A unique magic system, a bit of spooky mystery, layered world building all made this such a fun story! I fell in love with these characters and the found family they created along the way!

Maeve is the type of heroine you want to root for in her search to reclaim something of her tarnished name, as she assumes a false identity to join the school of scribing in order to uncover secrets about the tragedy her father caused between worlds.

As she learns how to scribe among the other magical letter carriers, she’s assigned to a handsome but distant mentor, Tristan, as she secretly tries to unearth all of these secrets and figure out what really happened on the day that the horrible aldervine destroyed an entire world. I was invested in every step of the journey!

The setting has older world romanticism vibes of Divine Rivals, and a bit of romance sprinkled in as well! If you love a good old-fashioned whodunnit that is laced with world building and a unique magic system, then this book is definitely for you!

Highly recommend, and will likely be doing a reread once this book officially hits shelves!

For the last 7 years, Maeve Abenthy has been hiding her identity. There was a tragic accident in the city of Inverly, where Maeve was with her aunt running to escape, but her aunt was attacked. Someone grabbed Maeve and got her to safety, but her father and aunt were left behind. Maeve was sent to an orphanage, but she was treated horribly and escaped. Her father was believed to be dead, but he was blamed for the tragic accident, so Maeve has been taking on other identities to stay safe. She’s been moving frequently and taking odd jobs to cover lodging and food. She receives a letter from “an old friend” saying her dad is innocent. Maeve decides to start an apprenticeship at the Otherwhere Post, where she’ll be trained in the art of scriptomancy. Scriptomancy is a type of magic that allows couriers to enchant letters and deliver them to other worlds. However, Maeve’s real goal is to track down whoever sent her the letter and find out more about her father’s innocence. During the apprenticeship, Maeve finally makes some friends and meets a potential love interest. This book was very readable; and I found it easy to keep flipping pages. However, I thought the different worlds and the magic of enchanting letters was hard to understand. I still found the book engaging and enjoyable, but those two things would have made this an easy 4 or 5 star book.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story was an interesting story from an author I don’t know or haven’t read before! Will look at finding other things by this author. I am grateful for the early access, thank you to those that allowed it!

I love this story! Maeve and Tristian's relationship also just had me *gasping* at certain moments, whew the heat! Maeve is so strong during this whole book, so brave! I keep thinking back to Harry Potter for some reason and I think it's because I get Hermione vibes from Maeve. Maeve is literally fighting for her life throughout this story and that ending just had me in all of my feels, in a good way!


Thank you NetGalley for providing me this arc from G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for an honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.


“I told you already; I’m nobody interesting.”
“I think it’s the opposite,” he said. “I think you’re somebody very interesting who has a lot to lose by revealing yourself to others. Most of all, I think you’re scared of who you are.”

“Of course she would leave. Leaving was the grand design of her life. The sun set, the sky was gray, and Maeve left.”

“You begin with a blank page and a single word.”


Three worlds layered on top of one another like translucent sheets of paper, a deadly vine that destroyed one world, a murderer who may not be a murderer after all. A daughter who wishes to clear her father’s name while hiding her own.

It took me a minute to wrap my head around this world and understanding of scriptomancy but there was so much to enjoy about this book. The MCs struggle with self isolation/loneliness that grew from a fear to speak her name, and share who she really is, crumbles as her relationships progress. It unfolded beautifully. The mystery of the destroyed world kept the pages turning. The magic was unlike anything I’ve read before. What a wild world to create. Such an imaginination. There are times I’m in awe of authors that have the ability to come up with something as unique as I found this story.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'd settle to give this book a 4 star rating. It's a very well written book and it has an interesting premise but unfortunately it was pretty boring for me. I chose it because it seemed to be similar to Divine Rivals and it does stack up pretty well to it but ultimately this book did not keep me engaged much. I feel like not much happened and that this was a more character driven book.

This was an interesting book, but it took a bit to get into it. The magic system was different from any book I have read which I liked.

The beginning was slow and confusing to me. The FMC wouldn't explain why she was hiding until the end of chapter 7, and that was frustrating to me. Once that was explained, it made the book easier to follow.

I wasn't a big fan of the MMC from the start. He never really grew on me, but that could be a me problem.

Overall, it wasn't a bad book.

I got this ARC from Netgally in exchange for my honest review.

The hook of this book is a good one: Maeve, a teenager who has been living under an assumed identity since her father was deemed a criminal receives a letter that says her father was innocent.

From there, we're swept into a dark academia-tinged world where a terrifying outbreak of the Aldervine collapsed a magical doorway between different realms, separating families and making inter-realm travel impossible—unless you're a courier. These trained scribes use magic to imbue letters with all sorts of things – feelings, memories, curses, creation and even opening doors to other realms. Maeve's father was once a scribe, and with this new, mysterious letter from another realm, she sets out to infiltrate the world of the scribes and find out what really happened the day the Aldervine was unleashed.

Though I liked Maeve's tenacity and the cast of characters around her, I often thought parts of the world building was lacking—especially regarding what the Aldervine was and why it was so destructive—and thought the big reveal was a little underwhelming. In the end, I appreciated that this story wrapped up so that it is a stand-alone novel, but wished there had been a bit more clarity around certain aspects of this world and that some of the reveals and more climatic points of the plot felt more exciting to discover.

