The Girl the Sea Gave Back: A Novel (Sky and Sea, 2)

**3/3.5 Stars**The Girl the Sea Gave Back delved back in the rich world previously created in Sky in the Deep and told dual stories of identity and coming-of-age. The heart of the story lay within the distinct characters and their fated journeys to cross paths in an unforgiving landscape during tumultuous times. This story was my most anticipated novel of the year and while it didn’t meet my lofty expectations, sadly, I still found enjoyment out of the story it did tell.This character-driven fantasy focused heavily on the complexities to its character’s identities—or search of one—as they faced heartwrenching dilemmas and choices meant to define and challenge them. The action was consistent and riveting as the story of war ramped up, twisting my emotions in the violence and death that surrounded their every move. Every beat was meant for something and I admire Young’s storytelling ability to paint a picture and have every moment count. Halvard’s bravery and empathy contrasted nicely with Tova’s critical mind and life lacking of any affection, and together they told two very different stories. Seeing their individual stories play out was satisfying.This world is ripe for Young to pull stories from and I truly hope that she does, but her admitted struggle in writing this novel—mentioned numerous times during and after writing the novel—was ever apparent while reading it unfortunately. There was a lack of succinctness to her writing, phrases and thoughts that were repeated many, many times in the same chapters and in others, from both characters. At times I felt as if Young vacillated between lacking direction and over-steering because, while I adored Halvard the entire way through the tale and understood his every motivation, I often felt as if Tova wasn’t as clearly fleshed out—and I found myself strongly disliking her at times when I don’t believe that was the intention. The lack of any sort of love story was heavily felt and became a major detraction in the overall story feeling complete when the focus of the story—the build-up to these two characters coming together and so much time spent watching their journey’s lead to one pivotal moment—only came together to simply fizzle out and disappear as if it had never been the intention.It pains me beyond belief to have these feelings when her debut novel was so fantastically written, but after taking time to digest my thoughts I have managed to find the good within the bad. Young’s vivid, transportive writing is still strong and capable, and I know that is what kept me turning the pages—as I was invested in Halvard and those whom I had come to love before. The problem may simply lay in considering this story a companion as it doesn’t measure up with that title. Either way, I found myself back in this world happily and look forward to seeing if and what will be pulled from it next.

The Girl the Sea Gave Back by Adrienne Young is the most anticipated sequel to Sky in the Deep. Getting immersed back into the world of Vikings and ancient Gods was everything!The story takes place ten years after Sky in the Deep. We meet new characters and see beloved characters again. Right away Adrienne will sweep you up into an adrenaline fueled rush and action packed moments. The battles were brutal and I was constantly on the edge of my seat.Tova is a Truthtongue of the Kyrr clan, this mystical tribe that is tattooed in markings. A Truthtongue is a type of seer who uses stones with runes to see into the past, present, and future. This makes Tova a very powerful and feared person.There were a couple reasons I decided to rate it 4 stars. First, the storyline started off slow. The excitement not really picking up until the half way mark. Then we have the possible connection between Tova and Halvard. The potential for a romance to blossom was there and it ended abruptly!! Adrienne definitely teased us readers in the romantic aspect of the novel.Overall, I enjoyed this title immensely! I will be reading all of Adrienne's words and I'm hoping there is another book in this series. I'll always need need more of these characters!

Sky in the Deep was one of my favorite reads of 2018. It was so refreshing and original....how many YA Viking books are out there? So of course, I did everything I could to trade for a copy of Adrienne Young's follow-up novel, The Girl the Sea Gave Back. Then, of course, I heard such mixed reviews and was so nervous to start it...but I loved Sky so much, I pushed myself to ignore what others thought and determine for myself and I am so glad I did!Let me start by saying that TGTSGB is very different from Sky in the Deep. Sky is a plot-driven story in which the point, at least in my opinion, was to tell a story. TGTSGB isn't. It's a character-driven story that is about two Viking characters whose story comes to remind readers of the power of hope and fate. I won't say anything else at the risk of spoiling, but I think it's really important to get that point across because if you go in expecting another Sky in the Deep, you're going to be disappointed and miss out on how wonderful a novel TGTSGB really is.The other thing I want to address is that TGTSGB is marketed as a standalone. And it is true, you can read it without having read Sky in the Deep. HOWEVER! I do think reading Sky first does provide some more detailed information that makes it easier to understand the background presented in TGTSGB. Adrienne does a great job of writing it out again, but much like reading the Grisha books can help give you a better background for Six of Crows, so too will reading Sky in the Deep first give you a better understanding for this novel. Plus, as with most secondary books set in the same world, there are spoilers left and right in TGTSGB for Sky in the Deep so if you don't want to be spoiled, I suggest reading Sky first.All of that being said, I really really enjoyed this book! As usual, Adrienne's writing is gripping and interesting and her Viking background is genuine...or at least, genuine compared to what I've seen on the History channel's Vikings show lol. Halvard and Tova are two intriguing characters that make you feel like a part of the story, of their lives. While Sky in the Deep may have been more gripping because of the plot, this book has only reaffirmed my love for all things Adrienne Young!My rating: 3.5 stars Favorite Quote: "Sometimes, it's the most destructive storm that brings life."

