Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this story.
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW

I've only read one book by F.T Lukens "Spell Bound" and absolutely loved it. when I heard of this story I was really excited too. The idea of a paranormal boyfriend sounded like fun, as well as the endless winter. But while I did enjoy watching Ellery and Knox fall in love, I didn't enjoy the story as much as I'd hoped. I think I expected Knox and Ellery to be together for the entire story, fighting the shades and trying to find a way to stop the long winter. I also expected the goddess of death to be a little bit nicer ?? I guess. Not sure why because any god/goddess of death is never happy when people thwart death. I also really enjoyed Charley and Zada, they were fun characters.

The joy and fun I had while reading "Spell Bound" though didn't come to me in the same way with this story. I think it might be partly because Ellery was a very grumpy person. (Sun, from "Spell Bound", was grumpy too but they were also really funny). Which isn't to say that Ellery wasn't funny because they could be at times! I think that I just really loved Sun and Rook together. The situations they would get into was hilarious. This story was a bit more serious since Ellery and Knox were constantly being attacked or accosted by creatures/gods/goddesses from the Other World. Which was a really cool part, seeing all the kinds of beings they interacted with that were part of the Other World.

I think some of the best parts though was when Ellery was traveling through the Other World trying to reach Knox and the palace. I knew as soon as they made the decision to go to the Other World that there would be a Orpheus and Eurydice "Don't look back" plot happening. And I was right! Honestly, I could not be Ellery. I would have turned around because I would have been so scared lol. Anyways, I know this is probably an old draft of the book as I think the actual length of the book is a lot longer. Knox, at the end, talks about stopping somewhere first to talk to someone about wanting to return to the human realm and... he never said who he talked too. I'm assuming it was Arabelle? But I can't be sure. Maybe in the finished version of the story it's talked about more.

I'm probably still going to buy a physical copy of this story so I can find out.

A potion created, a life taken, and a vial lingering.🧪A bargain must be made. Can a road trip with a packed car save someone?

📖: Otherworldly
🖋️: F.T. Lukens
🗓️: 4/2/24
⭐️: 5 of 5

Tropes & Themes:
✨Non-binary MC
✨Fantasy
✨Found Family
✨Secrets
✨Magic

With their city stuck in winter weather for the past five years. Ellery moves in with her cousin and works in the city to help her family and their farm.

Knox is a familiar from the Other World and seeks help from Ellery after the tragedy of his last boss.

With fate having a play in hand. He collides with Ellery in an alley and finds himself seeking her help.

“As long as you’re here, I’m sure I’ll be okay.”

Will Knox be able to enjoy human life or will he be caught? Can Ellery stay safe with the shades after Knox?

Find out how everything plays out in Otherworldly!

This book was so cozy and cute. I loved everything about it and already told two of my daughters that they must read it!

I love the representations and how diverse the characters are. Knox had my heart and any time he had tears. I wanted to cry with him and hug him.

Ellery was headstrong in their beliefs but I enjoyed seeing them come out of their shell more.

If you’re looking for a cute, fun, cozy vibes fantasy book. Then you will want to grab this!

Thoughts and Themes: I have read the majority of books by FT Lukens so when I saw the opportunity to be on the book tour for Otherworldly I was excited. From the minute that I opened this book there was nothing that I didn't like. There was so much that I liked from this book, from the characters to the relationships, and the world building.

Fantasy books tend to take me a while to read and its often times difficult to follow the story but I have had a different experience with FT Lukens books. This is part of why I am always willing to read Lukens' books since I know the story will be intriguing and I will be able to follow along. I also am aware that my heart will get broken each time and it was no different this time around.

I really enjoyed the way the worldbuilding was done in this book because it wasn't all in the beginning, but it was mixed throughout the book. I liked that we learned more as the plot thickened or as we got more attached to the characters. I like that we also learned about certain things as Ellery was learning them too.

Characters: In this book you are introduced to our two main characters, Ellery and Knox along with Ellery's cousin, Charley, and her girlfriend, Zada. You also meet several other Otherworldly characters throughout their journey. I really enjoyed getting to meet other characters such as the shades, Lorelai, and the undead. I think they added a lot to the story and loved how we learned about them through interactions with them.

I really liked the relationship between Ellery and Knox and how that develops throughout the story. I like how different they are from each other but how they also have similarities. I like how they are star crossed lovers and the way that this plays out throughout the book.

I also really enjoyed the bond between Charley and Ellery and how others are brought into that relationship. I liked how Charley is there to support Ellery through everything and pushes them to grow.

