The Sleepless – Jen Williams
A chilling and immersive thriller set in a world where sleep is no longer guaranteed. Williams builds tension masterfully, crafting an unsettling atmosphere that keeps the reader on edge. The story unfolds with eerie precision, blending mystery, science fiction, and psychological horror into an unforgettable narrative. Perfect for fans of speculative thrillers that make you question reality.

Wow! I loved this so very much! I flew through the book, enjoying the world building and characters! What a great concept and can't wait to read more from this author. Thank you Netgalley for this e-arc.

The Sleepless is a charming fantasy tale with an interesting premise and characters that are sharp and foolish at the same time. Artair is trying to save his friends, and to do that he must trade a forest cub for their lives. Elver, a human sacrifice that was saved by a serpent god and granted powers, protects the forest dwellers. When Artair nabs a cub from Elver's forest, the two find themselves in a conundrum. To complicate matters, Artair is one of the "Sleepless", who shares his body with another soul and when Artair sleeps, Lucian takes over. The three develop a love triangle of sorts. But, the romantasy aspect is quite ya, more crushing on each other and light flirting; I'm guessing that some might be disappointed if they expected a more adult romance, but this level of relating to each other has more plausibility with character ages and experience (one growing up in a secluded monastery another in the forest as the lone human). The world building, with the twelve gods, jih forest, creatures, and mages make this a vibrant adventure and by the end there seemed to be more potential left in this world to be discovered.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin's Press - Wednesday Books) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

I am in shock and awe over how much I loved this book. Great plot with beautifully written romance! I just can't wait for everyone to get their hands on this.

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for granting me an early copy.
My first book from this author and I was pleasantly surprised. I have a few other books on my TBR list from Jen Williams, so looking forward to reading those too.

My favorite part about this book is that this was a unique fantasy where one character, Artair also has another soul inside of him. So this makes a non conventional love triangle with the two souls inside one body with Elver. I also loved that there are quite the number of different gods in this story and they can choose to help their followers or not.
There's also a sort of an animal companion or rather a monster companion for our characters.

I am interested in seeing where the next chapter of this story takes us and what lies in store for our main characters.

Thank you so much Netgalley and Wednesday books!

This book was fantastic and hard to look away from! It asks the question what does it means to be a monster.

There was never a dull moment, as Jen is truly a master story teller who weaves the world building so naturally. It was truly immersive as I felt like I lived in this world and learned the history of the twelve gods and their disciples from birth.
Jen planted such heartache within this story with just enough warmth and light to have me caring, even for those I should not.

The romance within the book is an unconventional love triangle between poison child Elver, ignorant Artair and vengeful Lucian (who controls Artairs body when he sleeps). I am not a fan who seeks out love triangles, but Jen is magic and makes this flow so well. I loved their plight and enjoyed how Jen built understanding, love and hope for all of the characters in their own way.

Overall, this is a very immersive read with a strong FMC whose slow-build relationship with both MMCs is heart-warming, with demanding gods and broken villains. I cannot wait for the next book!

Absolutely loved this concept and enjoyed the read. I do feel like it was missing some depth for me. It could have used more world building and character development as they all felt a little flat. I did enjoy Lucian’s character arc, I just wish there would have been more. A very fast paced read without much filler which is definitely a plus!


Very thankful for St. Martin’s press and Wednesday Books for providing this ARC!

The Sleepless grew on me by the end but I was sure it was going to be a DNF early on with one of the main reasons being this book is being marketed as romance when our FMC and our MMC are minors (I'm not sure about the spirit but I would assume around the same age). Honestly I think this branding does the book a disservice. Either the characters should be aged up and their love really fleshed out or it needs to be marketed more appropriately. As it stands now, the characters are just building a friendship, which I enjoy more personally but I could see it irking some readers.

The second reason I thought this would be a DNF for me was the writing was rough in places. This is an ARC so I can assume and hope that some parts will be fixed but for example, Towards the middle of the book there is a conversation that goes something like-

"Don't look nervous"
He looks at her nervously, "do I look nervous?"

