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The Nightland Express
“A must-read for anyone who loves . . . complex and compelling coming-of-age stories, tales set in the Wild West with a tinge of magic, and/or a fast-paced read full of fae and adventure.” —Tor.comIn antebellum America, two teens bury their secrets and join the historic Pony Express, soon discovering that the mortal world is not the only one on the brink of war. When bright, brash Jessamine Murphy finds a recruitment poster for the Pony Express, her tomboy heart skips a not only for adventure, but for the chance to track down her wayward father in California. Eager to reunite her fractured family, Jessamine cuts her hair, dons a pair of trousers, and steps into the world as Jesse. With a bit of trickery, Jesse wins a special assignment—as does Ben Foley, a quiet but determined boy who guards secrets as closely as Jesse does. The two are to transport unusual cargo along an unusual the Nightland Express. They ride west together, one excitedly navigating the world as a boy, the other passing as white to escape the monsters from his past. Ben and Jesse soon realize their assignment is special in more ways than their tireless horses cover ground faster than should be possible, and inhuman creatures watch their journey from the darkness. The Nightland Express is more than a mail route—it traces the border between the mortal world and a vibrant, magical land just beyond. As both realms hover on the precipice of disaster, Jesse and Ben must learn to fully trust one another before a catastrophic rift separates the two worlds—and the two riders—forever.
370 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 11, 2022
33 people are currently reading
5947 people want to read
About the author
J.M. Lee
10 books210 followersJ.M. spent his formative years searching for talking animals and believing he could control the weather. After pursuing nerdy interests in comparative film studies, screenwriting, and Shakespeare, he graduated with a much nerdier degree in linguistics.
In addition to writing novels, he enjoys teaching his dog new vocabulary words and updating his snooty coffee blog.
The Dark Crystal Author Quest
In 2013, the Jim Henson Company and Grosset & Dunlap launched the Dark Crystal Author Quest. The winner would be awarded a publishing contract to write the first official prequel novel to Jim Henson’s beloved fantasy classic The Dark Crystal (1982). After winning the contest and completing the first novel, Shadows of the Dark Crystal, Joe signed on for three more. The third installment in the quadrilogy, Tides of the Dark Crystal, out now. The finale of the series, Flames of the Dark Crystal, is scheduled for summer 2019.
Joe is also a staff writer and creative consultant on The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, a 10-episode Netflix prequel series released in August of 2019.
In addition to writing novels, he enjoys teaching his dog new vocabulary words and updating his snooty coffee blog.
The Dark Crystal Author Quest
In 2013, the Jim Henson Company and Grosset & Dunlap launched the Dark Crystal Author Quest. The winner would be awarded a publishing contract to write the first official prequel novel to Jim Henson’s beloved fantasy classic The Dark Crystal (1982). After winning the contest and completing the first novel, Shadows of the Dark Crystal, Joe signed on for three more. The third installment in the quadrilogy, Tides of the Dark Crystal, out now. The finale of the series, Flames of the Dark Crystal, is scheduled for summer 2019.
Joe is also a staff writer and creative consultant on The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, a 10-episode Netflix prequel series released in August of 2019.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
October 28, 2024
As above so below, I don't know how I'm gonna go / But with angels by my side, I'm gonna get on my horse and ride (Good Time Blues, An Outlaw’s Lament – Hurray for the Riff Raff).
This review will seem a bit weird because I’ll probably be all over the place. I’ll be out here saying it’s really good in one sentence, and then in the same breath I’ll be talking about something that felt off to me. All I can really say is that at the end of the day, I think this is a great book, and any negativity on my end is more to just explain the context as to where I’m coming from as a reader. Like I said, objectively, I think The Nightland Express is wonderful. Anyway, can I be real with you for a second and say that I’m fake as hell because the only reason why I picked this book up was because I didn’t want to leave the Cannon Beach book store empty handed and the cover was pretty. Well, it’s nice to be rewarded for half-ass-ing everything every now and then because sometimes you'll find yourself reading an absolute gem! A diamond in the rough, if you will. Seriously, I really can’t stress enough how much I didn’t know about this book going into it! I didn’t even realize it was a fantasy until some wild stuff started happening and I was like, “Wait a minute… what’s all this here…” If it wasn't obvious by now, it takes a little while for me to catch up to basic concepts. I’m not joking when I tell you that I thought empaths were, like, a real thing while I was reading The Infinite Noise by Lauren Shippen! Hm, I'm realizing that that’s an embarrassing thing to admit in writing, isn’t it? Moving on though, while I thought this book was at its best when it stayed more grounded in reality, as it did take some time for me to get used to the genre shift from Western to Magical Realism, I was still able to appreciate the effort the author put into making a historical-fiction novel infused with fantasy that also manages to tackle racism, gender roles, queer awakenings, trans awakenings, climate change, and colonization, all within a sensitive and cohesive narrative. It’s actually kind of a miracle that this book works at all, given the many pratfalls it could have gotten itself into. This comes as a surprise, well, to me, because it’s not always the easiest thing to do a story set during this time without tripping up when it comes to exploring its specific social issues and how they relate to the social issues of our time. Nonetheless, I’d say that when done right, I think Westerns as a genre will always be entertaining for me. Well, maybe “entertaining” is the wrong word because of all the awfulness happening during the time (slavery and genocide, among other things), but it’s interesting to see how Westerns have shifted in the cultural zeitgeist as these movies about machismo, freedom, and “man taking justice into his own hands,” into a genre that’s now more interested in exploring themes of the hypocrisy of said freedom and the cultural unrest of the time. Oh, by the way, I think this is a good thing. These things should evolve and if you keep making the same story with the same ideals forever, then you’ll fail to realize that audience sentiments are constantly changing and won't hesitate to move on without you... much like how Westerns often feature stories about society moving too fast for the stoic, wandering main character. Just ask Kevin Costner! Dances with Wolves man with his newest shitty Western that bombed because nobody wanted to watch it except him. What I’m getting at is that I don’t blame this book for almost immediately abandoning the well-known iconography of the genre and going down a different path entirely. Still, I think that J.M. Lee manages to imbue The Nightland Express with just enough of a deep-seated feeling of wanderlust that I can’t help but feel like this book remains profoundly… Western.
Let me just set the scene. When I did realize that this book would mostly be a fantasy, my eye-brow did do an involuntary twitch. Not that it really matters in the grand scheme of things, but I guess this is the part where I say that I’m Native American. Dun dun dunn~nn! And I don’t mean it in a “My great-great-great-great-great grandma is a Cherokee princess” kind of way, but like… in a “Hey, my mom is Native so I’m Native” kind of way. It’s actually not something I usually advertise about myself, and even looking at that “I’m Native American” bit up there like it’s some kind of important declaration makes me cringe a little, but whenever I let people know, they can sometimes get kind of weird about it. Things get a little too “Send Me on My Way” by Rusted Root for my taste. I’m only letting you in on the secret for added context! Anyway, the truth is that I’m always a bit skeptical whenever there’s a story that includes both Native Americans and has a “the magic of the land” vibe to it. I’m always like, gee, I wonder what vaguely offensive thing the author will imply about Native’s inherent connection to nature this time around. Not that I don’t think environmentalism is a very important thing to write about, but when you characterize Native peoples with this fantasy, “elf-like,” quality that adheres so strictly to some kind of lofty idea of “the old ways,” it kind of creates this imagery where the Native peoples are an ancient society that’s only duty left here is to pass the torch onto newer societies. Portraying them as some kind of willingly sacrificial people, rather than victims of genocide. Sorry to let the cat out the bag, but hey, we’re still here! My point here is that I was worried that this book would be another one of those ones, but thankfully, I think it made great strides into alleviating a lot of the fears I had going into it. The narrative goes out of its way to address and feature the kinds of people that a Western genre story always seems to forget, and I appreciate that. But I will say that it was interesting how Natives are often brought up by the characters, but aren’t often seen or given a voice within the actual story. This isn’t really a criticism, but it’s funny how in a book that’s so dead-set on breaking the wheel, it still delegates Native Americans to being tertiary characters in a story that, in many ways, should be about them. It’s almost like it’s another example of Native peoples again merely being used as set-dressing in a genre story rather than a respectful portrayal outright. Wow, this went off the rails, huh? I usually just keep writing until I arrive at some kind of point. Because who knows, maybe it’s not that deep? But if a story opens up a dialogue about issues that are important to me, then I’ll always take that opportunity and run with it! Sorry. I mean, it’s prevalent even in the way that the fantasy aspect of the novel often felt at odds with the setting, because the whole story is about the Fae and their connection to the land, but I thought something felt off because I’m not really sure if Fae fantasy really fits in a story taking place in 19th century North America. Again, I’m not really sure what I'm trying to say here, but maybe I would have liked this book better if there were more connections to Native religions or something.
So, here’s the thing about doing a Western genre thing in this day and age and why most people don’t bother… it’s because you can’t just do a simple cowboy story anymore (why don't we ask Kevin Costner). Meaning, a writer can’t just ignore the issues of the time anymore. I mean, you can, but not if you want the story to be honest and true. Remember that thing about audience taste’s growing and changing? Yeah, that part. Again, I think this is a good thing, because otherwise the genre becomes stale and derivative, and art should always try to reflect important social change, no matter how difficult it can be to talk about. But because a lot of people would rather to avoid hard topics, in order to get around talking about them in Westerns specifically, I’ve noticed that writers like to add a designated “POC” character to give the audience the okay, a kind of buffer that let's us know that “it’s alright, everyone! Our main characters aren’t racist!” The thing is, I’m afraid I don’t have one example of this! …I have five. In Bone Tomahawk, the main characters have to go into a cavern to kill off the savage, dangerous, and cannibalistic natives that are threatening the town. Sounds pretty racist, doesn’t it? Don’t worry, they’ve got a native dude that tells Kurt Russell before he sets out on this journey that these monsters aren’t “real” Native Americans and it’s totally cool to get rid of them. Cool, thanks man! In Cowboys & Aliens, Harrison Ford plays a guy who used to literally hunt Natives, and while that sounds like an objectively bad thing, it’s all good, his character now has a Native friend that tells the audience that he’s a good man. Even cooler! In the newer Magnificent Seven, the evil group’s turncoat Native dude is offset by the hero’s good guy Native dude who gives us permission to cheer when turncoat Native gets killed! Yes! Wooo! Mass Effect: Andromeda is a sci-fi video game about the races of the Milky Way Galaxy traveling to the Andromeda Galaxy in order to “colonize a new frontier!” Hold up, yuck, actually. It’s fine though, in order to side-step the weird “manifest destiny” vibes, the story reveals that the Natives of the Andromeda galaxy are actually under attack by other evil invaders. See, the Milky Way travelers are the “good” kind of colonizer! Phew, really dodged a bullet there guys! In The Nightland Express, the narrative likes to wax poetic about the terrible treatment of the Native Americans, but only features one Native character in the whole novel. And even then, they’re really only there to offer sage advice about the land and "the old ways" to our main characters before they dip. My point, if I have one, is that Native Americans are always going to be ever present in any kind of Western, as it’s literally a part of our history, but if there’s going to be a story with us in it, I’d like our role to be a bit more substantial than the “offers you a life lesson about nature and mysticism”-guy. Regardless, I hope this review didn’t come across like I thought this book was offensive or uninteresting, because I did like it. Quite a bit, actually. It’s a story for the downtrodden, the marginalized and forgotten, and finishing it felt like saying goodbye to an old friend.