Writing Style: This book is written in third person through both the perspectives of Ellery and Knox. It goes back and forth between who is leading the chapter. I really enjoy the way that this book is written and how we get to go back and forth between the two characters since it allows you to learn more. I like that we got to be in both Ellery and Knox's head as they figure out their feelings for one another and how their past interacts with their present.

thank you so much to netgalley, simon teen and colored pages blog tours for gifting me an early copy in exchange for an honest review!!

i finally read one book from this very loved author and i have to say it didn't dissapoint AT ALL 😱😍 the queerness was everywhere and well written, the MCs were just amazing in any way with their conflicts and dramas, plus the side characters were just the best and made me smile wherever they showed up on the page. i mean, Charley and Zada are soooo cool and i love how supportive they were of Ellery. the way other characters showed up to help the story and even expand the universe, it was all good soup.
and then there are Ellery and Knox. gosh, they were the best, i loved reading about them, their problems and desires, how they barely wanted to be with the other until they started to trust each other. i loved their relationship so much 😭😭
also, how brave of them to stand winter for five years, i wouldn't have been able to handle it jsksjdz
just amazing and very entertaining. i wanna read everything from this author 🥰

I will absolutely be picking up a physical copy on pub day. FT Lukens continues to be one of my favorite authors! This was such a lovely teen romance and I genuinely rooted for these characters

Otherworldly is a super cute story that follows Ellery, a skeptic of magic, and Knox, a supernatural familiar, in a town that has been stuck in a perpetual five-year winter.

I enjoyed the different supernatural creatures we meet throughout this story; they gave me "Percy Jackson meeting mythical creatures" vibes (though full disclosure: I've only read The Lightning Thief so far in that series).

I also loved the interplay between Knox's innocence and Ellery's grumpy (but lovable) disposition. And Charley and Zara were a lot of fun! This is definitely a story of queer, found family and the romance is so cozy and fluffy.

On a more personal note, reading a novel with a nonbinary main character meant a lot to me. I have been with my spouse since the beginning of their gender journey and seeing someone like them in this story was so lovely. 🥹

This book is perfect to cozy up to on a cold day or to read in the heat of summer when you're dreaming of colder weather.

Thank you so much to @coloredpagesbt, @simonteen, @ftlukens for providing me with a copy to read and review!

I really enjoyed this story! The plot hooked me into the story. I kept wondering what would happen next. I was also wondering how a lot of things should happen. The plot and the anticipation really made this a fast read.

The romance between Ellery and Knox is beautiful, and I enjoyed the slow connection they built up with each other. I love how Ellery slowly starts to like Knox, and how Knox's feelings are so pure and how much he loves human life. Ellery and Knox's passion for what they wanted made me feel really warm and fuzzy inside, and I love their characters. Really beautifully written!

Charlie and Zada's little romantic touch was also very sweet. I feel like every LGBTQ story needs that motherly lesbian couple to finish off the story. The only thing I didn't like was how rushed the ending felt. I was reading and saw how there were only 60 pages left, I didn't know how this would be resolved. I was thinking it would not be a happy ending, and this would become a series (which would be very cool!), but somehow the story was pulled together at the end. Maybe it's because I was reading fast, eager to see the ending, but the story felt rushed.
As always, I loved the ending chapter, wrapping up what their lives look like now, and I'm pleased to know that Arabelle is back as an undead! I really felt she deserved a second chance.

Overall, beautiful story with a strong plot and a plethora of characters to fall in love with! I'm looking forward to future books.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. This was my first read from FT and it was a solid, cozy, YA paranormal fantasy. It's very light on the romance, and being a heavy adult fantasy/romantasy/dark romance reader I wouldn't say there's any real spice in here. Kissing and some light touching is all we get. But the characters are endearing, I loved the found family aspect, and it was refreshing to read a fantasy with a binary MC. While I don't identify as binary, it would've been nice to have more of this type of representation in fantasy books when I was growing up.

I wish we would've spent more time in the Other Realm. We only see that world towards the end of the book and it felt a bit rushed; I would've like to stay in that setting some more. In all, this was a fast, light read that I think a lot of YA readers will thoroughly enjoy, and adult readers will too as a palate cleanser between heavier reads.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Each F.T. Lukens book that I read is better than the last. I really, really loved the story of Ellory and Knox. Their love, although rushed, felt like a real teen romance. Heartfelt with big and confusing emotions attached. As a non-binary person myself, I also love that Ellory never has to explain themself or talk about their gender *at all.* It's literally never brought up. Such a breath of fresh air! The cover is also gorgeous--I'll be picking up a copy on release day for sure.

Otherworldly tells the story of Ellery, a young person who doesn't believe in the supernatural despite their city being stuck in an endless winter for 5 years. When they meet Knox, a familiar from the Otherworld, they are forced to question what they held to be true in order to save their loved ones.

I loved seeing casual representation of a nonbinary character - Ellery is not struggling with their identity, and they are loved and respected by their family and friends. They're a protagonist who just happens to be nonbinary, which was so refreshing to read.

