The Sky in the Deep...is a story. It's hard to talk about, because I didn't actively dislike this book, but I didn't love it. It has all the elements of a good story, but it was bogged down by the lack of character depth.

There's nothing to make the reader attached to Eelyn, because all she feels is anger and it keeps her at a distance from all the other characters. There's development that happens, but I don't know how it happened, because there was never a change in the characters' thoughts. There's a romance that buds that I kind of wish never happened, because there was literally nothing showing me that it would (Except for it being a YA novel and a trope). It was just bizarre. I read all 350 pages, but I feel like nothing substantial happened.

Overall, this book was all right. Nothing to keep you up late at night reading, but nothing too dull. I am just indifferent at this point.

Sky in the Deep was pretty violent at times, so this might not be a good book for the faint of heart. The two clans within the story have been warring with each other for generations, and they prepare their children for battle when they are still incredibly young and innocent. That innocence doesn't last very long when they are forced to kill other people to appease their gods.

Eelyn was a very interesting and complex character. She knew what she believed in, or at least she thought she did, and she held on to those beliefs despite the hell she went through. Family and honor were more important to her than her own life, so she didn't hesitate to put them before everything else. It caused her to act recklessly at times, and occasionally the consequences were severe, but she never let that stop her from doing what she believed was right. Her childhood and the lessons she was taught defined her, and it took a long time for her to view the world with a different perspective.

Fiske was undoubtedly a good person. He was always putting others before himself and saving people he shouldn't. Life was precious to him, but so was protecting his family and honoring his god. I could feel how conflicted he was during certain situations, but I never knew what he would do or how he would handle them. He was a constant surprise. I also adored his family, especially his younger brother. I think Halvard played a large role in helping Eelyn, even though he was just being a sweet kid.

I believe Sky in the Deep delivers an important message. The two clans have been fighting for too long, and it's just expected that their children will do the same. They fight, they die, and then their families want revenge. It's a never-ending cycle that gets passed down over the years. We should never want that to be the world our children live in. We should always strive to be better.

I thought the story started off strong and in-your-face, but the middle felt a little sluggish at times. It took awhile for certain things to happen, and while the information was interesting, I wish it had been condensed just a little. Other than that I really have no complaints (except for all of the animal sacrifices, because I could have definitely done without those). It was an interesting concept that was beautifully executed.

*will post this review on Amazon on the release date

This book has me hooked, I read it in one sitting and couldn't put it down. With amazing writing, an interesting plot and a badass main character this book is well worth the read I would highly recommend!

This had such potential to be good. A different premise. Badass female fighters without focusing too much on their genders. Familial love. Vikings-esque setting.

But what it was lacking? Depth. Character development. Suspense. Complexity.

I will be completely honest-- I started to skim near the end. I went back forth between skimming and reading. I really wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't get into it.

2 1/2 stars

<i>Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the eARC to read and review!</i>

I loved Sky in the Deep from page one. I love Viking stories but I feel they hard to pull off because they're either too gruesome and harsh or not authentic enough to really show what life was like back then. But Sky in the Deep nails it (not that I <i>know</i> how the Vikings lived but ... you know what I mean).

Eelyn would be difficult to sympathize with if her motivations weren't so unequivocally rooted in her culture, her clan, her family. She's bordering on ruthless when it comes to battles with her rival clan but the emotions driving her are the purest sort of love and loyalty to her family and clan. This is only more emphasized when the discovery of what her brother has done leaves her torn and when she grows attached, despite herself, to the people who enslave her. Just thinking about the choices she had to make left <i>me</i> feeling torn. Except about Fiske. That's one choice I had no trouble with. ;-)

I cannot recommend this book enough. It's beautiful and heartbreaking and it'll make you hold your breath until the end.

I was really excited to receive Sky in the Deep through NetGalley and I've finished it just in time for the publication date.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I had a hard time getting into the world or connecting with the MC, because there is no introduction whatsoever. With all the words, names and terms that were thrown around like Riki, Aska, Tala, Aghi and so on, it took me a while to figure it all out and it made the reading pace really slow. However, I liked the action, the fighting scenes and the family/tribe bond. The writing style is decent as well and let's be honest - who doesn't love vikings? The setting and overall fight-or-die atmosphere was my favorite elements and I will definitely be purchasing this book, once it's out, for a better experience the second time around with less confusion and a different format.

