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A review by thebookishmel
Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young
5.0
4.5/5
"Believe what you like Eelyn. The bear is an omen... And omens often bring change" (205).
To write a review for this novel is something I didn't think I'd be challenged by, but because of its complexity, its taken me some time to really digest and process. A story following Eelyn, a 17 year old Aska who has to challenge her mindset on family and loyalty, is thrown into something so unreal that she would have never seen coming. Young does a phenomenal job of depicting her hesitance against any Riki culture or practice and understanding that it is, in fact, very similar to her own. The entire story is very descriptive and character driven, as the arcs of Eelyn, Iri and Fiske are some of the most developed.
There's so much detail and attention in every scene written as to capture the reader into really feeling what the characters are. I cannot tell you how many times my heart hurt for Eelyn, or as she went into battle, how my heart started pounding because she was in action and she was going HARD. I love seeing the different bonds grow between the characters as they learn and understand that despite their differences, they really do need each other. It's hard to not form these bonds given the circumstances of their lives, and Young really does such a great job at making sure YOU as a reader knows that this is more than a story of family and loyalty, but its a story of heartbreak, tragedy, healing and growth!
The story is so rich in culture! This hands down was my favorite part and why I was entirely content with the plot being less crazy in terms of action, but more in terms of developing the world. We learn about the Aska and Riki, their different views on the same story, the emphasis of their gods and their heaven, and how two cultures that are perceived as so different, are really just the same. In this world, you have men and women who fight valiantly from a young age, who fight with honor for their homes and for their blood, and it's really inspiring to see.
Overall, I have never been more pleasantly surprised with a book. Being a standalone, I feel that the story did come to a conclusion that my heart was happy with. I felt the story really did wrap up, but also left room for your imagination to explore the future of what may be for these incredible characters.
"Believe what you like Eelyn. The bear is an omen... And omens often bring change" (205).
To write a review for this novel is something I didn't think I'd be challenged by, but because of its complexity, its taken me some time to really digest and process. A story following Eelyn, a 17 year old Aska who has to challenge her mindset on family and loyalty, is thrown into something so unreal that she would have never seen coming. Young does a phenomenal job of depicting her hesitance against any Riki culture or practice and understanding that it is, in fact, very similar to her own. The entire story is very descriptive and character driven, as the arcs of Eelyn, Iri and Fiske are some of the most developed.
There's so much detail and attention in every scene written as to capture the reader into really feeling what the characters are. I cannot tell you how many times my heart hurt for Eelyn, or as she went into battle, how my heart started pounding because she was in action and she was going HARD. I love seeing the different bonds grow between the characters as they learn and understand that despite their differences, they really do need each other. It's hard to not form these bonds given the circumstances of their lives, and Young really does such a great job at making sure YOU as a reader knows that this is more than a story of family and loyalty, but its a story of heartbreak, tragedy, healing and growth!
The story is so rich in culture! This hands down was my favorite part and why I was entirely content with the plot being less crazy in terms of action, but more in terms of developing the world. We learn about the Aska and Riki, their different views on the same story, the emphasis of their gods and their heaven, and how two cultures that are perceived as so different, are really just the same. In this world, you have men and women who fight valiantly from a young age, who fight with honor for their homes and for their blood, and it's really inspiring to see.
Overall, I have never been more pleasantly surprised with a book. Being a standalone, I feel that the story did come to a conclusion that my heart was happy with. I felt the story really did wrap up, but also left room for your imagination to explore the future of what may be for these incredible characters.