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nishana's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
In Other Lands explores the theme of coming-of-age in a way that i've never seen any other ya fantasy do so.
this is a character-driven story that follows our protagonist, elliot, from age 13 to 17, as he grows up away from the human world in a place called the borderlands. here, he befriends serene (and elven warrior who he quickly develops a crush on) and luke (an attractive boy who everyone seems to like... except for elliot). whilst there is discussion of war and combat within the story, most of this occurs off-page as elliot has little interest in violence. instead, the story focuses on elliot's friendships, romantic relationships and all of the angst and self-confidence issues that comes with being a teenager who has not-so-great parents.
the story has a lot of focus on elliot's flaws, mainly his sometimes judgemental nature and lack of consideration for other people's feelings. we see his insecurities about people in his life not liking him and how this stems from having an absent mother and a father who doesn't care. most importantly, we see how he tries to work on these issues and even by the end of the novel, we are shown that it's a work-in-progress, rather than something that he's completely solved and overcome. i appreciate the authenticity of this, because in reality, most of us will spend a lifetime trying to become better people. it's an important message to send, especially in a young adult novel.
there's also some really great queer rep in this, with our main character being bisexual and a few other supporting/minor characters being gay. elliot dates both boys and girls throughout the book and has a particularly messy love life, as one would expect for a teenager. it's incredibly fun to read though, and there's plenty of humour throughout it that kept me rolling on the floor.
if you're looking for a cozy fantasy with themes of teenagehood, this is the story to read. it's cute, funny and quite easy to read as well.
this is a character-driven story that follows our protagonist, elliot, from age 13 to 17, as he grows up away from the human world in a place called the borderlands. here, he befriends serene (and elven warrior who he quickly develops a crush on) and luke (an attractive boy who everyone seems to like... except for elliot). whilst there is discussion of war and combat within the story, most of this occurs off-page as elliot has little interest in violence. instead, the story focuses on elliot's friendships, romantic relationships and all of the angst and self-confidence issues that comes with being a teenager who has not-so-great parents.
the story has a lot of focus on elliot's flaws, mainly his sometimes judgemental nature and lack of consideration for other people's feelings. we see his insecurities about people in his life not liking him and how this stems from having an absent mother and a father who doesn't care. most importantly, we see how he tries to work on these issues and even by the end of the novel, we are shown that it's a work-in-progress, rather than something that he's completely solved and overcome. i appreciate the authenticity of this, because in reality, most of us will spend a lifetime trying to become better people. it's an important message to send, especially in a young adult novel.
there's also some really great queer rep in this, with our main character being bisexual and a few other supporting/minor characters being gay. elliot dates both boys and girls throughout the book and has a particularly messy love life, as one would expect for a teenager. it's incredibly fun to read though, and there's plenty of humour throughout it that kept me rolling on the floor.
if you're looking for a cozy fantasy with themes of teenagehood, this is the story to read. it's cute, funny and quite easy to read as well.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Biphobia, Sexual harassment, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Homophobia and War
awkwardimagination's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I was not planning on finishing this book in about one day. But it was simply too good. I say it a lot but I'm not a fan of romance - I was incomprehensible while watching my ship become end game. This book was equal parts hilarious as it was heartbreaking. It has comedy and wit in every other line and it could very easily turn people off, but I absolutely loved every second of it. It served it's purpose well, too, as I was not expecting this book to be so vocal about issues that no one was talking about loudly in 2014(?) or at least not like we do now- gender roles, war and the importance of diplomacy, colonization. I also was not expecting to have abandonment issues and my own self-worth issues laid out for me like a horrible palm reading but that's fine (it made me cry). The genderswap was a bit jarring for me at first, until I realized it's purpose and it still made me feel uncomfortable, but if it were how it is irl I would've felt the same so mission accomplished.
I went into this book expecting a story about mermaids and growing up told by a snarky 13 yr old. Instead I got that, plus a story about the devastation of war and knowing too well how to make other people hurt you, before they decide to do it themself. And I was not dissappointed in the slightest.
I went into this book expecting a story about mermaids and growing up told by a snarky 13 yr old. Instead I got that, plus a story about the devastation of war and knowing too well how to make other people hurt you, before they decide to do it themself. And I was not dissappointed in the slightest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, Sexism, War, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Homophobia, Gaslighting, Bullying, Biphobia, and Colonisation
Minor: Animal death
axel_p's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Elliot is literally me
Content Warnings
Minor: Abandonment, Animal death, Child abuse, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Colonisation, Confinement, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, War, Alcohol, Homophobia, Outing, Racism, Biphobia, Body horror, Xenophobia, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Death, Slavery, and Violence
phantomgecko's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Firstly, I appreciate stand alone novels.
Secondly, you need to accept that the main character is unrealistically mature in certain areas and childish in others. And that's okay. Elliot embodies the ideals of an unprejudiced person (not racist, not sexist, not homophobic) and treats breakups, friend zones and rejection with grace and acceptance. This is not a book about a guy struggling with his sexuality. He knows what he likes and it's fine with him.
