4.5

This was quite an interesting standalone fantasy novel. It featured a magic system I haven't read about before, had a mostly unique world (more on that below), and a pretty solid set of characters.

The book features scriptomancy, a magic form using words and inks to bring the magic to life. I enjoyed reading about it, though I wish the book had gone a little more in-depth about it. The main setting is in Leyland, one of three worlds that are regularly discussed throughout the book, the other two being Inverly and Barrow. The worlds are parallel in a way, with each world featuring Gloam, the main city in the book. This part reminded me of the Shades of Magic series, where as there are different worlds that all feature a different London. There is a bit of traveling between Leyland and Barrow, as Inverly is lost, but the majority takes place in Leyland. Gloam feels just like its name; a gloomy, depressing city that people wish to escape. However, they can't, as the doors between the worlds have been burned. The only way to cross over is by being a courier and knowing the magic.

While all the characters are pretty well-written, I enjoyed the interactions between Maeve and Tristan the most. There's plenty of sass and banter which made their relationship so good. Maeve is a strong female character, and Tristan has a lot of depth to him that is released throughout the book. Other characters are introduced, and they each have their part and add to the story. It did keep me guessing throughout as to who wrote the letter and who was possibly the villain, which I enjoyed as well. It's nice when a book makes you think and wonder.

The only problem I had really was that there seemed to be a lot of unnecessary filler. I would have liked a little more explanation on the worlds before or on the magic instead of some of the other filler we got. However, this was not enough to really detract from the story. Perfect for fantasy fans who enjoy standalones, unique magic systems, and good characters and plot.

Maeve’s father did something unforgivable that destroyed a world and affected many. Her name is poison so she has been living a boring life under an alias. When she’s finally about to leave she receives a letter telling her that her dad was innocent. To find out the truth, she has to go back to the titular Otherwhere Post, where she’ll be trained in the art of scriptomancy and where her father lived before everything happened. Along the way, she will meet a brooding romantic interest, and an inexplicably cheerful roommate, as well as a cast of mysterious adults who may or may not be involved in her father’s demise. The world-building is fantastic. The cities, the Post, the legends and history, the art of scriptomancy, the classes, everything is described in detail, making it easy to picture Maeve surrounded by it all. The final part felt a little rushed, and the identity of the baddie was not all surprising for an adult reader, but it will probably work for a younger audience. After spending a few horrified minutes reading completely inappropriate content in one of my 12-year old niece’s books, I must say that this one is charming and perfectly acceptable for younger teens. I will be buying her the hardcover as soon as it’s published, which is the biggest compliment that I can give.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/PENGUIN GROUP.

This book grabbed me by the throat from the very beginning! I was pulled deeper and deeper with every twist the story took. I loved that the magic system had to do with writing. I am a big fan of letter writing in a story, and this one was full of it.

I loved Maeve and Tristan. Maeve’s journey of opening her life to include other’s was heartwarming to read. The two of them together were my favorite parts in the story. They had wonderful banter from their first meeting. I liked their slow circling of each other. You felt trust being earned between the two of them.

Maeve and Tristan’s relationship was not the only thing to love about this book. The overall plot with Maeve’s father and the known worlds unraveled in a masterful way. You won’t see any of it coming! I recommend this book to fantasy lovers who are ready to dive into a mystery that keeps them guessing.

I really liked the writing in this one. I enjoyed Hotel Magnifique and was excited to see this one. The magical world building was unique and so interesting. I really liked this world and I would love to see sequels to this even though it also could work as a standalone. Maeve has grown up not letting anyone know her true name since her father caused the death of an entire world. Until she gets a letter that was sent years before letting her know that her father was innocent and she deserved to hear the truth. She then sets out to figure out who sent that anonymous letter and it brings her to the school for apprentice couriers to learn the magic of scriptology, the center of all of the people who hate her father the most. The characters were compelling and interesting and I liked the side romance story. I greatly enjoyed this one and can’t wai to see what Emily Taylor does next.

