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Otherbound

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Nolan doesn't see darkness when he closes his eyes. Instead, he’s transported into the mind of Amara, a girl living in a different world. Nolan’s life in his small Arizona town is full of history tests, family tension, and laundry; his parents think he has epilepsy, judging from his frequent blackouts. Amara’s world is full of magic and danger--she’s a mute servant girl who’s tasked with protecting a renegade princess. Nolan is only an observer in Amara's world--until he learns to control her. At first, Amara is terrified. Then, she's furious. But to keep the princess--and themselves--alive, they'll have to work together and discover the truth behind their connection.
A fascinating premise, clearly and compellingly written and imagined by a startlingly original debut writer.

Praise for Otherbound
FOUR STARRED REVIEWS
"Original and compelling; a stunning debut."
--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Numerous plot twists drive the story along, and it’s grounded in worldbuilding that creates a believable, authentic setting.  Duyvis makes ingenious use of a fascinating premise."
--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"While Duyvis’s debut is an exciting take on the fantasy genre, as it alternates between our world and that of the Dunelands, the true strength of the novel is in its positive portrayal of LGBT issues."
--School Library Journal, starred review

"Fantasy and speculative fiction fans will no doubt enjoy the ride, while authors should take note—this is how you do fantasy in a global world."
--The Bulletin of The Center for Children’s Books, starred review

"Duyvis creates a humdinger of an adventure that contains the agony of loyalty, the allure of magic, and, most gratifyingly, the element of surprise."
--The Horn Book Magazine

"Debut author Duyvis has written a nice twist on the classic bodysnatchers theme and keeps the pace moving smoothly, even when jumping between Nolan’s and Amara’s perspectives. Her racially diverse characters struggle with both disabilities and sexual identity, but she keeps her focus solidly on the story and character development so that diversity integrates naturally into both Nolan’s and Amara’s experiences."
--Booklist


 

387 pages, Hardcover

First published June 17, 2014

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About the author

Corinne Duyvis

15 books735 followers
To prevent my Goodreads friends list from becoming unwieldy, I only accept friend requests from people I know.

* * *

Corinne Duyvis is the critically acclaimed author of the YA sci-fi/fantasy novels Otherbound, which Kirkus called “a stunning debut;” On the Edge of Gone, which Publishers Weekly called “a riveting apocalyptic thriller with substantial depth;” and The Art of Saving the World, which Kirkus called “impossible to put down.” She is also the author of the original Marvel prose novel Guardians of the Galaxy: Collect Them All. Corinne hails from the Netherlands.

She’s a co-founder and editor of Disability in Kidlit as well as the originator of the #ownvoices hashtag.

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5 stars
728 (27%)
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874 (33%)
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685 (26%)
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219 (8%)
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104 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 510 reviews
Profile Image for Wendy Darling.
1,772 reviews34.2k followers
August 14, 2016
3.5 stars A lot of things to admire here--particularly a fantastic premise and a clear commitment to writing about characters that are not the usual white, straight, able-bodied, cookie cutter characters. Fantasy's combined well with more modern POV, and it's nice to have YA that doesn't cater to a typical relationship "norm," even within the heterosexual one depicted. And yet, for all that it's a perfectly well-executed story, is well-written, includes danger and intrigue, and has so many merits, this story and its characters didn't move me or thrill me as much as I would have hoped.

Still, it's well worth checking out from the library, especially if you'd like to read something that doesn't feel like a well-worn mass-produced product like so many young adult books published right now in the US. I think fans of Incarceron or Poison Study might also enjoy this.

An advance copy was provided by the publisher for this review.

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My friend Elena's review sums up my own overall feelings for this as well, down to the need to put the book aside for a bit, as well as the truly good work the author does as an advocate for unheard voices in the YA community: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... In a year that has seen a lot of fanfare for the need for diversity in children's publishing, this author's stance is one of the most sincere and thought-provoking.

And our own Layla has even more positive things to say about the relationships and "the power dynamics of reading and story-telling." http://www.themidnightgarden.net/2014...

