Scan barcode
marjoleinve's review
3.0
I'd go for 3,5 stars if possible. Really liked the book, which I finally decided to read after it's been on my to-read shelf for too long. There are so many things I found to be new and refreshing, maybe even daring. The concept of someone on Earth being linked to someone in a 'fantasy' world is just brilliant and maybe even recognizable for readers, cause who hasn't stayed up way too late because you couldn't let go of a book you are reading, being pulled in and really 'needing' to know what happens next to the characters? Or maybe even skipped school for it? And how often was it hard/difficult to let go of a certain book when you've finished it, leaving you wondering what certain characters might be doing next?
What the book lacked, imho, are descriptions. Maybe not Tolkien-like 3 page long descriptions of what the 3rd leaf on the second branch of one of the outer trees of a certain forest looked like but sometimes a bit more in-depth information about the surroundings can help making a world feel more 'alive' :-) Yes, I could also use my imagination for that but it's what I missed in this book.
Most shocking discovery after and during reading: I don't think I've ever realized how many of the books I usually read contain male or female white, straight, able-bodied AND neurotypical protagonists. Auch. Sometimes you find yourself stuck in a reading pattern.
What the book lacked, imho, are descriptions. Maybe not Tolkien-like 3 page long descriptions of what the 3rd leaf on the second branch of one of the outer trees of a certain forest looked like but sometimes a bit more in-depth information about the surroundings can help making a world feel more 'alive' :-) Yes, I could also use my imagination for that but it's what I missed in this book.
Most shocking discovery after and during reading: I don't think I've ever realized how many of the books I usually read contain male or female white, straight, able-bodied AND neurotypical protagonists. Auch. Sometimes you find yourself stuck in a reading pattern.
mogojojo1013's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The ending just was entirely unsatisfying. When I set down a book that isn't getting a sequel I expect to feel satisfied. All of the ends tied and questions answered. But all of the bad guys just get to keep living their lives normally on earth after torturing a little girl for 10 years. Sure, their plans were thwarted but what is to stop them from tracking down Nolan and getting revenge on Earth? It's frustrating. I LOVE the diversity. I love the sign language rep. But the plot and ending are not good
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Child abuse, Murder, Confinement, Physical abuse, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Self harm
Minor: Alcoholism and Alcohol
rjdenney's review
2.0
129 pages in and I just can't do it anymore. It's really laggy and nothing really seems to be picking up for me. I really wanted to enjoy this one but alas NOPE. :(
theseventhl's review
4.0
From March:
Irony, kind of: I go out of my way to read the UIUC YA bookclub pick for last month – OTHERBOUND by Corinne Duyvis – going so far as to say on Facebook I’m going, only to find myself stuck in my room during meeting time because I stupidly made a dental appointment the same day several hours before bookclub and have you ever spoke coherently and thoughtfully about anything after both a root canal and a tooth extraction? I didn’t think so. Thus, I was left to wallow in my OTHERBOUND thoughts, underheard, until now.
My full thoughts, now at my blog
Irony, kind of: I go out of my way to read the UIUC YA bookclub pick for last month – OTHERBOUND by Corinne Duyvis – going so far as to say on Facebook I’m going, only to find myself stuck in my room during meeting time because I stupidly made a dental appointment the same day several hours before bookclub and have you ever spoke coherently and thoughtfully about anything after both a root canal and a tooth extraction? I didn’t think so. Thus, I was left to wallow in my OTHERBOUND thoughts, underheard, until now.
My full thoughts, now at my blog
zluke's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
5.0
babbieabbi's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
Whew. This book very much beat my expectations. I really liked the writing, and I LOVED most of the characters, Nolan and Amara especially. I felt like there were a few things that made me a little uncomfortable, and I also really didn’t like Cilla until the end of the book. But the story telling and the premise were phenomenal
I really dislike the relationship between Amara and Cilla because of the power imbalance, and the thoughtlessness and cruelty of Cilla. “Well, you won’t die so I don’t mind forcing you to be tortured in my stead, nothing I could possibly do to try to fix that”
aruejohns's review
5.0
This book was fantastic! A very diverse set of characters (there were a few stereotypes, but overall very good) who were interesting, actual people. I would definitely recommend it to anyone. Read the book.
bookmarvel's review
5.0
I really loved this book, the premise was cool and the story delivered, and also it was unexpectedly gay
alizalondon's review
5.0
5/15/15:
I came across this book completely by accident. In fact, I wasn’t even looking for a book to read when I found Otherbound. Now I’m wondering what other books there are out there that I’ll probably never discover because so little people have read and reviewed them. Really makes you wonder about hype.
Anyway, Otherbound is about Nolan, a kid from Arizona who, when he closes his eyes, travels into Amara’s body, who lives in the fantasy realm of the Dunelands. What makes this book truly amazing is this unique premise. It’s remarkable how flawlessly it’s carried out, there is truly no other book like it.
