A review by ssellwood
The Frugal Wizard's Handbook for Surviving Medieval England by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious 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

3.5

So far my least favourite of the kickstarters. While I think this book very promising plot, the execution was lacking for me. John is from a future Earth with inter-dimensional travel, and finds himself transported to an alternative Anglo-Saxon England with some swanky modern abilities but a loss of his memories. I liked the theme of how any modern technology interposed onto an older world can be interpreted as magic, but I felt the other main theme of John's redemption was pushed a little too hard. I also found the interspered memory jolts to be a little jarring, and with the backstory being so on and off I didn't feel very connected to John's character. I wonder if it may have worked better as a children's novel, as I found John's narrative to be a little immature. However, the set up was cosy, with typical medieval settlements and characters. The plot was fast paced, and full of action, and the humourous inserts were excellent. 
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