Review of J. M. Lee, “The Nightland Express” (EXCERPT), Fantasy Magazine 84 (October 2022): 28-37 — Read here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This excerpt is chapters 3 and 4 of J. M. Lee’s 2022 novel published by Erewhon Books.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from reading an excerpt, especially one that apparently doesn’t start at the beginning (if I enjoy the story starting from chapter three, what does this say about the necessity of chapters one and two? I wondered). As it turns out, I didn’t feel the lack of those initial chapters; these two chapters were more than sufficient to introduce me to the two main characters (one whom we’re clearly meant to like and one whom we’re clearly meant to be exasperated by!), and get me interested in knowing more of their story. Will I pick up and read the whole book? I’m not sure. Did I enjoy the excerpt I read? Definitely. These two chapters were pretty much pure historical fiction, centered around the Pony Express in the 1850s, but there were a few hints dropped here and there that things might not be quite what they look like on the surface…
