I would like to thank the publisher for sending me an audio-arc in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.

Elver was an orphan when she was chosen as a sacrifice. But Elver didn't die. Instead, she was reborn as the guardian of the forest whose skin is poisonous to anyone she touches. Artair is one of the Sleepless – a monk who shares a body with a dark spirit. When Artair is sent on a mission to capture a creature of the forest, he runs into Elver. The two of them – well, technically three of them – travel to free Artair’s friends, and from there things take a turn as they decide to go after the mage responsible for wanting the cub. As they travel together and Elver develops a bond with both Artair and Lucien, they stumble on a plot that could destroy the very foundations of their world, and only working together do they stand the chance of stopping it.


This is fantastic. I love the rich world building here from the gods to the monsters, the monk who shares his body with another soul, and of course the magic. I will say, if you're not paying attention you will miss you so much in this because of how in-depth everything is and all the way the layers stack. I enjoyed the characters, I thought every single one of them was extremely well written which I found interesting considering two of them literally share a body and everything about each soul is so different from the way they speak to their body language. I will admit, I'm a little hesitant to see how everything is going to play out with the romance aspect, but it's so unique that I feel like I could accept any outcome. This was fantastic – between the actual writing and the dual narrators who brought these characters to life, it’s definitely worth the read and listen.

3.0 Stars✨
"How was the world outside continuing to exist when his whole world had been torn apart?"

The beginning of this book had such a strong start. The magic system is absolutely unique, the story, incredible.

So why 3 stars? Well, there were some issues.

The FMC was not my favorite. I need their character to act accordingly to what they’re portrayed to be. The FMC’s character wavered A LOT. Then you have Lucien That was a bit confusing. I think I was disappointed that no one was actually evil or a villain in this one. Which defies the summary of the book. Those villain arcs ended up being weak.

All in all, it was honestly a well balanced read. I am looking forward to the next book and I am recommending this because it was not like anything I’ve ever read before.

I really loved the unique premise of this story, I don't think I have read much like it in the past. I thought the world building was unqiue and paced well and that what we learned along the way was done very well. If you like fantasy with intriguing elements and a very interesting love triangle I would recommend this. I loved the concept of the sleepless and how it articulated in this story.

We follow Elver as she sets out on a quest alongside Artair and Lucian to help free Artair's friends and return a beloved cub back to the forest in honor of the god she serves. Without giving much away they go on a journey and uncover hidden secrets, learn to trust, and find out how all their path's have intersected. What we get is a truly capturing story, I can't wait to dive more into this world.


I also had the added bonus of reading the audio version alongside the eArc, and can I share that this is one my of favorite ways to read books! The audio narrators did an amazing job bring the characters to life. I felt every emotion Elver felt and the distinction between Lucian and Arter's voices was so well done, each was so distinct and we could feel these characters come alive!


This is one of those books that I want you to experience while it is happening, and that makes the details in this review sparse, but know I highly recommend this read if you love fantasy and romantasy! Thank you to the publisher for providing an advanced readers copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.25 Stars

“Here and now, in this moment, I am safe. The Other that lurks within me is contained.” - Artair’s Mantra

I was really hesitant about listening to this book. The premise of the book only kind of intrigued me. However, once I figured out that it would be the offering in one of my September YA book boxes, I decided to give it a go.

And I’m glad I did because The Sleepless is a really good book!!

In writing out my notes, I realized how well thought out this book is and its pacing/delivery is truly exceptional.

I will admit to being a little bored in the middle but, once things started to unfold in the latter portion of the book, I was truly astounded at the twists and turns this story took to get us to an ending that is satisfying but leaves you eager to see what’s next for these characters.

I don’t want to list what the plot device is because it in itself is spoilery but just know that no information is wasted and this is an excellent journey/quest book with very interesting characters set in a magical world with gods and monsters.

The synopsis explains the premise very well. You will find a very different triangle here. The Sleepless, Artair, by day and his parasitic demon spirit, Lucien, by night get to know and fall in love with Elver, the guardian of the forest of demon spirits.

