Given to the Earth

March 1, 2018
The end of the world is nigh, and the characters from Given to the Sea (2017) must decide how to meet it.Khosa--now the Redeemed and queen--is married to the king of Stille, Vincent, although they haven't consummated the marriage despite pressure to produce a royal child, as Khosa can only endure Donil's touch. Meanwhile, Dara, unwilling to see her beloved Vincent married to another, sets off on her own to exact revenge on Witt for killing her people, the Indiri. Donil and Khosa resist their attraction to each other out of loyalty to Vincent, while Vincent, aware of this, endures the pain of his wife's romantic rejection. Meanwhile, Witt struggles with un-Lithos-like feelings of compassion and regret. When Khosa discovers an islander has built a sailing ship, she hopes to build more for those brave enough to leave their dying island. Elsewhere, Khosa and Donil must face the consequences of their actions, while a rescue attempt by Vincent and Donil yields unexpected results. The ending of this lyrically written sequel is even more shocking, well-executed, and, refreshingly, not entirely happy. Most characters are presumed white, though Dara and Donil are speckle-skinned Indiri.The distinct perspectives shine, and the harsh-yet-hopeful conclusion ensures this duology doesn't succumb to the tired trope of happily-ever-after, making this a worthwhile read. (Fantasy. 14-adult)

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April 1, 2018

Gr 9 Up-In Given to the Sea, Khosa was able to save the people in the Kingdom of Stille from the sea. Instead of sacrificing her life as the Given, she marries newly crowned King Vincent and becomes the first Redeemed. Peace is yet to be achieved, however, as the waters continue to rise, the earth itself quakes, and Stille's enemies are uniting against them. Vincent is torn between his love for Khosa and his people; Khosa is pulled between the husband she respects and his best friend whom she loves. Relationships get messy, secrets are revealed, and unexpected alliances emerge in this intricate story of desire, bravery, and survival. The story is narrated from many different perspectives, reconnecting readers to beloved characters from the previous volume, as well as drawing teens closer to additional voices. McGinnis crafts an exceptional story from multiple points of view, providing fully fleshed out characters fans can't help but cheer for-even the antagonists. This installment is more mature than the first entry and is recommended for older readers. VERDICT A satisfying duology conclusion for romance and fantasy fans and a good purchase for collections where the first title is popular.-Paige Rowse, Needham High School, MA

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