By the end of the book I enjoyed the world and such enough to look past it but there were a couple of points that could use some ironing out.

All in all though, the book grew on me. I thought this was going to be a one off but it's very obvious from the ending that it's going to be at least a duology and I'll be there for it. I hope that the next one will go a bit deeper and really give all of the characters some more depth.

I would recommend this book to people looking for a quick fantasy read but not if they are the type looking for romance.

Lush prose, incredible worldbuilding, and a fresh spin on the 'monsters' trope. The Sleepless had me from page one and I quickly became attached to the characters and the author's writing style!

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

The beginning and the ends of this were strong for me but it lost me in the middle. It seemed like they were just wandering around to different places without it contributing to the story.

The world building was good and there was an interesting take on a love triangle. I've clearly been in the morally grey pool long enough that I preferred Lucian over Artair lol. Felt they had more of a connection. Either way, I could have used more build up to the romance.

Meddling gods always add interesting things. I also loved Fleet and their solution of wanting to bite people they don't like lol.

Overall, not a bad read but it reads more of YA to me. It is on the shorter side and I think a bit more could have really fleshed out things more, giving more depth to the characters.

Jen Williams' The Sleepless is an emotionally intense YA romantasy that grabbed my attention with its high-stakes plot and unique love triangle between a monster girl, a possessed boy, and the evil spirit within him. The story had me hooked from the start, with a strong emotional pull and characters that I couldn’t help but invest in.

Elver, the fierce and isolated monster girl, is the standout for me. Cursed with a poisonous touch, she lives alone until she meets Artair, the only person immune to her curse, and Lucian, the parasitic spirit inside him. The evolving dynamic between the three was a perfect blend of tension, romance, and inner conflict, with Lucian’s morally grey character adding extra intrigue.

While I would’ve liked more time to connect with the characters individually before their paths crossed, the story's emotional depth and the compelling dynamics kept me invested. Williams’ world-building impressed me, they created a rich, immersive setting that made the plot even more captivating. The Sleepless is a beautifully crafted story about love, loss, and the struggle for autonomy, with a romance that will leave you swooning. Highly recommend picking this one up!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the ARC!

While I was hooked by the premise, and loved the little bit of world building we got, it pretty quickly fell flat. I know this is young adult, but I've read the author's Ninth Rain series and it's one of my favorites, which makes this book all the more disappointing because I know the plotting and character development she is capable of. The characters here are so one dimensional, and the dialogue so juvenile, there's no way you believe they're in their late teens - I didn't buy any of this story, especially the "romance" which felt like a very sad last minute addition.

The concept is a good one. Lots of Gods, Monsters and quirky characters.

It fell flat for me.

NetGalley/ St. Martin’s Press September 30, 2025

Thank you to NetGalley for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review.

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 stars

I was a little nervous picking up this book because I had DNFed the Ninth Rain, which a lot of people loved. But I ended up enjoying this book so much! Probably because this is a YA novel, compared to the Ninth Rain which is an adult novel. But still.

If you're nervous about this being a complicated, high level fantasy novel, don't worry--this is not it. The world revolves around gods and people who worship the gods, which is pretty easy to comprehend. Elver is a "monster" in the sense that her skin poisons humans, gifted by the Queen (Goddess) of Serpents. Also, if you don't like love triangle, don't worry--the love triangle is super unconventional and isn't even really fully flushed out yet. Not quite a spoiler but it's between Elver, Artair, and Lucian. But Artair and Lucian share the same body (when one is awake, the other is asleep). I suspect that the romance will build in future books.

I will say though, my issue is with the ending. I thought that there were more Sleepless people. If so, the ending with how Lucian ended up in Artair's body didn't quitteeeeee make sense to me. I mean, I understood it, but I feel like I have more questions. Anyways, I will definitely pick up the second book when it comes out and highly recommend this one to people!