The three of them, I call them “the trio”, are on a quest to bring an ambitious acolyte, Mother Moira, a creature from the demon forest so that she can use it to gain a boon from her chosen god.

If they cannot complete this task in the timeframe set forth, Mother Moira will kill all The Sleepless that she is holding hostage.

So, to be clear, we have Artair trying to complete this quest to save his friends. Elver is following him to retrieve the demon spirit, a cute Kaltraxia (bird-like) cub who is the main provider of comic relief, to return him to the forest. And Lucien who is along for the ride because he’s housed in Artair’s body.

Along the way, we meet zealous acolytes and trickster gods. Trials are completed and histories are unraveled. And it all just comes together beautifully and leaves you with a well-told original story that will have you wanting to see what happens next.

So, if you enjoy journey/quest stories with Found Family, an adorable “hostage”, an interesting world with twelve gods and their villainous acolytes, and a very unique love triangle shown through multiple points of view, then definitely add “The Sleepless” to your YA Fantasy TBR!

I’m giving the audiobook a little lower rating due to a stilted delivery by the female narrator and a “too old”delivery of Lucien by the male narrator. But, for the most part, it’s well performed.

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for my early listening copy! All opinions are my own.

4.5🌟-0🌶️-4🎧

This book did not land for me. I found it so boring that I couldn't finish it. The only character who was even remotely interesting was Lucien. I spent a lot of time being confused about the world and how things worked. Like, why are mages called magpies?

That's really all I have to say about this book. Not much happened in the 44.6% I managed to get through.

Rating: 3 stars!

I think the premise of this book is unique. A gifted girl stolen from an orphanage, bitten by a god of the sea, on a journey. Like, seems really cool? But by the 80% mark, I felt like I kept thinking, 'man this had to be wrapping up soon right...?' I think I'm more invested in the getting the 'monster' back to his mother than I am any of the main characters, but I am still really intrigued for book 2, which of course I will be reading.

Ps. The audio book is AMAZING. The narrators (both of them) make the story incredibly engaging with all of their voices.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

This book is such a fun time. Jen put together a fantastic cast of characters and wove a story worth listening to. I just found out it is a duo logy and that makes me even happier with it!

Esme Lonsdale and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith did a wonderful job of narrating!

Audio Book Review – The Sleepless by Jen Williams
⭐️ 3.75 Stars

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy!

The synopsis describes this book as a romantic fantasy, and I’d definitely agree—though it leans much more toward epic quest with light romance than romantasy. If you love rich worldbuilding and a more traditional fantasy vibe, this will be right up your alley.

One of my favorite parts was how easy it was to follow. Sometimes with fantasy I find myself drowning in wordy descriptions, but Jen Williams’s writing is engaging without being overwhelming. The hardest part for me was keeping all the gods straight—but with context clues I usually pieced things together quickly.

✨ Characters I loved:

Elver – hands down my favorite. She’s sarcastic, sassy, and doesn’t put up with anyone’s nonsense. For such a serious plot, she was a fantastic comedic relief.

Artair & Lucien – Lucien stole the show for me, but both were fascinating. And here’s the twist: they share a body. 👀 Talk about a wild and unique love triangle concept!

There were a few other side characters I really enjoyed, but since I listened on audio, I’m not even going to attempt spelling their names, haha.

The plot itself is classic quest fantasy—traveling to new lands, interacting with different gods, and stumbling into plenty of mischief. There were definitely some surprise moments that kept me engaged, even if at times I wished for a stronger romance thread. (That’s probably just me and my romantasy brain talking!) While it never fully hooked me on an emotional level, I still enjoyed the ride and definitely plan to pick up the sequel.

🎧 Audiobook Notes: The narration was fantastic. Esme Lonsdale nailed Elver’s sharp, nonchalant sass, and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith did an amazing job—especially shifting between Artair and Lucien’s voices. The performances made the story even more dynamic and enjoyable.

Overall, The Sleepless is a solid fantasy start with unique twists and fun characters, and I think it could easily be a 4–5 star read for anyone who prefers their fantasy with less romance and more worldbuilding.

