I had no idea that this was kind of a sequel to Sky in the Deep and I wish they had done a better job at marketing them together. I'm not sure if having read Sky in the Deep would make me like this one more but I would've had a better understanding of their tribes and society.

The Girl the Sea Gave Back is not quite what I thought it was going to be. I loved the unique, viking-like world and the unique magic of Tova. I would've liked more character backstory from the main players of the Siva to better understand their motives and reactions to Tova. The pacing was comfortable and fit the narrative. The setting was great and I loved going through the different areas of their land. The dual POVs were distinctive and brought richness to the narrative.

The ending was a little meh for me and I wish it had been more definite. I didn't like the hints of a romantic connection at the end but I am so glad that our two MCs weren't forced together in a romance. I wish there were more details but overall it was an interesting and fun read.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Wednesday Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*

I really wanted to like this book. The summary was intriguing and the cover was beautiful, but after that it fell flat for me. The constant POV changes and jumping back in forth in time were distracting and didn't feel like they moved the story forward. The characters did not feel like they were fully developed, and I couln't connect with either of them. The ending seemed to be missing something; it just seemed to end and left me confused and overall unsure of the resolution.

The scenes between the main character Tova and Halvard were minimal considing their fates were supposedly so entwined. I would have expected more interaction beteen them prior to the last quarter of the book. Overall, this book was hard to get through. On a positive note, the battle scenes were the most well written part of the book. Interesting plot; but could have benefited from more character development and less jumping around.

The Girl the Sea gave back is a coming of age story about the quest for self-identity and fate. Tova and Halvard are bound by fate to each other, one to figure out her true purpose and self, and the other as a fledgling leader trying to find his place among his people. The prose was atmospheric and lush, as Adrienne Young always does. There's all sorts of twists and betrayals that make this book an pleasurable experience. My only complaint was that I wanted more Tova/Halvard scenes, but that is just a preference thing. Overall, this is a good book and a great companion novel to Sky in the Deep.

I was very excited for this book, but unfortunately found myself DNFing about halfway through. I gave it my best shot, but I simply couldn't get through. The writing is beautiful, but the story does not seem to advance. Every time I thought it was getting somewhere, there would be a POV shift and the story would rewind and I'd be reading about the same exact thing, but from a different POV.

I was not able to connect with any of the characters, and I had a difficult time understanding anyone's motivations.

I really wanted to love this book, but it simply was not for me. I'm sure other people will enjoy it, especially if they prefer prose over action. Personally, I prefer more action in the books I read, but I know other people love prose more.

Nice story, beautiful character.
Battle's scene are perfect.
The only problem is the ending because it' a little confused...maybe i need another chapter.

I received a free copy for an honest review.

The Girl Who Gave the Sea Back was quite slow-paced for a YA adventure/fantasy YA book. It’s not like it was slow only at the beginning of the book either, the entire book is progressing so slowly I feel everything was going in slow motion.

The fact that this book had so many different time jumps COMBINED with all the different alternative perspectives made this slow pace even worst, and it really ruined the reading experience and making this book almost intolerable to read.

Even at over half of the book, when so much was "at stake" and how dire the story-line is, I feel completely disconnected from the storyline and characters. That was when I realized that I could care less and this book and how much the book truly bored me.

I understand that the different time jumps and the alternative perspectives are there to make the writing style less "flat" and more ambiguous, as well as strengthening the layer of suspense and revelation to initially unanswered questions. But when it's done too much (in my opinion that's exactly what happened with this book), you completely lose the audience.

This is why you shouldn't "switch around" too much during the process of telling a story - connections, involvement, and "care" can't stick like that.

It's a shame that this book was such a disappointment, it's like I can see the effort but truly cannot connect with it.

The Girl the Sea Gave Back was a fun, action-packed Viking story. I had a great time reading this book and while there were moments that I felt were a little more boring or uninteresting, for the most part, it is just fun to read and it moves fast. I thought the ending was abrupt and confusing, it seemed like there was another chapter that was supposed to come next that just wasn't there and I didn't like that but this world is fun to be in. I think the author does a great job writing the battle scenes, they are brutal and full of action and those are definitely some of my favorite parts.

