Sky in the Deep is one of my most anticipated books of 2018 and I am so thankful I was accepted to read this arc. It was even more brilliant than I could have imagined this book to be.

Recommend: Probably
Review:
This cover drew me in, but the plot is what captivated me and had me hooked. Seriously, what is better than a fierce warrior woman, the weaving of Norse/Celtic mythology, and vikings? Yes, VIKINGS! I was so excited to read a book about vikings, because the only ones I have found so far are romance novels (which I also enjoy, but they are about a sexy viking and sex, not really the culture and mythology).
THE CHARACTERS:
EELYN- She is tough, she is fierce, she will stab you, walk away with out looking back and not even bother to wipe your blood off her face. Seriously, she starts off kicking butt and pretty much ends that way. I love how tough she was, I love how dedicated she was to her tribe, I love how she refuses to give up or flinch. She is pretty freaking amazing and embodies what a strong female MC can be. She is also smart though. She refuses to let views cloud her judgement, she knows what she needs to do to survive, and she knows how to do what needs to be done. She is not just brawn, she is also brain.
FISKE- Hello handsome, I will happily join the Riki for you. Okay, that was't really true at the beginning since I was waiting for Eelyn to stab him and I would have cheered for it, but as the story continues and we learn more about him, I definitely started liking him. He is not just strong and passionate, he is also smart, determined, and knows how to access a situation. He doesn't speak much, but that kind of adds to his strength. He is silent, but that silence makes him deadly since even though he is huge, he is definitely capable of sneaking up on you and killing you without you even realizing it.
IRI- I'm still not sure how to feel about him. I mean, he was kind of a traitor and he betrayed his family without ever looking back, but he wasn't really a bad guy. I mean, he never really apologized for his actions and to me he kind of just turned his back on his family and decided to act like they never existed until he kind of HAD to, so I don't exactly like him. I mean, I don't hate him, but I also probably wouldn't have shed a tear if he died.
THE PLOT:
This book starts off with a bloody battle, ends with a bloody battle, and everything in between was a fight for survival, a realization about life, and an acceptance. Seriously, I don't want to give too much away, but even though I took off a star because I did find it boring a few times, it was still a blood-pumping ride that I want to experience again.
Also, there is a little bit of romance, but it is so realistic and I wasn't even sure about it until almost the end. This was not a magical romance that changed the world and saved everyone. This was not a romance that just happened as soon as they met (kind of the exactly opposite of love at first sight), and this romance is not unrealistic in it's existence. And another amazing thing? NO SUPER SPECIAL SNOWFLAKE! Eelyn is not the MC we have been reading about with special powers who is going to change the world, and I loved it. I loved how real and relateable she was.
The ending was beautiful and simple and left me feeling complete, though I wouldn't object to another book that takes place in the same world.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
I really enjoyed this book. While I had to take a star away because there were a few times that I was just bored or wanted to skip ahead, in all I was very happy with this book and loved reading it. I think Eelyn is a very strong, wonderful female MC, I think the romance is realistic and perfect, and I think the plot flowed amazingly with an ending that perfectly finished the book. I have already purchased this book because I do want to hold it in my hand and reread it, since I am positive the format will be an even better read.
I think you will enjoy this book if you read it and I will definitely recommend it to friends who are looking for a tough female in a book that isn't centered around romance.

WOW! This was one of those books that just grabbed me and wouldn't let go! I could not put it down for anything. I was completely immersed in the story, totally invested in the main character and her life!

First off, the set up is brilliant! Two warring clans? A brother back from the dead? An forbidden romance? Check. Check. And check. Sign me up! Second, the setting is so incredibly vivid, I could see and feel and smell and touch everything! This was the viking story I never knew I needed! I think it's being pitched as a YA fantasy, but it felt like a YA historical fiction to me--and an amazing one at that! I've never read anything viking related before, so everything was completely new and wonderful to me! And finally, the characters--mainly Eelyn, the heroine! Her pain was my pain. Her heart my heart. Her fight my fight. Her story came to life with an aching sort of beauty that kept me enraptured!

