Wow, I absolutely devoured this book! I was instantly transported to this unique world and loved following the MC. She was so relatable and I loved to witness her determination and bravery.

There is an adorable romance in this story as well; full of witty banter and yearning. I couldn't stop smiling and kicking my feet!

The magic system was also very intriguing and is refreshing in the current fantasy romance climate that has an emphasis on fae and witches. I love those stories too, but it is so fun to read something different.

If you enjoy a good mystery in a dark academia setting, pick this one up. I also think people who enjoyed Divine Rivals will enjoy this as well.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for my review.

The Otherwhere Post by Emily J. Taylor is by far one of the best standalone dark academia fantasy books I've ever read. The world Taylor built is lush and thriving with dark magic, deadly secrets, and fantastic characters.

Maeve is such a strong female lead that is self-efficient, sarcastic and determined. Tristan, the MMC, is an amazing counter part for Maeve, determined to help her in any way and gain her trust. This is literally the powerhouse couple of my dreams!

The magical writing, scriptomancy, is such a unique take and very well executed I was honestly hooked when I read the premise and was thoroughly invested in Maeve 's story!

If you love dark academia, deadly secrets, romantic tension, and a HEA I highly recommend The Otherwhere Post!

Thank you to both NetGalley and Penguin Group for providing the eARC.

I stayed up so late finishing this book because I was HOOKED! The Otherwhere Post is a mystery set in a fantasy world with a delightful romance sub-plot. The magic system, which features written enchantments applied to letters, was unique and captivating, as was the world-building, with three known worlds layered atop each other.

It’s marketed as dark academia, and while, yes, there is murder and a collegiate setting, keep in mind this is a YA book. I’d say it was medium-dark. Same with the romance - no spice but it was lovely!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC. You’ll definitely want to add this to your TBR - publishes Feb 25th

Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I got this on eGalley from NetGalley for review.

Thoughts: I really loved this. The writing is exquisite, the world-building is incredibly interesting, and the characters are well done and easy to engage with. There is a very well done mystery here and a unique sort of magic as well (in the form of scriptomancy).

This book follows Maeve, who lost everything when her father committed a crime so heinous he literally destroyed a world. Maeve is trying to do her best to make a living and stay under the radar. Then she gets a letter delivered that has been lost for years; the letter implies that her father was innocent. Maeve decides to infiltrate the scriptomancy college in an effort to both track down them mysterious letter sender and try to find information that will clear her father's name.

As mentioned above, I really loved a lot about this book. It is beautifully written, with an amazing world and characters. The mystery is very well done, and I loved the unique magic throughout.

I really have only one small complaint about this story; our main heroine spends quite a bit of time blacking out, being rescued, and waking up in random places. She seemed pretty smart, but she made a lot of poor decisions. If she had trusted a bit more and planned a bit better, she would have been conscious for more of the story. This kind of niggled at me throughout the book, but I loved the world, characters, writing, and story so much that it wasn't that big of a deal.

My Summary (5/5): Overall I really loved this book and everything about it. This makes me want to pick up Taylor's other book "Hotel Magnifique" to read as well. The writing here was beautiful, the mystery engaging, the characters a delight, and the world so much fun. Definitely recommended!

I was incredibly excited to hear that the author of one of my favorite fantasy standalones -Hotel Magnifique- was coming out with another book. It absolutely stands up to the unique magic system and plot of the first!!

The magic system reminds me a bit of Ink Blood Sisters Scribe in that anyone can read/feel like magic of the scribes and the scribes can do just about anything that the scriptomancer wishes. However, in this universe, the magic is learned through an understanding of language and not merely based down through generations. Though how much money you have to spend on a fancy school does help. There are different forms that are used as well, but some things are left a bit to the imagination.

The world’s building goes a bit hand in hand with the magic that connects everything. This starts on page one. The lush, descriptive writing makes the reader feel like they are in the story. It gives dark academia vibes rather than luxury circus vibes of Hotel. Lore of scriptomancy and Molly Maeve Blackcaster legacy and feats were placed strategically throughout the book. There is a bit of politics as the post office is intertwined with the government, and they basically control everything.

The character development is there mainly for a few of the main characters. The side characters help with the build up of the main characters and how the world functions. The friendships are what really stand out though. You have your classic extrovert/introvert duo with Nan and Maeve. There were plenty of little hints dropped along the way that became important later.

Fantastic second book from Taylor…she might have very well enchanted the text with a sense scripting sentence of her own that we can’t see. Would recommend to anyone who is looking for a book filled with friendship, a high stakes mystery, and a unique magic system.

I started this book this morning basically did to put it down.

