Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for a copy of Otherworldly in exchange for an honest review.

I always enjoy F.T. Lukens books and Otherworldly was no different. This was one of my most anticipated reads for 2024 and I'm happy to report that it was worth the wait!

As always, Lukens has a way of creating really lovable characters. Ellery is cynical and jaded after five long years of winter and parents who believe offerings and prayers will solve the dier states of their family farm. They pack up and head for the city to live with their cousin. Unable to watch their parents flounder in faith any longer. While working as a dishwasher in the only diner still standing they meets Knox. Knox is a familiar from the Other World. Sent here in a deal five years ago, he has been trying to blend into the human realm while assisting his human master, a witch named Arabelle as she tries to unlock the secret to life. Nothing makes sense to Knox. His Queen has not been responding to his messages and the shades have been well, acting extra shady. So when his deal suddenly comes to an abrupt end, Knox isn't quite ready to leave yet. So he runs. When the two have a crash encounter they form an unlikely partnership. Working together to solve the mystery of the never-ending winter and a Queen who has seemed to abandon her people, they learn to lean on one another and what starts as a partnership of convenience, morphs into friendship, and eventually, potentially, more.

Otherworldly is an enjoyable read and a relatively quick read too. I finished it in a single sitting! Can't wait for what Lukens writes next!ed it in a single sitting! Can't wait for what Lukens writes next!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I didn’t really gel with F.T. Lukens’ prior release, so while I was hopeful for their next book, I was also unsure, as this one was again different, and in leaning toward the more modern fantasy vein, as opposed to the secondary-world, fairytale feel of the first two books I read from them. However, with Otherworldly, while it was different, it had the cozy charm I had come to expect from Lukens, which was more than enough for me to give it a chance, and I ended up really enjoying it, especially as it wasn’t just another “Earth with magic,” but it instead a modern, Earth-like world with a blend of realistic and fantastical qualities. And while the afterlife as a concept isn’t untapped in fantasy, I really liked how this was explored, especially in terms of growth in belief in it.
Both Ellery and Knox are delightful. Ellery is perhaps the more immediately relatable, being a normal human with fairly normal human struggles, including having to grow up quickly due to their circumstances, even if said circumstances are a tad heightened. Knox, as a contrast, is a familiar whose mission is to help humans, but has a desire to remain in the human realm and live like a human. Their romantic dynamic is quite cute, and so wholesome, and I love that the supporting cast is also very supportive and form a solid family unit.
With it being rather cozy, it’s not overly high in terms of stakes, and the story unfolds at a leisurely, if steady pace. But the characters and their bonds kept me engaged throughout.
This was an enjoyable read, and I’d recommend it if you’re looking for a fun, cozy queer YA fantasy.

This may be my favorite Lukens yet. Once again, there's a lovable and quirky found family, urban fantasy done with just the right balance of the mystical and the trials of coming of age. Ellery and Knox do have the tropey insta-love of YA but it's still somehow a sweet slow burn with so much growth and vulnerability. Absolutely beautiful, and looking forward to the next one.

Summary: This YA novel is easy to follow with only a few moments of tension or stress; it fits with most examples of cozy fantasy. I appreciated that it was queernormative with no stress around the main character being nonbinary. Obviously those stories are really important but it's also nice to have an option where the characters can just exist in their identity with pure acceptance. I did find it a little simplistic, with a lot of the conflict just miscommunication and the fantasy element a little underwhelming. Overall, I think for the right expectations/reader this will be a great comfort read!

Characters: Ellery and Knox are both lovable and sweet characters, with a fun dynamic. I also really enjoyed Charley and Zada as side characters who provided some depth to the story. Loved the queer rep. However, I felt like Ellery's relationship with their family was presented in this very extreme way that was not really developed or delved into in a way that made a lot of sense and that affected the impact.

Atmosphere/Setting: A mixture between urban fantasy and high fantasy--the world was not our world, since it had three gods/goddesses that people regularly make offerings to, but there were also hockey games and text messages. For me, this was the weakest part. Magical creatures would just show up out of nowhere and join in the plot for no real reason, most of the god/goddess system was not explained, and what was explained was just info dumps.

Writing Style: Simplistic, easy to read, with charming dialogue. Typical YA writing style.

