this was fun! the magic system was kind of confusing at first but once i understood the story got a lot more interesting. i loved the relationships between each of the characters, particularly with maeve's relationship with nan. overall a decent fantasy read with a unique magic system and a mystery that kept me guessing.

I loved this one! I'm a huge dark academia in fantasy fan - and this is the perfect YA dark academia fantasy book. The magic system is so unique and interesting, I loved the world. The darker elements were intriguing, the romance was sweet and swoony, and it's a book you can just escape into and not want to leave!

The writing in The Otherwhere Post is excellent, and knowing the author's style from Hotel Magnifique, it’s clear, fluid, and easy to follow. The storyline is incredibly intriguing, blending mystery and dark elements as the protagonist changes her identity—not just to survive but to escape the shadow of her father’s crime. Her decision to take on a job under a fake identity to help solve the crime adds an exciting layer to the plot, giving the story a unique feel, almost like a fantasy version of a post office infused with dark magic. The romance was well-balanced—not too overpowering but just enough to complement the overarching mystery, though I did wish for a little more of it. The ending felt somewhat abrupt, but not in a jarring way; it was natural and realistic. The characters were well-developed, making them feel fleshed out and compelling. The magic system added a great twist to the postal element of the story, making it both magical and quirky, and reading the letters throughout was a cool touch. I would highly recommend The Otherwhere Post, and I’m especially glad it’s a standalone

Exhaustingly long-winded for such a predictable story. For fans of A Study in Drowning.
Dark Academia
Slow Burn Romance
Magical Letters
Mystery
Secrets

All hail author Emily J. Taylor, whose magical pen enchants and inspires with every word. 6 out of 5 stars for The Otherwhere Post which had me alternately giggling, kicking my feet, and tearing up at different parts.

Maeve Abenthy is running from her parents’ past and even her own name; but when receives a long-lost letter, she goes on an adventure to become an Otherwhere Post apprentice to deliver enchanted letters. But when the letters turn dangerous, Maeve will have to decide who she can trust, if anyone.

Taylor expertly crafts a story with sweet love and hope like an old-fashioned fairytale. I couldn’t put it down and am desperate for more, now that it’s over.

The dialogue? The BANTER? The magic? The characters? The tension in this book is incredible and it kept me at the edge of my seat for the entire read (I devoured the entire book over the course of a long flight).

It’s releasing February 25th, and I need all of you to read it ASAP. In the meantime, this is going straight to the favorites shelf and I will be ordering a hard cover copy.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the eARC of The Otherwhere Post in exchange for a review!.

This was such an unexpected treat to me. The cover was very nondescript that I don't really remember it, the synopsis was something that for the life of me I could not recall when I picked this up to read, and overall I just randomly grabbed this since I needed a book but had no expectations. Well, I loved this story, hands down my favorite read in months. It was full of magic, other worlds, twisted mystery and a very sweet romance- and the best part, somehow the author packed it all into one book with no need for a sequel to make me wait for more. There was never a dull moment where I wished I could just skip ahead, there was always something new (and most likely dangerous) that Maeve and I could get into. The relationship dynamics were slow-burn all over, from the sweet romance to the unwanted best friend, I just loved it all and watching prickly Maeve get swept into it against her will. Keep in mind this is pretty dense, not a light and fluffy read, but something you want to sink into and give yourself plenty of time to sit with. I read an ebook copy but would love a physical copy to keep on my shelf to come back to when I need a reread of this magical world.

Posted on Goodreads: 2/2/2025

If you love fantasy worlds with unique magic, you are in for a treat. This book follows Maeve Abenthy, who receives a letter from seven years ago that changes her life forever. The book includes parallel worlds, cloak-wearing couriers, a main character who can't trust anyone, and secrets upon secrets. I was given the opportunity to review this book through NetGalley, and I hope that it finds other readers who will love it as much as I did!

4.5

This was quite an interesting standalone fantasy novel. It featured a magic system I haven't read about before, had a mostly unique world (more on that below), and a pretty solid set of characters.

The book features scriptomancy, a magic form using words and inks to bring the magic to life. I enjoyed reading about it, though I wish the book had gone a little more in-depth about it. The main setting is in Leyland, one of three worlds that are regularly discussed throughout the book, the other two being Inverly and Barrow. The worlds are parallel in a way, with each world featuring Gloam, the main city in the book. This part reminded me of the Shades of Magic series, where as there are different worlds that all feature a different London. There is a bit of traveling between Leyland and Barrow, as Inverly is lost, but the majority takes place in Leyland. Gloam feels just like its name; a gloomy, depressing city that people wish to escape. However, they can't, as the doors between the worlds have been burned. The only way to cross over is by being a courier and knowing the magic.

