Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC copy of the book in exchange for an honest review

I love reading about Vikings and I've never read a YA book before that has to do with them so I was immediately drawn in by the synopsis.

I loved the characters and the bonds and relationships that they had with one another, not just the romantic relationships but the fact that it was expressed that your family doesn't have to be blood. Eelyn was a really great main character and while at some points it was hard to relate, other times I could see myself in her and her struggles that she was having felt real.

It took a little while for me to get into and then once that happened I felt like the scenes were happening so fast, like as soon as you got a grasp of what was happening in a chapter, a new chapter began and we moved on to something else. I just wanted some scenes to be longer and more fleshed out rather than adding a whole bunch of little things. The ending also just kind of came out of no where. It felt like everything was leading up to this climax in the book and it just ended within a few chapters and then the book ended shortly after that. I just found myself wanting more time with the world and the characters. Maybe thats just me?

The other thing is that my review copy only had 229 pages and on Goodreads it says that there is 352 pages so maybe the scenes are fleshed out more in the finished copy than they are in the ARC or maybe its just the formatting of the eARC.

Overall, I enjoyed the characters and the story, I just wish there was more time allotted to certain points of the book instead of trying to get in as many little things as possible. However, I would still recommend Sky In The Deep if you like reading about Vikings.

This book was amazing. This is the first book I've read about vikings and I'm blown away. The beginning was an uncertain start for me, I had no idea how I was going to feel about the rest of the book, but it shut me up quickly. The atmosphere, the complex relationships between the characters, the characters themselves were all so vivid and I rooted for all of them. The slow burn hate-to-love romance was also a nice touch as it was barely there, but when it was there, I rooted for it hard. I wouldn't mind a sequel or a spin off... or both.

This book has been so hyped that I came in not really sure what to expect. YA isn't usually my favorite genre - it's full of the same overdone tropes and at times, it can feel like we're being offered the same story over and over. And yet I kept hearing how amazing this book was. Additionally, a trustworthy friend highly recommended the book. With all of this in my head, I did my best to go in without expectations.

Enter Sky in the Deep. This book's main selling point is that it's different. It's so so different! It didn't feel like any other book, any other story. And in this day and age, that's an incredible feat.

The book is fairly short. I don't know how many pages the physical copy has, but I was surprised to find that kindle estimated 1 hour 17 minutes to finish the book. I thought, how can a book this short be so beloved?

And thus comes the second incredible thing about Sky in the Deep. It's concise; it's to the point. There's very little dialogue; every word spoken by a character counts. And Young really makes sure it count. The best comparison I can come up with is Mad Max: Fury Road. If you've seen the movie, you know that they managed to tell so much in so few words.

The novel is short and yet it feels deep and complete. It's a story about family: it addresses the question of what is a family? It's a story about feuds, about learning to make the choice between love and hate, about learning that there is an actual choice to make. It's a story about survival. It's a story about love - not just romance, but love of all different kinds. It's a story about belonging, about acceptance, about betrayal, about forgiveness.

And it all centers around Eelyn, a warrior girl. She's powerful, she's competent, she's emotional but not in a frustrating way (says the INTJ... who usually finds overly emotional people draining). She's stubborn, but she's stubborn out of strength and not knowing there is any other way. Or at least she begins the book not knowing there is any other way.

I binge read this book late at night. Started reading and didn't stop until I ran out of words to read. Eelyn's story is riveting! Unputdownable! (Insert more made up synonyms here!) And I continued to be amazed by how much Young said in so few words.

I wouldn't really classify this as fantasy in the way that most people think of fantasy. There's no otherworldly magic involved: all of the magic exists in the interaction between characters. The story is based on a Viking civilization. As far as I know it's about completely invented societies, but it reads more like reimagined, incredibly vivid history.

This was an amazing debut novel!

Following my usual procrastination habits, I'm writing this a month after reading the book. And I'm already itching to reread it. Honestly, the rating is still up for grabs. I think a book this hyped will always have a tough time living up to the hype. And no matter how much I say I tried not to let that affect my view on the story, I'm sure it did. So I'm giving it a conservative four stars for now, with the caveat that I may change the rating upon reread.

Thank you to NetGalley and Young's publicist for providing an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I received a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review via NetGalley.

