Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: Sky in the Deep
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE: 1985
WEBSITE: https://www.adrienneyoungbooks.com/
CITY:
STATE: CA
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
RESEARCHER NOTES:
LC control no.: n 2018008423
LCCN Permalink: https://lccn.loc.gov/n2018008423
HEADING: Young, Adrienne, 1985-
000 00378nz a2200121n 450
001 10672659
005 20180213125149.0
008 180213n| azannaabn |n aaa
010 __ |a n 2018008423
040 __ |a DLC |b eng |e rda |c DLC
046 __ |f 1985-03-16 |2 edtf
100 1_ |a Young, Adrienne, |d 1985-
670 __ |a Sky in the deep, April 2018: |b ECIP t.p. (Adrienne Young) data view (birth date: March 16, 1985)
PERSONAL
Born March 16, 1985, in TX; married; children: four.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Author.
AVOCATIONS:Art museums, food, long dinners with wine, history, old books, travel, yoga, coffee.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Adrienne Young maintains a career as a writer.
Sky in the Deep is Young’s first book. The novel stars Eelyn, a teenage girl who has spent her life living in the shadow of war. When she was very young, Eelyn witnessed and survived a battle waged between her people, the Aska, and an enemy tribe known as the Riki. It was during this conflict that Iri, Eelyn’s brother, perished; ever since, Eelyn has aimed to hone her combat abilities, all for the sake of seeking vengeance for Iri’s death. Yet when Eelyn gains the chance to finally participate in a battle herself, she is met with the biggest shock of her life. Iri didn’t die during the battle Eelyn witnessed as a little girl; in fact, not only is he still alive, but he is also aligned with the Riki instead of the Aska. This discovery throw Eelyn’s entire world and identity for a loop, yet her world is rendered further askew once she lands directly within the clutches of the Riki, who decide to keep her with them.
Eelyn is placed in the care of a young man named Fiske, whose family Iri was adopted into after his “death.” It is through this experience that Eelyn is able to witness the daily lives of the Riki on a more intimate basis. She comes to learn that there is little difference between the Riki and her own people, other than the deities they believe in. All the same, there is still a sense of animosity between the two groups, that are just as strong and prevalent within the Riki culture toward Eelyn as what she grew up feeling towards the Riki in her homeland. Yet fate does not plan to keep these two groups in conflict forever. The Riki and the Aska both endure violent attacks from another group, leaving their villages totally decimated. It will be up to Iri, Fiske, and Eelyn to help their people to rebuild, this time banded together. Voice of Youth Advocates contributor Marissa Lieberman remarked: “Detailed action, descriptive writing, and solid worldbuilding make this book wholly memorable.” In an issue of Booklist, Amanda Shepard wrote: “With its gorgeous prose and epic battle scenes, fantasy lovers will be easily satisfied.” A Publishers Weekly reviewer called Sky in the Deep “an exciting, at times heart-wrenching story.” A contributor to Kirkus Reviews felt the book is “perfect for those who appreciate the wild and the wildlings, strong female protagonists, and cinematic battles.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, March 1, 2018, Amanda Shepard, review of Sky in the Deep, p. 51.
Kirkus Reviews, February 15, 2018, review of Sky in the Deep.
Publishers Weekly, February 19, 2018, review of Sky in the Deep, p. 78.
Voice of Youth Advocates, April, 2018, Marissa Lieberman, review of Sky in the Deep, p. 77.
ONLINE
Adrienne Young website, https://www.adrienneyoungbooks.com (June 20, 2018), author profile.
Adrienne Young is the New York Times Bestselling author of Sky in the Deep. A born and bred Texan turned California girl, she is a foodie with a deep love of history and travel and a shameless addiction to coffee. When she’s not writing, you can find her on her yoga mat, scouring antique fairs for old books, sipping wine over long dinners, or disappearing into her favorite art museums. She lives with her documentary filmmaker husband and their four little wildlings beneath the West Coast sun.
Print Marked Items
Young, Adrienne. Sky in the Deep
Marissa Lieberman
Voice of Youth Advocates.
41.1 (Apr. 2018): p77.
COPYRIGHT 2018 E L Kurdyla Publishing LLC
http://www.voya.com
Full Text:
4Q * 4P * S
Young, Adrienne. Sky in the Deep. Wednesday Books/Macmillan, April 2018. 352p. $17.99. 978-1-250-16845-0.
Seventeen-year-old Eelyn is a fierce Aska warrior: her blonde hair is worn in braids, her eyes are lined with kohl, and she carries her signature
axe, ready for battle. The Aska, protected by the deity Sigr, fight once every five years against their enemy, the Riki, worshippers of Thora.
Eelyns world is turned upside down when she sees her brother, Iri, whom she watched die five years prior, fighting alongside the Riki. She is
taken captive by the Riki and finds Iri living with a Riki family as one of them. Eelyn stays in perceived captivity with Iri; Fiske, Iris honorary
brother; and Fiske's family. Eelyn comes to the startling realization that the Riki are similar to the Aska--and they hate her as much as she has
been taught to hate them. When a common enemy destroys villages on both sides, Eelyn, Fiske, and Iri must find a way to unite the groups if they
are to survive.
Sky in the Deep, Youngs debut novel, is riveting and engaging, with fierce yet relatable characters who live in a frigid world reminiscent of the
Vikings. While romance blossoms between Eelyn and Fiske, it is not the main focus of the story. Detailed action, descriptive writing, and solid
worldbuilding make this book wholly memorable. While readers will long for more time in Eelyns world and hope for follow-up novels, Sky in
the Deep ends with a satisfying conclusion and is a sound purchase for any young adult collection.--Marissa Lieberman.