The story itself was good, if a little slow at times. The pace really picked up in the last 20% of the book, which was the most exciting to read.

Thank you for this ARC!

I enjoyed this book! The plot was a little on the generic side, but it was well executed so it’s not a big issue. I found Ellery and Knox’s relationship to be very charming. It was cute, plain and simple. I also enjoyed the side character’s. I’d definitely recommend this, it was nice.

Honestly mediocre is the best word I can think of for this. I had some high hopes for this given all the hype I've heard for FT Lukens' books but this really didn't live up. It felt more like reading a draft of ideas rather than a finished product. There are some interesting concepts and sweet ideas but the execution just didn't do it for me. It just felt very simple. Each chapter would have some random conflict that would then be resolved in a few sentences along with some perky banter and I just really wanted to see things actually fleshed out. For example (spoiler alert but I'm going to try to keep it vague) at the end, there's an ode to the Orpheus and Eurydice myth that I absolutely *loved* and I was ready for that to at least be its own chapter but NOPE we get a handful of short paragraphs only. By the time I read the sentence "the trek to the portal didn't take long" I was ready to throw my phone across the room.

Unfortunately, I don’t think Lukens is the author for me. I really loved So This Is Ever After, but haven’t enjoyed their other books anywhere near as much.

In the case of Otherworldly, I DNF’d at 20%. I found it odd how often and unnecessarily pronouns were used- not in a “woke” way, but simply saying he/she/they way more than needed. Ex: “they grabbed their shirt and their backpack,” when it should be “they grabbed their shirt and backpack.” It made the writing very stilted and disjointed.

I am beyond thankful to NetGalley and McElderry Books for giving me the chance to read this amazing book!!!

Grumpy black cat + Sunshine golden retriever is perhaps one of my favorite combinations when it comes to pairings, and it’s the perfect way to describe Ellery and Knox.

Ellery is just trying to survive in a perpetually wintery corner of the world that has been forgotten by the goddess, trying to overcome their religious trauma (way too relatable in my opinion) when they literally bump into and save Knox.

And Knox who is a creation the goddess of the Other World had been serving his new human master, by helping her create an elixir of life had his world turned upside down when the Shades come to collect his master’s soul. No one will answer his questions so he runs from the Shades when he bumps into Ellery.

From there these two make a bargain to try and stop the eternal winter, and give Knox a taste of humanity that turns into something more as the two grow closer and closer.

This story kept me entertained from page one with its eclectic cast of characters, human or other, along with the way it pulls from myth and legends from all over. The most notable being Orpheus and Eurydice, but I’ll leave who is who up to you to find out.

The only thing that kept me from giving this 5 stars was me wishing we could have seen more time with Knox and Ellery spending time together before the climax happened. It felt very rushed at that point and I just wanted to see it expanded on. But for a YA novel it was the perfect length.

I’m so happy to have read this and I can’t wait for the next one.

YA 2SLGBTQIA+ Fantasy Romance about a skeptic and a familiar, a supernatural magical assistant, strike a crossroads deal to achieve their own ends only to get more than they bargained for.

5/5 stars: Lukens is a favorite author and their newest YA 2SLGBTQIA+ Fantasy Romance stand-alone doesn't disappoint. Featuring Ellery, seventeen-year-old non-believer, and Knox, the “hot weird guy” who they've been crushing on and just so happens to be a supernatural being from the Other World, a magical assistant sent to help humans who've made crossroads bargains. The two wind up striking their own crossroads deal for very different reasons; Ellery's: to find information about the perpetual winter; Knox's: to experience human life, only to get more than they bargained for. As always, Lukens' writing and character work is stellar; the characters are well-rounded, complex and yet remain incredibly likable. Ellery and Knox are each dealing with difficult things but by believing and trusting each other tackle them together. Plus they are just so dang adorable together. Plus I have to say Ellery's cousin Charley and her girlfriend Zada are a couple of gems, love them! While there are no OPS scenes, the romance is very flirty and swoony. While there are plenty of sweet and humorous moments, Lukens touches on some very serious topics; so take care and check the CWs. You won't want to miss this terrific read, highly recommend!

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, Margaret K. McElderry Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!

I am a F.T. Lukens stan. Nothing but hits for 4 books. I live for everything they put out. I was super psyched when this book got announced and it lived up to the hype in my head. First, the cover is perfect. Beautiful and whoever does this art deserves the world and more.

I love found family books and yes this counts even if it is their actual family. Charley and Zada seemed cool as heck and I’d love to hang out with them. Ellery seemed grumpy at times and there were times I thought it came off as annoying, but I also recognize that behavior in my own personality and I have to sit back. Knox was fun and he seemed like such a sweet and loyal guy. I also love how golden his eyes are on the cover.