While all the characters are pretty well-written, I enjoyed the interactions between Maeve and Tristan the most. There's plenty of sass and banter which made their relationship so good. Maeve is a strong female character, and Tristan has a lot of depth to him that is released throughout the book. Other characters are introduced, and they each have their part and add to the story. It did keep me guessing throughout as to who wrote the letter and who was possibly the villain, which I enjoyed as well. It's nice when a book makes you think and wonder.

The only problem I had really was that there seemed to be a lot of unnecessary filler. I would have liked a little more explanation on the worlds before or on the magic instead of some of the other filler we got. However, this was not enough to really detract from the story. Perfect for fantasy fans who enjoy standalones, unique magic systems, and good characters and plot.

Maeve’s father did something unforgivable that destroyed a world and affected many. Her name is poison so she has been living a boring life under an alias. When she’s finally about to leave she receives a letter telling her that her dad was innocent. To find out the truth, she has to go back to the titular Otherwhere Post, where she’ll be trained in the art of scriptomancy and where her father lived before everything happened. Along the way, she will meet a brooding romantic interest, and an inexplicably cheerful roommate, as well as a cast of mysterious adults who may or may not be involved in her father’s demise. The world-building is fantastic. The cities, the Post, the legends and history, the art of scriptomancy, the classes, everything is described in detail, making it easy to picture Maeve surrounded by it all. The final part felt a little rushed, and the identity of the baddie was not all surprising for an adult reader, but it will probably work for a younger audience. After spending a few horrified minutes reading completely inappropriate content in one of my 12-year old niece’s books, I must say that this one is charming and perfectly acceptable for younger teens. I will be buying her the hardcover as soon as it’s published, which is the biggest compliment that I can give.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/PENGUIN GROUP.

This book grabbed me by the throat from the very beginning! I was pulled deeper and deeper with every twist the story took. I loved that the magic system had to do with writing. I am a big fan of letter writing in a story, and this one was full of it.

I loved Maeve and Tristan. Maeve’s journey of opening her life to include other’s was heartwarming to read. The two of them together were my favorite parts in the story. They had wonderful banter from their first meeting. I liked their slow circling of each other. You felt trust being earned between the two of them.

Maeve and Tristan’s relationship was not the only thing to love about this book. The overall plot with Maeve’s father and the known worlds unraveled in a masterful way. You won’t see any of it coming! I recommend this book to fantasy lovers who are ready to dive into a mystery that keeps them guessing.

I really liked the writing in this one. I enjoyed Hotel Magnifique and was excited to see this one. The magical world building was unique and so interesting. I really liked this world and I would love to see sequels to this even though it also could work as a standalone. Maeve has grown up not letting anyone know her true name since her father caused the death of an entire world. Until she gets a letter that was sent years before letting her know that her father was innocent and she deserved to hear the truth. She then sets out to figure out who sent that anonymous letter and it brings her to the school for apprentice couriers to learn the magic of scriptology, the center of all of the people who hate her father the most. The characters were compelling and interesting and I liked the side romance story. I greatly enjoyed this one and can’t wai to see what Emily Taylor does next.

The Otherwhere Post is set in an alternate universe where people traveled between three worlds until a catastrophe destroys Inverny and leaves Barrow and Leyland cut off from each other. The only way people can communicate with their loved ones is through the couriers of the Otherwhere Post. Trained in the art of scriptomancy, the couriers can travel between worlds and track the recipients of letters.
Maeve Abenthy has been hiding since her beloved father died, condemned as a traitor for unleashing the deadly Vine that changed everything. Although she was only a child at the time, Maeve is blamed and tormented by her peers until she runs away from a dreadful orphanage, changes her name, and keeps moving on to prevent anyone from discovering her real name and her family history.
One day, Maeve receives a letter claiming that her father was innocent. To find evidence that might clear his name, she cons her way into an Apprenticeship at the Otherwhere Post where she will train as a courier until she acquires the skills and the credentials that will enable her to learn the truth,
This is a marvelous academic fantasy that introduces scriptomancy, a system based on writing that uses the adept's natural gifts to transform ink, quills, and paper (or sometimes, the practitioner's own skin!) to magical tools. It is also a tale of love, loyalty, courage, and friendship.
Maeve is a nineteen-year-old heroine who reminds me of Anne McCaffrey's Lessa. The Otherwhere Post is like a darker and harsher Hogwarts.
This is definitely a young adult novel for older teens because there is a bit more sexual activity than would be suitable for a younger audience.
Although I enjoyed the characters and the world-building, I removed a star because there seemed a bit too much running and hiding and a few too many betrayals that seemed obvious to me. Still, I loved the idea of scriptomancy and I would definitely read another story set in this world.
I would like to thank NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the opportunity to read a free advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I have not been THIS into a book in a while so hold on tight!

