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!

5 Words: Honor, family, friendship, war, unite.

This book was everything I never knew I needed. Actually, no. It was more than I thought I could ever dream of in a book.

Sky In The Deep was absolutely perfect for me.

Normally I'm not a fan of action scenes or gore. When you're dealing with Viking-inspired warriors this is something you can't really escape. But this time? I was gripped by the fighting scenes, by the brutality and passion driving them forward. I even looked forward to reading them.

Eelyn is amazing. She is perhaps on of my most favourite fictional characters EVER. I loved how resolute and stubborn she was, her convictions come through on every page. She is a kick ass warrior, she knows herself, and she allows herself to change. I loved every second I spent by her side on the page.

This book gave me goosbumps. It hooked me right from the start, had me reading as I ate and walked to work, and even sneakily under the desk at work. I absolutely could not put it down. The writing is as breath-taking as the setting, as chilling as the encroaching winter. The details are exquisite. I could feel the cold wind, the snow on my feet, sticky blood drying on my skin. I could smell the food and the smoke and the iron tang of blood. My heart soared with Eelyn's, plummeted back down, raced with the adrenaline of battle. I could feel her pain (and boy did it hurt).

I loved the exploration of family, friendship, and tolerance. How the Aska and the Riki are the fiercest of enemies, yet so similar. It called to the Hufflepuff in me.

The ending tied everything up nicely, and it was so refreshing to know that it can be left as a standalone, despite how much I want to read more about Eelyn.

This book is perfect. Absolutely amazing. I have a finished copy pre-ordered, and I will likely read everything this author publishes in future because this was so incredible.

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.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've been sitting here for days trying to write this review.
Basically, all I want to do is scream at you intensely to preorder this book immediately and just thank me later.

There's isn't a whole lot more I can tell you about the plot that isn't already said in the blurb...not without spoiling everything for you.

What I can say is this: Eelyn is a hardcore, badass boss! I'm basically nearly old enough to be her mother, but I want to be her when I grow up.
She has definitely become my new favourite protagonist, and it didn't even take 5 pages for that to happen. She immediately leaps off the page and into your heart.
Plus, we're introduced to the sweetest and most adorable cinnamon roll to ever grace the page. Halvard may only be a child, but he stole my heart with his pure cuteness.

I can't really be sure why goodreads has classified it as "fantasy". To me, it's more of an ancient historical fiction story with slight mythological aspects. Regardless, it's a gorgeous and juicy story that has latched onto my soul and I'll happily keep it there for all eternity.
It's a story about revenge, betrayal, heartbreak, acceptance, and love.
And it features one of the best tropes on literature: enemies-to-lovers.

The thing I loved the most about the book were the action scenes. They honestly knocked the wind out of me with how well they were written. Hands down, some of the best written scene I've ever read. They weren't overly descriptive, just descriptive enough to be able to picture it all and feel like you're fighting right alongside the characters.

I'm honestly shocked that this is Young's debut novel. She's a writing pro and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!
(*whisper screams* please write more books set in this world with these characters! I don't want to let go!)

If the simple aspect of Vikings does not draw you in then the amazing story certainly will. Adrienne Young managed to fill this book with fighting, a beautifully breathtaking world, and an intense love interest. Sky in the Deep, will suck you in from the very beginning and grip you tightly until the very end. With a heroine, you'll want to be and characters you can't help but fall in love with this book is by far one of the best of 2018. Adrienne Young will make you have all the feels in this wonderful stand-alone novel.

Ever since last year when I first heard about Sky in the Deep I have been incredibly excited to read it. Being so excited about a book never usually works out too well for me as I tend to over hype it and ultimately end up disappointed.
Thankfully, this was not the case for Sky in the Deep.
Adrienne Young's writing is simply wonderful and her story hooked me right from the first page. Sky in the Deep is an epic story of a female viking navigating life, battles and family loyalty.
After finishing this book, I'm already excited for more of Adrienne's writing!

This book is a freaking brutal masterpiece! Action packed and will leave you biting your nails in anticipation as to what will happen next. No one said that the viking life would be easy!

I have been waiting with baited breath to get my hands on Sky In The Deep. And let me tell you up front - it did not disappoint. I found the first chapter of the novel online a few months ago, and it immediately grabbed my attention. It's a young adult fantasy about vikings, and the female MC, Eelyn, is both tough and likeable. As soon as the story starts, the reader is thrown into a whirlwind of battle along with Eelyn - 'in medias res,' as they say. We learn in the first chapter that Eelyn's brother is thought to have been dead for years, yet during the fight she spots him amongst the enemy warriors, and this is where her adventure begins.

