“The Otherwhere Post” follows Maeve as she attempts to infiltrate the magical Otherwhere Post by posing as an apprentice to find out who sent her a mysterious letter, and in the process unravel the mystery surrounding what happened to her father years before. Her plans are complicated by her noisy mentor, Tristian, a handsome boy with a mysterious past.

I can’t even begin to explain how much I absolutely LOVED this book. “The Otherwhere Post” has it all - great world building, a unique magic system, fantastic characters, a compelling mystery, beautiful writing, and a swoon worthy romance. Maeve was a great main character- I loved her character arc, her relationship with Tristan and Nan, her back story, and her prickly, self reliant personality. Everything about her was perfect.

And Tristan has set the book boyfriend bar to a new high! I loved that he never gave up on Maeve but still respected her boundaries. I also loved watching him work through his trauma and to learn and grow and trust himself again.

I also just loved the setting! The candlelit/gaslight vibes were impeccable - there’s just something about a town by the sea in the autumn that hits all of the right spots for me. I really want to explore the Otherwhere Post campus and all three cities of Gloam. The setting felt so real - like one could just walk right in and explore.

The magic system was also incredibly fascinating. I read a lot of fantasy and the concept of scriptomancy was a really fresh and unique take on magic. I do wish that there had been a bit more exploration of what scritpomancy entailed and what it could do. But I think I’m also just greedy for anything more in this world!

Finally, the writing was absolutely gorgeous. Emily J. Taylor’s prose draws the reader right into the story and doesn’t let one go. “The Otherwhere Post” is a fascinating meditation on the power inherent in the act of writing. And I definitely want a quill pen and a new journal now.

Again, I can’t recommend “The Otherwhere Post” enough. This will definitely be one of the best books I’ll read this year and it very well might be a new lifetime favorite. I honestly can’t stop thinking about how amazing this book was. I am fairly sure this was a stand alone novel but I’m holding out hope that Taylor returns to this world in the future and gives us the continuing adventures of Maeve, Tristian, and Nan. Regardless, I will be eagerly checking out Taylor’s other works and anxiously awaiting anything else she writes.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and G. P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher, Penguin Teen Canada, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

For the last seven years, Maeve Abenthy has lived under a false name, constantly on the move so as to prevent anyone from connecting her with her father, who was accused of a terrible crime. But when she receives a mysterious letter that claims her father was innocent, she is determined to uncover the truth. And the only way to do that is to learn scriptomancy, the magic that allows couriers to travel between worlds. Maeve impersonates an apprentice for the Otherwhere Post to learn this art. But looking into the past of such an infamous person as her father is drawing more attention than she expected, her mentor Tristan has already figured out that she isn’t who she claims to be, and worst of all, someone knows who she is and is sending threatening – and increasingly deadly – letters to warn her off this investigation.

I read Hotel Magnifique by this author a couple of years ago and I found it kind of a struggle to get through, so I was a bit nervous about this one, but with such a fascinating premise, I couldn’t pass it up!

I absolutely loved the world building! It was fantasy with plenty of dark academia and a touch of mystery. The concept of scriptomancy which was basically the magic system, and its wide reaching capabilities were fascinating, especially the ability to create portals between worlds. There was a good amount of information and backstory shared without it ever feeling like an info dump, in this aspect anyway.

However, I would have liked to see the scriptomancy itself in more detail. There was plenty about what it could do, but the how was never really explained and the story left things rather vague on that front. I would understand if this was the first book in a series and it’s intended to be developed more, but all indications are that this is a standalone.

The mystery arc was handled pretty well too, there were lots of twists and plenty of false leads and red herrings, which made it interesting. I didn’t manage to guess it until close to the end.

This book was a fast paced, easy read and I was completely hooked right from the beginning. There was a little more violence than I would expect to see in a YA novel, but nothing too bad.

Maeve was pretty much your typical teen protagonist, likeable but a tad too impulsive, which made me frustrated with her character occasionally as she ran off to follow a lead with no plan whatsoever yet again. That said, her arc was well written with pretty much zero angst (which I really appreciated).

I felt there was a bit too much going on in those last few chapters, and though there was an appropriate build up for it, it was difficult to keep track of all at the same time. Nonetheless, there were some shocking last minute twists that were excellently written and the story wrapped up all the arcs in a satisfying manner.

Overall, The Otherwhere Post was an entertaining read, and I would highly recommend it to readers of all ages. I’m really looking forward to seeing what this author will write next!

