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renatasnacks 's review for:

In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan
4.0

I know this was originally published serially on the author's website, and I wonder how much editing was done between website->book? It felt like...maybe not that much, and like maybe....there was some filler that could have gotten cut out.

I debated between 3 and 4 stars for this--I love the concept and this kind of wry portal fantasy; I didn't love the aformentioned lengthiness. Ultimately it had enough clever touches that I rounded up. I also think teens especially will enjoy the elf culture here--it's a matriarchy that basically has reverse gender roles of American society, where women need to protect emotional, fragile men. it's funny but also could definitely be a penny drop moment for some readers who maybe haven't thought about things in quite those terms before. Also bonus points for a bi character who IDs as bi.