About the Book
In Other Lands is a YA fantasy novel by Sarah Rees Brennan about a teenage boy named Elliot who discovers he can cross into the Borderlands, a world populated by elves, mermaids, harpies, and other creatures, cut off entirely from modern technology. Rather than training as a warrior like most of his peers, Elliot gravitates toward diplomacy, which makes him an outlier at the border camp school he attends over the course of four years.
The book follows Elliot through those four years as he navigates friendship, crushes, and political maneuvering across species lines. The tone is comedic but the emotional content is genuine, Elliot is an abrasive, self-aware narrator whose interior life gets more complicated as the series progresses. This is the kind of YA that tends to resonate more with readers who are drawn to voice-driven fiction than to plot-driven adventure.
The novel originated as a web serial called The World Over the Wall and was later revised and published by Small Beer Press. It was a Hugo and Locus Award finalist, and picked up several other industry recognitions on release. It stands alone, no prior knowledge or other books required.
Narration & Audio Performance
Matthew Lloyd Davies handles the first-person narration as Elliot, a character who talks a lot, argues often, and tends toward sarcasm. That kind of voice either works in audio or it grates, depending on how the narrator calibrates the delivery. Davies keeps things dry rather than exaggerated, which suits Elliot's personality reasonably well without tipping into parody.
The book has a large supporting cast with distinct personalities, including Serene, a female elf warrior who operates under reversed gender norms, and Luke, a golden-boy fighter. Davies differentiates these characters adequately, though listeners who find a single narrator's range limiting across a large cast may want to sample first. The humor in the prose is dry and dialogue-heavy, which translates reasonably well to audio.
Production details beyond the narrator credit are not widely documented. There's no confirmed use of music or sound effects. Given that the book is dialogue and internal monologue heavy, that's not a significant loss. Listening to the Audible sample before committing is still a reasonable step if you're unsure how Davies's register clicks with your taste.
The Audible Verdict
In Other Lands is a well-regarded YA novel with a strong voice and a lot of dialogue, both qualities that translate reasonably to audio. Davies's narration is serviceable and consistent with the material. That said, this is a book where the prose style and Elliot's internal commentary drive most of the enjoyment, and some readers find that kind of voice-driven first-person fiction works better on the page. If you have a free trial credit available, this is a reasonable place to use it. If you're paying out of pocket, sample the narration first.
Listen on AudibleIs This Book a Good Fit for Audio?
In Other Lands is a linear, character-driven YA novel with no charts, diagrams, or complex formatting to worry about. The structure is chronological and clear, moving through four school years in sequence. Those are good baseline conditions for audio.
The bigger variable is the comedy. A lot of what makes this book work is Elliot's voice, his complaints, his observations, his arguments. Dry humor in prose can land flat in audio if the narrator's timing is off, or it can work well if the delivery matches the text's tone. Davies leans understated, which is the right call for this material. Listeners who enjoy character-driven YA fantasy in audio, the kind where banter and relationships carry more weight than action sequences, should find this format fits the book comfortably.
Popular Listener Questions
Is In Other Lands part of a series?
No. It's a standalone novel. The story is complete within this single book, with no sequel required.
What age range is this book aimed at?
It's published as young adult and deals with high school-equivalent years and first relationships, but the humor and self-awareness in the writing tend to appeal to older teen and adult readers as well.
Is the audiobook narrated by the author?
No. Matthew Lloyd Davies narrates, not Sarah Rees Brennan.
Does the fantasy world require a lot of prior setup to follow?
No. The Borderlands world is introduced through Elliot's perspective as he encounters it for the first time, so the listener is oriented alongside him. There's no dense lore to absorb upfront.
Is this book suitable for listening at faster speeds?
Likely yes. The narrative is dialogue-heavy and comedic rather than dense or technical, which tends to hold up well at 1.25x, 1.5x speed.
Similar Audiobooks
The Magicians
Another fantasy school story with a sarcastic, difficult protagonist who doesn't fit the heroic mold. Darker in tone but shares the subversive approach to portal fantasy conventions.
Carry On
YA fantasy with a school setting, sharp wit, and a central male friendship/romance dynamic. Strong overlap in readership.
Literary YA-adjacent fantasy with strong character work and a protagonist who resists the role assigned to them by their world.
Howl's Moving Castle
Dry humor, a memorable interior voice, and a fantasy world where social conventions are inverted or skewed. Often recommended to readers who enjoy In Other Lands.
Unspoken
Brennan's earlier YA series, also character-voice-driven with comedy and genuine emotional stakes. A natural next listen if the writing style in In Other Lands works for you.
Audiobook Details
| Title | In Other Lands |
|---|---|
| Author | Sarah Rees Brennan |
| Narrator | Matthew Lloyd Davies |
| Genre | Young Adult Fantasy |
| Year | 2017 |
| Publisher | Small Beer Press |
| Abridged | Unabridged |
| Cast | Single narrator |
| Author-narrated | No |
Ready to listen?
In Other Lands is available on Audible and is a reasonable choice for a free trial credit if you enjoy voice-driven YA fantasy with a comedic edge.
Open on Audible