Their eloquent reviews are very useful if you're thinking about checking the book out.
Profile Image for Corinne.
Author 15 books735 followers
Shelved as 'novels-i-wrote'
October 13, 2014
As Goodreads is a place for reviews, I want to use this space to share these four starred trade reviews:

“Rich worldbuilding, convincing nonheteronormative relationships, balanced class issues, and nuanced, ethnically diverse characters add to the novel’s depth. The well-paced action builds toward an unexpected, thrilling conclusion that will leave readers eager for more from this promising new author. Original and compelling; a stunning debut.—Kirkus Reviews

“Debut novelist Duyvis smoothly integrates elements of diversity and disability into her cast without letting them stand in for deeper characterizations … Duyvis makes ingenious use of a fascinating premise.—Publishers Weekly

“While Duyvis’s debut is an exciting take on the fantasy genre ... the true strength of the novel is in its positive portrayal of LGBT issues.—School Library Journal

“The portrayals are believably complex, avoiding gimmickry or heavy-handed messages in favor of subtle, nuanced examinations of power dynamics and privilege. Framing all this is a brilliantly paced edge-of-your seat adventure … paired with an intriguing, twist-filled mystery … [T]his is how you do fantasy in a global world.—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

For more reviews, check out my website.

In terms of categorizing/shelving:

* young adult
* fantasy (half our world, half secondary world)
* standalone
* dual PoV (male and female)
* queer! queer ladies!
* PoC leads
* physically disabled leads

Anything else you want to know? Hit me up in the comments. Thanks for sharing my excitement. <3
Profile Image for Emily Anne.
226 reviews255 followers
December 1, 2017
Sometimes a book just sneaks up quietly behind your back... and then slaps you. Hard. That basically sums up my reading experience with Otherbound. I had been intrigued by Otherbound for some time. So, when I had the chance to read and review the story for free, I gladly grabbed the chance!

However, I never expected to be so immersed in Nolan and Amara’s story. The writing and settings were exquisite. And, at the end of Otherbound, I felt as if I had lost a friend. This book will stick with me for a long time, and will definitely make it onto my 2014 favorites list.

Let’s start with the two characters and two settings. Our two main characters are Nolan and Amara. Nolan is from our world. However, he is not your average boy. He is missing a good part of one of his legs, and he has “seizures” and “hallucinations”. Of course, the readers learn pretty quickly that Nolan doesn’t have either of these plights, despite what the doctors might say.

Every time Nolan closes his eyes, he finds himself in another world called the Dunelands. More specifically, he sees through the eyes of a girl called Amara. Amara is not only a mute servant from the Dunelands, she is also a healer protecting a cursed princess. This job is not nearly as glamourous as it sounds, as the healing process causes Amara to inflict terrible harm upon herself. Also, Jorn, her master, cruelly punishes Amara often. And, in turn, Nolan has to suffer through terrible pain as well.

Otherbound had a certain uniqueness that other books lack. Not only does the author evidently have a wildly creative mind, she also incorporates diversity into Otherbound. The characters are LGBT, Hispanic, disabled, mute etc. The character relationships were astounding. Whether it was the relationship between two love interests or between family, Otherbound made the interactions realistic, hopeful, and heartbreaking.

Also, I loved the unpredictability of this novel. I was never sure what would occur next. And two revelations in the novel caught me totally off guard, but, when I reread parts of the book, made total sense to me. Both of these new bits of knowledge were about magic and the two worlds! This brings me onto my next topic, the magic and worldbuilding! For fear of spoilers, I won’t say much except the author had her world, and the awesome magic within, down pat!

Otherbound’s ending is spectacular. Nothing is tied up in a nice red ribbon but the story ends at just the right place. Also, I was impacted tremendously by one of the sentences on the very last page. I may or may not have leaked a few tears.

Corrine Duyvis has truly written a gem. The book has it all: a fantastic plot, a vivid setting, diverse characters, major feels, wonderful themes, and a stunning conclusion. Also, despite the length of this review, I feel as if I have barely touched upon all the amazing aspects of Otherbound! Overall, I cannot recommend Otherbound highly enough.

