I loved this book so much!! From the gorgeous cover to the lovable characters and everything in between, F.T. Lukens has created another fantastic read! It’s full of magical moments, amazing representation, captivating storytelling with all the cozy vibes and wrapped up in a supernatural YA fantasy!

✨ Magic
🔮 Familiar
📜 Crossroads Bargains
🫖 Cozy Fantasy
🫶 Found Family
🏳️‍🌈 Queer Joy
⛅️ Grumpy/Sunshine
😹 Hoot & a Half
❄️ Eternal Winter

Otherworldly was an absolute delight of a read and I can’t wait to see what fantastical tale F.T. Lukens will come up with next!

Method Read: 📖

Thank you @coloredpagesbt @simonteen & @ftlukens for the gifted copy! 📚

OTHERWORLDLY is another delightful, queer, fantasy YA romcom from F.T. Lukens. Like their previous works, this one is full of fun, likable, and relatable characters and all the angsty yearning of young love. It contains just the right amount of world building to follow the story but lets the characters shine as its centerpieces. To be extremely picky, this one had a few scenes that felt odd or unexplained, but overall it's an enjoyable read in keeping with the author's backlist. Thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for giving me early access!

Thank you Storygram Tours, F.T. Lukens, & Simon Teen for sending me a final copy for tour. Thank you again Simon Teen for also sending me a physical ARC. And thank you NetGalley for sending me an eARC! 🥰🥰🥰
.
Do you ever just squeal because you love a book so much? Well, this book does that for me! 😊🫶
.
I think it's safe to say I was/am insanely hyped for Otherworldly! 😁 With a pitch like “Supernatural meets Carry On” how could I not?!? This book lived up to my expectations and was even better than I could have ever imagined! ☺️ I just adore all the main characters - Knox, Ellerly, Charlie, and Zada so much! They are all so precious and make the perfect family! Found family! Also, I am absolutely obsessed with Charlie and Zada’s relationship! I’ve never seen two people more perfect for each other! 🥰 I also really loved the romance between Knox and Ellery! They balanced each other out so perfectly! Grumpy x Sunshine! I also love how Ellery is just nonbinary and it isn't an issue at all! They aren’t struggling with their gender; it isn't a big deal at all! It just is and I just love that! 👏 This book has action but it's just so cozy overall! I love all the fantasy elements and how it's grounded in reality! It's so fun to see Knox use his magic! I just love this book so much, and I feel like if I keep talking, I’ll end up spoiling it, so if you're interested at all, please read this book!!! 😊 I just know I’ll be rereading Otherworldly again and again. I think this has to be my all-time favorite F.T. Lukens book! Which is crazy because I’ve loved every book they’ve written! Thank you, F.T. for writing this beautiful book! 💜
.
🏳️‍🌈Rep: nonbinary MC, side sapphic relationship
.
Otherworldly by F.T. Lukens releases on April 2nd!

I love the connections in this one, and even the broken paths some of them seem to follow. Ellery has a family, but lives apart from those immediately theirs for difference of opinions, or rather lost faith. They still keep in touch (sometimes), send money back to support the farm during this ten year winter (which is not always used as intended), and hold to a shred of hope, no matter how small, that one day things will return to normal. Knox is an unexpected, yet happy distraction, for both the rekindling of beliefs left behind as well as the eye candy. Hey, the world doesn't go round on persistence alone! 😉 Anyway, they come to need one another more than either ever imagined possible, and as they work towards an end that'll meet both their needs, the question remains... what about them? A ten year winter is detrimental to the environment and the livelihood of their town, but what about the heart?

If you're a Young Adult Fantasy fan, this book needs to be on your must read list...as well as the author's other works! For the story, for the characters, for the inclusiveness that is a common theme, the books welcome readers of all backgrounds, and identities, to enjoy a grand adventure through the pages.

This fantasy novel has some strong American Gods vibes and follows a supernatural being, Knox, and his human friends and love interest, Ellery (who is NB) as they try to find out why their town is stuck in 5 years of a continuous winter. In the process they meet all kinds of minor gods and beings who have made their life among humans.

I really enjoyed the friendships and found family vibes of this book, but I didn't really connect with the characters, who seemed rather one dimension. Since Knox has no memories, we know very little about him other than he is handsome (which is mentioned about 1402301 times) and likes movies, he's a bit of a loveable puppy. Ellery, the human Knox imprints on, we also learn very little about. They're "a skeptic" and "have a difficult relationship with their family" but we see very little of either of these or why they came to be and there is very little exploration of Ellery's character - who they are, what they like, their past, their future, or really anything about them other than the fact that they're a bit of a downer and they work a lot. I didn't really feel a lot of chemistry between Knox and Ellery as a couple. I think a platonic friendship story among the four (including Charley and her girlfriend) would have worked a bit better here.

While most of the book was slow paced and a little boring, the last 25% really picked up the pace and was quite interesting with a lot of Greek mythology influence and the ending did pack quite a lot into it.

FT Lukens doesn't miss with their cozy queer romances. Otherworldly features a grumpy sunshine romance between Ellery, who didn't believe magic was real, and Knox a familiar trying to evade the other world. I highly recommend this, even if you're not typically a YA reader, I think it will still resonate!

I’m a big fan of F.T. Lukens books so I have been super excited to read Otherworldly! I enjoyed the book and thought it was a solid story. All of the characters were great and the plot line and world building kept me interested. Definitely would recommend!

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.

i haven't really read a genre like this. i'm usually stuck between serious YA horror or NA fantasies, so this was a breath of fresh air. safe to say f.t lukens stole my heart with a trans lead and magic. i ended up binging this and nabbing every other book they've written from my library.

if there’s one thing that i know that f.t lukens’ books will do is make my heart flutter while i kick my feet and giggle like a tween girl in love. their stories, their characters, always just pierce straight through to my soul. and ellery and knox in otherworldly are no exception.

i love love. and i love how ellery and knox love. and i love that i keep getting the opportunity to read these stories early. because my soul honestly couldn’t handle waiting until it publishes… even if it’s only a week out at this point. otherworldly, as with lukens’ other books, are so quick and easy to read. but i loved taking my time with it. savoring these character stories. immersing myself in this frosty world.

el’s story actually starts five years prior to when the book takes place, when his life is thrown into a, as they would probably say, tundra. their family’s farm begins failing with a never-ending winter. and they loses their faith as their parents become more and more difficult to be around. when this book starts ellery and the “weird hot guy” — knox — have a literal run in. together they spark a deal (and a friendship — and maybe more) to end the winter.

ellery, at the beginning of this book is a broken, mainly in their faith. in others. in their religion. but through meeting knox, who ultimately forces them to open up more to charley (their cousin) and zada (said cousin’s girlfriend). they accept their little family unit. they face dangers and scenarios they never thought possible. and through the power of found family and love. they try to defeat it all!

knox, at the beginning of the book is grieving a loss. he’s also just confused and wants to answers for feeling neglected by his queen, who he was always a loyal servant of. through meeting ellery, and charley, and zada, and all the others along the way, he’s given a chance to be a human, even if for temporary. knox, while not a complete himbo, is definitely the golden retriever to ellery’s black cat grump.

knox is just so soft, so caring of ellery. an ellery is honestly, truly the same in return. even if they can’t share everything with each other all the time, they both have the same goals and intentions. they do their best to work together to solve their problems. to fight for one another. and fight is what they do.

this story is just so perfectly me. it’s fun and quirky and is just so damn beautiful. the way they love and grow and experience. their story pulled so perfectly at my heartstrings. and i loved every second of it. and i wish i had another 100 pages just to see them young and in love at the end of the book.

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.