Vegr yfir fjor. Honor above life. Living for your clan, dying for your clan and bringing honor to it. That is what young Viking warrior Eelyn has been brought up to believe. From a young age, she has been taught to fight, to kill, and to live in a world in which death was not a possibility but a probability. Every time the fighting season starts, the Aska march against their archenemy, the Riki, and make their clan proud or die trying. Seventeen-year-old Eelyn lost her mother to the ruthlessness of enemy clans when she was only a child, and then five years ago, her beloved brother Iri was slain by a Riki warrior. Now she finds herself on the battlefield again to Riki herself, when she is suddenly faced with the impossible: her brother Iri. She follows her brother and is instantly taken captive by the Riki and sold into servitude. How can her brother be alive? And how can she flee and restore her honor with her own clan, when she seems to have found a new home and family with the enemy?

I am positively surprised by this ambitious and well-executed debut. Although it is far from being perfect, it entertains with a well-paced plot and tender romance. Eelyn is a strong female protagonist who still remains relatable, and, even more importantly, likable. While I enjoy strong warrior-like female characters, they often seem to be cast into a very static mold in which they are restricted in their development. I have read numerous examples of heroines that are too perfect to be true. Their strength makes them appealing but at the same time a little flat. Not Eelyn - she is self-aware and loving, and develops from fierce warrior to caring woman without compromising any of her strength. Moreover, she does not behave in an anachronistic way. With a different historical setting, there is always the danger of pressing the characters into a modern mindset and behavior pattern. At first, I was a bit skeptical about whether Viking women actually fought in battles. After some research, it turns out they very well might have. Another benefit of this novel is its subjects, the Vikings. Popularised by current films and TV series, this particular era is certainly interesting for a wide readership. Maybe it's also the mystery surrounding the Vikings as there are still so many things we do not know about them. Therefore, this little book might create a fascination with this epoch and raise young readers' interest in history.

However, there are also some flaws. The romance part was utterly predictable and although Young paced it slowly and carefully, this slow burn just didn't burn. What's more, there could have been more of a plot for my taste. The alternations between battles and the protagonist learning to come to terms with the challenges that come with the job of being a Viking are told in a coherent way, but I would have wished for more gripping plot devices.

Overall, the author did a very good job of telling an entertaining story about intriguing characters set in an era that has not been much explored yet by YA literature. For this novelty alone the author should be applauded, particularly considering the fact that this is her first novel. Moreover, she dresses this story in pretty words, too, which is always a bonus. The rich descriptions of this harsh world are juxtaposed with those of the inner workings of a girl's mind slowly thawing to new feelings, and thus make for a real page-turner. In short, the language, Eelyn's introspection, and her path to redefining the meaning of family are what makes this book a very pleasurable reading experience. I would, therefore, recommend this book to teenage girls from the age of 14 as there is a considerable amount of violence - as can be expected from a novel about Vikings.


"And that was the way of it. Things belonging where they didn't. Like two night skies on a frozen lake. One looking down from above and one looking up from the deep."

(Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with this digital galley in exchange for an honest review.)

I was pleasantly surprised by SKY IN THE DEEP. When I started reading, and especially when it got to the part where Eelyn was captured, I was really leery this was going to turn into an I Love My Captor story, but I think Young approached that whole topic delicately and resolved it in a way that effectively avoided that whole disastrous trope.

SKY IN THE DEEP is brutal. It’s probably the least young adult novel I’ve ever read in that regard. I don’t know a whole lot about Vikings, but Young sticks to the basics of what I think Vikings are: brutal, unapologetic fighters. Their reasons for fighting were kind of hard to swallow, so firmly rooted in superstition that it was hard to suspend my logic for it, but it’s something I can believe having happened within that time. I didn’t doubt it. It just didn’t make a ton of sense as a modern day person reading the reasons why these two tribes fought.

As for the brutality, it’s bad. You get full view of Eelyn popping out a guy’s eyeball with her thumb. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg. But I didn’t feel any of it was gratuitous. It fit with the characters and their way of life. There’s this hardness to them built from generations of training. But there’s also an unapologetic softness there too. Men aren’t afraid to cry when the situation calls for it and the timing is right. Emotion is okay, but the overwhelming emotion usually involves some kind of fighting, at least in this story.

As for the love story portion of the story, I believed it. I don’t want to spoil anything, but Young takes care to develop the relationship slowly and you get every ounce of emotion that Eelyn is feeling about it. The outright hatred, the loathing, and slowly it develops into something less than that. Something tamer, something mellow. And then it slowly starts to ascend with her reluctant admittance to herself that hey maybe something might be there after all. It’s my kind of love story.