5/5 Stars
*I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review!*
Profile Image for Sarah.
1,736 reviews115 followers
April 28, 2014
I think we’ve all seen those posts where some douchebro is like “not every thing needs a bisexual low-income mute woman of color who use sign language or a one-legged epileptic Latino guy”. Those examples are done in the spirit of spiteful condescension, like it would be TOTALLY RIDICULOUS to have a story like that. Which is why it gives me exceptional pleasure to say:

Go home boys, Corinne Duyvis has just pwned you all.

Otherbound is heart-pounding page-turner that sweeps you up in a thrill ride that you can’t put down. This is a ‘stay up until you just can’t keep your eyes open please please one more page Mom!’ kind of book. It’s 400 pages but I blew through it in 3 days because I was absolutely enthralled by Nolan and Amara’s intertwined stories.

More at bisexual-books.tumblr.com
Profile Image for Jim.
Author 94 books2,311 followers
April 8, 2014
This is an ambitious story. Not only does Duyvis create a believable fantasy world (inspired in part by the Netherlands) with its own messy history, politics, cultures, geography, and rules, but she also grounds Nolan’s story in our own world, then successfully ties them both together. In some ways, Otherbound is a portal fantasy, but it’s a portal fantasy with a lot more challenges and complications.

For one thing, when Nolan’s mind is with Amara, his body remains here with no one at the helm. As a child, he slipped into Amara’s world while crossing the street, which resulted in an accident that cost him his leg. Now, Nolan not only has to deal with his missing leg, but in many ways, his connection to Amara is presented as a neurological disability, one he’s constantly working to manage.

Amara’s tongue was cut out as a child, part of her “preparation” to become a servant. Later, she developed the power to heal from any new wounds, and uses this power to protect her princess … a girl Amara can’t decide if she hates or loves. In the meantime, they’re constantly on the run, guarded by an abusive drunk of a man.

Reading through the past few paragraphs, it sounds like this is a grim, gritty, potentially depressing book, and it’s not. There’s plenty of darkness, but Duyvis presents it all without ever wallowing in despair or hopelessness.

I was particularly impressed with how she handled the growing connection between Nolan and Amara. At first, Amara isn’t aware of Nolan at all. But eventually he learns he can control her. The first time this happens, there are layers of assumptions and misunderstandings on Nolan’s part. Without going into details, Nolan is simply trying to communicate with this person, to try to do something about this connection that’s cost him so much. But in the process, he takes total control of Amara. It’s a violation that has echoes of sexual assault, both in the way Amara loses control of her own body, and in her reactions afterward.

That’s Amara’s first introduction to Nolan, and it’s a hard thing to move past. Duyvis doesn’t shy away from the pain and difficulties there, but she does a good job of making both characters sympathetic and understandable as they try to negotiate and learn to work together.

I did get a little disoriented in the beginning as we were going back and forth between worlds, and I would have liked a little more grounding in Amara’s world, but overall I’m very impressed with everything Duyvis accomplished in this book. There’s plenty of action to keep things moving, along with romance, a diverse cast of characters, and an interesting magical system.

It’s a good book, and doubly impressive for being Duyvis’ debut.
Profile Image for Elena.
831 reviews87 followers
December 16, 2014
I struggled for a long time about how to rate this book and how to write this review, because here's the thing: Even though this book wasn't my favorite, reading this book and seeing things here and there on the internet has made me a huge fan of its author, Corinne Duyvis. And even though this was a "meh" book for me, there are several really awesome things about it that make me absolutely sure I'll be recommending it over and over in the coming years.

Otherbound has two protagonists, Nolan and Amara. Nolan lives in our world, and from the time he was very young, whenever Nolan closes his eyes he finds himself riding along as a passenger in another person's life. It has cost him a normal life (and, when he was younger, his leg, gone in an accident caused by one of his "seizures" when he blinked), and his entire family has suffered. Nolan's unwitting host is Amara, and she inhabits a completely different world, where she's an indentured servant on the run with a cursed deposed princess. For over a decade, Nolan has been a helpless passenger, tagging along with Amara. But then, something changes, and Nolan is able to take control of Amara's body. Suddenly, Amara becomes aware that not only does she have a shitty, dangerous life, she's got a parasitic person tagging along in her mind, and her body isn't completely her own. As Amara's life takes a turn for the even more dangerous, Amara and Nolan must learn how best to work together to ensure that both of them have safe and happy futures.

