Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

After extremely hard week, I took full advantage of the long holiday weekend MLK Day offered and binge-reading this beautiful book. It found parts of me that resonated so loudly with the struggles Eelyn faced, and I was completely struck to my core.

Sky in the Deep, is harsh and poetic, beautiful and heartbreaking, somehow all at once. Adrienne skillfully handles the challenges of what family, community, and home mean.

Eelyn is a sharp heroine that loves fiercely, but he dedication to family, and her way of life makes her extremely relatable. Not only in how protective of how things are done, but in her anger that strikes so true to the bone. Stubborn and smart, Eelyn’s moral code and loyalty make her a character that wasn’t only a joy to read, but to watch grow.

In addition to the compelling characters, the setting is so immersive. The sharp chill of winter, of hiking though the mountains, and jumping into the sea make the hauntingly lovely landscape of frozen fjords make a perfect winter read.

Finally, the history and world building were phenomenal. The blood feud between the two peoples, the Aksa and the Rikki, were understandable. I loved getting to learn about their beliefs, their histories, and their fables. Seeing how the villages functions and their society worked, was detailed and lovely. I grew up in a rural town, and the representation of how the villages took care of their own and the closeness of their communities was a comfort to me.

While Sky in the Deep catches your attention with bold characters, and artful world building. What caught my attention and respect most wast hat this book deals with loss, uncertainty, and what it means to be you when your whole world has turned upside down. It simultaneously broke, and healed my heart. I know that this is a story that will stay with me for years to come.

You can get Sky in the Deep here through Bookshop.org, which supports local independent bookstores!

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