2.75-3 stars ೃ⁀➷ Elver is Maleficent... nobody can convince me otherwise.

What to expect!
🐍 3rd person POV
🐍 Maleficent style mystical forest
🐍 A love triangle
🐍 Grumpy X Sunshine
🐍 A Quest
🐍 An animal accomplice


The Sleepless follows a girl named Elver, who was saved from the brink of death by the serpent god after being forcefully sacrificed. Now reincarnated, she is a Jih creature of the forest with poison running through her veins instead of blood, which makes her touch lethal. (Juliette Ferrars who?!). One day, a creature of the forest is stolen, and Elver has been sent to save it, but when she confronts this thief, Artair, she realises that he's not simply an evil thief but trying to save the only people he's ever known from the person who killed her seven years ago. All is not what it seems, because Artair is part Jih too, because he's one of The Sleepless- when he shuts his eyes another person overtakes his body, someone with a more sinister motivation than the innocent and kind Artair. Together, all three of them must work together to bring this cub home and defeat the evil forces threatening Artair and maybe something more...


Initial thoughts and reactions~
The first few chapters were EXCELLENT- I thought this would be a really cool unique world (which in a way, retrospectively it is but it was explored in a boring way). But after introductions it just got boring and the challenges faced along the way got a little bit juvenile because surely there are BETTER ones that can also assist in creating a more detailed world/society. At the end it was okay, then the last line of the chapter before the epilogue got me 🤯.

The Plot~

It held promise until it just took a route I generally didn't like. Then I lost interest sort of. Personally, the quest was dragged out in a boring, unneeded way instead of making it complicated in a good way.

My main issues were: the lack of world-building and destroying character depth for the sake of plot when it was just created. When it comes to the world building, it's weird because I understand parts but all of the Gods stuff is so new to me with how it all works and I kind of understand that, however there was no/little world building outside of the Gods stuff- like how the society functioned or how the gods tied into the society. In all, it lacked depth. Secondly, the characters were phenomenal at first... but then as soon as the plot got introduced, I feel like we lost a bit of the characterisation because both Elver and Artair IMO, (mainly Elver) were doing things that suited the plot more instead of it actually matching their characters. Also, the swearing was a bit random at times, I'm not sure.

The characters// Lucian & Artair

I feel like I was misled. Lucian is NOT evil. He may have done evil acts, but he was barely given a chance to be evil in this book because of how he was often tied up. In fact even when he did do things I wouldn't even call them evil at all. Purely a naughty child. Who's also got a fuck ton of charm, let me tell ya. Artair was honestly a GEM- he was THE kindest soul ever, and oh so innocent and naive, which honestly could have been used more to add humour to the plot because his generosity also was tainted by a lot of naivete.

The characters// Elver
Icon, queen, just gorgeous. Her backstory is so sad, and I completely understand her avoidance of the human world. She honestly has my heart. While she's not the best crafted character, I can still resonate with her thoughts and choices and approach to the world. Her relationship with the Serpent is so deep and nuanced in my opinion(and lowkey one of the saving graces of this book).

The characters// Mother Maura | The villain
I feel like the author attempted to give her depth to make us understand her villain origin story, but for me it didn't work. Don't get me wrong, I feel sympathy for her but I also DGAF but she hurt my girl Elver!! I liked the epilogue at the end though and I feel like I'm starting to like her as now her motives have more depth.

The characters// The cub
Honestly, a cutie, and lowkey Andarna wannabe!! Nobody can beat my baby Andarna from Fourth Wing, but it's okay, this cutie cub tried (and failed), but he was still very cute. Annoying-ish at times, but nevertheless cute.

Overall... it was fun at first, but then it got boring in the middle. What made it manageable was when Lucian came to the surface, he was so interesting, and I wish the author wasn't so careful with his character and let him embody that 'evil' mentioned in the blurb! The ending conflict was good and had definitely made me curious as to what's in store for the next book! Assuming there is one because I thought this was a standalone, oops.