If you’re looking for a bloody, brutal story about warriors with a sprinkling of a love story thrown in, SKY IN THE DEEP is your book. But don’t dismiss the book’s loyalty, its blood ties, its torn emotions, its confusion about itself and its future, and everything else in between. There’s a lot going on here and it’s so much deeper than simply a viking story with some love thrown in. I think you’ll love it a little.

I didn’t want this book to end. I slowly read it to make it last longer. The characters were in my heart and brain and I didn’t want to let them go. They became a part of me. I dreamt of them. At night and in my daydreams. I was praying the whole time that this was a cliff so I could savor it for a little while longer. It wasn’t though but it had the most perfect ending anyone could wish for.

There was loss and there was love. Sky in the Deep will stay with me for months to come. I can’t explain how much I fell in love with this book. The rich background and the characters you love and some love to hate. The emotions pouring through me even as I type this. Adrienne Young has a way with words that will leave you breathless and longing for more.

This book was really great, I will admit I stopped at about 60-75% just because it wasn't the genre I was looking to read at the moment. But I still liked it, I still want to figure out what happens and will for sure finish it at some point.

I liked the characters, I kinda did hope for a bit more from Eelyn or even a bit more fantasy then what I was expecting. but the story played out more historical kind of? Still over all really interesting and it for sure puts you right there inside the story. Once I fully get out of my book slump I will give this another go.

EPIC. Vikings in YA literature are very rare, and boy was this a treat. I loved the face pace feel and the action never really stopped, which was perfect. I loved the main character and her determination and will, and I need a physically copy ASAP because that cover is gorgeous!

Thank you to Wednesday Books for providing me with a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for review! All opinions are my own.

I've been having a difficult relationship with reading lately (for personal reasons) but Sky in the Deep seems to have gotten me out of my reading slump! This book was the perfect dose of historical fiction I didn't know I needed and I'm definitely looking forward to Adrienne Young's future releases!

"We ask Sigr to accept your soul into Solbjorg, where the long line of our people hold torches on the shadowed path."

Plot:
Eelyn was raised to be a warrior and fights with her Aska clansmen in the ancient war against the Riki clan. While sometimes brutal, her life follows two simple rules: fights and survive. But one day, on the field of battle, Eelyn sees the impossible: her brother is fighting alongside the enemy- the same brother that she watched die five years ago. Faced with the betrayal of her brother, Eelyn now must survive with the Riki clan for the winter; the mountain village filled with enemy neighbors and battle scars that she possibly delivered herself. But when a clan thought to be but a legend attacks the Riki village, Eelyn becomes desperate to return home to her loved ones. With no choice, she joins with Fiske, her brother's friend, and together they must unite the Aska and Riki to fight together or risk the clans being destroyed. Driven by a fierce love of her clan and her growing feelings for Fiske, Eelyn must confront her definition of loyalty and family and decide whether or not to put her trust in people she's spent her entire life hating.

I'm almost positive I've never read a YA book about Vikings before but oh my goodness am I so glad I have now! I really enjoyed Sky in the Deep, plain and simple. The plot kept me engaged in the story from start to finish and actually piqued my interest in Viking culture. I really enjoyed the battles the most but I found that the more I read, the more I also enjoyed Eelyn's journey and the "slower" less brutal parts. She went through some internal battles between seeing her brother on the battlefield, being taken by the Riki and living with them, and trying to decide for herself what family and loyalty actually meant to her. There was so much growth and development from her and I was living for it! I will say that I felt like the final battle was kind of lackluster, unfortunately. I was hoping for a lot more, probably because the opening chapter had a very intense battle and I loved it. But outside of that minor complaint, the entire rest of the book was very enjoyable. It started off strong at the beginning and while the pace slowed down through the middle, I never felt like it was dragging on and never found myself bored. I thoroughly appreciated seeing the different sides of Eelyn and just genuinely loved her as the main character. This is one book I'm glad I took a chance on!

"And the glacier inside of me cracked. It roared as it broke and fell into the icy waters around my heart."

Characters:
Eelyn was definitely the strong, fierce warrior main character that I've been dying to read about. She was brutal but smart and loyal to those she called family. I do feel that she spent a lot of her time at the Riki camp basically talking about how she could destroy/kill the Riki, but never really doing anything. I was slightly frustrated at this, but then I came to the conclusion that she did this for a reason: she was beginning to realize that maybe the people she's grown up hating aren't so different from her after all. She never says this, but you can definitely tell in her character development that she changes her mind about the Riki over time. Which, speaking of character development, I actually really enjoyed her growth throughout the book. She does remain a fierce warrior, however, and that was my favorite part about her! A Viking warrior female main character that is able to hold her own on the field of battle but also has complex feelings and emotions and is able to grow as a character throughout the book? Yes, please! We need more characters like Eelyn in Young Adult books.

