OMG. I loved this book. It was just SO GOOD.

I love Vikings so I was super excited to read this. In fact, once I started reading I could not put it down. The first chapter plunges straight into a bloody battle and from that moment on I was hooked.
Eelyn is one bad-ass heroine. She's fierce, loyal and strong.
I went into this blindly and I suggest you do too so all I'll say is that Sky in the Deep offers some truly epic battle scenes, a slow-burn romance that in no way detracts from the overall story, and spectacular world-building.

Loved this one! Fast paced, and exciting, I think this will be a hit at the high school!

Vikings aren't a huge draw for many of my students, not because they aren't interested but it really isn't on their radar. The cover is lovely and I think will draw them into the world of the vikings!

What will keep them reading, and kept me reading, are the intense, well developed characters, world and story! Fabulous read!

Yup...just as everyone else has been raving - Wonder Woman meets Vikings! A badass, yet sympathetic, protagonist and a sweet romance. Kept me riveted and enthralled. A must-buy for my library.

Meh, this one was just ok. The main character is a girl in a Viking-esque clan that always fights another clan every few years because that is what their gods tell them to do. But then Eelyn sees her brother on the other side, even though he died the last fight season. Turns out he didn’t and now he is a part of the other clan. Eelyn ends up being taken captive trying to figure out what is going on and has to survive the winter with the enemy. Turns out there is an even bigger enemy that the clans have to combine to fight. What bugged me about this one was the underlying “this is how we’ve always done it” line. And it takes forever for Eelyn to stop being a little idiot. This could of been good, but it was just too shallow for me.

I received this free from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.
I loved this book. It's intense and heart-breaking. Two, what I can only assume are Viking clans, meet at a pre-determined time and place and try to kill each other. They do this because the respective gods they worship apparently hate each other. The heroine saw her brother die in one of these battles. That is she thought she did. Because at the next she sees him. Only he's fighting for her clans enemies. And it is a roller-coast ride from there on. Through in another clan, who seem to be not even human and you have a book that won't let you stop reading until you're done. And even then I didn't want to end. I hope there is another book so I can return that place.

The story is interesting but soulless. Same for Characters: some of them had some unrealistic behavior like Iri or Fiske.
The political view of the story is too easy. I can't believe that they decided to unite suddenly.
the writer has potentiality but She needs to concentrate more on characterization

I feel like I read a different version of this book than what everyone else did. I did not enjoy it at all. It felt super flat for me because there was no real history there and it was very lacking. It was another one of those books that felt like it tried to hard to be Amazing and fell short. The biggest issue for me was that the entire time we were supposed to come to the conclusion that both clans were exactly the same but there was not enough information about Aska's culture in the beginning for me to compare to the Riki. I got the idea: they were the same. But I wasn't even sure what the Aska believed in, wanted, etc. for me to actually draw comparisons.

I also disliked the relationship. It felt forced. I almost think this would have been better as a duology rather than a standalone. As much as I am glad that there are more standalone novels in YA Fantasy, this was one that didn't work with that format. I would have liked way more details about the culture and how they fit together (and didn't) because if they really were "exactly the same" then there wouldn't have been a divide?? I guess I just wanted more history before the plot actually began.

But then once Eelyn is captured she keeps saying like "I could kill them all!!" and I'm like "then do it." It was annoying to hear her say over and over how she was so tough and blah blah blah but then never follow through. It was ridiculous to me - on par with how Throne of Glass is tbh. It just wasn't worth the time or effort for me to read this one, but I did do so while sitting in the bath drinking wine so it wasn't all bad.

Great story. I was surprised by how well I connected to Eelyn. I understood her feelings every step of the way. Some of the fight scenes lost me a little bit, but everything else was very good.

I really enjoyed the story, and admired the strength of the main character and her capacity to grow. The only thing I didn't like about the story was one tiny part where she talks about herself as not being special. She most definitely was. I was impressed with Eelyn's ability to maintain her beliefs and identity while being being respectful of others. This story can stand alone very well, but I can see where the story might continue.