The plot is fast paced, a bit slower near the middle of the book, but overall, things are kept moving. The story centers primarily on Amara’s world, with her discovery of Nolan and job to protect Cilla, a cursed princess yet to retake her throne. One thing that’s different that I like about this book is that there’s no we-must-save-the-world-or-overthrow-the-evil-guys mission that the plot is centered around. The characters are simply trying to save themselves, but hey, if they end up saving the world in the process, it’s a win-win. There’s no majestic destiny, just real people, which leads me into the discussion on our characters.
The best part of this novel are the characters, or specifically, the diversity within them. We have Nolan, an Arizona teenager with Hispanic heritage and one leg. He’s diagnosed with epilepsy due to the constant “seizures,” AKA trips into Amara’s world he has, and struggles to pretend like everything’s okay. We also have Amara from the Dunelands, a dark-skinned mute servant who’s also bisexual. Her job is to protect princess Cilla from her curse by sacrificing herself. Both main characters are extremely complex and layered; Nolan’s constantly trying to balance his two lives, and Amara’s struggling with being unable to say what she means and being forced to serve this princess. Their conflict is very realistic, and I fell in love with both characters equally. The dual perspective also makes it much easier to get into the heads of both characters, despite the third-person narration.
The romance is very, very minor, and it takes a complete backseat to the other action. The only hint of romance is when we see Amara originally in a relationship with another servant boy, and later with a girl. Both were barely mentioned, they didn’t really push the plot in any way. Those of you romantics reading this and feeling disappointed, don’t worry. I am a total romantic (no one can ship like me) and I thought this book was much better the way it was. It’s a lot less cliché, too.
Overall, Otherbound is worth reading for the premise alone, and is one of the most diverse and unique books I have ever read. Read this if you want a breath of fresh air from those typical dystopian/romance books, or if you don’t, read it anyway.
I came across this book completely by accident. In fact, I wasn’t even looking for a book to read when I found Otherbound. Now I’m wondering what other books there are out there that I’ll probably never discover because so little people have read and reviewed them. Really makes you wonder about hype.
Anyway, Otherbound is about Nolan, a kid from Arizona who, when he closes his eyes, travels into Amara’s body, who lives in the fantasy realm of the Dunelands. What makes this book truly amazing is this unique premise. It’s remarkable how flawlessly it’s carried out, there is truly no other book like it.
The plot is fast paced, a bit slower near the middle of the book, but overall, things are kept moving. The story centers primarily on Amara’s world, with her discovery of Nolan and job to protect Cilla, a cursed princess yet to retake her throne. One thing that’s different that I like about this book is that there’s no we-must-save-the-world-or-overthrow-the-evil-guys mission that the plot is centered around. The characters are simply trying to save themselves, but hey, if they end up saving the world in the process, it’s a win-win. There’s no majestic destiny, just real people, which leads me into the discussion on our characters.
The best part of this novel are the characters, or specifically, the diversity within them. We have Nolan, an Arizona teenager with Hispanic heritage and one leg. He’s diagnosed with epilepsy due to the constant “seizures,” AKA trips into Amara’s world he has, and struggles to pretend like everything’s okay. We also have Amara from the Dunelands, a dark-skinned mute servant who’s also bisexual. Her job is to protect princess Cilla from her curse by sacrificing herself. Both main characters are extremely complex and layered; Nolan’s constantly trying to balance his two lives, and Amara’s struggling with being unable to say what she means and being forced to serve this princess. Their conflict is very realistic, and I fell in love with both characters equally. The dual perspective also makes it much easier to get into the heads of both characters, despite the third-person narration.
The romance is very, very minor, and it takes a complete backseat to the other action. The only hint of romance is when we see Amara originally in a relationship with another servant boy, and later with a girl. Both were barely mentioned, they didn’t really push the plot in any way. Those of you romantics reading this and feeling disappointed, don’t worry. I am a total romantic (no one can ship like me) and I thought this book was much better the way it was. It’s a lot less cliché, too.
Overall, Otherbound is worth reading for the premise alone, and is one of the most diverse and unique books I have ever read. Read this if you want a breath of fresh air from those typical dystopian/romance books, or if you don’t, read it anyway.
christajls's review
3.0
This review originally posted at More Than Just Magic
Otherbound is the story of two people whose lives are inexplicably bound – Amara and Nolan. But their bond is different. They are not friends, partners, co-workers etc. In fact they have never met. They don’t even live in the same world.
Nolan is just a young boy living in Arizona. He has a mom and a dad and a sister. He goes to high school. But when he closes his eyes, even for a second, her see’s Amara’s world through her eyes. This ability keeps him from living a normal life and he is diagnosed with epilepsy to account for his behaviour. But eventually he grows tired of watching from the sidelines and he takes control of Amara to let her know he’s there. This obviously doesn’t go over well with Amara (would you be happy to find out someone has been watching everything you do and can take over your body at will?)
And it’s not as though Amara doesn’t have enough to deal with already. She is a member of the servant class in the Dunelands. She can’t speak, only sign and she’s on the run with the cursed Princess Cilla. She’s often made to endure the pain of the curse for Cilla, and suffers beatings from Jorn, her master. Her life has never truly been her own but she’s always kept her head down. Until she finds our about Nolan. That’s the final straw that pushes her to fight back for herself and the people she cares about.