SKY IN THE DEEP by Adrienne Young is a well-written and well-constructed viking adventure-romance and that builds upon the very well-loved genre trope of friends to enemies. Set in the world of Vikings, women are given incredible responsibility and freedom, and our main character, Eelyn, is no different. She is a strong, badass warrior, and she lives and breaths the rivalry between her clan, the Aska, and their rival, the Riki. Each year, both clans meet on the battlefield to continue a feud believed to be started by almighty Gods.

The book takes a turn when Eelyn sees her brother, believed to be dead from a previous fighting season, the battlefield. He is fighting for the Riki -- a complete shock to Eelyn, who sees it as a traitorous move against her family and their clan on the whole. When she tells her father that she saw her brother on the field, he believes his spirit visited Eelyn to give her good luck on the battlefield. But when Eelyn sees her brother again -- and follows him, she is brought deep into the world of her enemy, and all her notions of what the Riki represent are challenged.

Throughout the book, I was drawn to Eelyn’s strong character, and her resilience in the face of oppression and hardship. Young writes a character that is very realistic, and reacts in a way that any woman might in her given situation. Eelyn is unapologetic about her decision making, and is always authentic. It was refreshing to have a main character that was so confident and fully-formed. She is made even more likable in her exchanges with one Riki warrior, Fiske, that has taken her in at the request of her brother. Exchanges between the two warriors are tense and complicated, but also sweet and intricately done.

All-in-all, SKY IN THE DEEP is a must-read for anyone looking for a fast-paced adventure full of badass women and sweet romance. While short, it is a quick read that keeps you hooked until the end as the Riki and Aska find that there are other enemies in the world that demand their attention. Slow in the beginning, SKY IN THE DEEP is a wonderful debut by an author that has a great grasp on history and creating compelling characters.

I received this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED this book. I haven't really read many viking novels before, but I thought this one was just beautiful. I thought the main character was very likable and the romance was so cute. I think the only thing I would have changed was the final battle; It felt like there was so much build-up to the end, but then everything finished so quickly!

I would definitely recommend this book and I am giving it 4.5/5 stars.

I received an e-arc from a publisher in exchange for an honest review.

A YA fantasy about Vikings? Yes, please! This tale of two rival Viking tribes completely consumed me. The story focuses on two quarreling tribes, the Aska and the Riki, who basically slaughter each other during the thaw over a lengthy feud. This cast contains a badass crew of characters, and is told through Eelyn’s point of view. While this book subtlety reminded of me of a bloody and violent Romeo and Juliet, it was also completely refreshing. I loved reading a YA fantasy, about Vikings, especially strong, powerful, independent female Vikings who aren’t afraid to show vulnerability. I think Young masterfully created a fascinating new world, with relatable characters, and plot that will keep you up late at night. My only complaint is that I have the worst book hangover after reading this! I need more books from Adrianne Young!!!

New Release Tuesday! Eelyn is a Viking warrior from the Aska tribe. Their mortal enemies, as decreed by the gods, are the Riki. Every five years the two clans must meet each other in battle to honor their gods.

Five years ago in battle, Eelyn saw her brother Iri fall in battle, rolling down an unreachable ravine. So when she sees her brother fighting with the Riki five years later, she assumes she’s seeing his spirit. The battle rages on, and Eelyn is shot through the he shoulder and taken hostage—by her brother and his new Riki family. There’s Fiske’s curious little brother, Inge, the village healer, and Fiske. The rude, bull-headed young man who shot Eelyn.

Eelyn must learn to survive while she waits out her escape once winter ends. Along the way, she makes new friends, new enemies, and realizes the Riki are much more alike the Aska than they are different. What follows is a great political and savage story where it seems like it may be hopeless—where everyone Eelyn knows might perish.

Another great thing about this story is that it is a standalone story. Everything is wrapped up at the end and you don’t have to wait tortuously for the sequel. If you like badass warrior women, Viking fierceness, and a fast-paced story, Sky in the Deep is definitely for you.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Links in post are affiliate links whose proceeds go toward the maintenance of this blog.

4.5 stars.

