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captmorgan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Confinement, Gore, Slavery, Violence, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
whit_lovesbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The story itself is quite simple - a girl, Eelyn, is on one side of a nonstop war when she sees her “dead” brother in the battlefield… fighting for the other side. In her attempt to not lose him again, she ends up kidnapped by the other side and made into a slave. She has to grapple with her feelings of being glad her brother is still alive and anger that he joined the other side. There’s also a sweet little enemies-to-lovers side plot for her.
I went into this story completely blind - I genuinely had no idea what the plot was going to be. I think that helped me enjoy this story so much more than I might’ve if I’d known what was coming. I felt Eelyn’s pain on every step of her journey. I felt her confusion, her frustration, her anger, and her sadness. I can’t imagine her lot - Being brought up her whole life to believe the Riki were evil, only to see that they are exactly like her people, the Aska.
Ultimately, the story was deeply satisfying because it brought together two enemy clans in order to fight a greater enemy.
I love seeing characters have their worldviews turned upside down when they are exposed to ~more~. I think it helps me expand my worldview too, in a way.
I loved this book. The end felt a teensy bit rushed and there were a few things I would’ve preferred to have more detail on (how did her relationship with her brother change? How did her and Fiske end up?), but the purpose of the story was concluded well and ultimately that’s all I really cared about.
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, and War
Moderate: Sexual harassment
mlk4562c's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexual assault, Slavery, and Suicidal thoughts
callistag1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Death of parent
maddie_rae_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I feel like everyone knows Fable and her world, but not a lot is said of Eelyn of Hylli. I was drawn to this story because I wanted to read more Adrienne Young books, love the Viking vibes, and the FMC’s name is one letter off from my daughter’s name!
As a YA story, it hits all the marks for me. Epic story, coming of age, challenging what is for something better, sweet undercurrents of possible love in many forms, and a (mostly) happy ending.
Highly recommended!
THINGS CONSIDERED SCORE: 90/100
Graphic: Death and Violence
Minor: Domestic abuse and Slavery
jennymer's review against another edition
Graphic: Slavery
caffinatedslug's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault and Pregnancy
nokvi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Here's the thing, I am extremely lenient when it comes to YA books. As a book catered to 12-18 years old and the author's debut Novel I think Sky in the Deep is an easy and enjoyable novel.
I have one question tho, how did she survive with all those injuries like girl get it together.
Based viking settings with all it's brutality, we find that Sky in the Deep (SitD) is a very character driven novel. There is very limited plot and I can see how that may have disappointed the expectations of those who read it. Opening up with one of it's stronger if not Strongest chapters, we see Eelyn in the midst of battle where she sees her brother who has been dead for the last 5 years. We learn that the Aska and Riki are two rival clans that oft fight and I'm pretty sure that seeing your long dead brother fighting for the opposite side does something to you.
From there, we are taken along with Eelyn as she learns what every YA protag learns when it comes to the similarities between one rival and another. The novel digs, abet a lil shallowly but still, into an examination of belief and self. What it means to be betrayed and forgiven. An examination of family and the bonds which hold us together. We see the role of religion and how it influences one thoughts and actions and the meaning of belonging.
Young writes emotions in a simplistic but effective way that I think once nurtured her pen could be incredible. There are some violent scenes that just... wow.
There are flaws, sometimes it does a lot of telling and now showing and Eelyn makes some questionable choices but she's 16 so that's okay.
SitD may not be the most amazing novel out and it may be a typical YA novel in viking setting, there characters could be fleshed out some more and the themes it addresses should be examined more deeply. But to say it's a bad book? No.
Those who are fans of more plot laden books will find this a slow read but as someone who enjoys character driven plots, it truly is a digestible quick read.
Graphic: Violence and War
Moderate: Sexual assault and Slavery
jackiepreston's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent
stardust_heidi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Slavery, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail