4.5/5 Stars

If you're looking for an action-packed, emotional adventure than Adrienne Young's Sky in the Deep should definitely be on your radar. It's full of warring clans, tested loyalties, intriguing family dynamics, and a whole lot of heart. I was immediately drawn in and would love to have basked in the beauty of this book except I needed to know what the endgame.

The Aska and Riki are two Viking clans that have been at odds since the gods/goddesses they worship fell out and the fighters meet on the battlefield every five years. Eelyn is an Aska, fierce in battle and strong willed, but her heart is ripped in two when she discovers her dead brother fighting for the enemy. Soon enough she'll realize the people she's been conditioned to hate might not be so different from herself.

This entire book took my breath away. The writing was descriptive and eloquent providing beautiful visuals that made the reader really soak it all in. Plus the story itself was crafted with such intensity. From the battle sequences to the quiet conversations, every single moment served a purpose and the narrative flowed freely. Honestly everything just fit perfectly in place.

Overall Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young was a gripping story of survival with incredible character dynamics and beautiful settings. Eelyn's struggle was incredibly emotional and the fighting was just as intense. The depth of the narrative was an unexpected surprise and I just fell in love with the story. I totally recommend this to fans of thrilling fantasy!

Oh wow

It's been a while since I have read a book this good! And since I read a book this quickly!

I was swept away during the first pages, and once I really got into the book (and it didn't take long), I just couldn't stop reading anymore.
I can definitely see what the hype is all about, and it totally lived up to it (it was even better than I expected!)

Sky in the Deep is definitely one of my favorite reads and releases of 2018 so far!

I found this book to be such an incredible breath of fresh air! I've been struggling a lot with fantasy lately, but Sky in the Deep proved a unique addition to the genre. It was definitely readable, too, as I was eager to know what would happen to the characters I so quickly grew to love. Let's talk about the reasons I enjoyed this one, shall we?

The characters, and their growth. As I said above, I really enjoyed these characters, so now I'll explain why. Basically, they were realistically portrayed, totally flawed, and incredibly relatable. They always did what they thought was right for their people- as everyone always does- but they were faced with a lot of tough choices as the began to realize that looking out for their people may not actually be the right thing to do.

Family was a huge focus of the book. Just like the clans were incredibly important to the characters, so too were their families, and I loved it. The theme of blood-family versus chosen-family was also prevalent. Which would the characters choose, if they were forced? Is one more meaningful than the other? What about when romantic love joined the mix? These were questions that human beings have dealt with throughout history, and are still dealing with. But asking them in such a dark, desperate setting made the stakes even higher.

The world is dark and brutal. The characters who live in it are unapologetic badasses. This combination is pretty fabulous. They didn't make excuses, they did what they needed to survive. There were quite a few battles waged during the course of the book, and even some smaller brutalities in between, but they made for a compelling story.

Speaking of the world, it's pretty easy to follow. I think one of the things I've been struggling with in fantasy lately is super complex worlds and magic systems and such. This is a world that is fairly straightforward, and aside from struggling a bit with dialogue, I had no problems immersing myself in the world completely.

The atmosphere was on point! So you want to feel like the world is dark, and this did. But it also didn't feel like a completely hellish nightmare, which I think was a good mix. There were some scenes that actually made the world seem quite beautiful despite its brutality, and I was pleased that the author captured that so well. Also, it's Viking inspired, and what could be more fun than that? (And yes, it does feel Viking-y which I was giddy about!)

It's a standalone! Okay, look- I would gladly have taken more Eelyn & Friends, don't get me wrong. But... there's something really nice about reading a book, feeling a lot of love for it, being satisfied with the ending, and being able to say "awesome book!" and leave it at that. And I think that the author did a great job of indulging the readers's questions and curiosities, so that's a win. (After writing this, I did just see on Goodreads that there's a companion novel, and I won't lie, I am totally here for it. But my thoughts on how it wrapped still stand!)