I didn't particularly care for any of the other characters in Sky in the Deep, unfortunately. If I had to choose one that I would be interested in reading more about, it would be Eelyn's battle partner Myra. I'd love to know more about her backstory! However, I do feel that the companion novel may possibly be about Fiske? He wasn't a bad character, and I suppose I wouldn't mind knowing more about him and his connection to Eelyn's brother, Iri. I did feel that the romance between Fiske and Eelyn wasn't necessary, though. I would have much rather seen the two of them become friends! But I will say that, while I may not have necessarily agreed with the romance, it wasn't insta-love, and that wins a ton of points in my book. It was more of an enemies-to-lovers kind of development, and even at the end, they weren't exactly the typical YA romance couple. So, I didn't exactly hate it and would be interested to see how it develops possibly in the companion novel.

"Because you have fire in your blood."

Writing:
I think the most enjoyable part about this book was the writing. There was just something about it that kept me going, even when I was tired and probably should have gone to bed. The author does a really good job at bringing you into Eelyn's world and making you feel like you're with her everywhere she goes. It's so descriptive and beautiful and I really felt like I was in the book! I will say, I was picturing Lagertha from Vikings every time I thought about what Eelyn looked like. I can't be the only one that did that, right? But, as I stated above, there was something about the writing in this book that just made it stand out to me. This might not have been the most perfect amazing flawless book ever, but I really liked it because of the writing. It was descriptive without going overboard and allowed you to really get a feel for Eelyn's character. The battles, while there weren't as many as I would have liked, were brutal and exciting, and the characters were well fleshed out (despite me only really liking Eelyn) and felt like real people. I don't typically encounter authors whose writing just has that thing that I can't find the words to describe, but Adrienne Young has it, and I can't wait to read more from her!

Sky in the Deep is a perfect summer read for anyone looking for a quick and exciting Viking tale. It has an amazingly strong female main character, a plot that keeps you intrigued from start to finish and writing that will hook you in from the first bloody battle to the last!

I love love LOVED this book! It was amazing! I think this is a new auto-buy author! I read this book so quickly, I might have to read it again soon!

Anything Viking and I am already in love. This book had me just from the cover. I can’t wait to see more from this great new to me author!

I’ve never read a Viking novel of any sort before, so I didn’t know what to expect going into this one. I really enjoyed that Young incorporated JUST ENOUGH Viking references. I didn’t feel like I was having to learn and entire culture just to follow along with the story.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. It was very fast-paced and a quick read!

When I first started Sky in the Deep, I was worried that, like so many other books, it wouldn’t live up to hype. Then I ended up reading it in one sitting because I just didn’t want to put it down. And then I wanted to reread it as soon as I finished. Adrienne Young has created a truly remarkable and vibrant story full of memorable characters and high-stakes action. However, the heart of this story revolves around family, whether they be blood or choosen.

The characters in Sky in the Deep were so easy to relate to! I fell in love with Eelyn from the very first page. Even as her world was turned upside down, she remained fierce and confident. I liked that I could understand each character’s motivation, it really helped me connect with them. The enemies to more trope worked so well here.. While it did happen fast, their relationship was ultimately based on mutual respect and understanding.

I though the pacing of the book was excellent. The twists and turns were brilliantly executed. Plus there were some wonderfully suspenseful moments. I will note that some scenes are a bit violent and gory, which may be too much for some readers. It’s obvious that Adrienne Young did her research into the time period. She included so many small details that really brought the world to life. My only compliant is that the ending happened pretty fast, I wanted a bit more explanation and development. But that was also partially because I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to the world yet!

Sky in the Deep was one of those rare books that totally lived up the hype for me. I’d recommend if you’re looking for an excellent YA historical fantasy with characters you can fall in love with.

I was really excited about the premise of this novel because I love all things Viking. Unfortunately, I found the protagonist to be a very boring, typical YA heroine. This book felt like every other bland YA fantasy which left me very disappointed. It had all the usual clichés and none of the excitement or adventure of a good Viking story.

Super exciting and fun to read, filled with lots of action! Generally likeable characters who develop throughout the story, and have developing relationships as well.

Definitely recommend this to people who are fans of YA fantasy, and especially if you're interested in vikings!