I will certainly be looking out for more by this author.

It earned every star.

WOW, I AM SERIOUSLY FANGIRLING ABOUT THIS BOOK. It didn’t disappoint. Seriously. It absolutely surpassed all of my expectations.

When I had first heard of this book, I knew I needed to get my hands on it. As soon as I did, I was glued to the pages from start to finish.

One of my favorite things about this book is the lovely protagonist, Eelyn. She is strong, and not because of trauma or troubles. She is strong because she is! I think this is a refreshing take on a powerful character.

The atmosphere of the novel is spectacular. The balance between the lands, as well as the characters (and their clans) was wonderful. Reading the culture created in this book was so much fun!

And squeals, the hints of romance made my heart scream! Seriously! Once someone has read this, please fan girl with me. Really. It’s just that good.

Final Thoughts

Amazing character and setting. Easy to understand with a strong voice and great pacing.

Rating: 5 Stars

Raised as a Aska warrior, seventeen-year-old Eelyn fights alongside her clansmen each fighting season against the Riki clan. Her life is simple and brutal. Until the day she sees something impossible, her brother she watched die years ago fighting with the Riki. She chases after him desperate to understand what is happening and finds herself trapped in the mountains with the Riki as a prisoner. She comes to learn many truths she never wanted to know, that the Riki are not so different from her own people and the truth of what happened to her brother those years past. Still he Riki and Aska are enemies as old as time. Until one night when another ruthless class raids all of the villages Riki and Aska alike showing a common enemy may force an unlikely alliance. Beliefs and loyalties are tested and formed as war blooms.

I knew instantly from the summary and the cover I wanted to read this. A new debut that sounded epic and it was a standalone so that was even more impressive as most books I was starting/reading seemed to be part of a series. Plus it seemed like a pretty awesome story. I wasn’t wrong. I really enjoyed this debut. Eelyn is a fierce warrior and won’t let anything slow her down. We learn how the Aska live, believe, and fight. Then as things progress we get to see the same things from the Riki side. More we see the Riki side through the eyes of an Aska, one who is very upset about being there. Still as she gets to know the people, one familiar in particular she is able to see them as people rather than simply enemies.

The story has some pretty well flushed out characters. I of course loved Eelyn. I enjoyed getting to know both Riki and Aska, though it does seem we get to know more of Riki. This didn’t hit me until just now because I still felt while we spent less time with the Aska they were equally understood because our MC is Aska. Each character from Myra, Iri, Runa, Inge, Fiske, and Halvard were all different and had their own qualities both good and bad. I had some strong words for each at one time or another to be sure. Both have their own prejudices and issues to be sure as any groups with contrasting opinions normally do. More so in this regard as they have spent years past going to war with one another and that leads to a lot of bloodshed.

There is a lot of action and fighting in this one for sure but one of my favorite parts was the struggle for the characters. Warring with their beliefs and history. Trying to overcome so many years of prejudice and the like. Reconciling everything you were raised with to what you see in front of you. What is more important? What can be forgiven? I love all of that. This book had a lot of deeper meaning and struggles inside of it. It had its share of pain and loss but also hope and love. It was a full and satisfying standalone. I look forward to checking out the author’s next book.

I enjoyed it. The protag is likeable, her motivations and reactions relatable. I like the mythology of the gods. I REALLY like that the clans aren’t defined by an ethnicity but by their armor. And while the clans have this bloody rivalry, a. Women and men are both duking it out on the battlefield and b. not every single person is a warrior, so it’s not a wholly warrior-based society. (So Eelyn, who is often described as small, isnt devalued because of that, but taught to fight differently.)

This is a great book for adventure lovers. The action stars on the first page and doesn't let up until the last page. Male readers will love the many fight scenes, and females will love a strong character who fights for family and ideals, not romance. I love the undercurrent of understanding cultures that are different.

