This is a book that definitely lived up to the hype for me. It's a pretty writing style, with a good blend of flowy storytelling and exciting action scenes. I think it's a blend of A Darker Shade of Magic and Divine Rivals and I loved the scriptomancy and doorways to parallel worlds.

While I liked Maeve okay, Tristan and Naan made more of an impact and I loved the group they all formed together. They were there for Maeve through everything and immediately showed her that she can rely on other people sometimes.

Great read and I look forward to more from Taylor!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the copy.

The Otherworld Post by Emily J. Taylor is a charming and whimsical fantasy that completely captured my imagination. I loved the quirky, magical world and the clever way the story blended humor with heart. The characters felt vibrant and relatable, and the plot kept me engaged from start to finish. It’s a delightful, feel-good read that left me smiling long after the last page.

I loved Hotel Magnifique so I couldn't wait to read this one by the same author. It definitely didn't disappoint! The mystery plot was well done, the world building was easy to understand and the romance was sweet without being the main focus. Highly recommend this one.

Did not finish book. Fantasy where writing is magic and the heroine wants to clear her fathers name. ARC from NetGalley.

The Otherwhere Post is the perfect YA romantasy for fans of Divine Rivals and other writing based magic systems.

Set in an alternative Scottish based world filled with magic that is used through inkscribing (magic inks and transcriptions), The Otherwhere Post focuses on the word's mail system which is able to send magical letters to anyone. The world itself is sliced into three layers, accessible in the past through a set of magic doors. After a tragic attack, one of the worlds has been effectively cut off with all of the inhabitants presumed dead. Maeve's father is the accused in the attack and she has spent the vast majority of her life dealing with the fallout of being the child of a mass murderer. In an effort to solve the mystery of the attack and clear her father's name, she poses as a student at the Post and there she meets the enigmatic Tristan who has secrets of his own.

Although I would not categorize this as a "cozy" fantasy - as there is a body count, the romance in this one is very sweet. The worldbuilding is a bit complex and due to its YA nature, I felt the author glossed over a lot of more detail that I would have preferred to have. There are a lot of assumptions that the reader knows what she means with the three different worlds, but it is never fully explained and I would honestly love another book to help flesh out those details. The first part of the book moves quickly, but is bogged down a bit in the middle before ramping back up again, so I would recommend readers stick through it. The storyline does come to a satisfying conclusion.

Overall, I would categorize this as more a YA Fantasy Mystery with a touch of romance as a side story. A nice standalone read that is for more advanced YA fantasy readers. 3.75 stars rounded up to 4.

Thank you to NetGalley, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, and Emily J. Taylor for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a great book this was! A very interesting and unique storyline that was vivid and entertaining! I would recommend this book to everyone!

Overall a good young adult read. The world building and characters are well developed and intriguing making you want to read more. The story starts off slow but then picks up pace with many things near the end 'falling into place'. Maeve is typical teenager character making rash decisions but trying to do her best but not knowing who she can trust. Her name makes many question and not trust to begin with because of the blame of the major event that is the premise of the book being blamed on her father. So after receiving a mysterious letter saying her father is innocent she rushes to the academy to try and solve what really happened. Tristan is a constant in the story trying to help Maeve who questions his motives and I love that he stays true to the character development and his word when he promises something.

This was such a fun read! As a huge fan of dark academia, this premise stood out to me. I’m not usually a big fantasy reader, but this seemed low stakes enough for me to give it a try. The worldbuilding was easily digestible and the characters are easy to root for. I appreciated that the romance wasn’t the main part of the story because the overall mystery plot was so much more interesting to me! Hoping for a sequel!

I really enjoyed this book. I don’t read as much YA as I used to, but The Otherwhere Post is one of those books that can be enjoyed by teens and adults alike. Taylor’s writing is lovely and atmospheric, and Maeve is a sympathetic main character, despite being a bit grumpy (although perhaps we need more grumpy FMCs in books). Nan and Tristan are excellent side characters as well. The overall mystery is intriguing, the world-building is fascinating, and the magic system is very unique. My one complaint is that I thought the ending was a bit rushed and info-dumpy, but I appreciate that this is a standalone.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. What a fun magical cozy story. I loved following Maeve who had been in hiding for years due to her father's messy past. One day she receives a questionable letter claiming her father is innocent, and the journey she goes on to find the truth is anything but easy.

I loved Hotel Magnifique and The Otherwhere Post was a highly anticipated read- and it did not disappoint! While there are some similarities- a teenage girl as protagonist, a magical world that feels immersive and magical- this adventure goes much harder on the mystery plot, which I loved!

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group!

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes, etc: Magic, Mystery, Dark Academia, Slow Burn
POV: Single, 3rd Person

Brief Summary: Maeve has been on the run from the aftermath of her father’s crime for years when she receives an anonymous letter claiming he was innocent. To find the author of the letter, Maeve must lie her way into a prestigious scriptomancy program, but things get complicated when her assigned mentor realizes she’s an imposter.

Vibe Check: Dark and mysterious

While Reading I: Desperately wanted to learn scriptomancy.

