This book is so good. Like "stay up way too late because I can't stop reading" good.

This book was metal.<br>
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My expectations going in were that <i>Sky in the Deep</i> was going to be a cookie-cutter YA. The cover, frankly, is awesome. The contents, though? Probably just gonna be typical, right? She's gonna get captured by the enemy clan, life as a viking thrall, escape attempts, yadda yadda, then she's going to fall in looooooooooove with one of the enemy warriors, right? I expected to feel maybe 2 and a half emotions.<br>
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Instead, this book is about a SIBLING BOND and SIBLING BETRAYAL AND LOYALTY which is actually the only thing I have ever cared about in my LIFE. When Fiske said, "he's <i>my</i> brother" -- the sheer jealous, territorial rage oh my gosh. Why am I so invested in this? I feel like I should shut this line of discussion down before it becomes too exposing, but anyway -- I cared. I cared a lot. Eelyn's deep love and longing for her brother combined with her bitter anger at his "betrayal" stabbed me in the face instantly, and I was 100% invested.<br>
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The plot was good, intense and with an ending that changed the compelling-yet-horrifyingly-brutal world for the better. More importantly, though... some books spend so much time trying to convince you that their heroine is so tough, and strong, and ruthless, but never really deliver on anything. <i>Sky in the Deep</i> does the opposite of that.<br>
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Eelyn is a warrior, but the book doesn't obsessively try to make you believe that she is one -- she just is one. She thinks repetitively about killing people while in captivity, but it doesn't feel fake and forced because she delivers on that both beforehand, and later on. <i>Sky in the Deep</i> doesn't have to <i>tell</i> you that Eelyn is ruthless, because you get to watch her rip a guy's eye out of his head with her fingers. (I said it was metal.) This is a style and quality of characterization from which the vast majority of YA could learn a thing or two.<br>
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And okay, she does fall in love with some enemy warrior, but it's the good, understated kind of <i>Blue Sword</i> romance and completely tolerable.<br>
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The one thing that would have earned <i>Sky in the Deep</i> the final missing star was if it had resolved everything between Eelyn and Iri. The ending was realistic and bittersweet with hope enough, but I <i>need that catharsis</i>.

Sky in the Deep had some qualities that worked for me and others that didn't. I liked the characters for the most part and thought they had some solid development. The author didn't force the romance or brush over the conflict between the two clans just so that Eelyn and Fiske could get together. I do feel like this book focuses primarily on the romance plotline, however, and didn't quite deliver the "lush, vivid world" that the description claims it will.

This is a fantastic, stand-alone fantasy debut. There are wonderful, complex family relationships and friendships. Totally badass fighting sequences, balanced with thoughtful character development. I loved it!

The first half of the book was well done--I liked the pace, the developing relationships between the characters, and where it was headed. The second half, however, felt too rushed and underdeveloped for my liking. The main antagonist was hardly present in the book and dealt with all too easily, giving the ending an impression of how everything, in the end, goes happily. Which definitely isn't a bad thing! But it was way too cut and dry and I felt none of the excitement or danger in any of the scenes.

Thank you, Netgalley and Wednesday Books, for the opportunity to read and review this book. My views are entirely my own.

I cannot gush over this book enough! Sky in the Deep is breathless, vivid, and badass, with a heroine you'll at once want to scream at and for. Debut Adrienne Young has created a book you'll never want to leave, with characters you'll instantly love.

Step into a Viking-inspired world, fully-realized and beautiful, heart breaking and wonderful. Here, Eelyn is a young woman of war, having spent her entire life fighting with and for her people, having felt the sharp pain of war and has emerged the most hardened warrior. After years of honing her body into a weapon, her heart and mind into unforgiving stone, Eelyn mirrors the unyielding surroundings and people of Aska. But her world is turned upside down when she discovers her brother - a brother she watched die on the battlefield - fighting alongside her enemies, the ruthless Riki.

The writing in this debut is beautiful and confident, the characters fully realized and unique. Young has proved herself a confident and adept writer, and has easily become one of my must-buy authors. Fans of Renee Ahdieh’s lushly painted world in The Wrath and the Dawn and the badass, self-sufficient heroine of Marie Rutkoski's Winner's Series will love this book!

This book is so, so good!!!! It's been a long time since a book amazed me! The plot was authentic and engaging, the writing style was impeccable, the characters were badass and striking, and the romance was stellar! I only have good things to say. This book is a masterpiece! I've already been telling my librarian friends about it. I highly recommend it!

Just the word ‘Viking’ was enough to draw my interest to Sky in the Deep but it definitely didn’t hurt that Adrienne Young is an amazing storyteller.

Viking wars, berserker tendencies, and a love interest too; you don’t want to miss this one! If I were a Viking warrior, I would want to be just like Eelyn. She’s strong, feisty, and determined and her character was easy to empathize with. Fiske (oh, Fiske!), Iri, Myra, Halvard, and the rest of the characters that rounded out the story, the setting, the fighting, the rituals; everything made this book fantastic!

I devoured this book while at the same time hoping it would never end. I love that it’s a stand-alone because they are so rare these days, but I was stalking Young before I even finished reading to make sure we were going to hear more from her. Bonus: there’s a companion novel coming in 2019!!

This is a must-buy! Recommended for lovers of fantasy, historical fiction, YA, and romance.