The first thing I loved about this book is that it had a new and interesting premise. I've always loved the mental connections trope, and this was a completely different spin on it, with characters who share a mental connection across worlds. I haven't read anything like it before, so that was refreshing.

The other thing I loved about this book--and the reason I wholeheartedly recommend it despite my three stars--is that Duyvis made a clear and conscious decision to write protagonists with racial, ethnic, sexual, and body diversity. In a single book, she's got a Mexican-American boy with Nahua heritage who has one leg, and a bisexual dark-skinned girl who had her tongue cut out as a child and communicates via sign language. And none of those characteristics really define or overwhelm the characters--this isn't an "issue" book, this is just a book with characters who happen to be the most diverse protagonists I've ever read in YA. Amara is bisexual? No big deal, just a fact. Nolan speaks a mixture of English and Spanish with his family and misses out on Nahuatl language lessons because of his disability (the "seizures" that land him in Amara's world, not his leg).

I was so prepared to love this book. And yet it took me two and a half months to read. Yikes. I kept setting it aside to pick up other books. It was easy to set aside. Things were happening, but it felt like they were happening in slow-mo. For whatever reason--and I still can't put my finger on any one thing that was wrong--I just couldn't engage with this book. This isn't a particularly huge book, but when I finished, I breathed a sigh of relief that I was finally--finally!--done with the Book that Wouldn't End.

But despite the fact that this book ended up not being my cup of tea, I will champion it because it represents what I dearly hope is the beginning of a wave of diverse, original speculative fiction written by people who are committed to making the fiction landscape one that is representative of our diverse world.

Thanks to Amulet for providing me with an ARC of this book through a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
Profile Image for Mizuki.
3,103 reviews1,285 followers
December 26, 2015
3.75 stars I believe. Otherbound is an outstanding YA fantasy novel with good world building, realistic characters and a fine ending. I also appreciate that the author included homosexual characters in her story and surprise, surprise! She also allows her male and female leads to NOT fall in love with each other.

The main characters in the book have been put into difficult situations and I like how they must face those situations in realistic ways--with no easy way out or shortcut, and I admire the ending with my whole heart.

I enjoy this book, but not love it, still I can appreciate the author's effort and the ending result of her hard works.
Profile Image for Anniek.
2,030 reviews808 followers
January 13, 2021
Disability was really woven throughout the entire story here, and it was so interesting! A book unlike anything I've read before.
Profile Image for Jaclyn.
Author 13 books776 followers
March 7, 2014
An inventive and gripping debut! I was lucky enough to pick this up at ALA Midwinter and it was one of the first books I started reading. I was instantly intrigued by the concept of Nolan seeing another world whether he blinks.

One thing I feel Corinne did so well was conveying both the wonder AND the alienation and trauma of having an ability like this. In that, it brought to mind, of all things, The Time-Traveler's Wife. In the real world, everyone around Nolan thinks he's having seizures and hallucinations. As the story opens we even find out he's lost a foot/leg because of blacking out. I felt instant sympathy for him, but at the same time, when he wasn't able to travel to the Dunelands for a time and the real world paled in comparison, I understood that too. Probably everyone who has ever gotten deeply lost in a fantasy world of their own making can understand this plight a little bit.

By the way, do you want more diversity in fiction? Well, I order you to buy this. It has disabilities, multiple ethnicities and skin colors, and girls in love, and none of it feels poorly researched or crammed in just for the heck of it. Plus, this book passes my own private test with flying colors: all that diversity adds to the book, but it would STILL BE INTERESTING even if you stripped it all away. Corinne isn't just using these aspects of the characters to add exoticism or angst.

What I also loved about this book was that it was very different. It really tried a lot of things I've never seen before, which made it a great ride that had me constantly wondering "What's next?" The unique world-building did confuse occasionally. I struggled a little to understand how the magic worked, and as the book gets to the climax there is a lot of body-switching and a lot of characters and it's a little head-twisting. But, even if I get a little lost I'd much rather an author try something different. Heck, it gives me an excuse to re-read the book later. Plus, I might have been reading kind of fast because I wanted to know what happened...

