As a fan of Emily’s previous book I was so excited for this. I really love the way her writing captures mystery and wonder. The magic in this book is so fun and unique. And the overall plot was just really fun and interesting!

The premise and even the characters are quite nice, but the action was disjointed and a bit strange. It kind of felt like a book lover running around going "hold my quill" before engaging in needlessly endangering behavior.

“I think trust is built in small increments, like the words of a scribing, piece by piece, until you know someone fully.”*

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for the e-ARC of The Otherwhere Post!

CWs for the book: death on both a personal and large scale

Like in the Shades of Magic trilogy, we have the same place mapped across three worlds, and there was a catastrophe that broke off casual contact between them and completely ruined one in particular. I only make the comparison because the worlds weren’t explained as well in The Otherwhere Post, and I mostly understood them because of reading a similar concept in Shades of Magic. That did not actually significantly detract from my understanding or enjoyment of the book, however. Still, for people interested in reading - Gloam is a place across all three “known’ worlds. It is not clear if other locations are mirrored across them as well.

I liked the protagonist (Maeve) and our main secondary character, who I will not discuss to avoid spoilers. They did have one sensual (but cut off from being sexual) interaction when under accidental outside influence, which I thought was a… risky and unpleasant choice, but at least it was brief.

The Otherwhere Post is a dark academia novel with a unique magic system based on writing that I would have loved to read even more about; this setting is easily suited for more stories in the same universe, and I enjoyed the wordbuilding in general. Plot wise, mysteries pile up on Maeve’s shoulders throughout the novel during her fight to find answers - about her father’s innocence and legacy and about anonymous letters new and old. At no point did I find myself bored by the characters, plot, or pacing, and it was an enjoyable read overall.

4/5 stars

*Quote is from an uncorrected proof and may be changed or removed by publication.

I read and loved "Hotel Magnifique" by this author, so I had great expectations for this one. Let me tell you, "The Otherwhere Post" by Emily J. Taylor is even better than the former. This dark fantasy is a riveting tale of one woman’s quest for the truth.

The story follows 19-year-old Maeve Abenthy, whose father was condemned as a traitor and murderer seven years ago. Maeve believes those charges and keeps a low profile by assuming a fake name and constantly moving. But when a mysterious letter arrives, claiming her father is innocent, it shakes her world. To uncover the truth, she poses as a courier apprentice for the Otherwhere Post, where she’ll be trained in the art of scriptomancy.

Scriptomancy is the magic that allows couriers to travel between worlds and deliver enchanted letters. Once, people could move freely between the three known worlds via the Written Doors, but after one world was destroyed and the doors burned, there’s no other access between the two remaining worlds. Tristan, the son of Postmaster Bryne, is appointed as her mentor. Between him, her friends Nan and Shea, and threatening letters warning her to back off, Maeve’s got her work cut out for her. Time is running out, and her life is on the line.

I loved this book! Emily J. Taylor has woven a dark fantasy that held me spellbound till the end. The world-building is impeccable, with its vivid portrayal of a divided multiverse and a magical postal system that feels wholly unique. The concept of Written Doors, once used for travel between worlds, adds a mysterious layer to the setting.

The magic system is intricate, and the idea of scriptomancy—where magic is tied to writing—feels fresh and fascinating. The detail in how the magic works, along with the sense of isolation between worlds, makes the world itself feel complex. The plot is original and compelling. I loved the different types of scribing, such as form, sense, and travel magic. I wish we had seen more of the magic system and the teaching at the school - there were fewer lessons than I expected (I would enjoy reading more about it).

The story is well-written, with engaging characters, though it could use another round of editing to iron out a few typos. The pacing was a bit off in the middle, but not enough to lose my interest. The author does a great job of making Maeve someone you want to root for. I loved her spirit, guts, and determination in the face of danger. She did irritate me at times by keeping things too close to her chest, but that just made her feel more real. She cares deeply for others, and I admired that quality in her and that she never gave up (even though she was on the verge several times).