2.75-3 stars

I enjoyed the idea behind this book and thought it something more original and interesting. We meet our MMC who is one of the sleepless, whose bodies are inhabited by another when they are asleep. After he is sent on a mission to rescue his friends he crosses paths with our FMC and together they make a deal to find a way for them both to get what they want.
Although I enjoyed the ideas behind this book the writing felt a little too YA for what I like. I would have liked more world building and details, maybe some more backstory, as it all felt a little too brief for what I like. I also didn’t connect with the characters as much as I would normally like to.
However, it was a nice easy read with a refreshingly new idea I haven’t read before and so I’d give it 3 stars.


Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Sleepless by Jen Williams is a book that I’m aware wasn’t really written with me in mind, and unfortunately, I think that’s part of why it didn’t quite resonate. While I can see that this story would appeal to certain readers, it didn’t fully engage me as I had hoped.

The plot itself was fine—there’s an intriguing premise but ultimately, it didn’t captivate me. I found myself getting bored at times as the story progressed, the first 50 pages were easily the best.

As for the characters, I found them to be rather bland. I struggled to connect with them, and they felt somewhat one-dimensional in places. I was hoping for more depth and development, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite come through.

One concept that I thought had a lot of potential was the idea of two people sharing a body as the love interest. It was a fascinating idea and could have brought a lot of complexity to the relationship dynamics, but unfortunately, I found it poorly executed. Instead of adding layers to the romance, it felt flat, and I couldn’t fully invest in the connection between the characters.

However, there were a few aspects I did enjoy. The Jih creatures stood out to me as an interesting part of the world, and I found their inclusion to be a refreshing change of pace. I also appreciated that Elver was unapologetically herself, embracing her nature without hesitation. It gave her character a certain strength that I could get behind.

Overall, while The Sleepless has its moments and I’m sure it will find its audience, it just wasn’t a book that worked for me.

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this book.

DNF’d at 52%. Despite me not enjoying it I do believe this book will be popular. It did have parts that I enjoyed, the first fifty-ish pages of the book was interesting. I enjoyed it being dual pov and learning about each of their worlds and how they grew and survived.

Artair was my favourite of the two main characters, a boy by day and an evil spirit by night. I was invested in not only his chapters but also Lucian’s.

Elver was for me a peculiar character, who had a rough childhood where she was sacrificied and then survived without human contact in a forrest. Which would make anybody a little strange but her wording and how she acted most of the time just had me cringing.

The best part of this book had to be the stolen cub, who was sassy, smart and i can picture incredibly adorbale.

The closer I got to the 50% mark I knew that this would end up being a dnf. I’m very grateful for the free copy to review and I wish that I liked it more than I did.
For me it was the writing style and the story that did not make sense and the closer we got to the middle just felt like it was being filled to bulk the book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. - Freya, arc & monthly book box pick reviewer

The Sleepless took me by surprise, and it kept taking me by surprise the more I read! What an awesome unique YA romantic fantasy!! I loved it!! Like, I literally want to push it to everyone's hands!!!! Their hook "Made by a God, falling for a Monster" is EVERYTHING and encapsulates what the book is about PERFECTLY!

We follow Elver's, Artair's, and Lucian's POVs. In my proof, it doesn't mention whose POV each chapter is, but it's not needed, either. You know immediately whose head we are in, and I loooooved it. There is no way to mistake Artair's pov for Lucian's or anyone else's. The author has sculpted these three utterly distinct characters, and I must say, I LOVED THEM ALL. It's a love triangle, sort of, but for the life of me, I can't pick between Artain and Lucian. I need both of them to find happiness and freedom.

Elver was sacrificed as a child, to appease the sea serpents. The mages and the mortals showed no mercy, no hesitation. They just threw her into the sea to save themselves, but the Monster Queen saved her and replaced her blood with poison, so anyone Elver touches gets poisoned. Elver leaves the mortal town and lives in the Jih Forest surrounded by nature and other Jih creatures. She is their protector and guardian of the forest. She is content but she doesn't realize that she isn't quite free, either. What I loved about Elver was her self-esteem and way of dealing with her problems. She stands up for herself, and doesn't wallow in self-misery. She finds a way to solve her problems, gods, humans, and monster be damned.