Bottom Line: So fresh feeling, yet so awesomely brutal, this is a definite must for anyone who enjoys a dark character-driven fantasy!

Wow! This is one of my favorite books of the year. I love that this is a stand-alone, (most books I read are part of a series so I am always waiting for the next). Eelyn was a strong protagonist for this novel and I love the way the Viking clan world was written. I am very excited to get this one in an upcoming book box!

Well written, fast paced, solid characters. I’m definitely looking forward to more from this author. Excellent YA!

Sky in the Deep was amazing! Its a viking inspired tale about a long ago blood feud between two tribes. Eelyn, the main character, was powerful and full of emotions. I though the book would be more about fighting and less about the characters, but I was delightfully wrong. Adrienne Young does a great job in making the reader feel what is was like to be a citizen of the era. this book was exciting right from the very start. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an exciting adventure.

I was super lucky to manage to get an e-ARC of this book just a few days before its release and I made sure I had finished it by release day! I absolutely adore Norse and Viking related stories (huge fan of the TV show Vikings over here) so when I saw this available for request; despite having a gazillion other review copies I need to get through, I had to request it.

As you can guess from the cover, the protagonist is a bad-ass female who goes by the name Eelyn. I do get a bit apprehensive when it comes to main characters, they can sometimes be the making or breaking of a book. But Eelyn is a pretty good protagonist, yes there were areas where I wanted to shake her because she was just being too damn proud, but overall she was brilliant. She’s brave, determined, and just screams “Viking”, I kind of envisaged her as a young Lagertha (for fans of the show).

The storyline in this book is fairly simple and easy to follow, and I wouldn’t say there are any major twists, but it’s an adventure, and it’s enjoyable. More of a story about acceptance and putting aside differences to defeat a greater threat, this takes us from Eelyn’s home of Hylli alongside the Aska clans men, to the Riki village of Fela that took her brother in all those years ago, and back again. The character’s situations really put me on edge from time to time, and provided a really great and easy read from one of my favourite areas of history.

I liked how Eelyn develops through the story; as far as I’m aware this book is a standalone and therefore there isn’t a whole lot of room for Young to develop the characters, despite this I still felt that Eelyn, and her BFF Mýra, both had some serious mental obstacles to get over. In fairness, the Aska’s words, Vegr yfir fjor – Honour Above Life probably plays some part in this mentality.

This book is a YA/ fantasy that I’m sure so many people would enjoy, however if you’re not a fan of the whole killing and not being sorry for it then I’d probably steer clear of this book. Naturally in this period of history, this was normal, their lives were ruled by the gods and often there probably wouldn’t be a second thought in going to war with a neighbouring clan over and over purely because of “tradition” based on a story. I don’t think these areas of history should be ignored and silenced just because we now have a different way of life.

In terms of pace this book keeps a fairly good one, the adventure is continuous, and the author doesn’t spend too much time dwelling on the more mundane dýr tasks that Eelyn must undertake whilst in Fela.

There are some underlying romantic themes that I saw coming a mile off – but it’s quite rare to find a YA book without any romance these days, but I don’t mind them as long as they don’t take away from the story itself. In romance books this is obviously different but when I pick up a fantasy, I expect to read just that. I can safely say that the romance in this story does not take away from the adventure, but rather strengthens the story and the development and interaction between characters and clans.

Overall I’m awarding this book 4*/5 for an enjoyable read with great pace and a good balance of action-packed scenes and detail-oriented sections. I liked the protagonist and the feel of the book was authentic; the book is just Norse through and through. I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys stories from this era, or who enjoy a bad-ass female protagonist who can walk-the-walk as well-as-talk the talk.

**** Huge thank you to Wednesday Books for sending me a copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review ****

Apparently I’m in the minority with this one but I just did not enjoy this as much as I should have.The promise of a viking inspired YA fantasy was so exciting but overall I found this to be really, really boring. I honestly feel like I read a completely different book than everyone else.

So prepare for an unpopular opinion!