This was a very engaging and unique story. I appreciated the strong female protagonist in Eelyn, and her journey in self discovery. There was a good amount of action that kept the book flowing and entertaining, but I was fully invested in the other characters lives as well. One thing I really enjoyed about this book was the relationships within. It could have been easy for certain characters to remain antagonistic towards Eelyn or vise versa, but they were allowed to grow and have their perspectives changed. It made for a more realistic and rounded characterizations.

My only complaint is that I would have liked to see more of Fiske and Iri. It's hard because this is told from Eelyn's point of view, but I would have liked to have seen more time spent with her and those two, especially Iri. The whole book started off with her running towards her thought-to-be-dead brother, but we never saw their relationship fully heal at the end (at least on her side). It was hinted that they had time to likely mend it, but it would have been more optimistic if they at least lived in the same place. Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel.

I received this book on NetGalley in an exchange for an honest review.
This book has been on my TBR for soo many months, so when I saw I was approved for the book and when I read the reviews I was so pysched to read the novel. It’s safe to say that when I read this book I was letdown.

Worldbuilding
The world in this book was not very well built. The author seemed to build the book as the plot developed. I didn’t really get a full picture of the setting of the novel, and the mythology behind different deities.

Character Development-
The character development in this book was very weak. The author would mention a character and then would explain how this character was instead of letting us figure that out by exploring the actions, mannerisms, and traits of individual characters. Because of this, I found myself having no emotional attachment to any of the characters. I was not a fan of the protagonist, she was described to be a fierce warrior, but mostly all she did was sulk or she needed to be saved so I didn’t really see her fierce side coming through.

Relationship-
My absolute least favorite part in this book was the relationship. Eelyn fell in love with this character overnight. They hated each other all the way until all of a sudden they were making bold proclamations of love. The two characters barely interacted all the way up until their relationship, and they had no chemistry. I saw no reason why the two characters were put together and I felt like the book would have greatly benefited without a relationship.

Plot-
The plot of this novel was very convoluted and didn’t really seem to have a direction. The main conflict in the book happened towards the last 20 pages and was resolved in less than 5 pages so it was a major letdown.

Overall-
The plot in this novel was very poorly written, the characters were severely underdeveloped, and it seemed as if the author threw in a relationship just to spice things up. However, I enjoyed how we got to see how over time the protagonist overcame her prejudices and grew to love the people she was raised to heat. I found myself enjoying the book, so that is why I gave it a 3 star rating.

This book, you guys. THIS BOOK! Sky in the Deep isn’t a book I would’ve picked up this quickly without all the hype. This is one of those instances where the hype is deserved. I don’t think I’m going to be able to convey just how incredible this story is and how much I loved it. This book was mesmerizing from the very first page. It’s brutal, moving, beautiful, and heart-wrenching. I couldn’t look away but I didn’t want it to end. It’s one of those books that creeps under your skin and stays there. It’s something special.

Adrienne Young’s writing is spectacular. She delivers an emotional and brutal story with such precision that it left me in awe. Her writing is sparse at times, letting you read between the lines, but also richly detailed. Her talent is truly astonishing. I will read anything she writes in the future.

There are no weak characters in Sky in the Deep. I mean that in the physical sense just as much in the emotional sense. Every character had so much depth. I felt like they were old friends by the end of the book. I cared about them deeply and missed them when it was over. Eelyn was so fantastically written. Her growth throughout the story was immense, but so believable. The side characters were just as developed as Eelyn and Fiske.

Family is a huge theme in the book and I really loved the dynamics and openness of Fiske’s family. Their interactions warmed my heart. The way they put themselves out on the line to take Eelyn in spoke volumes about the kind of people they were. I loved seeing Eelyn slowly discover that too. Inge was a favorite of mine. Her wisdom and kindness brought so much warmth to a book that could’ve easily been cold.

Of course I have to mention the romance. This romance was slow burn at its best. Their feelings were definitely unconventional in many ways, but they so realistic. While this wasn’t necessarily a swoon inducing romance, the depth of feelings was moving. I loved seeing it slowly unfold. I also loved that Eelyn didn’t fight it when she realized she had feelings for Fiske. These two have a firm place on my favorite romances list.

