I gave this book a chance - 5 chapters worth, actually. It just didn't catch my attention the way I needed it to. The pros are that it has a great female protagonist who is self-sufficient and interesting and I think it'd be a great fit for someone looking for that in a story. It also reads as something that I haven't seen much of in recent young adult novels. The battle scenes were brutal but appropriate considering Eelyn's culture. The drawback for me is it seems like a slow moving plot despite the fact that it's an adventure.

Sky in the Deep is an action packed story about two Viking tribes locked in an age old blood feud. I loved this from the start. We kick the story off right away with following our main character, Eelyn into battle. All of the fight scenes and battle were so well written, I loved reading them and getting swept up into the excitement and action. Eelyn is a strong character and I just loved her. I don’t think I would have normally picked up a book about Vikings but I’m so glad I did because this blew me away. The ending seemed a little rushed and wrapped things up almost too nicely, I was honestly kind of hoping it was a series and would leave us with a cliff hanger but then I checked and saw it was a stand alone so I’m not surprised. The ending isn’t my favorite but it didn’t in any way take away from my enjoyment of the rest of this book.

This book was so good. If you are someone who doesn't read YA, this might be a book to read anyway. Too often in YA, when we are given a character who is raised to be a warrior we are also given a character devoid of emotion beyond anger. Eelyan is a human character, she feels an array of emotions, she is still a warrior but when she is in a situation where her anger and sadness have claimed her she lets it show with tears the way a human would.

There are some really amazing characters in this book, and the setting is just amazing. this is the first time I have read a book about Vikings, and while I don't know a great deal about their culture, the culture created for this book felt real. And the all the characters felt like real people. They reacted to things the way you'd expect people to react in their situation.

I feel like I should mention this, in case it's not something you want to read, but there is a good deal of violence in this book. One particular scene got to me and I had to put the book down for a few. It's a fairly graphic torture scene where the MC pops a man's eye out with her thumb. I am going very light on the detail here in my review the actual passage in the book goes into almost unnecessary detail. It was very gross.

I also really like that this is a standalone novel. That's something else that I feel like is pushed too often. To make everything a series.

This was a fantastic book. Highly recommend.

Ooookay, where to start?... I was absolutely HOOKED from the first chapter! I mean, Vikings, clan wars, majorly awesome female warrior protagonist, can you get better than that?! And All. The. Feels. Side effect of reading this epicness: I kind of want to learn how to fight with an axe now... Anyways, I LOVE this book! Go read it!

reviewed for romantic times book reviews

SKY IN THE DEEP rages over the fate of a young warrior as she becomes a captive of the clan with which her people have a centuries-old blood feud. Heart-racing action ignites alongside painful truths and twisting depths as the characters must learn how far their hatred is willing to go, and how costly forgiveness may come. A must-read for YA Fantasy fans, this is certain to be a top release of 2018.

Lots of action filled these pages (could it be a Viking-inspired fantasy without it?) and between each battle cry and swing of an axe there runs the deeper themes of family and loyalty. The ending of this book does not come easily. Eelyn is not a happy let’s-make-the-best-of-things type of girl, she’s a warrior with a lifetime of hatred bred into her soul, which makes her a wonderfully complicated and interesting main character.

I found myself riveted by the story and its characters so I will call this one a success. It definitely lived up to the hype for me!
-pooled ink Reviews

This book exceeded my expectations. It was fast paced and well written book. Based on Nordic (Viking) tradition this book shows the confusion of battle and love for family and clan.
The book follows a young Aska warrior girl Eeleyn who follows her heart in battle against the rival Riki mountain clans. She risks all to see her dead brother again. Her choices help decide the fate of the two clans and their warring gods and religious beliefs. Will they unite or will they fade into history?

Sky in the deep
Adrienne Young

This books is probably my favourite read in the longest time!! I can’t get over how amazing it was and I need more!!
‘Vegr yfir fjor’ – Honour above life.
Sky in the deep follows the story of Eelyn, 17 year old Viking from the Aska clan. This book is beautifully written about fate and destiny. Was it the gods who sent Eelyn on this path? The Aska have a life long rivalry with the Riki clan but all that comes into question when they are faced with an enemy bigger than them. Can the two clans join together to defeat their mutual enemy and live their days in peace?
What do you do when you find out the closest person to you who thought was dead for the last 5 years turns out to be living and breathing and living with your sworn enemies? How do you overcome that betrayal and move forward? The relationship between Eelyn and Iri is strained but wrapped in love and betrayal.
Eelyn is help captive to the Riki and she begins to see that this clan is just like hers. They do the same things as hers, wear the same clothes, use the same medicines, just worship different gods. She starts to see her captives not as monsters but as normal people just like her and that’s a battle in itself with the way she has been brought up.
This story was wonderful, I can’t wait to read it again. I love everything vikings and these beautiful sayings used throughout the story such as ‘Ond Eldr’ – Breathe fire

I am always exited when I find a standalone fantasy novel there is something so satisfying about a well done standalone novel. I am very impressed and satisfied by this strong debut. The writing is lovely I was enticed by every page, somehow Adrianne even made doing chores interesting to read about. There wasn’t as much fighting as I expected from a book about rival viking clans. But I’m not complaining because I think there’s enough and each one is epic, and the story is really about the relationships.