There were a few things I could nitpick, but honestly, I didn't even notice them or think about them until after I was finished because I was that into the story!

Highly recommend!!

**FYI, I got this one on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

I might be biased (as if for the genre/romance), or my feelings are based on my lack of good books between now and my last good book, but I loved Sky in the Deep. I can't even explain it. This is a Viking inspired historical fantasy (think Winner's Curse books) with no magic but strong belief in godly beings. Eelyn's voice is one of my favourite parts. It never once gets swallowed, we hear it loud and clear what she loves, hates, and is slowly discovering about herself and everyone around her. What I love most about this is Eelyn's self-discovery. I like seeing her interact with others, and I like seeing her and her love interest - I won't lie, their romance is slow burn and it's not love to begin with, but along with Eelyn, this is what you're reading this for. This is one of those books that's a personal journey for the main character.

This is a simple book, that's pretty much a standalone. So it's not an epic, and I think I like that kind of change, of something extremely simple and brief yet surprisingly weighty.

Unexpected and so good! The action is raw and real without being too explicit, the relationships are believable and compelling, and and the world building is superb. 100% recommend.

This. Was. Awesome.

If you're going into this expecting high stakes, bloody battles and outright war, you are not going to be disappointed. I had extremely high expectations for Sky in the Deep considering its viking inspiration and the battle axe on the cover. And this book more than pulled through for me. The very opening scene is our main character, Eelyn, kicking ass and killing her enemies. Without hesitation, without reservations. She's a warrior and she will not apologize for it.

I loved Eelyn. She's by far my favorite part of this book. Like I said, she is an Aska warrior. Every five years, her clan, the Askas, meet in battle against the Riki. It's a war spanning generations, a conflict between the gods. Eelyn wholeheartedly believes in the righteousness of this battle; the Riki are her enemies. This battlefield is sacred. I loved Eelyn's steadfast convictions and her faith in her god. This may not be a religion we recognize, but I hardly see any faith in YA, so this was refreshing. There was no questioning, there was no coming into her faith. Eelyn's belief in Sigr was true and as much a part of her as her Aska blood and her armor. She was also an intensely capable heroine. Not only was she an iron-forged warrior on the battle field, she knew how to take care of herself elsewhere too. I don't LOVE comparing YA main characters, but I have to say that the majority that I see are either proficient in fighting or proficient in other skills. But Eelyn knew how to fight, how to care for her armor and her horses, how to tend to the gardens and the fields, how to cook and do other chores. She wasn't a princess thrown up in a tower incapable of caring for herself and her people. And she was extremely confident. I love that she KNEW she could take care of herself; I loved that she looked inward for the strength to push through even the hardest of trials.

And in case you thought Eelyn's skill on the battlefield made her a special snowflake, let me put your mind at ease. Yes, she is a bad ass warrior beast, but so is everyone else in her world. They're all strong, they're all capable. The men and the women, both. Eelyn's people are made for war.

Another thing I really loved about Sky in the Deep is that I never felt like a supporting character was sidelined. There were a good number of side characters, and when I thought about them individually, they all could have been the main characters of their own stories. Iri, who fell in the trench and was rescued by the enemy. Fiske, who lost his father and now had to care for his whole family, including the strays they took in. Runa, the village healer who fell for the enemy. Myra, Eelyn's fighting mate, who lost everything and overcame that pain for her people. Every single one of the people that Eelyn met along her journey had their own stories to tell. For me, this made the whole book richer, like it was a real world I was falling into instead of just a story on the page.

Unfortunately, not everything about this book was perfect.

Even with the richness of the side characters, I couldn't seem to get attached to any except young Halvard, Fiske's little brother. I don't know if that's just my inner nature to protect tiny adorable beans, or if Halvard really was special. But I loved him and my heart broke for him so many times. That said, I couldn't find room in my heart for the others. Maybe it was their deliberate distance from Eelyn. I'm not sure. But I just didn't love them.