The Girl The Sea Gave Back; to put it quite simply was brilliant! A true Viking feeling moment of history made to feel so real by the writing and the heart of our two main characters Halvard & Tova.This book is written from two different perspectives, of two people on the same timeline but you can always tell whose talking or thinking, whether you’re in a flashback or coming up to this persons turn of the future.This book wasn’t very long at all and somehow you took in two characters life stories without being overwhelmed!What I was most apprehensive about was the battle scenes I knew was coming; war was a huge foundation and direction for all these characters that I was worried by the time we finally got to it, it would be anti climatic or so many people would be fighting if mentally lose track of whose who! I’ll be honest, twice I reread a few lines to be safe I was understanding the angle of an eye sight or the direction of an arrow but the drum pounding of Viking battle was completely there!This is an era of history that’s very important to me, I think that hugely helped with certain aspects of the story, but I do think an open minded historical fiction loving person will appreciate it to, or even just the avid fan of insanely brilliant writing!I went through so many emotions with each character throughout this book, felt the pain, the joy and the sea salt on my lips!I’ve been waiting to have more Vikings or Viking-esque moments in the fantasies and historical YA’s I read and this book just felt like I opened it and it’s first words were just ‘For you’.I truly feel like I have a love hangover from these characters and I think I had made up my mind I’d feel that way about this book pretty early on!It’s an adventure, it’s family and it’s war!

I am so fussy with books, I often start them, get disinterested and don’t finish them but I can’t put this down. Beautifully written, I can picture it so vividly and feel invested in the characters. One of those where you don’t want it to end.

Gripping from start to finish. If it's ever made into a film I'm 100% going to see it. Loved it.

The Girl the Sea Gave Back is apparently the sequel to Sky in the Deep but can also be read as a standalone novel since the most important things from Sky in the Deep are summarized and retold. Also the main protagonists of The Girl the Sea Gave Back are different from the ones in Sky in the Deep.Protagonists are Tova, a Kyrr truthtongue washed ashore the Svell territory as a young girl and Halvard, future chieftain of the Nadhir, formerly known as the Aska and Riki. Fate has woven their destinies together in an upcoming war only the two of them can change in the outcome.The story is told in changing perspectives from both Tova and Halvard while also giving background in flashback chapters where both of their pasts are explored. The style is heavy but also very tempting that makes it possible to dive into the whole plot without noticing it. The theme of an upcoming war because of smoldering anger and negative feelings is a charming alternative to a love driven plot, the side plot of the Spinners who are responsible for the fate of everyone and everything gives the book a magical and mystical touch while also connecting it to the Norse Mythology.Tova, as a truthtongue, can read the runes she casts and tell the future the Spinners are holding while also being aware that the future isn't a fixed construct and can always be influenced by the present. Which is represented as Halvard, who is among the generation of Nadhir being raised mostly in peace not war and who is confronted with the responsibility of becoming the chieftain of his people after the old one dies while trying to maintain peace with the Svell - who started the war with attacking a Nadhir village. Tova and Halvard both realize that fate has woven their destinies together leading Tova to become independent of the people she used to live with and who used her while Halvard becomes more and more responsible, wise and decisive about his tasks as a young chieftain.All characters presented in the book are fleshed out and have a depth which benefits the whole narrative. The development of Tova and Halvard is portrayed in a parallel manner since the chapters are told in change in their perspectives. But also the non main characters are all well written, with strengths and weaknesses, logical reason and backgrounds who make them more believable. Another charming addition is the fact that the plot isn't love story driven but focused on the upcoming war and the development of Tova and her past and Halvard and his future. Of course the love story is hinted at but just at the end and not the main focus of the story.Lovely side characters as Kjeld - the only other Kyrr on the whole territory of the Svell and the Nadhir - and Gunther - the silent warrior who helped Tova - make the whole reading experience into a refreshing while also heavy and dark time. The finale is a bit driven by an overuse of ex machina and it nearly tips the whole setting and mood of the story but with the open end it is still balanced out.All in all the whole book is a round thing with almost nothing to complain about and if it was something it would be on a high level which does not fall into the rating of the book. The new interpretation of known Norse Mythology combined with unique and deep characters in full development of their own selves in the midst of an upcoming war which could end the lives the knew until then is a great reading experience and although it is a sequel it doesn't feel in the slightest like one and can be read as a standalone novel.

The girl the sea gave back is the first book of Adrienne Young that i was reading. Its a spin off of her other book Sky in the deep but it can be read as a standalone.For as long as she can remember, Tova have always been an outcast.She's living among the Svell, the people that have found her ashore when she was a kid and use her for her gift as a Truthtongue. She barely remember the clan she was born into. The sacred symbols and staves inked in her skin mark her as someone who can cast rune stones and see into the future. Most of the people in the Svell fear her. And when two of the easterns clans join together as one her world is close to collapse.I found it really good. Maybe had a bit of hard time getting into it. Don't know if it would have been different if I have read Sky in the deep first to get familiar with some of the caracters.