“I have to go. But I’ll be back… I want to know everything.”
We have all of time, she said
This review will seem a bit weird because I’ll probably be all over the place. I’ll be out here saying it’s really good in one sentence, and then in the same breath I’ll be talking about something that felt off to me. All I can really say is that at the end of the day, I think this is a great book, and any negativity on my end is more to just explain the context as to where I’m coming from as a reader. Like I said, objectively, I think The Nightland Express is wonderful. Anyway, can I be real with you for a second and say that I’m fake as hell because the only reason why I picked this book up was because I didn’t want to leave the Cannon Beach book store empty handed and the cover was pretty. Well, it’s nice to be rewarded for half-ass-ing everything every now and then because sometimes you'll find yourself reading an absolute gem! A diamond in the rough, if you will. Seriously, I really can’t stress enough how much I didn’t know about this book going into it! I didn’t even realize it was a fantasy until some wild stuff started happening and I was like, “Wait a minute… what’s all this here…” If it wasn't obvious by now, it takes a little while for me to catch up to basic concepts. I’m not joking when I tell you that I thought empaths were, like, a real thing while I was reading The Infinite Noise by Lauren Shippen! Hm, I'm realizing that that’s an embarrassing thing to admit in writing, isn’t it? Moving on though, while I thought this book was at its best when it stayed more grounded in reality, as it did take some time for me to get used to the genre shift from Western to Magical Realism, I was still able to appreciate the effort the author put into making a historical-fiction novel infused with fantasy that also manages to tackle racism, gender roles, queer awakenings, trans awakenings, climate change, and colonization, all within a sensitive and cohesive narrative. It’s actually kind of a miracle that this book works at all, given the many pratfalls it could have gotten itself into. This comes as a surprise, well, to me, because it’s not always the easiest thing to do a story set during this time without tripping up when it comes to exploring its specific social issues and how they relate to the social issues of our time. Nonetheless, I’d say that when done right, I think Westerns as a genre will always be entertaining for me. Well, maybe “entertaining” is the wrong word because of all the awfulness happening during the time (slavery and genocide, among other things), but it’s interesting to see how Westerns have shifted in the cultural zeitgeist as these movies about machismo, freedom, and “man taking justice into his own hands,” into a genre that’s now more interested in exploring themes of the hypocrisy of said freedom and the cultural unrest of the time. Oh, by the way, I think this is a good thing. These things should evolve and if you keep making the same story with the same ideals forever, then you’ll fail to realize that audience sentiments are constantly changing and won't hesitate to move on without you... much like how Westerns often feature stories about society moving too fast for the stoic, wandering main character. Just ask Kevin Costner! Dances with Wolves man with his newest shitty Western that bombed because nobody wanted to watch it except him. What I’m getting at is that I don’t blame this book for almost immediately abandoning the well-known iconography of the genre and going down a different path entirely. Still, I think that J.M. Lee manages to imbue The Nightland Express with just enough of a deep-seated feeling of wanderlust that I can’t help but feel like this book remains profoundly… Western.
Let me just set the scene. When I did realize that this book would mostly be a fantasy, my eye-brow did do an involuntary twitch. Not that it really matters in the grand scheme of things, but I guess this is the part where I say that I’m Native American. Dun dun dunn~nn! And I don’t mean it in a “My great-great-great-great-great grandma is a Cherokee princess” kind of way, but like… in a “Hey, my mom is Native so I’m Native” kind of way. It’s actually not something I usually advertise about myself, and even looking at that “I’m Native American” bit up there like it’s some kind of important declaration makes me cringe a little, but whenever I let people know, they can sometimes get kind of weird about it. Things get a little too “Send Me on My Way” by Rusted Root for my taste. I’m only letting you in on the secret for added context! Anyway, the truth is that I’m always a bit skeptical whenever there’s a story that includes both Native Americans and has a “the magic of the land” vibe to it. I’m always like, gee, I wonder what vaguely offensive thing the author will imply about Native’s inherent connection to nature this time around. Not that I don’t think environmentalism is a very important thing to write about, but when you characterize Native peoples with this fantasy, “elf-like,” quality that adheres so strictly to some kind of lofty idea of “the old ways,” it kind of creates this imagery where the Native peoples are an ancient society that’s only duty left here is to pass the torch onto newer societies. Portraying them as some kind of willingly sacrificial people, rather than victims of genocide. Sorry to let the cat out the bag, but hey, we’re still here! My point here is that I was worried that this book would be another one of those ones, but thankfully, I think it made great strides into alleviating a lot of the fears I had going into it. The narrative goes out of its way to address and feature the kinds of people that a Western genre story always seems to forget, and I appreciate that. But I will say that it was interesting how Natives are often brought up by the characters, but aren’t often seen or given a voice within the actual story. This isn’t really a criticism, but it’s funny how in a book that’s so dead-set on breaking the wheel, it still delegates Native Americans to being tertiary characters in a story that, in many ways, should be about them. It’s almost like it’s another example of Native peoples again merely being used as set-dressing in a genre story rather than a respectful portrayal outright. Wow, this went off the rails, huh? I usually just keep writing until I arrive at some kind of point. Because who knows, maybe it’s not that deep? But if a story opens up a dialogue about issues that are important to me, then I’ll always take that opportunity and run with it! Sorry. I mean, it’s prevalent even in the way that the fantasy aspect of the novel often felt at odds with the setting, because the whole story is about the Fae and their connection to the land, but I thought something felt off because I’m not really sure if Fae fantasy really fits in a story taking place in 19th century North America. Again, I’m not really sure what I'm trying to say here, but maybe I would have liked this book better if there were more connections to Native religions or something.
So, here’s the thing about doing a Western genre thing in this day and age and why most people don’t bother… it’s because you can’t just do a simple cowboy story anymore (why don't we ask Kevin Costner). Meaning, a writer can’t just ignore the issues of the time anymore. I mean, you can, but not if you want the story to be honest and true. Remember that thing about audience taste’s growing and changing? Yeah, that part. Again, I think this is a good thing, because otherwise the genre becomes stale and derivative, and art should always try to reflect important social change, no matter how difficult it can be to talk about. But because a lot of people would rather to avoid hard topics, in order to get around talking about them in Westerns specifically, I’ve noticed that writers like to add a designated “POC” character to give the audience the okay, a kind of buffer that let's us know that “it’s alright, everyone! Our main characters aren’t racist!” The thing is, I’m afraid I don’t have one example of this! …I have five. In Bone Tomahawk, the main characters have to go into a cavern to kill off the savage, dangerous, and cannibalistic natives that are threatening the town. Sounds pretty racist, doesn’t it? Don’t worry, they’ve got a native dude that tells Kurt Russell before he sets out on this journey that these monsters aren’t “real” Native Americans and it’s totally cool to get rid of them. Cool, thanks man! In Cowboys & Aliens, Harrison Ford plays a guy who used to literally hunt Natives, and while that sounds like an objectively bad thing, it’s all good, his character now has a Native friend that tells the audience that he’s a good man. Even cooler! In the newer Magnificent Seven, the evil group’s turncoat Native dude is offset by the hero’s good guy Native dude who gives us permission to cheer when turncoat Native gets killed! Yes! Wooo! Mass Effect: Andromeda is a sci-fi video game about the races of the Milky Way Galaxy traveling to the Andromeda Galaxy in order to “colonize a new frontier!” Hold up, yuck, actually. It’s fine though, in order to side-step the weird “manifest destiny” vibes, the story reveals that the Natives of the Andromeda galaxy are actually under attack by other evil invaders. See, the Milky Way travelers are the “good” kind of colonizer! Phew, really dodged a bullet there guys! In The Nightland Express, the narrative likes to wax poetic about the terrible treatment of the Native Americans, but only features one Native character in the whole novel. And even then, they’re really only there to offer sage advice about the land and "the old ways" to our main characters before they dip. My point, if I have one, is that Native Americans are always going to be ever present in any kind of Western, as it’s literally a part of our history, but if there’s going to be a story with us in it, I’d like our role to be a bit more substantial than the “offers you a life lesson about nature and mysticism”-guy. Regardless, I hope this review didn’t come across like I thought this book was offensive or uninteresting, because I did like it. Quite a bit, actually. It’s a story for the downtrodden, the marginalized and forgotten, and finishing it felt like saying goodbye to an old friend.
“I have to go. But I’ll be back… I want to know everything.”
We have all of time, she said
![Profile Image for laurel [the suspected bibliophile].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1645808644i%2F7494844._UX200_CR0%2C6%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
September 25, 2022
I really wanted to like it, and I did enjoy the first third, but then it went on and I found myself not caring at all about what happened because it felt like one damned thing after the next with no time to really think or get into the heads of the main characters.
I did like the rep—Jesse is a white trans person (his pronouns change but he tends to land on he/his) figuring out himself and realizing his privilege in the world, and Ben is a white-passing gay man escaping slavery to a new world. Both need to get west for ~reasons~ and both need a job with the Pony Express because apparently that's the fastest way to get west? So they take a special job and things do sideways almost immediately.
I also liked the way Lee decolonizes the world and addresses the effects of colonization.