Plot

The beginning of “Sky in the Deep” was amazing, full of action as we meet Eelyn, the MC, as she fights in a battle against the rival clansmen called Riki. It actually gets quite violent and gory, which is expected when reading about a viking-esque battle so I liked it! However, after the first few chapters this action is almost non-existent. Once Eelyn reaches the Riki village she is forced to stay in it’s so painfully boring, we just watch her as she goes about random chores etc. This goes on for pretty much the entire book too. And of course the pacing was just as slow, it’s hard to make chores all fast paced and exciting.

Also the plot….what plot exactly? No. Seriously. What was the actual plot of this story because I sure as hell did not know? There are two rival clans the Aska and the Riki, Eelyn is an Aska forced to live among the Riki. Okay, got that. And what else is there? Oh there’s some bad guys that come along and everyone has to fight them! And that’s it! That’s the plot! I was so frustrated with this because I like a little more substance in my stories and “Sky in the Deep” was just really…..shallow.

And the “bad guys”? What exactly made them the bad guys? They killed people from rival clans? Oh no! Well honey, I’ve got news for you: the Aska and Riki do the same damn thing. So is everyone bad guys? Apparently not. None of this made sense to me, I like to have a bit more explanation sorry.

As for the world building, I liked what little I got but there wasn’t much. The two rival clans each support a god and that’s one a big reason for their fighting and there’s a tiny bit of backstory into the origins of clans. However, why did their gods desire them to fight exactly? What’s their (the gods) beef with each other? Are there other gods? Seriously, why were none of those questions answered?! I would have liked a bit more insight into the workings of their world and I would have liked more viking-ness too.

characters

Since the plot itself is so lacking I would say that this book is more on the character driven side, but I still found the characters to be bland and uninteresting.

Eelyn is your typical strong YA heroine and honestly there wasn’t anything all that memorable or great about her. She was just there to drive the plot forwards with her capture. I wouldn’t say she was a “Mary Sue” or “Special Snowflake” but she was just kind of “blah” and not all that interesting.

Actually NONE of the characters were all that interesting, no one was complex or developed whatsoever. Everyone was completely forgettable and lacked depth of any kind.

Iri, Eelyn’s brother who is supposedly her driving force for most of the book, was so freaking bland. What was so great about him? I could have cared less if Eelyn “saved him” or not. And Fiske, the love interest, give me a break. There was absolutely NOTHING appealing about him whatsoever, unless you count being shot with an arrow and kidnapped as a turn on. Then he’s great.

The only characters a even moderately liked were Inge and Halvard, because a loving mother character and adorable 7 year old character are always going to warm my heart.

romance


While I did appreciate that the romance wasn’t exactly a central focus, it was still present. I liked that it wasn’t full of the usual tropes: insta-love and love triangles, but I wasn’t too impressed by it. It felt like romance for the sake of romance because I felt it came out of nowhere. Why in the world would you fall in love with the grumpy guy who shot you with an arrow and kidnapped you? To each their own I guess. I thought Fiske was a bland, unappealing love interest and there was zero chemistry.

in conclusion

What I Loved:

What little world building there was
First few action-packed battle chapters

What I Didn’t Love:

Non-existent plot
Slow pacing, no action
The “Bad Guys”
World building could have been more developed
Characters lacked complexity and depth
The romance was there for the sake of having a romance (also zero chemistry and I hated the love interest)

Recommend?

Overall I’m really disappointed with this one, when you advertise your book as being “viking inspired” I expect lots of brutal action scenes and more world building to really get that viking feel. Not watching a main character do a bunch of chores and fall in love. However, it seems that everyone else on the planet loved this one except for me so go check it out if it sounds appealing to you! I just feel disappointed with myself that I didn’t enjoy this one.

OH. WOW.

It’s been about a week since I finished this book and I am still reeling over how much I loved it.

OND ELDR. BREATHE FIRE.

