DNF at 23%. I wanted to like this. he's a man by day and an evil spirit by night? sounds so intriguing. but the writing feels juvenile and it's not holding my interest 😬 I think if the pacing were moving things along a little faster I'd be more invested.

thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday for my complimentary e-arc. all opinions here are my own.

The Sleepless offers an intriguing blend of gods, monsters, and a uniquely twisted love triangle set in a richly imagined fantasy world. Jen Williams brings her signature flair for complex storytelling and immersive world-building to this new tale, and while the concept is captivating, it takes some time to fully settle into the narrative.

The sheer scope of the world — packed with magic, mythic creatures, and a cast of layered characters — is impressive but initially overwhelming. At times, I struggled to picture some characters or understand the nature of certain beings (Elver in particular remains a bit of a mystery — is she human, monster, or something in between?). The romance also felt like it emerged somewhat suddenly, which left me wanting more emotional buildup.

That said, Lucien’s storyline was a highlight. His morally grey nature and dynamic with Artair added depth and tension that kept me turning the pages. I was equally captivated by every scene involving Fleet — easily one of the most intriguing aspects of the book.

Though I was left with quite a few questions by the end, I suspect many will be addressed in the sequel. This feels like the kind of series that will grow richer with time, discussion, and maybe even some character art to help bring it all to life.

Also — major bonus points for the stunning cover art, which absolutely drew me in.

Rating: 3.5, rounded up to 4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press | Wednesday Books for the advanced copy!

“A terrible bargain, and one heart replaced with another.”

In one of the most imaginative twists on a love triangle I have seen, The Sleepless is the story of Elver, a girl-turned-monster in a sacrificial ritual and Artair, a novice at the monastery determined to keep the evil, the different, inside himself at bay.
The unusual pair, one who loves books and one who loves people, embark on a quest to do what is right and return what has been stolen. As their journey progresses, we are met with some of the most vivid imagery and mesmeric world building I’ve seen. I felt truly immersed in the story and almost giddy each time we encountered a new place or monster. This set a beautiful background as we watch Elver and Artair grow closer, but conflicting emotions and the emergence of Artair’s other cause things to become more and more complicated. Fate and destiny weave a delicious tapestry of yearning, curiosity, and distrust that lead us to a truly vicious cliffhanger. Just as the plot began feeling resolved enough to breathe, I was left screaming ‘what the hell’ at an empty kindle screen. I am standing at attention waiting for the next installation of this incredible story.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I had high hopes for this book because it has been compared to Godkiller but ultimately I think it fell short. The concept was really interesting but I don't think it was executed well. The world building was really good and I thought it was easy to understand and follow as well as being interesting but the characters were kind of lacking for me. It felt like every other YA fantasy character and there wasn't much to make them unique. I did find the unconventional love triangle to be interesting. I think this book just needed to be more to stand out.

I think i def liked the vibes of this first half of this book the more then the second half. I think this book was more of a fantsay and less of romantsay. I thought the world was really fun and loved it. I just did not feel as connected to the second half and felt like there were so many characters added it was hard to feel super connectd to the end of the story!!

I loved the cover of this book! Sleepless is a fast paced romantasy! I loved the unique magic system. I couldn’t really connect with any of the characters. I also couldn’t get into the book the way I hoped It would. I definitely think you need to be in the right mood when reading this book. The writing was beautiful though so I’m hoping to reread this book at some point. I’m hoping I’ll enjoy it more when I reread it.

Thank you so much NetGalley, Jen
and St. Martins Press for the eARC!

Rating: ✨✨✨
Publication Date: September 30 2025

#NetGalley

The Sleepless by Jen Williams is an absolute thrill ride — I couldn’t put it down! The concept is wild, the pacing is relentless, and the worldbuilding is insanely cool. It’s fresh, gripping, and totally addictive — I’m officially a fan for life!

Comparing it to other books set expectations high - especially to Godkillers and Powerless. Unfortunately I was not impressed with the worldbuilding or character motives. They were very nugatory.

Perhaps someone else would appreciate it but not my cup of tea.

Premise:
The story follows three characters. The first is Elver, a poison-child, guardian of the monster forest, and daughter of the Serpent Queen. The Serpent Queen saved her life by replacing her blood with poison and now Elver dedicates her life to protecting the Serpent Queen’s creatures and lands. She does not want to and cannot interact with the human world as her touch is poison.