However, once again, the entire story felt messy and despite the potential of these two amazing characters, I just did not feel they were fully realized.
I received this ARC from NetGalley
I did like the rep—Jesse is a white trans person (his pronouns change but he tends to land on he/his) figuring out himself and realizing his privilege in the world, and Ben is a white-passing gay man escaping slavery to a new world. Both need to get west for ~reasons~ and both need a job with the Pony Express because apparently that's the fastest way to get west? So they take a special job and things do sideways almost immediately.
I also liked the way Lee decolonizes the world and addresses the effects of colonization.
However, once again, the entire story felt messy and despite the potential of these two amazing characters, I just did not feel they were fully realized.
I received this ARC from NetGalley
January 6, 2024
Even though this starts out as a Pony Express story, it is pure fantasy. Two teens think they're signing up for the Pony Express. Instead they become riders on the Nightland Express, a route with its own dangers and magical creatures.
If you like fantasy and are looking for stories with characters who are questioning their skin color or gender identity, this is it.
If you like fantasy and are looking for stories with characters who are questioning their skin color or gender identity, this is it.
October 14, 2022
Thanks to the publisher (Erewhon) for the ARC of this book.
I love the idea of weird westerns, but so far I haven’t managed to find a single one that’d satisfy the urge. I was especially excited at the prospect of one that deals with the racism and colonialism, but…I don’t know if it’s just because the cover and the blurb made me expect more weird western and less fae, but I wasn’t as much of a fan of The Nightland Express as I’d have hoped.
Jesse Murphy, intent on finding her father before her pregnant sister gives birth and excited at the opportunity to dress up as a boy, and Ben Foley, a mixed-race young man escaping slavery, sign up for a special assignment on the Nightland route of the Pony Express. Along the way, they quickly get entangled in the schemes of the fae.
Well. It’s mostly about the fae, which is where my main issue was. From the cover and the blurb, I very much expected it’ll be more about riding and overcoming dangers (supernatural and not) along the way and the characters, and it does contain some of that, but the “let’s go to X to deliver Y” plotline ends sooner than I’d have expected and in the end the whole book is really more about the fae and saving the world. It didn’t help that the characters were two-dimensional at best.
The pacing is also rather janky and rushed from about the middle onwards. A good example is a scene where a character is dying and the proposed solution is finding a magic cure…which is resolved in the span of maybe ten pages. It felt unearned. And the ending is a complete mess. Far too much gets introduced in the last third or so of the book when the story should be wrapping up.
Still, I found Jesse’s realisation about gender and the slow shift in pronouns from she to he in narration (with both used in the middle) very interestingly done. It’s clearly a very deliberate choice to have that ambiguity present and I liked that a lot.
Not sure if I recommend this one though. Decide for yourself.
Enjoyment: 3/5
Execution: 3/5
Recommended to: fans of fae
Not recommended to: those looking for a weird western
More reviews on my blog, To Other Worlds.
I love the idea of weird westerns, but so far I haven’t managed to find a single one that’d satisfy the urge. I was especially excited at the prospect of one that deals with the racism and colonialism, but…I don’t know if it’s just because the cover and the blurb made me expect more weird western and less fae, but I wasn’t as much of a fan of The Nightland Express as I’d have hoped.
Jesse Murphy, intent on finding her father before her pregnant sister gives birth and excited at the opportunity to dress up as a boy, and Ben Foley, a mixed-race young man escaping slavery, sign up for a special assignment on the Nightland route of the Pony Express. Along the way, they quickly get entangled in the schemes of the fae.
Well. It’s mostly about the fae, which is where my main issue was. From the cover and the blurb, I very much expected it’ll be more about riding and overcoming dangers (supernatural and not) along the way and the characters, and it does contain some of that, but the “let’s go to X to deliver Y” plotline ends sooner than I’d have expected and in the end the whole book is really more about the fae and saving the world. It didn’t help that the characters were two-dimensional at best.
The pacing is also rather janky and rushed from about the middle onwards. A good example is a scene where a character is dying and the proposed solution is finding a magic cure…which is resolved in the span of maybe ten pages. It felt unearned. And the ending is a complete mess. Far too much gets introduced in the last third or so of the book when the story should be wrapping up.
Still, I found Jesse’s realisation about gender and the slow shift in pronouns from she to he in narration (with both used in the middle) very interestingly done. It’s clearly a very deliberate choice to have that ambiguity present and I liked that a lot.
Not sure if I recommend this one though. Decide for yourself.
Enjoyment: 3/5
Execution: 3/5
Recommended to: fans of fae
Not recommended to: those looking for a weird western
More reviews on my blog, To Other Worlds.
September 20, 2022
The Nightland Express by J.M. Lee
2.5/5 stars (rounded down for Goodreads)
*I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I hate to say it, but The Nightland Express was a major disappointment for me, especially because on paper, it’s a story I should have enjoyed. And I did enjoy the first third of it, but after that point, it lost my attention and never managed to regain it. I honestly cannot tell you a single thing that happened in the last third of the book, not because it was especially confusing (although there were parts I was definitely confused about), but because I was so disengaged with it that I couldn’t concentrate on what was happening. It’s not a bad book, and I wouldn’t even call it a boring book, but it’s a book I found hard to care about.
The Nightland Express is a dual POV from the perspectives of Jesse, a white transgender boy navigating the world while presenting as male for the first time, and Ben, a biracial cisgender boy navigating the world after being freed from slavery. These are the only things of note about either of these characters, and it’s hard for me to come up with a single personality trait that either of them had. It was also hard to believe that either of these characters really cared about each other; they protect each other out of the obligation of the job, but outside of that, they’re at odds with each other for a majority of the book. Because of that, a lot of the ending felt unrealistic to me.
One thing I will say in favor of The Nightland Express is that it didn’t feel like a YA book in a lot of ways, and I think that’s a good thing. Oftentimes, when I read YA books as an adult, I think “this is good, but I’ve definitely outgrown this.” I didn’t feel that way about this book at all. While it is undoubtedly aimed at teenagers, it doesn’t talk down to them. It’s a book that people of all ages will be able to enjoy.
Overall, I really hope this is a case of “it’s not the book, it’s me”, because I wanted to enjoy it, and I hope that others will. But at this point, I’m more glad to be done with it than anything else.
2.5/5 stars (rounded down for Goodreads)
*I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I hate to say it, but The Nightland Express was a major disappointment for me, especially because on paper, it’s a story I should have enjoyed. And I did enjoy the first third of it, but after that point, it lost my attention and never managed to regain it. I honestly cannot tell you a single thing that happened in the last third of the book, not because it was especially confusing (although there were parts I was definitely confused about), but because I was so disengaged with it that I couldn’t concentrate on what was happening. It’s not a bad book, and I wouldn’t even call it a boring book, but it’s a book I found hard to care about.
The Nightland Express is a dual POV from the perspectives of Jesse, a white transgender boy navigating the world while presenting as male for the first time, and Ben, a biracial cisgender boy navigating the world after being freed from slavery. These are the only things of note about either of these characters, and it’s hard for me to come up with a single personality trait that either of them had. It was also hard to believe that either of these characters really cared about each other; they protect each other out of the obligation of the job, but outside of that, they’re at odds with each other for a majority of the book. Because of that, a lot of the ending felt unrealistic to me.
One thing I will say in favor of The Nightland Express is that it didn’t feel like a YA book in a lot of ways, and I think that’s a good thing. Oftentimes, when I read YA books as an adult, I think “this is good, but I’ve definitely outgrown this.” I didn’t feel that way about this book at all. While it is undoubtedly aimed at teenagers, it doesn’t talk down to them. It’s a book that people of all ages will be able to enjoy.
Overall, I really hope this is a case of “it’s not the book, it’s me”, because I wanted to enjoy it, and I hope that others will. But at this point, I’m more glad to be done with it than anything else.
November 7, 2022
Two teens join the Pony Express, both trying to escape situations and themselves. They are tasked with picking up a special package and transporting it across the country. While this seems inconceivable, as they'll have no change of horses, they discover nothing is as it seems when they signed up to be riders: mysterious, malevolent beings dog their path as they travel huge distances thanks to portals.
Jessamine masquerading as a boy Jesse, and Ben Foley, passing as White, begin their journey wary of each other, but gradually open up, discovering things about each other and their country that come between them, and are actually at the heart of their mission, which affects both their world, and that of the magical beings they encounter along the way.
I was completely enjoying this book till about 2/3 in, and then I soured on it. The weird, repeated encounters Ben and Jesse had had with the strange beings and their doom-flavoured words finally get explained. Also, the hints throughout of Ben’s travelling to an alternate reality when things get bad is also explained. The problem is, neither felt satisfying or earned, including the connection that Ben and Jesse purportedly had together.
Jesse’s sensitivity to Ben’s reality, as well as her seeing the injustice endemic to non-whites in America, were too quickly achieved by the author, considering Jesse had had too little experience with lives unlike her own. I also wasn’t able to accept the resolution to the overall threat to the fae.
I really wanted to love this, but did not.
My feelings about first 2/3: 4 stars
My feelings about last 1/3: 2 stars
Overall: 3 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Erewhon Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Jessamine masquerading as a boy Jesse, and Ben Foley, passing as White, begin their journey wary of each other, but gradually open up, discovering things about each other and their country that come between them, and are actually at the heart of their mission, which affects both their world, and that of the magical beings they encounter along the way.
I was completely enjoying this book till about 2/3 in, and then I soured on it. The weird, repeated encounters Ben and Jesse had had with the strange beings and their doom-flavoured words finally get explained. Also, the hints throughout of Ben’s travelling to an alternate reality when things get bad is also explained. The problem is, neither felt satisfying or earned, including the connection that Ben and Jesse purportedly had together.
Jesse’s sensitivity to Ben’s reality, as well as her seeing the injustice endemic to non-whites in America, were too quickly achieved by the author, considering Jesse had had too little experience with lives unlike her own. I also wasn’t able to accept the resolution to the overall threat to the fae.
I really wanted to love this, but did not.
My feelings about first 2/3: 4 stars
My feelings about last 1/3: 2 stars
Overall: 3 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Erewhon Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
December 5, 2022
The Nightland Express was well worth the wait. J. M. Lee has created something special here.
I was excited to see what he could do outside an already established property (the dark crystal) and I'm so happy to say that his new book is completely captivated me. I couldn't stop turning pages.