Amara and Nolan are both such compelling characters. Similar in a lot of ways – they’re both quite stubborn and determined. They both suffer from disabilities. Amara is mute and Nolan is missing a foot. But neither of them let their disabilities hold them back. They’re fighters and won’t give up until they find a way to accomplish their goals. But despite sharing the same memories/experiences, they’re still quite different as well. Though I would be hard pressed to choose which one was my favourite I will admit that Nolan felt slightly more developed than Amara. This is likely because he appears in both Earth and Duneland chapters, whereas Amara is only in the Duneland. Their connection does not go both ways.
Blending two very different worlds together is no easy task, but it is so seamlessly done in Otherbound it really speaks to Duyvis’s world building abilities. My fear before reading was that Duyvis would spend so much time developing the Dunelands that Nolan’s world would be neglected. But those fears were unfounded. In particular I loved how well you get to know Nolan’s family, especially his sister, and what life must be like for them living with Nolan’s “seizures.” Duneland was also well developed. I loved the magic system and the politics. I would gladly read more novels set in this fascinating, complex world.
There were a few times I felt like the pacing wasn’t quite right. Sometimes it would change in an instance and I would have to go back because I was afraid I had missed something. I would recommend reading this book when you have the time to devote your full attention to it. It’s a complex story, with complex characters existing in multiple worlds. If you’re only reading a chapter or two a day it would be very easy to get lost in the shuffle.
Otherbound is a unique fantasy read. Not quite other-world fantasy, not quite portal fantasy, it stands on its own. And I loved its cast of diverse, compelling characters. This is how you write diverse fiction. There was different races, genders, body types and even a female/female relationship. None of this is the focus on the novel, simply a reflection of reality in fiction. Despite some pacing issues I found Otherbound to be a fascinating read wrapped up in masterful world building and skillful writing. It’s a distinctive read that may not appeal to everyone but that I for one really enjoyed.
Otherbound is the story of two people whose lives are inexplicably bound – Amara and Nolan. But their bond is different. They are not friends, partners, co-workers etc. In fact they have never met. They don’t even live in the same world.
Nolan is just a young boy living in Arizona. He has a mom and a dad and a sister. He goes to high school. But when he closes his eyes, even for a second, her see’s Amara’s world through her eyes. This ability keeps him from living a normal life and he is diagnosed with epilepsy to account for his behaviour. But eventually he grows tired of watching from the sidelines and he takes control of Amara to let her know he’s there. This obviously doesn’t go over well with Amara (would you be happy to find out someone has been watching everything you do and can take over your body at will?)
And it’s not as though Amara doesn’t have enough to deal with already. She is a member of the servant class in the Dunelands. She can’t speak, only sign and she’s on the run with the cursed Princess Cilla. She’s often made to endure the pain of the curse for Cilla, and suffers beatings from Jorn, her master. Her life has never truly been her own but she’s always kept her head down. Until she finds our about Nolan. That’s the final straw that pushes her to fight back for herself and the people she cares about.
Amara and Nolan are both such compelling characters. Similar in a lot of ways – they’re both quite stubborn and determined. They both suffer from disabilities. Amara is mute and Nolan is missing a foot. But neither of them let their disabilities hold them back. They’re fighters and won’t give up until they find a way to accomplish their goals. But despite sharing the same memories/experiences, they’re still quite different as well. Though I would be hard pressed to choose which one was my favourite I will admit that Nolan felt slightly more developed than Amara. This is likely because he appears in both Earth and Duneland chapters, whereas Amara is only in the Duneland. Their connection does not go both ways.
Blending two very different worlds together is no easy task, but it is so seamlessly done in Otherbound it really speaks to Duyvis’s world building abilities. My fear before reading was that Duyvis would spend so much time developing the Dunelands that Nolan’s world would be neglected. But those fears were unfounded. In particular I loved how well you get to know Nolan’s family, especially his sister, and what life must be like for them living with Nolan’s “seizures.” Duneland was also well developed. I loved the magic system and the politics. I would gladly read more novels set in this fascinating, complex world.
There were a few times I felt like the pacing wasn’t quite right. Sometimes it would change in an instance and I would have to go back because I was afraid I had missed something. I would recommend reading this book when you have the time to devote your full attention to it. It’s a complex story, with complex characters existing in multiple worlds. If you’re only reading a chapter or two a day it would be very easy to get lost in the shuffle.
Otherbound is a unique fantasy read. Not quite other-world fantasy, not quite portal fantasy, it stands on its own. And I loved its cast of diverse, compelling characters. This is how you write diverse fiction. There was different races, genders, body types and even a female/female relationship. None of this is the focus on the novel, simply a reflection of reality in fiction. Despite some pacing issues I found Otherbound to be a fascinating read wrapped up in masterful world building and skillful writing. It’s a distinctive read that may not appeal to everyone but that I for one really enjoyed.