George RR Martin’s In The Lost Lands Ending Explained

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George R.R. Martin is now strongly associated with fantasy thanks to hits like *Game of Thrones* and *House of the Dragon*, but he’s written much more than just those books. One lesser-known story, *In The Lost Lands*, recently adapted by Paul W.S. Anderson and Constantin Werner, offers a unique blend of medieval and modern settings. The story takes place in the Lost Lands, a world shaped by a mysterious apocalypse that left only one harsh kingdom standing.

The story of *In The Lost Lands* centers on Gray Alys, a powerful and enigmatic witch who poses a challenge to the ruling Church in one of the last remaining civilizations. Alys possessed the ability to grant any wish, and could not deny a request. The narrative kicks off when the Queen seeks a unique favor from Alys, leading her to cross paths with Boyce, a mysterious Hunter. Together, they embark on a journey to the legendary Lost Lands to fulfill the Queen’s desire. While *In The Lost Lands* features a complicated conclusion, the story feels somewhat hurried due to its limited length. Here’s a breakdown of how George R.R. Martin’s original story concluded.

In The Lost Lands Was A Twisted Love Story Between Gray Alys, Boyce, and the Queen

Despite the dangerous circumstances, the story centered around love and longing. After Alys evaded the Enforcer, the Queen approached her with Jerais, the head of her guard, who was dedicated to her protection. Though it was forbidden for the Queen to seek help from a witch, she had a unique request only Alys could fulfill: she wanted to gain the ability to shapeshift into a wolf at night. It was an unusual desire for someone who already possessed everything, but Alys felt obligated to grant wishes to those who purchased them. Though powerful, Alys always cautioned against buying wishes from her. Nevertheless, she agreed to help the Queen, and afterward, Jerais offered Alys a magical pocket watch in exchange for a wish of his own. Surprisingly, he didn’t want anything for himself; he asked Alys to ensure the Queen’s wish *failed*, believing it would ultimately harm her.

Alys embarks on a dangerous quest to the Lost Lands to find Sardor, a man who can transform into a wolf, so she can grant the Queen the same ability. She’s joined by Boyce and Gray, who is also the Queen’s lover. As they journey together, Boyce and Gray grow closer, repeatedly warning Alys that Sardor is a powerful and dangerous individual and urging her to abandon the quest. However, Alys is determined to succeed. When they reach Skull River, Alys discovers a shocking truth: Boyce *is* Sardor. She manages to defeat him twice, having previously embedded silver in an old wound to poison and weaken him. During the confrontation, Alys reveals her own shapeshifting abilities, transforming into a large predatory bird. This prompts Boyce to suggest they could be together, embracing their shared power to change forms.

He was only capable of loving someone who mirrored himself, and he believed Alys was that person. However, Alys had a duty to fulfill: she brutally killed Boyce and presented his skin to the Queen, hoping to gain the power of shapeshifting. The Queen, horrified to discover the source of the pelt, was unable to accept the powers and descended into madness. Jerais got what he wanted, but the Queen, realizing his treachery, killed him in a fit of rage. Gray Alys had foreseen all of this, as her visions revealed Boyce’s true nature and the Queen’s desire for shapeshifting. She longed to be with Boyce, but didn’t anticipate Alys would take his life to gain power. The story then takes an unexpected turn. Jerais’s pocket watch is rumored to possess ancient magic, and it seems capable of reversing time. As Boyce’s wolf skin burns, he is resurrected and seeks out Gray Alys. Initially driven by revenge, he recognizes a striking similarity between them, and they begin a romantic relationship – one that appears to have been orchestrated by a witch from the very beginning.

In the Lost Lands Tells a Seperate Story of Freedom and Rebellion

Okay, so while Gray Alys, Boyce, and the Queen were dealing with their own stuff, things were *really* messy politically in *In The Lost Lands*. The kingdom was run by this super sick Overlord who, get this, his wife couldn’t stand! And on top of that, the Church was trying to grab power, totally oblivious to the fact that the *people* were the ones with the real strength. These people were basically treated like slaves, but when they saw Gray Alys miraculously escape being hanged by the Church, it lit a fire under them – a full-blown revolution started brewing. Then, the Queen gets pregnant, and in a seriously dramatic move, she kills the Overlord, which actually *hurt* her chances of staying in power. The Church tried to capitalize on the chaos, but Jerais stepped in and wiped out their entire army to protect the Queen. Ultimately, with her people rebelling and everything falling apart, the Queen just…leaves. She abandons the kingdom and lets the people figure things out for themselves. It’s a pretty wild ride!

Gray Alys clearly anticipated these events and played a key role in bringing them about. By bravely confronting those who oppressed the people, she inspired them to act. Though she never sought power, she became a symbol of hope and, in effect, led their liberation – and found love – through a few courageous acts. The story could have benefited from further exploring the people’s journey to freedom.

The Ending Was Different Than The Source Material

While based on a short story, the movie took the original tale in several new directions. The story focused solely on the relationship between Boyce and Gray Alys, without the elements of a church or rebellion that were later added to the film – additions that ultimately improved it. Although the movie added some depth, it rushed through many of its most promising ideas, which was a bit of a letdown. The ending was significantly altered: in the movie, Boyce was brought back to life for a happy conclusion, but in the original story, Alys killed him and used his skin as a gift to the Queen. This act allowed her to perform a ritual and transform into a shapeshifter. Jerais got what he wanted – the Queen all to himself – but she didn’t return his affections. She became Queen, but was filled with rage, and transformed into a wolf each night, leaving her with no meaningful connection to Jerais. Notably, the story also revealed her to be Lady Melange. Unlike the movie’s hopeful ending, Boyce remained dead, and Gray Alys did not find romantic happiness.

The ending of *In The Lost Lands* felt like a setup for a sequel, leaving the fate of Boyce and Alys uncertain, but a follow-up is unlikely. The movie wasn’t well-received by audiences, and despite having the potential to become a strong fantasy series, it didn’t quite succeed. It had all the right ingredients for success, but fell short in its execution. More attention to detail, richer world-building, and a deeper story would have made a difference. Even the combined star power of Milla Jovovich and Dave Bautista couldn’t save it, which was a shame. However, the changes made to the story for the film were a positive choice, and the final twist helped to redeem some of the weaker parts.

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2025-10-19 02:37