Jesse and Ben are likeable, but imperfect characters (the best kind) who have to learn about themselves as much as they have to figure out the secrets of the world they're in.
The worldbuilding is interesting, intertwining mythology with history of the pony express and a particularly horrible time in American history.
I was a small bit confused as to why . Both of our main characters have infuriating backstories but for entirely different reasons. Jesse's father should have been run over with a train. It's so frustrating (and realistic) that he gets no comeuppance.
I was excited to see what he could do outside an already established property (the dark crystal) and I'm so happy to say that his new book is completely captivated me. I couldn't stop turning pages.
Jesse and Ben are likeable, but imperfect characters (the best kind) who have to learn about themselves as much as they have to figure out the secrets of the world they're in.
The worldbuilding is interesting, intertwining mythology with history of the pony express and a particularly horrible time in American history.
I was a small bit confused as to why . Both of our main characters have infuriating backstories but for entirely different reasons. Jesse's father should have been run over with a train. It's so frustrating (and realistic) that he gets no comeuppance.
October 1, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Nightland Express is a beautiful LGBTQIA+ coming of age story. And if you liked Upright Women Wanted, or American Hippo, or Legendborn, or Black Beauty, this is a book for you. It’s got a snowballing magical western adventure plot, and it emotionally punches above its weight. The slightly spooky and surreal atmosphere makes it a great read this season. I hope the teens who need it find it under their tree or in their stocking. If I’d read it when I was 15 it might have changed my life. I received an advance copy in exchange for this honest review. #bookstagram #bookreview #bookrecommendations #nightlandexpress
January 30, 2023
Thank you, Erewhon Books and NetGalley, for giving me access to the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a book about two teenagers who walk the lines between worlds (race, gender) that, in their search for freedom and family, end up crossing the country and the frontier of a new, magical world, more intertwined with theirs than they could've ever imagined.
Their adventures will lead them to expand their horizons regarding their own identities and perspectives in a western setting that quickly gives place to the brewing of a Fae war in the brink of explosion, combining the folklore of both the Native people of North America and of the colonists from Europe, while also allowing the exploration of systemic injustice through both the realistic and the fantastical elements of this story.
Even though I personally didn't love the execution of the last part of this book, and found a couple of action scenes and descriptions to be a bit confusing, I ultimately think it's an entertaining story that choses to go the best way it knows how to when it comes to its themes—with care, aware that acknowledging them is way more realistic and respectful of its readers than pretending like they would never affect a story like this (or like any other, for that matter).
I would recommend it to teenagers who are 15/16 and up, since some parts of this book might be a bit too dark for younger audiences.
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Instagram
This is a book about two teenagers who walk the lines between worlds (race, gender) that, in their search for freedom and family, end up crossing the country and the frontier of a new, magical world, more intertwined with theirs than they could've ever imagined.
Their adventures will lead them to expand their horizons regarding their own identities and perspectives in a western setting that quickly gives place to the brewing of a Fae war in the brink of explosion, combining the folklore of both the Native people of North America and of the colonists from Europe, while also allowing the exploration of systemic injustice through both the realistic and the fantastical elements of this story.
Even though I personally didn't love the execution of the last part of this book, and found a couple of action scenes and descriptions to be a bit confusing, I ultimately think it's an entertaining story that choses to go the best way it knows how to when it comes to its themes—with care, aware that acknowledging them is way more realistic and respectful of its readers than pretending like they would never affect a story like this (or like any other, for that matter).
I would recommend it to teenagers who are 15/16 and up, since some parts of this book might be a bit too dark for younger audiences.
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September 13, 2022
I just finished The Nightland Express by J.M. Lee (are they on twitter I can’t find them) and it is a extremely enjoyable read especially if you love Weird West but are often leery of the more problematic elements found in the majority of the genre. Instead here we have a tense I just finished The Nightland Express by J.M. Lee (are they on twitter I can’t find them) and it is a extremely enjoyable read especially if you love Weird West but are often leery of the more problematic elements found in the majority of the genre. Instead here we have a tense and novel of a world building experience but Lee pushes through the genre tropes to something more. What’s left when the dust clears and the glint of gold at the bottom of the literary panning is pocketed, assayed and cashed out is a hauntingly beautiful trans narrative of both overcoming trauma and wild magics that meld together until all you can do is sit back and let it unspool before you as large and unending as the night sky.
September 29, 2022
The premise of this book sounded really interesting, and the first 1/3 of the book was solid and went by quickly. Unfortunately, things went downhill from there and it took me forever to get through the second half, as I just wasn't enjoying it.
The Pony Express + magic premise seemed cool, but its execution just made it seem so random. The first half of the book felt like historical fiction, the second half was full-on fae fantasy with the Pony Express plotline all but forgotten. The fae plot got increasingly confusing, and my already-wandering attention was pretty lost by the last 1/3.
For everything going on with the plot and setting(s), our characters are pretty one-dimensional. Ben was probably the slightly more interesting of the two and had at least one personality trait. Jesse was kind of all over the place without a real character arc resolution. One thing I hope is fixed in the final version is that in Jesse's chapters, Jesse is referred to as "she" then "he" within pages of one another without any indication that this was based on how Jesse was currently feeling about their gender - so this was either intentional but poorly done, or an oversight on the author's part that requires another round of editing.
Overall, an interesting premise that fell short in execution.
Thanks to NetGalley and Erewhon Books for the ARC.
The Pony Express + magic premise seemed cool, but its execution just made it seem so random. The first half of the book felt like historical fiction, the second half was full-on fae fantasy with the Pony Express plotline all but forgotten. The fae plot got increasingly confusing, and my already-wandering attention was pretty lost by the last 1/3.
For everything going on with the plot and setting(s), our characters are pretty one-dimensional. Ben was probably the slightly more interesting of the two and had at least one personality trait. Jesse was kind of all over the place without a real character arc resolution. One thing I hope is fixed in the final version is that in Jesse's chapters, Jesse is referred to as "she" then "he" within pages of one another without any indication that this was based on how Jesse was currently feeling about their gender - so this was either intentional but poorly done, or an oversight on the author's part that requires another round of editing.
Overall, an interesting premise that fell short in execution.
Thanks to NetGalley and Erewhon Books for the ARC.
August 9, 2022
4/5 stars
Recommended for people who like: dual POVs, fantasy, fair folk, historical fantasy, LGBTQ characters
Big thanks to Netgalley and Erewhon Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
The book follows Jesse and Ben on their journey from Missouri to California, each of them hiding their own secrets. The plot gets more complicated when they discover what they're delivering via the Pony Express, and just how far some people will go to intercept them...and just how dangerous those people can be.
Once Jesse and Ben get on the road things are pretty fast paced. While the two don't trust each other initially, they fall into camaraderie once they're on the road. I enjoyed their friendship and the hint that it could become something more. They work well together and can balance one another out a little bit since they also have different methods of going about things.
Jessamine becomes Jesse fairly early on, though she doesn't begin experimenting with her gender until about halfway through the book, though it is hinted at that it's coming. I thought it was interesting to see how Jesse transformed over the course of the book, and not just by coming into themself, but also in relation to the world around them. Jesse is probably what you'd consider a 'typical white person,' where they believe that they'd stand up against racism when it comes time but doesn't realize that the time is 'always.' I did appreciate the efforts Jesse made to learn, though.
Ben is Ben, from the beginning. He does grapple with his identity of being mixed race, but he has very clear goals from the get-go and things only change toward the end. His past is haunting him, in more ways than one, and he does struggle with some (or sometimes a lot) of it. While Ben is at peace with himself at the end of the book, I do wish he'd gotten somewhat of a more satisfying conclusion.
Mock was...an interesting character, to say the least. She's an odd child, prone to her whims, which can make her fun to read, but at the same time there were moments when she did annoy me with her insistence for things that weren't explained. As much trouble as she caused, though, she did help Jesse and Ben, and she did seem genuinely apologetic for the trouble she caused. I do think she just wanted to help and didn't know any other way.
The plot with the fair folk was interesting, and I almost wanted it to last a bit longer. I feel like Jesse and Ben don't really get a good grip on that aspect of things until the climax, where there's a bit too much going on for a full explanation and understanding to take place. I would've liked more processing time prior to the end, but I'm not really sure how that would've affected how things played out.
One thing I don't understand is how "don't kill him" turned into Jesse's problem. He didn't promise not to (and technically he doesn't), but then later on a different character makes it seem like Jesse broke his promise, which is inherently impossible when Jesse didn't promise in the first place.
Overall, this was a relatively fun book about identity and what we owe others (and ourselves). I liked the setting and thought Jesse and Ben made a good duo. The one thing I didn't really like was the whole deal with Morgan (and I do question why Jesse left her very pregnant sister without a horse), but I suppose if we're playing with the idea that actions have consequences and magic is never free it makes sense.
Recommended for people who like: dual POVs, fantasy, fair folk, historical fantasy, LGBTQ characters
Big thanks to Netgalley and Erewhon Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
The book follows Jesse and Ben on their journey from Missouri to California, each of them hiding their own secrets. The plot gets more complicated when they discover what they're delivering via the Pony Express, and just how far some people will go to intercept them...and just how dangerous those people can be.
Once Jesse and Ben get on the road things are pretty fast paced. While the two don't trust each other initially, they fall into camaraderie once they're on the road. I enjoyed their friendship and the hint that it could become something more. They work well together and can balance one another out a little bit since they also have different methods of going about things.
Jessamine becomes Jesse fairly early on, though she doesn't begin experimenting with her gender until about halfway through the book, though it is hinted at that it's coming. I thought it was interesting to see how Jesse transformed over the course of the book, and not just by coming into themself, but also in relation to the world around them. Jesse is probably what you'd consider a 'typical white person,' where they believe that they'd stand up against racism when it comes time but doesn't realize that the time is 'always.' I did appreciate the efforts Jesse made to learn, though.
Ben is Ben, from the beginning. He does grapple with his identity of being mixed race, but he has very clear goals from the get-go and things only change toward the end. His past is haunting him, in more ways than one, and he does struggle with some (or sometimes a lot) of it. While Ben is at peace with himself at the end of the book, I do wish he'd gotten somewhat of a more satisfying conclusion.
