Seventeen-year-old Ellery is many things, but a believer in the supernatural is not one of them. Sure, their region might have been stuck in perpetual winter for the past five years, but there’s got to be an explanation that doesn’t include magic. If goddesses were real, after all, they wouldn’t leave Ellery and everyone else to fend for themselves…right? Knox, on the other hand, is very familiar with the Other World. As a magical assistant, he is sent to help humans complete the crossroads bargains they make. But he hasn’t heard from his queen in years and when crossroads demons come to collect him, Knox trusts his gut and runs—right into Ellery, who valiantly fights off the demons and saves his life. Still, Ellery can’t quite believe what they’ve seen. Can a sceptic stay sceptic even when the fact that the supernatural is real is right in their face?
As Ellery and Knox strike a bargain to help each other and figure out what is going wrong in their respective worlds together, neither of them expects the consequences to be quite so monumental as a chance at true love —oh and, saving the world of course.
One thing that I adore about Lukens’ books is that they give us foreshadowing in their stories that are actual clues instead of just red herrings. From the beginning of the story as we learn about Ellery and their reasoning for leaving their family behind and staying with their cousin, there are clues that hint at what magic has done to the real world and, more obscurely, how Knox factors into that equation. Now, this might be a personal preference but I just really like when I can put all the clues together myself (even if it’s only moments before everything is revealed) because it feels almost like a small victory. But rest assured, even if you can guess what will happen, the reveal still packs a hefty punch and had me gasping.
Similarly, the settings in Otherworldly were so well done. From the real world and all its ups and downs to the magical world Knox returns to (and Ellery follows), everything was so atmospheric that you could imagine both in vivid detail. Every interaction with for example the Shades in the real world felt otherworldly, a very apt choice for the book title. The presence of something not quite human made for an eerie reading experience, in the best of ways.
The grumpy meets sunshine trope is done beautifully thanks to Ellery and Knox. Despite having gotten his memory erased multiple times before, Knox still finds the beauty in life and overall, it almost reminded me a bit of how humans deal with mortality in general. Yes, life might not be forever, but you can still make it matter even if you know the end is inevitable. Watching Knox find so much joy in human things like bingeing TV shows or simple things like peoplewatching warmed my heart and made me appreciate it all the more in real life.
And Ellery. My grumpy love who just wants to save their family from financial ruin and is working themself ragged just to survive. They really embody what it means to give your everything for the people you love. Knowing both their intentions and motivations made every scene between Knox and Ellery that much more intense because you knew where they were coming from and why they held strong to their principles. Knox and Ellery have my whole heart (but Knox just that tiny bit more because I’m a sucker for memory erasing storylines and he is just a soft boy) and I kept hearing the “You’re a real boy, Pinocchio” in my head while reading Knox’s POV because I was rooting for him to really have everything he wanted – which was to just find his place in the world. Their begrudging alliance and eventual romance is perfect if you are a fan of marshmallow characters that burrow into your soul. It’s cheesy and feel-good and warms your heart to the very core.
Lastly, let it be said that I absolutely adore how Lukens gives a voice to queer characters in the most normalised way. Yes, I adore coming out stories and literally any queer representation I can get my hands on, but it’s always a joy to see things like Ellery using they/them pronouns or their cousin’s sapphic relationship in a magical setting without it being the main “struggle” of the plot. It carries a sense of belonging, of being seen, that any queer reader is sure to enjoy as much as I do.
Featuring soft characters, a sceptic and a supernatural being, and a crossroads deal gone awry, Otherworldly is the cosy, wholesome romantic adventure that will make you look up your nearest abandoned crossroads and deliver all the feelgood fairy-tale vibes.
Otherworldly is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of April 2nd 2024.
Will you be picking up Otherworldly? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
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.