The writing style itself feels kind of classic, like the books I read as a fantasy-devouring teen. And I mean that in the best way. I can't wait to see what's next for this author.
Profile Image for autumn.
275 reviews47 followers
September 14, 2021
EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!!!!! genre-saving ya fantasy!!! great premise, outstanding worldbuilding, lovely characters. corinne duyvis has a wonderful way of incorporating diversity in a way that doesnt seem awkward or token-y at all, but just natural, like real life. i liked this even more than her other book, on the edge of gone, and now i cant wait for her next one!

representation: one main character, nolan, is disabled (prosthetic foot and fantasy epilespy) and has indigenous mexican heritage (nahuatl). the other main character, amara, is disabled (mute, uses a sign language) and bi; her (spoiler) gf, cilla, is gay. i couldnt quite keep track of the fantasy nationalities so i cant say for sure but i think cilla is supposed to be black? most of the characters are described as being dark skinned at some point or another
Profile Image for Kogiopsis.
776 reviews1,580 followers
July 7, 2015
If I were to write a wishlist for YA, this book would check so many boxes: queer characters, nonwhite characters, non-European fantasy settings, interestingly limited magic systems, multiple portrayals of disability, serious examination of the meaning of individual agency, and a smart reworking of older tropes.

And all of those aspects I loved! Nolan and Amara in particular were fascinating characters; Duyvis has clearly put a lot of thought into the way their life histories affect their perspective on the world, and it makes them compelling to read about. I had not at all expected the many, many ways Nolan's flashes of Amara's life intruded and limited his ability to function, and was glad that Duyvis paid it such close attention. While his 'seizures' are magical in nature - having lived for years with a close friend who had non-magical seizures, the impact they had rang true to me. Amara's worldview was clearly and constantly shaped by her life of servitude and abuse, and her constant sense of lacking power, and again it was beautifully rendered.

Yet... I can't rate this book higher. I want to, but it doesn't feel right. Because here's the thing: as much as I loved the concepts of this novel, there just wasn't enough execution. I mean that quite literally in terms of quantity; had there been more of the book, especially more exploration of the world of the Dunelands and of the relationships between characters there, I think I would have come away much more satisfied. As it was - the narrative wrapped up tidily at the end, but I still found myself looking for a sequel, because there's so much more to explore!

"I just want more" is not, in the grand scheme of things, the worst reason to feel unsatisfied with a book. I'm certainly interested enough in the world that I would buy a sequel, and I'm going to keep picking up Corinne Duyvis's other works as they come out. But I did have such high hopes for this, and there's something very sad about ending it with them unmet.
Profile Image for ✨    jami   ✨.
704 reviews4,177 followers
Read
December 26, 2017
overall the concept was soo interesting and I really liked how it manifested in the book. This is kinda like sense8 in a way? I also really enjoyed Nolans chapters, but I found Amara's not as strong. The worldbuilding was also not all there for me

rtc
Profile Image for Robyn.
827 reviews159 followers
October 24, 2017
What an interesting book - a quite unusual fantasy that I’m struggling to sum up quickly, but that was wonderfully written.
Profile Image for Sue.
781 reviews1,576 followers
August 4, 2016


Actual Rating: 3.5 stars

I wanted to rate this four stars, but the last thirty percent dragged. I couldn't bring myself to. Even though that is the case, Otherbound have a lot of selling points. I would still heartily recommend it to YA readers.

Compared to its peers, this book is distinctly progressive. The premise is quite unique. It reminds me of Sense8’s cluster, except they are only filled by two people.

Meet Nolan, the disabled, Latino main character who resides at the contemporary world. And Amara, who is disabled, bisexual, poc main character. She lives in a world where running is the only option. Duyvis executed their individual struggle very well. How disability shapes and affect someone's life. The profound difference between cultures. And a whole lot more.

I am genuinely in awe of Otherbound’s world building. The author weaves a different, distinct culture for each state in Amara’s world. The appearance, livelihood, magic, language. This book is cleverly planned and well researched. For a standalone, there is no shortage of history.