Add The Otherwhere Post to the top of your TBR pile immediately! This is sure to be one of my top reads of the year, and it is only February.

•YA Fantasy
•Dark Academia
•Mystery
•Romance
•Unique magic system
•Masterfully crafted world-building

Seven years ago, Maeve Abenthy’s whole life changed. She now finds herself on the run and afraid to use her true name in fear that someone can connect her to her father and his crimes.

A mysterious letter written shortly after the events seven years ago finds its way to Maeve, who will stop at nothing to track down the unidentified sender to see if what they claim is true. Including infiltrating The Otherwhere Post.

While searching for answers, Maeve encounters a few other members of the school. Tristan, an overly observant courier tasked with being her mentor and teaching her arcane magic and scribing. And Nan, her fun loving and extroverted roommate.

As Maeve continues to search for answers, she will learn who she can and cannot trust, especially when she starts receiving dangerous letters threatening her.

I loved, loved, LOVED reading The Otherwhere Post! It is a smartly written novel full of all my favorite elements. The ending leaves room for possible future books as well. Keeping my fingers crossed for that!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was so taken by this book! An atmospheric mystery with a unique magic system, charming romance and characters that felt grounded and easy to root for. I was almost disappointed the ending didn’t set up a duology, I was so sad to leave this world behind! I’ve read a handful of books that fall into the niche subcategory of “low fantasy dark academia in a lush, gothic setting” and this was my favorite by far. Such an inventive world(s) and the romance was so sweet. I adored Maeve’s character arc, even the moments where she frustrated me felt justified and it was so lovely to watch her gradually let people in and come into her own. As conclusive as the ending was, I’m still holding out hope that the author will return to this world in a future book. Such a fantastic read!

Emily J. Taylor is a new author for me. The cover and the description caught my eye. After ready the description I had to have it.

Description:
Seven years ago, Maeve Abenthy lost her world, her father, even her name. Desperate to escape the stain of her father’s crimes, she lives under a fake name, never staying in one place long enough to put down roots.

Then she receives a mysterious letter with four impossible Your father was innocent.

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.

My Thoughts:
I enjoyed the magical aspects of this story with the scriptomancy - it was intriguing. I liked Maeve and her determination and endeavors to find the truth of what happened seven years ago. The world building was well done. This is a good mystery and a great adventure. I recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy and magic.

Thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers through Netgalley for an advance copy.

The Otherwhere Post is a fresh YA fantasy with a cool magic system and a mystery plot. It has a slight dark academia vibe without fully falling into that genre, and elements of the story remind me a little of A Darker Shade of Magic and Wednesday.

While the magic system was so fun, I found myself a little confused by it at times and couldn’t quite keep track of how it worked. But I also decided the aesthetics of the book--both the world-building and the magic--were way too cool and I didn’t care if I understood the magic system 100%.

In addition, I really like the characters, especially the side characters. Tristan is the right kind of brooding book boyfriend, and I’m convinced that Nan deserves her own story. The mystery plot was a fun thread to follow alongside the characters and magic, and I really like how everything came together in the end.

The story wraps everything up but leaves so much potential for this world (worlds?) that I wouldn’t be surprised if the author writes more books with these characters and this magic system. All in all, a solid YA fantasy for fans of the genre.

I could not put this down! The magic system is so unique. Words truly do have power, and that power is often dangerous for Maeve. I was completely immersed in the world, largely because of the setting. I am a sucker for dark academia, and this book definitely falls into that category. However, it is so much more than that. There is beautiful prose, emotional moments, and characters you can’t help but root for. I LOVED every character, especially Tristan and Maeve. Their romance is one of the sweetest I’ve read in a while. Their character development, both as individuals and as a couple, was very well done.

The ending was a bit rushed and there were a couple things I think could have been explored more, but since this is a standalone I understand that only so much can be done in one book. I wish this was a series because I want to explore more of this world. I immediately had to go and preorder a signed copy after I finished & I can’t wait for it to arrive!

Thanks to Penguin Random House for sending me a complimentary review copy through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. My first 5-star read of February and it was so good! From the author of Hotel Magnifique comes a standalone fantasy novel that is a perfect read for my writer girlies <3 In shelves on February 25, 2025!

This dark academia novel had amazing world-building and a very unique magic system that expands on mundane letter scribing and the traditional postage system. It felt like I was transported to a rainy city with cobblestone sidewalks and Victorian gas lamps. I could smell the ink and old paper!

The Otherwhere Post is infused with the right amount of mystery and fantasy, along with a tension-filled slowburn romance between the main character and her male lead. Besides the very slow narration, I think that the ending could’ve been more dragged out, considering the fmc’s purpose from the very beginning. The ending felt quite lacking, which made it feel less satisfying for me as a reader. However, my fondness for the specific aesthetic of this book overrules my criticism of the climax. Maeve is a fascinating girl, and I love that nobody goes above her boundaries and her reservations to protect herself, not even someone her heart is longing for. Not only that but the male lead compliments her characterization perfectly. The author did an amazing job with the “Where you go, I’ll always follow” trope (is this even a trope?). But I highly recommend this beauty of a book!

