F. T. LukensCritiques

This is most certainly unusual in terms of a cast that includes Ellery whose pronouns are they/them, her cousin and her girlfriend, Knox, a familiar who loses his memories every time he returns to the otherworld, plus a number of supernatural folk ranging from a couple minor gods, a guy who isn't really alive, but isn't quite dead either who survives on other people's emotions, and some pretty nasty creatures called shades.
You begin by a woman making a bargain with the shades in a cornfield where there's a thin place between our world and theirs. Part of the bargain gets her Knox to serve her as she wishes.
Meanwhile, Ellery and her cousin work in the last remaining diner in a small city that's been in the grip of winter for the past five years. Ellery is fascinated by Knox who comes in regularly to pick up food orders for his mistress. When everything starts going off the rails, Ellery impulsively fights off the shades, protecting Knox. This is the beginning of their journey together that is complicated but sweet, and forces Ellery to evaluate everything she thought was real while embarking on a very scary journey.
A great plot and engaging characters make this a fine story

Thank you to F.T. Lukens and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in return for my honest review.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Ellery is a human who doesn't believe in the supernatural; Knox is a familiar who has to convince them to believe in order to stay safe. Shenanigans ensue, and with the help of their cousin, her girlfriend, and an oddball cast of supernaturals Ellery learns to trust while Knox learns what it means to be human. Read if you like: a sweet romance plot, grumpy-sunshine, and a whole lot of found family.

I think Lukens really created a cozy fantasy masterpiece here. The vibes of this book were immaculate; the characters, worldbuilding, and prose were all wonderful. I didn't want to leave the characters behind when the book was over. The use of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth was a particularly good choice, given Ellery's character and their growth; they struggled to trust others cared about them throughout the entire book and the scene of them walking back to the crossroads showed not only that they learned that they could trust Knox to follow, but that they trusted in themselves enough that if he didn't they wouldn't break. It was immaculate. My only (very minor) gripe and the only reason this didn't get 5 stars is the action scenes. They felt weird to me; almost like they were moving too fast? I get that "cozy" doesn't really go with "the bad guys are attacking," but something about them didn't match the writing in the rest of the book in a slightly off-putting way.

The story is simple, and it's well done. Maybe there wasn't a lot of plot surprise, but there was joy in the details. The unexpected arrival of unique creatures, and the ways the characters both embraced and defied the usual tropes of their character roles. I adored it. 🥰

This book is so sweet and fun.

This was a quick read as well as a really good read. I think this is probably one of my favorite books of the year joining Cemetary Boys and Network Effect. I loved the story and I'm a sucker for drama and danger and near-death experiences. I love the story of Tal and Athlen and what they go through to save each other and the kingdom. I feel like if it was a little longer we could have gotten some really cute scenes, some more suspense and drama, and more backstory for certain things. The story picks up quickly and basically stays that way the whole time with sea shenanigans, political turmoil, and gay magical boys.

* I got this book for review*
Def a new favorite by this author!! I really loved the world and this book also loved the duel POV. I really loved the plot of this read. I would rec reading this bok withut the summry cause the plot twists were bit spoiled but this book was just a fun time and cute romance that worked for me! I would loved to see more stories set in this world. Loved the various lbtq rep in this book and also really enjoyed the found family element that developed throughout this read!!

This was the pefect beach read. I again really enjoyed f.t lukens writing style and the wit and charm. I also loved this book was a unique take on the little mermaid myth. It was a super fun read and one that really loved the main characeter. I also loved how this story also epcloring the year aboard and how this character life changed. i also think this magic system could have been fleshed out a tad mroe and easier to explain but i also really loved the romance at the heart and loved the sea setting. It was a pefect beach read!!

* I got this book for review*
Def a new favorite by this author!! I really loved the world and this book also loved the duel POV. I really loved the plot of this read. I would rec reading this bok withut the summry cause the plot twists were bit spoiled but this book was just a fun time and cute romance that worked for me! I would loved to see more stories set in this world. Loved the various lbtq rep in this book and also really enjoyed the found family element that developed throughout this read!!

This was the pefect beach read. I again really enjoyed f.t lukens writing style and the wit and charm. I also loved this book was a unique take on the little mermaid myth. It was a super fun read and one that really loved the main characeter. I also loved how this story also epcloring the year aboard and how this character life changed. i also think this magic system could have been fleshed out a tad mroe and easier to explain but i also really loved the romance at the heart and loved the sea setting. It was a pefect beach read!!

Edison Rooker wants to gain access to the magical world, he's an orphan with a plan. He's also a genius who has invented something that can see magic streams and if the magical world finds it there will be hell to pay. They're also quite adept and can use a computer. He approaches a powerful sorceress Antonia Hex and impresses her with his ability to organise his office (except for the door mat, no-one can organise that mat) he finds himself working with Sun the unsunny apprentice to Antonia's greatest rival. Edison and Sun have to team together to keep their masters from being in deeper trouble.
It was a fun read with several great characters that I would love to have a chat with.