I was really looking forward to this book so I was extremely happy and eager when I received an ARC of it. And what a story it was, OH BOY. It left me with such a book hangover that I still felt the high after a week finishing. This is a phenomenal story but not at all what I executed. Although I had a really hard time writing a review without saying to much thus spoiling the story but I certainly tried. However I caution everybody who wants to continue that there might be a couple of really minor spoilers in there.

The story started out in the middle of a battle and while it’s exciting and exhilarating, it’s also a bit hectic and if I want to be completely honest not the best written fight sequence I ever encountered in a book. While the writing is really vivid and electric overall, this first and later the final battle scenes would have place for improvement and a bit of fine tuning here and there. That aside back to the beginning, while it’s not the best, it still gives a perfect picture about the mindset of the main character. And anyway the focus of the plot is so not the fighting, but rather self discovery and looking at things in a different light alas breaking the mold in a time when customs, rules are the way of life.

I loved how the story generated such conflicting emotions in me from the very beginning. First with understanding the reasoning behind Iri actions but also with reading the events form Eelyn point of view seeing side of the story as well. After that the whole plot revolves around these conflicting emotional reactions regarding clans, beliefs, family and everything in between. The root of the problem in here is that the main character experiences and sees things from different angles and start to doubt what she thought her way of life should be. It causes a lot of trouble for her but I loved how she handled herself.
Okay, so maybe I think if there was a bit more focus on the ‘personal’ betrayal aspect of things rather than the betrayal towards the clan/deity it would have given an extra edge to the book but it was an amazing story as it was as well.

The story is narrated by Eelyn, the main character and before I started reading I kind of built up a picture about her character in my head just based on the synopsis and the cover and that one was about a badass, fierce warrior woman and whiles she was that and more her strength in this book wasn’t that. She is a daughter, a son, a warrior, a woman, a friend and more at the same time. She has so many obligations to fulfill that I feel she kind of got lost in there. By following the rules of her clan and her father she thrives to be the best she can but she is not infallible and when something shocking happens to her, her world crumbles and her vulnerabilities get front row seat. And basically the plot is about her building herself up from the ashes in a new light. She sees behind the façade of the enemy and gains a new understanding. All of this propelled by fragile love and family. She is one amazing main character on a beautiful journey.
There are a couple of other characters whom play an important role in the line of events but they still somewhat stay on the background and represent a guideline for Eelyn. I loved Fiske, with his brooding and seemingly cold demeanor but his soft, caring inner self. I also think that Halvard’s eager, open personally wasn’t just cute but a necessary element for Eelyn transformation as well.

The storyline has a steady pace but it still felt like it flew by in minutes. This is one of the stories that I could read endlessly and it’s a shame that it ended. However around 80% I started to worry, if there is going to be a big conflict they been gearing up to. It was a bit strange and disorienting how late certain events played out in the grand scheme of things but it worked in this case.
I just loved every minute of this story and I’m amazed by the atmosphere the author created for her book. It was a surprising read for me and I hope Adrienne Young keeps up this level and produces some more similarly magical tales.

While I enjoyed the book and I’m sad that it ended it’s kind of refreshing encountering a standalone YA fantasy, since nowadays trilogies and duologues became a thing. It was the right choice on the author part.

Have you watched the TV shows Vikings? Well, this is it, but in a book. And with Lagertha as the main character all along. Except she is named Eelyn and is 17. She is fierce and has fire in her veins and she has been fighting her enemies, the Riki, for years. Except, one day, they stop being simply enemies and they become humans, just like her. And from then on, her life is about to change. 
Among them, she will learn and love, and she will fight. Because that's who she is! And because a bigger enemy is coming to take all she cares about away..

This book will make you travel to Eelyn's world of blood and honor. There you will see her discover the value of love and of an open mind. She will have to challenge herself and to learn to open her heart. We will discover with her the life of the Aska and the Riki, their way of living, and I found that super interesting. It is a simple life, but with a real community spirit. It was quite inspiring. This book is also rough sometimes, as life is, and has its moments of violence (sometimes too much for me), that also enlighten the strength and fierce soul of Eelyn. 

In a few words, if you love Vikings, epic fights and historical books, go for it!