Like I said, Otherbound is a book I wouldn’t mind recommending to readers. If you’re looking for a unique story that doesn’t fall into YA’s default. This is for you.
Profile Image for Tara.
Author 6 books209 followers
December 9, 2013
Wow. Where to begin when discussing this book? It's part fantasy, part contemporary, and with the possession-of-other-people's-bodies element, I'd even say it could claim to be part horror. It's got real-feeling characters of many ethnicities, sexual orientations, and abilities/disabilities. It's got beautiful, evocatively descriptive passages as well as sections full of action and revelations that had me flipping pages with bated breath.

In short, this book has one of the more original and creative concepts I've encountered in some time, and is backed up all the way through with terrific writing. I think that teens looking for something different in the world of YA fantasy are really going to embrace it.
Profile Image for Robin Herrera.
Author 4 books42 followers
Read
October 21, 2014
This book was SUCH a joy to read. I loved all the way the characters were described, and the clothes, and the way this didn't feel like any other fantasy book I'd read. I also really loved the way a romance between two people of different statuses actually took into account how the status difference affected their relationship. (I'm a fan of "Unequal Pairings," as they're known by TV Tropes.)

The way it ended, too, made me really happy. I refuse to give anything away, but the way it was written, and the sentiment behind it, and the general feeling of it made me so glad I'd invested a bit of my life with these characters.

PLUS, TWISTS. Not only were there LOTS, they were SURPRISING and GAME-CHANGING!

I am really looking forward to adding this book to my shelf when it comes out in June!
Profile Image for Elle (ellexamines).
1,088 reviews18.8k followers
March 12, 2017
3.5 stars. This book has a great concept and interesting characters, but somehow it didn't grab me as much as I'd hoped.

Basic rundown of the concept: Whenever Nolan closes his eyes, he sees all events from Amara’s point of view. Amara lives in a different world, where she's a slave to lost princess Cilla. Cilla suffers under a curse, and Amara is forced to take Cilla's pain onto herself whenever Cilla bleeds. Which is a lot. This relationship between Nolan and Amara has been going on for years in the same pattern, until Nolan's medication changes and he gains the ability to control Amara.

I loved all the main characters so much and found them sympathetic and relatable. Amara's situation is horrible but her reactions to it always feel real.

This book truly talks about how invasive Nolan and Amara's connection is, and how traumatic this connection can be for both of them. It never shies away from talking consent issues and power imbalances, either, which was AWESOME. The dynamic between Amara and Cilla is portrayed very well, and the issues between them are resolved before they ever begin a romantic relationship.

This author really deserves an A+++ for diversity. Both of the main characters are nonwhite, one is bisexual, both are disabled. It flows very well in the story and their disabilities are treated really well.

The main issue with this book is that it's a bit boring. The plot takes a very long time to come to fruition. It doesn't feel like a convincing slow-burn plot, however; instead, it just feels tiring. And frankly, the building of Amara's world leaves a lot of questions unanswered. Nolan and Amara's connection isn't explained by the narrative, which bothered me a bit. Expect character work here, not answers.

Still, this book succeeds in developing its characters and relationships, as well as building up strong themes, so I have to recommend it.
Profile Image for Kayla Whaley.
Author 15 books34 followers
Read
July 7, 2020
I knew I was going to love this book (because, I mean, look at the summary--how could I not?), but I LOVED this book. LOVE. Hearts in my eyes forever love. The world, the characters, the relationships, the premise, the plot, the execution, the language, the everything were all excellent and endlessly fascinating. PLUS! DIVERSITY! People of color (as main characters), people with disabilities (as main characters), queer people (as main characters). WHAT?! So much love. So yeah. Loved. (Full disclosure: I'm buddies with the author and she's equally as amazing as her book. But I mean every single word I said.)
Profile Image for Mary Summer.
Author 5 books390 followers
August 9, 2016
OTHERBOUND twists a contemporary fantasy and a high fantasy into a thoroughly satisfying pretzel of awesome. What I like best is how unique the story is. The plot, the characters, and the setting are all unlike anything I've ever read before, and I've read a metric ton of fantasy. For one of those elements to be unique is impressive. For all three to be unique? That takes work, and vision, and talent. Corinne Duyvis clearly has these things in spades.
Profile Image for Kirstine.
460 reviews586 followers
May 4, 2017
I'd actually started reading a different book, which I honestly liked. It had a cool setting and premise, but about 30 pages into it, I realized I'd have to deal with yet another predictable heterosexual romance. And I just didn't want to. At that point the girl the hero was clearly gonna fall in love with, hadn't even been introduced, but I knew it wouldn't be long. I could be mistaken, of course, maybe the romance will be great! But I couldn't handle it.