Plot: Also very simplistic though towards the end, there were some twists which added a bit of interest. If this book was one of Knox's teen movies, a bit chunk of the plot would have been covered in a montage instead of actual scenes. Sweet story but one that I don't think I would re-read or that will stick with me long term.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Otherworldly is exactly what I have come to expect from F.T. Lukens: a cozy fantasy/adventure with a wholesome YA romance and positive queer representation. A little predictable in a comforting way. As in Lukens’s other novels, LGBTQIA+ characters are common and accepted as a natural and ubiquitous part of society. In this case, our main character is nonbinary and their roommates/family are a lesbian couple. The book does not focus on challenges of being queer. While those kinds of books are important in their own way, fiction like this allows us to read about LGBTQIA+ characters doing everyday things, going on adventures, falling in love, doing all the things that straight cis characters get to do in other books without having to focus on gender, sexuality, or discrimination. I appreciate this so much, and it’s one of the reasons I don’t hesitate to recommend this for YA collections. I’d even recommend it to young teens. It has kissing and cuddling and a little bit of violence but is mild compared to a lot of YA. This book is joining Lukens’s In Deeper Waters and So This Is Ever After as a book I will return to for lighthearted romance and feel-good vibes.

I can always count on FT Lukens for an abundance of cute and heartwarming tropes no matter the story! This one is about star crossed lovers—one a nonbinary skeptic and the other a handsome supernatural being that they absolutely do not believe in. Nor do they have a crush on him. Nope.

Otherworldly by F. T. Lukens, 352 pages. Margaret K. McElderry Books (Simon and Schuster), 2024. $20.
Language: R (22 swears, 9 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Winter began five years ago and then never turned to spring. With the farm failing, Ellery (17yo) had to move and work in the city while her parents continued to foolishly petition the goddess. When a regular at the diner Ellery works at runs her over, he introduces himself as Knox, a magical familiar that serves the goddess Ellery no longer believes in—and he needs her help.
The magic and mythological creatures are the most interesting parts of the story. Most of the characters are flat, and the story was more about Ellery and Knox’s growing relationship than about solving the winter issue. While I was expecting more from the story than fluff romance, Lukens did the fluff romance well, and the conclusion was satisfying.
Ellery and Knox are described as “pale,” Zada is described as having “dark brown” skin, Lorelei is described as having “golden brown” skin, and the goddess is described as having “olive” skin. Charley and Zada are part of the LGBT community. The mature content rating is for mentions of alcohol, innuendo, and sexual harassment. The violence rating is for blood, assault, and fantasy violence.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

Otherworldly follows teen Ellery, who has moved to the city to work and help their family financially in the wake of a years-long perpetual winter that has shut down their farm, as they are swept up in the world of the supernatural after a fateful encounter with the liminal familiar Knox.

F.T. Lukens has this incredible ability to craft a snappy, compelling fantasy world and story in an incredibly slim number of pages, and Otherworldly is yet another example of this skill. Though we are thrust headlong into a world of gods, goddesses, shades, and more, it was so easy to quickly settle into the world, and every new bit of information we received about it felt organic and natural, and was perfectly situated in the plot to where I rarely felt like I was slogging through infodumping. On top of that, Lukens can craft a character! I fell in love with Ellery and Knox almost immediately, and they kept me glued to the page as their adventure ensued. I laughed, I swooned, I cried a little bit. It was an excellent experience.

I'm dead serious when I say no one is doing it like F.T. Lukens, and while a quick and sweet fantastical YA romance may not be everyone's cup of tea, it absolutely is mine. Otherworldly was such a joy to read and I cannot wait to see what else they have in store!

This was my second book by F.T.Lukens and the five star streak continues with this one. The thing I love the most about the books are the character interactions. There is something about Lukens characters talking to each other that pulls your heartstrings. I loved how the conversation between Ellery and Knox played out. One of the things I love about YA is how the stories rely completely on chemistry and compionship and Otherworldly doesn't disappoints.

The other thing that hits the mark with this one is found family and importance of platonic love. With Ellery's cousin Charley and her gf Zada being the guardian figures for both Ellery and Knox, Otherworldly is easily one of the best queer stories of 2024.