This was my first experience with Emily J. Taylor’s writing and I was not disappointed. I loved the dark academia vibes and the fantasy elements that made this book feel very atmospheric and immersive. The characters were interesting and my younger self could relate to Maeve and some of her impulsivity and gutsy actions. The plot was interesting and I never felt bored or as if my attention was straying away from the book. There’s a bit of a slow burn romance side plot going on also which creates extra interest in this story. The romance doesn’t overtake the main plot though, which is what I look for in romance implemented in books that I read. There’s world building did fall a bit short in some areas but I did love what was done, I just would have loved it to be expanded upon because it had so much potential. Overall, I think many readers who enjoy YA fantasy books will really enjoy this one as well!

Many thanks to the publishers Penguin Group / Penguin Teen and NetGalley for my advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review and opinions!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!!

Part portal fantasy part mystery with a heaping dose of Dark Academic flair, this book was a delight from start to finish!!

Maeve Abenthy was too young to be running from her past and hiding her very name, yet for seven years she's done just that. A whole world was doomed and her father deemed the culprit, putting her very safety continuously at risk. No one could know who she was or her family relations, lest they seek to punish or kill her for her father's crime.

Was murderous intent genetic?—No one wished to risk it and find out.

Living in her universe meant the chance of crossing dimensional barriers and visiting two other versions of the world she called home. A set of three large doors connected the set of universes into easily transversable locations. People crossed through one doorway for some shopping, then hopped back for dinner with ease... <i>or they had</i>.

Several years ago, a cataclysmic event infected one of the worlds, damning all who resided within it. In a last ditch attempt to minimize losses, the doors were set ablaze and destroyed. This of course doomed all to stay in whichever of the two remaining worlds they were visiting at the time. Families were separated and countless lives lost as the whole fabric of society—and to a lesser extent reality—fell apart.

Those with the magical gift for "Scriptomancy" were the only people still able to cross between the barriers, as the very artform had once created the doors themselves. These people were able to craft their own personal doors for short-term use. As her father possessed this gift and fully intended to train her in the art, Maeve had justifiably complicated feelings about this form of magic. She still kept up her journaling and the study of words, but was that from a desire to learn and test her skills? Or perhaps and attempt at finding normalcy amidst the chaos?

Maeve was ready for change.

When we meet her, she's saved enough money for an alleged fresh start in a far-away town. Constantly on the run, lying about her identity, Maeve hoped that this would have been a chance at some semblance of a normal life. A very delayed letter from just after the infamous door fire arrived during this time, which sent her off on a drastically different path.

Her father may have been <i>innocent</i>!

As a man she adored and still bears complicated feelings of love and disgust for, this chance to gleam a new understanding justifiably shifted her plans about. She had to know the truth, no matter how grand or horrid it may have been. The further she investigated, the more mysteries and inklings of underhanded corruption she uncovered.

She may feel regret for her actions or the occasional bout of overwhelming guilt, but Maeve would do <i>anything</i> to survive. The chance for betterment and schooling—much like our own world—heavily favored those prviledged with wealth, regardless of if they were skilled enough to pursue their desired fields. She had one chance to con her way into the Scriptomancy Apprenticeship and took it, fearful of the consequences all-the-while.

Maeve knew her inks, could write very well, and think on her feet. Ready to lie or scheme if needed to survive and thrive. Her chance to study may not have been <i>legitimately</i> acquired, but it was certainly deserved.

I really appreciated the deep dive into class disparity within the realm of higher education. Money really makes all the difference, and oftentimes those perhaps most suited to study will never have the chance to try without permanently damning their finances. Coupled with Maeve's paranoia-induced anxiety and the severe ptsd from both our protagonist and male lead, quite a few heavy topics were handled with care and nuance here.

I adored Maeve and her misanthropic, scheming character. She's miserable, with no intent to make you forget that fact, yet deep down she longed for a better life and a place to belong. She wanted to have friends and fun experiences like other people her age, but years on the run and justifiable paranioa around her safety had—in her eyes—robbed her of the chance.

Maeve won't be for everyone, but I had a delightful time!! I found her anxiety and self-doubt remarkably relatable. She's also really funny as a narrator and perhaps most surprisingly I was rooting for the romance from their first interaction.