Mock was...an interesting character, to say the least. She's an odd child, prone to her whims, which can make her fun to read, but at the same time there were moments when she did annoy me with her insistence for things that weren't explained. As much trouble as she caused, though, she did help Jesse and Ben, and she did seem genuinely apologetic for the trouble she caused. I do think she just wanted to help and didn't know any other way.
The plot with the fair folk was interesting, and I almost wanted it to last a bit longer. I feel like Jesse and Ben don't really get a good grip on that aspect of things until the climax, where there's a bit too much going on for a full explanation and understanding to take place. I would've liked more processing time prior to the end, but I'm not really sure how that would've affected how things played out.
One thing I don't understand is how "don't kill him" turned into Jesse's problem. He didn't promise not to (and technically he doesn't), but then later on a different character makes it seem like Jesse broke his promise, which is inherently impossible when Jesse didn't promise in the first place.
Overall, this was a relatively fun book about identity and what we owe others (and ourselves). I liked the setting and thought Jesse and Ben made a good duo. The one thing I didn't really like was the whole deal with Morgan (and I do question why Jesse left her very pregnant sister without a horse), but I suppose if we're playing with the idea that actions have consequences and magic is never free it makes sense.
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July 29, 2022Jesse and Ben’s journey as Pony Express riders is thrilling, but their voyages of self—ones that defy maps, road markers, and what society would have them be—make the The Nightland Express truly shine. Make no mistake, there is no fool’s gold to be found here: The Nightland Express is a poignant, gripping novel.
August 4, 2022
I need to let this one sit in my brain for a bit. I liked the themes that we were tackling with this story, but I’m not sure they hit or were resolved the way that I wanted.
I liked the development of the supernatural elements of this world and would have loved to learn more. I also would have loved more exploration into Jesse and Ben’s struggles with identity. Having both trying to happen at once left me feeling like I didn’t get enough of either.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
I liked the development of the supernatural elements of this world and would have loved to learn more. I also would have loved more exploration into Jesse and Ben’s struggles with identity. Having both trying to happen at once left me feeling like I didn’t get enough of either.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 13, 2024
60/100 or 3.0 stars
The premise of this story was interesting, but the execution left much to be desired. I did enjoy the representation in the story, although, I don't know how realistic the dialogue is at times considering this takes place in 1860. I did enjoy the LGBTQIA+ representation in the story, as it doesn't feel out of place overall.
The premise of this story was interesting, but the execution left much to be desired. I did enjoy the representation in the story, although, I don't know how realistic the dialogue is at times considering this takes place in 1860. I did enjoy the LGBTQIA+ representation in the story, as it doesn't feel out of place overall.
April 3, 2023
I liked the storyline, but it was a bit confusing at times.
August 28, 2023
When it comes to doing the right thing, it's never too late.
Benjamin y Jesse ganan los únicos dos puestos disponibles para trabajar en el Pony Express, un servicio de mensajería que cruza el continente de punta a punta. Pero ninguno va a California por el dinero. Jesse va en busca de su padre que se marchó años antes y Ben quiere asentarse en un lugar donde nadie sepa que es mestizo, pero el pasado de ambos se interpone en su misión, que no es entregar cualquier paquete, y de su éxito depende la salvación de dos mundos.
El 20% inicial del libro es un coming of age ambientado en el viejo oeste, con dos protagonistas que intentan encontrar su lugar en el mundo, Jesse finalmente asumiendo quien siempre ha sentido que es: un chico, y Ben huyendo de la vida de esclavitud que otros quieren imponerle... y entonces aparecen perros fantasmas, un cazador espectral, faes y viajes acortados a través de portales mágicos, y sabes que esto ha pasado a ser una fantasía, aunque es hasta la recta final que finalmente se nos revela cuál es la importancia del viaje de nuestros protagonistas.
Alternando entre los dos narradores, la trama revela poco a poco los entresijos de la vida que Jesse y Ben han dejado atrás, y qué repercusiones tendrán sus acciones en el futuro, entre enfrentamientos con criaturas salidas de otro mundo, huir del medio hermano de Ben (que se cree su amo), y la creciente confianza entre dos personas que no tienen ninguna razón para confiar entre sí, excepto el vínculo innegable de sobrevivir juntos a todas esas circunstancias extrañas, que resulta en una amistad entrañable.
La última parte abandona la pretensión del viejo oeste y se sumerge completamente en el mundo fae y el peligro de romper juramentos. Pasan una serie de cosas que podrían estar mejor abordadas y especialmente hay un giro completamente inesperado que, viéndolo en retrospectiva, el autor SÍ había insinuado levísimamente casi desde el principio, pero en ese momento parece salido de la nada.
En general, un libro bonito, profundamente conmovedor. Recomendado si te gustan las historias de fae o los coming of age diferentes.
I didn't know where to call home. I kept running, trying to find some magical place where I could finally be myself. Where I wouldn't be alone.[...] But I got it backwards. My place is wherever I am myself. And that means my place is anywhere. This world, that world. Day or night. It doesn't matter. As long as I can fight for and protect the people I love—I am Home.
¿Qué Disfruté?
Ambos protagonistas.
La transición de Jesse desde portarse como todos los demás esperan que lo haga, hasta convertirse en la persona que realmente es, muy buen detalle el cambio sutil de cómo narra en she al principio, para cambiar a he y finalmente establecerse en them.
Ben, tan bueno, Ben.
¿Qué Prefiero Olvidar?
El enfrentamiento con el "gran villano" fue un poco anticlimático.
"I'm believing in him as best I can! I just want—"
"It's not about what you want. What you want is based on what you know, and what you need. Your Ben. Friend, companion, partner. But to truly give him your faeth, you need to believe in him for who he is, not who he is to you. You need to give him what he needs for him, not what you want to give for you."
September 2, 2022
Thanks to Erewhon & Netgalley for the electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. This review is spoiler free.
The Nightland Express is a YA historic fiction/fantasy novel by J.M. Lee. The book follows Jesse and Ben, two teenagers who are eager to get out of their circumstances via the opportunity to take a job with the Pony Express (or so they think). The two go on a journey of discovery about themselves and each other and realize their trip from Missouri to California is filled with more mystery and magic than they expected.
I first became aware of J.M. Lee through his YA novels set in the universe of The Dark Crystal. I quickly fell in love with his writing style and how he effortlessly draws readers into caring deeply about the characters and worlds he builds. With The Dark Crystal, there was a set universe in which his stories took place, but with The Nightland Express, Lee must start from scratch, no small feat in the world of YA fantasy. Lee efficiently establishes the setting of the United States in the mid 1860’s through his prose, but also through his strong characters. Chapters are switched from perspectives of Jesse and Ben, providing two first person narratives that allow for readers to quickly get to know each of them, struggles and all. Each lead character has something unique about them that makes them feel different (no spoilers on what those things are), Lee does a great job of showing how these differences can be celebrated in open and honest relationships.
There is a strong fantasy element in the book that took me somewhat by surprise. The transition from historic, character-driven fiction to fantasy, while somewhat jarring, ultimately works well. The trope of an alternate dimension is introduced and while that isn’t a unique story device (I got Stranger Things and His Dark Materials vibes), The Nightland Express stands out for how it balances the fantastic with the realistic. The lead characters Jesse and Ben experience some truly wondrous (and dangerous) things on their journey to California but their destinations are ultimately internal ones. Lee’s relatable teens are the foundation of the novel amidst all the fantasy elements, and this ultimately makes The Nightland Express a journey worth going on.
The Nightland Express is a great book for middle to late teens. There are some sexual elements, language, and violence that should be considered when recommending this book to readers under the age of 15 (my own opinion). For adult readers who are fans of character-driven fantasy tales, The Nightland Express deserves a place on your reading list. I especially want to congratulate J.M. Lee, as this book has been in publishing limbo for almost two years now, I want to be among the first to publicly applaud another work by him being out in the world!
The Nightland Express, like its central characters, is a unique book that celebrates the inner outcasts in all of us and shows how together we can make the world better. I give this 4/5 stars – recommend!
The Nightland Express is a YA historic fiction/fantasy novel by J.M. Lee. The book follows Jesse and Ben, two teenagers who are eager to get out of their circumstances via the opportunity to take a job with the Pony Express (or so they think). The two go on a journey of discovery about themselves and each other and realize their trip from Missouri to California is filled with more mystery and magic than they expected.
I first became aware of J.M. Lee through his YA novels set in the universe of The Dark Crystal. I quickly fell in love with his writing style and how he effortlessly draws readers into caring deeply about the characters and worlds he builds. With The Dark Crystal, there was a set universe in which his stories took place, but with The Nightland Express, Lee must start from scratch, no small feat in the world of YA fantasy. Lee efficiently establishes the setting of the United States in the mid 1860’s through his prose, but also through his strong characters. Chapters are switched from perspectives of Jesse and Ben, providing two first person narratives that allow for readers to quickly get to know each of them, struggles and all. Each lead character has something unique about them that makes them feel different (no spoilers on what those things are), Lee does a great job of showing how these differences can be celebrated in open and honest relationships.
There is a strong fantasy element in the book that took me somewhat by surprise. The transition from historic, character-driven fiction to fantasy, while somewhat jarring, ultimately works well. The trope of an alternate dimension is introduced and while that isn’t a unique story device (I got Stranger Things and His Dark Materials vibes), The Nightland Express stands out for how it balances the fantastic with the realistic. The lead characters Jesse and Ben experience some truly wondrous (and dangerous) things on their journey to California but their destinations are ultimately internal ones. Lee’s relatable teens are the foundation of the novel amidst all the fantasy elements, and this ultimately makes The Nightland Express a journey worth going on.
The Nightland Express is a great book for middle to late teens. There are some sexual elements, language, and violence that should be considered when recommending this book to readers under the age of 15 (my own opinion). For adult readers who are fans of character-driven fantasy tales, The Nightland Express deserves a place on your reading list. I especially want to congratulate J.M. Lee, as this book has been in publishing limbo for almost two years now, I want to be among the first to publicly applaud another work by him being out in the world!
The Nightland Express, like its central characters, is a unique book that celebrates the inner outcasts in all of us and shows how together we can make the world better. I give this 4/5 stars – recommend!
