In Other Lands

A thirteen-year-old English boy discovers he can see through the Border that separates our world from a magical realm. At a military training camp in this other world, he befriends an elven warrior named Serene and clashes with Luke Sunborn, a talented student from a prominent family. The story follows Elliot through four years at the Border camp, where his sharp tongue and anti-war stance set him apart from his peers. He pursues diplomatic solutions to conflicts and develops skills in treaty-writing and negotiations, while navigating complex relationships with both humans and magical creatures. This fantasy coming-of-age novel breaks from genre conventions by centering peace over warfare and exploring gender roles across human and elven societies. The narrative tackles themes of identity, belonging, and the challenge of finding one's place between two worlds.

Readers describe this book as a subversive take on portal fantasy that balances humor with emotional depth. Many compare it to fanfiction in tone and style, particularly in how it deconstructs common fantasy tropes. Readers praised: - The protagonist's sarcastic wit and character growth - LGBTQ+ representation and romance elements - Commentary on gender roles and toxic masculinity - Friendship dynamics between main characters Common criticisms: - Pacing issues, especially in the middle section - Main character can be grating/annoying initially - Plot sometimes feels secondary to character moments - Some found the humor too meta or self-aware Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (15,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (850+ ratings) BookBrowse: 4.5/5 Several reviewers noted it reads like "The Magicians meets Rainbow Rowell," with one calling it "the anti-Chosen One story fantasy needs." Multiple readers mentioned needing time to adjust to the protagonist's voice but finding it worthwhile to persist.

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🌟 The book began as a popular online serial called "Turn of the Story" before being extensively revised and published as a novel in 2017. 🌟 The author deliberately subverts common fantasy tropes by having the elves in her world embrace reverse gender roles, where females are the warriors and males are considered delicate. 🌟 Sarah Rees Brennan drew inspiration from her own experiences attending boarding school in England, though she grew up in Ireland. 🌟 The novel won the 2018 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature, joining the ranks of previous winners like Diana Wynne Jones and Neil Gaiman. 🌟 The land beyond the Border is called the Borderlands, and unlike many fantasy novels where magical worlds are secret, in this story the modern world is fully aware of its existence but most people simply can't see through the Border.