The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England by Brandon Sanderson

The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England

by Brandon Sanderson

#1 New York Times Bestselling author Brandon Sanderson meshes Jason Bourne, epic fantasy, and time travel together in a standalone adventure where an amnesiac wizard's only hope of survival in medieval England lies in recovering his missing memories.

A man awakes in a clearing in what appears to be medieval England with no memory of who he is, where he came from, or why he is there. Chased by a group from his own time, his sole hope for survival lies in regaining his missing memories, making allies among the locals, and perhaps even trusting in their superstitious boasts. His only help from the "real world" should have been a guidebook entitled The Frugal Wizard's Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, except his copy exploded during transit. The few fragments he managed to save provide clues to his situation, but can he figure them out in time to survive?

Reviewed by ladygrey on

3 of 5 stars

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There's a whimsical quality to this story that is amusing. Particularly the star ratings throughout. But I never really cared about any of the characters or what was happening. The bit of mystery is what kept me reading, barely. I put this down and wouldn't pick it up for weeks, months. Multiple times. It wasn't bad in any way that would make me want to DNF. But it also wasn't engaging in any way that made me want to keep reading except for a latent curiosity to find out what Brandon Sanderson would pull off.

But it didn't satisfy the way a Brandon Sanderson book normally does. The thing I love about Sanderson's books is the revelation. That moment when some promise alluded to crystallizes into a dramatic moment in the climax. This kind of had that, but it was weak compared to his other stories. And it wasn't really worth hanging around with the tepid characters.

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Reading updates

  • 10 May, 2024: Started reading
  • 30 August, 2024: Finished reading
  • 5 September, 2024: Reviewed