The Girl the Sea Gave Back by Adrienne Young

The Girl the Sea Gave Back by Adrienne Young

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★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I enjoyed Sky in the Deep so much that Adrienne Young became one of my favourite authors from that very moment. Naturally, The Girl the Sea Gave Back has been on my radar ever since its upcoming release was announced, so imagine how grateful I was when I realised that my wish to view the ARC on Netgalley was granted! To make things even more perfect, I actually enjoyed it. I'm still reeling from how fantastically written this is, and I can tell I'm going to miss it.

Since young, Tova has lived among the Svell. But to say that she belongs is an understatement, for the marks on her skin makes her an outcast — a Kyrr. Born with the abilities of a Truthtongue, the Svell makes use of her powers to see the future. All seems to be well until the two clans located in the east joined to become one. The Svells have felt threatened by the merger for a long time, and the question of whether to maintain the peace or go to war has lasted for years. Upon using her stones to read the future on this matter, Tova sets forth a series of violent events without meaning to. It is then she meets one of the Nadhirs by the name of Halvard, a man whose fate is bound to hers.

Once again, Adrienne Young has created an incredible world of the Vikings. Every clan has their own rituals, gods, and differences that make them unique. Learning about their cultures left me intrigued, inducing the eagerness that comes with wanting to know more about the world that the author has built so painstakingly. What's more, we get to catch a glimpse of how the characters from Sky in the Deep are faring. Being reminded of how Halvard is related to Fiske and Iri makes my heart clench, and I wonder when I will have the time to read the companion novel again.

But that is not to say that Tova and Halvard are lacking in any way. They are both very likeable, and I find myself rooting for them all the way. The romance is of the slow-burn category, very much like the one between Fiske and Eelyn but more, so I always find myself waiting impatiently for the next time that the two of them will meet again. Even though their interaction is considered limited, they always send good tingles to my stomach, and I love that.

I will always remember the goosebumps that come up on cue whenever the action scenes make their appearance. The horror, the sorrow stirred by the deaths, and the suspense — so many emotions in this story. I will always remember how awed I feel by what a Truthtongue is capable of.

On the other hand, I actually feel that this could be a little longer? The romance isn't given enough time to develop. I was literally left with my jaw open, and the question of "That's it? What? NO. I need more!" when I finished it. I also don't understand the significance of the chapters that bring readers to the past.

Nevertheless, this book deserves the 5 stars. The good definitely overpowers the bad tenfolds. I'm looking forward to reading subsequent books written by this author!

This review is written based on the ARC provided by the publisher through Netgalley. This book can be read as a standalone.