My only genuine criticism was that the ending felt a bit rushed. Two or three more chapters to really flesh out various plot resolutions would have made these moments more impactful. I understand why logically several of these points happen off page, yet reworking these moments to feel less like a handful of summary paragraphs would have been ideal. Again, to reiterate I did read an ARC so it's entirely possible these final pages felt more polished and poignant.

I've missed YA fantasy books like this!
The magic/world was interesting. The mystery was a little predictable but I was second guessing my guesses as we went.
The romance was very mild but in a sweet way that I really appreciated.
And all the characters felt like individuals.
I really enjoyed this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC I didn't finish until after the book released... *hangs head*

I really enjoyed this. Well-written. Good, creative world building, with intricate magic. A plucky, brave young woman to root for, and a mysterious young man who helps and supports her, even though he knows she's lying to him, and keeping secrets. An unexpected villain. It's a YA, but you'd never know it.

Looking forward to reading more Emily Taylor.

I actually purchased this book. It was so good. I will be taking it to a book fest for Emily to sign.

✨ARC Review✨

Another wonderful dark academia fantasy!

Maeve Abenthy has not written nor said her real name aloud for seven years. She’s gotten by from job to job and identity to identity until she receives a long-delayed letter that has the potential to change her life. Signed “an old friend”, the letter says her father is innocent of a horrendous crime that changed the world seven years earlier.

The course for the truth leads her to tell many a lie including several that have her becoming a scribing apprentice at the school where her father used to work. It’s a little difficult to condense what scribing is for the sake of this review- just know that it is a necessity in this world.

During this journey, she meets Tristan, a handsome, rumpled mess with expensive taste and an extraordinary talent for scribing. He assists her with all the things even while having no idea who she is really. This underlying romance element definitely kept me as invested as figuring out all the mysteries.

The world was also interesting and a beautiful amalgamation of so many different eras and the author’s own imagination.

Recommended for any fantasy reader!

I was given this eARC via #netgalley and @PenguinTeen. All thoughts are mine alone.

#booksbooksbooks #yafantasy #yabooks #fantasybooks #theotherwherepost #emilyjtaylor #bookreview #bookrecs #bookstagram

Maeve is trying to get answers related to her father's infamy when she receives a mysterious letter. So, she hatches a plan to infiltrate the school for scriptomancers to learn more.

This book was so interesting and I wanted to know more about the history of the setting and scriptomancy. I think part of the difficulty in taking on a new world is describing it enough where the reader can really immerse themselves, and I don't think that Taylor had the chance to do that. I loved the first 70% of this book, but then it just took a turn that didn't make sense given that we didn't have enough knowledge about the world they lived in. I feel like Tristan could have given us more of that background that we were missing!

Seven years ago, Maeve Abenthy lost everything—her father, her home, even her name. Living under a false identity, she never stays in one place for long, until a mysterious letter arrives with four impossible words: Your father was innocent.To uncover the truth, she trains in scriptomancy, a dangerous magic that sends enchanted letters across worlds. But as she digs into the past, someone is determined to stop her—no matter the cost.


I’ve never read a book about scriptomancy (magic tied to writing, letters, and enchanted text) but now I need more!

What I Loved:
The magic system and plot felt so fresh and original.
The mystery kept me hooked right up until the final chapters.
The side characters and their friendships added so much heart to the story.
The writing was incredibly atmospheric—I could see everything like a movie.

What I Didn’t:
The second half had a bit too much filler.
Tristan and Maeve’s relationship was great, but I wanted more buildup — it felt a little rushed.
The pacing dragged in places, making some sections feel slow.

Overall, I loved this book. It was so original, full of heart, and had an fmc who learns to let people in after years of isolation. If you love mysteries, immersive writing, and original magic systems, this one’s for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers for this ARC

Seven years ago Maeve Abenthy lost her anchor when the doors between the three worlds collapsed killing her father and aunt. When her dad is accused of being responsible Maeve goes into hiding using an assumed name and making a living however she can. When she receives an anonymous letter saying her father was innocent she poses as an apprentice for the Otherwhere Post to uncover the truth. As she begins to train in the art of scriptomancy, the arcane magic that allows couriers to deliver messages between worlds, she discovers how hard it is to keep up a false persona. Working against time to learn the craft and uncover the truth of her father's life she draws unwanted attention and new threats. This original and unique dark academia fantasty novel was engaging and interesting. The world building and magic system were clearly and engagingly portrayed. Maeve and the supporting characters were diverse and realistic. Maeve's self doubts and genuine grief from her loss emerge from the page and the reader is drawn to her and her mission. A highly engaging read.

