Play Book Tag discussion

This one has all the 'feels' as Tien would say. The book may be flawed in some ways, but there is Zelda, and Zelda is a warrior, a hero. Zelda gets 5 stars and a whole lot of swords!

Zelda, who has Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, is turning 21 and her older brother Gert has a surprise for her: a Viking come to wish her a Happy Birthday. Zelda you see is fascinated by vikings and lives her life as if she is a viking and those in her circle are her tribe. Her favorite book is Kepple's Guide to the Vikings which serves as a guide for her life. She chooses a Word of Today to enhance her vocabulary and illuminate her life every day, keeps order in her life with lists and rules, and has a boyfriend who is part of her group of other developmentally challenged young people at the Community Center. Zelda seems to have her life in order and under control, yet soon she see's that Gert's life is spiraling out of control, and being the Viking warrior she is, she sets out to protect her tribe and save him. In the process, Zelda becomes a legend. Or, as Kate Winslet's character Iris in The Holiday does: she becomes the leading lady in her own life.

Zelda's voice is captivating. Her story recognizable and compelling. Generally I liked the writing and pacing of the story. Where it is flawed, is frankly too many f-bombs even for me, and in ways that I do not actually believe Zelda, as we come to know her, would use or that others would use around her. Also, the plot escalates to violence and life-threatening situations that are a bit over the top. But this is fiction and a legend, a story of a small but mighty hero defeating the demons and villian. She is Gandolf against the Balrog, David against Goliath, every one of us against COVID 19. The final chapter is a thing of beauty and I found myself smiling through my tears. I could not give Zelda and her legend less than 5 stars.

Some will find Zelda and her accomplishments unrealistic. I beg to differ. I've been blessed in my life to know many living legendary lives with developmental and medical impediments. I saw in Zelda: my older sister R, my friend's son D, my friend's brother L, my friend B, another friend's son J, the list goes on. So no, it is not that much of a stretch.

A debut novel, I cannot wait to see what the author writes next!

Great review! I started this early in the year, but didn't finish it before it had to go back. It had mixed reviews, but you convinced me! I need to finish this in 2020!

@NancyJ - do! Seriously affirmative while entertaining. I actually bought this on preorder, yet delayed reading for many reasons including seeing a lot of negative reviews. Now that I desperately needed a book tagged vikings to manage reading one book for each state, it got my attention.

Pooh on the mixed reviews!

Theresa wrote: "Zelda becomes a legend. Or, as Kate Winslet's character Iris in The Holiday does: she becomes the leading lady in her own life."

Love this comparison, I meant to get to this this year, but ya know- life. Still remains on my TBR for the future.

This is in my TBR pile. Had hoped to get to it during Poll Ballot game, but just didn't fit it in. But I WILL read it ...

Great review! I didn't love this book, but I really liked it. What I liked the most was that Zelda made herself the hero of her own legend.

As a total side note, there is an particular Viking legend that I have been wanting to read (the Orkney-Inga saga) but have put it off because, frankly, it is a little daunting. But this book inspired me to add it my TBR!

So glad you enjoyed this one, Theresa! I liked it but did not really care for the f-bombs. I try to avoid thrillers and was not expecting it to turn into one. As you say, it went a bit over the top toward the end.

Argh it's almost xmas and this is one of the many books I wanted to read this year. Well Dec 31 is just a date. If mental health wins for January, I'll definitely read it then.