Otherworldly by FT Lukens | Book Review

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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 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.

If you read and enjoy cozy speculative fiction, chances are you have come across FT Luken’s work. Otherworldly is the third book I’ve picked up by Lukens and I have to say — I so enjoy the representation. This is a story about crossroads bargains and what happens when a goddess supposedly abandons a region. 

Otherworldly honestly feels like the kind of book you curl up with on a chilly day as the wind is whistling outside. The story is set in a world where it is winter all the time. Residents of the town where it is always winter have basically a diner, a dying mall and a college. Ellery has left the farm back in home in hopes of earning money washing dishes at the diner and sending money for their family to survive. The highlight of Ellery’s day is seeing hot weird guy come into the dinner. Hot weird guy fyi is a familiar named Knox. Knox has been from our world to the goddess’s world many times but never retains what happens. This time is different though as the Goddess is no longer answering Knox’s messages. As it turns out, Knox and Ellery make a bargain — one that may end up saving the realm from eternal winter.

I thought Otherworldly was a relaxing sort of read. There are stakes, afterall, the climate matter is huge. However, I didn’t find my heart racing while reading this book. Ellery and Knox are nice, interesting characters. I felt like Ellery goes through some pretty big changes — from having no hope and being skeptical, to dreaming of a better life and making plans to go to college. Knox was a pretty and fun character. There’s some depth as Knox wants to experience what life as a human would be like. I also enjoyed reading about Ellery’s cousin and her partner. Oh and the other characters they meet in the quest to restore the world are kind of intriguing too. Overall, this is a gentle speculative fiction read and I think if you like Lukens, you’ll for sure enjoy this book.

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April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

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