Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This wasn't my jam. I thought I would still enjoy it but it was just not my style.

This was such an enjoyable debut author. I really was surprised how much I liked it. I appreciated the representation of a neuro diverse individual. The characters and plot were written well and entertaining, but also heartbreaking at times. Highly recommend as it shines a unique light on what it takes to survive and make a living in times of trouble.

Without a doubt When We Were Vikings is a strong showing of first person perspective written well. Andrew David MacDonald brings us into the world of a 21-year-old with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). She is high functioning, for the most part, but certainly sees the world differently than many of us would. Her coping mechanism? Viking culture and ensuring she meets the expectations and structure of a Viking accordingly; thus we have villains, heroes, battle plans, romance and more.

Disability Representation
I feel like there is some good disability representation here. The reader is able to see that in some ways our characters are 100% competent, in others perhaps not so much. The one thing that is apparent is that society expects little from them; but also doesn't provide very good supports or encourage them to participate either. It's certain sad to think that many are under estimated and under utilized to the best of their abilities.

Sex
First let me disclose, I have known or know many children (and two adults) with Down syndrome, a child with q22 cognitive disfunction, and have a cousin with cerebral palsy; so I am not completely unfamiliar with the types of things that might 'trigger' or upset our leading gal. I'm also not squeamish about sex since my parents were very open and discussed it at length from when we were little. Yet I felt the exploitative nature of sex was awkward and a bit off putting in this novel. Not that our gal might have sex; but that it could easily be with someone who is taking advantage of them (as showcased in this plot). This sits awkwardly with me and of course shows the nature of why we must protect those with cognitive disabilities; while still allowing them their independence. It's a fine line and one that MacDonald clearly portrays for the reader. I suppose the awkwardness of it is intentional, and thus it's successful..?

Supporting Characters
The key to this entire story is actually the characters that surround our lead gal. Each of them is critical to her life and plays an important part. I thought the brother was the least developed and most one dimensional; ironic as he's arguably the most important. Each of the other characters is a specific archetype from her boyfriend 'the fair maiden', to AK47 the saviour, to the therapist who is like her cheerleader; they all advise, help and influence her into the decisions she ultimately makes.
Without these characters I do think the plot of the story and the decisions she makes would fall flat.

Overall
There is a lot to learn and think about in When We Were Vikings. I will admit I was choked up by the ending (a relatively uncommon reaction for me). The realization that any person, regardless of their physical or mental capacity, can be a hero to another is very profound. I have personally seen this in action; a baby that renews energizes a new Mom, a puppy that engages someone from depression, or a friend who says the right thing at the right moment and saves someone's life. These are things happening everyday around the world and I love the message in When We Were Vikings that it doesn't matter how: smart, strong, or sufficient someone might be or appear; they can still be a significant influence to anyone's life.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

I was really excited about this book when i requested it. However I found it to be too slow to really get into. Even after time away from it, I tried again and just couldn't push through. Just not for me.

This wasn't the heartwarming feel good coming of age novel I was anticipating and feel like I might be in the minority saying that. I loved Zelda's voice and perspective, but as a whole I just couldn't immerse myself in it and found myself way too distracted while reading it. It's not a poorly written book, but just not a good match for my frame of mind while I was reading it and I found aspects of it uncomfortable.

Heart warming + heart wrenching + characters who you care for and root for + empowering individuals to speak for themselves while still leaning on others.

I just loved this book so much it’s hard to put into words. It was hilarious and let me step into a story that is different from my own in some ways but very similar in others. A small cast of characters that grasp onto your heart.

Contemporary Fiction | Adult
Fans of Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time will enjoy this new offering featuring 21-year-old Zelda, a Viking enthusiast determined to be the hero of her own life. Born with fetal alcohol syndrome, she relies on rules to help organize the life she shares with her older brother Gert. Rules like taking off your shoes when you come into the apartment, putting tomatoes in the middle of the sandwich so the bread doesn’t get soggy, and always fiercely defending your tribe. She has a boyfriend, and with the help of a couple of supportive women, they are figuring out how to take the next step – sex. Gert attends college on a scholarship, but with Zelda’s therapy costs adding up, he has to find a way to pay the bills. Zelda lands a job in a bid to help, but Gert decides to take another path. His decision ends up threatening the safe life he and Zelda share, leading her to take up the quest to defend the tribe. Zelda is a delightful protagonist, brave and strong, sometimes angry and vengeful, but always reflective. As Gert himself observes, she plays the cards she’s dealt, never giving up. This is Zelda’s coming of age story, told in first person, giving us a view of a young woman full of heart and determination, who overcomes obstacles and fear as she draws on her own strong will, the help and advice of those around her, and the Viking creed to always put your tribe first. There is a very intense scene toward the end, and the resolution is not an easy one, but it is authentic and hopeful. Zelda is a character who will stay with me for a long time. I wish her well. My thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada for the advance reading copy provided digitally through NetGalley; there is a copy at the Grand Forks & District Public Library as well.
More discussion and reviews of this novel: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48729036

An enjoyable read! I enjoyed the refreshing change of perspective, voiced by Zelda, a Viking loving young adult living with FAS. I loved her growth throughout the book.

