This is a lovely book and Eleanor Barraclough narrates it beautifully. The chapters are well thought-out and always interested me. However, I would recommend people read this book in print. Because the artifact, person, or place discussed changed from paragraph to paragraph, I found that if my attention wandered for even a moment I could feel a little lost. A lovely book, not the format I would suggest for its audience.

Embers of the Hands retails the history of the Viking in such a way that they become more realistic and tangible to the everyday reader.

Author, Eleanor Barraclough uses her extensive research into the daily lives of northern Europeans to create a vivid depiction of their every day life.

The audiobook narrated by the author is very easy to listen to and goes at a good pace. Eleanor Barraclough storytelling style lends well to the audio format and create something that is very enjoyable to listen to and easy to follow along. I also really enjoyed her enthusiasm that you can hear as she narrates the book.

{ 🎧 Embers of the Hands }
by Eleanor Barraclough

★ ★ ★ ★
Narrator(s): Eleanor Barraclough
Length: 10h 51m
Source: ALC - NetGalley, HighBridge Audio
Release Date: January 7, 2025

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Wow. This almost eleven hour audiobook was packed with information—most of which I’d never heard before.

Take every piece of Viking history you think you know and leave it suspended in the air because I’m fairly certain we’ve all gotten it wrong.

You see, “Viking” isn’t even technically correct because that was a made up name at one point for a specific group of people in the north Europe region. BUT because it’s been used for too long, it now encompasses all the Northern Europe nations when discussing the history.

Viking history includes families and women and cities. It includes humor and nicknames and rituals. It spans hundreds of years across many modern day countries. So if you ever want to learn more about the real history of Vikings, then this audio is for you!

𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩:
⚓️ historical nonfiction
⚔️ Viking era
⚓️ recently discovered history
⚔️ delves into the TRUE history of the time

{I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook. All reviews are my own.}
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I LOVED THIS BOOK!!! As a history nerd and an anthropology student who spends most of their time reading about the Mediterranean, Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Southeastern Asia this was a great change of pace as well as topic. I will say this is like the song "Valhalla Is Calling" by Miracle Sound in a book!

3.5 stars!
This was a very informative read! Perfect as an audio book because it felt like listening to a history podcast. I didn’t know much about Viking before reading this and I loved the different approach the author took in writing this topic. I was expecting a recount of their travels and more of the violent parts of being a Viking but what we got was a much more anthropological look into them as people. I feel like when we think about Vikings we only think about the plundering towns and being violent but them was a refreshing reminder of the other aspects of their love that made them a people with rich cultures. I liked that through explaining her research it humanized my idea of a Viking.

A fascinating look into daily life in the Viking Age.

This is a captivating and well written social history of those who lived in Viking territory, refreshingly bereft of marauders in horned hats and focused on what the average person’s life might have looked like as part of this civilization.

I love a social history, especially one that debunks stereotypes or oversimplifications of a people and their world, and this is a delightful example of excellent research into the aspects of Viking Era life that typically don’t make it into the books about warcraft and exploration.

I highly recommend the audiobook if you’re able to read it that way, as the author narrates and not only does she do a lovely job as a reader, her enthusiasm for the material comes through and becomes contagious in the best way.

An informative look into the lives of those during the Viking age. A bunch of interesting historical information in a well organized and researched book.

This year I have challenged myself to read from different areas of history, and this was my first pick- it was a great choice.

I am only very minimally familiar with the Viking world and this is a great introduction. Barraclough is a confident guide and leads us through this world that often feels foreign but is really very similar to ours. I loved that she would directly explain how similar the Viking world is to ours, and that the people who lived through this age were no different than you or I. (It is a very common tendency to think of people from the past as aliens, but we need to challenge that.)

I also very much appreciated that she touched on groups that are often ignored/left in the background, including women and LGBTQ people. While the study of history has remained largely male, Barraclough easily shows that “everyone else” (ie. Not males in a dominant social position) were very much key parts of society and that they are just as worthy of study and discussion.

This was really easy to follow, and I felt like everything was explained thoroughly without being dry in any way!

Barraclough also did the narration herself, which I think was a great choice. I’ve said this on the blog before: historians narrating their own audiobooks is the way forward! She obviously understands her subject and the tone that she was intending, and it made for very interesting listening.

*Embers of the Hands* offers a refreshing and richly detailed exploration of Viking society beyond the typical image of violent warriors. Eleanor Barraclough masterfully brings to life the everyday experiences of the medieval Nordic world through artifacts and personal remnants—wooden game boards, antler combs, runes, and more. Her storytelling humanizes a culture often reduced to myths of conquest, showcasing the complexity of Viking life, from artisans and travelers to children and enslaved people.

The expansive scope, covering regions far beyond Scandinavia, adds depth and global context to this history. While some sections lean heavily on academic detail, Barraclough’s vivid narrative keeps the reader engaged. This book is a must-read for history enthusiasts seeking a nuanced and humanized portrayal of the Viking Age.

Not your average Viking age non-fiction text in all the good ways. I really enjoyed how diverse the subjects of this book were. Covering a wide range of people of different social standings and some that are usually not mentioned much or at all. The author/narrator had really solid pronunciation (as far as I know) and you could really tell she is very passionate about this book and her energy really adds that extra layer of enjoyment to this audiobook.