There were parts of this story that felt slow at first but once it got going I was fully in. I loved all the magic/mythical creatures and Ellery as a whole. Near the end of the book I was humming Hadestown songs becausw or the vibes so that's definitely a bonus. Thw writing is really detailed and well done. I liked the switching between Knox and Ellerys povs, that really allowed us to understand both characters deeply.

This was my first book by FT Lukens, even if I do own almost all their other books (you have to excuse me, I buy books when I am depressed), and I was really worried that I might not like it. Thank the gods and goddesses that was not the case.

The book does start a bit slow and I struggled to get into the setting, I think it was in part because I was under the impression that this story takes place in our world but based on how cool certain characters were with nymphs and magic I am going to assume it´s a slightly different universe.

My favorite parts were the characters, both Knox with his child-like excitement for the human world, and Ellery with their no-nonsense personality, were relatable and lovable. Charley and Zada are an amazing duo and really manage to prove once again that queer people just stick together! A queer found family never fails to impress me!!

At the end of the day, this is a cozy read, perfect to make your heart warm and fuzzy with kicking-my-feet romance, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for an easy fun read!

First off, I just love the artwork for FT Lukens books. They catch my attention very easily and are so magical that I want to read them even without knowing what the story is about. Otherworldly has a great cover and the story is super sweet and fun to read as well. You have Ellery, a hard worker that had to grow up super fast to help take care of their parents and their farm when the never ending winter started. Despite the unnatural winter, Ellery is very much unbelieving of another realm and supernatural creatures in their corner of the world. The cuteness starts up when they run into (literally) a magical cute weird hot guy who also happens to be a familiar on the run from some nasty shades. You get the awkward sweet scenes interspersed with trying to figure out how to end winter and help Knox (the familiar) to finish his bucket list aka bargain he made with Ellery so that he could stay longer in the fascinating human world. You meet other magical creatures on this journey plus hang out with Ellery's awesome cousin Charley (love that name!) and her girl friend, Zada.

If you want an entertaining sweet love of a read with a bit of sadness but also a happy happy ending, and lots of magic and snow (I got so cold reading about this never ending winter!), you will have fun reading this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an advance copy of the book to read and review.

the coziest book about two boys falling in love in the most hilarious ways <3

i have loved every book by f.t lukens so far, they always are so fun and so cute to read, and this was no disappointment!

this book was so wholesome and cozy, the type you sit in your comfy reading corner while having your favorite drink. the world building was well done, and as usual the writing was so light and a delight to read.

the characters (always my favorite part of ft lukens books) were hilarious! we have one guy who is so grumpy and acts like he's allergic to fun, then the other guy who's so fascinated by everything human. their dynamic was hilarious to read; knox was definitely my favorite he was so flirty it had me dying. the cousin and her girlfriend were also soooo cute!!

and of course, the representation. i loved how casual everything was; there was no questioning or arguments over anything. one of the main characters uses they/them pronouns, and throughout the book it was like an already established fact that no one questioned. very refreshing.

overall, i highly recommend this book! it's an adorable ya romance about two books mixed with some magic and supernatural.

This book follows the magical adventures of Ellery and Knox, as they try to figure out the mystery behind their town’s endless winter.

I loved the queer friend group aspects and that none of the parental relationships were strained (related to gender or sexuality.) In fact, in this world gender and sexuality seem to be accepted without question.

There were some heavier topics than I’m used to in F T Lukens books. A fair bit more violence, including attempted assault, and dealing with death and the grief of death.

The characters were sweet and believable, but for some reason the romance didn’t hook me as much as past books. I actually would have preferred if it was a queer platonic pairing in the end - but still very enjoyable to read!

Representation: 5
Emotion: 3
Characters: 4
Plot: 3
Pacing: 2
Romance: 5

Overall Score: 4

Really, the first two thirds of the book was a 3, the last third of the book was a 5. The majority is kind of a slog, with a lot of mundane moments being lingered over until I was yawning half the time. I understand that Knox wanted to experience human life, and sometimes that's as simple as a slumber party, but it's not really the interesting part of the story.

But that Third Act was amazing. Lots of little things that were built upon in the first two acts proved to be important and combined together for an engaging, emotional climax.