He's not a perfect character; he just has different faults. He's actually kinda an antihero because he's an obnoxious jerk.
Also, the magic land (that doesn't actually have magic, just creatures) is fascinating. From the only slightly hyperbolic matriarchal elves to the realistically colonial and species-ist humans to the choice in creatures in general. Harpies and mermaids are not usually included as sentient races in fantasy like this. I'd expect centaurs and, like, fairies or something to come first. Love it.
This book is funny. I commend that.
Relationships are a huge part of the book. Platonic, familial, and romantic. All the romance-y bits are like high school drama mixed with college drama, neither of which I care for. A lot of the love drama drives the plot, so it is necessary...to an extent. The love bits stretched on longer than I was interested. Thus four stars instead of five.
Still, a good read. Happy pride.
Secondly, you need to accept that the main character is unrealistically mature in certain areas and childish in others. And that's okay. Elliot embodies the ideals of an unprejudiced person (not racist, not sexist, not homophobic) and treats breakups, friend zones and rejection with grace and acceptance. This is not a book about a guy struggling with his sexuality. He knows what he likes and it's fine with him.
He's not a perfect character; he just has different faults. He's actually kinda an antihero because he's an obnoxious jerk.
Also, the magic land (that doesn't actually have magic, just creatures) is fascinating. From the only slightly hyperbolic matriarchal elves to the realistically colonial and species-ist humans to the choice in creatures in general. Harpies and mermaids are not usually included as sentient races in fantasy like this. I'd expect centaurs and, like, fairies or something to come first. Love it.
This book is funny. I commend that.
Relationships are a huge part of the book. Platonic, familial, and romantic. All the romance-y bits are like high school drama mixed with college drama, neither of which I care for. A lot of the love drama drives the plot, so it is necessary...to an extent. The love bits stretched on longer than I was interested. Thus four stars instead of five.
Still, a good read. Happy pride.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Colonisation, Sexual harassment, War, Bullying, Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Adult/minor relationship
artstitute's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I really enjoyed this book! I will say that I wish that Luke had gotten fleshed out a little more consistently, but I think part of that was that Elliot was an unreliable narrator and didn't really consider Luke's interiority that deeply. I also think that the characterization was a little all over the place and I wish more time had been dedicated to developing Luke and Elliot's relationshop. It's one of those books that's great as is, but a more thorough editer could have made it phenomenal. Overall, though, I had a lot of fun! I love the narration style and the tone so much and the characters are dear to my heart <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and War
Moderate: Biphobia and Sexual content
Minor: Sexual harassment and Sexual assault
wizardowl's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, and Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexism, War, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Blood, Abandonment, Biphobia, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, and Child abuse
Minor: Sexual content
friendly_neighborhood_grandma's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I cannot describe in words how much i love this book. I need more people to read it. Just do yourself a favour and read it with a friend. Otherwise you will explode. I read this with a friend and she thanked me so much.
This book is entirely character based. Do not expect to understand worldbuilding or plot until later in the book. The dialugues and proze are next level amazing. I cannot describe how amazing and real the characters feel. This is *the* definition of coming of age.
Everybody needs to experience this book, especially teens, especially gifted kids, but everyone. Do yourself a favor, get a friend, and read it together.
I have never saved so many passages in my life. You will want these words and situations forever in your brain.
And it's so gay.
This book is entirely character based. Do not expect to understand worldbuilding or plot until later in the book. The dialugues and proze are next level amazing. I cannot describe how amazing and real the characters feel. This is *the* definition of coming of age.
Everybody needs to experience this book, especially teens, especially gifted kids, but everyone. Do yourself a favor, get a friend, and read it together.
I have never saved so many passages in my life. You will want these words and situations forever in your brain.
And it's so gay.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Abandonment, Gaslighting, and War
Moderate: Racism, Body horror, and Sexual content
Minor: Body shaming, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Kidnapping, Medical content, Self harm, Torture, Alcohol, Biphobia, Infidelity, Racism, Toxic friendship, Medical trauma, Outing, and Sexual harassment
thegr1mreader's review
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Terrible. Elliot was a pain in my ass and I could barely finish the book
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Homophobia, Biphobia, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
toadstoolsnshit's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I love this book very much. It’s very well written and explores themes that I wish other fantasy books would dare to delve into. It tackles systems of oppression, war, and ethnocentrism and superiority in a way that’s lighthearted, relevant, and not at all dismissive. The characterization is masterful, as well as the world-building— something that is rare to see in fantasy books, I’ve noticed. The only issue I had was with pacing, though I would say the issue was minor and didn’t impede my enjoyment of the book at all. I would recommend this book to a great number of people.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War, and Death
Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Blood, Sexism, and Child abuse
Minor: Alcohol, Biphobia, and Injury/Injury detail
olivinebranch's review against another edition
lighthearted
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and War
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Biphobia