ARC Review: Otherworldly by F.T. Lukens

I loved In Deeper Waters back when I read it in 2021, which is why when Simon & Schuster reached out to me with an advanced copy of Otherwordly, I couldn’t wait to get read it! Described as “wryly funny, emotionally satisfying, and tailor-made for a Netflix adaptation”, Otherworldly was the perfect read for the holiday season (which is when I read it). Now it’s almost 4 months later, and I still remember the book as if I devoured it yesterday.

Thank you so much to Simon & Schuster for providing me with a physical copy of Otherworldly in exchange for an honest review! This didn’t affect my opinion in any way. All quotes used are from an advance copy and may differ in final publication.

Synopsis (via Goodreads)

By the 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.

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Title: Otherworldly
Author: F.T. Lukens
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Book (Simon & Schuster)
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQIA+
Series: Standalone
Publication Date: April 2, 2024
Trigger Warnings: Anxiety, Attempted Murder, Blood, Light Gore, Light Violence, Mentions of Alcohol and Sexual Harassment
Final Rating: 4.5 stars

And though Knox didn’t remember the person who had written the note, he knew the weight of those words, the significance of belief.

According to me, one of the most important parts of any book is its characters. If I’m not rooting for the characters — not even a phenomenal plot can make me love the story. Fortunately, Otherworldly was full of characters I adored. Every single one of the characters in this book was extremely well fleshed out, and by the time I finished reading, it wasn’t just the main characters I had grown attached too, but every smaller, supporting character as well. The book was abundant with details, and not in an unnecessarily tiresome or complicated way. With each page, as I grew more and more invested in the story, I also grew more and more attached to each and every character and their relationships with one another. The sunshine/grumpy relationship trope between the two main characters was also something I loved, and I was glad to see one of my favourite tropes show up in this book!

Speaking of tropes I love, this book also held a strong focus on family (both found and blood), as well as featured an endearing slow burn romance. Seeing Knox and Ellery’s relationship progress through the book once step at a time filled me with anticipation, and I was rooting for them more and more as I flipped each page. The found family in this book was filled with so much warmth and comfort that reading this book felt like a constant hug. From the constant banter and jokes, to the more intimate, caring scenes, I loved seeing the relationships between each single character develop. Beginning with platonic connections, and going to familial and romantic bonds, each relationship in this book was carefully developed and explored beautifully.

Knox’s lips tilted up at the edges. “You shouldn’t give your name to strangers.” “Well, you gave me yours. And I did save you, so we’re not really strangers anymore.”

When I think of books that are marketed as “cozy”, I usually end up thinking of books that are no plot and all vibe. Otherworldly changed that for me. It managed to be comforting, filled with warmth, and an exceedingly wholesome read — all without compromising on the plot. Despite being full of these ‘cozy’ vibes, the book also featured some intense, action-packed scenes, and I found the balance between the two to be just right. The storyline also progressed with perfect pacing. It wasn’t too fast, and didn’t drag on either. Once I started reading, I never once lost interest in the book, and was hooked from start to finish.

Another thing that really stood out for me in Otherworldly was the worldbuilding. Every description of the setting was extremely atmospheric. Each description — from what the world looked like, to how things worked there — heavily added to the plotline, and really brought the story to life. The inspiration taken from old greek myths and fairy tales, and the elements of magical realism explored also helped add an extra layer of depth to the narrative. These elements blurred the lines between reality and fantasy, and kept the story feeling fresh throughout.

Aside from the attention to detail given to the characters, relationships, plot, narrative, and setting (which really sounds like everything a book needs to have), Lukens also made use of exemplary foreshadowing. Details that seemed unnecessary at the beginning of the book clicked right into place when something surprising happened. Each small event, or each small detail led up to something bigger, which meant that I was thinking throughout. While reading, seeing those little clues manifest into something bigger, and seeing a little detail lead to a huge plot twist kept me excited throughout.

They tucked their hands under their pillow, and despite the unease and turmoil and hope coiling in their gut, they fell into a deep sleep.

For the last 5 books I’ve read, I’ve found myself wishing they were about 100 pages shorter, which is funny, because once I was done with Otherworldly, I was left wishing the opposite. The book ended too abruptly for me, and I was left wanting so much more. Although the book had a cutesy, picture perfect ending, I wanted to see more of the characters. I wanted to see how their relationships and personalities were affected by everything they’d been through in the book, and I wanted to see them grow together even after the book was over.

…shook his head. “Poetic isn’t it?” “What is?” “How love remembers.”

Otherworldly was a book that spoke straight to my heart. With the cutest, most heartwarming relationships, and the coziest plot — the story was quirky, fun, and felt like a breath of fresh air. Reading this book transported me right back to my fairy-tale loving days with its mystical elements, wholesome romance, and found family. A story that’s bound to make you feel like you’re at home and tug at your heartstrings, Otherworldly was one of my favourite books of 2023, and I can’t wait for everyone else to be able to read and experience it soon.

About the Author

F.T. LUKENS (they/them) is a New York Times bestselling author of YA speculative fiction including the novels Spell Bound, So This Is Ever After, and In Deeper Waters (2022 ALA Rainbow Booklist; Junior Library Guild Selection) as well as other science fiction and fantasy works. Their contemporary fantasy novel The Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths & Magic was a 2017 Cybils Award finalist in YA Speculative Fiction and the Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Gold Winner for YA fiction and won the Bisexual Book Award for Speculative Fiction. F.T. resides in North Carolina with their spouse, three kids, three dogs, and three cats

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Have you read any books by F.T. Lukens before? Are any of them on your TBR lists? What are some of your other most anticipated reads for 2024?