This book made me think. All three main characters are not perfect and each have their own monstrous ways. It questions what it means to be a monster and why they are put in that box. This had great world building for a first book and the writing was really well done.

Always love a "touch is death to everyone except one other" trope. The world building was super well done and interesting and is what kept me reading. Unfortunately the romance subplot didn't work for me and felt forced and like an afterthought.

Book: The Sleepless
Author: Jen Williams
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Wednesday Books, for sending me an ARC. I have heard of Jen Williams before, but I have never read any of her books. This was a nice surprise. It had a nice balance of romance, fantasy, and magic. I thought it was a solid read.

In a land haunted by gods and monsters, Elver guards the twisted forest where deadly creatures roam. Her skin carries a curse because any touch can kill. Once saved by a god, she now lives in exile, feared and alone. Artair enters her world on a mysterious mission. He is the first person she has ever met who can touch her without harm. He is not a person at all. He is one of the Sleepless, a man cursed to share his body with another being. When Artair sleeps, Lucian wakes. Lucian is cruel, cunning, and determined to use Elver for his dark ends. Elver is not as powerless as she seems. She hides secrets that could shift the balance of power. She agrees to travel with them even though she has no intention of becoming a pawn. Their journey throws them into the heart of divine chaos, ancient magic, and violent power struggles. Each choice they make could shatter their world.

I was pulled in right away by the writing and the atmosphere. You are taken to the forest with Elver and see everything that she has been through. You quickly understand her hatred for humans and why she loves the forest so much. We see all of this happen very quickly. She was tossed aside by society and was used as a meal for the gods. The Queen of the Serphants saves her, gives her another chance at life, but it comes at a cost. Elver’s skin is poisonous to anyone who touches her. She develops a deep bond with the forest and will stop at nothing to keep it safe. All of this comes to life within the opening chapters. This set-up pulled me in very quickly. I found myself highly engaged and hooked by Elver’s story right from the start.

Then, we add in Artair’s story. He is a monk who lives completely cut off from society. Like Elver, he has a reason to. He is a Sleepless, which means that there is a demonic being that takes over his body at night. To project society from himself, he has been sent to this monastery to live out his days. After all, there are ways in this place to save others from him. He has been taught that the Other is evil and will destroy everything. It must not get out. He is sent on a task to steal a cub from the Queen of Serpent's forest. This happens after something bad happens at the monetary, which I can’t tell you about because of spoilers. It is here that he meets Elver, and the Other is revealed to himself.

Lucian is the Other. He doesn’t know where he came from or who he used to be. All he knows is that he is trapped in a body that is not his own. He forms a deep bond with Elver, who tries to help him uncover his past. We see his character develop through both Elver and Artair. Both have very different views on him, and it is through them that we grow to understand how things work. As time goes on, we do get to see more of Lucian’s story and grow to understand him.

That is the main thing about this book. We have three main characters who find themselves coming together. The gods are also there and add another layer to the story. However, the three main characters have been forced to come together and have to find a way to work together. If they don’t, then it could very well end up costing them everything.

All of this is shown through Jen’s amazing writing. We have an amazing world that is developed. There is danger lurking everywhere. We are not just told this, but shown it. All of it feels real. Now, it is not perfect. Some of the character work could have been better, but the world-building makes up for it. You are transported into the world. I felt like I was on this journey with the characters.
The magic system is also very different from most magic systems. It’s a god system and, as I have mentioned, we see the gods come into play many times. It seems like everyone is tied to one god or another. It impacts on their lives are a bit more extreme than others. I liked this magic system a lot. It allows the world to expand and be explained in a way that does not feel too bogged down.
I will end by saying that this book does have a love triangle. I found it to be okay, but I was not fully invested in it. It was just there for me.
Overall, I did enjoy this book a lot. It has made me want to give more of Jen’s books a try. If you are looking for a short fantasy novel with a bit of romance but not too much, then I encourage you to give this one a go.

This book comes out on September 30, 2025.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/oo6Js-pCV-w

This was a great story -- I can see where Jen Williams wants to go with the story but I did find myself a little confused when came to the hierarchy/structure of the gods but I know that if I went back and read it again I would be able to understand it. I loved the idea of a love triangle but not really a love triangle because it is two people in the same body but yet .... two different people, I don't think I can recall a single book that I have read that has a similar premise. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my review (but also when can I get book two????)

Perhaps because I distractedly listened to 2/3 of this on audio but I struggled to follow some of the god structure. I’m going to blame the distracted listening. Because when I did pay attention, I was completely engaged. I loved the trickster characters and chuckled at some of the dialogue. This was also a relatively original idea for a fantasy, in a genre where it is sometimes seemingly challenging to break away from the pack. I’m looking forward to the sequel!

