Neil Price
Basic Books
13 October 2026
432
eBook - EPUB
Non-Fiction/History
ARC via NetGalley
For centuries, Vikings have been stereotyped as brutish and violent pillagers. But now, based on the latest archaeological research, preeminent scholar Neil Price reveals the true diversity and individuality of the Viking Age.
From an arctic hunter to a woman of Persian ancestry; from a Sámi nomad to a bear endowed with personhood; from Viking raiders to Rus’ river traders; from sorceresses to shape-shifters; from immigrants to diplomats; from followers of many gods, to the worshippers of one; from settlers to farmers—as we meet all these and many more, Price enlists the full range of modern archaeological knowledge to reconstruct Norse lives in personal detail, presenting a new and complex image of the Viking Age. Taking the reader from Greenland to Greece and across three centuries, Price demonstrates that Vikings—in all of their heterogeneity—were both surprisingly similar to us today, and also thrillingly strange.
Densely peopled, beautifully rendered, and impressively wide-reaching, The Sea-King and the Sorceress sheds a light on the realities of life in the Viking diaspora.
The Sea-King and the Sorceress charted a course through various countries looking at what we can learn about lifestyle and migration in the Viking era from the details found in their burials, from the style of interment to the grave goods within. While full of fascinating detail and archaeological exploration, this book never felt dry, helped, at least in part, by the division of the chapters into stories about an individual grave and its inhabitant. If I had one negative point, it would be that it might have been nice to have had a few more images in relation to the grave goods, to help us better understand what was being described. However, this was only a minor issue and didn't affect my enjoyment of the book to any great extent. In the end, I am giving this one 4.5 stars. It was informative but also entertaining, and I recommend it to those interest in the Viking era or historical records in general.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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