The Otherwhere Post is a magical & mysterious YA fantasy with an academic setting focused on the art of scriptomancy or enchanting letters. It has dark academia vibes, a unique magic system, a compelling mystery, and a delightful slow burn romance.

I really admired Maeve and how strong and sassy she was, and Tristan was the perfect witty & intelligent counterpart. His dry humor was the absolute best. I was very invested in the mystery and things definitely did not turn out how I expected!

This is advertised as a dark fantasy and there certainly is some dark subject matter such as murder, loss of family members, etc., but I actually found it to be quite cozy and sweet. I would definitely recommend this if you’re in the mood for a magical page turning standalone.

Thank you to Penguin and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

Emily J. Taylor has done it again! Once I finished Hotel Magnifique last year, I immediately decided I would read anything this author published. Imagine my excitement when I read the description for this novel and then was approved for ARC copy. Traveling across worlds using super secret "magic" ink that can sometimes be dangerous while discovering the truth about her father's death and clearing his name? I mean, COME ON. This story is rich in mystery, loyalty, and devotion while building a world for the reader that is unlike most I have encountered in novels. While I initially struggled to understand how sprictomancy worked and the hierarchy of the various characters' positions, I hit 30% and flew through this book.

If you enjoy light mysteries that have elements of young love, family devotion, and recklessness that is usually associated with young adulthood, then I highly recommend The Otherwhere Post! A shining four stars for me!

Are you ready to solve a mystery?? Dive into this young adult fantasy and immerse yourself in the world of scriptomancy as Maeve Abernathy goes "undercover" at the Otherwhere Post to prove her father's innocence!!

For 7 years, Maeve has believed that he father was a murderer. She stopped using her real name to separate herself from his notorious legacy. She wants to move forward but one day she receives a magical letter informing her that her father is innocent. This sets a fire under Maeve and motivates her to do what it takes to find out the truth.

Maeve comes across some fun companions along the way including her loquacious OtherWhere Post roommate named Nan and her mysterious courier turned mentor Tristan.

I would highly recommend this young fantasy to readers who are looking for a satisfying mystery to solve.

Thanks so much to NetGalley & the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I would love to read more from Emily J. Taylor.

Maeve lost everything when he father became a mass murderer, but suddenly she has a reason to believe that he may have been innocent. In this gripping fantasy, she infiltrates the place her father loved the most - the home of Scriptomancy - to try and find answers.

The world building in this book is some of the most interesting I've ever read. I was completely enamoured by the magic system and would love more set in this world! Overall this was such a good read, and I'm a little disappointed to have reached the end!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

I have never read anything by this author, but I found this to be quite interesting. I was a bit confused at the beginning, and some parts of the magical system are still a bit unclear, but I did like it. I enjoyed Meave and Tristan. Overall, the plot is tightly woven, and the pace is perfect to keep readers engaged. At the heart of the story is the mystery surrounding Maeve's father. There are numerous twists that keep the reader guessing. Details are vividly drawn, and dialogue feels natural and unique to each character. For those readers who enjoy books with a bit of fantasy along with mystery, this is one to check out.

thank you to penguin for the ARC!

from reading the synopsis of this book, i had high hopes that i would absolutely love it. dark academia? DIVINE RIVALS comparison? the odds looked good. and for the most part, i had a great time!

the mystery was probably my favorite part - it had me flipping pages as fast as i could! i personally would call this book more light academia than dark (to me, it's a fluffy cozy fantasy) and would compare it more closely to a darker shade of magic, which has a similar three parallel worlds concept.

unfortunately, something just didn't really click for me with this book the way it did when i read DIVINE RIVALS or A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC, two fantasy series i absolutely loved. i felt like the characters and plotlines were a bit underdeveloped. that being said, i really appreciated that this is a standalone and felt like the author did a great job with pacing.

from reading other reviews, it think this is one of those "it's not you, it's me" situations. if the synopsis of the otherwhere post interests you, i'd still definitely recommend you check it out! even if doesn't become an all-time favorite, it's absolutely a fun, easy read.

Wow, I absolutely devoured this book! I was instantly transported to this unique world and loved following the MC. She was so relatable and I loved to witness her determination and bravery.

There is an adorable romance in this story as well; full of witty banter and yearning. I couldn't stop smiling and kicking my feet!

The magic system was also very intriguing and is refreshing in the current fantasy romance climate that has an emphasis on fae and witches. I love those stories too, but it is so fun to read something different.

If you enjoy a good mystery in a dark academia setting, pick this one up. I also think people who enjoyed Divine Rivals will enjoy this as well.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for my review.

The Otherwhere Post by Emily J. Taylor is by far one of the best standalone dark academia fantasy books I've ever read. The world Taylor built is lush and thriving with dark magic, deadly secrets, and fantastic characters.

Maeve is such a strong female lead that is self-efficient, sarcastic and determined. Tristan, the MMC, is an amazing counter part for Maeve, determined to help her in any way and gain her trust. This is literally the powerhouse couple of my dreams!