**I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

I am amazed at how wonderful this book was! I was automatically hooked from page one.
The descriptions of the battle scenes are just amazing! It was like being part of the battle.
I loved the character development in this story, and it's quite noticeable, especially with Eelyn and Fiske.
I was really surprised with their relationship as well, completely unexpected for sure. The whole story was just full of surprises from the very beginning, but it flowed so well.
Overall, It was a wonderful book! I'd for sure read it again. I don't pick up many books like this, but I think I might.

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

My Review:

I received this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review-thanks!

I just have to say this book blew me away! I hadn't expected to love it as much as I did. I read more than half of it in one sitting and after that couldn't wait to return to it. The story, the characters, the world, the writing- just everything was amazing.

The story follows Eelyn as she struggles to face her once thought to be dead brother and the fact that he choose a people she has been raised to hate over their family. In order to stay alive, she must become a servant to her brother's new family- a position that dishonors her in the eyes of her own god, Sigi. The poor girl goes through a lot in this book, all the while recovering from injuries, both physical and emotional.

She is a ruthless and strong character whose vulnerabilities play through in a believable way. She grows so much within the less than 200 page galley I read, it made the story that much better. Eelyn learns to become more accepting and to consider how what she does will affect those around her.

Speaking of characters, Fiske definitely deserves his own little paragraph. He is a unique and lovable character who was easy to envision throughout the story. Him and Eelyn's subplot and relationship has to be one of my favourites so far this year. He has such a big heart, and though I know he can protect himself on his own, I would be willing to do so in a heart beat.

The world that Adrienne has created was built throughout the story in an eventual and slow way that I actually really enjoyed. It builds up the rivalry between these two Viking groups and illustrates how they have settled this area and the way they adapt to the seasons as they come. I am not sure if the finished version has a map, but I think that definitely would be beneficial.

Overall, this was a great read that I definitely will be picking up a finished copy of and I recommend you do the same.

Wow! This was a an awesome adventure and such a compelling story. I know I'm being really general here, but if I gush more I think I'd spoil it. If you like kick ass heroines, strong character development, and complex world-building, this one will be worth a try!

*eARC provided by NetGalley, my views are my own.

I'm completely in love with this story. Young created a very rich, delicate and beautiful world, a raw and touching beauty that snatches us from beginning to end.
I needed to read about 10% of the book to find me in the story, but as soon as I did, I fell in love with Eelyn. It was easy to identify with her character and her mourning, her sense of duty and honor and love for her family and her clan.
Eelyn is tough and fierce, but finds herself in a delicate situation. At the same time that she loves her brother, she can't fail to see betrayal in his acts, and see her development, not just about her feelings towards Iri, but about the Riki, was very interesting.
Living under the fighting season, it was very interesting to see her put things into perspective and think about life beyond the fight, thinking about everything she would be missing each time she enters a battlefield and realizing that the dispute of their gods, maybe, shouldn't be theirs.
While I had trouble liking Iri - seriously, did he really thought his family didn't love him? Idiot - Fiske was an easy to like character. His tough way, much like Eelyn, created an interesting dynamic between the two, and the slow burn ship only made things even better.
Inge and Halvard also had excellent scenes, the development of their relationship with Eelyn felt true and real, and I wish I could have known more about Mýra and Aghi, like I did with them.
Overall, it's a very beautiful story where the characters seemed to have a soul of their own, in fact I felt very connected to them.
My only complaint is that the end seemed a little too rushed. I believe that with 50 or 70 more pages, the end would have been developed in a more satisfactorily way, without the feeling that everything was so easily resolved - after all, it is years and years of fighting seasons between the Riki and the Aska, and the feeling that remained is that suddenly both clans were OK in trusting each other apart from the common fight against the Herja.
On the plus side, I hope to see many other books like this from Young, she definitely won a reader.

Sky in the Deep is an addicting debut that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It's a YA novel about vikings, so it's brutal and badass. The writing is strong. The plot is filled with action and complex characters you'll love. Highly recommended to readers of YA fantasy. This will feel fresh and exciting.

While I do think that this book has an extremely unique premise and decent writing, for some reason I found myself unable to get into it.

I think that there will be many readers who will connect with this book and enjoy it, but it just wasn't for me. I had difficulty connecting with the MC and just couldn't focus on the storyline.