I honestly signed up for this alc to see if I wanted the special edition YA from my book sub 🫣 however I’m so glad I did. Although it took a bit for me to get into this, once the world building kicks really into the plot this book was so much f̆̈ŭ̈n̆̈. Am I supposed to love the bad spirit more?! Because I do 😂 anyways this plot held strong, delivered a solid finish, and you are left with a cliffhanger that has you itching for book two of the duology - I’m truly hoping the book sub offers this in the future for a matching set 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this alc in exchange for my honest review.

A big thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday books for providing an eARC of one of my favorite reads of the year, in exchange for an honest review.

It might be slightly telling that my two all time favorite reads (T. Kingfisher's Hemlock and Silver and this one, The Sleepless by Jen Williams) of the year have featured serpents in some sort of capacity. I can only wonder what that will mean for Sonnets and Serpents by Elizabeth Lowham.

The Sleepless by Jen Williams is a YA fantasy novel that has been comped as Godkiller meets Powerless, though I do not fully see it??? Welcome to a world where gods and monsters roam the earth . . . Elver is the guardian of the wild and dangerous monster forest. Saved from the brink of death by a god, her skin will poison anyone she touches. Artair is on a mission—one that takes him face-to-face with Elver at her most ruthless. But her defenses are useless when she discovers he's the only human impervious to her deadly gift. For Artair isn't human: he's one of the Sleepless, cursed to share his body with an evil spirit. Lucian inhabits their body while Artair sleeps, and he is hell-bent on manipulating Elver for his dark purposes. But Elver is harbouring secrets too, and she has her own reasons for feigning an alliance with these two souls. Caught in the crossfire of gods, monsters, and a dangerous magic they can barely understand, it is only a matter of time before the paths the three of them choose to take will set alight the very foundations of their world.

Okay, quick confession time. Lucian was my favorite character in the entire novel, despite him very having very little screen time. And I blame this solely on the fact that the dynamic between him and Artar reminded me so heavily of Lucanis and Spite from Dragon Age The Veilguard. I know. I know. Blame it on the similar names, and the general grouchiness of spirits and the misjudgment of identity. But he is still my favorite! I also really loved the plot (even though some points became quite repetitive after a while), but the magic system was unique, and the characters are adorable.

Listen. Jen Williams specifically.....I know this book isn't out yet but when will the arcs for book 2 drop? Because I need it immediately after that cliffhanger of an ending.

The concept of The Sleepless is a very interesting one. This story sounded like everything I would love. You've got gods on Earth. You have Elver a girl that was sacrificed but came back only now she has a touch that poisons humans so she hides out in the forest. You have Artair who is one of the sleepless cursed with an evil spirit, Lucian, in him that takes over when Artair sleeps. You have a promise of a very unique love triangle. But it just didn't hit the mark for me.

I absolutely loved this sleepless concept and wanted more of that. I want to know more about that magic and the other sleepless. Are they all like Artair and Lucien? I would of been happy just reading about that. The male POV chapters were my favorite. As for Elver, I just didn't feel a connection with her. I kept losing interest and getting distracted when reading her POV. I don't know if it is because the writing is a bit more YA than I typically enjoy, like the story was just a little too shallow for me.

I feel many will enjoy this book. Its just not a hit for me and I don't plan to continue the series.

The Sleepless starts with a really intriguing premise and compelling characters. However, it falls into the trap of trying to fit too much worldbuilding and too many plot threads into a book of its length. I would have loved to see a sharper focus on the main characters and a more developed central conflict, with fewer side-quest-style detours. The audiobook truly saved the experience for me—and credit where it’s due, the narrators deserve the spotlight!

Here’s your rewritten version, keeping all the key details but giving it a smoother, more polished and engaging flow:

---

Elver is the guardian of a wild, dangerous forest teeming with monsters. Once saved from a sacrificial death by the Queen of Serpents, she now carries a deadly gift—her skin poisons any human she touches. Artair, one of the cursed Sleepless, faces a different torment: if he dares to sleep, an evil spirit takes control of his body.

