I really liked this book. I loved how the MMC was one person during the day (Artair), and a completely different person at night (Lucian). The way that Elver was created and given her magic was a little shocking, but it worked for the story. This book was a solid start to the duology.

This was a cute YA book with unique world-building and characters.

The adventure was fun to follow and the gaggle of interesting characters along the way kept my attention. I liked the different take on the gods, their domains, and their followers.

The writing was extremely fast-paced and at times left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. The word "idiot" appeared quite a bit and that repetition got to be a little frustrating.

Elver was a likeable FMC for the most part and I liked Artair more than Lucian. All three are your typical MCs in a YA book - young, aloof, and snarky in an adolescent and sometimes irksome sort of way. I will be reading the next book to find out how the characters fare!

Thank you for providing me with an e-ARC for feedback and review!

2.75⭐️ Rounded up to 3.

In a fantasy world made up of monsters and humans, The Sleepless had all of the elements to be an incredible story. The beginning started off so strong with a young orphan girl named Elver who is intended to be used as a sacrifice but is saved by the Queen Of Serpents. She swaps her blood with poison turning her from a human orphan to something entirely different. Elver goes on to become a guardian of the monster forest. Artair’s character was also another super cool concept, human by day Sleeper by night.

The world building, magical system, gods and character descriptions were very interesting, I thought the actual writing was good as well. The beginning pace started off fast and strong but I really started to lost my interest towards the middle. I also wish the characters personalities were more three-dimensional. Towards the end of the book I lost interest and was ready to close the book and be done.

I decided to round up my rating because even though I might not be the targeted audience for this book I think that a younger audience will probably enjoy this.

The ending was... interesting. The story was super unique and I was very interested throughout the book with it's unique plot. The loyalty/betrayal plot point theme seemingly gets done a lot in fantasy books in general but I highly enjoyed it in this book.

Firstly, the writing was extremely descriptive, and I could see that universe unfolding right before me. And that was the best part of it all. The characters were exceptionally well-written, and the story and narrative were top-notch.

The story between the monster girl, the possessed boy, and the evil spirit in him was written beautifully. The angst hits all the right spots.

Overall, this is a must read if you adore fantasy books, like me. You won't want to put it down! Happy reading.wn! Happy reading.

Thank you for the ARC Netgalley ;)

This book had a lot of potential and really kept me engaged but I will say the beginning was to slow for. Loved the FMC and her backstory lore. I however didn’t feel connected to the characters and made it hard for me to continue. Could be made longer so we could connect with the characters a little bit better before they jump into this big quest. Did love the description of the world lots of good pros in this writing.

Ok , so I would said that when i started i was a bit confused of what the books was about as i went in blind. But as it progressed i got more interested. Definitely enjoyed immensely. I love the magical world and how there is humans and gi (monsters) .
The two main characters or I might said 3 to be more real. Are amazing. The dual pov was great and easy to follow. I really enjoyed the whole journey of the book and the ending I need more . Definitely exited for the next book i cant wait.
Now on the audio as this was also an audio arc aside of the digital. Which helped greatly I could switch between both when i need it and well amazing. The narrators did an amazing job and it was so easy to follow . Definitely marvelous. Loved how you can tell Lucian easily for Artair. Overall enjoyed the audio as much as the book as a whole. Will be recommending for sure

The Sleepless
By Jen Williams

Fans of T. Kingfisher and Naomi Novik will absolutely devour The Sleepless. This dark, lyrical YA fantasy brims with mythic creatures, eerie woods, vengeful gods, and secrets that could upend entire worlds.

Elver was once an orphan girl offered up as a sacrifice to appease an ancient god and free her village from a plague of serpents. But instead of death, she found an unlikely savior: the Queen of Serpents. Taken in as her “poison child,” Elver becomes the keeper of the forest and guardian of its strange, sacred creatures, living far from the humans who once cast her aside.

But when a rare Jih cub is stolen, Elver is sent beyond the forest’s edge to retrieve it — and to keep the delicate balance between gods and mortals from shattering.

Meanwhile, Artair is a Sleepless, cursed to share his body with an unpredictable Other named Lucian. By day, Artair is bound to his monastery; by night, Lucian takes control and leaves chaos in his wake. When a cruel mage kidnaps the other Sleepless and demands the Jih cub as ransom, Artair has no choice but to team up with the girl from the forest — a girl he’s supposed to fear.

Together, Elver and Artair must navigate treacherous roads, bargain with fickle gods, and fight to keep Lucian’s darkness contained. But secrets twist like serpents in the dark, and neither knows what they’ll find at the journey’s end — or who they’ll be when they get there.

The Sleepless has everything you crave in a YA dark fantasy: fierce found family bonds, mythical beasts, twisted bargains, forbidden magic, and a love triangle that keeps you guessing until the final page.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 out of 5 stars)

Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the chance to read an early copy of The Sleepless — it’s one I’ll be thinking about for a long time.

En un mundo donde los dioses caminan entre los mortales y los monstruos habitan bosques oscuros, Elver vive aislada como guardiana de una tierra salvaje. Su piel es veneno: una maldición que arrastra desde su infancia, cuando fue sacrificada por un mago y salvada —y transformada— por un dios.

Todo cambia cuando conoce a Artair, un joven inmune a su toque letal. Pero Artair guarda un secreto: está poseído por Lucian, un espíritu oscuro que toma el control de su cuerpo cuando duerme. Juntos, los tres emprenden un viaje peligroso en medio de antiguas magias, dioses caprichosos y secretos enterrados.