I didn’t want it to end. On the one hand. I am happy it’s a stand alone. I felt I had closure. This one gets ALL THE STARS for the following reasons:

The pacing was spot on. I didn’t feel anything was too rushed. Well. Maybe one battle felt rushed. But out of 400 pages, that’s not too much to complain about.

The romance. PERFECT.

Multi-dimensional characters, both main and side.

Eelyn. Our MC. Strong, but can be vulnerable. Fierce, but not unfeeling. Courageous, but still feels fear. Independent, but still can depend upon others.

Realistic historical fiction. Vikings who were believable Vikings. No sugar coating.

Thank you to the publishers and those over at NetGalley for the eARC of this book. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.

Sky in the Deep is the debut novel by author Adrienne Young. The story is steep in old Scandinavian & Viking tropes. There is plenty of violence, clan warfare, and one girl's curiosity that leads her to discovering that someone she thought was long dead, is actually alive and living with the hated Iri clan. 17-year old Eelyn is a member of the Aska Clan. She fights with a sword and an ax alongside her best friend Myra. Her clan has been fighting against the hated Riki Clan every 5 years for as long as she can remember. The clans honor two separate deities; Sigr and Thora.

Aska worships Sigr, who represents the water and the sea, while the Riki worships Thora, who represents mountains and fire. 5 years ago, Eelyn lost her brother Iri and has struggled to pick up the pieces and become one of the best warriors of her clan. As the story opens, we witness the fighting between the two clans. A fight that sees Eelyn abandon her clan and run after what appears to be a ghost of her brother. It ends with Eelyn being kidnapped by the Riki and taken to their village where she becomes a slave to her captor, Fiske. Facing a winter alone without any support, Eelyn has to find her inner courage in order to survive and attempt to escape back to her father and clan.

And this is where the story loses me. Not fully since there is an entire new battle to come against an even more dangerous enemy called Herja. But, let's be realistic. Eelyn's time among the Riki is painful to read. They hate her, she hates them, she hates her brother for being a traitor, she hates Fiske for nearly killing her & taking her away from her father and best friend. Eventually Eelyn suffers from the Stockholm Syndrome where she comes to realize the Riki aren't so bad after all (even though they still hate her) and starts to fall for Fiske. She discovers that her brother is actually really happy and not only bound to Fiske and his family, but in love with a Riki healer. Sounds like a soap opera, right?

It was hard for me not to sift through the pages quickly trying to get to the point where the action was. I wanted to like Eelyn as a heroine I can like, but she and the author make is so hard at times. There's more conversational scenes than action. Then, out of the blue, the hated enemy decides to attack the Riki and Aska clans simultaneously. So, now it comes down to Eelyn and Fiske not only uniting the clans, but putting full trust in each other not to stab the other in the back.

The most curious character in this book just happens to be a child named Halvard who befriends Eelyn and perhaps chisels the ice off her heart. Perhaps there is a message in the book about intolerance, hate, and prejudices even though the clans are in fact, similar. My one disappointment was the relationship between Eelyn and Myra. Myra isn't one to let things go quickly. She isn't one who changes her mind about hating someone just because an even darker enemy is at her doorstep.

*eARC kindly provided by St. Martin's Press via NetGalley*

It'd been a LONG time since I got sucked into a fantasy book, until I started Sky in the Deep. It was *so good* omg. However, if you're expecting a ton of action, don't. It's surprisingly very light on the action, but I didn't mind that because I fell in love with the characters and the story and the world. It was all about Eelyn and her journey. It's about found family and faith and the lengths you'll go to to protect the ones you love. It's about two very different clans of people coming together to face a common enemy, and who, with the help of Eelyn and the love she comes to feel for the family who buys her and takes her in, are able to look toward a future without violence. So yeah, it's definitely not action-packed, and I WAS a little sad about that at times since this is a Viking book. But again, I really loved the characters, and I just got so HOOKED on this story. One of my favorites I've read this year for sure!

Rating: 4.5 Paw Prints!

Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. I am a huge fan of Viking and Norse mythology and early culture. The Volsung Saga, Prose Edda, and the great tales of Odin, Thor, and the like are some of my favorite works of all time. Young's novel ranks at the top of my favorites list with her reimagining of great Nordic tales. I absolutely love the main character, Eelyn, who is fierce and admirable, with an inner and outer strength that drives the narrative of this story. She is incredibly well-developed and is easily lovable. She's a good model of a strong female character, and I'd love to see more like her.

Young really did her homework on weaving in the Nordic myths within her tale. The culture and people that make up this novel's world are rich, detailed, and believable. They recall the parts of Viking life that readers will immediately be familiar with. Great battles of courage and honor in the name of Sigr and in hopes of reaching Valhalla open the book, and this sense of family, duty, and right drives the plot. She is surrounded by a cast of characters as equally developed and multi-dimensional as she is, and they compliment and add to her story and character in interesting ways. I am impressed by the quality of writing, and Young's novel is exceedingly well-written. The writing flows smoothly, and the style feels like I'm reading a great legend.

Young's Sky in the Deep has everything I love not just from YA Fantasy, but from Norse tales, and I am super excited to see where she takes this world. This is one of my top five reads of this year.

The nitty-gritty: Brutal, emotional and beautifully written, this stand-out YA story based on Viking and Norse mythology will leave you breathless.

I love finding books that surprise me, and wow did this one deliver! I’m so happy I had the chance to read Sky in the Deep, and if you’re looking for a YA novel that isn’t like the rest, then you need to read this. I believe this is Adrienne Young’s debut, which is astonishing considering how beautifully written and perfectly paced it is.

Eelyn is a young girl from the Aska clan, a fierce fighter who joins her clanmates in a brutal battle every five years against the Aska’s rivals, the Riki. When the story begins, it is the time of the fighting season, and the Aska and the Riki have met on the battlefield at Aurvanger, where they will attempt to kill as many of the other side as they can. Five years ago, Eelyn watched her brother Iri die in battle, but now she is horrified to see a man fighting with the Riki who looks exactly like him. When she follows him into the forest, she discovers that it is indeed her brother, somehow alive and now on the Riki’s side. But then the unthinkable happens: Eelyn is captured by the Riki, taken back to their village, and made into a dýr (slave). The man who now owns her is Fiske, the same man who saved her brother all those years ago.

When a common enemy threatens both clans, they may have to set aside their differences in order to survive. And that won’t be easy, since clan loyalty runs thicker than blood.

After a thrilling opening sequence, which dumps the reader right in the middle of some exciting battle action, I was surprised to find that Sky in the Deep is actually more of an emotional drama than anything else, which is probably why I ended up loving this so much. Now I love a good fight scene with axes and swords as much as the next person--and believe me, I was riveted by Young’s graphic descriptions of battle--but what makes this story so special are the emotional connections between the characters: fathers and daughters, brothers and sisters, husband and wife, even the connections between enemies. Eelyn is devastated by the fact that her brother has switched sides and is now part of the Riki clan, the Aska’s sworn enemies. Eelyn’s instinct is to kill any Riki she sees first and ask questions later. There is no debate about whether to spare the life of the enemy. And yet, as she spends more and more time with the Riki, she begins to realize that they aren’t that much different than she is. Her anger with Iri slowly turns to understanding, and I loved seeing that transition.

The characters are all beautifully done, and you can’t have an emotional story without creating a multi-layered cast, each with individual past experiences that drive them. In the Riki camp, Eelyn meets Fiske, the man who saved Iri’s life; Inge, a mother figure to both Fiske and Iri; Halvard, a young boy who isn’t quite old enough to fight; and Runa, the Riki woman who Iri has fallen in love with. Each of these characters makes an impression on Eelyn and forces her to evaluate why exactly the Aska hate the Riki so much.