Each relationship was beautiful, and even though the book is only a little over 300 pages the relationships all developed naturally and slowly. I really liked the main character Eelyn she’s tough and compassionate. Throughout the book she questions everything she believes in and the journey she goes on is heart wrenching. I sympathized greatly with her and there was quite a lot of unexpected emotional moments.

I strongly suggest going into this knowing as little as possible. I had forgotten most of the synopsis before starting it and I’m glad I feel like knowing nothing added to my enjoyment. All you really need to know is that this is a standalone viking YA novel. In a nutshell it’s about fighting for whats right, letting go off prejudice and finding love in unexpected places

<b>“Ond Eldr. Breathe Fire.”</b>
I cannot put into words how much I loved this book!
It was so thrilling and alluring. I was completely sucked it and felt as if I was one of the characters in the story. This Story was full of thrilling suspense and I loved every single second of it!

A raw, emotional, and heart racing story that takes you into the world a warrior. This book had me right from the cover. It draws you in and promises that this will not be a fluffy story. Indeed it is dark, real, detailed, and thoughtful. The author painted a picture of the Riki and Aska clans battles and the wounds left from it. Eelyn is a hardened warrior who would rather die than be taken by the enemy. But maybe the enemy is just like she is. Now faced with decisions she never thought she would have to and find a way to bring the clans together to save them all.

This novel was a great read!! I liked the plot of the story. Eelyn, the "Storyteller" of this novel, is a 17 year old girl from clan Aska. Her enemies are the Riki clan and the Herja. The Aska and Riki fight each other every five years. 5 years ago, Eelyn lost her brother, which devastated her. She is a warrior and when she sees her brother alive, she is in shock. When she follows him, she is captured by the Riki. Eelyn is stubborn and tries to escape and fails. She is very angry with her brother and feels a deep betrayal. However, she has to rely on Fiske, her brother's best friend. Fiske is a warrior, stubborn, but protects Eelyn. He promises to let her go after the frost, but how can she trust a Riki? Eelyn learns much in her time with the Riki and sees they are not so different from her own people. She even begins to trust Fiske and begins to fall in love with him and he with her. When the Herja attack the Riki, Eelyn and Fiske realize they cannot defeat them alone. After losing many, they need to get an alliance with the Aska, who have also been attacked by the Herja. Will the two sides be able to put aside their differences to stop the common and greater enemy or will old prejudices keep them apart? A choice between family and loyalty becomes blurred when trying to save those one cares about.

This book was bloody fantastic. It has a little bit of everything - action, betrayal, kindship, romance. I honestly finished it all in one sitting.

Currently, I am unable to continue reading Sky in the Deep. I found the pacing of the novel quite slow, Eelyn's narrative didn't quite envelop me the way that I wanted it to, or the way that other people found it to be so captivating. Perhaps it was because I was reading the novel on my kindle rather than as a hard copy in my hands. I will come to Eelyn's story again when the publication hits shelves. The cover is absolutely gorgeous though.

It's like Vikings but without all the unnecessary violence against women. This book did such a good job of setting the tone and making us understand the dynamic between the clans and how that plays out for our characters, without making boring info dumps. It's action-packed, its filled with different kind of strong women, wand beautiful complex relationships. Besides, the writing is so vivid it's like I'm watching my favorite show/movie. Prejudice in a fantasy setting is always interesting to read, and this book approached it wonderfully.

Adrienne Young's Sky in the Deep is an exceptional YA novel set in a harsh and violent primitive world where clans routinely attack each other over pride, stores, and revenge. In the midst of a battle with the rival Riki clan, young warrior Eelyn thinks she sees her brother who is believed to have been dead for five years. A surprise attack the following night brings her face-to-face with her lost sibling. To keep his identity secret, she is taken as a slave into the seemingly foreign, but eerily similar world of the opposing clan.
Young's pacing is tight and addictive. Her characters are convincing and worthy of the reader’s total investment. And while many books can easily get bogged down in overly detailed descriptions of an world’s religious canon, Young mets out just enough to keep reader interest and character background moving.
I predict this book will be a hit for audiences of all ages. Sky in the Deep is one of the best novels I have read in a long time, and I will be telling many friends about it.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press/ Wednesday Books, and Adrienne Young for an advanced copy for review.

***4 Stars***
*ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Sky in the Deep tells the story of a young viking named Eelyn who's captured by her rival clan, the Riki. Among the Riki is her brother, Iri, whom she thought was dead. Eventually, Eelyn has to make the choice to join her Aska clan and the Riki together to defeat the Herja.

