Review by Chiara Dissanayake
Margaret K. McElderry Books, April 2024
368 Pages, Paperback, $17.99, 9781665916264
Young Adult, ages 14 and up
Fiction, Romance, Fantasy
He ran a hand through his shaggy raven-black hair and looked up at her, his eyes a flash of gold, the color of the sun beaming through autumn leaves. He raised his hand and waved, his smile wide and bright in his pale, narrow face.
“Hi,” he called. “I’m Knox.”
“What?” she said on a breath.
“I’m your familiar.”
Arabelle’s stomach dropped.
Otherworldly by F.T Lukens is a young adult narrative that explores fantasy, young queer love and learning to trust and rely on one another. Each character in the book is well and fully fleshed out with their own distinct personality and voice, coming through in a balance of exposition and dialogue. There is an abundance of detail, but it never feels like too much as it enhances the visual imagery of the world Ellery and Knox are a part of alongside their developing bond. There is a strong focus on family, both blood and found, which the author ties well with the slow burn romance that allows Ellery and Knox’s initially tenuous alliance to settle into a warmer friendship as they work alongside each other to solve the mystery of the goddess’ silence.
I found myself completely enamoured with the book and hardly able to put it down, impatient to see how Ellery and Knox’s relationship would unfold as their bond evolves into a shy, sweet romance. The suspicion Ellery has towards Knox at the start is extremely relatable, making the gradual buildup of their trust (helped enormously by Charley and Zada’s support) very comforting to read. It is realistic and resonates with me in a way fairytale happily-ever-afters do not. As much as I adore them, fairytales can sometimes feel too positive and unachievable in reality. The relationship Ellery and Knox share, with all its bumps in the road, eventual build up of trust and moments of hesitation and awkwardness, is familiar and reminiscent of early teenage years. Between the familial, platonic and romantic connections, it was wonderful to dive into how each relationship between all of the characters progressed, and the balance of sarcasm and banter with intimacy and understanding made this book feel like a warm hug on a cold day.
The pacing of the novel was perfect for the plot, rarely coming across as being rushed or too slow. I found it was easy to get lost in the atmospheric, action-packed scenes, rife with magical realism and foreshadowing as certain elements at the start of the book slotted themselves into place as the story flowed along. I absolutely adored the wholesome vibe of this narrative, conveyed without feeling like it compromised on plot while still succeeding in blurring the lines between reality and fantasy.
It is worth noting, however, that there are smaller details that the writer could have developed or connected better with the overall plot in order for their existence to make sense. For example, the extent of Knox’s forgetful nature coupled with the loss of his memory each time he was taken back to his realm through the portal does not make sense when coupled with his extensive knowledge on the goings on over the course of the novel. In addition, quiet intimate moments between Ellery and Knox constantly being interrupted by other characters too often took me out of the novel and felt like it stagnated the development of their friendship.
Overall, I fully believe this book went straight to my heart whilst tugging on my heartstrings with its beautiful relationships, realistic romantic challenges and the growth of trust over time and is a quirky, cozy read that everyone deserves to experience.
Chiara Dissanayake is a student at the University of British Columbia.
YOUNG ADULTING 