I also thought the ending was a bit rushed. Sky in the Deep is roughly 350 pages long and I think it could have benefited from being longer. This would have given us more time spent with the side characters I mentioned earlier, while also giving the Aska and the Riki time to get comfortable with the idea of working together. I felt that the MORTAL ENEMIES who had been at war for generations probably should have taken more time to warm up to one another. And while the battles in this book were bloody and grimly satisfying, the last one at the end left me wanting more.

That said, I will not take back my assertion that This. Book. Was. Awesome. It really was. It was deeply satisfying to read about Eelyn, this strong, capable warrior girl who's strength came from inside herself, from her faith, and from her family. I love a story centered on family, both those you are born with and those you find and gather to yourself. I loved this world and its people and I loved Young's writing too. If you want a wild ride, a Viking-inspired story, a fierce heroine, and a found family, you will get all of that and more in Sky in the Deep.

This book ... Oh this book. I actually had to sit on my review for a night because I was so enamored and wanted to make sure that I captured my feelings appropriately. I was a little hesitant at first, mostly because this book had a lot of hype surrounding it and I'm most often disappointed by things like this. Well, let me tell you, the hype was spot on. This book, about Eelyn and her battles (take this in multiple meanings) takes a surprising turn.

*POTENTIAL SPOILER* What I thought to be a story of a warrior's battle with honor turned into something so much more; so much deeper. Yes, the struggle for honor and staying true to oneself is prominent throughout the book. You can feel her struggles and the tides within her struggling to determine the true direction. The author has done a spectacular job in creating a very three dimensional character with relate able struggles. What really drove this book into a 5 star book was that it was a secret love story. Maybe I am the only one who will be surprised by this, as the description sort of hints at it, but the first 75% of the book is subtle enough that I was pleasantly surprised at how well the romance played in. Not to say it gets too gooey or romantic, but the blend of war tale and love story is seamless and fluid. I can't speak highly enough of the intricacy with which the author weaves the tales. Overall, loved the story and the characters and the direction it took. Can't wait to own this book!

Those who love amazing characters, swoon worthy romance, and thrilling action will adorethis book as much as I do!

Let me just start by saying that I LOVED this book! I didn't really know anything about it before I read it, but it was recommended to me by a friend so I thought I would give it a try. And it completely surpassed my expectations! It was the viking novel I never knew I needed in my life and I immediately wanted to read it again!

There is very little dialogue in this book, which surprised me. I often feel that books like that drag and I find myself wishing they were over, but that did not happen here! There may have been little dialogue but everything said was important and had a purpose, I found myself looking forward to character interactions more, excited about what they would say and do next.

And the characters! Eelyn was fierce and strong and I loved her character development. She goes through so much but she still knows what she wants and she doesn't give up fighting for it. Overall, she was amazing and we need more characters like her! I also absolutely loved Fiske, and his family. The representation of family overall was amazing and one of my favorite things about this book. And Halvard?! Cutest kid ever! He is impossible not to love and I wanted him to be my little brother too!

And lastly, I love that this was a standalone! We don't get many of them in the fantasy genre it seems and it was so refreshing. I missed the characters as soon as I finished, and I would love to have even just a little bit more, but it was perfect as it was and doesn't need to be dragged out into a long series.

So, now that I'm done rambling, go order yourself a copy of this book and read it when it comes out next month! You'll love fierce Eelyn and her story!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“Vegr yfir fjor. Honor above life.”

This viking-inspired fantasy story was surprisingly character driven. Outside of some immensely intense action opening and ending the story, this is really about Eelyn’s personal journey rediscovering her brother and learning that their differences don’t define them.

I loved seeing the viking culture explored in both the Aska and Riki clans. I loved seeing how their religion and afterlife beliefs influences their actions. It really showcased how the clans were alike and similar. I also like learning some of the legends and politics too - it really helped with the worldbuilding. I really liked Eelyn as a main character. I found it easy to relate to her and I like that she got to express her anger at her brother for disappearing.

Although I loved what we saw of the different clans ceremonies, I don’t feel like I know a lot about their gods. I feel like I have a broad understanding of the culture but not specifics, which would have grounded the story for me. I also feel like I don’t really know whe the Herja are - they seemed more like boogeyman, almost supernatural, but I’m not sure. Besides liking Eelyn, I didn’t really connect with the characters. I was upset at Iri for a large part of the story, but I did grow more favorable toward him like Eelyn does.