4.5 / 5 ⭐️‘s

"Spell Bound" by F.T. Lukens

This was a fun YA story filled with magic, adventure, and a touch of romance. The story follows two apprentice sorcerers, Rook and Sun, who are forced to put aside their rivalry and work together to save their mentors and protect their own magic.

Rook's journey from a non-magical outsider to a skilled sorcerer is compelling, and Sun's tough exterior masks a vulnerability that makes for an endearing character.

The romantic subplot between Rook and Sun adds an extra layer of tension to the story, and I loved watching their relationship evolve over the course of the story.

Out 4/4/2023!

This ARC was provided by @netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

3 / 5 ⭐️'ˢ

"In Deeper Waters" by F.T. Lukens

This story delivers a delightful blend of adventure, romance, and magic.

Lukens created a rich and immersive fantasy world filled with mythical creatures, mysterious islands, and a complex magical system.

I found myself invested in Tal and Athlen, and their journey together. Tal, a prince with a forbidden magical gift, is a relatable and likable protagonist who undergoes significant character growth throughout the story. Athlen, a mysterious sailor with secrets of his own, is a charming and complex character who provides a perfect foil for Tal. Their slow-burn romance is beautifully developed and adds an extra layer of emotion to the story.

The pacing of the plot was well-balanced, with a good mix of action, intrigue, and romance. The writing style was engaging and flowed smoothly, making it a pleasure to read.

I read this one because it was the April pick for the "LGBTQ/GSM Fantasy & Science Fiction" Goodreads group.

Apart from a tiny niggling plot point (x months after gaining the throne would have been better than by certain age) but this story that starts with the end of the quest and then asks what next. What do the characters do with themselves after they've defeated the big bad and now have to deal with the aftermath and ruling. A close-knit found family who like each other. But Arek has to find a spouse by his 18th birthday or it's all going to go completely wrong and he's going to die. He has to deal with being King Arek the Kind and trying to work out if any of his friends will be his spouse, even though who he really wants is Matt, who is trying hard to also not reveal that he loves Arek.
It's an inclusive, interesting world with characters who have so much angst and yearning...

So This Is Ever After by F.T. Lukens has been on my list forever, largely because of the swoony cover, but it turns out I didn’t have much idea what it was about. It is a YA romance and also very funny, featuring a group of friends who accidentally end up running a kingdom after completing the quest to kill the evil magician who has ruled for 40 years. The opening scene is sort of comically gory, but otherwise it’s mostly nonviolent.

The main plot line is that Arek, now king, is going to die if he doesn’t bond with a soulmate in 3 months. The back cover copy is somewhat misleading as it describes Arek “discovering that love was in front of him all along.” In the book, Arek knows who he loves but won’t say anything for various reasons. The entire book involves poor communication and pining, so be warned if that’s not your thing… I was enjoying the characters and goofiness so much I could tolerate the endless pining. I loved how much fun this was.

The questing hero has slain the Vile One and freed the land. Now what?

It took me a while to readjust my ideas and get into this book because the blurb describes it as "Carry On meets Arthurian legend". Much as I'd love to see Carry On Round the Table, the blurb writer has obviously never seen a Carry On film nor do they have any knowledge of Arthurian legend. On its own terms, it is a pleasant enough mindless piece of fluff.½

On a whim (and also because he could really use the funds for school) Bridger answers a Craigslist ad for a job for which the sole qualification appears to be the ability to physically scale the side of a quirky old house and enter through a tiny, blue door near the roof. Once inside, he's informed he's the new assistant to Pavel, an intermediary whose role is to manage conflicts and put out metaphorical fires when creatures of myth become disoriented and encroach on the human world. Weird, but the money is good, so why not roll with it?

The story was fun, and many of the ideas were novel and intriguing, though I'm not typically a fan of fantasy that overlaps with the mundane world. Midden ("trash") was such an unexpected name for a town that it made me chuckle. The writing is a little unpolished (e.g., a subtle thing like the author naming "Bridger" instead of using "he" frequently enough in the narrative that it felt unnatural and stilted). Astrid unfortunately felt like a caricature I had seen many times before: the sidekick with wild hair, piercings and bold makeup. Bridger's plan to move to Florida so he can come out sure didn't age well when viewed from 2023. Yikes. Recommended for teens into urban fantasy.

