24 Hours in the Viking World

24 Hours in Ancient History #5

by Kirsten Wolf

Spend 24 hours immersed in the rich and fascinating everyday lives of the Vikings.Between the infamous Lindisfarne raid in 793 CE and the Norman conquest of 1066, the peoples we know now as the Vikings became one of the most far-ranging and influential civilizations in history. The Vikings are frequently portrayed as raiders, marauding across medieval Europe and Britain, but the culture and society of the medieval Nordic peoples was so much more diverse, multifaceted and influential than it is often depicted.In 24 Hours in the Viking World, author and Viking expert Kirsten Wolf chronicles an hour in the life of 24 individuals from every corner of Viking society over the course of a single day. From the warrior to the thrall, the shipbuilder to the farmer, the poet to the oracle, each chapter offers a snapshot of the world as it was in medieval Scandinavia, and an insight into how these people lived, loved, worked, fought and died.The latest entry in the bestselling 24 Hours series, 24 Hours in the Viking World presents an absorbing, grounded and tangible look at what it was really like to be alive during this pivotal era in history.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Audiobook, World History, Historical, Cultural, Medieval History

272 pages, Hardcover

First published November 7, 2024

Reviews

[Ieva · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5 zvaigznes. Tā kā vikingu tēma mani vienmēr ir bijusi ļoti tuva, tad pat mazliet sāp sirds šai 24 stundu sērijas grāmatai ieliekot tik salīdzinoši zemu vērtējumu. Bet iepriekšējas man patika, ka viss notika vienā vietā, no stundas uz stundu un līdz ar to no galvenā varoņa uz galveno varoni pārslīdējām ļoti dabīgi un ar kaut kādu saistību - tāpēc man ne visai patika, ka te mēs esam Dānijā, te Islandē, te Vinlandē... Un , lai gan man ļoti patīk arī mitoloģija, iepīt spoku nostāstus starp reālajiem cilvēkiem un notikumiem šādā grāmatā likās ļoti ārpus vietas un konteksta.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Tantor Audio, and Kirsten Wolf for the opportunity to listen and review 24 Hours in the Viking World.

24 Hours in the Viking World by Kirsten Wolf offers a fascinating and well-researched glimpse into the lives of Viking-era individuals. Structured around a single day, the book explores the lives of 24 individuals from diverse walks of life like farmers, warriors, poets, shipbuilders, oracles, and chieftains painting a vivid picture of a society far richer and more complex than the brutal raiders often portrayed in media.

Wolf’s research shines through as she delves into the daily routines, challenges, and triumphs of medieval Nordic life, presenting a society of innovation, artistry, and humanity. Each hour introduces a new perspective, making the book engaging and immersive, while its focus on the ordinary as well as the elite allows for a comprehensive understanding of the Viking world.

Rachael Beresford’s narration is a true highlight, with her warm, engaging tone enhancing the storytelling and bringing these historical figures to life. Her performance is compelling, making it easy to lose oneself in this detailed world.

This book is an excellent choice for anyone interested in Viking history or medieval life. It provides a grounded and multifaceted look at a culture that has often been oversimplified in popular media. For history enthusiasts or casual readers alike, 24 Hours in the Viking World is both educational and thoroughly entertaining.

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy!

An interesting look at the medieval Viking world, but not quite capturing that day-in-the-life sense that other books in this history series have presented.

Here, we keep having to backtrack to explain years and years of backstory of blood feuds and family squabbles and then get back to why X is setting Y's house on fire. Also, the story moves around in time and place - from Iceland to Greenland to Canada to England to Norway, etc., covering hundreds of years, again, unlike the other books in this series which gave us a sense of what a typical day was like in one city region in a more specific time period.

I liked the parts that got into the physical details - whale meat, coins, clothes, birth practices, types of breads, home architecture, etc., but when it wanders off to try and explain much larger geo-political issues and family trees, my eyes glazed over a bit.

Also, everything is reported a little too factually, taking primary sources at face value rather than trying to dig and get at what might have really been going on beneath layers of propaganda and superstitions.

