A review by aprilyang1
Otherworldly by F.T. Lukens

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!
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