By Adrienne Young
Wednesday Books, 2019. 327 pages. Young Adult
When she’s just a young girl, Tova is found washed ashore by the Svell. Now at 18, memories of her own clan have long since faded, but prolific tattoos mark her as a Truthtongue, someone who can cast the ruin stones and divine the future. Although the Svell fear her, they also realize they can use her abilities to their advantage. With a clan war looming, the Svell think Tova will foresee their victory, but interpreting the future isn’t quite as straightforward, or as promising, as the Svell want to believe. Faced with a choice between life and honor, Tova’s decision will have dramatic consequences for both clans.
Though Tova was raised by the Svell, the constant prejudice she faces weighs her down. She’s been subservient for so long that her own life and personality have been stifled, and as a character she struggles to become her own person. The story’s perspective changes between Tova and Halvard, the young leader of the Nadhir. The paths of both characters cross in strange ways, and the war between their people is gruesome. Still, both characters rise up to discover their own place in the world. This is an interesting historical fantasy with the feel of a Viking world. This is technically a companion novel to Sky in the Deep, but it’s not necessary to read one before the other. They work well as stand alones.
ACS
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