Book review

3.5 stars ✨

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan audio and Wednesday books for my ARCs💚


The book starts on quite a journey with Elver a poison child of the god of death the rest of her life out in the forest protecting the gods children she has created… till one child is kidnapped and Elver comes face to face with Artair the kidnapper the only human ever to survive her touch… it leads to grand adventures and lots of realizations about each other!

The book has a really unique trope just expect the unexpected and kind of think of the Spider-Man meme when you do read this book sorry to be so vague

Otherwise, I did enjoy it. It did get slow in the middle, but the beginning in the end really had me hooked. I like a book that you go on adventure sometimes the books with only challenges and hardships and one single area get kind of old so I did really enjoy Going to different parts of this world.

I am excited for Book too. I think it’s gonna be 10 times better than Book one because we get a lot of answers and definitely more adventurous side quests!!

If you enjoy monsters myths with YA aspects, you will really like this book !

˗ˏˋ 2 stars ⟡ ݁₊ .

im so sad that i didnt like this book. the premise sounded so good but the execution wasnt working. i honestly did not care about any of the characters and the love interests felt so forced.

⤷ thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Elver was an orphan who was saved by the God of monsters. In this second chance at life, Elver’s only goal is to use her touch of poison to keep her fellow jih monsters safe from the humans that would wish them harm. But in comes Altair who needs to steal a jih monster in order to save his friends. Altair has his own monster inside of him. Whenever he sleeps, the dark spirit within him awakes.

I’ve read a few books where the FMC’s touch is poisonous to everyone except the love interest. But what made this story unique was that the love interest is actually two separate people inhabiting one body. This also gives this story a unique love triangle perspective.

I loved the magic system in this world, but I wish I got to see more of it. There are 12 total gods that will provide power to their mages in exchange for something of value. We only got to learn about half of the gods and the different kinds of magic they can provide. Maybe we will get to know more about the others in the sequel.

You will enjoy The Sleepless if you like:
💞Love Triangles
📍Quests
✨Mages and Magic
☠️Forced Proximity
⚔️Gods and Monsters

This felt familiar. A little too familiar it was giving powerless. I did enjoy it more than I thought but it didnt leave me thinking

Billed as Godkiller mixed with powerless. I wish it had more Godkiller beauty and less powerless vibes. Still unique though.

This book had such a cool concept, and the worldbuilding completely pulled me in. It’s dark, myth-inspired, and complex in the best way. In a world where the gods are ruthless and people are disposable, Elver ends up as one of the many sacrificial offerings—until everything changes. Her path collides with Altair, and slowly the threads of their lives, the truth about the gods, and the mystery of the Sleepless start to unravel.

The pacing was great, and the story definitely kept me engaged, but you’re dropped right into the middle of everything with little context. I didn’t mind putting pieces together, but I wish Elver had more of a backstory—it would’ve helped explain her motivations better (Mari Locke from My Dear Illusion is a perfect example of how a strong backstory adds depth).

Altair was an instant favorite—soft, curious, and so well-written. Lucien intrigued me too, though I get why his story stayed limited until a certain point.

Overall, Sleepless is a strong, atmospheric read with big Greek myth energy—especially the Andromeda/Perseus dynamic, except this time it’s not the hero saving the girl. Loved that reversal. A few minor flaws, but definitely worth the read.

Big thanks to NetGalley for the eARC!

⭐⭐⭐–3½⭐

The Sleepless drew me in right away with its unique magic system and gorgeous world-building—I always appreciate when a fantasy book can bring a completely new world to life, and this one truly delivered on that front. It definitely leans more YA fantasy, but I still enjoyed the action and the character development, especially the complexity of Elver, Artair, and Lucian’s dynamic. The love story, mix of gods, monsters, and curses kept things interesting. Overall, while it didn’t completely blow me away, it was an imaginative and entertaining read that fans of YA fantasy will likely enjoy!

Yes!! This is the fantasy I have been craving! The world, the magic and monsters, and the secrets! I can not waist for the next book!

The Sleepless is a gripping fantasy filled with tension, mystery, and a haunting atmosphere. Jen Williams crafts a dark, immersive world where secrets lurk in every shadow and the stakes keep rising.
I really connected with the characters, flawed, determined, and believable, and the pacing kept me hooked throughout. If you love moody, suspenseful fantasy with complex emotions, this one’s a solid pick.

I would like to start off by saying thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for being generous enough to lend me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book seemed promising, the idea behind it pulled me in, and I had high hopes for it to be a great read. However, it ended up falling kind of flat for me. When I was reading the book, I enjoyed what I was reading but, I didn't have much desire to pick it up after putting it down. The last line of the book was probably the most exciting part of the book for me, and the reason I will probably read the next installment.