Thank you PenguinTeen for the ARC of this book—I couldn’t put it down!

The Otherwhere Post is near flawless in my book. The writing was beautiful. I felt spellbound by some of the lines in this story. They really captured my heart and served to further lure me into this story.

Maeve, our MC, reminds me of some of my favorite morally gray characters. It wasn’t until I finished the book that I realized she reminds me of Lila Bard from A Darker Shade of Magic mixed with a little of the arcane magic from this new world.

This story is a must read, my new rec, a top 10 favorite book of I’ve read this year, and I can’t wait until its release day to continue to shout its praises! February 25, 2025! Mark your calendar!!

This was an absolute joy to read. I love a new magic system, and a sparky main character. Tristan was just lovely as well!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to Penguin Teen for the ARC of The Otherwhere Post by Emily J. Taylor. All opinions are my own.

This book was so fascinating and had such wonderful characters. I loved it so much and can’t wait to read more books by this author in the future.

In this magical book, the characters dealt with a type of magic called scriptomancy, which allowed mail couriers to enchant letters in order to deliver them to other worlds. I found scriptomancy so interesting. I loved learning about different inks and how writing was something that people had to be trained for years to do.

My favorite part of this story was Tristan. He was so misunderstood by everyone, but he was so thoughtful and sweet. I loved how sarcastic he was with Maeve and how he cared so much about her wellbeing.

Maeve was a great protagonist, and I loved seeing her build relationships with people after being isolated for so long. I didn’t always agree with her decisions, but I understood where she was coming from.

The relationship between Tristan and Maeve was so sweet and funny. Their meet cute was hilarious, and I loved how often Tristan brought it up. I also loved how they lifted each other up and believed in one another.

Overall, I loved this story and would recommend it! I would love to read more about these characters in the future too.

This is without a doubt one of the best books I've read in a long while! I had snagged on Netgalley when you could download it for only 48 hours, just wondering if I would like it. I'm so happy that I got this! Every time I opened this book, I didn't want to put it down. The book just pulls you into this world of scriptomancy, mystery, slow burn romance and surprising secrets. The story was so balanced, tightly written and the idea of these magical mail carriers is so cool. Plus you understood where Maeve was coming from and her growth during the story was organic and believable. Her slow burn romance with Tristan doesn't distract the story at all but instead goes with the main plot seamlessly. Their banter was great and they just clicked. I'm in awe of this author now with her genius ideas, surprises and pacing especially. I cannot wait to read her debut novel now and anything else she comes out with

4.5/5 stars. I really enjoyed this book! It had the perfect academia vibes and I loved our main character. The world building was a little confusing but not too much that the book wasn’t enjoyable.

3.75 stars. I don’t really have a lot to say about this book beyond it was fine. I did find the magic system really interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this via gifted eARC. All thoughts are my own and honest.

I received a copy of this arc from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I sometimes struggle with fantasy/dark academia. I want to love it dearly, but sometimes I find my mind straying or having a difficult time imagining how a magic system works. There are things I really enjoyed about The Otherwhere Post, and others I had a difficult time wrapping my mind around.

Things I liked:
The idea that writing could be magical and have a magic system around mixing inks, word play, and mediums for writing (Paper/Skin).
Maeve, Tristan, and Nan as characters.
The "solving a mystery" aspect regarding Maeve's father.
The school setting.
The wintery atmospheric setting.
The letters to Maeve in the hospital to move things along.

Things I didn't like:
I couldn't really understand the three worlds -- were they actually different planets, or different countries/islands, or like were they layers of the same world on top of each other (quantum leap)? It was difficult for me to process/understand based on the writing. Maybe in the finished copy there will be a map that will help clarify this.
For being set in a school, they rarely went to class or learned much. I felt like they were everywhere but school for most of the book?
The Aldervine - once you learn how it came to be I had SOOOO many questions of why and who and how did they not know this?
The logic gaps/plot holes. It seemed like some things just didn't add up for me at times.
The ending felt rushed for how slow and meandering the middle was.

I think this was overall solid.

I am a huge fan of Emily J. Taylor’s book Hotel Magnifique so when I saw this I knew I needed it immediately.

Emily’s writing and world building is so magical and intriguing. I will say the world and magic system in this book was a little confusing at first but I’m glad I pushed through it. I really enjoyed reading about Maeve and Tristian and all the twists were just so good.