[Sophie · Rating 2 out of 5]

So far this is my least favourite in the '24 hour' series. Interesting facts and the author is clearly knowledgeable but compared to the others it just didn't flow as well, also the concept of 'a day in the life' is a loose term here where it takes place over decades and each chapter is more a short story about the character than an hour in their life. If you want to know more about the Vikings go ahead but not the best in the series.

[Courtney ✌ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like the format of the books in this series overall. This particular entry in the 24 Hours... series differed a bit by covering a wider range of years and regions. My knowledge about the Vikings comes entirely from media, so this was both informative and a great introduction to learning about them. There was so much more to Viking life than the pillaging and raiding that much of the media I’ve seen focuses on, so it was refreshing to learn about those other aspects in this way.

If you’ve enjoyed the other entries in this series, I imagine this one will work for you as well.

I want to thank NetGalley, Tantor Audio, and Kirsten Wolf for an audio arc of 24 Hours in the Viking World... in exchange for an honest review!

[Fingon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoiled a lot of icelandic sagas, but nice and easy read. Thumbs up 👍🏻👍🏻 and more mead!

[Jade Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice little overview of Viking life. Definitely more of an introduction. It's more of a flavour of what life was like (which is the literal point to be fair) and a few historic events etc were mentioned but so quickly that they didn't stick. I defo still want to check out more from this series tho.

[Ariele · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author's method of historical fiction was different than most books. It did not focus on the lives of one viking family. Instead, she wove together 24 short stories that gave the reader an indepth look at what life was like for a viking beyond just pileaging other villages. Other than the last story, which I found repulsive and a bit ludicrous, the rest of the stories seemed authentic and historical. I enjoyed learning about the culture through this book and would recommend it until the last story. You can skip that one and leave without that bitter taste of disappointment when the genre seem to cross into complete science fiction. That being said, this isn't 24 bedtime stories for children though. The author does include the violence we associate with vikings through the multiple deaths in the stories. Overall, I liked it, and I would recommend reading 23/24 stories.

[StephanieD · Rating 3 out of 5]

“24 Hours in the Viking World aims to portray the everyday life of Scandinavians and Icelanders—and bring these people vividly to life—using information from archaeological research and medieval literary sources.”

2.75 ⭐️

I read this for the “Viking” prompt of my reading challenge. It’s a fine book and gives you an idea of Viking living through fictional scenes based on real events. But I was completely uninterested and bored.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trying to remember all these names was a real struggle.

[The Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book if you are interested in Viking life.

[Agata Wojtylewska | ksiazkowy.czas · Rating 2 out of 5]

„24 godziny w świecie wikingów” - czyli tytuł, który obiecywał cały dzień spędzony wśród wikingów: ich wierzeń, bitew, pojedynków i codzienności ⚔️🛡️. Niestety, szybko okazało się, że to wcale nie świat wikingów, a po prostu... ludu nordyckiego.

Zamiast epickiej opowieści o wojownikach dostałam migawki z życia różnych grup społecznych: niewolników, gospodarzy, kupców, a nawet władców. Od porodu, przez budowę statku, aż po rozwód - wszystko opisane sztywno i bez emocji 😴

Książka składa się z 24 rozdziałów - każdy to migawka z epoki wikińskiej (800–1100), często oparta na postaciach historycznych: np. królu Haakonie Dobrym czy skaldzie Egilu Skallagrímssonie. Dużo tu Islandii ze względu na jej najbogatszą średniowieczną literaturę opisującą życie codzienne. Niestety, sama Autorka przyznaje, że pozwoliła sobie również na odrobinę swobody twórczej, przez co nie wiadomo co jest prawdą, a co fikcją 🤷

Owszem, dowiedziałam się między innymi czym była holmganga, co znaczyła główszczyzna czy jak obradował Althing, ale to nadal nie było to, czego oczekiwałam.

