Enjoyment rating: 5
Quality rating: 4


What if everything I didn’t like about Divine Rivals was fixed and made into a different book? That is The Otherwhere Post for me.

I loved Divine Rivals for the *vibes*. Typewriters connecting people who fall in love? Adore it. But I didn’t love some of the darker elements or some of the plot issues. I wished there was something else that gave me academic, bookish type vibes without those issues. And boy, did The Otherwhere Post deliver for me.

I loved the magical writing elements, the school and the aspect of trying to avenge her father/trying to find out the truth of what happened with her father. The characters were delightful, the mystery was fun and the magic elements made sense. The imagery in the writing made me feel like I was really in the world. I adored the magic coming from writing — what bookish person wouldn’t?

The slow burn between Tristan and Maeve is well done. It didn’t feel like it switched from strangers to lovers too quickly, and they had some great banter. Overall, I adored the romance between them. Tristan easily could have gone into the too cliche to like category with his background, but it’s unique enough and he’s sweet enough that it works well.

I did think the ending was just a little too abrupt, but otherwise I enjoyed the pace. I wish it had been just a little bit longer for more time for the climax and for just a little bit more slow burn.

If you want a magical dark academia setting with a fun magic system and great banter, I recommend picking this one up.

The Otherwhere Post is a fantasy novel about a world where things that are written - if they are written properly - come to be, a fascinating thought for any reader. Maeve, the main character, wants more than anything to be a scriptomancer like her deceased father - someone who is trained to write in a certain way, with certain inks, so that her writing will come to life, but she can't, because she is who she is: her father's daughter. Seven years ago, there was an attack by the Aldervine - a massive mobile vine that brought terror and destruction, and closed the doors between the worlds - an attack that was blamed on Maeve's father. Since that time, she's been in hiding, using an alias, afraid to let anyone know who she is, because of the reputation attached to him after that event. Then one day, she receives a letter, addressed to her correctly, that tells her that her father was innocent. So begins her quest to find the writer, to prove her father's innocence, and to begin to live her life as a scriptomancer instead of a fugitive. A suspenseful and enjoyable story, suitable for readers of all ages.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a cute ya romantasy with a lot of angst and yearning that had me flying through the pages. This book follows Maeve whose father was the cause of world traveling ending and many people dying when a poisonous vine infected their world. Maeve receives a letter saying her father is innocent sending her on an adventure of trying to find out more about what happened all while trying to keep her true identity hidden. I really enjoyed the characters in this book and the pacing kept many entertained throughout. There were a few places where the plot felt a little too easy or convenient but still had a great time with this one. Look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
3.5 stars rounded up

My feelings on this book are strange. I feel like I want to love it more than I did, but I'm not 100% sure on why I didn't. Because, really, this was so cool. I loved the whole idea of scriptomancy, of the various worlds, and the mystery around Maeve's father's death and the danger she was now in (high five to myself for figuring out the bbeg 😌). Also, Tristen as a disaster prodigy with a good heart was *chef's kiss*. So, like, there were a ton of things I really liked.

I think at the end of the day, Maeve's trust issues, while understandable, led to things feeling a bit repetitive. I'd have been fine with, like, 20 less pages of the book where we didn't re-hash her escape plans due to lack of trust. Did I get their purpose? Technically, yes, but I felt like they were trying to achieve something either already achieved or could have been achieved in prior, similar scenes. Also, while I get the story needed to move along and people aren't just going to automatically be suspicious when not looking for a reason to be, Maeve's constant luck with everything did feel, well, too convenient xD

Overall, though, I still enjoyed this book, and I do recommend it to anyone who thinks this book sounds interesting!

okay wait why was i literally unable to put this down?! from the first chapter, this was already one of the most unique fantasy’s i’ve read in a while and i was immediately hooked. i read this in like two solid sittings and i ate it up! i highly recommend for a solid fantasy book, beginners and longtime readers alike 💫

I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

I loved Hotel Magnifique, so I had to grab this one. Emily did not disappoint. This book's magic system and world-building had me on a rollercoaster ride! I feel like she left a bit off the table with the world, but it's a yes. The characters are appropriate for a YA book, which I truly appreciate; I am tired of reading about teenagers in adult situations; enough already. Tristian is the sweetest book boyfriend; Nan is a ride-or-die friend, and Mave wants to become a courier but has to divulge her secret in order to make that happen! OMG, so tense. Once this story got going, it did not stop until the end, and I was still thinking about it when I read the final sentence. The ending left me feeling like it was a race to the finish. Emily didn't want to write any more pages, so she dropped everything at the end.

