it but I think others may enjoy it.

I love Adrienne Young’s writing style and creativity! I couldn’t put this book down—much like her other books!

Tova is an outcast in the Svell clan, most of the Svell would rather see her dead. Halvard on the other hand was chosen to be the next chieftain of the Nādhir and has to learn a lot, but his family got his back. I expected some light romance between the protagonists, but it's more about their life in their clans and the choices they make. I really liked the setting with the clans, their gods and their bloodthirst.

GERMAN REVIEW
Als Kind wurde Tova vom Clan der Svell aufgenommen, dabei ist sie eine Kyrr, die aus ihren Runensteinen die Zukunft lesen kann. Die meisten Svell fürchten sie wegen ihrer Herkunft und geben ihr die Schuld an allem schlechten, das ihnen zustößt, also ist Tova für sie sowohl ein Werkzeug als auch ein Sündenbock. Sie ist ziemlich einsam, da sie keine Freunde hat und nur zwei der Svell kümmern sich um das Mädchen, das außerhalb der Siedlung lebt; ein Ort der sowohl ihr Käfig als auch ihr einziger Rückzugsort ist.

Halvards Leben sieht ganz anders aus. Er wurde zum Nachfolger des Nādhir-Oberhaupts gewählt und muss noch eine Menge lernen, aber er hat eine große Familie und die Nādhir stehen hinter ihm. Als nun die Svell ein Dorf auf Nādhir-Territorium angreifen, überstürzen sich die Ereignisse und Halvard muss viele schwierige Entscheidungen treffen.

Ich hatte schon eine etwas andere Geschichte erwartet, weil ich schon gedacht hätte, dass es eine Romanze zwischen Tova und Halvard gibt, aber es geht mehr um die Position der beiden in ihren eigenen Clans. Tova ist ihr Leben lang eine einsame Außenseiterin gewesen, die auch noch ständig beschimpft wird, sogar wenn sie sich mit ihren Voraussagungen nützlich macht. Halvard hingegen ist noch jung, muss aber schon so viel Verantwortung übernehmen, als sein gesamter Clan bedroht wird.

Da ich auf mehr Aufeinandertreffen der Protagonisten und der Clans gewartet habe, verging alles andere wie im Flug und das Buch kam mir sehr kurz vor. Es gibt jede Menge gefährliche Kämpfe und die Welt der Clans mit ihren Göttern und ihrem Durst nach Blut ist auf jeden Fall spannend. Ich hatte mir nur eben etwas mehr erhofft und das Buch hätte gern noch länger sein können.

What an excellent sequel to an already amazing series. Wow! Adrienne does it again! I loved this book from the very first page. The world building and intricate details make this book worth reading.

I really wanted to love this one because I did like the companion novel a whole lot - 5 stars a lot, I own 2 editions a lot. It was action-packed and felt like you were watching a movie. This one felt like a very long but boring pilot episode. I felt like I didn't get to know the characters very well or get any kind of world building and there wasn't a lot of drive in the plot.

Love her and her books. This one a great story and loved reading it.
Would recommend for anyone that loves a good story and loves to read about awesome characters.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I am late reviewing this book. Part of the problem is I realized it was a companion to "Sky in the Deep" and I am physically unable to read things out of order...it freaks me out. So I finally read "Sky in the Deep" (easily 4 1/2 stars) and jumped into "The Girl the Sea Gave Back". This book starts about ten years after SITD and we meet new characters which threw me off a bit. There are appearances of characters from the first book which I always appreciate seeing as a reader. This book seemed less world building and plot driven than the first book. So it moved a lot slower for me. I enjoyed the dual narrative because I always like multi narrators. However this is definitely what I would call a character driven story. We know the characters and what motivates them and this is a trip to their self-discovery of who they really are. I enjoy the Viking feel of these books and could easily read more like this. There is a thread of a romantic plot as well but it seemed like it wasn't realized.

I have mixed emotions about this book.
As with any sequel I am always hesitant because let's face it, most things just don't live up to the hype. I loved the first book; it is why I was so excited to get the second.
And while I enjoy the complex story line, the gods, the struggle for peace. I was not a fan of the pacing. Everything got tidied up in a neat bow it felt like way too quickly. It left me feeling rushed and like something was missing.

Such a different world to go into. I loved it and I loved the plot. Adrienne Young always writes amazing stories and world.