Sky in the Deep (Sky and Sea, #1)

by Adrienne Young

Raised to be a warrior, seventeen-year-old Eelyn fights alongside her Aska clansmen in an ancient, god-decreed rivalry against the Riki clan. Her life is brutal but simple: train to fight and fight to survive. Until the day she sees the impossible on the battlefield—her brother, fighting with the enemy—the brother she watched die five years ago.

Eelyn loses her focus and is captured. Now, she must survive the winter in the mountains with the Riki, in a village where every neighbor is an enemy, every battle scar possibly one she delivered. But when the Riki village is raided by a ruthless clan settling in the valley, Eelyn is even more desperate to get back to her beloved Aska clan, which is rumored to have been decimated by the same horde. She is given no choice but to trust Fiske, her brother’s friend who tried to kill her the day she was captured. They must do the impossible: unite the clans to fight together, or risk being slaughtered one by one. Driven by a love for her clan and her growing love for Fiske, Eelyn must confront her own definition of loyalty and find a way to forgive her brother while daring to put her faith in the people she’s spent her life killing.

• ISBN13: 9781789091274
• Publish Date: 26 March 2019 (first published 24 April 2018)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Titan Books Ltd
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 352
• Language: English

Reviews

[shannonmiz]

You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight

4.5*

I found this book to be such an incredible breath of fresh air! I've been struggling a lot with fantasy lately, but Sky in the Deep proved a unique addition to the genre. It was definitely readable, too, as I was eager to know what would happen to the characters I so quickly grew to love. Let's talk about the reasons I enjoyed this one, shall we?

• The characters, and their growth. As I said above, I really enjoyed these characters, so now I'll explain why. Basically, they were realistically portrayed, totally flawed, and incredibly relatable. They always did what they thought was right for their people- as everyone always does- but they were faced with a lot of tough choices as the began to realize that looking out for their people may not actually be the right thing to do.



• Family was a huge focus of the book. Just like the clans were incredibly important to the characters, so too were their families, and I loved it. The theme of blood-family versus chosen-family was also prevalent. Which would the characters choose, if they were forced? Is one more meaningful than the other? What about when romantic love joined the mix? These were questions that human beings have dealt with throughout history, and are still dealing with. But asking them in such a dark, desperate setting made the stakes even higher.



• The world is dark and brutal. The characters who live in it are unapologetic badasses. This combination is pretty fabulous. They didn't make excuses,  they did what they needed to survive. There were quite a few battles waged during the course of the book, and even some smaller brutalities in between, but they made for a compelling story.



• Speaking of the world, it's pretty easy to follow. I think one of the things I've been struggling with in fantasy lately is super complex worlds and magic systems and such. This is a world that is fairly straightforward, and aside from struggling a bit with dialogue, I had no problems immersing myself in the world completely.



• The atmosphere was on point! So you want to feel like the world is dark, and this did. But it also didn't feel like a completely hellish nightmare, which I think was a good mix. There were some scenes that actually made the world seem quite beautiful despite its brutality, and I was pleased that the author captured that so well. Also, it's Viking inspired, and what could be more fun than that? (And yes, it does feel Viking-y which I was giddy about!)



• It's a standalone! Okay, look- I would gladly have taken more Eelyn & Friends, don't get me wrong. But... there's something really nice about reading a book, feeling a lot of love for it, being satisfied with the ending, and being able to say "awesome book!" and leave it at that. And I think that the author did a great job of indulging the readers's questions and curiosities, so that's a win. (After writing this, I did just see on Goodreads that there's a companion novel, and I won't lie, I am totally here for it. But my thoughts on how it wrapped still stand!)

Bottom Line: So fresh feeling, yet so awesomely brutal, this is a definite must for anyone who enjoys a dark character-driven fantasy!

*Copy provided for review

[bookishzelda]

Wow. When I started reading Sky in the Deep I couldn’t stop, I raced through the pages. The combo of the unique story as well as the characters had me riveted. Even when I finished reading, I did one of those. What was that awesome movie I watched, oh wait it was a book I read. I loved loved this book so much!

I loved Eelyn. She is this badass warrior and is fiercely loyal to her clan the Aska. It’s interesting to see her change and grow as she finds that things aren’t always what they seem. That hatred that she was taught isn’t necessarily right. I loved watching her develop as she struggled with the things she is supposed to hate but also the things she love and how could they be the same thing at times. Through Eelyn’s eyes we see her own traditions and how they differ from the Riki but are also very similar. She is just such a great character.

All the other characters are great two from Iri, who I had my own complicated feelings about. I could understand the conflict between the siblings. I have older brothers myself so I always think, how would I feel. Then of course Inge, Runa, Halvard and Fiske. (I love Fiske). They all have their special things about them that really just compliment the story.

What are great storyteller Adrienne Young is! The plot is fast moving, I never felt any lag. The fighting scenes were filled with action but not too overwhelming. It was the right amount for the story. You can’t have a book about warring clans without some blood. I actually like that the main characters are not exempt from getting harmed. The fighting season is a brutal time for these clans and it was definitely shown from both sides. I kept the Herja looking like the White Walkers from GOT. I honestly don’t even think they were described that way but it’s what my brain decided and could be swayed. In general though I could vividly picture all the settings and things happening. I really did feel like I had watched a movie.

Hate to love relationships are kind of my favorite type. I’m hoping there is lots of fanart for this book, because I would love to see art from this book.

I could rave all day how this a great read. I really did love it and I can not wait to see what Adrienne Young comes up with next.

[Kelly]

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.

[Leigha]

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

A young woman learns her brother is alive - and living with the enemy - in this epic tale of love and war.

Run to your local bookstore to purchase this novel when it comes out in April. It's a phenomenal story of family, courage, and love set in medieval times. Eelyn's world is rocked the day she discovers her "dead" brother fighting alongside the enemy. Circumstance forces her into an uneasy position when she ends up in enemy territory. At its heart, this story is about family - the family given to us by blood and the family chosen by us through love. It's about people looking past their prejudices to embrace a new reality. Truly a powerful story relevant for today.

Eelyn is a compelling character. Her Aska heritage and faith are core components to her characterization. While secondary characters are not nearly as complex as Eelyn, they provide a foil to her growth. One of my favorite aspects of the story is the romance between Eelyn and Fiske. Their evolution from enemies to lovers is slowly and methodically built over the course of the novel. I wish Eelyn connected to other Riki characters outside of Fiske's immediate family, but the tightly woven plot line didn't leave much room for further development.

It may be a character driven novel, but it's got plenty of action and adventure. It does not shy away from the blood and gore associated with tribal clans warring over religion and land. At times the scenes are brutal, but never did the violence feel out of place. The setting would not be as vibrant without each of the clan's religions. It creates a believable world where the characters react to their surroundings. I'm excited for future books from this author if they are this good!

tl;dr An immersive setting, a complex character, and themes of family, loyalty, and love make this a must read.