The way the supernatural beings were described were super cool too. I would love to know that the world is actually just full of strange little beings I can be friends with. I wish we could have seen even more of them.

I will ALWAYS cry when the ending is adorable and this did not disappoint. Magic and love always win for me.

This one was a bit of a rollercoaster of enjoyment tbh. I really liked the first and last thirds but the middle was so painfully dull for me I almost gave up on it.

I’m glad I didn’t, though. The ending with the ragtag team of otherworldly creatures coming together to rescue Knox was the best part of the book and I loved it so much!

Knox was such a sweet character. I loved his love of human life, his genuine excitement at experiencing mundane human things, his TV obsession. I loved everything about him, honestly, and his romance with Ellery was so sweet.

Ellery, I struggled with. Their prickly persona made sense but it still rubbed me the wrong way on more than one occasion. I didn’t really warm to them until the very end, which is a shame because they were totally badass at the end!

All in all, a mixed bag, but if you’re looking for a YA urban romantasy, or if you’re a fan of Luken’s other books, I do recommend giving this a go.

So, I read this book after another book I really liked and assumed I wouldn’t be into it. I wasn’t in the mood to read it and yet it still pulled me in and made me care so deeply for the characters. This is the second book by this author and I’m quickly becoming a fan. Knox was so sweet and kind I didn’t want to put it down. The way the characters fell is so natural and subtle. When the story ended I almost wished for a second part because it was that good. This book is a must read if you want an adventure that pulls at your heartstrings.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.

4.5 Stars!

I was ecstatic to see a new F.T. Lukens book coming out this year and I knew I had to see if I could get the ARC! I received it!! Woo!!
This book centers around two adorable main characters with themes of found family and finding joy in tough situations. I mean, the setting is an area of the world that has been stuck in a perpetual winter for 5 years. Also nonbinary rep in an MC! Love to see it!

I read Spellbound last year and didn't find there was that much a difference between the two MC's but in Otherwordly, you could really feel the shift when you switched perspectives; I found that lovely.

Reading how much Knox longs to live in the human world because everything is new and exciting for him was a refreshing perspective for me, a 30-something human who feels quite burnt out on reality a lot of the time. His love for humans permeates who he is as a character and it really worked for me.

Ellery's internal conflict with their rocky relationship with his parents and current life situation will be relatable to many, and I appreciated their no-nonsense personality.

Honestly, this book was great, I just wish there was a bit more time to lead up to romantic climax. It felt like the two had all the feelings but not quiteeee enough experiences with each other to 100% sell me on their relationship. Ultimately though, still loved the book, would easily recommend it to many in my life.

Thank you very much to Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing and NetGalley, for this ARC!

A skeptic and a supernatural make a crossroads deal only they find themselves getting more than they could have ever bargained for, from falling in love, running from supernatural shades, trying to find a Goddess, and learning to enjoy the little moments. This was a touch of Hades and Persephone with a bit of Orpheus's story all mixed in with queer teen modern day romance in the best way possible. Ellery is a seventeen year old non-believer in a place where people believe the supernatural are real. Ellery gave up believing in the Goddess after they've been stuck in a five-year winter that has destroyed and ruined so much, particularly impacting their own family. Ellery works day and night to just make ends meet to send money to their family while living with their cousin and their cousin's girlfriend. Knox is a familiar from the Other World, a magical assistant sent to help humans who have made crossroads bargains. It's been years since Knox heard from his queen and after his last deal resulted in his charge creating the elixir of life and then being promptly taken... Knox ran away with the elixir in a panic and runs into Ellery in an alley. Ellery rescues Knox from the shades who wanted to abduct him and when Knox reveals who he truly is to Ellery they enter into a bargain: Knox will help Ellery find a way to end the winter and help them find a way to contact his queen (the very same Goddess in charge of the seasons and crops that abandoned Ellery) if he can and in exchange Ellery will become Knox's new tether to the human world as he needs a tether to work his magic. Knox begins living with Ellery and her cousin and for the first time he begins to actually experience life, having lived vicariously through tv shows and movies all his life he finally gets a chance to just be a teen. Knox's condition means anytime he returns to the Other World he loses his memory of the human one. The more time Knox spends with Ellery the more romance begins to bloom... yet when the truth of what is causing the winter reveals itself and the shades chasing after the elixir of life and Knox finally catch up... can Ellery save Knox before he is lost to them permanently? This was a magical and fun time, I loved the romance and the friendships in this story so much. It' was a really sweet read and I loved how everything wrapped up in the end. The story was a fun time and the characters were all well fleshed out. It's honestly a quick and easy read and you find yourself zooming through it to see how it all ends. I would absolutely recommend this for anyone looking for a magical queer read with a fun cast of characters and a modern day magical world and romance!

*Thanks Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, Margaret K. McElderry Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*