Ellery and Knox were a cute, sweet couple, and I loved Charley and Zada as an established couple. The only thing I would complain about with the characters is that sometimes Charley's "weirdness" was just kind of being loud? But the characters would declare her "so weird" all the time.

Overall, I think it's a good cozy fantasy read, but not my favorite Lukens.

my last f.t. lukens was a dud, so i was ecstatic that this is my favorite of their works so far. the whole cast of characters ended up being very dear to me! i didnt really like ellery at first, but i appreciated their curmudgeonly loveableness by the end. knox was also so precious. their romance felt so wonderful. the last 50% of this was especially compelling, and the last 25% was soooo emotional. like when he saw them in the other world and didn’t remember them but knew they were special was just such a perfect moment. the last chapter was very sweet. super solid ending.

BOOK REVIEW - OTHERWORLDLY by F.T. Lukens

⭐⭐⭐⭐✨- Rounded Up - Available 2 April 2024

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, and F.T. Lukens for providing me with an eARC copy of Otherworldly to review.

I might be biased because this is the third novel by F.T. Lukens that I have read, and I haven't been disappointed yet. A friend from my book club expressed their appreciation for F.T. Lukens's universes, stating that it's refreshing to have non-binary characters coexist in a world without their non-binaryness being the center of the story. Otherworldly continues to deliver on this.

Ellery is my favorite character, the grumpy one in contrast to Knox's sunshine, the grouchy morning person to Knox's perpetual wakefulness, and the skeptic of Knox's existence.

The supporting characters in this story are exceptional. I would support any calls for a stand-alone novel about Charley and Zaba, as they are an absolute blast! But our team of ragtag gods is nicely done too.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Despite being extremely busy lately, it made me set aside time to read instead of letting other tasks interfere with my reading time.

F.T. Lukens can do no wrong. This is just as enchanting as their other books.

I love the dedication F.T. Lukens has to presenting non-binary characters in an ordinary way. Ellery's gender is never a topic of conversation in the books, but it is so refreshing to have just a great ya fantasy plot with a non-binary lead!

The world building is super subtle in a beautiful way. We learn enough to understand how this world is different from our world, but it isn't central to the plot. There is an eternal winter and fairies and a mysterious goddess that many people pray to. And a general knowledge that there is this 'otherworld' which presents a bit like purgatory or even hell. I want to know more about this world and spend more time in it, but don't feel like I was missing anything as part of Ellery and Knox's journey.

Knox and Ellery are both learning what it is to enjoy life from two totally different perspectives while helping and supporting each other. It had big grumpy/sunshine vibes. While the story was not too heavy, it did get pretty intense towards the end, I could not put it down. Charley and Zada make a great found family for Ellery and Knox, and even Arabelle in her own way. I always enjoy when the importance of friendship is highlighted, especially in ya novels - it's not all about the romance!

Thanks to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

Ellery doesn't believe in the supernatural, but their family believes the answer to ending the winter that's been plaguing the area for the last five years is praying to ta goddess and leaving offerings for her. Ellery knows this isn't working, so they take a job in a nearby city to send money back to their family, who are farmers. They live with their cousin, Charley, and her girlfriend Zada, and work at a nearby diner as a dishwasher. One night while closing up, the Hot Weird Guy that visits the diner frequently comes running into the alley barefoot (in the cold!!) with three men chasing him. Ellery inadvertently saves the Hot Weird Guy, who reveals he's not a human and the three things chasing him weren't human. Ellery, a nonbeliever, is annoyed with Knox's lying, but he's clearly in trouble and offers to help him. Ellery soon discovers that Knox wasn't lying, and there are a ton of supernatural forces at work. Knox and Ellery make a deal that he'll help them figure out how to end the magical winter, and they'll keep him tethered to the human realm and help him have human experiences.

I haven't read YA in a while, so it was a little bit of an adjustment for me. However, the characters in this book were so fun and lovable, and the plot was very interesting, and it was a fun mix of magic and mythology. The pacing seemed a little rushed at the end, but I will definitely be recommending this book during Readers' Advisory.

Absolutely adored this book! It was super cozy and fun. It left me feeling all warm and fuzzy. I can’t wait to purchase the actual book. I will definitely read again and again. Truly a great ya story.

Thanks NetGalley for the arc