I really enjoyed this story! The author did a great job with world-building. You can tell she did her research. I know next to nothing about vikings but Ms. Young painted a very clear picture for her readers. Eelyn was fierce and loyal. She was a young girl who kicked ass on the front line during battle!

This novel was filled with fighting, killing, and lots of gore. I loved it. This author did not shy away from the violence in this novel. I actually found myself getting a little squeamish at times. It was awesome! 

Although this story was not romance heavy, there was a romance mixed in with all the epic battle and bloodshed. Eelyn and Fiske's romance was subtle, but that just made it have more of an impact. 

"I don't belong to you."
"Yes, you do." He pulled the hair back out of my face so he could look at me. "Like I belong to you." 

Eelyn's love for her people was palpable. She had an undying love and devotion to the Aska and it was interesting to read about her conflicting emotions regarding her loyalties. Although she hated the Riki, Eelyn comes to see them in a different light and she sometimes struggled with her acceptance of them.

I do wish the ending was a little longer. It felt a little bit rushed but at the same time, it did not leave me with any unanswered questions. I just think it could have been drawn out a tiny bit more.
Overall, this was a great read. I'm really looking forward to reading more from this author! Her writing style flowed smoothly and she did a great job with character development.

Love the cover! and I like that the heroine of the story is strong, however I felt the overall story of the book lacked depth? and I found it hard to get into.

Vikings was a different twist than what I am accustomed in a YA fantasy book, and that was great. Lots of battles, blood, family, and traitors.

Overall gave it three out of five stars.

Sky in the Deep stands out from the countless fantasy novels spread across the globe. You won’t know what you’re getting from this action-filled fantasy until you submerge yourself into this deep story. First, I didn’t expect this level of blood and gore and that’s not a bad thing. War consists of pain and suffering so Young does an excellent representation of that in her novel. Second, the underlying theme in this book will resonant with many readers; the proverb, “We are more alike than different”, really sets the tone of this story. Lastly, the main character, Eelyn, is a complex protagonist with a strong character development that I think many readers will enjoy.

My favorite part has to be that every scene has a purpose, and nothing happens only to complicate things or elongate the story. We get a concise and tight fast-paced plot from start to finish without any filler scenes. My only complaint might be that there was no “real antagonist” and when I say “real antagonist”, I mean there wasn’t a direct force that competed with Eelyn other than her inner conflict. Regardless, there was still loads of danger and suspense to keep me entertained.

I recommend this read to anyone looking for story dealing with self-growth, truths, loyalty, and love in addition to some kick-ass action scenes.


Thanks again for the ARC!

First off, I would like to thank the publisher and author for providing me this ARC to review. Please note that the version I read was an advanced copy, and certain events/language may be changed in the published edition.

Stars (Out of 10): 8/10 Stars

Favorite Character: Fiske

Spoiler Free: I was so happy when I saw I was approved for this book on NetGalley! I’d been hearing quite a lot about it, and seeing it all over instagram, so I was thoroughly hyped!

Overall, it ended up being a phenomenal story, and I absolutely love the world and characters the author created! I was hooked for most of the story, and the end thoroughly wrapped everything up. But this was not just a simple story about vikings and war, but ended up holding quite an emotional story. I won’t spoil it for anyone, but this story is just as much about understanding and learning to accept one another as it is about fighting.

My main qualms with the story have to do with the beginning and the synopsis. First off, I felt the beginning was rather chaotic, as we are both thrown into a brand new world with tons of characters, and thrown into battle within the first chapter. It ended up being hard to follow both, and I ended up having to focus more of my attention on learning how characters aligned to each other and why they were fighting rather than the fight itself. Additionally, the synopsis for this story wasn’t done in the best way. It reveals event that don’t happen until 50%-60% of the story, and seems to spoil the entire story arc almost. This ended up leading to a story where I kinda already knew most of what was going to happen.

Nevertheless, I still really enjoyed the story, especially the last 40%. In that last 40%, I ended up really connecting with the MC and her love interest, and my worry over them added to the suspense of the final parts of the book. Additionally, I love how well-rounded the ending was, while still giving the reader space to think and wonder what will happen in the future. It didn’t just abruptly end after the final battle was fought, but rather worked to describe the aftermath, which was just as big a part of the plot as the enemy they had to fight.

Lastly, while I did admittedly feel detached from characters at first, which was most likely due to our MC needing time to connect with the side characters as well, I did end up loving almost all of them, especially Eelyn and Fiske. The characters were all solid, and the morals they held close to them weren’t lost just because they fell in love/made a new friend/etc. It felt realistic, and the emotional problems they went through all molded well with the physical plot.

In the end, I do highly recommend for all you guys to check out this book when it comes out in April! (I’ll still be picking it up myself, I need that gorgeous cover on my shelf!)