I feel like I’ve already gone on forever and I still have so much to talk about! I’ll try to wrap this up soon, but first I much mention one of my most favorite parts of the story. Sky in the Deep deals heavily with the topic of prejudice. The wars between the clans have been going on for as long as Eelyn can remember. She was raised to hate the Riki. She knows no other way. Seeing her realize the Riki were just the same as the Aska was remarkable. She learned that what you’re taught might not always be what’s right. It was really magnificent.

Sky in the Deep needs to be on your 2018 reading list. This is one of those books that doesn’t come around very often. It’s brutal and violent, but also beautiful and breathtaking. This is a stunning debut that I urge you to read.

Loved the Viking theme and the warrior female main character. I would love to read a sequel.

Sky In The Deep by Adrienne Young was absolutely amazing! Such an original plot for a YA book. No instalove (yay) and a plot mostly about family and ties. It truly was a breath of fresh air and I will now read anything Young writes. Fiske and Eelyn, Halvard and Inge, and Iri... all the love for these characters!

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Netgallery in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoy seeing some variety being introduced to YA fantasy. This book is definitely different from the majority of books being published. I’ve personally never read a YA book focused on Vikings, nor have I heard of any other books within this particular genre. So, I enjoyed the opportunity to read something different.

However, there were a few areas where the book fell short for me. The plot lacked any real depth. Based on the book’s description I was expecting an epic journey filled with tough choices and daring decisions. I prefer a book with more twists and turns. The author obviously put great effort into creating the cultural beliefs and traditions of the clans, but the storyline was just a bit bland.

It was a pleasant and short read.

3 KINDS OF PEOPLE WHO WILL LOVE THIS BOOK AS MUCH AS I DID

1. People who love action-packed books
Heck, this novel begins with an intense fight scene between Eelyn and her people, and their sworn enemies, the Riki. Obviously, being a viking book, war is always just around the corner. There are tons of those training montages we say we hate but secretly love, which are just as fun to read as the actual fights, which we don't get a lack of, either.

The pacing's not too fast and not too slow, which makes said fight scenes perfectly powerful, but not too overbearing. Add that in to the very simple-but-elegant world-building, and you've got yourself a pretty solid viking read!

2. People who love awesome characters and relationships even more
Sky in the Deep is surprisingly a character-driven novel. Eelyn's strength is in her body and in her soul. She can stand on her own in a fight, and she can stand firm with her beliefs. Her relationships with her brother, her captors, and her clan, are absolutely beautiful and realistic. They can be rocky at times, and there are definitely lots of disagreements, but in the end, love prevails.

I also adore the romance, which was subtle and very lowkey. It takes a backseat compared to the action and familial love, which is really refreshing. BUT! It's definitely still super swoon-worthy. Plus it's an enemies-turned-lovers trope, which I know we all love!

3. People who love books with beautiful messages the most
This book manages to bring across so many wonderful messages about love and family, and standing up for what you believe in. It does this without being pushy and in-your-face, which is a tough feat for most. Kudos and bonus points to miss Adrienne Young for making me want to become a stronger individual!

The cover is what initially pulled me in. LOOK AT IT! Dark, mysterious, badass female warrior. How could I not want to read it? I without even reading its description requested it on NetGalley. Once I was approved I started it right away. I was beyond excited but the first chapter worried me. It was a bit slow and I felt disconnected from it. However, I didn’t let it stop me and I’m so happy that I pushed on because it surprised me in so many ways.

The book is heavily inspired and influenced by Viking mythology. From that alone the reader should be prepared for scenes of violence and this book has tons of them! But don’t let that turn you off because it has a fantastic balance between scenes featuring violence and beautifully written passages that deeply explore human emotions and bonds. This is what I think the author did best. I cheered when the book’s protagonist Eelyn went into battle. She was fierce and treated her enemies without mercy. I felt like I was right there swinging an axe alongside her, blood spraying everywhere…it was exhilarating! This types of scenes were placed in between scenes where the author examined Eelyn’s emotional state. She starts out in so much pain, her anger eating away at her. It hurt my heart but the development...it was so well done. It was gradual and not without a few bumps along the way. It felt honest and true to real life.