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me an early copy of this book. I’ve been dying to read the rest since I got a first glimpse of a few chapters through Bookish First, which has sadly shut down. Those first few chapters hooked me and I’m so glad I finally got my hands of the full ARC.

THIS BOOK is exactly my cup of tea. Or exactly my size quill and grade of parchment. A unique magic system that intrigued me from the start, a compelling orphan story with a haunting mystery…and a band of side characters I grew to adore. But most Importantly a strong, female character in the form of one Maeve Aberenthy. I adore her and her steel spine, facing down a world that lobbied so many wrongs against her. Her story is fantastic and I loved the world of Gloam.

Also, it’s rare to read a book so neatly wrapped up in one novel. In a world of series that seem to drag on with unnecessary second books and drawn out sagas…this is a thoroughly satisfying stand alone novel. I loved it. I couldn’t stop reading until I knew all of the answers. There were so many twists and turns, I was continuously drawn forward to read faster and surprised time and time again.

Highly recommend! Off to read everything written by Emily J Taylor and demand more novels immediately! Please and thank you!

I really enjoyed this unique little world with its magical letters and Maeve was a great main character with her tragic past and fight for redemption. I also got very invested in the romance with her and Tristan and the pining made my heart ache several times, which is always a huge win for any book. The villain felt a little cartoon-ish and the ending almost too perfect and wrapped up in a little bow for me, but overall I had a good time with the mystery and the magic and romance of this story.

I’m a little irritated, because this means my husband was right: he was the first of us to read Hotel Magnifique. And he encouraged me to request an ARC of The Otherwhere Post so he could live vicariously (without me sharing anything about the book).

I really liked Hotel Magnifique. I LOVED The Otherwhere Post. Maeve was so easy to connect with: not a perfect heroine by any means, she’s an evasive loner who starts out caring about her goals and not much else. She has suffered so much, and she’s driven to get answers — and she doesn’t mind taking the necessary steps to get them.

Tristan was a great counterpart for her. He isn’t perfect either: haunted and stubborn and secretive. It was such fun to watch them interact.

And the magic system! It felt unique and fun, developed but not overwrought. Emily J. Taylor is staying on my “they write it, I’ll read it” list.

Thank you to Penguin for the ARC; these are my honest opinions. And now I get to hold it over my husband.

Thank you to NetGalley, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, and Emily J. Taylor for providing me with this E-ARC in exchange for my review.

The worldbuilding in this book was phenomenal! I never felt lost, which is impressive considering how crucial the backstory is throughout the book. One of my favorite aspects was the magic system, it felt so unique. The idea of a courier service that utilizes magical writing to carry communications between different worlds was such a creative flair on transportation magic. And even with so much detail in the story, the pacing was perfect. I never felt overwhelmed, and the author does a fantastic job of making you care about each character’s story arc.

This is easily one of my favorite standalones I’ve read recently and that’s saying a lot. One of the biggest issues I run into when reading standalones is when unrelated conflicts are thrown in at the end, leaving the resolution feeling rushed. This book avoids that entirely but has plenty of twists to keep you intrigued and an engaging enough plot that you have to know how it ends!

The blurb compares this book to Divine Rivals, and I can definitely see the similarities—it has the same rich, atmospheric vibe. That said, it’s not quite as heart-pounding or intense when it comes to romance or conflict. But honestly? That didn’t detract from the story at all. It holds its own beautifully, keeping you hooked and eager to see how everything unfolds.

If you’re looking for a fun, engaging read without committing to a new series, I highly recommend this book!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

My review will be posted to Goodreads on 1/26/25
My Instagram review will be posted on 2/10/25.

From the first page on I couldn’t put this book down. First, I loved the magic system. The mix of writing and the academic setting for their magic to work. I also loved the characters. The found family and the growth that all the characters go through was wonderful to read. I loved the glasses wearing male protagonist. Please pick this book up.

So this was a little YA for me, but not terrible. Definitely did remind me of Divine Rivals a lot. I would definitely recommend this to someone who is less into the smutty side of fantasy for sure.

Maeve, for the past seven years, has been living in the shadows, never staying in one place for too long. Fake identity after fake identity, she hasn’t let herself get too close to anyone, and more importantly, told anyone who she really is. Daughter to the man who is known as a murderer, Maeve wants nobody to connect her to him. Better they think her dead. But now, she must risk her identity when she receives a note telling her that her father is innocent. A spark of hope ignites, and Maeve disguises her way into the otherwhere post apprenticeship to uncover the truth.