🌊 Podsumowując: książka ma ogromny potencjał i przywraca do życia dawnych Skandynawów, ale zabrakło mi w niej emocji i dynamiki. Liczyłam na przygodę w sercu epoki wikingów, a dostałam raczej akademicki wykład w 24 rozdziałach.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley, for granting me a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

24 Hours in the Viking World: A Day in the Life of the People Who Lived There is the newest installment in the 24 Hours in Ancient History series. Helmed by Kirstin Wolff, the the title of the series is somewhat of a misnomer: rather than exploring ancient times, readers are transported to the early-Middle Ages, when Viking culture ruled Scandinavia. Here we see the daily lives of farmers, warriors, craftsmen, slaves, and kings, and explore topics beyond the voyages so symbolic of the Viking Age: marriage customs (and divorce rituals), childbirth, honor codes, the switch from paganism to Christianity, and the doomed effort to colonize North America hundreds of years before the rest of Europe. Wolff weaves real historical figures with elements of the supernatural, choosing not to debunk their superstitions. Each of the twenty-four chapters is written like a short story, focusing on different characters from different parts of Scandinavia. Many of the stories come to odd, abrupt ends, and for those of us unfamiliar with Scandinavian history, it’s unclear how much of this is based on real-life peculiarities and how much is fiction. The stories can, at times, blend together, especially since certain motifs (warriors, childbearing) appear in multiple stories. Still, it’s a strong introduction to a piece of history rarely studied in depth in the English-speaking world, and I am glad to have gotten the chance to learn a bit more myself from reading (or rather listening to) this book.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF @ 65%

If you’ve liked other installments in the 24 hours series, there’s no reason you won’t enjoy this one as well. For me, the format just doesn’t work.

I’m not wild about nonfiction that creates “characters,” and this book is built on that concept. To me it feels like the written equivalent of a historical reenactment. I’d rather just have the information presented to me in a more direct manner, as I don’t love fictional elements creeping into my nonfiction.

There have been a number of good “daily life” books about the Viking age published recently, and while this one is as well-researched as the next, I’d make a different choice, if, like me, you’re not wild about having nonfiction presented to you in this manner.

*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nachdem ich das Buch über das Leben der Römer gelesen hatte, freute ich mich darauf, in dieses besondere Buch einzutauchen. Ich war schon immer von den Wikingern fasziniert, sie hatten eine erstaunliche Kultur. Dank dieses Buches, das auf einer gründlichen Recherche basiert, konnte ich eine Menge interessanter Fakten über dieses Volk entdecken. Sie waren in der Tat eine der einflussreichsten Zivilisationen, die die Geschichte je gesehen hat. Die Idee, 24 Stunden im täglichen Leben der Wikinger zu beschreiben, ist meiner Meinung nach genial. Jede Stunde des Tages wird detailliert beschrieben, so dass wir, die Leser, einen Einblick in eine Welt erhalten, die einzigartig war.

Meine Meinung:

Die Lektüre dieses Buches fühlte sich an, als würde man in die Vergangenheit reisen und die Kultur der Wikinger aus nächster Nähe erleben. Ich konnte entdecken, wie sie lebten und arbeiteten, wie sie mit den alltäglichen Dingen des Lebens umgingen, einschließlich Liebe, Kampf und sogar Tod. Jeder Wikinger hatte seine eigene Rolle, manche waren Krieger, andere waren Sklaven. Viele von ihnen waren Bauern, einige wenige hatten höhere Ambitionen, zum Beispiel als Dichter. Aber alles in allem lebten sie ein interessantes Leben voller Herausforderungen. Man konnte sehen, dass sie hervorragende Schiffsbauer waren und Werkzeuge benutzten, die für die damalige Zeit sehr fortschrittlich waren. Die Informationen in diesem Buch haben mich gefesselt, sie waren so interessant.