This arc was provided to me for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

5 Stars

If I could give this book a million stars, I most certainly would. Sky in the Deep immediately grabbed my attention and did not let go. The writing was beautiful and made me feel as if I was inside the book. And I think we can all agree that is one of the best feelings in the world.

The main character Eelyn is ruthless and bold. She was so strong and smart, exactly what you want to see in the main character. There are only a few select characters I would want as my fighting mate and Eelyn is definitely one of them.

This novel takes you on such a journey dealing with battles, loss, pain, and love. All of which made for a beautiful story with an important message. I would encourage anyone to read this, it's seriously that good. Sky in the Deep is definitely going to be one of my favorite reads of 2018.

I loved these characters fiercely and loved the writing....effortless to follow and easy to relate to. I'm looking forward to more by her! My only frustration? I wish I hadn't read the summary. It told too much and didn't leave enough for my imagination to grab onto. That being said, I still adored reading it!

I don't know if I can even put into words how much I loved this book. This is exactly everything I want in a story. I read the entire thing in one sitting because it was that amazing and I couldn't put it down; this is is the kind of book that reminds me of why I love reading. 

Sky in the Deep is a stunning debut by Adrienne Young, whose talented writing and gorgeous storytelling is showcased clearly. She has done a fantastic job creating a wonderful world full of complex characters. The dynamic relationships between the characters is one of the best features of the book; they were capable of evoking emotions in a meaningful and achingly real way. The relationship between Eelyn and her brother, Iri, is one of the most poignant and best written portrayals that I've ever read. I felt all of her anger, love, confusion, heartbreak, and betrayal alongside her. Eelyn was such a strong, brave, determined heroine and it was very easy to empathize with her. The characters and their personal stories and struggles are what truly captivated me. 

From the very beginning, the story is full of action and adventure. The Viking-inspired setting and descriptions are written so vividly that I could easily feel myself immersed in the story. Sky in the Deep is a outstanding book by a debut author. Everything was executed perfectly to created a breathtaking, emotional story full of grit and heart. Please do yourselves a favor and add this book to your TBR. You will not be disappointed.

“Ond Eldr. Breath Fire.”

I have likely never been as excited to be approved for an ARC as I was for this one. Not that that should come as a surprise, since it’s billed as a mix of Wonder Woman and Vikings, so pretty much fierce fighting females, which is directly up my alley. Plus, this also seemed like the unicorn of YA books: a fantasy standalone. I have a soft spot for those, for lots of personal reasons that I won’t get all into here (and don’t get me wrong, I love series too). And what a gorgeous cover and title! But anyways, without further ado, here’s my review for this savage debut.

Eelyn, like every Aska clansman, if raised a warrior from childhood, in preparation to fight in the ancient rivalry against the Riki clan. Pain and death are a normal part of her life, but everything changes when she sees her brother one the battlefield…fighting with the Riki, after she had watched him die 5 years earlier. Without giving too much detail (no spoilers), Eelyn ends up in her brother’s Riki village for the winter, struggling to come to terms with her brother’s betrayal and the breaking down of the barriers she always had between her own people and the Riki. When a ruthless clan attacks the village, the same clan that years ago took her own mother’s life, things kick into high gear. And Eelyn’s burgeoning relationships with her brother’s adoptive family, and particularly his ‘brother’ Fiske, she faces her greatest battle yet: attempting to unite the Aska and Riki or face distinction in the face of this new enemy.

These are so many things to love about this book. First, it’s ruthless. No punches are pulled in the gore and death that Eelyn sees every day (though rest assured, it is definitely not quite to a Game of Thrones level) and I appreciate that “reality” being fully acknowledged, within the boundaries of this storyline. The old school Nordic/Viking feeling is rock solid – I love it. In fact, I actually question, genre-wise, whether this is really a fantasy at all. I can see why it would be called that, it has that feel to it, but it is, in reality, more historical fiction than anything else. Not that that matters, really. I loved the atmosphere of the book either way – the bleak, cold and wild feel was written to perfection. And the thawing over time, of Eelyn’s heart, of the enmity between the clans, and even of the weather, with the emergence of spring on the other side of winter, is thematically solid and smoothly developed. To expand on that just a little, the slow burn romance was the perfect style for this story, and was well executed – I really did ship Eelyn and Fiske.

