In Other Lands

In Other Lands is a 2017 young adult fantasy novel by Sarah Rees Brennan. It was nominated for numerous awards and won the 2017 Bisexual Book Award for Teen/Young Adult Fiction.
Before being published as In Other Lands, Brennan wrote the initial story, "The Turn of the Story" on her website and her LiveJournal account under the profile "sarahtales"; the story was based on the characters previously created in Brennan's short story “Wings in the Morning” in Kelly Link and Gavin J. Grant’s anthology Monstrous Affections.
In January of 2023, Brennan released a two-part short story sequel called "Tears Waiting to Be Diamonds" on The Sunday Morning Transport, set 10 years past the events of In Other Lands.

Plot

Elliot Schafer, a 13 year old English boy, learns he can see across the Border. He decides to go to a military training school there after meeting Serene-Heart-in-the-Chaos-of-Battle a young elf girl who Elliot is immediately enamored with. Elliot also meets classmate Luke Sunborn, a boy from an affluent local family, and dislikes him. While at school, Elliot's prickly personality causes rifts between him and his classmates. When summer comes, Elliot returns home to his father
Elliot continues his schooling, becoming increasingly frustrated by the political processes that emphasize war over peace talks in conflicts. He starts writing treaties and participating in international negotiations. When he is 15, Elliot and Serene begin dating, but their relationship is short-lived. While on a summer trip with friends, Elliot realizes he is bisexual, and dates a man, Jase, for some time before realizing the relationship is unhealthy. Eventually, Elliot and Luke begin dating, and Elliot provides support to Luke

Reception

In Other Lands was well received by critics, including starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly. ''Kirkus referred to the novel as "stellar, if dense and lengthy," whereas Publishers Weekly called it "hilarious, irreverent, and multilayered."
Booklist's Cindy Welch highlighted how "Brennan turns stereotypes upside down" and noted that "this is a school story for older youth, with freewheeling sexuality, a dedicated pacifist as a main character, and slightly cynical humor that masks great heart." Welch recommended pairing the novel with J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter books, Terry Pratchett's books, Maggie Stiefvater’s Raven Cycle, and William Goldman’s The Princess Bride. Lee Mandelo, reviewing from the Tor.com magazine, described the novel as a "satisfying, thoughtful, and fun'' read".

Awards and honors

In Other Lands is a Junior Library Guild book. In 2017, The [New York Times] included it on their list of the fall's best young adult fantasy novels.

Year	Award	Result	Ref.
2017	Bisexual Book Award for Teen/Young Adult Fiction	Winner
2017	Goodreads Choice Award for Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction	Nominee
2018	European Science Fiction Society Award for Best Work of Fiction	Finalist
2018	Locus Award for Best Young Adult Book	Finalist
2018	World Science Fiction Society Award for Best Young Adult Book	Finalist
2019	American [Library Association Rainbow List\|ALA Rainbow List]	Selection
2019	Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature	Finalist