I loved how this is a standalone novel. So many books now belong to a trilogy or series, which is great, but sometimes that’s bit of a commitment. However, standalones also come with their own pitfalls. They are sometimes rushes and with too convenient endings. This book was well paced and ended in a satisfying way that didn’t feel like the author was just trying to end it. This is most definitely a book that all fantasy lovers need to read! And…..it looks like a companion novel will be released in 2019!!!!! *jumps up and down* I can’t wait to get my hands on it!

“Vegr yfir fjor. Honor above life.”

I really don't know what I was expecting, but this book was really, really great. Action packed, emotional, and character driven.
There's been a lot of strong female characters recently who I just don't connect with? They're too fierce, or blood & battle driven. But Adrienne Young doesn't fall victim to that mentality. This book is about Vikings. So battles galore. But the battles and fighting don't take over the characters life. Thank you so much.

The story is about Eelyn, a 17-year-old Aska warrior. Eelyn has lost both her mother and her brother due to fights between the Vikings clan. At least, she thinks she's lost her brother until he shows up on the battle field. Fighting against her clan. I mean, the guy is supposed to be dead. Not fighting with the enemy.
Eelyn reacts like most people would probably react. Which to be honest, I loved about her character. She's rash, hot-headed, and deeply loyal. Her fierce spirit doesn't dim her emotions, and when she can, she actually thinks through her decisions.
I really liked Eelyn's character.

The book spirals into some intense action. Trying to avoid spoilers, so I'm just going to say, Eelyn is captured by her enemies. From there, the story is a blend of fighting, and mysteries, and slow burn romance.

More reasons to read this book. (AKA, everything I loved)

The relationships! I loved Eelyn's relationship with her dad. It was so tender, and fierce, and they loved each other SO COMPLETELY. Probably the best Dad/Daughter relationship I've read in a LONG while.

Each character. I can't talk a lot about each character without spoilers.But each character is well-devolved and you should fall in love.

Slow-burn romance. I was afraid the romance would detract from the story. But it didn't! Instead, it built it up, adding to the emotional layers.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't that long, and I was able to read it in just a few hours. I think I do have trouble reading battle scenes. I can't tell if this is a problem just with this book, or with my reading. But I sometimes get very confused during battle/action scenes. Several times in this story, I was kind of lost.
And I felt the book ended too abruptly? It was hard to tell if we'd jumped forward in time, and why.

I definitely recommend Sky in the Deep if you love action, fierce female characters, soft & sweet love, and Vikings.

Arc provided by Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I admit I was sold as soon as I saw the cover and the mention of vikings. And maybe the fact that Sky In The Deep is called one of the most anticipated YA fantasy releases this year, although that also made me a bit afraid it won’t live up to the hype. But thankfully Sky In The Deep is actually worth all the praise it has been receiving. What a wonderful and well written debut! Although this story has no exact time setting and appears to be more fantasy than historical fiction, with the viking culture playing such a central role it is easy to deduct this story was set long ago (probably 800s?). Would I have liked a more detailed worldbuilding with more descriptions and facts? Yes, but I can also understand why the exact details have been kept vague, focusing instead on the characters and clan feud plot. I would have liked to have a glossary for the foreign words and phrases used, although most are easy to interpret from the context. These little things aside, I absolutely loved this story. The main character is the typical strong female lead, but Eelyn really came alive in the descriptions and dialogue and was easy to connect to. The different clans and the old feud between the two had me completely hooked, as well as for the plot twists that changed their future forever. Definitely the best viking-inspired story I’ve read to this date! I admit I could have done without the romance, but at least we were spared the dreaded love triangle. And I’m sure romance fans will love that little twist (although I saw it coming quite early on). In short, while not perfect, this debut still managed to completely blow me away and Eelyn’s story will stay with me for a long time. Vikings to the win!

Despite a few minor details that made me lower the rating slightly, there is no doubt I absolutely loved this book. I have a weak spot for viking stories and Sky In The Deep has to be the best viking-inspired fantasy story I’ve read to this date. The writing is very engaging and made it really easy to like this story. The plot and clan feud turning into something else was an interesting one and while there were slow parts, you will get plently of viking fighting action as well. A little advice: don’t read the full blurb before you start reading it! This one is more fun going in completely blind. YA fantasy fans who like their stories having a dose of romance, well developed characters and a couple of pretty intense fighting scenes will love Sky In The Deep. A very powerful debut!