I feel conflicted giving this such a low star rating but this fell flat for me and I’m so bummed!

We’re sold on the idea of Godkiller meets Powerless and I loved Kissen in Godkiller so was pumped to meet Elver in The Sleepless. I was disappointed when I crashed through 53% of the book and was feeling underwhelmed. There was a lot of potential with the Gods but there were so many smashed into this book it was a little jarring. The concept of books and magic systems was interesting though.

Now. My biggest “meh” on this was the LACK (and I mean absolute LACK) of chemistry between what’s supposed to be our love triangle. There’s no chemistry. No slow burn. We don’t even have a desire to flip between our two male love interests because they both just seem the same…whiny, self centered, and just vanilla. I’m not saying we need spice to have chemistry, but at least we could have been given some playful banter? Some conflict? Something to actually differentiate between the two? Idk. I’m just used to really falling for one choice when presented with a love triangle and neither option did it for me. Elver, girl. I’m sorry for you!

A popular love triangle “golden retriever v shadow daddy” vibe that was done well is (was? Has been?) the LIGHTLARK series so maybe I’m drawing up too many assumptions and criticisms for the two men we have here.

Another bland point for me was how Elver’s able to poison anyone she touches so naturally, that’s all she does when faced with conflict. There’s no magic, no swords or actual fighting…the girl doesn’t even wear gloves around people but is constantly complaining that people don’t have boundaries. I get that the only way for there to be a love interest for her is to have someone she can touch who isn’t effected, but that was also a “okay, so there’s no barriers for their love besides the barriers they create themselves” realization very early on.

BURIED PRO: the last line. Literally the last line of the entire 300+ page book. Chef’s kiss.

I will remain curious as to how the author wraps up this duology and am thankful for the authors and NetGalley for presenting me with an ARC!

She’s falling for the monster within him, and that’s all you need to know. This book was not what I expected and it was so good. The world-building is beautifully crafted. The mythology and magic are intriguing and truly unique. I loved the romantic buildup and the animal sidekick was so fun. I’m already anticipating a reread of this book.

I also listened to this one on audiobook and the dual narration fit so well with this story.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This book has a unique concept and the world was interesting and immersing. The way Elver was sacrificed at the beginning was great but I wish the author would have built upon her transition a bit more. The Artair/Lucien love triangle was definitely unique and I don't know that I've read a book with this type of triangle before. I loved the world and the monster animals and the way they were described. Overall I found this to be a solid first book in this duology and I can't wait to see how the author wraps this one up. I think there is definitely more to explore with Lucien's past and i'm intrigued as to how that will play a part in the next book. 3.5 stars!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Sleepless is the story of two characters who have formed in separate crucibles to become jaded, choiceless pawns in a world of gods, magic, and power grabs.

Artair and Elver team up, despite their animosity, to save the lives of some innocents and grow closer in the process. Artair is immune to Elver's deadly touch, and Elver forms a relationship with the parasitic soul, Lucian, who emerges when Artair is asleep. Elver ends up developing feelings for both men. The story line is a bit of an RPG where each quest waypoint tacks on another task, so its a bit of a never ending journey.

This story ends on a cliffhanger, and I can't wait to read the next installment!

3.5⭐️ rounded up.
So I sat for a bit on writing this review as I didn’t know how to rate it. I ultimately decided to round up as I think it may have its place with teen readers who do well with the more basic of character development.

This book definitely is unique is that it’s incredibly character driven which is why it’s so disappointing that the character development fell flat. There was nothing to get the reader excited about it the characters beyond that you want to do so. But being a YA fantasy it may be just what some readers need. There is comfort in the mundane and predictable fantasy. It reminds me of a school project when a student is learning how to write and follows a particular outline and plugs in the info.

I did like the mashup of gods and monsters. That is what pulled me in and kept me engaged enough to make it through the book. “Epic” however is NOT the descriptor I would use. It’ll be interesting to see how this series unfolds in future books as it is left on a cliffhanger.

I will say that the images for the finished deluxe edition as stunning so it will make for a pretty shelf trophy!


I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary eARC from Wednesday Books through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My general rating system is below. Since I primarily read ARC books I rate according to how I think like minded readers will receive the book. I will round up or down depending on many factors and try not to let my personal wants affect a books ratings.

⭐️ Hated It but pushed through as so don’t DNF ARCs I have received.
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, content issues, poorly edited.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but it had something that stopped me from rounding up. Usually the book may have much more potential than what was given. I recommend it but with reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I Really enjoyed it or think others will. These are solid reads that I definitely would recommend for a variety of reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! These are books that remain rent free in my head for well after unfinished the book. It can be for a variety of reasons from being very well written or just the vibes that captured my mind. These books are also ones I would probably read again.