Otherworldly by F.T. Lukens: Book Review
This is a spoiler-free review.
Otherworldly by F.T. Lukens
Published April 2nd 2024 by Margaret K. McElderry Books
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ+
A skeptic and a supernatural being make a crossroads deal to achieve their own ends only to get more than they bargained for in this lively young adult romantic adventure from New York Times bestselling author of Spell Bound and So This Is Ever After.
Seventeen-year-old Ellery is a non-believer in a region where people swear the supernatural is real. Sure, they’ve been stuck in a five-year winter, but there’s got to be a scientific explanation. If goddesses were real, they wouldn’t abandon their charges like this, leaving farmers like Ellery’s family to scrape by.
Knox is a familiar from the Other World, a magical assistant sent to help humans who have made crossroads bargains. But it’s been years since he heard from his queen, and Knox is getting nervous about what he might find once he returns home. When the crossroads demons come to collect Knox, he panics and runs. A chance encounter down an alley finds Ellery coming to Knox’s rescue, successfully fending off his would-be abductors.
Ellery can’t quite believe what they’ve seen. And they definitely don’t believe the nonsense this unnervingly attractive guy spews about his paranormal origins. But Knox needs to make a deal with a human who can tether him to this realm, and Ellery needs to figure out how to stop this winter to help their family. Once their bargain is struck, there’s no backing out, and the growing connection between the two might just change everything.
Thank you to Colored Pages Book Tours and the publisher, Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing, for sending me an ARC of this book. All thoughts are my own.
I was so excited to read Otherwordly by F.T. Lukens, because I’d seen their books everywhere and hadn’t yet had a chance to pick one up. Otherwordly turned out to be such a fun, light, and engaging read. This urban fantasy novel was equal parts cute and cozy. Reading it while the weather was cold and snowing outside was just perfect.
While this story wasn’t super complicated, it still had a lot of heart, and did a great job at featuring a strong cast of queer characters and found family. The teens in this novel felt like actual teens, which was nice since it’s meant for a YA audience. I’m so glad that teens these days get to see themselves better represented in the media they consume. And there were just enough fantasy elements sprinkled in to keep it entertaining. Featuring an utterly adorable romance, Otherworldly is the perfect fantasy novel for anyone looking for a lighthearted, easy read.
About the Author
F.T. Lukens is a New York Times bestselling author of YA speculative fiction including the novels Spell Bound, So This Is Ever After (2023 ALA Rainbow Booklist; 2022 Goodreads Choice Awards nominee), In Deeper Waters (2022 ALA Rainbow Booklist; Junior Library Guild Selection), and the forthcoming Otherworldly as well as other science-fiction and fantasy works. F.T. resides in North Carolina with their spouse, three kids, three dogs, and three cats.
Author Links: Website | Goodreads | Instagram | Twitter
Buy Links: Storygraph | Blackwells | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop US
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Liza
Liza is a twenty-something book blogger who spends way too much time with her nose in books and feels way too much. She loves cooking, baking, reality tv show watching and, of course, reading. She can be found most often with a cup of tea in one hand and a book in the other. Her blog, Literary Liza, features bookish content like reviews, recommendations, and author interviews.
2 Comments
ahaana @ Windows to Worlds
omg liza! i just published my review on otherworldly too! i saw yours two seconds after mine got up haha! i’m so glad you enjoyed it too, though ❤️ love your review!
Liza
So fun! I’m glad you enjoyed it as well!! ❤️