This fast pace is maintained throughout the rest of the novel, where Eelyn finds herself tangled up with the clan her long-lost brother abandoned his family for. The plot is intriguing, the world-building is well done, and ultimately this is a book that's difficult to put down. It encompasses betrayal and forgiveness, hate and understanding, and what it means to be a family. That was one of my favourite things about Sky In The Deep: the relationships. Though Eelyn is a warrior through and through, just like her father, they still obviously share a deep love for one another. The same goes for Eelyn and her best friend, Myra, who always have each other's backs and are able to work through the tensions that threaten to separate them towards the end of the book. Then there is the male love interest, who helps Eelyn learn that sometimes your family are the people you choose. This is by no means insta-love, by the way; the relationship is complex and slow-building, following the evolution of Eelyn's trust.

Sky In The Deep builds to a climax that is tense and exciting, and wraps up on a note that leaves the reader feeling fulfilled. It is not only Eelyn that has a learning curve to navigate in this story - together with her friends she is able to help her clan undergo a transition as well. Though I would love more of this story, I can't deny that the ending came at a perfect time, and there is nothing lacking that would require a sequel. It was a wild ride, yet my heart is happy.

The Aska villages strengthen for battle every five years in the name of Sigr, including seventeen year old Eelyn and her father. Occupying the coastal villages of the fjord, it is an honour for a warrior to represent her clan, wielding her weapons beside Mýra, her friend and fellow warrior. Five years after the loss of her brother during battle, he is seen in the forest depths, ending the lives of those who wept for the young man taken from their community, now warring alongside those he had once vowed to destroy.

Seventeen year old shield maiden Eelyn is gallant and courageous, an Aska warrior compelled by the memory of her deceased brother. Five years has elapsed as the violent crusade commenced in the name of Sigr, as Eelyn strengthens her resolve alongside her father and friend Mýra. The Riki converge to defend their honour and sanctity when Eelyn is overwhelmed by a Riki combatant, shielded by her brother upon the killing fields of Hylli. Her brother whose body was ostensibly forsaken to the wintry landscape.

Eelyn is wounded and captured by Fiske, a Riki warrior and kinsman to Eelyn's brother, transported to the village of Fela. Eelyn is hostile, denouncing her brother who has brought disgrace upon her family, the Aska and Sigr, the Scandinavian deity. An Aska warrior is a disposable commodity and to ensure Eelyn's protection while recovering from her wounds, Eelyn unwillingly becomes a dýr of servitude, to be traded after the winter dissolves. Eelyn is placed in the steel collar of a dýr and although Fiske's family are initially mistrusting, Eelyn is only expected to perform domestic duties rather than sexual as the narrative insinuates.

The Aska and Riki are being decimated by the Herja. The Herja are ruthless and inhumane, indiscriminately pillaging villages along the fjord by massacring entire communities. It is a moment of unification for the Aska and Riki villages, centuries of conflict have created a prejudice between alliances and to reconcile will ensure the survival of both communities.

I enjoyed the broad mythology of the Viking Iron Age despite being devoid of any significant historical information. The narrative appears to take place within the Nordic Viking Scandinavia homeland rather than maritime, although the Aska villages are situated along the fjord, a ravine created by a glacier. The native language used is also fictionalised throughout the advanced readers copy and I hope the finalised novel will provide readers with a glossary.

Sky In The Deep is magnificent. I was captivated by Eelyn and her resistance, her strength and humanity. The prose is captivating, the fictional wintry Scandinavian landscape is beautifully cinematic, exhilarating and atmospheric.

Something about vikings, a bit of fantasy, and historical romance has always fascinated me. This story melds all of these themes perfectly and delivers a story that punches you in the face and then pulls you in a fierce and breathless hug. Eelyn is a young Aska warrior, fighting alongside her father against Riki village raiders. Then one day, she sees someone she never thought she'd see again, her brother she watched die years ago. Her world is suddenly turned upside down when she's taken by the same village she'd sworn were her enemies, and forced to face her brother's betrayal. With every fiber of her being, she is determined to be free from them, and Fiske, the enigmatic Riki warrior who can't decide whether he wants to keep her alive or dead. However a greater danger looms over them, and soon they find themselves in the fight of their lives, and struggling to unite the warring clans to face this newest evil. Once you start this book, you won't be able to put it down.
It's rare that I find books that take me on a journey from the start, and have me feeling what the main character feels. This book does exactly that. You feel Eelyn's pain, anger, sense of loss, and love throughout the entire story. I have never felt so on the edge of my seat before. She weaves words seamlessly into a wonderful cloth that wraps around you, taking you into the world of Aska and Riki. Young's descriptions are so vivid, I could imagine it all, the cold of the fjords, the ice and snow of the mountains, I can't wait to see what this wonderful author will write next.