( 3.5 Stars )

The love I have for Adrienne Young's Sky in the Deep is overwhelming. I've been obsessively reading updates about The Girl the Sea Gave Back and couldn't wait to read it, hoping for just a little more of that dreamy magic.

This wasn't a sequel, which I am thankful for. I thought SITD ended on a good note that didn't warrant more exploration. But I did like how this wove things from the first book into it, and I was thrilled to revisit that world through the eyes of a new character, Tova, who I found very intriguing. She didn't strike me with the same fierceness as Eelyn in SITD, but her story was interesting and as a character I wanted to follow her and watch her grow. I was curious to see where this story would go and what full potential Tova had.

The story jumps around in time a lot, which usually doesn't bother me, but in this story I found it interrupted the flow. It seemed almost like a filler tactic to add some substance in during moments where the characters were gearing up for something... getting ready for a journey or for a war, moments that seemed to border on dragging... and these flashbacks mostly just repeated information that had already been mentioned, going into more detail but not really adding anything new to it. It seemed like wasted time that just didn't do anything to add to the overall story.

After seeing where everything ended up, it felt to me like there was one story that someone decided to split into two books, but the first part of the story didn’t have enough substance for a book on its own, so they added in these flashback moments to give more substance. Looking back at the book as a whole, nothing really happened. There were a few battle scenes, which were well described and blood riddled, but aside from that, it was just a lot of walking to villages and talking about the past.

The characters and their clans were super interesting, but I don't think the story dove deep enough into them to allow those interesting parts to enrich the story. The flashbacks could have done this, but they focused more on the events of the past that had already been mentioned, not anything actually about the clans or their history. I feel like this would have been a lot stronger if this book were more condensed and the story fully played out.

That said, I did really enjoy how the book ended and I absolutely want to see where things go from here. But as the first installment, there were a lot of elements that set it up to be a very interesting and great book, but I don't think it fully delivered. I do, however, think that whatever follows will be what I was looking for in this book. I can’t wait to read the next one. I adore this world and these characters and Adrienne Young.

When I requested this book, I didn't realize it was a companion to "Sky in the Deep." Perhaps I would've felt differently about this book if I'd read the other one.

The summary portrays Tova as the lead, but it was sometimes hard to tell that from the story. She wasn't as strong or developed as I'd anticipated. I felt that something was missing the whole time, and that may have been because I hadn't read the prior book. But, even still, the book just felt incomplete in various ways, making it feel choppy and confusing at times.

This book was a book that I was really looking forward to that really honestly let me down. I cannot remember the last time I read a book in which the plot crawled so slowly in a way that left me so intensely bored. This entire book could have been no more than a few chapters without losing much at all. It would make a decent 45-minute episode of a tv show.

Tova and Halvard were interesting enough main characters but they were both surrounded by far too many side characters that I couldn't keep track of and just left me a little more confused. I genuinely feel like if this book was half the length and involved far less moping/ruminating in the forest, it would have made a fine novella. But this just didn't work at its current length.

I enjoyed Sky in the Deep and looked forward to returning to this world, but I really struggled to get into this one. While I found Tova's character and story intriguing, I could have done without Halvard's character. This book left more to be desired. I gave this book 3 stars because I appreciated Tova's story.

I i haven’t read any of Adrienne’s books before, but even still II had high expectatives for liking this one due to the hype surrounding it, but it wasn't to be. I didn't connect to the characters, the writing got me lost sometimes with the time jumps and I felt like the plot wasn't exactly clear.

There are two main characters from rival clans: Tova, who comes from another clan and is hated on the clan she is now because she is a fortune teller and they basically fear it and hate it; and Halvard, someone from the Rikki clan who I hear is from the previous book who is now all an adult.

They find themselves in the middle of a war between their clans but they also refuse to kill each other because there is something going on between them. Tolva felt it more than Halvard did, certainly, but by the time things progressed it fell flat. So basically nothing happened there.

I truly did want to love this book and I’m sad that it wasn’t for me, though I’m sure many out there will love it!

I enjoyed reading this companion to Sky in the Deep.

In this book, we follow Tova, who is a Truthtongue, who can see what will happen in the future. She has lived among the Svell ever since she washed ashore, who thinks she is a curse brought upon them because of the markings on her skin and where she came from. The story also follows Halvard, who is trying to keep the peace between his people and the people that Tova has been living among.

