Books › In Other Lands
In Other Lands
448 pages
A hilarious, sharp-tongued subversion of portal fantasy that hides a remarkably tender story about growing up and finding your people.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like sitting in the back of a classroom with the smartest, most obnoxiously funny kid in school, only to realize he has a heart of gold. It moves at a brisk, episodic clip, skipping through four years of magic school while gleefully dismantling every chosen one and warrior trope in the fantasy canon. The atmosphere is chaotic and deeply humorous, anchored by rapid-fire, witty dialogue that masks the profound vulnerability of its characters. Instead of epic battles, the emotional weight rests on messy bisexual awakenings, the quiet triumphs of diplomacy, and the slow, stubborn forging of a found family. It is an absolute delight for anyone who loves a prickly protagonist who desperately needs a hug, wrapped in a story that is as sharply intelligent as it is fiercely affectionate.
- Mood
- chaotic
- warm
- humorous
- tender
- Tone
- wry
- subversive
- affectionate
- sarcastic
- witty
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- found family · subversion of chosen one tropes · bisexual awakening · power of diplomacy · coming of age
- The writing
- Sharp, dialogue-heavy, and relentlessly witty, the prose uses biting irony as a shield for its deeply tender emotional core.
- The arc
- A prickly, defensive outsider slowly lets down his walls to discover the profound warmth of true friendship and his own unique worth.
- Who it's for
- Fans of portal fantasies who prefer their magic schools with a heavy dose of snark, trope subversion, and messy, lovable queer characters.
Content notes
- emotional neglect
- bullying
- fantasy violence
About the book
"What's your name?" "Serene." "Serena?" Elliot asked. "Serene," said Serene. "My full name is Serene-Heart-in-the-Chaos-of-Battle." Elliot's mouth fell open. "That is badass."
The Borderlands aren't like anywhere else. Don't try to smuggle a phone or any other piece of technology over the wall that marks the Border--unless you enjoy a fireworks display in your backpack. (Ballpoint pens are okay.) There are elves, harpies, and--best of all as far as Elliot is concerned--mermaids.
Elliot? Who's Elliot? Elliot is thirteen years old. He's smart and just a tiny bit obnoxious. Sometimes more than a tiny bit. When his class goes on a field trip and he can see a wall that no one else can see, he is given the chance to go to school in the Borderlands.
It turns out that on the other side of the wall, classes involve a lot more weaponry and fitness training and fewer mermaids than he expected. On the other hand, there's Serene-Heart-in-the-Chaos-of-Battle, an elven warrior who is more beautiful than anyone Elliot has ever seen, and then there's her human friend Luke: sunny, blond, and annoyingly likeable. There are lots of interesting books. There's even the chance Elliot might be able to change the world.
In Other Lands is the exhilarating new book from beloved and bestselling author Sarah Rees Brennan. It's a novel about surviving four years n the most unusual of schools, about friendship, falling in love, diplomacy, and finding your own place in the world--even if it means giving up your phone.
This description comes from the publisher.
Description from Open Library.
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