Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group for this ARC.

I was so excited for this book after loving Hotel Magnifique by this author last year. This book did not disappoint, it was even better.

I was completely engrossed in this world and I did not want it to end. It was a perfect stand alone fantasy. I loved the adventure, the mystery, and the characters so much. This could have definitely been a series too as there was so much more to explore.

I loved the dark academia vibes and how much of this book was set in a school. A lot of times books are based in school but not much time is spent in the school, but the majority of the book is here and I loved that.

Really this was a beautiful adventure and I don't want to spoil anything. If you are a fan of fantasy worlds, magic, and Harry Potter-esque tales. This one is a must read. I don't want to go back to the real world now.

I loved this book, it was so good! It had me captivated the whole time I read it, and every time I had to put it down I kept thinking about the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group/Penguin Teen for providing this arc. All reviews are my own opinion.

It follows Maeve who believes her father is responsible for killing many people 7 years ago in Inverly until she receives a magical letter that states this may not be the case. To seek out the truth she must find a way to get herself an apprenticeship at the Otherwhere Post so she can find out who this letter came from. This however is not as easy as it seems, since nobody can know her true name or know she is the daughter of a murderer.

I loved Maeve and Tristan's storyline and enjoyed our girl Nan. The writing-based magic was amazing. The mystery that we get to follow along with for the duration of the story kept me wanting to keep reading and it keeps you guessing the whole time. The romance is slow burn and oh so sweet.

You've got dark academia, slow burn romance, enchanted letters, multiple magical worlds, and old atmosphere vibes with gas lamps and cobblestone paths. Perfection!

The Otherwhere Post is a young adult, dark academia, fantasy romance. The plot centers around Maeve, the daughter of a supposed murder, who is trying to prove her father innocent. To do this, she must become a courier for the Otherwhere Post, which holds the answers to her questions. This book is honestly one of my new favorite books, and I don’t say that lightly. The whole vibe of the book is almost Divine Rivals x Six of Crows, which I really enjoyed. The magic system was unlike anything I have read before and the writing was very poetic, it was almost like a letter to the reader. The author’s ability to paint such perfect pictures in my mind with words was astounding. Overall, The Otherwhere Post is a highly entertaining, YA book, with dark academia romance and surprising plot twists.

Features-
- Student x Mentor
- Unique magic system
- YA (no spice)
- Found family
- Dark academia

4.5 Stars, rounding up!

THE OTHERWHERE POST, by Emily J. Taylor, is a Fantasy, Dark Academia mix with a unique magic system. Maeve Aberthy has been living the last seven years hiding her true identity: the daughter of Jonathan Aberthy--the man blamed for releasing a deadly vine know as the "Aldervine", which overran one of the three known worlds, destroying everything in its path. Now, only Otherwhere Couriers are able to deliver letters between the remaining two worlds.

The unique magic of scribing enables couriers to open "doors" to other areas in order to deliver messages, as well as several other things. When Maeve receives a letter from seven years prior, finally able to be delivered to her, the anonymous "friend" states that her father was innocent of the crime he was accused of. To find this mystery person, and attempt to learn the truth behind the destruction of one of the known worlds, Maeve must somehow get herself an apprenticeship at the Otherwhere Post.

A feat only accessible to the wealthy who can afford an upper school writing course.

I absolutely loved the characters and magic system detailed here. There are echoes of "found family", and learning to trust others for the first time in years. The emotions encompass so much as Maeve tries to move forward from the emptiness she's hidden behind for years. The mysteries deepen, and things get progressively more dangerous the more she uncovers.

Overall, I loved the writing, pacing, characters, and the mystery unfolding. This novel captivated me from beginning to end.

Recommended.

*I received and e-ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are uniquely my own.*

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
The Otherwhere Post by Emily J. Taylor follows the FMC Maeve Abenthy as she tries to find out secrets from years ago when a letter saying that the murders her father committed weren’t him and he was innocent. She poses as an apprentice at a school and her mentor Tristan is the only one who knows her secret.
The magic system in this book is written so well and there was a lot more fantasy than I initially thought which I loved. The book itself was VERY well-written the plot twists were SO good and I didn’t call the ending, which as someone who reads a lot of fantasy was very much appreciated.
The romance was one of the best things that I have ever read, the tension, the secrets, the passion it was beautiful. It was a clean romance but it wasn’t boring, it kept you on your toes.
The characters themselves were also very well written. Maeve was strong and headfast but she wasn’t stupid when making decisions. Tristan was the tortured academic with a past and deprecating humor was the icing on the cake. It was a 5/5 and I would love another book.

The Otherwhere Post is the latest from Emily J. Taylor and I was excited to pick it up after reading Hotel Magnifique. Maeve Abenthy has a dangerous secret- she’s the daughter of the man who destroyed worlds. In a magical time where worlds overlap, Maeve’s father once unleashed a terrible monstrosity of destruction. When Maeve receives a letter that promises to tell the truth about her father, she decides to investigate. This brings her to the prestigious Otherwhere Post where she tricks her way into an apprenticeship. As Maeve investigates, will she discover the truth about her father?