Als ich über Bauern, Krieger, Schiffsbauer und andere Wikinger las, begann ich zu verstehen, dass diese Kultur viel reicher und komplexer war, als sie heute dargestellt wird. In vielen Filmen werden die Wikinger als brutale Plünderer dargestellt, und das ist meiner Meinung nach nicht fair. Sie waren ein Volk voller Innovation und Kunstfertigkeit, ganz zu schweigen von ihrer Menschlichkeit. Das mittelalterliche Leben der Nordmänner basierte auf täglicher Routine, mit Herausforderungen und Triumphen. Die Tatsache, dass jede Stunde aus einer anderen Perspektive dargestellt wird, hat mich fasziniert. Es war ein so fesselndes und eindringliches Buch, vor allem, weil wir erfahren haben, dass es auch bei ihnen eine gesellschaftliche Hierarchie gab, wobei die Elite eine bessere Lebensqualität hatte.

Es war wirklich einfach, sich in die Welt der Wikinger hineinzuversetzen, und ich denke, dieses Buch ist eine ausgezeichnete Lektüre für jeden, der sich für ihre Geschichte, Kultur und das mittelalterliche Leben im Allgemeinen interessiert. Wir erfahren auch, wie groß das Gebiet war, das die Wikinger-Kultur über Hunderte von Jahren einnahm. Besonders gut gefallen haben mir die physikalischen Details, z. B. in Bezug auf das, was sie zu essen pflegten, wie das Walfleisch und die Brotsorten. Auch die Informationen über die Münzen, die Architektur der Häuser und die Kleidung haben mir gefallen. Das Buch geht sogar auf die Geburtspraktiken ein, was faszinierend zu lesen ist. Es war großartig, die Kultur der Wikinger so detailliert dargestellt zu sehen, und es war erfrischend, eine andere Sichtweise zu erfahren.

Zusammenfassung:

Das war eine hervorragende Lektüre, es hat mir große Freude gemacht, sie zu lesen und die Wikingerkultur mit ihren Besonderheiten zu entdecken. Man merkt, dass die Autorin ihr Herzblut in das Buch gesteckt hat, und ich kann mir nicht einmal ansatzweise vorstellen, wie viel Recherche in das Buch geflossen ist. Das Ergebnis ist fantastisch, ein hervorragender Überblick über die Kultur der Wikinger, eine hochentwickelte und fortschrittliche Kultur. Im Gegensatz zu dem, was wir in den Medien sehen, hatten sie ein komplexes Leben und waren keine aggressiven Menschen, die ihr Leben mit Plünderungen und Raubzügen verbrachten. Es ist erfrischend, diese Perspektive zu sehen! Insgesamt eine ausgezeichnete Lektüre, sehr empfehlenswert!

[MoonlightCupOfCocoa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Tantor Audio for the Advanced Listening Copy! As always, all thoughts are my own.

I'll start with two quick notes for context. This is the first book I've read of this series so I can't really compare it to the other entries. Also, I am a newbie to everything Viking. I didn't know much about the civilization beyond what pop culture exposes one to, so I was approaching this audiobook with a clean slate.

To me, this was an interesting introduction to medieval Viking world. It quickly dispelled a lot of the misconceptions, as well. The stories and the details are clearly well-researched.

While I was expecting more 'slice of life' or day-to-day stories (probably because of the title), we did get some of those, but most others were more dramatic stories from the era. Blood feuds, vengeful ex-wives, houses on fire, etc. The last story was especially dark! Still, they were very intriguing and do introduce the reader/listener to aspects of the culture and laws of the time, so I enjoyed them.

I just was hoping for more day-to-day stories as these were my favourites. Some of the stories describing home decor, clothes, food and social neighbourly visits were especially fun. They made me feel as if I was actually there with them.

The writing can be a bit dramatic at times, but I adored every minute. It never dragged and the storytelling style was fun and engaging which works especially well for the audiobook format.

The narrator did a good job capturing the tone of the text. I listened mostly at 1x and 1.25x speeds and never needed to speed things up for my brain to engage. But with the narrator's voice and enunciation, I think the audiobook would still be very easy to understand at faster speeds.

Overall, I really enjoyed this audiobook and will be checking out the other entries in the series as well as other books by the author!