I missed the character development of the other characters though, and the book attempted to tackle some heavy topics and intense scenes. Because the story is solely told form Zelda’s point of view, I found both were lacking.

Quick and engaging. A 3.5/5 for me!

I truly adored this book. Zelda was such a breath of fresh air and I loved being inside her mind. Zelda was born with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, but is very high functioning. She has a strong love for all things viking and tries to live her life by their creed. She lives with her older brother Gert, who does his darnedest to protect her, but sometimes even our best of intentions don't play out like we want them to.

This is a story of coming of age, of finding your place in the world and taking risks. Zelda is a fighter and a surviver and nothing is going to hold her down. I was rooting for her the whole time and I just loved her pure heart and honesty.

The secondary characters were also great, especially Gert's on again off again girlfriend, AK47.

This book isn't all rosy though. It touches on some tougher subjects and there are a few intense moments. But that ending. I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but I was definitely not expecting to bawl! In a good way :)

This was a great story from the point of view of a young adult with cognitive dysfunction. She is treated with great care, and is written as a complete, well-rounded character who is so much more than any diagnosis.

Really, this is a great coming-of-age story about navigating the world with additional challenges mentally and in her circumstances. There is a great amount of humour and heart throughout the story and some very inspiring moments as well.

When We Were Vikings is a story surrounding twenty one year old Zelda, who was born with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. After escaping from her cruel, abusing uncle’s home, Zelda and her older brother Gert have been living together in an apartment. Zelda is highly functioning, though she sees the world in a unique way, and needs strict rules and routines to move through daily life. Zelda is obsessed with Vikings. Viking customs and terminology help her to understand the workings of the world, and to find her inner strength. When she finds out that Gert has gotten himself into trouble with a bad crowd, she embarks on a Viking mission to save her tribe.

Zelda is a quirky individual who is fun to read about. She is pure hearted and means well, even when she ends up creating dangerous situations for herself and her friends. This is a coming of age story for Zelda, as she learns to support herself and explores her sexuality. I listened to the audiobook, and though the narrator is brilliant, there is repetitive harsh language that may have stood out more than if I had been reading the words. There are also some uncomfortable scenes regarding sexual abuse and attempted rape.

Though I enjoyed this book, and was routing for Zelda and Gert (as well as Gert’s amazing girlfriend who Zelda calls AK47), I have to wonder about what experience the author has to write from the point of view of a young women with FASDs. With “own voices” being such a hot topic right now, it seems like this should have been backed up or explained some how so that we know her perspective is authentic. I have read some interviews and haven’t found that information yet.

With all of that said, this is a very enjoyable, inspiring novel! Each character has a strong personality that makes the story easy to connect with! It is memorable and heart breaking at times. I won’t easily forget Zelda and Gert!

Thank you to Libro.fm and Simon and Schuster for providing me with an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

O M Goodness!!! I adored this book. Zelda is one of my favourite characters of the year, I’m going to call that right now. I loved everything about her. Fetal Alcohol syndrome did absolutely nothing to hold Zelda down. The power of this young lady, the love she has for her tribe, the goodness in her heart, every bit of her is a breath of fresh air. Hers is a story everyone should experience. It’s down to earth. It’s real. It’s got all the emotions you want and need in a book. The ending didn’t thrill me the way the rest of the book did, but overall, a slam dunk of a book.

When We Were Vikings is about a young woman named Zelda who lives with her brother Gert. Zelda has cognitive issues as a result of her mother’s excessive alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Zelda loves Vikings. The book opens with Zelda celebrating her birthday. As a gift Gert hires a “Viking” as a surprise for Zelda. Zelda is delighted.
Zelda goes to a community centre a few times a week for social interaction. Gert’s ex-girlfriend is her bus driver. Zelda developed a strong bond with Annie who Zelda refers to as AK47. Zelda has a boyfriend and wants to explore a romantic relationship with him.
Gert is going to college on scholarship and is finding it difficult to make ends. Gert gets involved with a thug like character named Toucan.
Without spoiling the story suffice it to say Gert’s involvement with Toucan leads to trouble.
I thoroughly enjoyed When We Were Vikings. Both Zelda and Gert are memorable characters. The supporting characters are interesting and memorable as well. Since the story is told through Zelda’s eyes it offers a unique perspective. It offers some insight into how individuals with cognitive issues cope with the world and how they feel about things. The reader also sees how people’s lack of understanding and compassion affects Zelda.
When We Were Vikings has been compared to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time which I feel is a good comparison. It also reminded me of a book called Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster for letting me read this excellent novel.

I have seen a couple shows about Vikings and know the average amount of knowledge that I have gleamed from these sources. Never did it occur to me that more knowledge about Vikings was what I needed in my life.