QUALITY
5Q Hard to imagine it being better written.
4Q Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses.
3Q Readable, without serious defects.
2Q Better editing or work by the author might have warranted a 3Q.
1Q Hard to understand how it got published, except in relation to its P rating (and not even then sometimes).
POPULARITY
5P Every YA (who reads) was dying to read it yesterday.
4P Broad general or genre YA appeal.
3P Will appeal with pushing.
2P For the YA reader with a special interest in the subject.
1P No YA will read unless forced to for assignments.
GRADE LEVEL INTEREST
M Middle School (defined as grades 6-8).
J Junior High (defined as grades 7-9).
S Senior High (defined as grades 10-12).
A/YA Adult-marketed book recommended for YAs.
NA New Adult (defined as college-age).
R Reluctant readers (defined as particularly suited for reluctant readers).
(a) Highlighted Reviews Graphic Novel Format
(G) Graphic Novel Format
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Lieberman, Marissa. "Young, Adrienne. Sky in the Deep." Voice of Youth Advocates, Apr. 2018, p. 77. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A536746217/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=9927fcdd. Accessed 4 June 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A536746217
Sky in the Deep
Amanda Shepard
Booklist.
114.13 (Mar. 1, 2018): p51.
COPYRIGHT 2018 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Full Text:
Sky in the Deep. By Adrienne Young. Apr. 2018.352p. St. Martin's/Wednesday, $17.99 (9781250168450); e-book, $9.99 (9781250168474). Gr.
9-12.
Every five years, the Aska and the Riki are at war, battling out the old blood feud between the two clans. Thus, war and battle are all Eelyn has
ever known, until one day she sees her brother on the battlefield, fighting for the opposing side--her brother who was supposed to be dead. Soon
she is captured by the Riki, and to make it back to her Aska clan, she has to survive the winter with the Riki. Young's brutal, emotional debut is
set in a land that is as unforgiving as its people. The strongest aspect of Young's work is the world building; she packs it with details that
viscerally pull the reader into Eelyn's world. Young has also populated this world with complicated characters who evolve as readers get to know
them. Even better, the theme at the core of the story--overcoming prejudice and unifying to fight a greater threat--resonates with current realworld
issues. With its gorgeous prose and epic battle scenes, fantasy lovers will be easily satisfied. --Amanda Shepard
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Shepard, Amanda. "Sky in the Deep." Booklist, 1 Mar. 2018, p. 51. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A532250952/ITOF?
u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=2b41145a. Accessed 4 June 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A532250952
Sky in the Deep
Publishers Weekly.
265.8 (Feb. 19, 2018): p78.
COPYRIGHT 2018 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Sky in the Deep
Adrienne Young. Wednesday, $17.99 (352p)
ISBN 978-1-250-16845-0
Drawing on Viking history and lore, debut author Young crafts an exciting, at times heart-wrenching story centered around 17-year-old Eelyn, her
Aska clan, and their centuries-old war with the Riki Every five years, the clans meet at Aurvanger to fight because of a perceived disagreement
between their respective gods, Sigr and Thora. Eelyn watched her brother, Iri, die in battle, and now she wants to avenge him. But when she is
attacked by Fiske, a Riki warrior, Iri steps in to save his sister: Iri has not only survived, but he has joined the enemy. Determined to figure out
why Iri abandoned her clan, Eelyn seeks Fiske out on the battlefield and is taken prisoner. Once in the Riki village, Eelyn realizes that perhaps the
two clans aren't so dissimilar and begins to question the war. Young's often poetic writing ("The cliff jutting up from the water like a wall. Green
moss climbing down it in long, bright strands") forms a stark juxtaposition with her vivid descriptions of battle and bloodshed, creating a clear
picture of the brutality of war. Ages 12-up. Agent: Barbara Poelle, Irene Goodman Literary. (Apr.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Sky in the Deep." Publishers Weekly, 19 Feb. 2018, p. 78. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A529357601/ITOF?
u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=2991f6aa. Accessed 4 June 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A529357601
Young, Adrienne: SKY IN THE DEEP
Kirkus Reviews.
(Feb. 15, 2018):
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Young, Adrienne SKY IN THE DEEP Wednesday Books (Young Adult Fiction) $17.99 4, 24 ISBN: 978-1-250-16845-0
A warrior must ally with her enemies in this vivid debut.
In the five years since her brother Iri was lost in battle against the Riki, 17-year-old Eelyn and her best friend, Myra, have become fierce Aska
warriors, eager for revenge. Unlike the terrifying, unpredictable Herja raids, the fighting season repeatedly pitches the mountain-dwelling, Thoraworshipping
Riki against the fjord-settling, Sigr-worshipping Aska. Distracted in battle, Eelyn is captured by the Riki and is taken as a dyr
(slave). Violent and angry, Eelyn is slow to trust and slower to show affection, yet she is a sympathetic and heart-rending protagonist. Unlike the
slew of lethal (but tormented) young ladies populating young adult literature, Eelyn is an unapologetic warrior, mercifully neither anachronistic
nor modern-minded. Although the era and location are not specified, the language, rugged geography, weapons, and religion suggest a preChristian
Nordic world and white characters. Action and aftermath are graphic and brutal, anchored in rich details. Young's staccato prose
matches her fierce fighters, but the raw emotions and rapid pacing belie a well-honed voice and taut narrative.
A rousing saga and moving coming-of-age tale, perfect for those who appreciate the wild and the wildlings, strong female protagonists, and
cinematic battles. (Historical fantasy. 14-adult)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Young, Adrienne: SKY IN THE DEEP." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Feb. 2018. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A527248140/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=752e22df. Accessed 4 June 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A527248140