I love the setting of this book and returning to this world again. Sadly, we don't see so much of the main characters from the original book but I did like to see what happened to Halvard. It was great to see different clans in this world and learning about their differences. This expanded upon it so much and was so entertaining to read.

Tova's story is so intriguing, especially learning the pieces of her past. She's a character I really enjoyed. Halvard is a familiar character because of the first book. Now, we get to see him ten years later and what has happened to the Aska and the Riki since the events of the last book. I loved returning to this world again, especially in a companion novel.

*Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of the book for an honest review. Also, thank you to Goodreads for my copy of the book. *

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free Advanced Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have to admit that I was extremely excited about The Girl the Sea Gave Back. From the moment I saw the cover, I just knew that I had to have it because yes I'm superficial and the cover is gorgeous. Unfortunately, that's the best compliment that I can give TGTSGB. Trust me, it pains me to say this.

This is the first time I’ve read anything by the author Adrienne Young and I’ll be honest in saying that, unfortunately, it didn’t live up to the hype that’d I’d created in my mind. I've heard mixed things about The Sky in the Deep, but I decided that since this was a new book and story that I would give it a try and decide for myself. I'll admit that I didn't read The Sky in the Deep and I'm not sure if that's why I didn't enjoy this or not, even though it seems to be a standalone book. There is some character overlap, from what I understand, so maybe there is mythology overlap as well.

The premise of the story is intriguing enough; a girl living with a people who aren’t her own, torn between what she knows and what fate has in store for her. War is brewing around her and only she has the knowledge of what to do next. Sounds interesting right? Unfortunately for me, the delivery was pretty confusing and the mythology was lacking. It was hard for me to understand everything that was going on and how the different tribes related to one another. The Svell, The Kyrr and the Nadhir's conflict wasn't quite explained in a way that I understood. Now granted, as I said, I haven't read The Sky in the Deep, so this could be a flaw of my own design. Still, I decided not to let that bother me and go on with the story.

There were way too many characters introduced and after awhile they all just became jumbled together. Keeping them and their motives straight became a bit too much. Some characters were mentioned and clearly from the original story, so I didn't try to worry about that too much, but the new characters that were introduced in relation to the actual plot just didn't seem to be developed enough. I couldn’t connect with any of them, including the two main characters and the story honestly seemed to drag along. I kept pushing, hoping that I would connect with the plot and story itself, but unfortunately it never came. Despite finishing the story, it just wasn’t interesting to me.

Now while I didn't personally enjoy this story, that doesn't mean you will. I went into this excited about the potential of Viking lore, but this wasn't the trip into Viking land that I expected. If you're a fan of Adrienne Young's first book, I would say definitely give this a try. I may have been disappointed by the disjointedness and unable to connect to it or the writing style, but I'm sure someone will be able to enjoy it. Despite my love for the cover, I just won't be bringing myself to by this for my personal library or others.

The Girl the Sea Gave Back is quick and ends with obvious room for future installments without being a cliffhanger per se.

Tova is a Kyrr who lives with the Svell people as a fortune teller of sorts, reviled by those who help her. Halvard is the chieftain in training for his people, on the brink of war with the Svell.

The book alternates between first person passages for Tova and Halvard indicating present action and third person omniscient for past action sequences, which creates a jarring if informative experience.

The characters feel distinct and believable, and the action sequences are engaging. It’s a nice Viking life book for a quick read.

*I was given a copy of this via Net Galley for my honest review*

4.5 stars, to be fair.

I love Adrienne's writing! She knows how to weave a tale that you can seriously get lost in. I was under the impression that this book was a standalone, however it feels kind of like a distant sequel to her first novel, Sky in the Deep (which is also phenomenal and highly recommended!).

Regardless, it felt so good to be back in this world that she so masterfully created and a welcome change to all the contemporary I've been reading through the summer. It will be on heck of a way to start the fall season, with another epic fantasy from Adrienne Young.

I thoroughly enjoyed this latest by Adrienne Young and was pleasantly surprised that it expanded the story of Halvard, whose character I fell in love with in the first book. Although it didn't quite have the same level of stakes as the first, the writing is so lyrical and enthralling that I found myself underlining delicious words to savor and finding myself swept into the story and frustrated whenever I had to put the book down to do "real life". Very much looking forward to the next one!