So I picked this up instead. And god, am I glad I did. It's unique, it's fresh, and it was exactly what I needed.

It's the story of Nolan who, every time he closes his eyes or even blinks, is sent into the mind of someone else: Amara. Who lives in a world so different from his own, a world of magic and fantasy. She's the servant of the princess Cilla, who's on the run, and she's tasked with keeping her alive. She has no idea Nolan is there, sharing her life, until one day, when he suddenly manages to take over her body. Suddenly they can communicate. And it quickly turns out they might need each other way more than either thought.

I loved the idea of a young, ordinary (and disabled!) boy who shares the life of a black, magical girl. It's not always pretty, and the fact that he's essentially trespassing and violating her body by posessing it is not taken lightly.

And I loved the romance. I loved the way Cilla and Amara felt something for each other that went way past their uncertain friendship and their obvious roles as mistress and servant. Both are trapped by the parts they have to play, the roles the world has forced them to inhabit. It's also their search for some measure of freedom from that life, for a future that could, perhaps, contain something else, a little bit of happiness.

Nolan, Amara and Cilla soon realize there are greater powers at play, and that the answer to their riddles is a lot more complicated than first assumed. And none of them are obvious heroes. None of them are chosen, or all-powerful. Their power comes from wanting to do the right thing, and not quite knowing what the right thing would be.

It also asks a very interesting question: if you could chose between your own, ordinary world, or a world full of magic, fantasy and out-of-this-world excitement. Which would you choose? It's so easy to get lost in fictional (or, in this case, real) worlds, and forgot our own, but we shouldn't.

And honestly, it's an exciting book. It kept taking turns I didn't expect, things kept happening I didn't would work, but then they did, and suddenly the story was another one, than the one I expected. I was on the edge of my seat at the end of it. It's a clever book. With an interesting plot, that I've certainly never seen before (seriously, if you read it and think "this is too familiar" then keep going).

Just a really unique book with great, non-traditional characters and a romance and plot that was definitely neither boring nor one I'd seen a million times before.

Love, love, love.
February 15, 2015
Otherbound felt like something different than that I have read lately. The focus is on two characters, intermittently. Where in other books you will often see this being written in an I pov, this was written in a third pov without taking away how well we got into their heads. Because of the set up of the plot the two lines were very weaved together. I really liked this. When we went to the second character I was still involved in the story of the first character and vice versa. It worked very well.

Up to about 60-70% of the book I wasn’t sure which direction this was going to head in. It wasn’t very predictable. After a twist was revealed it became a tad more predictable but that didn’t take away from the enjoyment. The pacing felt right. Action was alternated by small bits of rest. I was captivated by the events happening on both ends, the fantasy world and our world.

The ideas surrounding the magic and Nolan’s connection to Amara’s world I found interesting and clever. I like it when magic isn’t without repercussions or when someone isn’t the only one who can do things. I also liked how some things were dealt with (Nolan’s epilepsy/travelling to another world and the effects on his life, bisexuality). They all had their flaws and things which made it feel real. Especially Nolan.

As for the characters. Oh my, Nolan with his sister and his parents. I wanted to hold him. Amara is a strong girl. She has her defenses up high and it was a bit harder to get into her as a character. Having Nolan as a counter balance was good. The other characters surrounding them were good additions. I am fond of Nolan’s sister.

There was romance in this book but it didn’t take away from the overall plot. It was nice to see them together and the hints, but I wasn’t entirely invested in it.
Profile Image for Disability in Kidlit.
155 reviews355 followers
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July 17, 2017
The female main character is mute due to having her tongue removed. She communicates in sign language.

The male main character has an amputated foot after a childhood accident.