Mientras alianzas inciertas se forman y sentimientos complejos florecen, Elver, Artair y Lucian descubrirán que sus destinos están entrelazados de formas que podrían desatar el caos.

Con una ambientación rica, una mitología original y un triángulo amoroso único, The Sleepless es una fantasía romántica juvenil intensa y emocional, perfecta para quienes aman las historias sobre maldiciones, magia oscura y corazones en conflicto.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest

The book started out with a unique story that i was interested k , lost me somewhere through the middle of the book.

Omg. I love this book because it was so interesting and I really like mythical creatures so that’s why I enjoyed this book. The writing was fantastic and it was a good pace to start. The action and the plot were amazing. The cover art is so cute and beautiful and I love the colors in it. If you want to read fantasy books that have mythical creatures in it, then this is for you😳. I want to thank Netgalley and the Author for letting me read this amazing book.

This was a super compelling and creative take on a love triangle, and I was hooked by the premise alone—a poison-skinned forest guardian, a man who shares his body with an evil spirit, and the kind of dangerous, slow-burn tension that keeps you turning the pages. I loved the dark, mythic feel of the world and the morally messy characters, especially Elver, who’s exactly the kind of sharp-edged, guarded protagonist I’m drawn to. The pacing dragged a bit in the middle, and some of the world-building could’ve been clearer, but overall it delivered on emotional stakes, eerie atmosphere, and one hell of a twisted relationship dynamic.

4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Macmillan Young Listeners for this advanced copy! You can pick up The Sleepless on September 30, 2025.

This story sucked me in right away, with an explosive prologue that laid out essential characters and tenets of this magical world. Twelve ruling gods, unruly sea serpents, wild creatures of a forest in need of a guardian, an unknowing monk who has an evil alter ego by night -- The Sleepless has all that and more.

Our FMC, Elver, is saved from sacrifice by the Queen of the Serpents and is charged with protecting a magical forest. Altair, our monk and one of the Sleepless, spends his days alone in a monastery while locking himself up at night to keep his alter ego from hurting anyone. Said alter ego, Lucian, has an agenda of his own and a mysterious connection to Elver.

The love triangle was deliciously well done, and the magic was epic throughout the story. I loved the twists and turns (even if a few were predictable), and the ending was insane. I can't wait for the next one!

Jen Williams is a master of storytelling. She has a way of combining and blending genres, creating character that you fall in love with and make you crave the next book!

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s press for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are mine.

If you have read Ninth Rain, you are familiar with Jen Williams and her weird concepts and stories. Ninth Rain continues to be a top 5 star read for me and I absolutely loved that trilogy.

The Sleepless has a very intriguing concept. In this universe, there are immortal gods and magicks (priests of said gods who can harness the power of the gods by offering a sacrifice) and then an enchanted forest and some other unique things in this set up. I really enjoyed learning the world and the culture. We follow Elver and Artair as they go on a quest to save Artair’s captured fellow monks and for Elver to get revenge against Mother Maura. I liked Elver as a character. She was understandably a product of her childhood. I also liked Artair and Lucian (although that ending is giving me palpitations 👀)

The plot is not anything too wild fetched - same good vs evil but done in a unique way and a fresh perspective. I would definitely recommend however it wasn’t a five star read for me sadly. I didn’t find myself yearning for the book until maybe the last chapters. Maybe book two will remedy that

Unfortunately, the writing style in this book was not for me. I, by no means, am indicating the book is not well written, nor is it bad, it just wasn't something I wanted to spend time on finishing. I DNF'd about 10% in (both audio and e-arc). Due to the fact that I did not finish however, I think it is only fair that I provide a rating of 3 as, again, I do not that my lack of interest in writing style is a true reflection of the quality of the writing or the book.

Dang. I really liked the idea of the plot (2 beings trapped in 1 body that lead to the love triangle). And the idea that she can't be touched....save by this body. And I actually like the idea of the ending...that last sentence of chapter 38!! BUT UGH the writing felt like what I did back in junior high when I was trying to write fanfic.

Props to the author for the plot ideas, and I'd love to know what happens in book 2...but in no way am I actually going to read book 2 unfortunately.

The Sleepless is a young adult romantasy by Jen Williams, the author of the wonderful Winnowing Flame fantasy trilogy. The Sleepless is quite captivating and reads to me more like a fantasy with a strong romantic subplot. It also feels more like an adult fantasy novel in its maturity, plot, and themes, including some explicit, but not extensive violence. Like most YA though the prose remains accessible, most of the characters are teens, and there is no profanity or sexual content. The atmosphere is quite dark, and tropes include found family and the actions of gods in this world. Themes include self sacrifice, the price of ambition, and personal growth. The plot is essentially a journey story, and is quite interesting. We meet lots of fleshed out characters along the way, each with their own voice and motivations. Jen Williams’s trademark creativity is evident. Overall I really enjoyed this book and have picked up my own copy of the UK hardcover. I would give this a strong recommendation to YA and adult fantasy readers whether or not romantasy is a favorite. I will be there on day one for the release of the sequel.

Thank you NetGalley for the ebook arc. While the book has wonderful world building I just could not get into the book. I and believe that fans of Powerless would love this book. I unfortunately DNF at 30 percent and I will try to read it again, since I don’t believe that I was in the right mindset to start this book currently

The Sleepless is a smart, gripping sci-fi thriller that blends mystery, corporate intrigue, and a chilling futuristic concept. I found it fast-paced and twisty, and I loved all of the thought-provoking questions about power, technology, and control.