As expected/hoped, I got my awesome lady power. It was everything I wanted. Plus, the added and unexpected bonus of great emotional allowance. Eelyn was a very full developed character in that she was written to be strong, but also, when faced with her brothers “return from the dead” and the upheaval of things she’d believed her entire life, she was realistically upset and confused and angry and just generally super emotional. I SO appreciate this portrayal…that being strong and fierce does not mean that you are unemotional or coldhearted. Lovely. Plus, along with that, I felt that the emotional turmoil back and forth was written realistically; meaning I liked not just that it was present, but the way it was composed. Worth mentioning also, for me, is that I thought the themes of family and home, and what makes or defines that, as well as the difficulties in forgiveness, were nicely explored here. And finally, the standalone aspect: I think the author nailed it. First, it’s refreshing for this genre, and second, it is capably accomplished. I was left wanting a little more (always better leave us wanting more than to be overdo it), but with a fully realized and wrapped up ending – the perfect combination and a great emotional ride.

Now, for all that good, there was a little left slightly missing for me. It wasn’t much, and I cannot put my finger on it necessarily, but somewhere, the depth of feeling or development that would have made this a 5 star read just wasn’t there. However, I say that mostly as a cover my own ass sort of thing. I want to make sure it’s out there, that I’m not recommending this as one of my fav books of all time (because there was so much good to say that I think without this caveat my review would make it look like that). But that’s all it is, that feeling that some small spark was not fully there. Because otherwise, this is an upcoming release that you should keep your eye out for – a ferocious ride that I definitely recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin’s Press and Wednesday Books, for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When I first found out about this book and how it involved a lady viking, I knew I had to read it. Thanks to Netgalley I was given that chance and honestly I am so grateful!

It was everything I could have imagined while reading it. It had a lore of its own that wasn't too deep but enough details that you wouldn't be overwhelmed with a lot of it. The beginning was very fast paced starting off in the midst of a battle and it was so spectacular getting to read just how the main protagonist - Eelyn - fights. Reading how she handles herself in battle had my own adrenaline rushing. From beginning to end I was hooked and didn't want it to end.

Eelyn and her father both belong to a clan called the Aska and their enemy for the past thousand years or so has been the Riki. (No one really knows why they've been fighting for so long. It had a lot to do with their Gods.) Every five years they fight in a known battlefield and once the fight is over and each clan has returned to their homes, They tend to the wounded, find their dead, pray for them and then burn their bodies - as is the tradition. Eelyn and her father both believed her brother to bed dead, turns out he's alive and fighting for the Riki.

Confused and heartbroken, Eelyn tries to follow him only to get captured by Fiske and from there the story takes off. She is taken to the Riki's home and is made a dýr (pronounced like dear) it's type of prisoner - I want to say. She is bought by Fiske in order to save her and because of her brother Iri - which is the reason she got caught in the first place. From then on, Eelyn has to help around and help Inge - Fiske's mother and Iri's mother. Things slow down a bit around here until an attack by the Herja takes place an enemy that people think are myth. Chain of events just go down from their and lead to the both clans uniting to fight the Herja.

I fell in love with Eelyn and just how fiesty and strong she is. She's also a kick-ass fighter and I loved reading all her fight scenes. Seeing the relationship between Fiske and Iri was also so heartwarming to read about. They have this amazing brotherly bond and I was surprised by just how much they each would have done for each other.

The only downsides I will say is that I would have liked to see a longer procession between Fiske and Eelyn and how their relationship turns. I LOVE enemies to lovers trope so much!! I just wanted more time to figure out their feelings for each over the period of several more months instead of under a couple of weeks. I also would have liked a pronunciation guide either at the beginning of the book or at the end. I had tough time pronouncing some of the names and phrases they would say.

My overall rating is a 4 1/2 over 5 stars. Will definitely be buying this book in its finished glory!

I enjoyed this story since it was well written and mostly believable. I liked Eelyn and Fiske's slow burn feelings for each other, as well as Eelyn's family unit finally knitting itself back together. The only thing that bothered me was that we never find out where the bad guys who attack both the Askas and Rikis (forgot their name) came from or why they chose to attack that area. The Aska and Riki wars origin is loosely explained at least.

