In Other Lands in Crazy Challenge Connection

Feb 07, 2017 Beth rated it it was amazing

Shelves: cybils-nominate, hugo-nominate, fantasy

I read the base of the story online, but in this polished and completed version it's even better. Elliot is a very real boy, damaged by his home life but determined to live a decent life, and his friendships and misunderstandings in the Borderlands reflect real emotions. It's also hilarious, from the gender-swapped elves to the stoic trolls to the normal obliviousness of teenagers.

Highly recommended.

Reread was also highly enjoyable, with many incidents of laughing out loud. Serene was my favori ...more

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Oct 23, 2022 Krissy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audiobook, pgs-400-499, lgbtq, 5-motherfucking-stars, group-rec-5-star

One big snark funfest and I loved every second of it ❤️

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Oct 27, 2017 Roz rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ya-lit, queer, fantasy, queer-main, bisexual, 2010-2019

Elliot Schafer is caustic, sarcastic, and far too smart for his own good and he'd rather make that clear from the get go rather than wait for someone else to make a point of it. When his teacher brings a bunch of students to a random field to see whether he can see a wall, he's media savvy enough to know what's up. As he makes his way into the magical Borderlands, he thinks he knows exactly what he's going to meet. Turns out he's wrong. Fantasy fiction doesn't do nearly a good enough job to prep Elliot Schafer is caustic, sarcastic, and far too smart for his own good and he'd rather make that clear from the get go rather than wait for someone else to make a point of it. When his teacher brings a bunch of students to a random field to see whether he can see a wall, he's media savvy enough to know what's up. As he makes his way into the magical Borderlands, he thinks he knows exactly what he's going to meet. Turns out he's wrong. Fantasy fiction doesn't do nearly a good enough job to prepare him for the lack of plumbing and centralized heating, the warrior society training child soldiers, or the utter disregard for the council tract and using diplomacy to end wars before they being. That's not gonna stop him from dragging the Borderlands kicking and screaming into the most lasting peace he can manage though.

Elliot has the (sometimes half-hearted) support of Serene-Heart-in-the-Chaos-of-Battle, an elfin warrior that Elliot instantly falls in love with, and Luke Sunborn, the rising star of the first human family to settle in the Borderlands. Luke's presence is a byproduct of Serene's and not super welcome at the beginning, but eventually grows into a one-sided friendship and love.

Easily the most entertaining aspect of this book (besides Elliot's nature as a sarcastic little shit) is how thoroughly trope savvy the book is. It's expected that you'll be aware of how portal fiction and Chosen One stories work and will recognize when those tropes are being twisted. Moreover, Elliot's awareness of those twisted tropes means his reactions are more nuanced than other fantasy heroes who doesn't realize when they are and aren't working on script.

Elliot's self-awareness in other aspects of his life leads to scenes with amazing poignancy. His recognition that he wants a truly reciprocal love, that he wants to be chosen for himself - faults and all - was so wonderfully powerful. Especially since that applies not only to romantic love but also to his parents. The acknowledgement that you don't have to seek a relationship with your parents and continually try to fix things - that you can walk away and do what's best for you - is so important.

And of course, I love how casually, wonderfully queer this book is. Both in the attack on gender roles that elfin culture implicitly provides and with the queer relationships of both main and side characters. Brennan even addresses the multitude of ways that biphobia shows up in both the straight and gay communities.

In Other Lands is, without doubt, one of the best books I've ever read and I simply cannot recommend it highly enough. ...more

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Jul 14, 2018 Steph rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, ya

Not at all was I was expecting, but in the best way possible. This is not about magic school or waving wands or potion making. But it is about a different world with different creatures and is magical in its telling. Characters are well developed and so entertaining. More please!

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