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

Lee has written a delightful Old West fantasy story with multiple twists and turns that kept me guessing. Jesse and Ben are both engaging protagonists, and their reluctant friendship in the face of the strange encounters they have on the road was a delight to read. I loved the world created in The Nightland Express.

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.

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I just don't think this was the book for me. There was something that didn't mesh well with me. I don't know if it was the writing style of the characterizations. It was just off. I'm sure someone else is going to really love it though.

A huge Thank You to The author, The publisher and NetGalley for providing the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I LOVE THIS! SO MUCH!!! Such an enjoyable read!

Now THIS is a book I wish I could have read physically and not just on the NetGalley app.

The Nightland Express was a stunning coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of the wild, wild west with LGBTQ+ characters, adventure, magic, and all the works. What I was originally expecting just to be a historical YA contemporary turned out to have a beautiful, fantastical element that I feel ultimately gave the story a lot of lift.

I loved Jesse and Ben as characters, and getting to read from each of their POVs was a great choice by the author. This is the kind of fiction that I am excited to see in the hands of young readers and on library shelves.

A very unique story line that somehow doesnt live up to it's potential. The story development in the first half of the book is great. The characters are unique as well, but it feels as if the author had a great idea but had no where to go with it. The book is definitely worth reading and sharing with your scifi circle but I dont see this one as the next blockbuster.

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.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 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

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.

Set against the backdrop of the historic Pony Express that traveled from Missouri to California, The Nightland Express follows two teens as they race against time, magic and each other.

I loved this book, and I’ve already asked for a copy for Christmas. The dual POVs, the characters, the story and the setting are all woven together in such a neat way that it’s impossible to put down.

Jesse and Ben are such unique characters, and the diverse representation in this novel is very well written. There are queer, gender-queer, mixed and Indigenous characters that are added in so effortlessly that it really added to the story. The magical elements are also added in such a way that it makes the story very believable, and doesn’t slow or drag the story down.

There is the death of an animal on page, so be warned. Other than that, I loved this novel, and I can’t wait until it enters the world. Thank you to NetGalley, Erewhon Books, and the author for allowing me to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

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.

A secret, magic Pony Express hires on two new riders who must transport a challenging child across the country--but nothing is as it seems. The Sidhe have taken up residence in North America alongside indigenous gods and magics, and some of them are plenty unhappy with all of the mortals spreading out all over the place. The story is a bit over-complicated and the plotting is sort of like those Studio Ghibi films where they capture the idea of how magic works in the mind of a child--nothing has to be logical, and things turn back on themselves in fast reversals. But it's also full of important themes: a trans character comes out, as does a queer one; the earth needs protecting; found family is valid; and magic has a cost. For middle-grade readers and up.

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!

Okay so this book stole my heart. From the way the representation was written to the way the characters adapted to each other to the fascinating plot with its themes of adapting to a new culture and world that you don’t fully like, I adored this book.

There was magic and fast-pacing (something I enjoy a lot) and some very good character development. Jesse and Ben were chosen for the main event for a specific reason and I loved seeing how that played out and how the characters them tried to change and grow and adapt to everything that was going on.

But I can keep being vague about plot-related things (the hardest part of writing a review is talking about the plot without spoiling anything, please let me know if you have any tips /humor) or I can talk about my favorite part of the book, the representation.

This book had trans representation without ever saying the word “trans” or anything else. There are Native Americans and people of color and there was care taken to talk about the time this book was set in (late 1850s-early 1860s I think (double check that before posting)). I can’t judge the accuracy of such representation, because I am not trans, nor a BIPOC person, but I was glad it was there in this book.

The way it (to my white cis eyes) seemed to be written respectfully was quite nice and I’m glad it existed.

Now I’m going to talk about the magic. Because I loved the magic in this book. There wasn’t a lot in it (that I can talk about due to the plot) but I loved how the magic was naviagated and I especially loved the magical horses. You will meet the magical (and nonmagical horses) pretty quickly in the book and love them too. They can run forever. It’s cool.

There was also a plot twist at the end of the book that broke my heart. I can’t talk about it because this is a spoiler-free review, but let me say, there was something that made me sad and happy at the same time and so if you like those kinds of things, this book is definitely for you.

I have to say, though, that in the beginning the magic and the magical people were…a bit confusing. And it took me until around 30%-40% to fully understand them and what was actually going on. But that was only a small issue and not something that I worried about too much.

The setting was a desert (and a few towns) in the pre-Civil-War-South and I appreciated the fact that this was mentioned and that characters had thoughts about this situation. Ben was a run away slave and there was care to mention that (once again can’t judge the representation, but it was there) and how slavery was seen by the main characters as wrong.

Before I wrap this up, I want to mention that there is a spoilery backstory section in the book and it was definitely my favorite part and I loved it a lot. All in all, this book is getting a 5 star rating!

I really liked the book itself. It was fun, it was weird, different, emotional, it was unexpected but also expected. It was a good read. But it also dealt with some really serious points. Like slavery, being gay in old times like that, being trans in the old times, the taking of land from the original people who lived there. But all wrapped up in an amazing way, and dealt with in an amazing way from what I can say about it (as I can not speak from every perspective ofcourse). But with the fantasy added to it, the faeries and the faerie land and the own problems with all that, it was still just a nice book to escape in. And a good nice twist. The end went a bit hard, a but sudden. But not really as bad? It just could've gone a bit slower for me. 
But overall. Amazing book. I really liked it.

The synopsis of this book got me super intrigued: two kids that ride horses through other words.
Since it sounded so cool, I asked for an ARC through Netgalley. Thank you so much for letting me pick this up early!

Unfortunately, this was not really for me and I had to DNF a bit after the half-way point.

First of all, this reads YA and I am no longer the target audience for it, my bad.
Secondly, it felt like everything was happening too quickly (and I understand this is to get the young reader engaged, but again not for me).
I liked the characters enough, but I did not really care about them, so I did not bother to see how their stories ended up.

However, I still think the idea behind it is truly cool and this could be a really interesting and important read for some young readers out there!

I don't know what I was expecting from this, but it wasn't this. I thought it would have more of a historical feel. I'm pretty sure I'm the issue here, not the book. I just couldn't connect to it as I'd hoped.

That said, I really liked how the rep was handled in this one.

When reading The Nightland Express, I think about books like Percy Jackson where the author is able to blend mythology with YA and create a whole new world for readers to explore while also educating them.

J.M. Lee does just that in their novel with a tale of two riders for The Pony Express who experience magic and wonders while also chasing and running away from problems that were happening in the post Civil War America.

Lee’s worldbuilding is superb and it feels like a historical novel with a dash of fantastical flair. Her characters are good but outside of main characters I wish the side ones could have been more fleshed out.

Overall The Nightland Express is a superb blend of history, adventure and magic for young adults to enjoy!

A western expansion era tale that teases a more understanding world out in fiction than the one we were given. I enjoyed several elements of this story, but I never was able to fully invest in the story the way I had hoped. I enjoy seeing a coming-of-age tale embracing more diversity in gender roles, but it was never able to be much more than an enthusiasm for that expression.