Dark academia, haunting secrets, a slow-burn romance, and a fascinating magic system: The Otherwhere Post is a fantastical, nerdy mystery from start to finish, and I absolutely loved it.

Taylor has created a unique world (well, worlds) filled with vivid detail and interesting characters. Top that off with an amazing word-based magic system, and this will surely be a hit with many readers.

Maeve Abenthy is a wonderful lead. She's smart and tough, but she's deeply afraid of her real identity being discovered, and her fear shapes many of her actions. It's good to have a female lead that isn't tough and kick-butt all the time--Maeve isn't afraid to run away when she's scared. But she's also deeply loyal and willing to sacrifice her happiness and comfort to protect those she cares for her, which makes her very likeable.

The secondary characters are also extremely well written. Tristan is the prefect boy next door: he's nerdy, sweet, patient, and unwaveringly loyal, and I loved the development of the relationship between him and Maeve. Nan and Shea are more spirited, and they make good foils to Maeve's serious nature. The four work wonderfully as a team, and I would read anything Taylor chose to write about this crew.

The plot is slow to start, but the suspense builds as Maeve gets deeper into the mystery surrounding her father's death and his alleged destruction of worlds. I honestly had no clue who the "big bad" was, and the reveal was wonderful. The ending overall was fantastic, and I didn't want the story to end.

The Otherwhere Post is fantastical, dark, clever, romantic, twisty, and unputdownable. I devoured this book in a single sitting, and I can't wait for others to read it so I can discuss it more!

4.5⭐️. Lovely! Got this as a digital ARC through Netgalley and thoroughly enjoyed it. I won’t say much here yet as it has not been released, but I am a fan. It holds its own as a standalone. I liked the side characters and the MMC and FMC were easy to root for. Solid!!

Book Name: The Otherwhere Post
Author: Emily J Taylor

ARC
Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group  G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for an ARC

Stars: 5
Spice: 0

Standalone-ish
Fast Paced
FMC POV:
Romantic Fantasy
Similar to Divine Rivals Meets Violet Evergarden

Pros

- I LOVE the Magic System
- Closed Story (Could have more adventures)
- Divine Rivals Meets Emily Wilde Meets Violet Evergarden
- Love the Romance
- Older YA

Cons

- Could have dragged Romance out more
- The FMC was a bit one-note
The ending was TOO quickly wrapped

Maeve Abenthy has been living in the shadow of her father’s crimes for the last seven years under an assumed identity. She knows that if anyone found out who her father was, she would be shunned and unable to care for herself. She finally has enough money to escape the town she lives in when she receives a surprise - a letter from the Otherworld Post, magically inscribed to find its intended recipient, that was sent seven years ago. Reading the letter, her world view changes instantly. An “old friend” of her father’s claims he is innocent. And now she needs to find this friend to be able to prove her father’s innocence. However, in order to do so, she must infiltrate the prestigious Otherworld Post and begin training in the dangerous magic of scriptomancy - the magic that allows the Otherworld Post to enchant and deliver letters, even across worlds. The deeper she dives into the mystery that has branded her father a murderer, the more danger she finds herself in, until she doesn’t know how she’s going to get herself (and her father’s name) out of it.

I loved The Otherworld Post. It was a delightful fantasy novel. I feel it had a great sense of world building in the setting and descriptions of the magic capable. I did find it was quite a bit to juggle at first, and perhaps a glossary or reference note would be helpful in this regard. However, once these are mastered you can expect to speed through the rest of it.

Recommended if you like: YA fantasy

Maeve is the daughter of the criminal responsible for destroying the portals that link Inverly, Barrow, and Leyland - or so she believed, until she receives an anonymous letter that claims his innocence. Her only lead to clear her father's name is through the Otherwhere Post, where she must break in to find the mysterious sender and prove her father's innocence.