I really enjoyed The Otherwhere Post! The magic of scriptomancy was truly enchanting and it’s the type of magic that you wish you could try. Taylor creates an immersive experience with sensory details as Maeve retraces her father’s steps. I loved how she described all the colors of the inks and the different effects from the ink. Maeve and Tristan have a sweet romance! Tristan is a great book boyfriend who readers will love. I liked the mystery of the voracious Aldervine, especially the final plot twist.

Readers who enjoy dark academia with fascinating magic systems, sweet romance, and mysteries to untangle will love The Otherwhere Post. I hope we get to revisit this world in a future book!

Thank you to Emily J. Taylor, G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc.

Why this book?

1. I’m now at a point where if you use Divine Rivals as book comparison, it’s going to go on my TBR.

2. I want to read PG books knowing I’ll want to introduce my kid to romantasy one day.

3. I like reading magic systems that don’t feel as common in fantasy. And this system felt refreshing against my fantasy heavy TBR.

It’s rare that I talk about believability in fantasy because it just feels ironic. But I would argue the set up threw me out of my escapism bubble. And because of the wonky set of circumstances, it was hard to fully feel invested in the plot. It did not help that the internal dialogue felt a little repetitive to me.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ll understand why some people will adore this book, but I wasn’t swooning the way I wanted to (during love month). >>>shrugs<<<

My thanks to @netgalley & @PenguinKids for this ARC due out 25 Feb 2025.

3.75 ⭐️

The Otherwhere Post was my first Emily J. Taylor book, but it certainly won’t be my last! This magical gaslamp fantasy drew me in from the start and didn’t let me go until I finished!

Maeve is the only surviving Abenthy, but she knows better than to use her real name. Seven years ago, her father became the biggest criminal in the three known worlds by releasing a dangerous and unstoppable plant known as the Aldervine. Because of his actions (and subsequent death), the doors between the worlds were destroyed and many lives lost. Now, only Otherwhere Couriers, people adept with magic known as Scriptomancy, are able to travel between worlds, delivering letters.

Maeve has spent these last seven years on the run—first at an orphanage where she was treated terribly, and then from town to town, never staying long enough to form deep connections. But now, she’s determined to solve the mystery behind her father’s great betrayal. First, she will need to get into the special academy that trains couriers so she can learn to cross worlds.

This was such a fun read! Reminiscent of some of my favorite fantasy books such as A Darker Shade of Magic, Unlock the Dark and Arcana Academy. However, at 2/3 into the book, I was wondering if this was going to need a sequel as there was still so much to cover. But the author chose to tie things up by extreme info dumping and time jumps. That really pulled me out of the story, and weakened it overall in my eyes. Add on the relationship that didn’t have enough time to grow naturally, and the friendships that Maeve actively avoided somehow risking it all for her, the book didn’t work for me the way I hoped it would. It was still a fantastic time, I just wish the editing had paced things much differently.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers for the chance to read this early!

Enchanted letters, deadly mysteries, and otherworldly magic, The Otherwhere Post follows a young girl, Maeve, as her life is turned upside down when she receives an unexpected letter about her father. Determined to find out the truth, she decides to train under the Otherwhere Post and starts to uncover the mystery of what happened years ago.

Immediately, I was drawn into this story by the dark and alluring world-building—reminiscent of Schwab and her magical layered worlds—and the puzzling mystery haunting our heroine. I also loved the aesthetic of an academic setting with magical letters. It was very intriguing and captivating.

At times, the pacing was on the slower side, not fully allowing me to become wholly absorbed into the story.

If you love dark, enchanting stories with a bit of mystery and romance, definitely check out this new read!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Genre: YA Fantasy/Dark Academia/Mystery

This one was unexpectedly good! I could not put it down.
Think Divine Rivals, A Darker Shade of a Magic, & the charm of Lady Whistledown from Bridgerton all mixed together.

The magic system is unique focusing on scriptomancy where magic is infused in writing with various kinds of ink. (Like Divine Rivals with the typewriters). The book focuses on the mystery of how Maeve’s dad was framed years ago and her trying to find proof to clear his name.
The writing style had a charming feel and I found myself flying through the book to see what was going to happen. There is a subtle romance subplot that was just enough for me.

I have not read her other book, but now I will check it out.

Thank you Penguin Teen for the ARC! ❤️

An original and very enjoyable romp of a read. Fun adventures, interesting characters, satisfying plot. The writing was comfortable and easy to read. Story had good pacing and worked out well for a bout of escapism.

3.5 Stars, rounded up

For fans of Divine Rivals and Sorcery of Thorns, The Otherwhere Post follows Maeve Abenthy, who has been living in hiding ever since her father committed a horrible crime. After she receives a mysterious letter that seems to suggest her father’s innocence, Maeve infiltrates a magical school to look for clues.

I really enjoyed this book. It has magic postal workers that travel between worlds, a magic system based on writing, and characters that I genuinely liked. The main love interest, Tristan, was definitely a standout character — and if you like the Cardan/Wendall/Howl variant of love interests, I think you’ll really like him too. Throughout the book, Maeve’s father is also one of those characters that haunts the narrative in really interesting ways, and I enjoyed seeing Maeve uncovering more about his life at the university and seeing constant little reminders of him.