"Nolan is also an amputee, which made this a very satisfying book for me to read. It’s not often I come across disabled main characters, let alone amputees like me. While Corinne Duyvis isn’t an amputee, her research shows. The swimming scenes throughout the book are a great example of Duyvis’s attention to detail. Nolan has anti-slip tips on his crutches, the lifeguards have to bring his crutches to him when he gets out of the pool, and he avoids the danger of hopping over wet tiles. Nolan’s family can’t afford a swimming leg, so he uses an adjusted flipper. (The struggle to afford the cost of medical treatment, mobility and daily living aids, and prosthetic limbs is something that many amputees and their families face.)"

Read contributor Jessica Walton's full review at Disability in Kidlit.
Profile Image for Anastasia シ.
546 reviews179 followers
August 8, 2018
Full Review on my blog!

It took me a little while to get into this, but once the plot started picking up, I was engaged. Otherbound is a mixture of contemporary and fantasy, with amazing world building.

This book has two very diverse protagonists who have to deal with a lot of hardships in their lives. They are connected in some inconceivable way, which is very disruptive for their lives. They want nothing more but to be rid of this link. But when they try to do it, something goes wrong.

This book is engaging and fresh and I really liked it! I highly recommend it!

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Profile Image for Kip.
Author 17 books229 followers
December 4, 2013
OTHERBOUND is a fantastic YA debut by Corinne Duyvis. I’d already wanted to read it when I first heard the blurb–about a boy transported into the mind of a girl living in a different world–but I never thought I’d be so lucky as to get my hands on an ARC. Everything about this book was done amazingly well. I was immediately drawn in to Nolan’s Earth-based life and his urgent struggles to appear “normal” in spite of his apparent seizures, a consuming side-effect of his travels. Likewise, Amara’s world was richly-drawn and full of surprises, including some great plot twists, believable magic, and a perfectly-done developing lesbian love-hate-friendship-romance. I so loved that it wasn’t a coming-out tale at all, but simply an additional shining star to an already complex story. So sorry that the rest of you have to wait until next year for this one!
Profile Image for Rachael Allen.
Author 7 books299 followers
March 11, 2014
Corinne Duyvis is phenomenally creative, and I want to steal her brain. Or, you know, just borrow it for a day when I'm plotting my next book. I loved the idea of Nolan's traveling to another world taking the form of epilepsy. I loved how the story alternated between Nolan in our world and Amara in the other world (the way Duyvis did this in the text is particularly clever!). And the world - so well done. I loved Cilla, Amara, Maart, and Jorn (well, I hated Jorn, but you know what I mean). The characters in our world are really cool too - Pat especially! I loved the idea of the curse and how it worked. Also the idea of backlash.

Bottom line: This is such a cool, outside-the-box book, and everyone should go read it immediately.
Profile Image for Lori.
Author 12 books1,370 followers
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July 9, 2017
I loved every single thing about this book. The characters are fascinating and complex and their growth and change is PHENOMENAL. The plot is twisty and thrilling and compelling. The world building is amazing and rich, and I want at least five more books set in the Dunelands.

Read this book at your earliest convenience. You will not regret it.

More detailed review to come if I ever manage to pull my thoughts together. Or I'll edit this with a longer version of OMG THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD.
Profile Image for Kristen Lippert-Martin.
Author 2 books127 followers
December 30, 2013
You will not want for world-building in this amazing, unique, genre-blending tale! I mean, if you're going to genre-blend and challenge reader assumptions, you'd better make sure you get both genres you're bending exactly right and make sure those assumptions you're challenging are conveyed in a spot-on voice. There is not a feeling/portrayal/word in this book that doesn't ring true. A deeply emotional, thrilling, beautifully written, and utterly believable (especially the fantasy!) novel.
Profile Image for Meredith.
Author 3 books117 followers
April 28, 2014
This book is unlike anything I've ever read. It blew me away. It's wildly creative and set in one of the most richly imagined worlds I've ever encountered. Seriously, the world building in this book is just mind-blowing. Without giving anything away, I'll just say that this book is dark and twisty, and I recommend it to anyone.
Profile Image for Amy Parker.
Author 11 books337 followers
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May 6, 2014
This book blew me away. The characters were wholly real and so well constructed. The plot had me gasping in parts. A fantasy that will appeal to readers of tons of other genres. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
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