July 18, 2024
*4.34 Stars
Notes: I had this novel on my to-be-read list for a long time, and I theoretically could have read it a few years ago. This could have taken me a longer time to read through, however, I wanted to read it in less than a month. The reason that I have for that is that I’m known to go through young adult books regardless of their popularity (I just really am fond of reading them for what they essentially are). Anyways, you really do need to pay attention to this book in order to understand it, because while it may seem like a basic storyline with simple character arcs at first, it 100% absolutely, totally, is not.
What I mean by this, is that I read this book recently during a week-long seven days trip somewhere else, and yes, it was mostly “just this book I was paying attention to.” If you know why I’m including that in this review, if you have read this book before and you know what the type of content in it is like, then I think you would know I have read plenty of action-based historical adventure stories before. This isn’t your typical historical fiction book, mainly from the sheer amount of drama in it, which requires a massive emotional tolerance at some points.
The main character by the name of Ben, while he may sound like someone who at first hasn’t been through all too much, later on in the story it is said he can easily get through places unnoticed almost at any given moment and can voice act practically like nothing else. Jesse was good as a friend-type character that also balanced some of the sassiness that Ben had, given it was actually ok for him to sound like that from all that happens in this book. While there is some amount of paranormal content in here as well, he appears to already have had some type of a knowledge of that beforehand, and is relatively unphased during any fights to that degree.
So, yes, this book is really, really entertaining, and I was reading it through whenever I could. I’m also going to add in a few trigger warnings for extremely dark emotional content, along with some of the dialogue being very, very tense, and you need a political tolerance as well.
I’m willing to bet that Ben is some kind of a hidden genius, because of what goes down during this book, he has to be extremely smart to do things like that and get away with it in the first place. In the later half of this novel, lots of events occur, so I was relieved that I was certainly paying attention reading through the first 28.5% of this. I was very, very glad I read it around the time of a long car ride, so I could properly understand what went on in the first half of the storyline that set things up. I would recommend this really good book to those that are interested in it, since, I just rather liked how distracting the reading experience was.
Notes: I had this novel on my to-be-read list for a long time, and I theoretically could have read it a few years ago. This could have taken me a longer time to read through, however, I wanted to read it in less than a month. The reason that I have for that is that I’m known to go through young adult books regardless of their popularity (I just really am fond of reading them for what they essentially are). Anyways, you really do need to pay attention to this book in order to understand it, because while it may seem like a basic storyline with simple character arcs at first, it 100% absolutely, totally, is not.
What I mean by this, is that I read this book recently during a week-long seven days trip somewhere else, and yes, it was mostly “just this book I was paying attention to.” If you know why I’m including that in this review, if you have read this book before and you know what the type of content in it is like, then I think you would know I have read plenty of action-based historical adventure stories before. This isn’t your typical historical fiction book, mainly from the sheer amount of drama in it, which requires a massive emotional tolerance at some points.
The main character by the name of Ben, while he may sound like someone who at first hasn’t been through all too much, later on in the story it is said he can easily get through places unnoticed almost at any given moment and can voice act practically like nothing else. Jesse was good as a friend-type character that also balanced some of the sassiness that Ben had, given it was actually ok for him to sound like that from all that happens in this book. While there is some amount of paranormal content in here as well, he appears to already have had some type of a knowledge of that beforehand, and is relatively unphased during any fights to that degree.
So, yes, this book is really, really entertaining, and I was reading it through whenever I could. I’m also going to add in a few trigger warnings for extremely dark emotional content, along with some of the dialogue being very, very tense, and you need a political tolerance as well.
I’m willing to bet that Ben is some kind of a hidden genius, because of what goes down during this book, he has to be extremely smart to do things like that and get away with it in the first place. In the later half of this novel, lots of events occur, so I was relieved that I was certainly paying attention reading through the first 28.5% of this. I was very, very glad I read it around the time of a long car ride, so I could properly understand what went on in the first half of the storyline that set things up. I would recommend this really good book to those that are interested in it, since, I just rather liked how distracting the reading experience was.
April 23, 2023
It felt rushed: the journey, the relationships, the "coincidental meetings," the characters' lessons about themselves and the world... which was bearable--until they kill the horses.
October 4, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I requested The Nightland Express because the blurb instantly caught my attention. The Pony Express with mythical elements? Yes, please! And true enough, the novel started out promisingly enough by introducing the reader to the two protagonists, Ben and Jesse, whose points of view alternate throughout the story. In the beginning of the book, both of them are about to sign up for a "special" mission of a "special" branch of the Pony Express. The only obstacle is that there are only two places up for grabs, and many boys who want this lucrative job, so a competition will ultimately decide who gets to go.
Obviously, Ben and Jesse get the job, but it's plain from day one that it's not exactly a normal one. Ben's horse, courtesy of the Pony, seems able to go on forever without rest, and Jesse's beloved yet perfectly ordinary Morgan gets similar stamina from a tonic their boss provides. They get paid a fortune in advance - half up front, half when the package is delivered - but when they get to the waypoint where they're supposed to pick up this mysterious package, it's not... what they were expecting, either.
And there's also the weird spirit-like thing that can make it snow and, unfortunately, seems to be following them.
As the story progresses, it becomes clear that both Ben and Jesse have also come to the job with dangerous baggage and secrets that might mean more trouble than they bargained for. The job itself takes a turn to the bizarre, as the protagonists come to realize they've unwittingly ended up in the eye of the storm as their world and the Fae world clash and grind against each other. Instead of just riding to California with a package, they must now figure out what's happening around them and why.
I found the story idea to be interesting, but the execution unfortunately felt a bit lackluster. I think it was mostly because the characters remained somewhat distant with the exception of Ben and Jesse, and I was unable to relate to any of them. With no personal attachment to anyone, I could not really whip up much interest in the plot. The spirits in particular just kind of popped out of nowhere and I had trouble telling them apart at times. The plot moved along steadily with no pacing issues... but felt a bit disjointed. I wasn't always fully convinced.
Also, I must say the inconsistent use of pronouns for a certain character irritated me, because I could see no clear logic behind it. I might have missed it, of course, but it still annoyed me. I also found myself wondering if there's such a thing as too much representation. Now, I'm all for representation - it's only fair, after all - but this novel still felt crammed full of it. However, it did serve a purpose in the story, which had much to do about existing in two different worlds at the same time, so perhaps it was justified... if a little heavy-handed.
All in all, this was an enjoyable, relatively fast-paced story with an interesting twist, even if it was a bit all over the place sometimes and left me feeling lukewarm. The first half of the book was better than the second, I think.
I requested The Nightland Express because the blurb instantly caught my attention. The Pony Express with mythical elements? Yes, please! And true enough, the novel started out promisingly enough by introducing the reader to the two protagonists, Ben and Jesse, whose points of view alternate throughout the story. In the beginning of the book, both of them are about to sign up for a "special" mission of a "special" branch of the Pony Express. The only obstacle is that there are only two places up for grabs, and many boys who want this lucrative job, so a competition will ultimately decide who gets to go.
Obviously, Ben and Jesse get the job, but it's plain from day one that it's not exactly a normal one. Ben's horse, courtesy of the Pony, seems able to go on forever without rest, and Jesse's beloved yet perfectly ordinary Morgan gets similar stamina from a tonic their boss provides. They get paid a fortune in advance - half up front, half when the package is delivered - but when they get to the waypoint where they're supposed to pick up this mysterious package, it's not... what they were expecting, either.
And there's also the weird spirit-like thing that can make it snow and, unfortunately, seems to be following them.
As the story progresses, it becomes clear that both Ben and Jesse have also come to the job with dangerous baggage and secrets that might mean more trouble than they bargained for. The job itself takes a turn to the bizarre, as the protagonists come to realize they've unwittingly ended up in the eye of the storm as their world and the Fae world clash and grind against each other. Instead of just riding to California with a package, they must now figure out what's happening around them and why.
I found the story idea to be interesting, but the execution unfortunately felt a bit lackluster. I think it was mostly because the characters remained somewhat distant with the exception of Ben and Jesse, and I was unable to relate to any of them. With no personal attachment to anyone, I could not really whip up much interest in the plot. The spirits in particular just kind of popped out of nowhere and I had trouble telling them apart at times. The plot moved along steadily with no pacing issues... but felt a bit disjointed. I wasn't always fully convinced.
Also, I must say the inconsistent use of pronouns for a certain character irritated me, because I could see no clear logic behind it. I might have missed it, of course, but it still annoyed me. I also found myself wondering if there's such a thing as too much representation. Now, I'm all for representation - it's only fair, after all - but this novel still felt crammed full of it. However, it did serve a purpose in the story, which had much to do about existing in two different worlds at the same time, so perhaps it was justified... if a little heavy-handed.
All in all, this was an enjoyable, relatively fast-paced story with an interesting twist, even if it was a bit all over the place sometimes and left me feeling lukewarm. The first half of the book was better than the second, I think.
April 24, 2025
Originally interested by the blurb on the back and the beautiful cover art, The Nightland Express takes the reader through a journey that goes from the 1860's American West into the spirit realm and back. It explores a multiplicity of identities and issues, including but not limited to race, gender, sexuality, Native populations, and peoples' relationship to nature.
The pros of this book are numerous; it has a well-written trans character with strategic pronoun changes as Jesse learns about their identity, explores Ben's relationship as a white-passing Black boy in a more nuanced way than I've seen in other books, and didn't shy away from showing how having a certain identity does not absolve someone of all kinds of bias. It dove into ownership over land and how westward expansion pushed Native Americans off of their land. Above all, it was nuanced; it showed the "in-between," gray areas in a graceful way. The end reflected this; it did not leave everything tied up neatly, but instead let elements rest where they needed.
The fantasy part of it also appealed to me, and was done fairly well. Although it wasn't the most developed fantasy world, it got the point across. The spirits weren't labeled as "good" or "bad" until the end of the novel, and even then almost all of them had noble motives. Humans' lust for gold bleeding into spirits was well done, though it was never quite answered why they may have that motive.
The cons boil down to the writing. The book is written as YA, but some moments in it drift to an older, more seasoned audience. Some of the writing caused me to cringe; other parts inspired me. As someone who values writing style, choices, and careful editing, this took away from the book for me. It puts the book in a weird spot, because the writing points towards the story being more situated for a middle school audience, but the depth of the story would be lost on such a crowd. Also, the last few pages seemed rushed, especially in Jesse's homecoming, but that's more than forgivable.