I was pretty confident this was going to be a 4 star read up until the last 30% or so, when my rating dropped to a 3.5. While I was hoping to see more of the magical school and Maeve learning scriptomancy (the magic system in this world), the book focuses primarily on the mystery and Maeve’s quest for answers leads her away from the classroom. There’s even a part where a character promises to help teach her magic in this really cool location… but nothing ever comes of it. There is also some repetitiveness in the plot (lots of scenes of Maeve recovering from being sick/injured and several instances where she runs away from her friends and has to learn her lesson).

Even though it didn’t get a 4 star from me, I enjoyed reading this! It’s a bit gothic and the mystery did keep me guessing. I just wish the magical school element was utilized more.

I am a person with so few words, but I can tell you that I loved this book and would recommend it. I rated this five stars

The Otherwhere Post || 🌟🌟🌟🌟

For my first book by Emily Taylor, I was very interested!!! This gave off the perfect type of mystery solving vibes that I have really missed in some books recently! And there’s truly nothing like following a character uncover a family mystery!

A perfect mix of dark academia, with hints of A deadly education, and a bit of A Darker Shade of Magic, and bits of my beloved favorite, Divine Rivals, this book was incredible and I loved the representation of scribes and the detailed imagery that Taylor incorporated, truly cannot wait for the rest of her upcoming works and more like The otherwhere post!

Good YA fantasy that involves scriptomancy, magic invoked through writing: the words you choose, the ink, etc. Love a unique magic system! I also love the trope where everyone tells the MC they can't do something and then they not only do it but excel at it. Good character development and world-building. Plenty of suspense and twists. I also liked the relationships between Maeve and her friends.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

I loved everything about this book and the world it created!

The slight magic with enchanted writing mixed with elements of cobblestones, horses, rains, and gas lamps gave it a classic feel. The dark academia and slow burn romance were tropes that fit the vibe perfectly.

Maeve and Tristan were the perfect duo as the deadly mystery unfolds. Both reluctant to use scriptomancy and share their secrets with each other.

The middle was a little slow for me and the ending felt a little fast. However, everything wraps nicely and my only wish is that I could see the story continue!

“A letter can become an extension of your soul if you will it, a trapped part of you that shakes loose whenever someone reads your words.”

4 🌟

The Otherwhere Post is a young adult dark academia with magic, multiple worlds, mystery, and a touch of slow burn romance. It is told in third person perspective. Our MFC is Mauve, who has been in hiding. Only staying somewhere for several months, before moving, afraid she will be discovered. Her father, Jonathan, who was a powerful scriptomancer capable of enchanting letters, was accused of unleashing Aldervine (a deadly plant) on Inverly 7 years ago. The plant destroyed the world and forced them to burn the Written Doors. Written Doors- were doors people used to travel back and forth between the three known worlds.

MMC- Tristan is a mysterious courier who delivers a letter to Mauve that was written 7 years ago saying her father was innocent. Tristan tells her the only way to track the sender is through the archives, a privilege only couriers have. To solve the mystery, Maeve decides to infiltrate Otherwhere Post. She fakes credentials and steals another applicant’s identity.

Tristan quickly discovers she is faking her identity, but doesn’t turn her in. She has to learn to trust him to help discover the truth about what happened 7 years ago in Inverly. The world building and magical system are well done. There are lots of twists and turns, I couldn’t figure out who did it till it was revealed at the end.

Publication Date: Feb 25, 2025.

Thank you NetGalley and G.P. Putman’s Sons Books for Young Readers for granting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review

"The New York Times bestselling author of Hotel Magnifique returns with this stunning dark academic fantasy full of deadly magic and dangerous secrets, perfect for fans of Divine Rivals and A Study in Drowning.

Seven years ago, Maeve Abenthy lost everything: 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 words: 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."

Sometimes truth is worth every sacrifice.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Otherwhere Post.

This book exceeded all my expectations. It has an academia vibe with a very unique and interesting magic system. The fantasy elements are cool, but easy enough to absorb if that’s not usually your thing. There is a spice-free (it is a young adult book after all) romance plot that was delightful to read. The chemistry was there and the banter was fun! The central focus of the book, however, is a high-stakes mystery that the protagonist, Maeve, has to take many great risks to solve.

I definitely recommend this to mystery/fantasy lovers and especially those who enjoy an academic setting.

This was a such a dreamy and magical, dark academia fantasy. I absolutely loved the world - an Edinburgh-esque setting with three parallel worlds - and the magic system. Our protagonist, Maeve, felt super relatable despite some of her choices driving me absolutely crazy, like doing everything possible to draw attention to herself despite wanting to stay under the radar. This had just the right amount of romance for me (a sprinkle!) actually adding to the story and the relationship was well-developed. This was super fast-paced and engrossing, I was excited to get back into the story every time I picked it up.

Perfect for readers who loved Ink Blood Sister Scribe, are looking for a slightly more lighthearted Babel, or millennials nostalgic for Inkheart (IYKYK).

Sincere thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!