Eelyn is an Aska warrior, trained by her father to fight their rival clan, the Riki. She has lost her mother and brother and only has her father and her best friend Myra by her side as they fight the enemy. One day in battle, Eelyn sees her dead brother Iri fighting with the Riki. She believes he is actually still alive, so during the next battle she follows him and ends up being captured by the Riki. Forced to live with the Riki as a slave, Eelyn tries to come to grips with what has made her brother turn to the Riki while trying to find a way to escape. Eelyn soon finds herself caring for Iri's best friend Fiske and his family as a new threat rises for both the Riki and the Aska. Nothing will be the same as the two clans fight against their greatest enemy in order to survive.
I can safely say that this book is one of the best books I've read so far this year. I almost didn't read it because many books that are attached to a great deal of hype usually don't end up being as good as they are marketed to be. I'm so glad I read this book, because I ended up loving it! The writing is so beautiful and descriptive that I felt like I was actually there as I read. I became attached to the main characters within the first couple of chapters because they seemed so real and human. My favorite characters are Eelyn and Fiske, and I was very satisfied with the ending of the book. I generally don't like to read violent books, but this one was definitely an exception. I don't recommend this book for children, young teens, or those with a weak stomach, but I absolutely recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy. As a quick side note, the cover is gorgeous, especially the OwlCrate exclusive cover for the book (which I own). I am definitely adding Adrienne Young to my list of favorite YA fiction authors!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

I received a digital copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

I really don't understand all the hype for this book because I was bored out of my mind. The viking aspect was different but the characters were so dull, I could have skipped most of the middle and not missed anything. Even the action scenes were dull, probably because I didn't care what happened to these characters. This was a big miss for me.

SO THIS BOOK WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST HYPED OF 2018 THAT I KNEW I WOULD HAVE TO READ THE MINUTE I HEARD ABOUT. Compared to Vikings and Wonderwoman with that gorgeous dark cover and the promise of a forbidden romance?

HOW ABSOLUTELY BREATH-TAKING DOES THAT SOUND?

And, from all the hype around the internet and the hype I created for myself, I DIDN’T END UP LOVING IT AS MUCH AS I HOPED I WOULD.

Not that I didn’t like it, because I did. The book was powerful in a lot of ways and the romance was enjoyable, but I just felt removed/ didn’t connect with the book as much as I wished I would.

I guess, in a nutshell, I was hoping this book would be a new favourite, but it turned out that it was just one of the many.

THINGS I LIKED:

1. THE COVER: Yes, hello, please let’s talk about that MARVEL of a cover that caught my eye and hasn’t let it go till date. Also, there’s an inscription when you open the dust jacket of the book that says ‘Breathe Fire,’ and if that isn’t the COOLEST THING EVER, I don’t know what is.

2. THE WRITING: Even as a debut author, Adrienne Young had this unique way of storytelling and her writing was poignant as she wrote about a harsh world and, well, I really loved it. I read her book in just three days and I can’t wait for the next one.

3. THE RIKI: I actually fell in love with certain members of the rival to Eelyn’s clan, the Riki, namely Inge, Fiske and Halvard. I wish we saw more of Runa, Kerling and Gyda and ESPECIALLY Iri, but I did love the Riki.

THINGS I WISH HAD BEEN BETTER:

1. IRI: A brother our main character thought was dead because SHE LET HIM GO during war is REALLY ALIVE AND LIVING WITH A RIVAL CLAN? I felt like this was such a brilliant part to the storyline and yet, I saw nothing of Iri and Eelyn reconnecting or even being siblings. All I got in the end was a measly line of about how ‘it would have to be worked on’ and I was honestly QUITE DISAPPOINTED.

2. REALLY, I DON’T KNOW WHAT ELSE BUT STILL: Like I said before, there was something that stopped me from FALLING IN LOVE that I can’t name till date. It just didn’t get my fangirl side fangirling or my hopes raised.

Will I read more from Adrienne Young? DEFINITELY.

An enjoyable read with poignant writing in a harsh world + a forbidden romance. I’d definitely recommend it, even though it wasn’t the BEST fantasy I’ve read.

Ond Eldr. Breathe Fire.

Completely, 100% full of that Viking Badassery that you'd hope and expect. It did take me a hot minute to get into the book, more because of the writing style, some of the words in my copy were present tense then past tense, so I got a little confused but as I pushed through, the problem righted itself, and I ended up thoroughly enjoyed the story. Eelyn is kickass, warrior viking who is strong and seriously stubborn, but in those pages, you watch her grow so much, she grows so much, no just for herself, but also her people and her enemies. And Fiske 💕💕💕 Just Aww..! 5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 Stars all the way!