The Girl The Sea Gave Back is a thrilling and sweeping fantasy, with magic, fates, wars, betrayal and destiny, all linked together through two young people who wield the power to change their people’s futures.

I did not realise this was the second book in a series when I started reading it. I had not previously read the first book, Sky In The Deep, which is set ten years prior to The Girl The Sea Gave Back. Fortunately, The Girl The Sea Gave Back is a complete story in its own right, and while there are apparently some character and setting crossovers, both books can be read as standalones.

Tova is an outcast. She lives with the Svell people, casting the stones and reading the fates for them but she is not accepted as one of them, living in isolation. She isn’t sure why her own people cast her out and knows her home with the Svell is tentative at best. When the Svell leadership is rocked by conflict and betrayal and Tova casts the stones that spell destruction for the Svell, she becomes entangled in the beginnings of a bloody war with the united clans to the East. But Tova is linked with a young leader from the Eastern clans and together, though working separately, they have the power to change the future.

I loved the setting of The Girl The Sea Gave Back. I love mythology and Nordic landscapes in fantasy books, so it was a pleasure to read and I know many of our library readers will be keen to get their hands on this book. While, despite the looming war and the race for information and safety, there isn’t a lot of action that drives the plot. Instead, intrigue and the switching perspectives of the two main characters is what kept me riveted to the story. The writing style is beautiful and matches the magnificence of the setting and bond between clans-people.

Tova’s past is a mystery, her future equally unknown. Halvard has been chosen as the next leader of his clan. He too is unsure about the future, especially with the threat the Svell pose. Tova and Halvard connect mainly through brief moments in perilous situations and Tova’s gift of casting the stones. Theirs is a fated connection and the romance that blossoms between them is one that holds so much promise for the future.

I am greatly looking forward to reading Sky In The Deep and any future books that are set in the same, richly crafted world.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

Adrienne Young has done it again! I can't get enough of her Viking fantasy novels. They're wonderful and enthralling and have the most badass women in fiction, ever.

Fair warning, this book can be quite brutal. The author makes it very clear that absolutely anyone can die at any time. So many of your favorite characters will not make it until the end. That
is just the brutality of war. One clan has learned to grow past it, to no longer want it - and another, with a power-hungry leader, want to take the opportunity to rule. After the events of Sky In the Deep, the newly merged tribes know war is the last thing they want - but they know how to fight.

Halvard, the cute little brother from book one, has done a serious glow up. Ten years later and he's tagged to be the next chief of the clan, a boy raised in peace to despise war. The book follows his growth as he learns to accept his new role and lead his people through a time no one wants for anyone. It is a heavy burden and he must learn not to shoulder it alone.

But the Girl the Sea Gave Back is Tova, the other protagonist of this book, and she's a mystery even to herself. An outcast in the Svell clan for being a Kyrr, she also has the ability to read runes and see the future. But what she can't she is her own beginnings. This mismatch of identity and basically abuse at the hands of the people who sheltered her drives her growth in this novel. But Tova's personal story almost takes a step back as we explore the greater story of immident war. The question that arises then is: what role does fate play in our lives? Is everything set in (rune) stone? Is war inevitable or inadmissible?

I absolutely loved how we returned to the world of Eelyn and Fiske but saw a completely different side of it. Old favorites return and we see how the end of their war has changed them. How people grow during times of peace. How a peaceful people prepares for a war they do not want. How, on the other side, power corrupts.

It's even stronger than Sky in the Deep. I loved it so much!

THANK YOU so much to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me an advanced copy of this wonderful book!!

This was incredible follow-up companion novel to [book:Sky in the Deep|34726469]!! Adrienne Young once again proves herself and incredible story-teller!

The Girl the Sea Gave Back begins it's story 10 years after the events of Sky In the Deep but is an entirely separate story with new characters. (Although we do get some small cameos from our favorite characters!) Our main character, Tova, was found on the shores of the sea when she was a small child with no memory, lots of tattoos, and the ability to see the future. Obviously, add in the viking battles and lores and we have the workings for a cool story!

If you were a fan of Sky In the Deep then you definitely want to pick this one up on September 3rd!!