What Kept Me Hooked: The overall mystery, the world-building, the romance between Maeve and Tristan.

Room For Improvement: More romance! But that’s really just a me thing 😂

Final Thoughts: I really enjoyed this! I love the idea of scriptomancy, it’s just so unique and interesting. The romance kept me glued to the page, and the dark academia vibes were excellent.

Author Emily J. Taylor delivers another enchanting journey in The Otherwhere Post - definitely no sophomore slumps here. With her signature lush prose and whimsical world-building, Taylor expands her magical universe through the lens of a mysterious postal system that transcends time and space. The story is full of charm, peril, and heart, blending adventure with a growing sense of identity and courage. A magical read for anyone who loves immersive fantasy with a touch of the surreal.

In this fascinating new dark academia fantasy novel, readers follow Maeve Abenthy as she tries to rebuild her life seven years after she lost everything -- using fake names and changing locations constantly until she receives a letter claiming that her father was innocent of his crimes. Desperate to uncover the truth, she goes undercover as an apprentice for the Otherwhere Post, where she will be trained in scriptomancy, the magic that allows couriers to enchant and deliver letters to other worlds, by a mentor who soon uncovers her secrets and is desperate for her trust as her investigation draws unwanted attention. Unique, fascinating, and incredibly interesting, the world-building is the star of the novel and brings in some fascinating pre-novel plot points and events that add to Maeve’s story. The characters are complex and interesting, and the magic and secrets that they all deal with really add to the world-building and complexity of the book’s plot. Entertaining, immersive, and complex, the book is a great mix of magic and spy elements in a detailed fantasy setting, and the different elements, characters, and emotional beats all work well together to create this fascinatingly complex dark academia setting and unique new magical system.

The Otherwhere Post is Emily J. Taylor's sophomore novel, following Hotel Magnifique which I loved. I felt no differently about her newest novel, Taylor keeps up with her magical worldbuilding and enchanting prose. I highly recommend for lovers of light fantasy and magical realism!

Emily J. Taylor's THE OTHERWHERE POST brings a masterfully layered story that deserves far more hype—and it's not too late to shout about it.

🌌 Worldbuilding & Magic

Taylor conjures a universe brimming with intrigue: courier doors to other worlds, scribing magic that pulses with ash and intent, and letters that carry as much danger as they do hope.

The magic system isn’t entirely new—but it’s brilliantly twisted. Between poisoned Aldervine vines and ink-infused portals, Taylor redefines arcane craft with delicious creativity.

💔 Maeve: A Hero Who Never Pretended

Maeve’s journey is far from idealized. She’s carved from hardship, not heroism. She's not the chosen one wrapped in prophecy; she’s the one who fights despite trembling fingers and an empty pocket. A girl with nothing but scraps, secrets, and that relentless spark that refuses to go out.

She lies. She schemes. She nearly dies—more than once. But what makes her unforgettable is her fierce heart. Her loyalty to the few who earn it is absolute.

Her vulnerability isn’t a weakness—it’s defiance. She feels deeply and still charges forward.

❤️ Romance & Relationships

Enter Tristan—the dream boyfriend with ink-stained fingers and a soul full of warmth. Smart, tender, just the right amount of steamy. Their slow burn simmers beneath danger and decoding, until it explodes with emotional and magical resonance.

The side characters sparkle with depth and wit, giving Maeve reasons to fight beyond herself—and proving that chosen family may be the most powerful spell of all.

Scribbled in ink, sealed with love—THE OTHERWHERE POST delivers danger, desire, and devotion on every page.

DNF at 15% - I was mildy enjoying this but it started to feel like it was dragging in a way I struggled to get passed. I didn't feel connected to the main character or the world, and while the writing was well done, I found that I was just pulled out of the story and couldn't get back into it.

*I received an e-arc via Netgalley and the publisher for review. Thank you for the opportunity to review. All thoughts are my own*

Amazing sophomore novel by Emily J. Taylor! I was hooked from start to finish with this amazing fantasy, dark academia, with a script based magic system. I really enjoyed Emily’s debut, Hotel Magnifique but she brought her A game in this one, I loved it! She packed a lot into a standalone and it left me completely satisfied.

Highly recommend!

I liked Taylor's Hotel Magnifique and was intrigued by The Otherwhere Post. I'm normally not one for academia books but this one was too interesting not to at least take a chance on. The magic system is what drew me in, taking power in words and sending mail to a different level. I would love to attend a scriptomancy school. I would love to be able to send enchanted mail. The book ventures beyond the school and classroom, which helped me finish reading it.

I loved the beginning and the mystery behind the death of Maeve's father and his alleged crime. The middle did get repetitive, which was a little disappointing. I wasn't too much a fan of the final reveal, but I enjoyed the book until probably about that point. (3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the world in this book and the magic! This felt like a love letter to sending correspondence through the post and it was done in such a whimsical way. I love the magic system and the use of scribes and scribbling as magic. The mystery in this book was great and was well done. This was the perfect standalone fantasy read.