I didn't think I would enjoy a novel about vikings, but I am so here for this young adult viking novel! Eelyn lives in a violent world where two rival clans battle to satisfy an ancient rivalry between the gods, but can age old prejudices be set aside to deal with a threat that could destroy both clans forever? Full of romance, spectacular world building, and badass female warriors, Young's debut novel finally deals with a world where monsters were the real monsters all along.

I love the use of shadow on this cover. The main character takes a lot of hits but doesn't give up. Pretty bad-ass even when all I sometimes wanted her to just let herself heal. I could've done without the romance and I wish the best friend had more scenes but overall I liked how the story went.

This book was actually something that initially caught my friend's eye and then I found out about it through her, and I'm so glad that it happened because this book was such a great historical fiction to read. What I think I really liked about this book was that it was very naturally historical and slightly natural while also tying in a lot of questions about how the role of family is thrown into the mix.

The only drawback about this book is that there is only one and I WANT MORE!!!! I actually don't think this story would benefit in any way from an additional book, but the characters and story were compelling enough where I want to hear more about this world and their lives.

Sky in the Deep was a lovely break from the usual stories that are released and from the business of the end of the school year. It was captivating and engaging and I recommend this to anyone who is looking for a standalone novel that is not just contemporary romance.

A stunning debut that is so richly detailed, you feel as though you've become apart of this brutal, beautiful world. It emotionally broke me, and put me back together. It's an addicting read that you want to re-immerse yourself if after you read it. I absolutely loved it!

VIKINGS! I can't tell you how long I have waited to read this book. I was hooked the moment I first heard about it. This book far exceeded my exceptions, and what I thought it would be. This debut is more than Vikings, epic battles, a fierce warrior, and clan loyalty. At the heart of this story is love and friendship, and not just the romance kind of love. It's a love of family, love for friends, love of traditions, and the love of your clan. All of which you'd lay your life down for.

Evelyn is my kind of character. I absolutely loved her. She is a warrior. She's a survivor, a fighter, and a character whom I was surprised at how quickly, and deeply I connected with her. She's such an incredibly strong, fierce and loyal person. Her vulnerable scenes really resonated with me. I felt like I emotionally connected to all she was battling, both emotionally and physically through out this story. I understood what she was going, though I have never experienced what she had. I love the way Young wrote her character. She wasn't an untouchable character. She was a larger than life character who is broken down, and rediscovers who she is, and so much of that makes her this incredibly realistic character. The YA book world needs more characters like her.

I loved the journey Evelyn goes on, and those she meets. There is so much more to who these other characters are in the story, and I loved getting to know them. They were three dimensional characters who I felt like I connected with on some level. I couldn't help but loving these characters almost as much as I loved Evenly. I loved the emotional connections they had with each other as families, friendships, and battle mates. Even the ones Evelyn wanted to hate, were hard to hate, because you see them as similar to Evelyn's own clan, and can't help but love them.

Fiske was definitely a character I came to love. What transpires between he and Evelyn is a delicate, deeply rooted line rich in customs, and traditions of two opposing clans. There's a lot of tensions, and learning to trust. Their way of life is brutal. There's also this soft side to them too. I really appreciated the fact that Young stays authentic to the trust issues through out the story. She doesn't rush what doesn't need to be rushed, and instead allows the readers to see the struggles of breaking the stereotype between Evelyn an Fiske's clans, while still having to stay true to their customs. I loved the trust that they learn to have, and what it develops into. The enemies to possibly something more is one of my favorite tropes when it comes to stories like this.

The fight scenes are awesome. I felt like I was watching Vikings as I was reading this. These scenes are brutal! Young makes you feel like you're right there on the battle field, or trying to protect the village during the raid of an opposing Clan. Young definitely doesn't sugar coat the brutal life as a Viking. There are some things that happen to Evelyn that were even hard to read. I love that Evelyn and some of the girls are just as fierce as the men are, and they're treated equally in that regard. I really liked seeing the transformation from Evelyn's side from seeing the rival Viking clan as enemies, and having this pure hatred for them, to realizing that they're not so different from her own clan. It wasn't an easy thing, and it was so well crafted in this story.

The world building is absolutely amazing! I loved the world in which this book is set. I felt like I was getting a peak into the past. Not only that, the way Young details everything, from the mountains, to the woods, their villages, and all the places that make up their home, are easy to visualize. At times you feel like you can also smell the smoke coming from a camp fire, or feel the cold against your cheek, or the way the woods smell. I love the way Young wrote this book. It's so beautifully done, and the pacing is perfect! This book is everything I love in a YA book. I'm blown away this is a debut. I look forward to reading man