Overall, I would recommend this book, but probably to a specific older middle school/younger high school audience. It's a story that balances a lot of elements with grace, which is arguably more important than nitpicking at the writing style.
The pros of this book are numerous; it has a well-written trans character with strategic pronoun changes as Jesse learns about their identity, explores Ben's relationship as a white-passing Black boy in a more nuanced way than I've seen in other books, and didn't shy away from showing how having a certain identity does not absolve someone of all kinds of bias. It dove into ownership over land and how westward expansion pushed Native Americans off of their land. Above all, it was nuanced; it showed the "in-between," gray areas in a graceful way. The end reflected this; it did not leave everything tied up neatly, but instead let elements rest where they needed.
The fantasy part of it also appealed to me, and was done fairly well. Although it wasn't the most developed fantasy world, it got the point across. The spirits weren't labeled as "good" or "bad" until the end of the novel, and even then almost all of them had noble motives. Humans' lust for gold bleeding into spirits was well done, though it was never quite answered why they may have that motive.
The cons boil down to the writing. The book is written as YA, but some moments in it drift to an older, more seasoned audience. Some of the writing caused me to cringe; other parts inspired me. As someone who values writing style, choices, and careful editing, this took away from the book for me. It puts the book in a weird spot, because the writing points towards the story being more situated for a middle school audience, but the depth of the story would be lost on such a crowd. Also, the last few pages seemed rushed, especially in Jesse's homecoming, but that's more than forgivable.
Overall, I would recommend this book, but probably to a specific older middle school/younger high school audience. It's a story that balances a lot of elements with grace, which is arguably more important than nitpicking at the writing style.
June 6, 2025
If “And she was a fairy” was the basis for a magic system in a western novel about the Pony Express.
The premise of this story intrigued me because I’ve never really read a book about two queer kids in the Pony Express figuring out their identity while delivering mail. And to be fair, the story doesn’t really follow that line of thinking, so I suppose I still haven’t read about that.
I felt like Jesse and Ben were quite flat throughout most of the story, and they didn’t really have distinguishable voices or personalities. They were just kinda there, every now and then dealing with their own problems, but mostly just existing because the plot needed two people to exist in order to keep moving. I felt like the only time I actually started to be able to tell the two apart was towards the end, but even then, Ben felt like he was mostly ambivalent and just letting things happen, while Jesse was finally taking some accountability for their actions.
Something I really did like about this story was Jesse’s discovery of his gender expression, and realizing that he identified as a boy more than a girl. While some people might’ve found the pronouns switching between he/him and she/her every paragraph confusing, I actually thought it represented the journey of figuring out one’s gender expression quite well. It’s not like there’s a switch that’s flipped once you figure it out, it’s a process that takes time, and Jesse wavering back and forth during that first transitional period feels very realistic, at least from my own experiences.
The pacing is somewhat jarring, with the first third focusing very much on the typical western pony travel experience, the middle third very much fantastical and a bit confusing because the switch is so sudden, and the last third tying everything together relatively nicely. The characters mostly get happy endings (justice for Morgan though, I felt like that was unnecessary), but there’s still some lingering questions left behind about the future, and considering it’s historical fiction and we know what happens after the conclusion of this story (cough cough, the Civil War), I appreciated not having an entirely neat ending.
3.5/5 stars, rounded up c:
The premise of this story intrigued me because I’ve never really read a book about two queer kids in the Pony Express figuring out their identity while delivering mail. And to be fair, the story doesn’t really follow that line of thinking, so I suppose I still haven’t read about that.
I felt like Jesse and Ben were quite flat throughout most of the story, and they didn’t really have distinguishable voices or personalities. They were just kinda there, every now and then dealing with their own problems, but mostly just existing because the plot needed two people to exist in order to keep moving. I felt like the only time I actually started to be able to tell the two apart was towards the end, but even then, Ben felt like he was mostly ambivalent and just letting things happen, while Jesse was finally taking some accountability for their actions.
Something I really did like about this story was Jesse’s discovery of his gender expression, and realizing that he identified as a boy more than a girl. While some people might’ve found the pronouns switching between he/him and she/her every paragraph confusing, I actually thought it represented the journey of figuring out one’s gender expression quite well. It’s not like there’s a switch that’s flipped once you figure it out, it’s a process that takes time, and Jesse wavering back and forth during that first transitional period feels very realistic, at least from my own experiences.
The pacing is somewhat jarring, with the first third focusing very much on the typical western pony travel experience, the middle third very much fantastical and a bit confusing because the switch is so sudden, and the last third tying everything together relatively nicely. The characters mostly get happy endings (justice for Morgan though, I felt like that was unnecessary), but there’s still some lingering questions left behind about the future, and considering it’s historical fiction and we know what happens after the conclusion of this story (cough cough, the Civil War), I appreciated not having an entirely neat ending.
3.5/5 stars, rounded up c:
December 5, 2022
The Nightland Express is an interesting novel that I didn't quite connect with.
Jesse (or Jessamine) cut her hair, hopped on her horse, and applied for a position with the Pony Express. Her sister is pregnant, and she really wants her father there for the birth. Their father left years ago to pursue economic opportunities out West, and never came back. Jesse wants something different from life than her sister. She doesn't feel comfortable in her skin as a female. She is excited to try to become a Pony Express rider, and, in her travels, to be able to find her father and bring him home.
Ben also desperately needs this position with the Pony Express. Ben is mixed race, and has his freedom papers. But his half brother and son of his former enslaver wants to capture him and bring him back home to serve him, and is willing to chase him across the country to make it so.
Jesse and Ben win the prized assignment, but find out that it is a unique assignment, not the normal Pony Express. They are to go to a special station and pick up a different type of package. Ben is given a special horse to ride, and Jesse is given nose drops to give his horse so it can make it all the way across the country. When they pick up the "package," they discover it is a little girl who is very demanding. Meanwhile, they also encounter spectral creatures who fighting a battle a world attached to theirs, and become involved in the struggle themselves.
Good things about this book:
the discussion of transgenderism, as Jesse explains very well why he doesn't feel like a like a girl, and Ben accepts him the way he is
the discussion of how white men came to America and saw themselves as masters of the natural world, rather than living with the world and treating Mother Nature with respect (not to mention treating native peoples with respect)
Not-so-good things:
the story is choppy and drags at times
the metaphors are heavy-handed at times
the fantasy seems jarring rather than a natural part of the story
I wouldn't tell someone not to read this book, but nor would I recommend it. It is interesting, but just not my favorite.
Jesse (or Jessamine) cut her hair, hopped on her horse, and applied for a position with the Pony Express. Her sister is pregnant, and she really wants her father there for the birth. Their father left years ago to pursue economic opportunities out West, and never came back. Jesse wants something different from life than her sister. She doesn't feel comfortable in her skin as a female. She is excited to try to become a Pony Express rider, and, in her travels, to be able to find her father and bring him home.
Ben also desperately needs this position with the Pony Express. Ben is mixed race, and has his freedom papers. But his half brother and son of his former enslaver wants to capture him and bring him back home to serve him, and is willing to chase him across the country to make it so.
Jesse and Ben win the prized assignment, but find out that it is a unique assignment, not the normal Pony Express. They are to go to a special station and pick up a different type of package. Ben is given a special horse to ride, and Jesse is given nose drops to give his horse so it can make it all the way across the country. When they pick up the "package," they discover it is a little girl who is very demanding. Meanwhile, they also encounter spectral creatures who fighting a battle a world attached to theirs, and become involved in the struggle themselves.
Good things about this book:
the discussion of transgenderism, as Jesse explains very well why he doesn't feel like a like a girl, and Ben accepts him the way he is
the discussion of how white men came to America and saw themselves as masters of the natural world, rather than living with the world and treating Mother Nature with respect (not to mention treating native peoples with respect)
Not-so-good things:
the story is choppy and drags at times
the metaphors are heavy-handed at times
the fantasy seems jarring rather than a natural part of the story
I wouldn't tell someone not to read this book, but nor would I recommend it. It is interesting, but just not my favorite.
November 30, 2022
Thank you to Pride Book Tours, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read this book for the Instagram tour!
I had to read this book after seeing the description. I loved reading about the pony express as a kid, so getting to read a reimagining of the pony express but with fantasy elements and queer characters was a dream come true for adult me, and this book certainly met my expectations!
Jesse was born a girl, but gets an opportunity through the Nightland Express to don men's clothing and pretend to be a boy in order to bring back their dad. Jesse promised Alice, their sister, that they would be back before the baby was born. Jesse will stop at nothing. but also discovers just how much weight promises hold.
Ben is on the run and guarding many secrets. He takes the opportunity to join the Nightland express to get away. The two of them find themselves on a transcontinental journey that borders on the edge of the physical world and the world of the fae.
The characters interact in very believable ways and despite the dual perspective it was easy to figure out which characters were being described. I really liked Jesse's journey with gender throughout the book, but told through a lens of the nineteenth century where they didn't have the words or the understanding of just what being trans means, and how questioning is a process and doesn't necessarily mean that there are answers that jump out right away. Ben also provided an insightful lens into what it could be like being biracial but white passing in that historical setting.
The plot was well paced and included enough pony express elements to keep younger me happy with it. I did guess at a few of the twists and turns in the final conflict, but they made sense and the story flowed well throughout the culminating action.
The world was also vibrant in a way that most books aren't for me. I struggle to picture what I'm reading in my mind, but the way that this world and the writing combined, I couldn't help but see this as an animated movie, and now I'm sad that it doesn't exist in that form (yet).
I had to read this book after seeing the description. I loved reading about the pony express as a kid, so getting to read a reimagining of the pony express but with fantasy elements and queer characters was a dream come true for adult me, and this book certainly met my expectations!
Jesse was born a girl, but gets an opportunity through the Nightland Express to don men's clothing and pretend to be a boy in order to bring back their dad. Jesse promised Alice, their sister, that they would be back before the baby was born. Jesse will stop at nothing. but also discovers just how much weight promises hold.
Ben is on the run and guarding many secrets. He takes the opportunity to join the Nightland express to get away. The two of them find themselves on a transcontinental journey that borders on the edge of the physical world and the world of the fae.