There were some genuinely heartwarming moments that absolutely captivated me, combined with the intense and brutal action created a full and engaging story. The Sky in the Deep is a solid fantasy debut that pulls you into a fantastical world centered on family.

I received a copy of the book from Wednesday Books via Netgalley as a part of the SST Blog Tour.

I'm in love with this book already and I'm only on chapter 9. It won't take me too long to devour this book. Incredible writing from page one. ARC received through NetGalley

This cover really grabbed my attention, I have to say! The story made me think of the TV show Vikings, which is not a bad thing, and the sense of adventure and history was well developed. The character of Eelyn was different than your typical YA heroine, and I enjoyed reading about her, even if her life was far from easy. Definitely worth the hype!

OMG!!! This book was so captivating. The story and character were so engaging, I was in love by the end of the first chapter.

The premise of this book sounded amazing and I could not wait to read it. At first I was not completely drawn into the story because it began with battles and blood. However, it did not take long after the initial scene for me to be enthralled! I cared about the characters, the roles they play in their communities, their rich traditions, relationships, ways of life, the love between characters, and even their spiritual beliefs and values. This book has so many wonderful elements like action, romance, passion, loyalty, and bravery to name a few! The author created a fascinating and beautiful world that is very original. I love that it was a complete story and standalone book, but I will admit I hope to see more of of this world! I look forward to reading more by Adrienne Young.

I read somewhere this was for ages 12 and up. As a high school teacher I am not sure I quite agree with that. I believe high school age and up would be most appropriate and probably enjoy it more.
Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

An enjoyable YA novel about two rival clans caught in a five year cycle of battles by their respective god/founders. When Eelyn thinks she sees her long dead brother during one such battle, she goes in search of him and her world changes forever. Well written with good characters. It also focuses on a message that traditional enemies may be more like you than you've allowed yourself to think.

I loved it so much! I loved all the characters and the story. I definitely recommend it!

I liked this book. Mostly. But I didn't love it, so that's why I'm only giving it three stars.

The plot was pretty good, if a little basic: two warring villages must join together to defeat greater threat. While I can't say that I've read this plot before, it still felt kinda cliché. I feel like there could've been a lot more exploration into the dynamics between the two villages, and it would've been more interesting if there had been greater differences between the Riki and the Aska. (They are pretty much identical, except for the name of their god and minor ritualistic stuff.)

I loved Eelyn as a character. I really felt for her and what she went through, and I could understand her emotions. The author did a great job of building a connection with her. However, none of the other characters were really rounded out, which led to the romance feeling very bland and lust-driven rather than a real rapport built between characters. I didn't understand Fiske, and honestly felt like he was just a minor character thrown in for a romance subplot.

I'd love to see more of the broader world in this story as well: where did the Herja come from? Are they even human? What is the bigger picture here?

Overall, I found Sky in the Deep to be pretty bland. What could've been an incredible, heart-wrenching tale about cultures combing/clashing turned into a predictable fantasy adventure that just didn't enthrall me.

Violence 10/10: Very graphic descriptions of wounds, killings, and attacks. One character graphically rips out another character's eyeball. One character is almost raped.

Sexual 5/10: One character is almost raped. Some kissing scenes, semi-detailed. One intimate encounter in a fade-to-black, off-page type scene.

Language 1/10: Characters 'curse,' but actual words are not given.

4 stars!

“Because you have fire in your blood.”

Eelyn, which I'm 100% certain I'm mispronouncing in my head, is an Askan warrior in the middle of a bloody battle when she sees her dead brother, Iri, in the flesh. He is alive and living with another clan, and an enemy of the Aska. In her attempt to find him after briefly seeing him, she is captured by her brother's new clan, the Riki. Sky in the Deep is roughly 350 pages long and a lot of world building information is missing. For example I can't tell you why the clans are enemies, they just are even though they could not be more alike, which I guess is what brings them together in the end.