I also enjoyed the character interactions, and the dark atmosphere was wonderfully sketched. The book has everything I love about dark academia: complex characters, an original premise, intrigue, and even a slow-burn romance. Additionally, it explores themes of friendship, loyalty, honor, love, and empathy. This is a perfect read for fans of dark fantasy, especially those who love dark academia vibes and an intricate plot full of twists. Full stars from me!

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

Magical scroll post office school. Have you always liked scrolls in fantasy RPGs but wanted those in an academic setting? With teenagers and mailmen? Maybe a little sci-fi with parallel universes thrown in? Here you go!

Rounding up to 4 stars. This has some familiar story beats but is a fun addition to the YA fantasy catalogue. The book itself was a little short for me. As much as I enjoyed the mystery plot we got, I wanted more! The worldbuilding is very interesting and has so much potential for more storylines. More cross-realm epidemics and crimes, missing people and fractured families being reunited, and the whole bit on social inequality and the privilege of magic. I also would've liked more length to dive deeper into the friendships and romance. This could be the start to an interesting series, but I think this novel is planned to be a standalone. Sad 😔

I do hope this gets another round of editing before release. There were some punctuation issues and a couple misspellings, sentence fragments, and consecutive sentences starting with the same word. The prose wasn't as smooth as I'd like in parts, maybe because a lot of the paragraphs were short, but that could just be a Me thing.

Romance: M/F main couple, sapphic side pairing (very minor)

The standalone YA fantasy romance The Otherwhere Post by Emily J. Taylor is one of my favorites of the year. I had such a great time with the world building and magic system based around writing, and I think fellow readers/writers will likewise enjoy the idea of words and writing having such power. Read it in one sitting, and I want more! Ms. Taylor, if you ever write another story set in this world, I'll be first in line to read it.

I enjoy a good adult fantasy romance too but it was so nice to get a sweet, respectful romance in this one; I feel like it's been awhile! It was a great addition to the story without overwhelming the plot, action, and magical elements.

This rates a high 4 star. 4.5. It didn't quite reach a 5 for me because I thought the pacing from 20% to 60% was a bit too slow, and because I wanted to see more of the magic system at work. But I still highly recommend picking this one up!

This was an incredibly enjoyable read! From the very first page, I was completely absorbed by the story and couldn't put it down until the end. One of the standout elements for me was the magic system—it's refreshingly unique and added a breath of fresh air to the story. I especially wanted more of the fascinating scriptomancy!

The author’s writing style is wonderfully immersive, perfectly capturing the dark academia vibe, which made everything feel even more captivating. The mystery kept me on edge, and the twists were genuinely surprising. The slow-burn romance between Maeve and Tristan was so thoughtfully crafted, and their chemistry was everything I hoped for. Plus, the found family aspect added a heartwarming layer to the story, and I truly loved every character and their development.

Overall, this was a fantastic read, and I would eagerly pick up more works by this author. If you're a fan of young adult fantasy with a mix of magic, mystery, and heartfelt relationships, this book is a must-read!

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Otherwhere Post is one of my favorite books this year. The cover captured my attention immediately. The story of Maeve, a girl afraid to even say her own name out loud because of the treachery of her father, forced to lie, cheat and disappear over and over to stay safe was heartbreaking, but her pluck and bravery made me want to cheer. This was a fast paced book with twists and turns all along the way. The story's climax had me anxious for a happy ending.

This book appears to be a stand alone, but could have a sequel. I would recommend it to middle grades on up. There is some mild swearing, a closed door romance, violence and death.

𝘔𝘢𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘐𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘸𝘢s 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘩 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘤𝘰𝘢𝘭.

Right off the bat we are plunged into this intriguing world, or worlds rather created by @emilycanwrite. I loved her debut novel Hotel Magnifique and was pleasantly charmed by this release. Maeve is an Inverly orphan trapped in Leyland after the doors between worlds were burned down. Hiding under an assumed identity the moment her father was declared as a murderer, she receives an anonymous letter 7 years later declaring his innocence and sets out on a mission to prove it.