The Otherwhere Post is set in an alternate universe where people traveled between three worlds until a catastrophe destroys Inverny and leaves Barrow and Leyland cut off from each other. The only way people can communicate with their loved ones is through the couriers of the Otherwhere Post. Trained in the art of scriptomancy, the couriers can travel between worlds and track the recipients of letters.
Maeve Abenthy has been hiding since her beloved father died, condemned as a traitor for unleashing the deadly Vine that changed everything. Although she was only a child at the time, Maeve is blamed and tormented by her peers until she runs away from a dreadful orphanage, changes her name, and keeps moving on to prevent anyone from discovering her real name and her family history.
One day, Maeve receives a letter claiming that her father was innocent. To find evidence that might clear his name, she cons her way into an Apprenticeship at the Otherwhere Post where she will train as a courier until she acquires the skills and the credentials that will enable her to learn the truth,
This is a marvelous academic fantasy that introduces scriptomancy, a system based on writing that uses the adept's natural gifts to transform ink, quills, and paper (or sometimes, the practitioner's own skin!) to magical tools. It is also a tale of love, loyalty, courage, and friendship.
Maeve is a nineteen-year-old heroine who reminds me of Anne McCaffrey's Lessa. The Otherwhere Post is like a darker and harsher Hogwarts.
This is definitely a young adult novel for older teens because there is a bit more sexual activity than would be suitable for a younger audience.
Although I enjoyed the characters and the world-building, I removed a star because there seemed a bit too much running and hiding and a few too many betrayals that seemed obvious to me. Still, I loved the idea of scriptomancy and I would definitely read another story set in this world.
I would like to thank NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the opportunity to read a free advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I have not been THIS into a book in a while so hold on tight!

Thank you PenguinTeen for the ARC of this book—I couldn’t put it down!

The Otherwhere Post is near flawless in my book. The writing was beautiful. I felt spellbound by some of the lines in this story. They really captured my heart and served to further lure me into this story.

Maeve, our MC, reminds me of some of my favorite morally gray characters. It wasn’t until I finished the book that I realized she reminds me of Lila Bard from A Darker Shade of Magic mixed with a little of the arcane magic from this new world.

This story is a must read, my new rec, a top 10 favorite book of I’ve read this year, and I can’t wait until its release day to continue to shout its praises! February 25, 2025! Mark your calendar!!

This was an absolute joy to read. I love a new magic system, and a sparky main character. Tristan was just lovely as well!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to Penguin Teen for the ARC of The Otherwhere Post by Emily J. Taylor. All opinions are my own.

This book was so fascinating and had such wonderful characters. I loved it so much and can’t wait to read more books by this author in the future.

In this magical book, the characters dealt with a type of magic called scriptomancy, which allowed mail couriers to enchant letters in order to deliver them to other worlds. I found scriptomancy so interesting. I loved learning about different inks and how writing was something that people had to be trained for years to do.

My favorite part of this story was Tristan. He was so misunderstood by everyone, but he was so thoughtful and sweet. I loved how sarcastic he was with Maeve and how he cared so much about her wellbeing.

Maeve was a great protagonist, and I loved seeing her build relationships with people after being isolated for so long. I didn’t always agree with her decisions, but I understood where she was coming from.

The relationship between Tristan and Maeve was so sweet and funny. Their meet cute was hilarious, and I loved how often Tristan brought it up. I also loved how they lifted each other up and believed in one another.

Overall, I loved this story and would recommend it! I would love to read more about these characters in the future too.

This is without a doubt one of the best books I've read in a long while! I had snagged on Netgalley when you could download it for only 48 hours, just wondering if I would like it. I'm so happy that I got this! Every time I opened this book, I didn't want to put it down. The book just pulls you into this world of scriptomancy, mystery, slow burn romance and surprising secrets. The story was so balanced, tightly written and the idea of these magical mail carriers is so cool. Plus you understood where Maeve was coming from and her growth during the story was organic and believable. Her slow burn romance with Tristan doesn't distract the story at all but instead goes with the main plot seamlessly. Their banter was great and they just clicked. I'm in awe of this author now with her genius ideas, surprises and pacing especially. I cannot wait to read her debut novel now and anything else she comes out with

4.5/5 stars. I really enjoyed this book! It had the perfect academia vibes and I loved our main character. The world building was a little confusing but not too much that the book wasn’t enjoyable.

3.75 stars. I don’t really have a lot to say about this book beyond it was fine. I did find the magic system really interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this via gifted eARC. All thoughts are my own and honest.

I received a copy of this arc from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I sometimes struggle with fantasy/dark academia. I want to love it dearly, but sometimes I find my mind straying or having a difficult time imagining how a magic system works. There are things I really enjoyed about The Otherwhere Post, and others I had a difficult time wrapping my mind around.

Things I liked:
The idea that writing could be magical and have a magic system around mixing inks, word play, and mediums for writing (Paper/Skin).
Maeve, Tristan, and Nan as characters.
The "solving a mystery" aspect regarding Maeve's father.
The school setting.
The wintery atmospheric setting.
The letters to Maeve in the hospital to move things along.

