Sky in the Deep: 1 (Sky and Sea)

I love finding a book that draws you in and doesn’t let you go until the last page. Sky in the Deep is that kind of book! I’m a massive fan of the myth and legend tales, and the Norse Gods, sagas, Viking battles, and axe-wielding warriors hold a special place in my heart.Sky in the Deep is told from Eelyn’s point of view; a seventeen-year-old warrior with two fighting seasons under her belt. She’s hard, passionate, and fiercely loyal to her clan. When she discovers her brother is still alive and living with their rival clan, Eelyn’s world is broken apart.She is taken as a prisoner; her brother’s new family try to keep her safe until their entire village is attacked. Everything shifts and Eelyn must learn to trust the enemy.Underneath the violence, fear, and fast-paced action is a beautiful coming-of-age story. I love Eelyn; she’s a fierce soul with a caring heart. The other characters: Fiske and Iri, Halvard and Inge, Aghi and Myra are all well-crafted. Young’s story development is terrific, and she paints a gripping picture as you follow this young warrior’s painful journey through this stunning setting, easily visualising the fjord and the mountain village.I didn’t want this book to end as I loved being a part of Eelyn’s world. Would highly recommend Sky in the Deep if you’re looking for a vivid debut that stays with you long after you finish reading.

There is a trend of bloodthirsty young women in YA right now, and I am loving it. I don't know what it says about me that some of my favourite books so far this year have featured ruthless women who charge into battles and kill without second-guessing themselves. Add to that a high dose of emotions, chemistry, and tangled loyalties, and you've got a highly charged, kickass story.Every emotion Eelyn felt was written deep into the page. I felt everything she did: pain, betrayal, rage, distrust, homesickness. I could understand her hatred and hated everyone with her. The transition of these dark feeling to wariness and a begrudging respect was slow enough to be almost undetectable. Slow and believable, but never so slow as to be sluggish and drag the story down. And where Eelyn could be one ferocious lady, facing down her enemies without mercy, she showed so much vulnerability at times, sometimes right after doing something particularly monstrous. But other people's emotions also tore at me, with one scene featuring Eelyn's father actually bringing me to tears.I loved the battle scenes, filled with fury and determination and just enough gory detail to feel the blood speckling your skin. There was even a scene in which Eelyn [spoiler]rips out a man's eyeball[/spoiler]. VICIOUS. I soaked up every drop of blood and crunch of bones, and during the particularly nasty scenes, I felt a bit sick, but I also wanted to laugh, my eyes wide with murderous glee. It's like Young was trying to expose my inner violence, the animal beneath the human.While I'm no expert on Viking culture, it felt like the author had done her research. There was so much detail in the buildings and customs and landscape that I felt like was there. I'm not a fan of studying modern history, but I do enjoy learning about old cultures, especially the day-to-day lives of people, while also being wrapped up in a story. While there was some confusion for me over the passage of time, the world-building was otherwise spectacular.Finally, that ending. Wow, was it wrapped up so nicely, and hey, this works as a standalone! (I want to say it is a standalone but sometimes authors surprise me when they announce a sequel to something that had ended well.) By the way, all the relationships in this are awesome and tied up nicely, too, although I'm a bit suspicious of Myra's future... Hmmm...Honestly, the only disappointing thing about this book is that it isn't easily available to preorder outside of the US. Your best bet is through TBD or Wordery. But it's a definite must-buy if you're a fan of badass women, epic fight scenes, Vikings, and family.Ugh...so good...I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"Ond Eldr." Breathe fire.* * * * *5 / 5Sky in the Deep features my favourite kind of woman - the warrior woman, the woman with a sword and an axe and a glare that could shatter empires. Eelyn is tough, bitter, discerning, and sensitive upon occasion. She is raised in the pseudo-viking Aska Clan, bitter rivals to the Riki people with whom they meet in battle every five years. Five years ago, Eelyn's brother Iri died on the battlefield, leaving her and her father alone; today she stands shield to shield with her friend when she encounters a ghost on the bloody field."I tried to remember who I was. Strong. Brave. Fierce. Sure. I tried to summon her to me - that Eelyn who would choose her people over anything else"Captured by Iri and his new brother Fiske, Eelyn is taken as a slave to the homes of the Riki. Whilst Sky in the Deep starts strong with heavy action, this middle section is rather slow but I found it very beautiful. Others may be bored by the slow building up of relationships, of Eelyn interacting with the Riki village people and weaving baskets, but I found Young's writing so delicate and enveloping that I hardly cared that we hadn't seen a knife for fifty pages. I also appreciated how much research seemed to have gone into creating this Viking-inspired world - I'm hardly an expert on Viking village culture and lifestyle, but it definitely felt authentic.Then the violence comes thundering back and the emotion in this book is incredible. The battle scenes were well-written, the tempo excellent, and the plot managed to surprise me - I wasn't entirely sure where it was headed, and I was intrigued. I must say I wasn't the world's biggest fan of the romance, but I appreciated that it was subtle and as tasteful as it could have been. I much preferred Eelyn's relationships with her family - her newly undead brother, her father, her shield-sister - and how her mindset changed and developed. I adored how myths of Young's creation were woven into the story, how Eelyn's devotion to her god was explored."Vegr yfir fjor." Honour above life.Steeped in history and myth and blood, Sky in the Deep was a beautiful novel that I thoroughly recommend!