[Angel · Rating 3 out of 5]

"24 Hours in the Viking World: A Day in the Life of the People Who Lived There" by Kirsten Wolf is historical fiction based on research. It is posing as nonfiction. It is based on memoirs, stories, and records of the time, some exaggerated and modified to be more interesting.

The time period was 800-1100 A.D.. It was set in the areas of Scandinavia, Norway, Iceland, and Denmark. Technically, the Vikings were the warriors who went to sea. Not all people of this time and place were warriors, and the book covers all sorts of people like farmers, merchants, and kings, as well as the Vikings.

Each chapter is an hour of the day and is about something that happened at that hour with a different character.

The stories include births of babies, revenge murder, preparing for going to sea, ship building, and more. There is a lot about the social customs and cultural norms of the time. For instance, murder was legal if one woke the person to be killed first, and then the killing was announced publicly immediately after.

There was a lot of obligation between people. They were highly principled. There were many Pagans and also many Christians.

There are stories about feasts for special occasions and how to set up a duel. One story is about a father who haunted the town after he was buried.

I found the narrator, Rachael Beresford, to have a strong enough accent that it was a bit hard to understand. I had to listen to it slowly and I got very bored. The info was overall pretty good and told in creative ways. I would not have enjoyed living in this time and place.

Thank you to Netgalley, Tantor Audio, and Kirsten Wolf for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

[Joanna Bach · Rating 4 out of 5]

W książce przenosimy się do świata wikingów. Dzięki autorce poznajemy mnóstwo szczegółów i anegdot z codziennego życia Islandczyków, Norwegów, Szwedów i Duńczyków. Kristen Wolf łączy naukową rzetelność z lekkością narracji. Nie jest to tylko fabularyzowana opowieść o dawnych czasach, lecz precyzyjnie udokumentowana podróż przez świat ludzi Północy. Autorka, badaczka i uznana specjalistka w dziedzinie historii wikingów, opiera się na bogatych źródłach: materiałach archeologicznych, materiałach źródłowych, kronikach i opracowaniach naukowych.

Jej erudycję widać na każdej stronie, zarówno w przypisach, jak i w bibliografii oraz glosariuszu, umieszczonych na końcu książki. Wędrujemy z nią przez Skandynawię, poznając ludzi różnych stanów, zawodów i w różnym wieku: od niewolników po wodzów, od rzemieślników po poetów. Każda z dwudziestu czterech godzin to osobna historia, a razem tworzą one barwną mozaikę codzienności epoki wikińskiej.

Autorka przemyca przy tym wiele kontekstów sięgając do warstw obyczajowych, prawnych, społecznych, literackich, ale także tych zupełnie ludzkich, pokazując wierzenia, sposób myślenia i codzienne rytuały. To jedna z tych książek, które można czytać rozdziałami, wracać do nich po czasie i nigdy nie stracić wątku. Lekka forma łączy się tu z solidnym zapleczem merytorycznym, dlatego, jako pasjonatka historii, jestem nią zachwycona - polecam ją naprawdę każdemu!

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting format to dive into a large period of history (800-1100 CE) in a fairly large region. It's a day in the life of a Viking, except it's not one Viking, but stories and also real events taken from history set at hours on the clock in which they could have happened. From murder to childbirth to shipbuilding and trade and exploration to celebrations and ways of mourning, it covers a large portion of what life could have looked like in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland.

Like my recent deep dive into the high- and late- middle ages in England and mainland Europe, this period of the early middle ages in Scandinavia marks the emergence of the governments and Kingdoms of the region, and the shift from the pagan religions to Christianity taking root. The author is quick to point out that "viking" was a vocation and not an ethnic group - the marauders were the vikings, to be considered separate from Scandinavian bakers and farmers.

It's not my preferred style of nonfiction, but the storytelling can be engaging for readers, and it does relate well over audiobook. I learned a fair amount about a culture of which I only previously had tangential knowledge of.

Thank you to Tantor Audio for an ALC! This is out 1/28/25.