Artair, sweet, noble Artair. I don't normally like characters who believe what they're told without questioning, but Artair is different. He has such a noble heart that he imprisons himself for the safety of others. He doesn't question whether the evil spirit inside him is evil, partly because of the spirit's evil actions once, and partly because he can't comprehend why anyone would imprison and torment someone like this. He isn't stupid, he is just too good for any world. And to be honest, Lucian's actions in the past were evil-ish. I loved seeing Artair finally experience the world, visit new places, and talk to people. He was so elated but he was also anxious because he felt responsible for the spirit within him and what he might do. Artair is someone who thinks about others first, and I hope that his compassion leads him to a happy ending in the next book. Nobody deserves it more than him.

Lucian, our sneeky evil spirit who may or not be a spirit, to begin with. Is he evil? Well, he has certainly done evil-adjacent things, but he has also done the right thing by his god, and he actually had good-ish intentions. He is not purely evil, and he isn't good, either. He is someone who puts himself first and foremost, and his God in second place. He is arrogant and powerful, and he is so very ambitious. I like ambitious and competent characters, and I like survivors. I only hope that he doesn't lose the last threads of morality he has, and that he doesn't hurt Artair irrevocably.

I loved the worldbuilding and how inclusive it is! We have twelve Gods and their mages, we have creatures, we have history and background on everything, and we have characters of different backgrounds. I could picture the world clearly and I could feel the characters' motivations as if they were my own!!

The plot had twists and turns that I enjoyed. I think the pacing was really good. I was never bored, and I sincerely enjoyed every page that I read.

Overall, it's a delightful YA romantic fantasy with exquisitely detailed worldbuilding, a plot I didn't know where it would lead, and a love triangle between a Jih girl, a human, and a spirit. At the end of the day, it's a tale about freedom, how imprisonment can be masked as freedom, what we do with our freedom, and what we are willing to do to acquire it. Beautifully crafted, I believe this is a YA fantasy that stands out.

It has a signed exclusive Waterstones edition with gorgeous edges, and it's still available.

An intriguing start to the series! I enjoyed the dynamic between Elver, Artair and Lucian, although Fleet was by far my favourite character. Whilst the pace did waver at times, overall a strong start to the series and I'm looking forward to the next book

I’m not too sure why, but it feels like every YA book follows this same structure / set up / tropes, especially when it is trying to edge more towards being a romance fantasy. There isn’t anything necessarily bad about it, but it did make things pretty flat and kind of boring in places. I think because I just knew what to expect next, or because it focused on the fantasy / adventure aspect (which is almost always boring because it’s just the characters travelling somewhere with nothing interesting happening other than they talk?)

I did think that this one was going to hold my interest, and a higher rating for longer than it did because the beginning of this one was so cool!! There was so much happening constantly, getting to know the characters was very interesting, especially how they then began to interact with each other, and the whole magics system and world did feel fresh in a way that very quickly wore off as the middle of the book approached and the pacing / intrigue just seemed to drift away.

As with a lot of YA fantasy books that are aiming to be part of a bigger series, the freaking ending came out of nowhere and seemed super rushed and dramatic in comparison to the rest of the book. I understand that things are meant to go out with a bang and be memorable, but it only works well when the rest of the book has still been super engaging and interesting, and especially when the reader is super invested in what is actually happening (and not annoyed / confused by the romance element? That could have probably benefitted from being left out until the next book because it just felt weird and undeveloped a little)

I am pretty interested to see what will happen in the following book because I think that this does have a lot of potential to be a really interesting and unique series, but only if things are developed more and less obvious.

the concept for the sleepless was really intriguing but i found it rather lacklustre and didn’t hold my interest. the beginning is easily the best part of the sleepless. it was captivating and filled with rich worldbuilding and lore. the world was really engrossing.

none of the characters were particularly memorable. they were cookie cutter ya fantasy protagonists with nothing much the set them apart from everyone else. i did really like the aspect where the two love interests (yay, a love triangle) inhabited the same body. i found that really unique and cool. lucian was easily my favourite character in the whole book.

i found the pacing a little difficult. the start was interesting and fast paced but the middle lags quite a bit. i found myself growing bored and struggled to pick the book back up. then the climax felt rushed and anticlimactic. by the time i got to the end of the book, i didn't really care what happened to anyone or the outcome of the story.