I finished this book in a single day, which shows just how much I enjoyed it. I loved the world-building, unique magic, friendships, characters, dark academia, and the writing. The pacing is a bit slow at the beginning, but I did not have any trouble continuing because I was hooked! My only issue is that the romance and world-building were not fully developed and could have used another 50-100 pages to perfect the ending, which felt rushed.

→ 4 stars - would recommend

**I received a digital ARC of this book from Netgalley.**

Once upon a time, there were doors between worlds, portals accessible by anyone traveling between Inverly, Barrow, and Leyland. But when the poisonous, rapidly spreading Aldervine plant invades Inverly, the hasty option to keep it from spreading between worlds is to permanently burn the doors. Now, Maeve Abnethy, who escaped from Inverly to Leyland just before the doors burned, lives with the knowledge that the worlds blame her father for introducing the vine: even though he, too, was lost to Inverly. Desperate to clear his name after receiving a mysterious letter suggesting his innocence, orphaned and incognito Maeve infiltrates the Otherwhere Post, where trained scriptomancers are the only ones who can carry messages between worlds. Maeve is accustomed to going it alone and keeping her identity secret; now, she has people around her that seek her to trust for the first time ever.

This book checks a lot of my boxes: magical travel, multi-worlds, dark academia, strong woman lead character. It was a slow start for me, but I think that was more of a me thing on the timing of starting it. I loved Maeve as a character: books like this often default to the "damsel in distress" trope, and although Maeve required and received a fair amount of rescuing, it was usually because she forged ahead with whatever foolhardy plan occurred to her without all the information she needed to do so. Pretend to be someone else to get into the Otherwhere Post? Check. Lie her way into various situations? Check. Recklessly try magic beyond her abilities? Check. At one point, I actually thought, "I love that she rolls through life with the audacity of a man."

Speaking of men and Tropes, Tristan walks an admirable line between "smug, smirking hot guy" and "awkward nerd with anxiety." I sort of expected to eyerollingly hate him, but actually he's a lovely, complex character. Toss in a quirky roommate-turned-friend in Nan, and it's a perfect trifecta for clichés gone right for once.

Although I'm aware this is an ARC, it had far more errors, typos, and missing words than I usually see in galley copies; hopefully they'll all be fixed for the final printing. There is one rather large plot hole I noticed, but it's a spoiler, so I'll avoid mentioning in detail.

In short, this is a solid addition to the vast array of fantasy books out there, with unique magic based on scribing and interesting characters. I look forward to reading a final copy next year!

Emily J. Taylor is undoubtably emerging as one of my favorite authors. I eagerly requested “The Otherwhere Post” based upon her name alone. Then I read the blurb and was even more excited (so much I went and preordered despite having access to the ARC because I knew a copy would be necessary upon my shelves).

The story is captivating. A blend of dark academia, captivating mysteries, enigmatic characters, and a slow burn romance that gives you all the feels. I was entranced during the entire read.

This was an easy 5 stars and I highly encourage you to dive into Meave and Tristan’s world.

Thank you NetGallery and the publisher for providing me with ARC and the opportunity to provide an honest review.

I really wanted to love this one, but I found the pacing to be slower than I anticipated. While I enjoyed the magic system, I wanted more from the plot and characters.

There are worlds that overlap, and you can cross the barriers at specific points - but seven years ago one of those worlds became infected and overtaken by a deadly weed, and the main portals were destroyed. Now you can only cross that barrier if you have specific training to be a courier, learning the art of scriptomancy. Maeve has spent seven years hiding from the world because everyone blames her father for allowing that weed out... but one day a letter from "an old friend" finds her and, well, we're off to the Otherworld Post and scriptomancy and crossing worlds and discovering the truth behind what happened seven years ago.

There are some things that don't completely make sense (like how you write the script on your skin to cross the barrier and that disappears, but other spells stay on your skin? I think?), and Nan's insistence that she and Maeve would be friends felt a little false, but otherwise this is a charmingly imagined world.

eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.