Artair is a “Sleepless” monk on a mission. The Sleepless’ bodies are inhabited by an evil spirit, and when they sleep, the spirit takes over their bodies and are seen as striving for chaos. Artair’s fellow Sleepless monks have been captured by Mother Maura, a rival god of the Serpent Queen. He is on a mission to save them when he steals from the Serpent Queen, earning him Elver’s wrath. But her defenses are useless when she discovers he's the only human impervious to her deadly gift.

Lucian inhabits their body while Artair sleeps, and he is hell-bent on manipulating Elver for his personal gain. But Lucian isn’t all that he seems and that Artair believes him to be.

Each character is harbouring secrets and personal motivations as their plot to face Mother Maura and save the Sleepless monks.

Review:
All I can say is, go read the book NOW! I enjoyed it so much - It was an incredible read. The world is immersive and easy to understand and slip into and offers something different and unique. The characters are compelling, and I especially loved the thoughtful exploration of what it means to be a 'monster'—how perception shapes judgment, and the reasons behind those views. Each character’s arc is richly developed and satisfying. The unique love triangle is also very intriguing.

The book (esp that last sentence) will leave you wanting more! I’m so happy I read it and highly recommend! I am definitely checking out Jen Williams’ other books now.

This was an interesting take on a love triangle and I’m interested in seeing where it’s gonna lead. That being said the plot is nothing special that hasn’t been done before.

3.5 stars

I have mixed feelings about this book. I loved the characters first off, the way they interconnected especially with Artair and Lucien. At first I was confused at what was going on, but the book got more interesting and better as I read. I wish I saw Artair develop more, but Lucien’s plot twist made him much more complex. Elver had a slow character development and I am curious to see how that grows between the three, now that Artair and Lucien are somehow simultaneously-ish aware together. The inclusion of the gods being present isn’t the world was refreshing since many novels present them in a more passive way, or have to be directly summoned. I am very excited for the next in the series!

I was sucked in by the beautiful cover but ultimately not a fan of this fantasy. I can't put my finger on exactly what didn't work for me, just didn't feel engaged while reading.

This was a lot of fun! I think it was a pretty unique story and I really liked the system within the world. The MC could be slightly annoying at times, but I know I probably would have done some of the same things.

When I got the email from Wednesday Books, I just knew I was gonna love this one. And the thing is, love triangles aren’t really my cuppa, but The Sleepless did a good job with that trope. It wasn’t really a love triangle. There was barely any romance in it, but considering how the book ended, I’m sure that will change in the future books. Thank you soooo much Wednesday for the eARC. Yall the bomb.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

This was beautifully written, with an interesting magic system, and intriguing characters. It took me awhile to get into the book, but I think that had more to do with me not being in the right mood for this book than the book itself. I feel like right now, I can say I enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it I plan to read it again when I’m in the right mood, because I think if I’m in the right frame of mind this would be at least a 4-4.5 star for me.

The Sleepless by Jen Williams is a darkly enchanting fantasy that blends gods, monsters, and magic into a richly imagined world teeming with danger and desire. Elver, a fierce and complex guardian cursed with poisonous skin, meets her match in Artair—a man not entirely human, carrying a sinister second soul named Lucian. What follows is an intense, twisted dance of trust and betrayal, where nothing is as it seems and every character harbors secrets as deadly as the magic that surrounds them. The love triangle is utterly unique and emotionally charged, and the world-building is vivid and immersive. Williams weaves a tale that’s both thrilling and deeply emotional—The Sleepless is a spellbinding journey you won’t want to put down.

Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books/St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy of The Sleepless!! I loved this book and was hooked from the very first page. As a child, Elver was used as a sacrifice, but was rescued by a god. She was granted a deadly touch and became the guardian of the monster forest. Artair lives in a monastery, where he sleeps behind lock and key every night. He is one of the sleepless, and another being who resides inside him wakes up when he goes to sleep. A god tricks Artair into going on a mission to collect something from the monster forest, but Elver’s god tells her to stop him at all costs. The two go on an epic-like adventure across a unique world. Our main characters have the cutest animal sidekick. There is a bit of a love triangle between Elver, Artair, and the being inside him, which I really enjoyed. Overall I would definitely recommend this book!!

I found this story to be exceptional. The author's writing style captivated me, and I was particularly fond of all the characters. The narrative kept me engaged and eager to continue reading. I wholeheartedly recommend this book. I quickly progressed through it, appreciating the intricate world-building and character development. It presents a fantastic concept, and I look forward to exploring more works by this author.

The sleepless was fantastic! Well written, wonderful storyline and characters. Different than what i have been reading this year and it was a great difference and I cannot wait to read more books like this one!

Screaming for this book!!!
Absolutly amazing, the story telling is top tier the book was incredibly balanced and the characters were lovable!