The Frugal Wizard's Handbook for Surviving Medieval England

Book Title: The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England

Author: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Tor Books
Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction
Year of Publication: 2023
Date of Publication: June 27, 2023
Pages: 366
ISBN-10: 1250899672
ISBN-13: 978-1250899675
Audiobook Narrators: Michael Kramer and Kate Reading
Illustrator: Steve Argyle

Our Rating of This Book

Summary of The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England

The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England tells the story of a man who wakes up in a strange, medieval landscape, completely disoriented and without any memory of his past. His sole companion is the handbook. The book itself is filled with advice, observations, and humorous commentary about surviving in the medieval setting.

As he explores his surroundings, he meets villagers, power-hungry factions, and other characters who either help or hinder his progress. Each encounter provides clues about who he might be and why he has been placed in this world, while the handbook itself proves to be a very useful resource.

The Frugal Wizard's Handbook for Surviving Medieval England Book Review

Main Plot & Characters

Runian (John West) — The protagonist. He wakes up in a medieval-England–like dimension with amnesia and gradually pieces together his identity and mission.
Sefawynn — She is a storyteller also known as a skop. Skops are responsible for preserving history through storytelling. They are kind of like psychics. She becomes one of Runian’s primary allies.
Ealstan — He is a lord in the dimension. Ealstan acts as a protector and ally to Sefawynn and Runian.
Ulric Stromfin — He is one of the antagonists (connected to the cartel from Runian’s past). Ulric was working on an investigation involving dimensional travel and Runian borrowed one of his dimensions, which is how he ended up where the story takes place.
Ryan Chu — He is a friend / associate from Runian’s past who also appears in the dimension. Ryan is a detective who job involves tracking the cartel and has been investigating Ulric. He and Runian used to be in the enhanced fighting league and had formed a friendship but things changed and they became estranged. They are both in love with the same woman.
Jen — She used to be in a relationship with Runian.
Quinn Jericho — He is Ulric’s enforcer and right-hand man.
Logna — She is a goddess-figure who appears in human form.

Writing Style

The story is told mostly from Runian’s perspective except for the portions that are instructions from the manual and written by the fake author in the book, Cecil G. Bagsworth III. It’s definitely a different style of writing and a unique way of storytelling. It does follow the white room story idea, where a character wakes up with no idea who they are like in Project Hail Mary and Bourne Identity.

Sanderson’s tells the story using a lot of wit and humor, which we appreciated. There are parts of the book that are written like a manual where you are reading about the possible dimensions that are available for purchase and also disclaimers for things that can go wrong in each dimension.

When we first picked up the book we were expecting a book about medieval times but that’s not what you get with this book. You get a little bit more. Yes, he travels to a dimension in Medieval England but there is a lot of technology that allows this to happen and some that are still available to him and his counterparts in the new dimension. The book is more science fiction than fantasy.

Memorable Quotes

“Before my luck had run thin and my dumb had proven to be a renewable resource.”— Runian’s reflections
“When I look at a loser-no offense-I guess I want to assume he deserves it. Because it helps me believe it could never happen to me.”— Ryan Chu
“Do not be ashamed of your joy.”— Ealstan
“Turns out, even a coward can save the world, so long as you leave him with no other options.”— Runian’s reflections
“Seize the fish.”

Is this a book you’ve read or one you’re planning to? What did you think about the book structure and the idea of purchasing different dimensions for travel?

Authors

Nathaniel Adebayo
Nathaniel is a Media Content Specialist at Verayea, where he specializes in curating content and gathering data for the company’s extensive book library. He is also dedicated to writing insightful reviews, offering thoughtful perspectives on a range of media. His work ensures that Verayea’s library is comprehensive, well-organized, and informative, providing valuable resources for its audience.
Ufuoma Akpotaire
Ufuoma Akpotaire is a passionate book, movie and music reviewer with a love for travel and culture. She combines her enthusiasm for storytelling with her experience exploring new places and stories. Through her reviews, she celebrates creativity and inspires readers to appreciate the connections between books, movies, music, travel, and global cultures.