A superb fantasy action adventure romance that will have you on the edge of the seat right from page one. A must read that is highly recommended.

Jen Williams never fails to disappoint. This is another excellent start to what is shaping up to be a fantastic series.

There was excellent worldbuilding. I love the different Jih monsters, and the fact that book is centred around saving a little cub that the FMC can speak to, which is a great little touch.

The Sleepless was also pretty cool with the idea of two different personalities inhabiting the same body. I really liked the different aspects of Lucian/ Artair. I think it may be an interesting little love triangle with Elver going forward.

The pacing was pretty good, and there was plenty of action. There wasn't a lot of romance in this, but it is set up to continue in the next book.

I am looking forward to seeing more.

Really love Jen Williams fantasy worlds and writing style - this is the third series I've picked up from her. Enjoyed this one from start to finish. The fantasy world is vast but easy to follow because she explains it so well.

The one thing I will note is that this is marketed as a fantasy romance but there is little to no advancement in the romance. Maybe it plays more of a part in book 2 but for me I'd say this is a fantasy with a minor subplot of romance. So I'd just tell people to know that going in!

The Sleepless is a beautifully written fantasy YA story that had me hooked from being to end.
It follows three main characters Elver guardian of the monster forest and Altair and Lucian who inhabit the same body.
These characters lives collide when Altair is forced to steal a monster from the forest and Elver is tasked with retrieving it. It soon becomes apparent that they must work together to save those they care about and get revenge for past wrong doings.
I love the world building in this book and the use of Gods, temples and followers who our MCs come up against throughout the story.
I enjoyed all three POVs and the unique love triangle that develops throughout the story.
Overall I really enjoyed the story thank you NetGalley and macmillian childrens books/first ink for a copy of this arc.

The Sleepless by Jen Williams
3.5 out of 5 stars

"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."

I flew through this book pretty quickly!

I liked the concept and storyline, with two souls trapped in one body whilst yearning for the same person as they work together to save others. It was fast-paced, and I enjoyed the MCs points of view alternating throughout the story.

My favourite character was Lucian. I loved how he was weaved into the story and uncovering his past along the way. We also have a cute companion, Fleet, who is along for the ride, and I would love to see character art of his scales and feathers as he's described adorably.

The story had some interesting world building of different gods and their followers. I think this could have gone deeper to help create a greater understanding of the effects this has on society and linked into the last section of the story to add more 'bite' to events that unfold.

I liked the MCs and the love triangle element introduced, I would love to see more focus on the characters' internal emotions and monologue in the next book. I think this will give me a more emotionally invested tie to their fates.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read and well written for a YA audience.

Thank you to for the advanced copy to read and review!

Elver's touch is poison. Artair shares his body with an evil spirit that takes control when he sleeps. When their world's collide, everything changes for both of them ...

This is a really good, well written fantasy with hints of romance and a gripping plot. I loved every page and can't wait for the sequel!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

I absolutely loved this book. The pacing was great, kept me interested, it was about saving a cute little cub which sung to me. I loved that she could talk to the animals.

Thank You to Netgalley and Macmillan Childrens Books for the opportunity to read and arc of this book.
First of all i want to say that i love this cover.
In this book we follow 3 characters, Elver who was saved by the Queen of Serpents(god) as achild and gifted a poison touch, Artair who spends his nights locked in a tower due to the influence of Lucian ("evil" spirit who inhabits Artairs body).
Elver is the protector of the monster forest and when Artair is sent to steal a keltraxia cub under Elvers protection the 3 embark on a quest together.
I really enjoyed this as we get to see a lot of the world this way and we learn a lot about the characters in this way as well which was great. I liked the unusual love triangle between the 3 with Artair and Lucian being in the same body and i also really liked the way Artair/Lucian are written as characters.
The keltraxia cub is just so cute and funny as well.
If there is another book i will definatly read it as i would like to see how the characters grow and where the go to from here.