I really enjoy a fantasy that takes place in an academic setting. The author did a really good job of building the world and the reader's knowledge of scriptomancy using the school setting and the students. I really liked all of the characters but have a soft spot for Nan. She was the lighthearted character the story needed. I also really enjoyed the relationship between Maeve and Tristan. They have good banter and unlike some books they don't just rush into their romance.
I would definitely read from this author again.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Book review: 4.25/5 ⭐️
Genre: YA fantasy
Themes: dark academic, portal magic, evil mastermind
📖 Read if you like: A Study in Drowning, The Illuminaries, Ten Thousand Doors of January

This was Shades of Magic meets Divine Rivals. It was dark and creepy with an inventive magical system and a little mystery and a little romance at its core. In this world, sciptomancy is the key to connect worlds and people through doors and couriers that are able to enchant letters and deliver them to anyone, anywhere. As a continuous letter writer I adored this concept! While I wish there was a little more world building to understand more about this magic, I think this will be further explained as this story continues.

The plot: Maeve Abenthy has little a transient life since her world ended seven years ago at the hands of her father. Desperate to escape the shadows of her name she lives under a false identity never staying anywhere too long. When a post dated letter arrives claiming her father’s innocence she will stop at nothing to find out the truth. To uncover the mystery sender she must infiltrate her way into the Otherwhere Post. When she impersonate an apprentice and begins to learn the art of scriptomancy drawing undeniably closer to her famed father, danger approaches from every corner. With threatening letters, an infuriatingly insightful mentor that knows she is an imposter, and a mystery that requires one impossible thing after another to solve it is a whirlwind adventure with a sinister undercurrent.

Maeve was exactly what you would expect from a teenager abandoned and determined in equal measure. She was impulsive, guarded, and clever on her feet. I appreciated there were no long monologues of inner feeling and doubts. She was well developed and the balance between memory and her current circumstances was well crafted.

To her stubbornness we have Tristan, the talented and damaged scion of scriptomancy. I liked that Tristan was bespectacled and rather dorky. It made him more than his fashionable good looks and his personality was layered to be both quirky and serious, morose and bemused, talented and afraid.

It was a refreshing change from the smouldering MC you see in a lot of fantasy. In my opinion both MCs were very well written and complex for their age, which is not always the case with YA. I did think that the Tristan - Maeve connection was a little too instant, but I appreciated that the bond grew over time and that it didn’t dominate the plot. It ended up being rather cute and the occasional banter was commendable.

Parts definitely felt too convenient, especially as we neared the end, but I still thought the creativity and changing suspects made up for this. I did find it odd that Maeve was supposed to be in school, but instead she was travelling around doing her own investigation most of the time. I wish there was a bit more sleuthing to keep up the charade, which would also help develop some of the other characters at the Post a bit better. I liked Nan and Shea, but wanted a bit more from both. I also thought many of the stewards needed a bit more personality and background. I always think it’s a shame for all adults to appear planar in YA - a waste opportunity. That being said, the ending leads me to believe this story will continue and I hope many of my questions will be answered and characters developed as this world continues to expand.

Thank you to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for a copy of this book. I simple could not put it down! Released Feb 25.

Due to her father being implicated, Maeve has basically lived on the run since a disastrous event that happened eight years ago. Due to a mysterious letter being delivered seven years after it was sent, she is now on a mission to discover what really happened. This is a cool fantasy setting involving ink and layered worlds with well crafted characters. I really hope that there will be a sequel.

Emily J. Taylor's The Otherwhere Post is a mystery spanning different worlds, filled with dangerous romance, deadly magic, and Edwardian Dark Academia vibes. The story comes to us in Maeve’s third-person perspective. This is an interesting world. A world where the citizens could travel between three worlds (Inverly, Barrow, and Leyland) through doorways until seven years ago. Those doorways were burned, leaving the people in one of the worlds for dead. Now, the other two can only communicate through letters delivered by the Otherwhere Post, people trained in the art of scriptomancy, the magic that allows them to enchant letters and travel between the two worlds.

Seven years ago, Maeve Abenthy lost everything: her world, her father, even her name. Desperate to escape the stain of her father Jonathan Abenthy’s crimes, she lives under a fake name, Isla Craig, never staying in one place long enough to put down roots. She is ready to move on to yet another place when she receives a mysterious letter with four impossible words: Your father was innocent. Jonathan, a powerful scriptomancer capable of enchanting letters, was accused of unleashing Aldervine, a deadly plant with crawling branches that killed many, including Maeve. Although she was saved at the last second by a mysterious man, she witnessed the death of her aunt years ago.

