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arxchiell's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Death
the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
As always, F. T. Lukens writes the most delightful, adorable, sweet LGBTQIA+ YA books. This story feels unique from their other novels, while still holding to the attributes I love most in their work.
I think that the romance wasn't particularly strong in this book and wouldn't particularly recommend it if your primary goal is a romance. But if you are instead looking for cute queernorm relationship dynamics, found family of all sorts and a really fun world build, this is the book for you.
I think that the romance wasn't particularly strong in this book and wouldn't particularly recommend it if your primary goal is a romance. But if you are instead looking for cute queernorm relationship dynamics, found family of all sorts and a really fun world build, this is the book for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Violence
estruch's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Magic, found family, and queer people. What's not to love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
missindyrose's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood and Death
aprilyang1's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This story was so cute! It had found family, star-crossed lovers, and a sweet romance. The characters were definitely the highlight for me - each one had their own unique personality and spark, even the secondary characters. Zada and Charley were particularly memorable because they help emphasize and reiterate themes of self-discovery, emotional authenticity, and acceptance of love and differing perspectives.
While I really enjoyed the overall concept of gods, goddesses, the “other world” and supernatural beings hiding in plain sight, I felt that the fantasy elements overall could have been further explored and developed. The stakes didn't feel high or complex enough for me to fully invest in the story or a lot of the characters' decisions, which led to a slightly underwhelming climax. As someone who loves and reads predominantly YA books, I found the overall complexity and pacing to be a bit juvenile at times because of that.
Regardless, I really think that young adult readers will enjoy this book and find a lot of comfort in it. If I had read it in high school, I would have absolutely loved it. Overall, as my first F.T. Lukens book, it was a fun and cozy read, and I would definitely pick up another one of their books in the future!
Thank you NetGalley & publisher for providing me an advanced copy!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
micaelacccc's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Grief
dearhaleynicole's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
First – A huge thank you to NetGalley & the publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions!
Full discretion: F.T. Lukens is one of my favorite authors on this planet (definitely an auto-buy author for me iykyk), but I have to say despite my already absolute adoration for their work... I really, truly LOVED this book so much! Such a cozy, endearing YA fantasy read for me. This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year (obviously) and I am so honored to have been able to read it a little early but also get to gush about what spoke to me most about it.
Ellery is a skeptic in every way, shape and form. They've so far made it through a "winter-pocalypse" of sorts that has plagued their small town for five whole years. A primarily farming community that believes in and prays to a goddess who many believe to bring a bountiful harvest to their lands each year. Except Ellery (quite logically) struggles to believe in said goddess who – if she does even exist – has forsaken them & their family's farm for half a decade. For this reason, Ellery lives with their cousin and their cousin's partner in the city to work and send money home to their family to get by. There, at the diner they work, they meet a very unexpected handsome stranger named Knox, who is not entirely as human as he might seem. One thing leads to another and these two make a magical deal to help end this never-ending winter and maybe find something magical between them along the way...
When I say I am obsessed with how sweet this little supernatural found family is, there are truly NO WORDS. The tender goodness I love from F.T.'s other works shown through so brightly in this book and I was not prepared for how attached I would get to these characters 😭 (but I do this every time) The little glimpses at Charley & Zada's relationship were so sweet my teeth were achingggggg. And the way Ellery & Knox's relationship bloomed was just so perfect for them 🥹 If you're a fan of cozy queer books, this one is for you! There is definitely still lots of action and adventure, but overall just felt really comforting to read.
Please do yourself a favor and add this one to your up next reads. And be grateful for the warmer days ahead because the next season could never come if a goddess feels so inclined...
Side note: The cover artist for "Otherwordly," Sam Schechter, is SO talented! I just started following their work on Instagram (@sam.spectre) and am blown away. This cover is stunning and I couldn't help constantly turning to look back at the cover as I read because it's so stunning. They've worked on some of F.T.'s other covers and I just had to shout their work out!
