Thursday, December 12

Book Review: When We Were Vikings by Andrew David MacDonald


When We Were Vikings
Author:   Andrew David MacDonald
Title: When We Were Vikings
Genre: Fiction, YA
Pages: ebook
Expected publication: January 28th 2020 
Where I Got It: My shelf (Netgalley)



Sometimes life isn’t as simple as heroes and villains.

For Zelda, a twenty-one-year-old Viking enthusiast who lives with her older brother, Gert, life is best lived with some basic rules:

1. A smile means “thank you for doing something small that I liked.”
2. Fist bumps and dabs = respect.
3. Strange people are not appreciated in her home.
4. Tomatoes must go in the middle of the sandwich and not get the bread wet.
5. Sometimes the most important things don’t fit on lists.

But when Zelda finds out that Gert has resorted to some questionable—and dangerous—methods to make enough money to keep them afloat, Zelda decides to launch her own quest. Her mission: to be legendary. It isn’t long before Zelda finds herself in a battle that tests the reach of her heroism, her love for her brother, and the depth of her Viking strength.

When We Were Vikings is an uplifting debut about an unlikely heroine whose journey will leave you wanting to embark on a quest of your own, because after all...

We are all legends of our own making.



This one really caught my attention. The title, the cover, and then the story. I had to read this!

The story follows Zelda who is a Viking enthusiast and wants to create her own legacy. She has been living with her brother Gert who takes care of her. However, things are not right. She is realizing that Gert is up to something and is making questionable and dangerous methods to make sure they have enough money in the bank. She starts her mission to become legendary and to save her tribe. 

This was good. Very, very good. I wasn't really sure what I was getting myself into. This is a very unique and refreshing book. 

Zelda is special and I really enjoyed seeing her tell her own tale. It was a different perspective for sure and it worked well. I adore Zelda and her little tribe. Even Gert who I just wanted to be the straight and narrow. Ooooooo Gert. Poor Gert...get your shit together man. 

This is for sure the book to read in 2020. I adored it. I had no issues and complaints about it. It did take me a while to get through it. But it a good way. I wanted to enjoy this like an expensive bottle of wine. There is a lot going on and I just wanted to save everyone! 

I will admit the ending got a few tears from me. OooooOOOooo that ending.

Gah! So hard for this review....I don't want to give away any spoilers. 

But yes, super good. I highly recommend it. 5 stars. 













5 comments:

Sophia Rose said...

She sounds like she is on the spectrum, but either way, I like the sound of this one. And, that title? Who could pass that up? :)

Blodeuedd said...

a 5! Ok I could read this

Carole Rae said...

Sophia, yes she is. They don't really explain it until the end which I liked.

B, yesss so good. This would've been a good one to discuss.

Ralph K Jones said...

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Carole Rae said...

Thanks for swinging by Ralph. :)