The Otherwhere Post features an intricate magic system when it comes to scribing letters that was fascinating to read about — though it did take some time understanding it. The author does a nice job with the vivid descriptions when it comes to the world and the magic system in it! There were some highs and lows for me when it came to the pacing, though the compelling mystery kept me hooked!

I love the slow burn that was in this book with the delightful banter between Maeve and her mentor Tristan. We get to see Maeve slowly letting her guard down to trust and let people in. The relationships she built with people and their interactions was sweet.

If you’re looking for a book that has fake identity and book vibes like: sorcery of thorns, the spellshop, and divine rivals, then you should definitely check this book out!

Thank you @penguinteen #penguinteenpartner , NetGalley, and the author for the eARC!

This is a beautifully written story that begins with an intriguing mystery surrounding Maeve, the brave and quick-witted FMC. The layers of suspense, from Maeve sneaking into the Otherwhere Post program to her daring escapades across campus, kept me hooked. I loved her boldness and determination, especially when paired with the thrilling twists and turns of her investigations.

Tristan, her mentor in the program and a charming outcast rebel, makes for a sweet slow-burn love interest. Their dynamic is wonderful to watch unfold, with Tristan’s understanding of Maeve’s trust issues making him all the more endearing. Together, they form a duo you can’t help but root for.

While I loved the twists and action packed final stretch, I did find myself wishing for a stronger connection between Maeve’s father’s journal and Tristan’s previous apprentice. A few more details could have made that thread more impactful.

Overall, The Otherwhere Post is a sweet YA fantasy filled with suspense, heart, and just the right dash of magic.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The world and magic system were interesting to me, but I felt the development was a bit clunky. I was somewhat interested in the main characters and their romance, but I eventually ended up deciding not to finish this book at the 50% mark as it was beginning to feel like too much of a chore to read with its pacing being incredibly slow.

PHENOMENAL! 5 stars!!!

This book is a true work of art in my opinion. I loved every moment of it and the world-building was just so good. I loved the setting and how it all started to come along after being thrown into the concept of "scriptomancy." The main characters were spectacular and the development of the FMC, Maeve, as well as the MMC, Tristan, was such a joy to experience. I found both of the personas to be so interesting and their backgrounds pulled me in even more.

This book is high in the magical concept but the fantasy aspect was not too confusing or overwhelming to me which I enjoyed. It reminded me of the magical and romantic aspects of the book Divine Rivals, so if you were a fan of that I HIGHLY recommend you read this too! The romance was top tier, however, it did not overtake the plot but was just right; banter, forced proximity, he falls first, and more.

Overall, this book blew me away and I can not wait to get my hands on a physical copy of the book when it is released on February 25th. The Otherwhere Post is the perfect romantasy to add to your TBR! Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in return for my honest review, it did not disappoint!

You don’t really find out anything about what the fantasy setting of this is like from the synopsis, but THE WORLDBUILDING IN THIS IS SO GOOD. The synopsis doesn’t even begin to touch on how cool this is. In this fantasy world, there are 3 known worlds, Leyland, Iverly, and Barrow. Travel between the worlds used to be common via Blackcaster Station through the Written Doors, until the day of the accident. Our mc Maeve happened to be in Iverly on that dreaded day too, but was close enough to Blackcaster Station that she managed to escape home to Leyland just minutes before the Written Door between the two worlds was burned, trapping everyone where they were. They later learned that all of Iverly was destroyed and everyone remaining in that world who couldn’t escape was gone. On top of that, the doors connecting Leyland and Barrow were burned and destroyed as well, stranding thousands on either side, so everyone was stuck wherever they happened to be.

Communication between the worlds is possible, but only through couriers trained in scriptomancy who could cross worlds and deliver letters to loved ones stuck in a different world. This book starts when one of these otherwhere couriers approaches Maeve and gives her a letter from after the doors burned, seven years after it was written. She opens it to find a letter from her father’s childhood friend saying that her father told him a secret that changed everything, and that he was innocent.

IS THIS NOT THE MOST IMAGINATIVE CONCEPT? In a world of fantasy novels that all are more or less the same, FINALLY this book does something unique and different! We are at the point where it’s essentially impossible to be original because everything has been done before in some way or another. Fantasy books especially feel like a reiteration of what’s already been done. But this concept? This is unique. I can’t recall any other fantasy book with a concept like this.

The vibes of this are magical whimsy and light academia, so this is the type of fantasy that gives more of a Harry Potter or Narnia type vibe. It’s playful and unique, but does take some getting into. It starts super strong and interesting with setting up the story but after that, the beginning lags. This book is really imaginative, it’s just not as exciting as I thought it would be until the last 70%. But, the concept is so intriguing and the worldbuilding is some of the best I’ve read. 3.5/5!