Still truly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to other readers.

Thank you to Netgalley, PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, and Emily J. Taylor for the ARC of The Otherwhere Post

Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group through NetGalley for providing a DRC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.25 out of 5 stars.

There are multiple worlds, but three were bound together with the Written Doors. That is, until Jonathan Abenthy brought the aldervine to Inverly, Barrow, and Leyland, the thorns piercing people and poisoning them. In an attempt to contain the destruction to just Inverly, the Written Doors are burned, and scriptomancy is once more required to travel between Barrow and Leyland.

Maeve Abenthy, Jonathan's daughter, escaped Inverly with the help of a stranger who then dumped her at an orphanage where a Miss Hannigan of a hoodlum locks Maeve in a barn, from which she escapes, and spends years hiding her identity and looking over her shoulder.

One day, a door opens in the air beside Maeve, and a courier shoves an unmarked envelope in her hand. Since no one should know Maeve even exists anymore, it is a disturbing surprise, but couriers are never wrong. There is a backlog of letters between worlds, and the letter she gets telling her her father is innocent and to meet the writer is long past helpful.

Still, she can't not try, so when she sees another courier, she calls out to him. Thinking he didn't hear her, she throws a bar of soap at him, striking him in the head and ruffling his feathers. She asks for help tracking down the sender, but he tells her good luck and disappears.

Maeve had already told her employer she was quitting - it was time to retire Isla and move on - but instead of traveling, she returns her train ticket and applies for the University of Gloam, where she will learn scripts and hopefully learn just enough to figure out who sent the letter. But she can't give them her real name, especially since her father was a resident.

Convincing an applicant she is with admissions, she gets the applicant's name, confiscates her transcripts, and tells her she can reapply the following year. So, Maeve changes from Isla to Eilidh. She thinks she's all clear, until the headmaster assigns his son to be her mentor, and his son is none other than the courier she threw a bar of soap at.

I loved this book. If Inkheart was for middle grade, this is the YA step up. There was so much to love about these worlds, from the stormy atmosphere to the magic system of scriptomancy to the historical aspect of these fictional worlds. It was all so alluring in a literary magic way. Yes, there was romance, but there was friendship, too, and betrayal, and a daughter who believed her father was guilty for so long she did not know how to hope he might be innocent. I loved it.

Can I please get a coffee script??!?

I do feel like there were strings left flying in the wind, particularly when it came to her employer at the beginning. Yes, she gave her notice, but at one point in the book she ends up back there, scares him, and then he tells the constabulary about her, but she never goes back to explain herself. Also, I get that Maeve is basically a kid, and not a seasoned investigator, but the tangled mess of who framed her father and who sent the letter had my head spinning.

My first read by the author, but I will probably pick up her earlier novel.

Thank you so much to Penguin Teen and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I read the synopsis and immediately knew I was gonna be hooked. I was SO RIGHT. People had the ability to travel between various versions of their world (very VE Schwab!) But something called the Aldervine infiltrated on of those worlds and to stop it, they had to burn the doors between worlds. Now the only people capable of traveling are couriers of the Otherwhere Post.

Maeve thought her father was guilty of unleashing the Aldervine and killing/trapping everyone (and all the worlds blamed him too) until she receives a mysterious letter proclaiming his innocence, so she infiltrates the Otherwhere Post's courier training academy to try and find out where the letter came from. Where she meets Tristan.

I flew through this book. See Maeve overcome her walls and learn to trust people was so sweet. The world was so intriguing, the magic system was new and interesting, and Tristan was the tortured but still optimistic love interest we all needed. I loved every character in this book and I honestly hope that, if there's no sequel, Emily J. Taylor will write more in this world because I fell so in love with it.

I loved the dark academia vibes in this one! The plot was interesting it hooked me in early on and had me guessing from start to end! I loved the characters they felt well developed and grew throughout the book! I loved Tristan! Tristan and Maeve had me laughing so much I loved their humor and sarcasm! I also really enjoyed the magic system in this book! Towards the end there were a few to many coincidences going on for my taste but I definitely recommend reading this book!!!