I'll be leaving 4 star review on Amazon and Goodreads

I am going to start this review by saying how much I LOVED this book!
More like I am OBSESSED with it.
I cannot stop thinking about it.
This is a must read book in my opinion and so worth the read.

I don’t know where to begin this review because this book was amazing. I loved every single aspect of it.
The world.
The characters.
Vikings!
Clan wars.
The side characters.
Did I mention VIKINGS??
This book is wrapped in Viking goodness.

The heroin, Eelyn, is an amazing character, she has her faults, but that’s what makes it so relatable. I loved reading her kickass battle scenes where she swings her axe and swords but also the more emotional scenes, they were so raw and moving that I connected so fiercely with Eelyn. These more emotional scenes made me cry and that is very rare for me when reading books.

Anyways, I don’t want write so much as I fear I may somehow spoil certain parts of the book, and with that being said, I think that this amazing fantasy book wrapped in Vikings, Clan wars and a very strong, yet very relatable heroin is a must read for everyone.

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Eelyn was raised as an Aska warrior: fierce, brave, and loyal to her people. But when she sees her "dead" brother fighting with the Riki - the enemy of the Aska clan everything changes. She charges after Iri, nearly getting herself killed and then captured by the Riki in search of answers.

At first Eeyln hates the Riki, as she was raised to. She doesn't understand why her brother would choose to stay with the Riki and betray the Aska. Bought as a dyr (slave) by Iri's friend Fiske she watches the Riki with as much hate and wariness as they look upon her. But soon she begins to see that the Riki aren't that different than the Aska and she starts to see why Iri cares so much about the family that have taken both of them in.

As Eelyn's feelings for Fiske and his family begin to grow an enemy to both the Riki and the Aska resurfaces and the Aska and the Riki will have to band together to defeat their common enemy - and in doing so will change the way the Aska and Riki coexist once and for all.

Can two warring tribes defeat their greatest enemy? And if so, where will that leave Eelyn in the end?

Sky in the Deep is fantastically written and I absolutely loved the story. Initially I requested to review this book because I'd heard great things about it and I loved the cover but the story exceeded all of my expectations.

Eelyn is a strong character and her emotions were very well conveyed; I felt betrayed when she felt betrayed by Iri, I felt her sorrow for her family and the Riki during the attacks that brought the clans together, and nervous anticipation during the battle scenes (which I thought were well written).

Sky in the Deep is like stepping into the world of Vikings, which happens to be my favorite show, so I think fans of the show will love this book.

Overall, I highly recommend this book! It's definitely a book to have on your TBR list this spring. I only feel sad that I've finished the book and have to leave this world behind.

I was so ready to adore this book, but unfortunately it just sort of fell flat for me. There was nothing wrong with the writing or the concept or anything. Everything was decently done. I just could not care about or like the main characters no matter how hard I tried. I really wanted to and I forced my way through this hoping it would finally click for me, but it just never did.

All I kept hearing about this book was how tough and fierce Eelyn was, and maybe that drove my expectations too high, but I just wasn't impressed. I mean she's no wuss I guess, but she's not the toughest I've read either. My main issue with Eelyn and the book in general is that I just didn't care about the things she cared about. We're thrust into this world with very little explanation up front, and then things just keep snowballing. That's great for keeping the action going, but when it comes to actually knowing and caring about the characters, I had nothing. Yes, her brother was just discovered when he was thought to be dead and he's with a rival clan who worships a different god than Eelyn's clan. Great. Why should I care about this? I barely know Eelyn at all when all that comes up and I just couldn't bring myself to care. Also what kind of person completely switches alliances to another clan and allows his family to believe he's dead like that? That's awful.

I also thought the whole slave to Fiske's family deal was a little bit over the top/ridiculous. I mean, clearly it was orchestrated to get Eelyn in a position to be near the Love Interest. It felt contrived. Why was a slave sleeping in a bedroom with the family? Why was a teenage female slave sleeping in a room with all the male family members who were around her age? *insert eye roll here*

The concept and world were very intriguing. I'm sure a lot of people will really enjoy this; even more because it's a standalone. I would still recommend it to fantasy fans looking for something different. If you can care about Eelyn, I'm sure its a fantastic book. I just couldn't get there.

