When We Were Vikings

When We Were Vikings (2020), a contemporary novel by Andrew David MacDonald, centers on a teenage girl who, finding out that her brother has resorted to dangerous means to support them both, decides to start a money-making enterprise of her own, with major consequences. Critics praise MacDonald for showing young people that everyone can be a hero. A popular writer, MacDonald authored award-winning short stories that featured in popular literary journals across North America before writing his debut novel, When We Were Vikings. When We Were Vikings is aimed at adults and older teenagers.

The main characters are Zelda and Gert. Twenty-one-year-old Zelda loves Viking history and culture. Struggling with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, it is hard for her to concentrate and to learn new things. Thinking about the Vikings gives her something to focus on, and reading old stories keeps her from becoming too hyperactive.

Her older brother, Gert, is a college student. Muscly and covered in tattoos, Zelda thinks he looks like a thug. It doesn’t matter what he looks like, though, because he is always good to Zelda, and he takes his studies seriously. He cares about providing Zelda a good life, ensuring that she never has to worry about money or stability.



The book begins on Zelda’s 21st birthday. It should be a perfect day. She has a great boyfriend, Marxy, who can’t wait to celebrate the big day with her, and Gert’s ex-girlfriend, AK47, gave her a small Viking sword. Her therapist, Dr. Laird, thinks she is doing well, and he is confident that she won’t need his support forever.

Zelda decides that it’s time to have sex with Marxy. They’ve been dating for some time now, and they’ve only kissed a few times, but Zelda knows he’s the one for her. Unfortunately, Marxy has severe mental disabilities, and Gert warns her not to have sex with him. He thinks mentally disabled adults should never have sex because they can’t consent. Uncertain, Zelda wishes that Gert would stop treating her like a baby.

Zelda worries that Gert hasn’t been acting himself recently. She finds him withdrawn and reclusive, and he is stressed all the time. Wondering if she is responsible for Gert’s personality change, she throws herself into her Viking studies to clear her head. When she is not reading up on the Vikings, she is attending developmental classes at the local community center.



Marxy attends these classes, too, but he is avoiding her. When she asks him about it, she finds out that he doesn’t want to have sex. He wishes that she would stop asking because it is making him uncomfortable. Zelda doesn’t want to lose Marxy, and so she promises to let it go. She still wants to have sex with someone—it just might not be Marxy.

In the meantime, Zelda finds out the disturbing truth about Gert’s moodiness: He is selling drugs for extra cash because he doesn’t have enough money to support them both otherwise. Zelda’s therapy bills are adding up, and he must pay his own college tuition. Zelda hates thinking of her brother as a drug dealer, and she is terrified of what could happen to him. Worst of all, if he gets caught, there is no one to look after her anymore.

Zelda learns that Gert has been selling drugs for a while now. When their mother died, they both moved in with their uncle. He was abusive and cruel to them, and he picked on Zelda because of her disabilities. Gert sold drugs to get them both out of that situation, and although he wants to stop, the drug dealers won’t let him. Now, he is in over his head, and he doesn’t know what to do.



Zelda decides that it’s time to be a hero. She might not be strong like Gert, but she figures that there must be something she can do to help him. She knows that when most people need money, they get a job. If she gets a job, Gert can stop selling drugs. The only issue is finding something she is good at to make money.

Meanwhile, Zelda accidentally messes up a big drug deal for Gert. She ruins everything, and the dealers blame Zelda for it. When they come after her, Gert is forced to protect her again; he resents always being responsible for her. She blames him for all the trouble. If Gert let Zelda help more, then he wouldn’t be in so much debt.

Gert realizes that Zelda is right. She is stronger than he ever imagined, and she is more than capable of having some independence. She gets a job at the library where she can spend her time learning more about Vikings and earning money at the same time. Gert vows to straighten out and work harder at school. Zelda and Marxy split up, which is best for them both.