A non-conventional love triangle where the love interests share a body.

Elver is the guardian of the wild and dangerous forest of monsters. Saved from a sacrificial death by the Queen of Serpents, her skin poisons any human she touches. Artair is one of the Sleepless, cursed so when he falls asleep, an evil spirit takes over his body.
A mage holds his friends hostage and demands he steals a keltraxia cub from the forest. Elver is sent by her god to retrieve the cub.

The world building was really good. 12 gods, different followings, traits, practices.

The cub was definitely the best part of the story because yes Elver can understand the magical creatures and the cub is a snarky, curious ball of mischief.

This is very different to anything Jen has ever written before. It’s still got weird creatures, quirky characters, and found family - however, its tone is different. This is a Young Adult romantasy meaning the prose isn’t as pondering as her other books.

Despite this, I am impressed by how her writing changes to suit the genre and age.

I think I just wanted more. I think this is just because of it being YA and also due to its page length.
I also would have wanted more description as I couldn’t picture anything - especially unfortunate with such curious creatures.

Physical arc gifted by First Ink.

The Sleepless by Jen Williams is an engaging YA fantasy with a compelling premise, strong world-building, and an intriguing magic system. This was my first book by the author, and I was immediately drawn in by how effortlessly immersive the writing was—easy to follow yet rich in atmosphere.

The concept of The Sleepless is one of its biggest strengths. The idea of people harboring two souls—one waking while the other sleeps—is both fascinating and unsettling, creating a constant sense of tension. Artair/Lucien, in particular, is a standout character, as the duality of his existence makes for an emotionally complex and layered protagonist. The dynamic between him, Elver, and Lucien is compelling, though at times it felt slightly underdeveloped. There were moments where their interactions felt natural and engaging, but others where I wanted more depth and emotional weight behind their relationships.

The novel starts off strong, immediately pulling me into its world of gods, magic, and mystery. However, the pacing falters in the middle, slowing down in a way that made it harder to stay fully engaged. Fortunately, it picks back up in the final stretch, delivering a satisfying and well-executed conclusion.

The world-building is another highlight. Williams crafts a vivid setting, from the eerie monastery where The Sleepless are kept to the wild landscapes and bustling cities encountered along the way. Seeing the world through Artair’s innocence and Elver’s hardened perspective added an extra layer of depth, making the setting feel dynamic and lived-in.

While The Sleepless isn’t without its flaws—mainly the uneven pacing and occasionally forced character moments—it’s still a well-crafted and enjoyable fantasy read. The unique premise, engaging writing, and solid execution make it worth picking up, especially for fans of mythology-inspired magic systems and character-driven narratives. A strong 3.75 stars!

This was the first book from Jen Williams that I have read and I was not disappointed.

One of the things I liked the most were the relationship and dynamics between the characters Lucien, Elver and Artair.

The story starts really strong and it hooks you from the very beginning, but it kind of slows down toward the middle and I found it a bit difficult to go back to at points. Luckily the story picks up afterward leaving you with a good feeling in the end.

Another thing I really enjoyed was the writing itself: the descriptions and world builing were beautiful. Overall a really lovely, easy to read YA novel. would 100% recommend.

This was my first book from Jen Williams and I really liked how easy the writing is to understand and follow and found myself devouring this book rather quickly. I absolutely loved the world building that we are introduced to also how everything was plotted out and crafted from start to finish.

The beginning of the book started really strong for me and I found the concept behind the story so intriguing but I will say towards the middle it started to slow down in pace and I found it a little hard to keep me engaged at times. I enjoyed the dynamics of the relationship between Elver, Artair and Lucien and though at certain moments it felt a little forced or underdeveloped I did really enjoy their interactions together.

While there were moments that let it down for me it was still a solid YA Fantasy read with a really unique concept and beautiful worldbuilding.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this before publication, these are my honest thoughts.