I enjoyed Hotel Magnifique more than I expected. It was a fun ride. I thought the world building was done so well. The descriptions of the hotel and even the rooms in the hotel made me feel like I was there. The setting feels so magical.

On the other hand, I do feel like the writing has room for improvement. It started out so well with the prologue, but got really repetitive and slow.

I do feel like this good is worth a read, especially for fans of The Night Circus.

Emily J. Taylor, the author of Hotel Magnifique, has once again wowed me with an incredible new book full of intrigue! I loved the first book by her so much, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read this advance copy

The characterization was top notch! Not only do their actions and words add an extra layer in fleshing each of them out, but she makes sure the reader really sees cares about them, by making them so real and even vulnerable. The world building was well done also. I loved the way the characters could move around to different places.

I feel this is a 5 star book.

Thank you to the publisher and the author for an advanced eBook copy of this book!! I always get so excited to see I am approved for any book here on NetGalley, but this was a highly anticipated book for me, so you can imagine my excitement when I got the email.

I will put more in this review when it gets closer to the release date, but for now I must say I really enjoyed this book. First off, the cover is stunning and that is always nice. But the author also has a way with words that I truly enjoyed!

For seven years, Maeve Abenthy has been running—never making friends, never staying in one place, never using her real name—all to escape the shadow of her father’s notorious crime. But everything changes the day she receives an anonymous letter declaring his innocence.

To uncover the truth, Maeve must deceive her way into an apprenticeship with the Otherwhere Post, a courier system that uses arcane magic to deliver letters between worlds. Once there, she faces a handsome but suspicious mentor, along with dangerous letters that threaten her if she stays. Now, Maeve must choose between clearing her father’s name or risking the freedom she’s fought so hard to protect.

*The Otherworld Post* reads like a blend of fantasy and sci-fi, with plenty of anxiety-inducing thrills. The storyline feels fairly original, and I had trouble pinpointing any obvious tropes. For example, while the story takes place at a school, there’s little focus on classes. Additionally, Maeve and Tristan's relationship doesn’t quite fit the typical “enemies to lovers” or “rivals to lovers” trope—it's something entirely unique.

Maeve is an interesting protagonist. I was either fully in her corner or rolling my eyes in frustration. Most of my frustration came from her difficulty trusting others, which is a key part of her character arc and likely intended to make me feel that way. I really enjoyed her banter with Tristan and the other secondary characters—it was so natural that I almost forgot I was reading.

Overall, it was a fun read. There were a few minor plot holes, but nothing significant enough to detract from the story. If you enjoy slightly darker YA fantasy novels with plenty of twists, this one is worth checking out. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I had the pleasure of reading a physical ARC a few months ago, and I have to tell you guys, I'm still thinking about it! I loved Hotel Magnifique, so I was excited to read another magical book from this author. A unique, clever concept mixed with romance and mystery, this is simply a wonderful book that will be an instant classic.

As a devoted fan of dark academia, eccentric world-building, twisty mysteries, and a delightful touch of magic blended with slow-burn romance, this book was music to my soul! I loved it with every fiber of my being! A world where the magic is in the script you write, where the ability to go between worlds has been limited to the couriers of the otherwhere post, and a mysterious letter putting you on the path to learn the truth. I loved this book so much. I also love this author's other book, Hotel Magnifique, out in February 2025. I can’t believe we are so close to the end of the year, and I am already reading books for the new year. The cover sold it first, then the magic of scriptomancery second, and the slow-burn romance that also stays appropriate for the age group. This was a delightful read enough so that I would not mind if we got more books in this world.

5 stars. I love stories that have an academic background (dark academia, magical academies, etc) and The Otherwhere Post is perhaps one of the best dark academia books I've ever read. And I think a big reason that I loved it was because we get those dark/ gothic university vibes + a mystery + a romance. And oh yeah, the magic system felt really well fleshed out. Every reader already knows the power of the written word, but Taylor magnifies that by having her entire magic system built around the act of writing. I normally find dark academia books to be a bit slow, which isn't a bad thing, but is probably because so much of their success is built upon describing the setting. And while Taylor does have really descriptive writing, there's so much going on with the story/ mystery, that at no point did this feel slow. I was SO invested in Meave as a character, not only with respect to her solving the mystery, but also with respect to her developing relationships. So in addition to everything that was going on plot wise, there was also a ton of character growth. This is my first book by Taylor, but I can say that I am 100% a fan and I will definitely read more from her in the future.