When a mage takes his friends hostage and demands he steal a keltraxia cub from Elver’s forest, their paths collide. Sent by her god to retrieve the same cub, Elver must confront far more than just a thief.

The world-building is rich and imaginative—twelve gods, each with distinct followings, traits, and traditions. But the real scene-stealer? The cub. Elver can understand magical creatures, and this little one is pure gold: snarky, curious, and endlessly mischievous.

This story is a departure from Jen’s usual style. While it still features strange creatures, quirky characters, and found family, the tone is lighter and faster-paced, perfectly suited to its Young Adult romantasy genre. I’m genuinely impressed with how seamlessly her writing adapts to fit the audience.

That said, I found myself wanting more—likely a mix of it being YA and the shorter page count. I also wished for richer descriptions, especially with such unusual creatures; I struggled to picture them vividly.

I actually really enjoyed this story. The plot had some elements that are new to me, so the story felt fresh in some ways. Yes there is a love triangle, but it's between one girl and one boy who has... a demon stuck inside him? (Keep in mind, I am team Artair because that poor boy deserves a break!!) I think if this had been touted as an adult fantasy, I would have had more issue with it because there are a few moments in the writing that are kind of cringey and made me almost think of rating the book lower, but for a young adult romantasy it's pretty well written!

If you like mythical creatures, love triangles, magic, and trials, this book might be right up your alley!

This was different then what I thought it was going to be, but I still enjoyed it. Had the "Jen Williams" twist on the genre that I think many people will appreciate. Definitely a different take on the "love triangle" trope.

Would you rather lose control of your body to another entity when you sleep or be full of a contact poison ? Well let's slam both of those folks together in "The Sleepless" by Jen Williams (out 30 September 2025), thanks for the copy Macmillan Audio.

Human sacrifice is generally frowned upon. Unless a bloodthirsty god says it's cool so you can banish giant snakes from the port. But what if the sacrifice didn't die? And what if those snakes were led by a queen who infused her with venom and magic to make her not so human anymore. Now she wanders the spirit woods keeping humans at bay. At least till one steals a cub and her god sends her on a collision course with her past.

Narrated by Esme Lonsdale and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, the dual povs and the third voice are excellent performances that made me so glad not to be that young anymore.

Reasons to read:
-Super different situation with the mcs
-Gods who are real and they all want different things
-Rather driven antagonist
-Didn't see that coming actually

Cons:
-Had a couple of flashbacks to teen years and how bumbling I was

It took me about 20% to get fully invested into this story, also because the main characters don't meet for a while. But once I did get hooked, I was really enjoying it. I loved the audio format with the two different narrators!! plus the cute baby cub! I will say some of it got a little confusing and maybe I missed something or something trying to multitask. But overall, I really enjoyed this audiobook! I am curious to see where it goes and will probably need to reread it via Kindle next time.

Solid 4 star book. I think for me it didn’t seem too YA (thank goodness). Really I wanted more at the end. Since this is a duology I can’t wait for book 2!

Also the audiobook was great. Esme Lonsdale and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (who also does the Rivers of London books, which are great) are amazing in narrating this book.

While I enjoyed this book and it's unique love triangle, I just didn't find it very memorable. It's been a few weeks since I finished the audio (great narration) while I was on vacation, and I'mnot able to remembera whole lot. That's not to say I didn't thoroughly enjoy the listen though. Fan's of YA fantasy will enjoy this. The main characters are well-developed, and the story is cohesive. I was sometimes confused about the magic system and "monsters" in the book, but since this is part of a series, I think these will be explored and explained more thoroughly in the next book. I found myself rooting for the "bad guy." Overall, I would definitely continue with this story, but would hope that book two comes with a little refresher.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for an ARC of this story. I liked The Sleepless. I think the supporting characters were interesting and I'd like to learn more about them. It is an epic adventure with a twisty romance. The world building was vivid. The Sleepless moved at a swift pace and kept my interest. I would like to read more in this world.