The magical writing, scriptomancy, is such a unique take and very well executed I was honestly hooked when I read the premise and was thoroughly invested in Maeve 's story!

If you love dark academia, deadly secrets, romantic tension, and a HEA I highly recommend The Otherwhere Post!

Thank you to both NetGalley and Penguin Group for providing the eARC.

I stayed up so late finishing this book because I was HOOKED! The Otherwhere Post is a mystery set in a fantasy world with a delightful romance sub-plot. The magic system, which features written enchantments applied to letters, was unique and captivating, as was the world-building, with three known worlds layered atop each other.

It’s marketed as dark academia, and while, yes, there is murder and a collegiate setting, keep in mind this is a YA book. I’d say it was medium-dark. Same with the romance - no spice but it was lovely!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC. You’ll definitely want to add this to your TBR - publishes Feb 25th

Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I got this on eGalley from NetGalley for review.

Thoughts: I really loved this. The writing is exquisite, the world-building is incredibly interesting, and the characters are well done and easy to engage with. There is a very well done mystery here and a unique sort of magic as well (in the form of scriptomancy).

This book follows Maeve, who lost everything when her father committed a crime so heinous he literally destroyed a world. Maeve is trying to do her best to make a living and stay under the radar. Then she gets a letter delivered that has been lost for years; the letter implies that her father was innocent. Maeve decides to infiltrate the scriptomancy college in an effort to both track down them mysterious letter sender and try to find information that will clear her father's name.

As mentioned above, I really loved a lot about this book. It is beautifully written, with an amazing world and characters. The mystery is very well done, and I loved the unique magic throughout.

I really have only one small complaint about this story; our main heroine spends quite a bit of time blacking out, being rescued, and waking up in random places. She seemed pretty smart, but she made a lot of poor decisions. If she had trusted a bit more and planned a bit better, she would have been conscious for more of the story. This kind of niggled at me throughout the book, but I loved the world, characters, writing, and story so much that it wasn't that big of a deal.

My Summary (5/5): Overall I really loved this book and everything about it. This makes me want to pick up Taylor's other book "Hotel Magnifique" to read as well. The writing here was beautiful, the mystery engaging, the characters a delight, and the world so much fun. Definitely recommended!

I was incredibly excited to hear that the author of one of my favorite fantasy standalones -Hotel Magnifique- was coming out with another book. It absolutely stands up to the unique magic system and plot of the first!!

The magic system reminds me a bit of Ink Blood Sisters Scribe in that anyone can read/feel like magic of the scribes and the scribes can do just about anything that the scriptomancer wishes. However, in this universe, the magic is learned through an understanding of language and not merely based down through generations. Though how much money you have to spend on a fancy school does help. There are different forms that are used as well, but some things are left a bit to the imagination.

The world’s building goes a bit hand in hand with the magic that connects everything. This starts on page one. The lush, descriptive writing makes the reader feel like they are in the story. It gives dark academia vibes rather than luxury circus vibes of Hotel. Lore of scriptomancy and Molly Maeve Blackcaster legacy and feats were placed strategically throughout the book. There is a bit of politics as the post office is intertwined with the government, and they basically control everything.

The character development is there mainly for a few of the main characters. The side characters help with the build up of the main characters and how the world functions. The friendships are what really stand out though. You have your classic extrovert/introvert duo with Nan and Maeve. There were plenty of little hints dropped along the way that became important later.

Fantastic second book from Taylor…she might have very well enchanted the text with a sense scripting sentence of her own that we can’t see. Would recommend to anyone who is looking for a book filled with friendship, a high stakes mystery, and a unique magic system.

I started this book this morning basically did to put it down.

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me an early copy of this book. I’ve been dying to read the rest since I got a first glimpse of a few chapters through Bookish First, which has sadly shut down. Those first few chapters hooked me and I’m so glad I finally got my hands of the full ARC.

THIS BOOK is exactly my cup of tea. Or exactly my size quill and grade of parchment. A unique magic system that intrigued me from the start, a compelling orphan story with a haunting mystery…and a band of side characters I grew to adore. But most Importantly a strong, female character in the form of one Maeve Aberenthy. I adore her and her steel spine, facing down a world that lobbied so many wrongs against her. Her story is fantastic and I loved the world of Gloam.

Also, it’s rare to read a book so neatly wrapped up in one novel. In a world of series that seem to drag on with unnecessary second books and drawn out sagas…this is a thoroughly satisfying stand alone novel. I loved it. I couldn’t stop reading until I knew all of the answers. There were so many twists and turns, I was continuously drawn forward to read faster and surprised time and time again.

Highly recommend! Off to read everything written by Emily J Taylor and demand more novels immediately! Please and thank you!