As someone who has enjoyed reading many different points of views on Viking age history, I still felt like I came away learning some new things and never found myself bored listening to this book. I really enjoyed how many chapters tied back to others and wove this great tapestry across the book while covering many different subjects and times of the Viking age. I recommend this to anyone with any level of interest in the Viking age.

Thank you to NetGalley, RBmedia and Eleanor Barraclough for an ALC in exchange for this honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Highbridge Audio for my copy of Embers of the Hands Hidden Histories of the Viking Age by Eleanor Barraclough Narrated by Eleanor Barraclough in exchange for an honest review. It published January 7, 2024.
I love when an author narrates their own book! This was no exception, the enthusiasm and passion for Barraclough’s work shines through the narration.
I thoroughly enjoyed the premise of this book, looking at the everyday lives of the Vikings and not focusing just on recorded history. I found it so interesting and thought-provoking.
There were a few things I could’ve done without, sexually explicit and stuff about certain types of sacrifices, but that was easily skipped.
Overall a really fascinating and important book about history that makes it feel accessible and interesting.

This was fascinating. My maternal grandmother was born in Norway, and so the history of the Viking Age has always held interest for me. Of course, the Viking age doesn't just hail from Norway or even Scandinavia. Viking age culture is part of a much larger and richer history than has been conveyed thus far.

This author divided the history by chapters such as: love, beginnings, unfreedom, travel, etc. This format allowed this historian to really maximize Viking age history and tell a very human, everyday story of this period using relatable items like combs or other grooming tools. This method helped the subject matter feel applicable to today and familiar to the casual reader of history.

I saw in the posted reviews that some reviewers found this style a bit dry but I actually found it to be quite easily accessible. History is full of lists and other less exciting details. Historians are writing for and with accuracy, not pacing. If readers are unaccustomed to this kind of history text, I highly recommend the audiobook. I think it maintains the research integrity but balances that with faster pacing.

I truly loved the style and layout of this book. I think the layout helped to give such a personal view of folks who were alive during this time period. This is not like the TV show Vikings or common Hollywood depictions of the Viking age.

This audiobook is narrated by the author, Eleanor Barraclough. This is a nonfiction history book and I enjoyed hearing the authors own excitement conveyed in the narration.

Thank you to Eleanor Barraclough, HighBridgeAudio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.

A great overview history of the Viking age in Europe. Medieval History is a favorite time period for me but I haven't read or learned too much about Viking history beyond learning about their raids and impacts on culture and language in more southern areas of Europe. I enjoyed learning more about settlements in modern day Iceland and Greenland and more about the day-to-day life of peoples in these areas. This was a great read for anyone who wants a good intro or more general history about the Viking age.

I was lucky enough to get this book as an audiobook arc and it was narrated by Eleanor and she is a fantastic narrator! With my archaeological background in Vikings (the Baltic ones- specifically Gotland), I really enjoyed this book. It isn't heavy, goes through many historical, archaeological, and even ecological case studies for Viking influence. It highlights every day people as well as well known Vikings. It read like a podcast- with each chapter focusing on a different topic like gender, home, bodies, mythology, food, etc.

I really recommend it and desparately need a physical copy.

If you are looking for a fascinating and easy to read non-fiction- this is it!

Thank you to NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for my ARC!

Embers of the Hands is a fantastic, personal look at the history of the Vikings.

Eleanor Barraclough does an excellent job narrating this book. Perfectly paced, I learned a lot about the Vikings beyond the same things that are always repeated about them.. By looking at the artifacts they left behind, we get a bigger picture of who they were as people beyond their seafaring expertise.

I LOVED this book. It was fascinating, engaging, and perfectly constructed for learning information while still feeling entertained. The narrator was flawless in her delivery. Would definitely recommend.

My husband takes his Viking heritage rather seriously so I thought I’d read this book to learn more about it

I had no idea Vikings had such meticulous grooming habits. I thought the well manicured beards and elaborate braids were “Hollywood” on the various shows around Vikings but this book and the artifacts suggests otherwise. This is just one example from the book.

I found it all rather fascinating and would recommend to anyone who enjoys history, anthropology, archeology, Vikings etc

The book is a bit of a slog and felt like a textbook at times. It is informative and I’m not sure I would have gotten far without the audio. Or perhaps I would have just flipped around looking for interesting bits.

(5.0 Stars)

Thank you #NetGalley for making this book available to be to read and review.

This book was very informative. It was sectioned in a way that made sense and neatly grouped the information together. It was narrated by the author, which is always a nice touch.

In addition to being informative, it is entertaining. If you have any interest in the Viking Age this is a must read book!

This is a brilliant book! I've read quite a bit about Viking history but this sets itself apart by focusing on ordinary people and their lives. The author's writing style is wonderful: storytelling at its best but also full of interesting details and facts. I loved the organization of the book as well. and the way that the information focused around artifacts, so deeply rooted in the archeology of recent finds. I was sorry when it came to an end! I will definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in the Viking world. The audiobook was fantastic - the author as reader was conversational and had wonderful pronunciation of the Old Norse and Scandinavian words and names, which I greatly appreciated. This was a joy to listen to.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!