I like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for a chance at reading this.

Ooof. I realized a little too late that this author was one I had a tricky time with before. Her writing is very much so 80's fantasy prose. Which isn't a bad thing - it has its fans. I'm not one of them. While the story moves at a quick pace, by chapter two I felt like I was missing something. The story structure alongside plot building wasn't bringing me to continue on. So, at 15% I DNF'd it.

If you like old-school fantasy then this certainly is for you.

Thank you Jen Williams, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for the free eARC in exchange for my review!

I absolutely loved The Sleepless by Jen Williams! The book transported me to a world brimming with gods, monsters, and dangerous magic, and I couldn’t get enough of the characters. Elver, as the guardian of the wild and mysterious monster forest, was captivating—her struggle with her deadly gift added so much depth to her journey. Artair, cursed to share his body with the manipulative Lucian, brought an intriguing dynamic that kept me hooked. The way their lives intertwined with secrets and impossible alliances made for a riveting story.

The world-building in this book was phenomenal. I felt immersed in every scene, from the dense monster forests to the high-stakes confrontations with deities and dark forces. The love triangle was unique and complex, adding emotional tension without overshadowing the gripping plot. Jen Williams’ writing is both vivid and compelling, making the story feel alive and unforgettable.

If I had to nitpick, I’d say the romance could have had a bit more focus, but it still worked well within the broader scope of the narrative. Overall, The Sleepless is a masterful blend of romance, fantasy, and adventure, and I’m already eagerly awaiting the sequel. This book definitely earns a strong 4.5 rounded to 5 stars in my eyes!

A magical adventure with just a hint of romance, I was at the edge of my seat for the entire thing. It was such a captivating story. I loved how their past was connected as much as their future. The sleepless was so intriguing, the human falls asleep and another takes over their body and when they sleep the human is back in control. I found that the more into the story i went in the more curious i was to know more. The story starts with a sacrife that is the snowball of everything that comes after.

Do I have midterms right now? Yes. Did I make time to read this book despite my tests? Also yes. Count me all the way in.

I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. I am an avid love triangle avoider (only because it becomes the main conflict over the plot!!). But Williams did a great job at everything.

The characters. Elver Elver Elver. I liked her a lot. She’s jaded, she’s violent, yet she’s clearly hurt and traumatized. She’s complex, definitely morally grey, and even more a product of her environment. Her tenderness towards her monsters and other jin was touching. Her development as the book progresses—her yearn to be better than Elver the Poison Forest Girl—was just…ugh no words besides love it. And Artair/Lucian. Loved them both. If Elver’s complex, those two are beyond convoluted. Williams’ portrayal of their backgrounds and growth, as well as their internal struggles was amazing. The concept of the Sleepless was super cool. I do wish, however, we explored more of the bonds between Elver, Artair, and Lucian. Honestly there wasn’t much romance, and it definitely was for the better. However, I wish there was more of that slowburn feeling (lingering looks, cute little accidental touches, etc) because at times, their bond felt underdeveloped and lacking a foundation.

Beyond that, the worldbuilding was great. The antagonist and her goals made sense. The 12 gods and their mages were really cool, and it was interesting seeing the traditions and cultures associated with each. I do hope that in the future, we’ll get a description of all 12, as this novel seemed focused on 4 or 5 of the gods.

The worst part about this book is that it isn’t released yet </3. Need the sequel right now.

* I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. This book has a very interesting premise, involving Elver, saved by the Queen of Serpents as a child, and Artair, who has a dangerous spirit (Lucian) control his body when he sleeps so he is locked into a tower. But Artair received a mission to steal a monster cub under the protection of Elver, which sets Elver and Lucian on a mission that will inevitably have them question everything they've ever known about their world.

This was certainly a different book than I have normally read. It is a sort of love triangle, except two of those are part of the same body. There was excellent world building in this book, and all sorts of different creatures and characters, so a lot of imagination and thought went into creating this book.

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