As Maeve enrolls as a courier apprentice - the only known profession that can travel between worlds, she meets an assortment of characters at The Otherwhere Post, all or whom either hold secrets to her mystery, or secrets of their own. It made for challenging guesswork trying to figure out everyone's motive and who actually held the clues she was looking for, and there were plenty of misdirects.

The action and pace were well thought out, even with the world building and I could visualise myself in the settings so easily. I loved that her love interest was bespectacled, and that her roommate was challenging the boundaries and expectations that were set for herself. The dark academia setting is lush though there wasn't further deep details on the magic system - especially since there were other characters who could create their own variations within the magic system.

As with Hotel Magnifique, I was extremely curious about the backstory and lore of this world and wish I knew more considering this is a standalone novel rather than a series.

The Otherwhere Post by Emily J. Taylor is a fantasy mystery centered on Maeve, who almost died seven years ago and her father is known as a murderer. She receives a letter stating he is innocent and she becomes an apprentice at the Otherwhere Post to find out the truth. This magical world involves the use of scriptomancy that allows the writer to travel between worlds. The banter and chemistry between Maeve and her mentor, Tristan is quite magical too. He is a talented scriptomancer with secrets of his own, but he is supportive and protective of Maeve.

I would recommend this book for fantasy and young adult readers. I could not put this book down, I wanted to stay immersed in this world as long as possible. I would love to stroll the cobblestones around the school and old town, browse an inksmithy, and stain my fingers with ink while traveling between the worlds. The descriptions are quite lovely and atmospheric in this book, you will delight in the turn of phrases.

Thank you Penguins Young Readers Group and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

I don’t even know how to summarize my feelings in this book. It had familiar magical vibes while being its own unique world and magic system. Everything was fantastic: the characters, the world building, the mystery. I’m torn between hoping this is a standalone book so there’s no potential of taking away from this story vs hoping it becomes a series so I can enter this world again. Highly recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for gifting me this ARC. I've been eager to read this book since it reminded me of Divine Rivals..

I really enjoyed the cozy fantasy vibes, along with the subplot of romance and mystery woven throughout the story. The magic system was particularly intriguing, especially the letters and the magical doors.
Maeve was a standout character; her stubbornness and recklessness drove her quest to uncover the truth about her father. Tristan was funny and caring, but I wished there had been more moments between Maeve and Tristan to fully flesh out their romance. Overall, I really enjoyed this story!

I really enjoyed this book! It kept me interested from start to finish and I was invested in the relationship between the FMC and the MMC. Some portions of the book felt rushed or not fully developed, particularly when the FMC runs away from the school (Why was this so simple to achieve?). I would’ve appreciated more backstory on the professors and the different worlds, but overall it was an exciting read and a unique fantasy that kept me entertained.

Seven years ago Maeve lost her aunt in a horrible crime that wiped out an entire other world with a dangerous vine that was set loose there. Maeve's father was the one blamed for the crime and died while committing the crime. After living years with a false name, Maeve has received a letter stating that her father was innocent and she is determined to find out if this is true, so she poses as an apprentice for the Otherwhere Post to get to the truth. Will she survive the threatening letters she receives after arriving to the school, can she trust anyone around her including her roommate and her handsome mentor, and will she find out the truth before anyone else gets hurt.

This book sucked me in as soon as I started reading and kept me wanting to turn pages all the way to the end. The characters are very relatable and the chemistry between Maeve and Tristan is great. The slow burning romance is fade to black and leaves enough to the imagination that I would be comfortable placing it in a middle school library. A great read that I will be adding to both my middle school and high school.

This was really good! Albeit not partially special, but I still enjoyed it a lot. It wasn’t very memorable unfortunately, as it’s been a few days and I’m struggling to remember anything about this book. It was entertaining, but fades into obscurity among all the other similar young adult romantasy books.

