THE GIRL THE SEA GAVE BACK

Able to see the future, a tattooed traveler wonders if she can change it.

It’s been several years since the long-feuding Riki and Aska clans united to fight the “demon” Herja invaders in Young’s debut Sky in the Deep (2018), and the once-bitter enemies have formed unexpected families and friendships. A chief-in-training, 18-year-old Halvard is supposed to lead the newly forged Nādhir in peacetime but instead faces war. Reviled rather than revered by the Svell, Tova—whose tattoos mark her as a Kyrr Truthtongue—predicts the future by reading rune stones and interpreting the Fate Spinners’ plans but cannot remember her own past. (Mis)led by violent Vigdis and their Tala’s (mis)interpretations of Tova’s visions, the ambitious Svell attack the unprepared Nādhir. Soon, battle-untested Halvard races to protect his people while Tova tries to survive the Svell. The forests and fjords suggest a Scandinavian setting, and the weaponry indicates a medieval era. Aside from Tova’s seer skills, the tale skews more history than fantasy; tribal gods are worshipped but not witnessed. Battles are described in precise, cinematic detail, as are their terrible consequences, yet resist glorifying violence. Halvard and Tova's world is described as brutal and beautiful—their personal struggles with identity, fate, and community shine against the minimalistic plot and slowly building tension. Even amid violence, the protagonists recognize the humanity of their enemies (or once-enemies, now-allies), and even villains are explored sympathetically.

Often grim, sometimes gory, and occasionally sentimental.