Maeve has had to change her name in order to avoid any comparison to her father. Maeve has been scrimping and saving every penny to leave her latest job and start a new life. On the day she’s ready to walk away from everything, however, Maeve receives an anonymous letter from saying her father was innocent. He didn’t cause the Aldervine to enter Inverly; he wasn’t responsible for the burning of the Written Doors. Maeve’s path crosses with the mysterious courier named Tristan who tells her the only way to trace the sender is by accessing the archives, a privilege only couriers have. To solve the mystery, Maeve decides to infiltrate Otherwhere Post by faking her credentials, references, and stealing another applicant’s identity.

She also encounters Nan, who will become a key secondary character in this story, as well as her roommate. Tristan quickly discovers she’s faking her identity but, instead of exposing her, he’s intrigued and offers to help. 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.

Overall, this was a pretty entertaining story even though at times Maeve does some really stupid things which ends up getting her in trouble, especially towards the end when she finally understands what really happened 7 years ago. The mystery and plot twists were nice, and the romance wasn't over the top nor did it take away from the plotline. I would have liked to see more depth in the magical system.

Young Adult Fantasy/Mystery/Romance. I want to thank Net Galley, the author, and publisher for providing me an ARC ebook to read. Maeve, 18, has had to live life on the run, living under a fake name, ever since her father, a Scriptomancer, died 6 years ago. Her father was accused of mass murder of her former home world. Maeve fears if someone finds out the truth of her identity. One day she receives an anonymous letter suggesting her father was innocent. She is determined to find out who wrote this letter. It will require her to become a student/apprentice at the Otherwise Post. The magical art of scriptomancy allows one to travel between worlds delivering letters. Will Maeve discover the truth about her father? I was intrigued by the premise of the story. I found the first half sort of slow but then the second half was filled with excitement and moved quickly. I’m new to reading ARC’s. I realize it’s not the final edition but the numerous typos were annoying my experience. Hopefully, they were corrected. The romantic interest that develops between Maeve and Tristan was ok but in my opinion, it was a bit too much for a YA book. I would suggest 9th grade and up.

3.5/5

A very cute YA dark academia book! It combines the world building elements of A Darker Shade of Magic (multiple worlds layered on each other) and the literature/English elements of Divine Rivals (magical letters, secret identities, a weird unsettling and dark force at play). I will say the magic system is confusing at first, considering the magic is about writing, but once explained I was throughly. Also it features my one weakness in fake MMC - a tortured piano playing man with glasses and fluffy hair (its basically Hugh Grant in Notting Hill)

I love love LOVED this book. Great characters, great world building, unique magic system called Scriptomancy, just… everything.
Maeve is a girl who never reveals her real name because her deceased father is notoriously known to the world(s) for his crimes unleashing the deadly Aldervine, which killed an entire realm of people. Years after this incident, everything changes when she receives a letter saying her father is innocent. She then does whatever she needs to do to get to the bottom of things, including infiltrating the Otherwhere Post under someone else’s identity. Along the way she has help from her roommate Nan (fantastic character, would love to see more of her!) and Tristan, who is right up there with all the top book boyfriends - perfect banter.
Honestly, I just wish the book had been longer so I could spend more time with it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the advance reader copy and allowing me to share my honest opinion!

This book had me hooked from page one! The world-building was so rich, the magic system was super unique, and the mystery kept me guessing the whole time. Maeve was a total badass, and Tristan? Instantly obsessed. The slow-burn romance, strong friendships, and dark academia vibes made everything even better. That ending? Perfection. Wish I could read it again for the first time!

This book is a shining example of my favorite element of well-crafted fantasy novels, which is immaculate world building.

Emily Taylor does a beautiful job of exactly that here The Otherwhere Post, creating a dreamy, vaguely sinister world of academic fantasy. I don’t think I’d truly call it Dark Academia, but it does employ some of the best elements of the subgenre.

If the central mystery here feels a touch thin in its resolution, the book more than makes up for that in atmosphere and immersive storytelling, creating a place you can not just see but feel as you read it.

The book is also remarkably well-paced for a story with some much detail in setting and magical system, and all of the elements work so well together.

Though I believe this is intended as a standalone, the ending leaves the story easily open to a sequel. I hope we get one soon.