Full discretion: F.T. Lukens is one of my favorite authors on this planet (definitely an auto-buy author for me iykyk), but I have to say despite my already absolute adoration for their work... I really, truly LOVED this book so much! Such a cozy, endearing YA fantasy read for me. This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year (obviously) and I am so honored to have been able to read it a little early but also get to gush about what spoke to me most about it.
Ellery is a skeptic in every way, shape and form. They've so far made it through a "winter-pocalypse" of sorts that has plagued their small town for five whole years. A primarily farming community that believes in and prays to a goddess who many believe to bring a bountiful harvest to their lands each year. Except Ellery (quite logically) struggles to believe in said goddess who – if she does even exist – has forsaken them & their family's farm for half a decade. For this reason, Ellery lives with their cousin and their cousin's partner in the city to work and send money home to their family to get by. There, at the diner they work, they meet a very unexpected handsome stranger named Knox, who is not entirely as human as he might seem. One thing leads to another and these two make a magical deal to help end this never-ending winter and maybe find something magical between them along the way...
When I say I am obsessed with how sweet this little supernatural found family is, there are truly NO WORDS. The tender goodness I love from F.T.'s other works shown through so brightly in this book and I was not prepared for how attached I would get to these characters 😭 (but I do this every time) The little glimpses at Charley & Zada's relationship were so sweet my teeth were achingggggg. And the way Ellery & Knox's relationship bloomed was just so perfect for them 🥹 If you're a fan of cozy queer books, this one is for you! There is definitely still lots of action and adventure, but overall just felt really comforting to read.
Please do yourself a favor and add this one to your up next reads. And be grateful for the warmer days ahead because the next season could never come if a goddess feels so inclined...
Side note: The cover artist for "Otherwordly," Sam Schechter, is SO talented! I just started following their work on Instagram (@sam.spectre) and am blown away. This cover is stunning and I couldn't help constantly turning to look back at the cover as I read because it's so stunning. They've worked on some of F.T.'s other covers and I just had to shout their work out!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Death, and Blood
marmaladereads's review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Violence
Minor: Death
midnightmoon_dreamer's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
It’s inspired by the story of Eurydice and Orpheus.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Sexual harassment, Death, Murder, and Violence
pagebypaigebks's review against another edition
4.0
“This story… has ‘star-crossed lovers’ written all over it.”
I'd like to thank Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I've also posted this review on Instagram and my blog.
Instagram Post
Blog Post
Content Warnings: death, violence
If you love cozy fantasy then you need to read this book! F.T. Lukens does an amazing job of creating an immersive world with vibrant characters. From the first page, I was immediately transported to a town stuck in eternal winter. The world-building and mythology of Otherworldly were also very in-depth. I loved the characters! Ellery was the perfect mix of grumpy and determined, and Knox was such a sweet and bright light! The found family vibes were also a great touch. They definitely made me smile! However, I would have enjoyed getting to learn a bit more about the side characters and other people in the town. The writing style matched the cozy plot perfectly and the pacing was evenly balanced with exciting action scenes and heartwarming sweet moments. Otherworldly is perfect for cozy fantasy readers everywhere who can’t get enough of the found family and grumpy x sunshine tropes!
I'd like to thank Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I've also posted this review on Instagram and my blog.
Instagram Post
Blog Post
Content Warnings: death, violence
If you love cozy fantasy then you need to read this book! F.T. Lukens does an amazing job of creating an immersive world with vibrant characters. From the first page, I was immediately transported to a town stuck in eternal winter. The world-building and mythology of Otherworldly were also very in-depth. I loved the characters! Ellery was the perfect mix of grumpy and determined, and Knox was such a sweet and bright light! The found family vibes were also a great touch. They definitely made me smile! However, I would have enjoyed getting to learn a bit more about the side characters and other people in the town. The writing style matched the cozy plot perfectly and the pacing was evenly balanced with exciting action scenes and heartwarming sweet moments. Otherworldly is perfect for cozy fantasy readers everywhere who can’t get enough of the found family and grumpy x sunshine tropes!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Death