Thank you to Netgalley GP Putnam for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review!

This one sucked me right in. I was so intrigued with the magic, world building and characters.
✒️Dark Academia
✒️Slow Burn Romance
✒️Magical Letters
✒️Secrets
This magical world is so unique and like nothing I have read before. The characters are fascinating and I absolutely love the development.
You are going to want to enter this world! I highly recommend it.

This was a well-crafted book. I loved the magic and the way it had to do with writing and words. The little romance it had in it was a bonus for me. I didn’t even figure out who had done it until the end. Great read!

The Otherwhere post is a dark academia story that takes place inside a school of sorts, but expands far beyond the hallways. It was packed full to bursting with story and I loved it.

It had everything; a rich and robust fantasy world, a plot complete with twists, turns, a mystery and little side quests along the way and a little romance, but not the kind that takes over the story. Nothing felt too easy or instantaneous. There was obviously a lot of thought put into how the mystery would play out and how the story arcs would come together. I truly love that this didn't become a romantasy. There was obviously some attraction between the characters and that develops into something more. Yet, the entire book didn't become about that love story. The plot stayed on track and tried to answer the great mystery we started from: Is Jonathan Abenthy a murderer or was he framed?

We get an answer to that question, because there is a proper plot arc that gets resolved at the end of the book without a cliff hanger. The answer isn't so simple and draws in so many of the threads in the story. This is the kind of storytelling I enjoy. It's brilliant because it doesn't rely on cheap tricks. There's a question and the twisting path to the answer that lights up the whole forest.

I wish this was a series because I want to read about this world again and again, but I am also thankful that this is a standalone. Everything I seem to read now is the beginning of a story and not just one story. This was one story with a world so richly textured I want more.

The characters were wonderful. There isn't so much information that gets dumped on the reader that we learn everything there is to know about them. That suggests that they weren’t as well-drawn out and alive as the world, but they were. They were wonderfully realistic. They were just a little less well rounded than they would be if they were real people. I liked that they didn't lose themselves in their romance though. There was also no Mary Sue where everything falls into his/her lap. Each character had its own trials and tribulations. Even the love story felt well drawn out. No insta love. The characters were at times annoying and they made stupid choices and errors. Yet those things felt normal because of who they were and how old they were. We don’t learn a lot about anyone except Maeve and Tristan. Even then we mostly learn what is necessary to the plot and the romance. Everything had a purpose. There were stakes but the entirety of the world wasn’t on one person’s ill-prepared shoulders. This is what I really enjoyed about the novel; it was character forward but it had a well-built plot in a developed fantasy world where the magic system isn't too complicated.

I really, really loved this. I couldn’t put it down and I highly recommend it if you like dark academia, mystery, fantasy or just a well plotted novel.

i remember reading "a door at the end of the world" by caroline carlson and desperately wishing for a ya/adult fantasy book with that atmosphere, and this is everything i ever wanted from that.

everything about the english/scottish setting and the worldbuilding hooked me in. scriptomancy is an intriguing, unique magic system, and i like how it's written into the story—maeve is attending an apprentice program, and new information is slowly slipped in as she learns it. it's kind of annoying at first because nothing makes sense, but in this way, the fantasy is more immersive, and new magical theories pull you in every chapter. taylor's prose does an excellent job of making the fantasy academia atmosphere come alive.

maeve abenthy is an incredibly well-crafted character, both likable and relatable from the first page. she's intelligent, capable, and highly motivated, but slow to trust. her vulnerabilities, when depicted, will claw into your heart and stay there. her slowly opening up to tristan and then nan and shea was adorable.

the tortured, mysterious male lead trope can be dull at times with how often it's been written, but tristan is a refreshing character. he's sweet and funny and he loves maeve very much, so i love him. his background isn't corny and overwritten to gain sympathy (like certain other mls of his breed)—it's sad, but it's unique, and it makes you appreciate him for who is even more. and importantly, he doesn't make his trauma his only personality trait and use it to terrorize everyone, which i love, love, love.

i also love how their relationship was written. their first meeting was hilarious, and every conversation after was giggle-worthy as well. it's also very slowburn and quiet, which i love.

and maeve and nan's relationship was everything to me. definitely one of my top three favorite parts of the book. love platonic grumpy-sunshine. maeve's gruffness vs nan's stubborn friendliness was a dopamine rush.

as for the plot/mystery, i enjoyed it. i did, however, feel that some hints earlier on in the book, instead of one big reveal at the end, would make the culprit more believable/interesting. maybe i just wasn't paying attention, but who even is [redacted]? i think that's just a me thing, though, as other people might have found that to be too predictable? idk.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced copy.