The story was well written, and the characters had a lot of depth. I liked Tristan as a character and for the way that even though he and Maeve didn’t initially get along, he treated her so sweetly from the very beginning. I loved them together, it was cute. The way their relationship progressed felt very natural and not rushed at all. Honestly there’s not much to say.

The Otherwhere Post was a great book in the moment, but I recall VERY little about it just a few days later. I’m not sure if that’s a fault of my own or of the story. Definitely worth checking out though!

I found this book to be enjoyable and a fast read. You are entertained by this other world, a well written plot twist, a dash of mystery and a slow burn romance all rolled into one. You have entered a world of writing which makes magic happen for the characters in this book. The magic and the connection between Maeve and Tristan were what captivated me, and I couldn’t wait to see how Taylor ends this story. I highly recommend this book. 19-year-old Maeve who has been on the run since her father was accused of the destruction of the Written Doors and Inverly. She has just planned to move again before any finds out who she is when she receives a long-lost letter, stating that her father, Jonathan was innocent of these crimes. She decides to investigate and gets herself inside the Otherwhere Post into the scriptomancer apprentice program, where she believes that she will find the person who wrote this letter. This is when adventure, friendships, romance and much more happen to Maeve. Read to find out whether Maeve finds evidence to clear her father. Thank you, Netgalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Otherwhere Post by Emily J. Taylor

I chose to review this book not having read the author’s previous work, but simply by the short description on NetGalley. From the moment I started reading this book I was absolutely captive to the plight of Maeve and her horrifically tragic backstory. She is an incredibly adaptive main character who has learned what she must do to survive until her world is upended with simply a letter. Everything she thought she knew she must question and then is forced to drudge up the worst moments of her life over and over again.

This book is by far one of my absolute favorite reads of this year, even though it won’t be published until February 2025! The author is masterful at multi-world building and invoking layers upon layers of intricate details that not only enhance the experience of reading this tale, but make it truly feel as if I was trying to solve the mysteries right along with Maeve. More than once, when I thought I knew who was behind something, was I wrong and felt the acute disappointment that only brilliant writing can achieve. I felt lost, afraid, abandoned, hopeful, and terrified all in the span of cover to cover. I recommend this book to anyone. Everyone. This is a book that will scribe itself upon your soul, one silver letter at a time.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

He is the most hated man in the world, his actions led to the destruction of a city and the deaths of everyone in it. He’s dead, and she’s hated him for 7 years - and he is her father. Maeve has been hiding her identity to protect herself from her father’s horrid reputation. One day, she receives a mysterious letter saying that her father is innocent. She must risk everything to uncover the secrets that could change everything.

“The Otherwhere Post” is a dazzling, enticing fantasy filled with romance and mystery. The world-building and magic system were unique. I loved Emily J. Taylor’s storytelling in this tale, quite different than “Hotel Magnifique,” which I also enjoyed. Both of these stories have in common the curiosity spark and the dark but yet whimsical magic element. I do think fans of “Divine Rivals” would enjoy this book.

For those who love:
💌 Letter writing magic
💌 Mysterious Letter
💌 Hidden Identity
💌 Academia
💌 Found Family
💌 Political Intrigue
💌 Perplexing Mystery
💌 Standalone Fantasy

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Absolutely loved this book! The academic setting seems unique and refreshing. The romance and the friendships kept me invested and wanting to know what would happen. I love a good standalone that truly gives you an ending and doesn’t leave you guessing.

I loved Hotel Magnifique and the world Emily J. Taylor created and could not wait to read this story.
It's a bit more YA but The Otherwhere Post is a great story about a whole new type of world.

Our protagonist is Maeve Abenthy who needs to live under an alias as her father was blamed with destroying the doors between worlds. In this universe, communication between worlds is via couriers who are trained in the magic scriptomancy and Maeve has managed to herself invited into the school to be trained to be a courier.

There's a love interest, plenty of obstacles and tons of interesting world building. If you love a syfy romance, a universe of words or just want to root for a wonderfully strong and true protagonist, this book is for you!
#Penguin #GPPutnam #theotherwherepost