Maeve Abenthy has hidden her identity for the past seven years due to her notorious father, who destroyed one of the three known worlds. However, her world is upended when she receives an anonymous letter, claiming her father was innocent. Desperate for more information, Maeve assumes an identity and finds her way to the College of Scriptomantic Arts to find answers. However, the courier who delivered her letter knows she's not who she claims to be and he's been assigned as her mentor.

I really enjoyed this read! I found the supporting cast of characters interesting and engaging. The college setting is interesting, but there's not as much time spent in class as I necessarily expected from hearing the premise. Seeing the relationship and trust grow over time between Maeve and Tristan was a lovely through line and I liked how it helped Maeve push past her natural inclinations throughout the story. The magic system was interesting and refreshing, thought I would have liked to learn more about how scriptomancers drew magic into their scribings.

Thank you Netgalley, Penguin Randomhouse, and G. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A very dark past forced Maeve Abenthy to change her name for fear for her life. Her father, Jonathan Abenthy was labeled a murderer for an alleged deathly scribing in his hometown.

Now many years later, Maeve older and wiser is determined to uncover the truth about her father even if it means perpetuating another lie by assuming another identity.

Since I really enjoyed the author’s previous novel, I was excited to begin another journey with author, Taylor. The book did not disappoint.

The story follows Maeve as she navigates her way through different worlds in search of the truth. The world building wasn’t as detailed. But if it were, it would have only detracted from the plot of finding the ‘who’ in the whodunit.

The characters were excellently developed and they draw the reader into their world with their snarky humor and light banter. There’s a bit of romance which lightens the overall dark tone of the mystery.

I found The Otherwhere Post to be yet another great novel from author, Taylor. A must read if you enjoyed her debut. Five stars.

I received a physical ARC from Penguin Group through the Bookish First Raffle. And I also received a DRC from the publisher through NetGally. This review is my own and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.

OUTSTANDING!!!!

I absolutely LOVED this book!

This book follows a young adult girl, Maeve, who has been in hiding ever since her father was accused of crimes which ultimately led to his death. She receives a letter claiming his innocence and decides she is going to uncover the truth.

This is also a story about magical writing called scribing. One can simply write words on a page and then it can be scribed to enhance the written word.

I don't want to share too much else to avoid spoilers, but this book (for me) was magical. I adored every page and every character.

***This is a YA book and is NOT for those readers who pick up a YA book and complain that there is "no spice". This book isn't for you then.***

This was such a unique story, and I will think about it for a long time!

One of the best YA books I have read in a long time.

Bravo Emily J. Taylor!

(Thank you NetGalley, The author and the publisher for this early ARC copy. This review is my own honest opinion.)

4.5 stars

Every bit of this works! From the cover to the characters to the world -- it's all done so well!

I was first pulled in by the cover and title. There's something compelling and intriguing about both. They set the tone for the YA dark academia that unfolds from the very beginning. And that tone is carried throughout. Everything felt dark and gloomy and shadowed. The only bright spots seemed to be Maeve's hair and Tristan's clothes.

I love the magic system. It's beautifully conceived and spins out in unexpected ways. And we're given the right amount of historical context for this magic and this world. None of it feels overworked or unnecessary. I hope there are more books coming because I'd happily live in this world for a while. My solitary criticism is that the ending felt a bit rushed.

The slow burn is great! It's very tame, even for YA nowadays but it's masterfully done. Maeve and Tristan are wonderful characters (all of them are, really). If this does continue, I'd love to see what other mischief they get up to and the new friends they inevitably make along the way.

I definitely recommend this one!

<i>Many thanks to NetGalley, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.</i>

imagine a world where you could write a letter to your loved one and infuse your emotions onto the paper. if they could feel your love the second they opened it. now add the fact that there are multiple worlds, portals, and a Hogwarts-esque writing school?? yeah, she ate with this one.

the main focus of the book is on Maeve's search to clear her father's name. he's been labeled a murderer and world ender. she suspects he was framed and is willing to do whatever it takes to prove it. the writing style is inviting as it pulls you in from the very first chapter. i was hooked on the mystery and desperate to learn more about this magical world.

and then theres Tristan. a total sweetheart. he’s a tortured writer and pianist, always covered in ink, and his socks never match. i absolutely adore him 🫶 Maeve and Tristan have my whole heart. from their first interaction to their last, they all brought a smile to my face. they're just so wholesome.

i wish this wasn’t a standalone! this would make for a really cool series. there’s a lot that’s left unexplored, and i would absolutely jump at the chance to read another book set in this world! i’d love to see some new worlds (outside of the main 3) and maybe explore some of the other kinds of magic. :)


thank you so much to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC!

This magical book takes you into a world of ink filled magic following a young woman on a quest to get some answers on what really happened in their world and how her father was connected. This book has romance that doesn’t overtake the plot and friendships you’ll root for!

The plot is easy to follow and I think it a good beginner book for those interested in getting into the fantasy genre.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!