There is a slow-burn romance in this story, but it was perfectly done, in my opinion. With such a violent and brutal background, romantic love takes a back seat to trying to survive such a harsh environment, and so you won’t hear the words “I love you” uttered by any of the characters. Instead, the author describes their growing affection with subtleties like lingering glances and brief touches, and believe me, the tension is palpable. These are complex relationships made more difficult by the fact that these people are supposed to hate each other on a very deep level, and changing that mindset isn’t something that will come easily.

The driving theme throughout is that of family, both the kind you are born to and the kind you discover on your own. There are all sorts of wonderful examples of “found” families in this story. Iri finds a brother and mother in Fiske and Inge, Halvard bonds with Eelyn despite her attempts to keep him at arm’s length, and eventually Eelyn herself comes to care for her captors.

And because there is an axe on the cover, you must know by now that Sky in the Deep is viciously violent, so reader beware if you’re disturbed by graphic violence. While the fight scenes don’t take over the story, you have to remember that these people are raised as warriors, even the females, trained to fight with axes and swords and knives from childhood.

But there are also magical moments in this story, moments that made me catch my breath in awe. One of these takes place near the river when Fiske and Eelyn are fishing, when a bear wanders over to check out their fish. What could have turned into another bloody scene became something quite different, and this was probably my favorite scene in the book.

I loved the ending, especially since I was worried about how things would wrap up. I was invested in these characters long before the end of the book and was frantic with worry for them! Although this isn’t a series, I was thrilled to see a “companion novel” listed on Goodreads, which means another chance to revisit this fascinating world. Adrienne Young has a terrific future ahead of her if this book is anything to judge by, so I suggest jumping on the bandwagon now, you won’t regret it!

Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.

I received a copy (from Wednesday Books) in exchange for an honest review!

What I say: I haven't seen many YA Viking stories, so I jumped at the chance to read Sky in the Deep. It's a pleasant and dramatic take on the legendary warriors.

Eelyn is a young viking warrior (I've seen similar characters called shield-maidens in the past) who believes in honour, defending her family and finding vengeance for her brother. She's headstrong and fierce so is unprepared to find herself held captive by her groups biggest enemy.

The action is violent, they are vikings after all, but never in detail that is too mature for a YA story. Eelyn is prepared to risk everything to save her family and honour her God. She's very determined in her quest but as the story develops she's willing to learn, to see other peoples side of things.

I enjoyed reading about Eelyn and her family, although I did find the names a little confusing at times. I'd like to see another story about some of the other characters in the future please...

3.5 Stars in my Sky!

Sky in the Deep was a happy accident I stumbled upon and one quick read of the synopsis and I was all in. It's not my usual thing, but I loved the idea of a YA fantasy featuring a kickass heroine, Eelyn, in some vivid battle scenes. And guess what? It did feature a kickass heroine and some great fight scenes. But even more than that, it delved into the struggle of living in a time of perpetually fighting the same enemy clan, suffering losses at their hands, and what happens when you are taken by your enemy. Add to that, the need to swallow your pride and fight alongside your enemy for the greater good, and admit to yourself that your future might be with that enemy, and you have the makings of some angsty times.


I really enjoyed trying something outside of my normal reading and am looking for my next new read!

Seventeen-year-old Eelyn grew up fighting beside her family and her Aska clansmen in their rivalry with the Riki clan. All she does is train and fight as she tries to keep herself alive and kill as many enemies as possible. Then she sees her brother on the battlefield, fighting with their rivals, a brother who died five years before.

Her father doesn’t believe her, but Eelyn sees her brother again, and is captured by him and his best friend, Fiske, in an effort to keep her alive. Her only choice is to spend the winter as a slave and escape in the spring to return home.

As she lives with the family who made her brother one of their own, Eelyn struggles to adapt to being surrounded by the enemy. Fiske thinks she’s dangerous, as do most of the clan, but she starts to see the Riki as more than just warriors. When the village is raided by a clan from legend, it is up to Eelyn and Fiske to get the Aska and the Riki to work together. Together, they have a chance, but they will both fall if they cannot work together against their common enemy.