Things I didn't like:
I couldn't really understand the three worlds -- were they actually different planets, or different countries/islands, or like were they layers of the same world on top of each other (quantum leap)? It was difficult for me to process/understand based on the writing. Maybe in the finished copy there will be a map that will help clarify this.
For being set in a school, they rarely went to class or learned much. I felt like they were everywhere but school for most of the book?
The Aldervine - once you learn how it came to be I had SOOOO many questions of why and who and how did they not know this?
The logic gaps/plot holes. It seemed like some things just didn't add up for me at times.
The ending felt rushed for how slow and meandering the middle was.

I think this was overall solid.

I am a huge fan of Emily J. Taylor’s book Hotel Magnifique so when I saw this I knew I needed it immediately.

Emily’s writing and world building is so magical and intriguing. I will say the world and magic system in this book was a little confusing at first but I’m glad I pushed through it. I really enjoyed reading about Maeve and Tristian and all the twists were just so good.

The Otherwhere Post is a magical & mysterious YA fantasy with an academic setting focused on the art of scriptomancy or enchanting letters. It has dark academia vibes, a unique magic system, a compelling mystery, and a delightful slow burn romance.

I really admired Maeve and how strong and sassy she was, and Tristan was the perfect witty & intelligent counterpart. His dry humor was the absolute best. I was very invested in the mystery and things definitely did not turn out how I expected!

This is advertised as a dark fantasy and there certainly is some dark subject matter such as murder, loss of family members, etc., but I actually found it to be quite cozy and sweet. I would definitely recommend this if you’re in the mood for a magical page turning standalone.

Thank you to Penguin and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

Emily J. Taylor has done it again! Once I finished Hotel Magnifique last year, I immediately decided I would read anything this author published. Imagine my excitement when I read the description for this novel and then was approved for ARC copy. Traveling across worlds using super secret "magic" ink that can sometimes be dangerous while discovering the truth about her father's death and clearing his name? I mean, COME ON. This story is rich in mystery, loyalty, and devotion while building a world for the reader that is unlike most I have encountered in novels. While I initially struggled to understand how sprictomancy worked and the hierarchy of the various characters' positions, I hit 30% and flew through this book.

If you enjoy light mysteries that have elements of young love, family devotion, and recklessness that is usually associated with young adulthood, then I highly recommend The Otherwhere Post! A shining four stars for me!

Are you ready to solve a mystery?? Dive into this young adult fantasy and immerse yourself in the world of scriptomancy as Maeve Abernathy goes "undercover" at the Otherwhere Post to prove her father's innocence!!

For 7 years, Maeve has believed that he father was a murderer. She stopped using her real name to separate herself from his notorious legacy. She wants to move forward but one day she receives a magical letter informing her that her father is innocent. This sets a fire under Maeve and motivates her to do what it takes to find out the truth.

Maeve comes across some fun companions along the way including her loquacious OtherWhere Post roommate named Nan and her mysterious courier turned mentor Tristan.

I would highly recommend this young fantasy to readers who are looking for a satisfying mystery to solve.

Thanks so much to NetGalley & the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I would love to read more from Emily J. Taylor.

Maeve lost everything when he father became a mass murderer, but suddenly she has a reason to believe that he may have been innocent. In this gripping fantasy, she infiltrates the place her father loved the most - the home of Scriptomancy - to try and find answers.

The world building in this book is some of the most interesting I've ever read. I was completely enamoured by the magic system and would love more set in this world! Overall this was such a good read, and I'm a little disappointed to have reached the end!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

I have never read anything by this author, but I found this to be quite interesting. I was a bit confused at the beginning, and some parts of the magical system are still a bit unclear, but I did like it. I enjoyed Meave and Tristan. Overall, the plot is tightly woven, and the pace is perfect to keep readers engaged. At the heart of the story is the mystery surrounding Maeve's father. There are numerous twists that keep the reader guessing. Details are vividly drawn, and dialogue feels natural and unique to each character. For those readers who enjoy books with a bit of fantasy along with mystery, this is one to check out.

thank you to penguin for the ARC!

from reading the synopsis of this book, i had high hopes that i would absolutely love it. dark academia? DIVINE RIVALS comparison? the odds looked good. and for the most part, i had a great time!

the mystery was probably my favorite part - it had me flipping pages as fast as i could! i personally would call this book more light academia than dark (to me, it's a fluffy cozy fantasy) and would compare it more closely to a darker shade of magic, which has a similar three parallel worlds concept.

unfortunately, something just didn't really click for me with this book the way it did when i read DIVINE RIVALS or A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC, two fantasy series i absolutely loved. i felt like the characters and plotlines were a bit underdeveloped. that being said, i really appreciated that this is a standalone and felt like the author did a great job with pacing.

from reading other reviews, it think this is one of those "it's not you, it's me" situations. if the synopsis of the otherwhere post interests you, i'd still definitely recommend you check it out! even if doesn't become an all-time favorite, it's absolutely a fun, easy read.