Thank you so much to Taylor, Penguin Teen, and netgalley for the ARC

Wow wow WOW. From the jump, this book was unbelievable. The pacing, tone, and writing were deliberate and consistent from the first sentence. This is a book that grabs you from the first page - you can’t help but want to know more.
The world is absolutely fascinating - three parallel worlds you can walk between, the doors, the magical writing (because we of course all agree writing is magic). And the characters are just perfection. Maeve is our heroine, and we can’t help but want to give her a big ole hug. The poor girl has spent years running from life and from herself and seeing her confront her deepest fears is so vulnerable. She is funny and smart, a bit reckless and a runner, and her curiosity is insatiable. Tristan … guys!! I’m obsessed with him and how they met - like I can’t imagine a more perfect meeting for these two. There is nothing more vulnerable than showing your true self to someone, and this book is a reminder that the right people won’t turn away from you.
Seven years ago, Maeve lost everything. She grew up an orphan and alone, running from place to place to escape her past. She is suddenly confronted with a letter that changes everything, and Maeve finds herself posing as an apprentice for the Otherwhere Post with an exceedingly smart (and witty) mentor.
Not only is this a fantastic fantasy stand alone novel - one that is plot driven with a sprinkle of romance thank you very much - but it is a wondrous reminder of the magic of words, finding your people, and finding your truth.

Thank you to the author and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As a devoted fan of dark academia, eccentric world-building, twisty mysteries, and a delightful touch of magic blended with slow-burn romance, this book was music to my soul! I loved it with every fiber of my being! A world where the magic is in the script you write, where the ability to go between worlds has been limited to the couriers of the otherwhere post, and a mysterious letter putting you on the path to learn the truth. I loved this book so much. I also love this author's other book, Hotel Magnifique, out in February 2025. I can’t believe we are so close to the end of the year, and I am already reading books for the new year. The cover sold it first, then the magic of scriptomancery second, and the slow-burn romance that also stays appropriate for the age group. This was a delightful read enough so that I would not mind if we got more books in this world.

The Otherwhere Post is an extremely unique and creative fantasy with a magic system based on writing, multiple worlds, and hidden identities.

I loved the exploration of legacy - how the sins or successes of previous generations impact our place in society. Maeve’s quest for truth forces her to reckon with her own legacy and conquer her fears about her father and more.

I adored Tristan’s unwavering belief in her motives, and the found family they formed with Nan and Shea. The mystery of the Aldervine and Inverly kept me guessing, and I appreciated how the ending left room for more stories. I would love to see an exploration of the known and unknown worlds in future books!

This story had everything I look for in a fantasy novel - an intricate magic system, a romance subplot, friends who become family, and a mystery waiting to be solved. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group/G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

After 7 years of being in hiding after one of 3 worlds was destroyed and her father is blamed, Maeve is surprised to receive a letter telling her that her father was innocent. The letter is 7 years old, and to find out who sent it to her Maeve tries to get inton the scriptomancy school where her father worked and get answers. I cannot divulge any further as to not spoil anything.

The story was rather unique and I loved how stubborn Maeve was. She had gone through so much at a young age.

The world building was good but limited. We never get to hear about Maeves life with her father before the tragedy. It is also unclear what kind of world it is. It reads like the 1800s but not our world. Like the clothing, the things they use like feathers to scribe, the money. It was quite interesting.
There were so many characters you had to remember but I did get the gist of the how and when in the end. I also had wished for some more on Tristan and Maeve. Maybe there is a sequel, that is not clear.

Well done.