This was a fantastic book! I read it straight through in one sitting, unable to put it down. Eelyn is a complex character dealing with the upheaval of everything she’s ever believed—and betrayal where she never imagined it. This is a brutal, violent world, and Eelyn is a brutal, violent warrior, but her entire world changes as her eyes are opened to possibilities beyond the traditions her people have believed in for generations.

I cannot speak highly enough of this book!

Adrienne Young was born in Texas, but now lives in California. Sky in the Deep is her debut novel.

(Galley provided by St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

4 stars. Viking ferocity. Viking love. I like it. This novel developed so well, so organically, that the immense changes in feelings and whatnot didn't feel super rushed.

This is one of my favorite books so far this year!
Eelyn is an amazing heroine and this book is so full of culture. Who doesn't love Vikings? The pacing is perfect and I loved all of the characters. The world building is gorgeous and the plot, I was holding my breath at the end.

Eelyn lost her family in a clan war five years ago. She has used this pain to become a better and stronger warrior until the day she is taken captive by the other clan. She is forced to do things that she wouldn't normally do as a slave. The whole time she is contemplating her escape and her revenge. I don't want to say much more and spoil this book but I highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Eelyn has been raised to be a warrior. She fights alongside her Aska clansmen in a war with the Riki clan that has been going on for generations because of an ancient rivalry. Her life is simple, she fights and she survives to fight in the next battle. One day on the battlefield, she sees something she thinks is impossible. She sees her brother. Except her brother died on the same battlefield five years ago and now he is fighting with the enemy. Now she’s been captured by the Riki clan and is forced into servitude, she is now faced with her brother betrayal of his clan and she must survive the harsh winter in an enemy village.

Sky in the Deep is an action-packed faced paced book full of battle scenes full of Vikings and clans. It is a book about loyalty, betrayal, family, and friendship. I loved the world-building it was glorious. I loved the frozen lakes, the snowy mountain, the coastal villages, the cliffside villages. Splendid and definitely the highlight of the book. And while I’m pretty sure this is in a fantasy setting, I loved how Sky in the Deep was inspired and based on Vikings. I haven’t really read any book like this so it was a lovely breath of fresh air and super aesthetic (check out my pinterest board!).

Sky in the Deep was also about prejudice and hate. Aska and Riki clans have been enemies for generations because of messages from their individual gods. However, throughout the book, they learn to look past prejudice and learn to trust, especially when they need to fight alongside each other against a common threat to their people. I loved learning about their religions and faith and how it influenced their actions.

The action scenes were also one of my favourite parts, it was brutal and vicious and also well described. There were sword fights and axe throwing, and it was glorious (I’m a sucker for well-done battles okay?).

Sky in the Deep was also surprisingly character driven too. Eelyn had an incredible personal journey, especially with her relationship with her brother and coming to terms with his betrayal and newfound loyalty. A very complex sibling relationship and I’m here for it. I also liked the romance? Fiske was a cliche love interest, grumpy and handsome. But he was also very soft and I have a soft spot for grumpy soft men so I kinda loved it.

One main problem I had though was the sexual harassment/assault. Can we please just have a fantasy or historical book that does not feature sexual violence against women?? There were a couple of scenes with groping and the threat of sexual violence and then another scene where Eelyn was stripped and tied to a tree because she fought back against a man who wanted her. So it can be very triggering so please tread with caution.

Other than that, Sky in the Deep was an engrossing and original read about family and loyalty.

It’s one of those books that is effortless at pulling you into its world. Some have so much detail up front that you need time to absorb it all, but Sky In The Deep is effortless in that aspect. Or it’s just that we’re all children of tv, and have no problem with imagining these settings because we’ve seen it on screen.

What I loved most is how these characters can wordlessly communicate. Adrienne Young directs our attention to their body languages – eye movements, the so very slight sagging or stiffening of features betraying what their words or voices don’t – to understand these exchanges rather than using dialogues. It’s quite fitting, I think, for a world that’s filled with proud warriors to do that.