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natalierial's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
carliereadsstuff's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
lhcarter24's review against another edition
3.75
Overall, this was a really solid standalone story that actually made me laugh out loud at moments. The world building was the best part and I really liked the main cast of characters. I think this lacks the wow power of other Sanderson novels but this was a funny and cute story that served its purpose well. Also the boxing fight at the end was great.
mudder17's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, this was a strange book. And I was completely confused by whole passages in the first third of the book as they talked about wyrds and whatever else and I had no idea what they were talking about. But then again, Runian had no idea what was going on either. He quickly figured out he was from another time since things would creep in from his subconscious and he understood quickly that he didn't really belong there. But there were giant holes as he tried to figure out who he was/who he wanted to be.
But even as I was confused, I persisted and I'm glad I did. About the 50% mark (yes, it did take that long for me to somehow figure out what was going on), I was completely hooked and absolutely wanted to figure out how everything would work out for Runian.
The inserts from the wizard's guide mostly worked, and some of them were downright funny. But they also had the effect of taking me out of the story and I just wanted to get back to Runian and his friends. It was funny that the author of the Wizard's Handbook was an author in the Alcatraz series, a middle school series by Sanderson that is a lot of fun.
Overall, I really enjoyed this odd blend of sci-fi, fantasy, and historical fiction. It's definitely quirky, and I suspect that readers will either hate it or love it, depending on their mindset. For those who love his Cosmere series, don't expect something similar. But come to it with an open mind and I think you will be entertained.
But even as I was confused, I persisted and I'm glad I did. About the 50% mark (yes, it did take that long for me to somehow figure out what was going on), I was completely hooked and absolutely wanted to figure out how everything would work out for Runian.
The inserts from the wizard's guide mostly worked, and some of them were downright funny. But they also had the effect of taking me out of the story and I just wanted to get back to Runian and his friends. It was funny that the author of the Wizard's Handbook was an author in the Alcatraz series, a middle school series by Sanderson that is a lot of fun.
Overall, I really enjoyed this odd blend of sci-fi, fantasy, and historical fiction. It's definitely quirky, and I suspect that readers will either hate it or love it, depending on their mindset. For those who love his Cosmere series, don't expect something similar. But come to it with an open mind and I think you will be entertained.
snukes's review against another edition
5.0
Fricking delightful. This story of alternate dimensions was not what I expected it to be, what with the guy in the wizard hat on the cover, but it turned out to be even better than what I expected, so no complaints.
We tag along with our amnesiac hero, John, as he attempts to sort out who he is, where he is, when he is, and how in the world he wound up there. There's a little dramatic irony to play with, as the reader seems better qualified than John, for awhile, to make guesses about his past life, but nothing is quite as simple as it seems. John's attempts to make connections with the inhabitants of his current realm are rather charming.
As with Tress, this book is solidly underscored by a theme of personal growth, and I really love that. Where Tress's story dealt with the ways she became more than she thought she could be, this story works in the realm of escaping the traps of expectation set by ourselves and others.
Also there was a little magic, a lot of lore, and some brand new Nordic-Anglo history.
100% get the paper book to read. There are doodles in the margin that tell a second, at-least-as-important story. :)
We tag along with our amnesiac hero, John, as he attempts to sort out who he is, where he is, when he is, and how in the world he wound up there. There's a little dramatic irony to play with, as the reader seems better qualified than John, for awhile, to make guesses about his past life, but nothing is quite as simple as it seems. John's attempts to make connections with the inhabitants of his current realm are rather charming.
As with Tress, this book is solidly underscored by a theme of personal growth, and I really love that. Where Tress's story dealt with the ways she became more than she thought she could be, this story works in the realm of escaping the traps of expectation set by ourselves and others.
Also there was a little magic, a lot of lore, and some brand new Nordic-Anglo history.
100% get the paper book to read. There are doodles in the margin that tell a second, at-least-as-important story. :)
gabbyeleene's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
agathe_athena's review against another edition
4.0
A man wakes up in a burned circle in a field in what appears to be medieval England, but he has no memories of who he is or how he got there or why. The only clues are some singed pages from a guidebook for “Frugal Wizard’s”. As he slowly starts to remember things, he knows he’s not from his own world, and he’s being chased by people from his own dimension. He decides he must play up his otherworldliness to get help from the locals, and find a way back home, wherever that is. But as he learns more about himself, he doesn’t like what he finds, and soon he must make a choice about who he wants to be and where he wants to stay.
This was a fun half-scifi, half-fantasy adventure story. It’s interesting to see an alternate-dimension where the Anglo-Saxons have settled England, and it’s also fun to read a Sanderson story that he’s not trying to tie into the Cosmere. There are some odd holes to the plot logic, but it’s just a fun read.
Also, the illustrations are excellent.
This was a fun half-scifi, half-fantasy adventure story. It’s interesting to see an alternate-dimension where the Anglo-Saxons have settled England, and it’s also fun to read a Sanderson story that he’s not trying to tie into the Cosmere. There are some odd holes to the plot logic, but it’s just a fun read.
Also, the illustrations are excellent.
buckydotson's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
This was very cute and I laughed out loud several times while listening. Just a nice little romp!
lauramclain's review against another edition
4.0
Fun story: near-future sci-fi/ fantasy tourism/ amnesia trope.
zeryth's review against another edition
3.0
Modern man wakes up in Medieval England with no idea how he got there nor who he is.
In general, I am a fan of Brandon Sanderson's work, however this wasn't the most enjoyable read from me to him--quality-wise, I'm just used to expecting more expansive in-depth world from him, but you didn't get that with this stand-alone. But it's not just that I only enjoy multi-novel books as the "issue"--I actually did enjoy Warbreaker, his standalone book with color-based system magic...also in Frugal Wizard's Handbook, Sanderson bizarrely was trying his hand at pages and pages laden with humor, which, as a writer, good for you for getting out of your comfort zone and trying something new, but as a reader, for me specifically the jokes weren't really hitting. Which ofc lead me to more of a face-plaming feeling rather than thoroughly enjoyable.
If you want a light, quick sci-fi read that's a little campy, go ahead and give Frugal Wizard's Handbook a read! But don't go into it expecting Stormlight-Arhives-level writing
In general, I am a fan of Brandon Sanderson's work, however this wasn't the most enjoyable read from me to him--quality-wise, I'm just used to expecting more expansive in-depth world from him, but you didn't get that with this stand-alone. But it's not just that I only enjoy multi-novel books as the "issue"--I actually did enjoy Warbreaker, his standalone book with color-based system magic...also in Frugal Wizard's Handbook, Sanderson bizarrely was trying his hand at pages and pages laden with humor, which, as a writer, good for you for getting out of your comfort zone and trying something new, but as a reader, for me specifically the jokes weren't really hitting. Which ofc lead me to more of a face-plaming feeling rather than thoroughly enjoyable.
If you want a light, quick sci-fi read that's a little campy, go ahead and give Frugal Wizard's Handbook a read! But don't go into it expecting Stormlight-Arhives-level writing