[Ecce Libri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I have always been interested in medieval Scandinavia, and this book was fantastic in detailing the lives of everyday persons during this time. I greatly enjoyed how Kristen Wolf gave readers a rare look at the average person’s life, it feels like so much written about this time period chronicles the lives of nobility. This is a very fast read, and it’s also really enjoyable. The book is written in a narrative style, which makes it go by quickly. Having these stories told narratively makes the information easy to understand and accessible to a variety of readers. Interspersed throughout the narrative are facts about the time period that explain how and why events unfold the way that they did. Wolf gives readers a fascinating look at medieval Scandinavia and works to dispel common misconceptions about the time period. The book covers tales of pregnancy and childbirth, exploration, divorce and other legal proceedings, and religious practices. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys books set in the middle ages or has an interest in the cultural practices of the time.

[Natalia Lekki · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️
Sięgnęłam po nią myśląc że spędzę miło czas dowiadując się ciekawostek z życia wikingów i być może zostanę zachęcona do zgłębienia tematu. Otóż nie. Autorka bardzo dużo chciała wcisnąć tu informacji tylko zapomniała że to jedynie 200 stron I liznęła kilka tematów na tyle lekko że nic mnie nie chwyciło za serce. Chciałam tutaj dosłownie tego co w tytule - spędzić 24h w zwykłej rodzinie wikingów gdzie poznam ich codzienne życie, tradycje, wartości, rodzinne role. Dostałam za to mnóstwo bohaterów o bardzo podobnych imionach, rozdziały podzielone na godziny, w każdym rozdziale innych bohaterów o różnym statusie społecznym, zamiast codzienności sytuacje wyjątkowe, cząstki legend, anegdot. Jednym słowem CHAOS (i brak sensownej spójności). Trzeba było się na coś zdecydować. Albo napisać obszerną powieść zawierającą podział na "klasy" wikingów i przedstawić historycznie kilku bohaterów czy nawet stworzyć dużą sagę opartą na prawdziwych inspiracjach albo malutką spójną historyjkę skupiającą się na najzwyklejszej rodzince i godzina po godzinie przedstawiać ich zwyczajny dzień.

[Dahlia (ofpagesandprint) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

24 Hours in the Viking World is an interesting nonfiction book that follows parts of the Vikings' lives.

From the start, this story was fascinating and full of myths, customs, and culture. I enjoyed the variety of lives and people covered in this book, from shipbuilders to farmers to warriors. I was hoping for a day-in-the-life overview of the different people covered instead of only an hour or short segment of a day in their lives. Nonetheless, each part was interesting and explored Viking and Nordic culture well. This was the first book in the 24 Hours series I’ve read, and I would love to continue it.

Rachael Beresford did an excellent job narrating. Her voice was smooth and engaging, presenting the story in a compelling and immersive manner. I highly recommend the audiobook!

Thank you to the publisher for the free ALC!

[Catriona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Compared to others in this series I was disappointed… it didn’t feel as well researched or formed. The ancient China book had a better map to follow, whilst Vikings just seemed to jump about from hour to hour. So many name began with “Thor” which gradually (for me at least) made it harder to follow- and yet I’m sure there was more diversity in Vikings names.
It felt like the aim was to retell stories from records rather than inform the reading on archeological fact.
Ancient Egypt has been the best of the three I have read so far.
It was also interesting to read the chapter on Freydis after having read Slave Girl by Jackie French which gave a very different interpretation of the same events. Having been published decades apart I would be intrigued to know how the perspectives on the sources and the interpretations have changed and why….

[Dropbear123 · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5 rounding down for Goodreads.

It was a cheap quick kindle read that just didn’t work for me. Each chapter covers a different kind of person, some real some fictional (for more ordinary people like a baker to give a narrative to the facts) to tell you what life was like in the Viking period.

The reason this book didn’t work for me is that it feels less like a normal history book and more like a collection of (not very good) historical short stories with facts thrown in. Also each chapter is supposed to represent one hour but a lot of the stories cover months and years which sort of defeats the point of the book.