I really enjoyed this unique little world with its magical letters and Maeve was a great main character with her tragic past and fight for redemption. I also got very invested in the romance with her and Tristan and the pining made my heart ache several times, which is always a huge win for any book. The villain felt a little cartoon-ish and the ending almost too perfect and wrapped up in a little bow for me, but overall I had a good time with the mystery and the magic and romance of this story.

I’m a little irritated, because this means my husband was right: he was the first of us to read Hotel Magnifique. And he encouraged me to request an ARC of The Otherwhere Post so he could live vicariously (without me sharing anything about the book).

I really liked Hotel Magnifique. I LOVED The Otherwhere Post. Maeve was so easy to connect with: not a perfect heroine by any means, she’s an evasive loner who starts out caring about her goals and not much else. She has suffered so much, and she’s driven to get answers — and she doesn’t mind taking the necessary steps to get them.

Tristan was a great counterpart for her. He isn’t perfect either: haunted and stubborn and secretive. It was such fun to watch them interact.

And the magic system! It felt unique and fun, developed but not overwrought. Emily J. Taylor is staying on my “they write it, I’ll read it” list.

Thank you to Penguin for the ARC; these are my honest opinions. And now I get to hold it over my husband.

Thank you to NetGalley, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, and Emily J. Taylor for providing me with this E-ARC in exchange for my review.

The worldbuilding in this book was phenomenal! I never felt lost, which is impressive considering how crucial the backstory is throughout the book. One of my favorite aspects was the magic system, it felt so unique. The idea of a courier service that utilizes magical writing to carry communications between different worlds was such a creative flair on transportation magic. And even with so much detail in the story, the pacing was perfect. I never felt overwhelmed, and the author does a fantastic job of making you care about each character’s story arc.

This is easily one of my favorite standalones I’ve read recently and that’s saying a lot. One of the biggest issues I run into when reading standalones is when unrelated conflicts are thrown in at the end, leaving the resolution feeling rushed. This book avoids that entirely but has plenty of twists to keep you intrigued and an engaging enough plot that you have to know how it ends!

The blurb compares this book to Divine Rivals, and I can definitely see the similarities—it has the same rich, atmospheric vibe. That said, it’s not quite as heart-pounding or intense when it comes to romance or conflict. But honestly? That didn’t detract from the story at all. It holds its own beautifully, keeping you hooked and eager to see how everything unfolds.

If you’re looking for a fun, engaging read without committing to a new series, I highly recommend this book!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

My review will be posted to Goodreads on 1/26/25
My Instagram review will be posted on 2/10/25.

From the first page on I couldn’t put this book down. First, I loved the magic system. The mix of writing and the academic setting for their magic to work. I also loved the characters. The found family and the growth that all the characters go through was wonderful to read. I loved the glasses wearing male protagonist. Please pick this book up.

So this was a little YA for me, but not terrible. Definitely did remind me of Divine Rivals a lot. I would definitely recommend this to someone who is less into the smutty side of fantasy for sure.

Maeve, for the past seven years, has been living in the shadows, never staying in one place for too long. Fake identity after fake identity, she hasn’t let herself get too close to anyone, and more importantly, told anyone who she really is. Daughter to the man who is known as a murderer, Maeve wants nobody to connect her to him. Better they think her dead. But now, she must risk her identity when she receives a note telling her that her father is innocent. A spark of hope ignites, and Maeve disguises her way into the otherwhere post apprenticeship to uncover the truth.

The Otherwhere Post features an intricate magic system when it comes to scribing letters that was fascinating to read about — though it did take some time understanding it. The author does a nice job with the vivid descriptions when it comes to the world and the magic system in it! There were some highs and lows for me when it came to the pacing, though the compelling mystery kept me hooked!

I love the slow burn that was in this book with the delightful banter between Maeve and her mentor Tristan. We get to see Maeve slowly letting her guard down to trust and let people in. The relationships she built with people and their interactions was sweet.

If you’re looking for a book that has fake identity and book vibes like: sorcery of thorns, the spellshop, and divine rivals, then you should definitely check this book out!

Thank you @penguinteen #penguinteenpartner , NetGalley, and the author for the eARC!

This is a beautifully written story that begins with an intriguing mystery surrounding Maeve, the brave and quick-witted FMC. The layers of suspense, from Maeve sneaking into the Otherwhere Post program to her daring escapades across campus, kept me hooked. I loved her boldness and determination, especially when paired with the thrilling twists and turns of her investigations.

Tristan, her mentor in the program and a charming outcast rebel, makes for a sweet slow-burn love interest. Their dynamic is wonderful to watch unfold, with Tristan’s understanding of Maeve’s trust issues making him all the more endearing. Together, they form a duo you can’t help but root for.

While I loved the twists and action packed final stretch, I did find myself wishing for a stronger connection between Maeve’s father’s journal and Tristan’s previous apprentice. A few more details could have made that thread more impactful.

Overall, The Otherwhere Post is a sweet YA fantasy filled with suspense, heart, and just the right dash of magic.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!