That being said, I would still recommend it for fans of Norse-inspired fantasy.

This was a stark yet lyrical book with a Norse/Viking influenced story about a young warrior coming to terms with the fact that her world may not be what she has believed her whole life.
Eelyn has mourned her brother for years and so was completely unprepared and shocked to see him fighting alongside her clan's enemy in battle. As she tries to follow him to discover the truth, she is brought--against her will--into the land of the Riki, the people she has been raised to hate. She must find a way to uncover what has happened to her brother while protecting herself from her enemies, especially when she realizes the Riki may not be the only ones she has to worry about.
Eelyn was a well-developed heroine. She was headstrong and did not always thing about the consequences of her actions, but she was not thoughtless or foolhardy (which is often the case in stories where young girls are put in situations they feel they must escape). Her growth felt organic and was easy to relate to.
The plot was very good, and I enjoyed the Scandinavian flavor. It made the world that the author described easy to picture and imagine. Eelyn's life was harsh and brutal, and the prose reflected that. Yet the characters in the story were able to stop and appreciate the grand but simple beauty in a meadow full of flowers or the gentle fall of snow.
Although I did enjoy the relationship between Eelyn and Fiske, I do wish a little more time could have been spent with it, or it could have been developed just bit more.
Overall, I felt this was a very good book. The story, world-building, characters, and descriptions all came together to make a book that was hard to put down. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA, Fantasy, History, Adventure, or Viking novels.

Originally posted on Forever Young Adult 25 April 2018

BOOK REPORT for Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

Cover Story: Pretty Deadly
BFF Charm: Meh
Swoonworthy Scale: 4
Talky Talk: Where’s the Beef?
Bonus Factors: Vikings
Relationship Status: One and Done

Cover Story: Pretty Deadly

The lovely woman with the braids holding a fancy axe invokes images and feelings of Vikings; wholly appropriate for the story within.

The Deal:

Eelyn is a warrior of the Aska clan, trained to be a brutal fighter. Every five years, she puts her skills in a battle against the Aska’s mortal enemies, the Riki. During the latest fight, Eelyn thinks she sees her brother—who died five years prior. Her father and friends among the Aska think it’s their god blessing her but saving her life, but Aska isn’t so sure.

Her disbelief is confirmed when they meet again on the field of battle, leading to Aska’s capture and forced indenture to the people she (thinks she) hates most.

BFF Charm: Meh

I like Eelyn well enough, and am always looking to add literal warriors to my squad. (Always be prepared, you know?) But there’s little more to her than her warrior nature. It’s more a product of her society than lack of personality, but I just don’t think we’d have much to talk about.

I’d probably try to call her Eel at some point, too, which would likely get me stabbed.

Swoonworthy Scale: 4

Eelyn doesn’t understand her brother’s love of the Riki people, particularly his adopted brother, Fiske. But fate has funny ways of bringing people together. (Sometimes too easily and too quickly ... #subtweet)

Talky Talk: Where’s the Beef?

Sky in the Deep is an atmospheric story, invoking smells and dream-like images. But the lack of world building and the too-quick and predictable resolution makes for a flat read. Young delves into the reason for the Aska-Riki Hatfield and McCoys-like animosity—TL;DR: gods who hated each other—but there isn’t enough backstory to really make the centuries-long (?) fight resonate with a modern reader. The character development is also lacking; aside from Eelyn, whose POV the story is told through, the other characters are disappointingly one-dimensional.

Bonus Factor: Vikings

They haven’t quite hit the levels of vampires or angels or mermaids, but Vikings and Norse mythology seem to have some traction in pop culture these days. On an instinctual, fight-or-flight kind of level, I dig their brutality and unwavering dedication to their way of life. Would I want to live in that era? HELL NAH. But it’s fun to read about.

Relationship Status: One and Done

It’s not that I had a bad time on our date, Book, it’s that the more I think about it, the more things I find to nitpick. That’s not a good indicator of a promising future, so I think we should call it quits now.