The characters interact in very believable ways and despite the dual perspective it was easy to figure out which characters were being described. I really liked Jesse's journey with gender throughout the book, but told through a lens of the nineteenth century where they didn't have the words or the understanding of just what being trans means, and how questioning is a process and doesn't necessarily mean that there are answers that jump out right away. Ben also provided an insightful lens into what it could be like being biracial but white passing in that historical setting.
The plot was well paced and included enough pony express elements to keep younger me happy with it. I did guess at a few of the twists and turns in the final conflict, but they made sense and the story flowed well throughout the culminating action.
The world was also vibrant in a way that most books aren't for me. I struggle to picture what I'm reading in my mind, but the way that this world and the writing combined, I couldn't help but see this as an animated movie, and now I'm sad that it doesn't exist in that form (yet).
July 31, 2022
Thanks to the publisher and to netgalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The nightland express is a western with supernatural elements, and has a dual pov. Ben - a white-passing freed slave, and Jesse, who dresses up as a boy but then starts to question their gender. Ben and Jesse sign up for the pony express and are given a special mission. They're transporting something special to California. On their way they have to learn to trust each other, and confront what they thought they knew about the world.
I thought the supernatural elements were very intriguing, especially at the start of the book. I really wanted to know what was up. We learn about this with the characters, and we don't know anything more than they do.
For Jesse's questioning of their gender identity, I thought it was original to switch between she/her and he/him pronouns, but I felt like this went on for too long without really exploring gender identity and without Jesse coming to a conclusion. This is something I wish had been given more space.
I liked the decolonial thinking, and the way the spirit world was connected to this world, and the subtle critique of colonialism.
Overall, I thought it was well written, and a good story, but the ending fell a little flat for me.
CW: racism, transphobia, misgendering, animal death, drugging an animal
The nightland express is a western with supernatural elements, and has a dual pov. Ben - a white-passing freed slave, and Jesse, who dresses up as a boy but then starts to question their gender. Ben and Jesse sign up for the pony express and are given a special mission. They're transporting something special to California. On their way they have to learn to trust each other, and confront what they thought they knew about the world.
I thought the supernatural elements were very intriguing, especially at the start of the book. I really wanted to know what was up. We learn about this with the characters, and we don't know anything more than they do.
For Jesse's questioning of their gender identity, I thought it was original to switch between she/her and he/him pronouns, but I felt like this went on for too long without really exploring gender identity and without Jesse coming to a conclusion. This is something I wish had been given more space.
I liked the decolonial thinking, and the way the spirit world was connected to this world, and the subtle critique of colonialism.
Overall, I thought it was well written, and a good story, but the ending fell a little flat for me.
CW: racism, transphobia, misgendering, animal death, drugging an animal
October 6, 2022
I forced my way far past my usual cut-off point for a DNF - 20% - and made it halfway through the book before I just couldn't take it anymore.
I've been looking forward to Nightland Express since the publishing announcement - what, two, three years ago? But unfortunately, the book didn't live up to my hopes. The pacing is frantic, which gives neither reader nor the characters any time to process the magical events they're caught up in; and the magic itself felt so blunt and dry. There wasn't any sense of wonder to it, no beautiful-and-terrible vibes even though that was pretty clearly what Lee was going for. The prose was very bare-bones and unlovely, and although I liked the diversity of the main characters - a gay, white-passing Black youth and a young trans man - after a reasonably strong beginning both characters seemed to lose most of their personality, becoming very two-dimensional.
It's an easy read, a quick read, and it's not terrible. It's just that it's extremely basic (although granted, maybe the second half of the book would have wowed me with its originality...if I could have made it that far) - nothing about it stands out as special or interesting. I was literally nodding off (in the middle of the day) even as All The Things were happening.
Pass.
I've been looking forward to Nightland Express since the publishing announcement - what, two, three years ago? But unfortunately, the book didn't live up to my hopes. The pacing is frantic, which gives neither reader nor the characters any time to process the magical events they're caught up in; and the magic itself felt so blunt and dry. There wasn't any sense of wonder to it, no beautiful-and-terrible vibes even though that was pretty clearly what Lee was going for. The prose was very bare-bones and unlovely, and although I liked the diversity of the main characters - a gay, white-passing Black youth and a young trans man - after a reasonably strong beginning both characters seemed to lose most of their personality, becoming very two-dimensional.
It's an easy read, a quick read, and it's not terrible. It's just that it's extremely basic (although granted, maybe the second half of the book would have wowed me with its originality...if I could have made it that far) - nothing about it stands out as special or interesting. I was literally nodding off (in the middle of the day) even as All The Things were happening.
Pass.
December 1, 2022
𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: Cowboys and Specters
𝗙𝗮𝘃 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿: Snow
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Normal
𝗧𝘆𝗽𝗲: Novel
𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Western Fantasy
4.2/𝟱
🌱THE EXCELLENT
~ Brilliant descriptions of creatures
~ LGBTQ+ representation & living
~ Wild adventure across the USA
~ Olden times & cowboys, but with magical beings, for spice
Jesse & James (🤣 - Ben) are running from a world out to do them wrong, both masquerading as what they are not and lying through their teeth to become part of the esteemed Pony Express - with a twist.
They want the life that California promises - what they don’t need are magical beings who are waging a war of their own against each other, the lies of humans & the contamination of the spirit world. Jesse & Ben have a part to play, but whether for good or ill remains to be seen.
🌵🦖🧐💭
Sigh… semi-useless and oblivious children taking on more than they can bear or understand. A good premise for learning/entering adulthood - with two kids who could hardly save anything & anyone BUT they DO try.
✨𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱.
🌱THE MEH
~ 🤔 The meshing of magical realism & 1800s cowboys was tricky
~ Ekkk, the father is horrible
~ Questionable future for the MCs (😞 - how will they manage?!)
~ Irrational, impulsive, illogical, cry-ey-cry stereotype- (w/ a *twist*?🙄)
~ There is a topic the author touches on but I don’t believe assess fairly 🤔
♡🌱 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗲 ;)
𝗙𝗮𝘃 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿: Snow
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Normal
𝗧𝘆𝗽𝗲: Novel
𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Western Fantasy
4.2/𝟱
🌱THE EXCELLENT
~ Brilliant descriptions of creatures
~ LGBTQ+ representation & living
~ Wild adventure across the USA
~ Olden times & cowboys, but with magical beings, for spice
Jesse & James (🤣 - Ben) are running from a world out to do them wrong, both masquerading as what they are not and lying through their teeth to become part of the esteemed Pony Express - with a twist.
They want the life that California promises - what they don’t need are magical beings who are waging a war of their own against each other, the lies of humans & the contamination of the spirit world. Jesse & Ben have a part to play, but whether for good or ill remains to be seen.
🌵🦖🧐💭
Sigh… semi-useless and oblivious children taking on more than they can bear or understand. A good premise for learning/entering adulthood - with two kids who could hardly save anything & anyone BUT they DO try.
✨𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱.
🌱THE MEH
~ 🤔 The meshing of magical realism & 1800s cowboys was tricky
~ Ekkk, the father is horrible
~ Questionable future for the MCs (😞 - how will they manage?!)
~ Irrational, impulsive, illogical, cry-ey-cry stereotype- (w/ a *twist*?🙄)
~ There is a topic the author touches on but I don’t believe assess fairly 🤔
♡🌱 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗲 ;)
August 10, 2022
*Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review*
This is a western adventure with supernatural elements, featuring two main characters who sign up for a special mission with the pony express, only to get more than they bargained for. The basics of the plot are great, I love the concept of combining the western genre with fantasy elements, and the characters-one a white passing freed slave the other questioning his gender identity-were interesting and played off each other pretty well. I did think some of the discussions of the diverse issues surrounding these character were a bit heavy-handed, but for a YA novel it wasn't too bad. I did particularly like Jesse's pov starting with she/her pronouns and transitioning to he/him as his gender identity changes. I did think the plot was a bit hard to follow, things could've been explained better and it sometimes felt like scenes were jumping around. I didn't particularly like the ending either, but that's a personal preference. While this book wasn't really for me, it has some great elements that I can see other readers really enjoying.
This is a western adventure with supernatural elements, featuring two main characters who sign up for a special mission with the pony express, only to get more than they bargained for. The basics of the plot are great, I love the concept of combining the western genre with fantasy elements, and the characters-one a white passing freed slave the other questioning his gender identity-were interesting and played off each other pretty well. I did think some of the discussions of the diverse issues surrounding these character were a bit heavy-handed, but for a YA novel it wasn't too bad. I did particularly like Jesse's pov starting with she/her pronouns and transitioning to he/him as his gender identity changes. I did think the plot was a bit hard to follow, things could've been explained better and it sometimes felt like scenes were jumping around. I didn't particularly like the ending either, but that's a personal preference. While this book wasn't really for me, it has some great elements that I can see other readers really enjoying.
November 23, 2022
“Go to that wonderful place and stay there as long as you can manage. In that place, you are free. In that place, we are all free.”
Review: 4.5 stars rounded up
The Nightland Express is a YA historical fantasy that takes place in the antebellum frontier. It is such a fun ride with depth and stakes. It follows two young people trying to escape their secrets as they join the Pony Express only to find out they are taking an adventure on the magical Nightland Express instead.
The main characters Jesse and Ben are such deeply written characters and their foil brings so much to the table. As their secrets are slowly revealed to one another, we see how important the promises that we make to ourselves and each other can be. The queer representation in the book is explored through the fantasy elements and it’s so beautiful. It also speaks to colonization and historical traumas very well.
I can say that I am not a big fan of historical fiction or westerns but the themes of this book push out of the genre and pulled me into the story.
Disclaimer: I received a gifted finished copy of this book.
Review: 4.5 stars rounded up
The Nightland Express is a YA historical fantasy that takes place in the antebellum frontier. It is such a fun ride with depth and stakes. It follows two young people trying to escape their secrets as they join the Pony Express only to find out they are taking an adventure on the magical Nightland Express instead.
The main characters Jesse and Ben are such deeply written characters and their foil brings so much to the table. As their secrets are slowly revealed to one another, we see how important the promises that we make to ourselves and each other can be. The queer representation in the book is explored through the fantasy elements and it’s so beautiful. It also speaks to colonization and historical traumas very well.
I can say that I am not a big fan of historical fiction or westerns but the themes of this book push out of the genre and pulled me into the story.
Disclaimer: I received a gifted finished copy of this book.
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