I’ve been sitting here trying to figure out how to put these feelings into words. I loved this book. I thought it was engaging and I really liked the relationships between the characters. Zelda suffers from Fetal Alcohol syndrome and lives her life by Viking rules and legends. The way the Viking lifestyle related to real life, through the eyes of Zelda, was well applied and inspiring. Her drive was inspiring and while it got her into a lot of very troublesome situations, there was a braveness and purity that you don’t see all that often.

Her relationship with her brother Gert was complicated, but the warm foundation of this story. Her tribe, which also included Gert’s exgirlfriend Annie, was what drove the story and was what really drew me in. Her views about her tribe and her loyalty to those people was so warm and I think everyone can learn a little something from these moments.

The story itself was pretty typical, but the way it fit with the characters and allowed them to grow was what made it stand out a bit more. But there were a lot of really dark moments that made my stomach turn and some details that seemed a bit exploitive of Zelda’s circumstances. It really made me cringe at times, a complete opposite feeling from the rest of the book, which was written rather lightheartedly.

This contrast, though, gave our hero quite a quest and I quite like the ride. It was a coming of age story with a unique voice that left me with all the feelings.

I was intrigued by the publisher's description of Andrew David MacDonald's debut novel, When We Were Vikings.

"A heart-swelling debut for fans of The Silver Linings Playbook and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time." And yes, that descriptor is spot on!

Twenty one year old Zelda is a Viking enthusiast. She also has Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. She is high functioning, but her view of the world is seen through a different set of eyes. Zelda lives with her brother Gert. They've agreed to a set of rules that is posted in their apartment. But, money is tight and when Zelda suspects that Gert is operating outside the rules, she sets herself a quest."...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."

Oh, where to start? Zelda is such a wonderfully drawn lead character. The reader can't help but be on her side, urging her forward, fearing for her safety and discovering what we might take for granted, as she also navigates her own coming of age. The supporting cast is just as wonderful - her brother's girlfriend AK47 is a calming influence, her therapist is the voice of reason, her boyfriend Marxy and the rest of the gang at the community center are inclusive and without guile. Gert is a complex character and I appreciate his struggles as he tries so hard to raise himself and Zelda. The 'villains'? Yes, you will love to hate them.

I love that MacDonald kept things 'real' with Zelda. She sees Viking lore and values as a guide for living, but she's still a young woman exploring her sexuality, the meaning of love, the responsibility of family, finding a place for herself and so much more.

When We Were Vikings was an unexpected, captivating, heart string tugging (and nail biting in some spots!) tale. I can't wait to read what MacDonald writes next.
And remember - "We are all legends of our own making." Absolutely recommended.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book other than lots of stuff about Vikings, but I’m so glad I read it because it’s a diamond in the ruff.

This novel provides a glimpse into the mind and world of our star character, Zelda. Zelda is in her 20’s and suffers from fetal alcohol syndrome. I shouldn’t say suffer because she’s a high functioning, very independent, smart young girl. She is obsessed with Vikings and she compares living her life with that of wanting to create her own legend. Her tribe consists of her brother Gert, his sometimes girlfriend AK47, her therapist, Marxy, and her friends from the community center. Zelda wants to be a Viking hero and she makes a list. What ensues is a fun, humourous, sad, and inspiring story of one girls strength and will to defend her tribe no matter the cost.

I loved it and I’d definitely read more by this author. I guarantee that you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll be cheering Zelda on the whole way.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to preview this book. Zelda suffers from FAS, but is fairly high functioning. She has an older brother, his "girlfriend" and her own friend , Marxy. Interesting story of how she comes with life. Recommended.

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.

I have read quiet a few books this past year, this one was certainly one of the best, an eye-opening and heart warming story of a young woman Zelda a grown woman who suffers from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome starts a journey on a quest to gain her independence and protect what is left of her family. This book really held my attention right to the end. it was really a wonderful story, well written with great yet different characters. As a debut story written by Andrew David MacDonald, I am sure this won’t be his last great book. He is an author I will certainly follow in the future.
I would like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this great book and a wonderful read..

This book was absolutely phenomenal, when I started reading I had completely different thoughts about what it was going to be about. I was wrong in the absolute best way! Zelda is a Viking heroine, she is brave, fierce and so amazingly herself I could cry! She doesn’t take crap from anyone even though she has been dealt some awful cards in life.

The characters In this book were strong and all had a place in Zelda’s life -Her tribe
Ak47, Gret, Dr laird and all the young Adults from the community center, just made this story.

The writing was exceptional and a very important and strong storyline About diversity and life challenges.

I recommend this book to EVERYONE. The end chapter damn near broke me. Just WOW.

What a wonderful book! I loved Zelda, Gerry and AK47! The characters and the story kept me engaged and entertained. Even when the plot got a little far fetched to me, It didn’t bother me as much as it could have. Mr. MacDonald had done a great job introducing us to and creating characters that you really got to know that I could see how they would have reacted the way they did in those far-fetched situations. And the ending!

The story isn.’t like everything else out there and is worth the read! Enjoy!