A (possible?) stand alone fantasy (ahhhh!) set in the Viking world with enough action and Swoon to swing an axe at! I didn't know I needed this in my life! This was everything I have ever wanted in a fantasy YA novel and then some. The pacing keeps the action going, (never a dull moment!) the swoony goodness keeps the pages turning (drools), and the battle scenes (while violent because Vikings..duh!) never stray into overkill territory and was exactly as they should have been. Squee! Why is it that the ones you want to last forever don't? It's not fair, but man, what an amazing ride!

Sky in the Deep is a heartbreakingly beautiful story. Adrienne Young's words were arrows, piercing and hooking my entire existence. There were a sword, cutting any attachment to reality and the surrounding enviroment, ensuring my utter focus and attention. There were an axe, scattering my reserved expectations and skyrocketing them into the sky. I read Eelyn's story with a deep reverence, I felt humble before the magnitude of Adrienne's soulful, poetic writing, and her rare ability to bring words and sentences to life, to make you absorb images, smells, sounds, and feelings as if they were your own. The way she described daily chores, like cooking, and gathering herbs, managed to transport you next to her characters. The occasional gruesome scenes, and the battle frenzy that made your stomach churn, awakened every cell in your body, all of them tuned to the drama unfolding before you. And the romance, the wonderful, slow-burning romance, made your heart yearn and ache in a desperate need to grasp the love that was all-consuming. In a frozen lake, where the night sky was reflected on the ice, making it look like the sky was in the water, I realized that I gave my heart to this novel, something I hadn't felt in a while, and my eyes were wet from the hot tears that escaped in the light of this realization.
Featuring intense battle scenes, badass Vikings and strong, well-portrayed characters, marvelous world-building and ideal pacing, Sky in the Deep is an enthralling, deeply enchanting debut. Matters of religion and honor are examined in a subtle way that is not preachy, the bond of family, both by blood and by choice, is thoroughly explored, breaking and mending every piece of me. The entirety of the story was simply breathtaking. Eelyn became one of my favorite heroines, she is truly rare, and an example of how YA heroines should be written. She is fierce and independent, but she is also vulnerable and broken, she faces a reality where her enemies are not so different after all, and at first she can't cope with it. Her narration is a poem, the anger, the relief, the disappointment, the pain and the love she felt, I felt them too down to my very core. I shared her thoughts, her emotions, and the conflict that raged inside of her and ravaged her mind and her heart. The betrayal and the hurt she went through were devastating, she just found her beloved brother only to realize she'd lost him to the enemies of her people, and as a result, I suffered from her burden.
Adrienne Young does not elaborate on small-talk and unnecessary dialogues. Every word whispered or shouted is meaningful, and the profound tethers between the characters tangible. The enemies-to-lovers romance made my soul sing with its beauty, it intensified the story without overshadowing it, it started as a sparkle and turned into a conflagration that enveloped me in its warmth.
Sky in the Deep is a stunning debut, a bloody saga and an ode to love, family and friendship. Do NOT hesitate to give it a chance!

A million stars to all the feels, tension, love, hate, and Viking badassery that this story was.
I AM BLOWN AWAY.

I’m so sad this is over now because I never wanted it to end.

I was sold on this book when I saw the cover and read the synopsis, but then I started this and knew I had just come across one of my favorite reads of 2018. This book will suck you in right from the start. I'm talking HEART POUNDING, page turning, non-stop Viking goodness from literally page one. I'm not kidding. My first status update on this book was, "My heart is already pounding from one chapter." I am warning y'all now, DO NOT make the same mistake I did and start this book on your lunch break. You won't be able to stop and you will be late to return back to work. Just take my word for it.

Anyway, this book is about Eelyn, a viking warrior, who is a part of the Aska clan. Every five years the Aska and Riki clan go to battle. Eelyn, definitely has A LOT of hostility towards the Riki clan, not just because of their history but because they are responsible for her mother and brother's death. Chapter one starts off with the Aska and Riki battle five years after Eelyn, has lost her brother and to her surprise her brother is still very much alive, only this time he is fighting with her sworn enemy. Eelyn, not believing her eyes (literally not sure if she hallucinated) because she watched him die five years ago, sets out on a hunt to find out exactly what happened to her brother that would warrant him to be fighting with the clan he once hated too.