"I'll go where you go."
This book is 100% pure Viking awesomeness.
Again, initially the cover is what caught my eye, I mean it's so gorgeous. I felt super lucky when the publisher actually granted my wish.
I loved how the book started right away with some action. The fighting scenes actually had me at the edge of my seat honestly so I really liked how the book actually provided much more action than some other books which actually promised it but failed to live up to it.
I also liked how Eelyn was a very strong, badass female character and adored her relationship with Myra and Fiske. The author truly provided us with the reasons for Eelyn's being the way she was and she wasn't just another female character that was killing people unapologetically. We truly get to know her and her motivations. The book was very raw and brutal. I was definitely 100% invested in the story which hasn't happened in a while to me. I also loved all the hair braiding, the kohl, the traditions of both the clans and the whole setting of the novel. It made me want to wish to be a badass Aska warrior.
The only thing I did not like was that this book ended because I genuinely wanted more.
The book was also written very well (like really well). I'm definitely waiting for more from Adrienne Young.
I can't reveal much about the story without spoiling it, so go grab a copy ASAP!
4.5/5
I want to thank NetGalley, the author and St. Martin's press for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much for granting my wish!

I am not ashamed to say that I read this in one sitting.
Adrienne Young is on the right path to becoming one of my favourite authors of all time. If she keeps writing the way she does, that is.

Because she writes like a goddess. As long as her stories are as magical as her writing, her future books will always be winners. Every sentence was a straight up piece of art. I kept staring at the pages like TELL ME HOW TO WRITE LIKE THIS. I was completely entranced the whole way through and loved every single scene SO much... it just kept getting better and better. The entire story was beyond gorgeous yet brutal because well, this is a book about vikings after all.

The characters are so three-dimensional and original. Eelyn is who we all want to be when we grow up. She's SO much more than the cliche trailblazing female warrior or angsty misunderstood character. She's a super tough warrior and just felt incredibly real.

I've never been more excited for a book to release so all my friends can get their grubby paws on and read it!

Sky in the Deep made me feel empowered.

I loved everything that this little book had to offer and I am going to try to contain my fangirling to sound coherent.

Adrienne broke so many barriers in YA it was so refreshing and unique. I loved how this book truly focused on family and staying grounded and true to who you are and what you love while also growing as a person.

The characters. Wow. Through the whole entire book I was so entranced with each and every one of them. Eelyn was special and I have not loved a heroine this much since Raven. I actually felt like I was in her and I was truly feeling everything she was. I felt despair, anger, betrayal, hurt, compassion, love and I couldn’t get enough because she was raw and real. She was not afraid to show her feelings but I never saw that as weakness to her character, it made her realistic and human and that was so incredible to read because so many times in YA these characters feel unreachable and unrealistic but you won’t find that here.

I felt each character had so much depth as well as the world, I could feel the cool wind, smell the fresh air and each scene played so vividly in my head.

I am not going to say anything about the love interest other than you will LOVE him. *heart eyes* Hate to friendship to romance? I’ll NEVER get enough. BEST TROPE EVER.

I adored Eelyn’s brother as well, he was like a giant teddy bear!

My only complaint is that I am BEGGING FOR MORE. PLEASE.

I have so much more to discuss and I’ll post a more in depth review when closer to publish date but I don’t want to spoil anything and I want to finish by saying this is a masterpiece of a book and a piece of Eelyn will always be with me.

SKY IN THE DEEP is an enjoyable read with a fresh take on fantasy. I loved the Viking-esque elements, and they felt very carefully yet naturally incorporated into the story. The mythology behind the two clans (Riki and Aska) was also well done.

I was surprised by the action scenes, which were almost flawless, and quite gruesome! (Readers beware if you're not a huge fan of blood!)

I think I got a bit lost in the middle; it felt sort of murky and not a lot happened until 50% of the way through. That's when I realized this book is very much character-based rather than plot-based. I actually enjoyed the character development and felt that, given the short time the characters had together, there was a strong emphasis on characters' emotions and how those emotions play out.

My favourite parts of the book definitely had to do with the family dynamics between Iri and Eelyn. I loved reading how their relationship grew and changed!

Overall, an enjoyable read, though much more character-based than plot-based. 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a digital arc of "Sky in the Deep" by Adrienne Young. This book is awesome. The characters are strong and well developed. The setting and style reminded me of the show "The 100" which is something I am always happy to find. I know my students will love this edgy story and think it deserves a spot in any YA library.