The Otherwhere Post has a really interesting premise and intriguing magic called scribing. Maeve is our orphan heroine in this dark academia YA novel. And she’s SO secretive… But I suppose I would be too if my dad was infamous for tearing apart the world, killing a lot of people in the process. Confronted with the opportunity to clear her father’s name, she sneaks into the academy, meets a handsome boy, and gets to work solving the mystery. What’s not to love?

*I want to preface the next part with: I had an ARC from NetGalley, so any issues I have with the book may be fixed by the time it’s published.*

Characters and relationships don’t develop though, and that’s a must-have for me. The storytelling was thin at times too; sometimes events and connections happen for seemingly no reason at all. While I did love the characters, at times I found myself turning back pages to see what I missed, but it just wasn’t a fleshed-out scene.

Even with these issues, I had trouble putting the book down. I had to know how it ended. Who is the mysterious big bad sending magical terrifying letters? Does Maeve solve the mystery, clear her father’s name, and get the boy? Worth it.

Very cozy and fun read! The magic system was really cool, with magic performed by scribing. It was kind of like a light and fluffy Babel. There was an enjoyable little romance but no spice. I recommend for fans of The Encyclopedia of Faeries series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced release copy in exchange for a honest review.

The Otherwhere Post is a YA fantasy set in a unique world where magic can be written onto letters. This world has been shattered with the destruction of a door that lets them move between worlds and now only those who learn the magical art of scriptomancy can travel to the other worlds. Filled with mystery and a dark academia vibe this book's world was so much fun to read about. Our main character, Maeve, has to infiltrate the school for scriptomancy to uncover a mystery surrounding the collapsing of the door. Maeve is not very trusting of anyone and I found her actions to be not well thought out at times. She decided to run away multiple times and when I thought she had finally decided she had friends and she didn’t need to run she did it again… Her actions felt redundant and I was a little annoyed with her. Other than that I really enjoyed this story!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars. I loved the atmospheric vibes and world-building in this book. The concept of scriptomancy and the ability to travel between the overlapping multiverses were really interesting. This will definitely appeal to fans of Divine Rivals, though this skews more YA. I'd love to read more in this universe, but the main story line here is satisfactorily resolved so that it works as a standalone.

On the flip side, I felt like the characters were a little underdeveloped and there were some gaps/inconsistencies in the narrative that seemed confusing (for example, only six or seven years supposedly lapsed since Inverly was destroyed but Maeve's father's classmates all seem 20+ years older). The Otherwhere Post training school also felt like a missed opportunity to dig in more on the classes and skills they are taught, but that ends up being glossed over. This might be corrected in editing before final, but there were a lot of incorrectly used words that also took me out of the flow.

Thank you to GP Putnam and Netgalley for providing an ARC for review!

This was SO good!! For fans of Divine Rivals and epistolary themes, The Otherwhere Post is a perfect fit.

This is a perfect example of dark academia done right. The mood and tone as well as the world building were beautifully written. The character development as well as the intricate magic system was so captivating to read about. It truly felt original which is rare when it comes to books these days.

I’m thoroughly looking forward to anything the author writes going forward!!

Beautiful story full of characters who feel like they could walk off the page, a deep mystery, and rich lore. Maeve is convinced that her father is a murderer, one who led to the destruction of the connection between the three worlds seven years ago. However, when a mysterious letter shows up insinuating that her father was not the person she thought he was, she finds that her only way to get answers is to go undercover at the Otherwhere Post, the only avenue available to traverse the two remaining worlds. Along the way, she finds that she has stumble into something far beyond proving her father's innocence.

Even with all the dangers involved in this world, I would be more than willing to leap through the pages and explore it more for myself. The history and magic of the worlds were well-developed including why certain things happened the way they did, the antagonist's motives were believable and didn't feel contrived, and the characters' relationships were built bit by bit instead of all at once.

Worth a read and a bit of a ponder once you turn the last page.

The Otherwhere Post is the story of Maeve Abenthy, who lost her father seven years ago. To try and escape the stain of her father's crimes, Maeve lives under a variety of fake names, moving from place to place, never staying in one place long enough to put down roots. Then she receives a mysterious letter that says her father was innocent. In an attempt to uncover the truth, she poses as an apprentice for the Otherwhere Post, where she’ll be trained in the art of scriptomancy—the dangerous magic that allows couriers to enchant letters and deliver them to other worlds. But looking into her father’s past draws more attention than she’d planned. Her secretive, infuriatingly handsome mentor knows she’s lying about her identity, and time is running out to convince him to trust her. Worse, she begins to receive threatening letters, warning her to drop her investigation—or else. For Maeve to unravel the mystery of what happened seven years ago, she may have to forfeit her life.