Sidenote - The book is part of a series, ‘24 hours in X period’ and I would recommend 24 hours in Ancient Rome by Phillip Matyzak which has the same style but is a lot better.

[NaTaya Hastings · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book, but it wasn't as captivating and exciting as I had hoped. And no, I don't mean I expected it to be full of battles and pillaging and k!llings and r@pes.

But I expected it to be a bit less dry.

It just doesn't capture the interesting "day in the life" feel that other similar books I've read have captured.

I think the primary problem is that the entire book tied back to a blood feud between families, so the narrator had to keep interrupting present-day explanations to provide details on that past feud. It made the day-to-day less real and present. It's like the author tried to weave a fictional novel in with a diary. That's not what it is, of course, but that's kind of how it reads, and it took me out of the book.

Another issue is that the author tried to be too expansive. In my opinion, these kinds of books work best when you focus them on a single time period in a small region. This book jumped from place to place and (if I'm not mistaken) different time periods, as well. (It was a little foggy in places, so I could be wrong about that bit.)

The actual day-to-day stuff (how they made food, how they gave birth, etc.) was actually very interesting. But the scope was just too large to hold the focus there.

I liked it okay, but I didn't love it. And I've definitely read better books on the subject. Still, not a bad read if this subject is something you're interested in.

The narration was good, as well. Not fantastic, but good. Clearly narrated with a decent pace. (I had to listen to it on 2x speed.) But it gave off elevator vibes at times, making me want to nap instead of listen.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor audio for providing me an e-arc of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review

I love this series, and this volume is no exception! Wolf has created an engaging and informative look into what the world of the Vikings was like. I appreciate the information in the beginning where she describes the kinds of sources used to write these little vignettes of daily life and tells the reader which characters were actually real people!

I learned a lot about Viking-era law, social customs, and occupations and was thoroughly entertained the entire time.

I listened to the audiobook and thought that was very well done too. The narrator's voice was very nice to listen to and the pace and intonation fit the subject well.

[Paul Lunger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kirsten Wolf's "24 Hours in the Viking World: A Day in the Life of the People Who Lived There" is honestly a book that I wasn't quite expecting to be what it was. What we have are essentially 24 short stories about various events and people in the Viking period of time some of which are interconnected, and others are standalone by themselves. What's also interesting as well is that some of these stories are based upon real people from history & others are drawn from what those people might've been liked. It's an easy read, but one that at times makes me almost want to forget the time stamps on the chapters.

[Dave Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wants to present itself to you as some fancied fact, but is betrayed by the obvious folklore antics. I'll get right to a "spoiler" which I feel is important knowledge for any undecided party that one of the stories involves a man cutting off his nipples to 'nurse' his infant. Did the author believe this story? If they did, what else did they hear and believe? If they didn't, why did they present it to me as though I might?

It has good stories that do paint some nice pictures and some bleak ones, but I feel calling this book "24 Hours in Viking Folklore" would have left a better taste in my mouth.

[Nadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for Viking content. I would rank this one 3rd out of the 5 24-Hour books in the series, with Ancient Greece definitely in first for me, followed by Ancient Rome in second, Ancient Egypt in fourth, and Ancient China in fifth. I do understand the critique from others that this wasn't as much 24 hour-long stories from a single day in one city and more like 24 stories spanning much longer than an hour each and from various cities and days, but I found the stories engaging and educational in the same way those of other entries in this series were nonetheless.

[Wren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used the Athens book from this series to teach a class set in 425 BCE. I recently moved to a town that hosts a Scandinavian Festival every May. I saw this at B & N and decided to donate it to my local public library. It was an interesting read. The author wove in factual details about many historical Norsemen and -women. Obviously, I would learn about banquets, shipbuilding, seafaring for trading and raiding. I also learned about food (ie, bread baking, preserving meat), rune making, poetry making, the legal system, the rocky transition into Christianity, and more. This makes me want to read more books about medieval Scandinavia ahead of this year’s festival—which will mark the 50th anniversary of its inception.