Journey Man

by E.S.H. Leighton

There is a parallel New York City just out of view. One full of crow-headed grim reapers, oracles with galaxies floating on their skin, and sandmen with sleepy eyes in clean, pressed suits. Mortals will never access this side of the city. All mortals, except for one lonely, colorblind artist named Savage.

When desperation for sleep pushes insomniac Savage to a potent cocktail of sleeping pills and other unknowns, a drug-induced rabbit hole transports him from the dusty suburbs of Las Vegas to the technicolor dreamscape that is New York.

The leading grim reaper of the realm, Bishop, takes the wayward Savage under his wing and offers him the unique opportunity to become his apprentice. After a magnetic introduction to the muse Felicity, the decision is easy. Savage will become right-hand man to Death himself to maintain unfettered access to the world of color and myth… and the muse.

As Bishop trains Savage in the art of death, they find themselves in pursuit of a serial killer, with each murder an eerie echo of the violent art from Savage’s own mind. As he begins to uncover a cosmic conspiracy, Savage must contend with his past: his beliefs, his memories, and the pieces that have been left to exile.

Part portal fantasy, part cosmic thriller, Journey Man is a voyage into the deepest parts of what it means to be a resident of a universe built on equilibrium.

381 pages, Paperback

Published September 30, 2025

About the author

ESH Leighton grew up in Nevada, where she kept herself entertained making potions, penning rhymes, and imagining alternate worlds in the safety of her backyard with her faithful dog sidekick. That love of language and fantasy evolved and birthed her first novel, Journey Man. Her work has been featured across many literary journals, both in print and online, and she released her first collection of poetry in 2020 entitled Backwards Births.

When not working on her craft, she can be found doting on her many dogs, watching hockey with her husband, or attempting to teach herself a new skill.

Well traveled and well lived, she currently haunts San Antonio, Texas. Connect with her on social media (@eshleighton) or at her website: eshleighton.com

Reviews

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

Journey Man by ESH Leighton is not the type of book I usually gravitate towards. It’s part portal fantasy, part cosmic thriller and follows a colorblind artist named Savage as he enters a new world ripe with universe-shattering conspiracies and supernatural creatures, including Death itself.

I love fantasy elements and I’m always on the lookout for something that does fantasy differently, but the cosmic thriller side isn’t my usual forte. This book dives deep into the philosophical and theological with deep layers of story and character. It leans hard into the grittiness of life and the universe and doesn’t shy away from the hard truths and desperate moments. And yet, as I read, I found myself racing through the story, eager to find out what was happening to Savage and the cast of characters he meets along his journey. I was easily swept away by the alternate world Leighton has created and the story that has birthed from those details.

While I can’t say this will be a favorite story of mine, I can still recognize good art when I see it. This is the perfect book for someone out there and I can’t wait for Savage to find the right audience to truly appreciate what Leighton has written. The blend of genres along with the poetical writing style is the perfect combination for exploring the abstract and the cosmic. Welcome to the other side of the universe.

~Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.~

[E.S.H. Leighton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave this book nine years of my life, the least I can do is give it five stars.

[Amy Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

ESH Leighton's debut novel JOURNEY MAN is both gritty and glittering, corporeal in detail and cosmic in consequence. Itself a kind of mythical place for every artist, NYC serves as a capable portal through which Leighton thrusts a world-weary protagonist we can all recognize ourselves in. This book is sexy, slick, and one hell of a ride!

[Michaela Osiecki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of Journey Man from ESH Leighton and devoured that book in just a few days. A perfect blend of magical isekai/portal fantasy and cosmic thriller, this book was giving American Gods vibes but in the best way.

(Bishop was my favorite character, fyi. I do love a snarky side character with a few ounces of trauma.)

[Lorin Gainor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I mean, in just one scene I got the fabulous Robert Redford as the Grim Reaper Twilight Zone episode mashed up with the tear-jerker vibes of that old song ‘Shannon’ about the dog who goes into the ocean for the last time…??? Please. Then add in all the other wonderful scenes and, well, I really loved this book. A colorblind artist? Succubi? Yep. Loved it!!