I blame the info dump and the trilogies I usually read that have made me expect certain things, Sky in the Deep tells you what new information Eelyn learns, she doesn't repeat centuries worth of history like most Fantasy books and WE NEED MORE OF THAT! Despite my confusion over minor details I quickly realized that it is what it is and the point of this is Eelyn herself and not the history.

Eelyn goes from being a warrior to being a slave to her brother's new clan. The main conflict of the book is the need to keep her identity a secret so as to not get herself killed and her brother for not telling his clansmen about his sister. There's a lot of stuff I want to mention because the story felt kind of short but packed with action scenes and slow day-to-day activities that gave me just enough time to get to know the characters before the next blood battle began.

“It was the end. And at the end, life becomes precious.”

This book was heavy on brotherly love. Between Eelyn and her brother, between Iri and his "new family" which included Fiske, Eelyn's love interest that didn't become a love interest until the end. Sky in the Deep did everything Young Adult Fantasy avoids like the plague:

- skipped the love triangle
- heavily relied on brotherly love and family
- didn't info dump
- didn't stretch it with more books
- got straight to the fucking point

The major issue I had with this book is the fact that the blurb feels like from a different book? Sky in the Deep starts with an action scene and then the rest of it is just a quiet village life for Eelyn, I liked it but it's not what the blurb says it is. The last chapters deal with the raid and literally barely a chapter of a major clan battle which would have been amazing to read in detail before things wrap up. I could most definitely use another 100 pages but overall this is proof that not all Fantasies need to be trilogies, better to be left wanting more than bore the reader to tears.

Okay what glorious fun that was! It’s been quite a while since I’ve read something that I just wanted to devour in one sitting, and I definitely had that with Sky in the Deep! I found myself pretty salty when I had to put it down and adult instead. I mean, Wonder Woman meets Vikings...you can’t sign me up fast enough and Sky in the Deep delivered as far as I’m concerned.

I loved the characters. I don’t know if I was just emotional or if it was the storytelling or a combination of both but I had some tears you guys! I could feeeel Eelyn’s anger and sense of betrayal and conflict every step of the way. Her anguish at her brother’s decisions was a tangible thing, and I just felt for both of them! So props to the author for well developed characters that you root for and a writing style that sucks you into that world and these character’s lives.

I cannot give enough praise for how Young wrote and portrayed relationships. Sooo many relationships were explored and they were just done so SO WELL. Father/daughter, siblings, romantic, friendships, family...they’re all there and they were all written with depth and complexity. I loved Eelyn’s friendship with Myra by the way. I am totally here for female relationships that do not include jealousy, pettiness, cattiness etc etc etc. Give me strong women who support each other and who are there for each no matter what ALL DAY.

The story was fast paced and action packed from the very first scene and it doesn’t let up until the final line. I was hooked from line one and experienced the “just ONE more chapter” bibliophile phenomenon multiple times. I also loved the lore and mythology interwoven throughout the story. First, they’re just fun to read, and second, they really aid the reader in developing a sense of the world and specifically it’s history, culture, and belief systems which in turn provide a deeper understanding of the characters and the decisions they make.

Sky in the Deep is a stand alone but according to the author’s site there will be a companion novel out in 2019 and I am going to need that in my life! The story wrapped up like a stand alone should but I will definitely take more of this world and these characters if I can get it!

I received an advanced copy of this title from Netgalley and St. Martens Press: Wednesday Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much! This does not in any way shape my opinion of the book.

Sky in the Deep is a great read. It's a story about survival, family and the struggle of a woman named, Eelyn. Eelyn was raised to be a warrior, fighting with her Aska clansmen against the Riki clan. Five years ago her brother, Iri, was killed during the fighting season. All she has left is her father and her fighting partner, Myra. The fighting season starts again and during one fight she sees her brother. She realizes he is not dead and is fighting on the side of her enemy. She decides to follow him. This unfolds a series of events that will forever change her life.

What I really liked about Sky in the Deep is that I could see this play out in my head. I could picture it as a movie and thought it would be a great one. Eelyn is a strong woman and so is her fighting partner. We can all use more books with strong women. I loved it!