I'm not actually really sure why I decided to read this book, but maybe I shouldn't have, because it wasn't because I thought it was something I might like, since it isn't my sort of book at all. I was saw it in my librays ebook app and thought it would just be another one of those trashy insufferable ya romances that aren't really even worth reading and that I don't even like but are quick and entertaining (and I wasn't exacty wrong either). But I decided to read a bit of it anyway because I was bored (and procrastinating) and just out of curiosity, and because this sort of book doesn't take up much of my brain it's easy to read. I didn't even mean to read all of it but then I thought I might as well, because it started out entertaining and mildy funny and almost interesting, and I thought I just might as well finish it.
As for the actual review, it was engaging and quick and easy to read and relatively funny and in general I had fun reading it. It's alright for a bit of (very) light entertainment. And I did actually like some bits of it sort of. I thought it could have had potential. It was very cliched with loads of fantasy archetypes and tropes, with the idea of the generic fantasy quest and chosen one and so on, but that was obviously quite intentional. It was used for humour fairly effectively, and although the characters and world building and general ideas were very far from anything special, I did mostly like it. But the whole plot and ending was really disapointing. I didn't have high expectations, but I did at least expect a bit more than what there was. I'd thought the author would actually do something with all the generic archetypes and tropes used. I mean I assumed that was why they were there so much, was that there'd be something interesting done with them. But there was nothing, short of a few comments making light of the whole chosen one/quest trope, and the idea of what happens after a quest is finished, but even that didn't turn up anything interesting. And the whole romance plot was so predictable, I actually didn't see the point. Like how is that even a plot if the most predictabe thing possible happens at the end. I thought it might be made at least a bit more interesting. To be fair, I'm not interested in romance as a genre at all, so I am being a bit unfair, since the book does work well enough at being a romance/romcom with the idea of it being what happens after a generic fantasy quest, but still, I think more could have been done with the concept than just having things work out in the most predictabe way possible. And as for the actual romance, I'm really no judge of that, it isn't my thing at all, but I generally don't mind and can even sometimes enjoy romance as a subplot in a fantasy/adventure/etc novel, and the thought occurred to me, is it even actually a romance if both the characters already like each other before the book's even started? I mean I guess it is, but I thought the point of a romance plot was about characters getting to know each other and coming to like each other. I mean obviously I'm no judge, and obviously that isn't always the case, but personally, I just don't find this particularly interesting at all, even though I don't find most romance interesting, especially when too much of the book focusses on it, so I don't know, that might just be me. And the romance was also ridiculously unrealistic and clished. Another thing is that there wasn't any other actual plot. I'm aware that I just read what's probably best desribed as a romcom, even though it has fantasy in it, and that the plot is meant to be just romance, but still, again I found that disapointing because that's not what personally interests me.
And why does this say 'Arthurian' in the blurb? The only thing it has in common with Arthurian myths is being set in a medieval fantasy world with magic and quests and swords, but it doesn't draw on Arthurian myths at all remotely in the slightest. It doesn't really draw on anything much. Although some of it was fun to read and I liked the characters and their friendships well enough, it was all really underdeveloped and a bit bland. And I've already mentioned the ending, but I genuinely don't actually see the point in it ending like that.
Anyway, overall, it wans't exactly brilliant but I don't completely hate it, it was entertaining even though it wasn't good or the sort of thing I really like.

This was pretty fun! The romance especially was very believable, our two main characters were sweet, interesting, and well-matched, and I enjoyed the humor. I thought a bit more could have gone into the world building, the effects of magic on this world, and the development of all the other characters—all to say I'd be willing to read more!½

This was an enjoyable sequel/finale to the delightful Mediating Myths and Magic. Bridge is now more secure in himself and his place in the world after the events of Myths, but in true teenage fashion, continues to have many insecurities about the future. While trying to navigate the end of his senior year while not thinking about the looming prospect of college Bridge also has to deal with the appearance of a reality show nosy host who specializes in spotlighting the paranormal/mythological creatures of small towns.

Although we didn't see quite as much myth/magic situations this was still an entertaining story. Bridge's problems have taken on a much more mundane aspect as he attempts to maintain his relationship with his happy hero, master his end of year paperwork and deal with the unexpected arrival of his absentee father. I was sad that we didn't have quite as much interaction with Pavel and the pixies but what interaction we did have was fun and meaningful.

Overall enjoyable and fluffy but maybe not quite as good as the first book.

This was an interesting premise, what happens to the heroes after they have defeated the evil. Overall the story was good, it was frustrating at times how long it took Arek and Matt to realize they were in love with each other.

Enjoyable story that takes place where most books end--after the quest has been completed. What happens next? Will there be a new quest?

Arek and his group have fulfilled the prophecy and killed the Vile One. Arek agrees to be the temporary king until the the righful heir is found. Bu there is strong magic involved, thwarting his vague plans for the future.

Random observations: The original quest was very much like a D&D campaign. Book is set in a world where queer relationshops are not stigmatized at all. Very refreshing. Although most of the main characters are in their late teens, there is a lot of swearing.

This is the queer romance book I've been wanting to read all year.

Tal is a prince who has led a very sheltered life, in order to hide his dangerous form of magic from the world. Although he has been looking forward to his coming-of-age tour, he doesn't like boats. His eldest brother keeps calling him Tally. And everyone expects him to drink and carouse like his siblings, while he'd rather think about the mysterious boy they found on an abandoned ship.

Mysteries, magic, and YA romance.

It's kind of unfair how much I'm love with Lukens' books

Talking with my friends I wondered: maybe I'm too soft to rate books right now? How can everything be 5 stars? But you know what, I loved and I'm not ashamed about it, so that's it.

This was so sweet and exactly what I needed.