The Otherwhere Post

Here’s another wonderful fantasy for teens.  It’s set in an alternative world where there are actually four interlinked worlds, one of which was destroyed by a deadly plant invasion seven years previously.  The heroine Maeve has lived a life of pretence and secrecy since then, as her father was accused of causing the destruction of a whole world.  After receiving a mysterious anonymous letter hinting at his innocence, she manages to infiltrate the Otherwhere Post, a magical school for the elite.  What follows is a story of intrigue and hidden dangers, with a growing romance between Maeve and Tristan, the son of the senior Postmaster.  However, who can Maeve trust and how will she discover the truth about her father?   Importantly, if her father was innocent, who is to blame and are they still out there, hiding from justice?

The author has created a totally believable world, where writing can create magic; however, they do it in a real way, not as authors achieve in our world.  The underlying story is about the dangers of poisons and diseases that can infiltrate our world.  It is particularly appropriate, given the last five years and the pandemic that caused so much havoc and death.  There is also a message about understanding the dangers and not letting down our guard when it comes to such dangers.  We take notice of wars, but natural or accidental man-made catastrophes seem to go unnoticed until the danger is at the gates.  We also have the central story about Maeve’s father and the way she has been taught to believe his guilt, partially because of the impact this has had on her life, but also because when there is such a terrible occurrence, society feels the need to find a scapegoat to take the blame.  The growing relationship between Maeve and Tristan, as well as her friends at the school, is a really positive element, where the young people are more open to accepting the reality of the people they are with.  I loved this story from the beginning and it is recommended for the 14+ age group because of some slight sexual themes, although not explicit.