That's all I am going to say without giving away any spoilers.

As usual here is a list of a few of the things I loved about this story:

-A brutal MC who is just as compassionate as she is badass
-The battle scenes were written so beautifully, it felt like I was there (probably would have died in the first chapter though)
-The love and hate Eelyn feels towards her brother is executed so well
-ENEMIES TO LOVERS TROPE IS THE BEST TROPE THERE IS.
-The fact that this will have a companion novel (as much as I loved this story and I'm sad to see it go, it was the perfect length)
-Eelyn's friendship with Mýra, and the two of them fighting beside one another was epic
- JUST EVERYTHING

All in all guys, this is going to be a VERY hard book to knock out of my top 3 favorite reads for 2018. You definitely need to get your hands on this book once it is released!

This is an action-packed story featuring a strong kickass heroine.

The Riki and Aska clans are mortal enemies. Eelyn, the main character, grew up in an Aska clan. One day in battle she is about to be killed by a Riki when suddenly she is saved by her brother, the same brother who she thought had died five years ago! To make matters worse he's fighting alongside the Riki, the Riki! who are the mortal enemies of her people.

Things happen and Eelyn ends up kidnapped by the Riki. In order to survive she must put her beliefs aside and trust the people she spent her life fighting.

The story is told from the point of view of Eelyn and has a lot of action and a little bit of romance and a little bit of fantasy. I would have enjoyed the book more if there would've been more dialog between the characters, a bit of humor, and a bit more romantic sexual tension.

Overall, I enjoyed it and recommend it to readers of YA and fantasy.

Received ARC from publisher via Netgalley

Sky in the Deep has been one of my most anticipated reads for months now. Mostly the idea of a Vikings story, because I expected it to be brutal. And secondly because of that cover! I hadn’t read the entire blurb, so I wasn’t exactly sure what all the story would entail. For the most part, I think it lives up to some expectations and hype.

Eelyn is quite a complex character. She’s lived her life seeing the rival clan, the Riki, as enemies. It’s in her clan’s, the Aska, blood. Every 5 years they come together to battle. And it’s here when she sees someone she never expected to see again. Her dead brother, Iri. Fighting alongside her enemies.

And then she is captured. Essentially made a slave. Here she learns the truth about her brother. He’s alive and well. He has become Riki. Though it’s painful, it is also clear that things aren’t as black and white as she’d been led to believe.

The story itself isn’t all action and fun. It is brutal in many ways. The reality of bloodshed and feuds and loss. The majority of the story is really about Eelyn and her struggle as she begins to understand her truth. It takes place in the Riki village and follows her as she struggles to hold onto her clan’s beliefs, even as the rival one begins to feel similar. The same. It’s not boring. But it’s not as action-packed as I’d expected it to be. It opens with a bang. The majority of the middle is an internal war. Making peace with Iri. And, of course, the mixed and confusing feelings of love. And this is where I was wishing for MORE. I wanted Eelyn and Fiske together, but I don’t think that aspect of the story was fleshed out enough. I felt as though most of their interactions were negative in tone. Once they started getting friendly, I wanted more. Sadly, it started to feel more like insta-love than any real connection. It just didn’t feel 100% believable considering everything that had gone on.

I also thought the ending was too anticlimactic. The build up, the brutality, the things we expected...it was over within pages. I know that there is only so much room to work with in a page count. But maybe some other aspects early on could’ve been cut out to make room for a little more of the epic, final battle. The one we’d known was coming and what to expect. For all of the tension, the ending just fell a bit flat. Don’t get me wrong, overall the battle scenes are thrilling. I just expected that and better for an ending.

What I did enjoy was the familial ties and bonds. The Vikings storyline and history. I loved how Eelyn was able to see past old feuds and find love and forgiveness. I loved how she fell for Fiske’s family. Nothing about Sky in the Deep is boring. It will keep you glued to the pages. My heart raced so many times, not only with anticipation, but with tension. Who would live? Who would die?

Even with its flaws, I enjoyed the story. Had the two issues I’ve addressed gone differently, this would’ve been a 5-star read, hands down. I rarely say this, but I think I’d have liked a drawn out plot that set up a sequel.