Given to the Sea by Mindy McGinnis (review)

The kingdom of Stille is thriving, safe, and prosperous, apparently because of its traditional sacrifice: a young Stillean young woman who has borne a child is offered to the sea as the Given. Khosa is the Given this time around, and it’s implied that Stille’s young prince Vincent should be the chosen lover who fathers her obligatory child; considering she can barely stand the touch of anyone, though, much less him, the odds of his fatherhood are slim. Soon, however, a neighboring tribe is threatening Stille’s borders, the sea appears to be rising, and Khosa’s decision takes on a terrible urgency. McGinnis sets up an intriguing geopolitical situation on multiple levels: Stille’s peace is bought by sacrifice but it also brings an unpreparedness for war, while the invading forces sacrifice their young in a different way in the name of conquest—neither has the moral high ground though their leaders constantly claim it. The characters themselves, though, are not as interesting as the premise, with Vincent frustratingly self-defeating and Khosa’s actions driven more by plot than person, and her romance with warrior Donil seems contradictory to her nature. More intriguing are Witt, the leader of the invaders, and Dara, Donil’s sister, who are both shaped by the violence they were raised in and the violence they create. Readers willing to look at the larger ensemble cast, the characters’ connections, and the subsequent political machinations may appreciate the world building and the disturbing but satisfying ending.