This is such a fantastic book! The romance between Maeve and Tristan is so fun and enthralling. The way they first meet is hilarious and the banter they always share is clever, witty, and fun. You can feel the romantic tension between them the entire book, and the way Tristan cares for Maeve melts the reader's heart.

I love the world that Emily J. Taylor has created. To think of being able to travel to different parts of the world by going through a magical door, is so fantastic. Each area Maeve and Tristan visit is unique and has its own characteristics. The magic system and the scriptomancy are woven so well into the world. The idea of being able to enchant letters is so enthralling.

The Otherwhere Post is a gripping story with complex characters you can't help but fall in love with. Maeve's quest for answers inspires the reader to ask themselves what they would do if they found themself in a similar situation. Highly recommend this book!

Where do I begin? Having loved Hotel Magnifique I was so excited to receive an ARC of this book. The world building for The Otherwhere Pist is just incredible. A story of multiple worlds, written arcane magic, a villian and a daughter hoping to learn the truth. Maeve is stuck in this miserable life because of something her father did - but when a mysterious letter shows up her life changes. Everything she thought is now possibly wrong and she has hope that she can find out the truth. She schemes her way into an apprenticeship and ends up befriending the school’s misfit who also happens to be her mentor. With an intriguing world and mystery - you will become sucked into this story. The writing is terrific and there’s even some romance. This book has it all for fantasy lovers.

~ 𝚊 𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚡𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚕 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚒𝚝, 𝚊 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚍 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚜 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚜 ~

This book was nothing like I expected and yet, it was everything.

Maeve, our FMC, has been living a lonely existence under an assumed identity for years - following the death of her father who was presumed to be a murderer. How, exactly, he came to be called this is a bit of a spoiler (though you can find it in plenty of synopses).

Maeve receives a letter from the Otherwhere Post that is quite old - it was in the backlogs of mail that was stuck following the sealing of one of the doors between "layers" of the world. The Otherwhere Post is the only thing that can carry messages – and it’s couriers the only people who can travel - between these layers due to a tragic event leading to the sealing of the doors between worlds. Maeve’s letter sets in motion a series of events that leads her to training to become a courier herself - complete with an overly friendly roommate, Nan, and a handsome but aloof mentor, Tristan - and to the discovery of murder, mayhem, mysterious plots, and undying loyalties and friendships where she least expected them. Along the way, Maeve discovers a love for things lost to her, as well as realizing it's okay to let people in - if only ever so cautiously.

📖 World Building: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ (5) - It was a little confusing to start, as Ms. Taylor did not dive into explanations right away - but it unfolded beautifully and perfectly. The magic system – Scriptomancy – is wonderfully done, though I want more of it!

📖 Character Development: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Oh, the development that happened, Especially Maeve, but also Nan, Tristan, and Nan's mentor Shea, grow and change significantly as well, and it's delightful to watch the relationships between them all grow.

📖 Predictability (lack of): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Yes. Just Yes. While there were some convenient coincidences at the end, I felt like overall they fit well.

📖 Pacing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - very well done. It never felt bogged down or boring. The end did feel a little bit like an infodump/rush to wrap up and I would have loved to see that fleshed out more.

📖 Spice: 🥛 – upper middle grades and up safe

📖📖 Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5) – New favorite. Whoever said it’s like Divine Rivals meets Dark Academy was spot on. This is a beautiful story and I cannot wait to read more.

📖 Noteworthy:
📚 frenemies to lovers
🪶 orphan
📚 found family
🪶dark academia
📚 mentor x mentee
🪶sapphic romance (secondary characters)
📚 unique magic system

📖 TW/CW: Death, murder, attempted murder, poverty, bullying, objectification of women (one scene/plot point); Parental advisement for younger middle grades for descriptions of death and related scenes.

This is such an immersive read!! I adored this author’s debut - the vibes were immaculate and it felt like I was dancing through a Pinterest board. This book was the same! The plot was solid and the writing bordered on flowery but at just the right amount.
I’ll be reaching for this book again soon!

Wonderful world building and characters! I very much enjoyed reading about. I never felt that it was info dumpy or that it was to weighty in expecting you to keep up with everything as has been the case sometimes with other books! Definitely recommend it if you’re a fan of the genre!

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my review.