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A review by matos
The Nightland Express by J.M. Lee
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Thank you Erewhon for the final copy of this book!
Jesse Murphy takes the job to reach California and find her father before her sister gives birth and it’s excited to take a job that allows her to dress up as a boy. Ben Foley, it’s a white passing boy escaping slavery and running from his family. They sign up for a special run for the Nightland route of the Pony Express. A special route that runs between words and has its own rules.
They start a magical journey while being followed by the harsh realities of life. It’s a journey to discover themselves, to confront themselves and their ideas of the world, to understand that there’s more than the daylight reality. It's the book equivalent of a road movie, the action and the danger never stop; and for me that’s the problem. I’m more of a character reader and the action was too much sometimes.
The other thing was that I was expecting more Native American folklore and less fae. It was well integrated, and it’s a me thing, not the book's fault.
I will read more of the author for sure.
Jesse Murphy takes the job to reach California and find her father before her sister gives birth and it’s excited to take a job that allows her to dress up as a boy. Ben Foley, it’s a white passing boy escaping slavery and running from his family. They sign up for a special run for the Nightland route of the Pony Express. A special route that runs between words and has its own rules.
They start a magical journey while being followed by the harsh realities of life. It’s a journey to discover themselves, to confront themselves and their ideas of the world, to understand that there’s more than the daylight reality. It's the book equivalent of a road movie, the action and the danger never stop; and for me that’s the problem. I’m more of a character reader and the action was too much sometimes.
The other thing was that I was expecting more Native American folklore and less fae. It was well integrated, and it’s a me thing, not the book's fault.
I will read more of the author for sure.