The Girl the Sea Gave Back: Pros and Cons of being a Truthtongue

For as long as she can remember, Tova has lived among the Svell, the people who found her washed ashore as a child and use her for her gift as a Truthtongue. Her own home and clan are long-faded memories, but the sacred symbols and staves inked over every inch of her skin mark her as one who can cast the rune stones and see into the future. She has found a fragile place among those who fear her, but when two clans to the east bury their age-old blood feud and join together as one, her world is dangerously close to collapse.

For the first time in generations, the leaders of the Svell are divided. Should they maintain peace or go to war with the allied clans to protect their newfound power? And when their chieftain looks to Tova to cast the stones, she sets into motion a series of events that will not only change the landscape of the mainland forever but will give her something she believed she could never have again—a home.

The Good Things

• Gorgeous cover! The naked hardcover is stunning too.
• I read the entire thing in one 4 hour sitting. I couldn’t stop. The same thing happened with Sky in the Deep.
• Tova’s storyline is so interesting, with her seer powers. There are a lot of discussions about fate!
• There is basically no romance plotline, mostly just hints of a budding relationship that will develop after the book finished. Which is a good thing for this book because Tova and Halvard barely meet before the finale.
• Such a cool world! Love the viking inspiration, with all the different clans and gods.

The Not-So-Good Things

• The Herja (villains from Sky in the Deep) were mentioned but not really revisited. I still have so many questions about them.
• I wish it was longer! I loved exploring the world and different cultures of the clans. I particularly would have liked to explore Tova’s Truthtongue abilities and role more.
• Even though it fit the story, I wanted a tiny bit more romance and interaction between Tova and Halvard. But I do appreciate the slow burn development.
• The ending is really open… Which is not necessarily a bad thing, but I like knowing details, or at least hints about character’s futures (if you couldn’t tell from all my “I WANT MORE” comments).

A great companion to Sky in the Deep that I really enjoyed but wished it had given us a little bit more. More lore and world building, more romance development scene, and less questions. Still a good read.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars