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?
******
Praise for Brandon Sanderson
\”Epic in every sense.\” -The Guardian on The Way of Kings
\”Brandon Sanderson’s reputation is finally as big as his novels.\” -The New York Times on Words of Radiance
\”If you’re a fan of fantasy and haven’t read the Mistborn trilogy yet, you have no excuses.\” -Forbes on Mistborn
\”A fresh view of how a world can grow, building new dimensions into the best of the old. Sanderson continues to show that he is one of the best authors in the genre.\” -Library Journal (starred review) on The Alloy of Law
\”Sanderson’s fresh ideas on the source and employment of magic are both arresting and original […] Think brisk. Think fun. Enjoy.\” -Kirkus, on The Alloy of Law
\”Mystery, magic, romance, political wrangling, religious conflict, fights for equality, sharp writing and wonderful, robust characters…Sanderson is a writer to watch.\” -Publishers Weekly, starred review, on Elantris
Format: Paperback
Pages: 384
Imprint: Gollancz UK
Publication date: 18/07/2024
Frugal Wizard's Handbook for Surviving Medieval England
By Brandon Sanderson
Review by Mida
This book is a magnificent blend of science fiction and fantasy that will bewitch and enthral you. It starts off with a pretty bizarre start before transforming into an unusual time travel story – with a twist.
The strangeness of your entry to the story melts away to reveal a vibrant and entertaining traipse through a suspiciously Norse landscape. Perfect for fans of fun sci-fi, it doesn’t get too dour, trusting that you are familiar enough with the plot of time travel so it just grabs you by the hand and goes, ‘Okay, you already know how this is going to go, right? Cool. Now let’s go in the OTHER DIRECTION and see what mischief we can cause!’
While I may have found that some of the characters were a little bit lacking, the fun of this story more than made up for any potential shortcomings. The setting is enjoyable, the plot is downright wild and I am in love with some of the concepts that Sanderson throws at the wall (which I unfortunately can’t discuss at the risk of spoilers).
This book is incredible, perfect for fans of John Scalzi or Good Omens. Give it a try if you’re looking for a fun sci-fi romp that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
You can also listen to Mida's review from RDU below:
