When I Look At You, I See The One Person Who Might Understand What It Is Like To Be Me.

I recently finished reading The Sleepless by Jen Williams. This is book #1 in the Sleepless duology.

POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT

  Rating: 3.5/5 stars

"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."

This book took a little time to pull me in, but once it did, I enjoyed the atmosphere. The descriptions were vivid, and the world felt immersive without being overly complicated. The writing felt somewhat simple at times. Effective in setting the scene, but lacking a bit of depth.

I did appreciate the lore. The magic was interesting, and I liked how everyday things were explained to someone unfamiliar with them. It’s always fun to see the mundane turned into something strange and fascinating from an outsider’s perspective. The humor was good, dry in some places, and playful in others. But a few times, the language felt too modern for the world it built. Words like wonky and unhinged stood out in a way that didn’t quite fit. It felt jarringly out of place. Maybe that works for some readers, but for me, it took away from the otherwise folkloric feel of the story. That said, the God’s names were an unexpected delight. You had the typical names you’d expect, like Vilon the Many Limbed or Trilot the Faceless. Then there was John Barleycorn. I’m not sure if that was meant to be as funny as it was, but I genuinely laughed every time he was mentioned.

While I liked the world, I didn’t really connect with the characters. They weren’t especially memorable and followed the familiar blueprint of YA fantasy protagonists. Competent, a little broody, and carrying just enough trauma to fuel the plot but not enough to make them truly complex. The dialogue often felt a bit juvenile, but I do acknowledge that the FMC and MMC are pretty young. The romance was also non-existent. But I am assuming book 2 will continue this plot.

Around the 75% mark, my interest started to drift. Maybe it was the pacing, or maybe the novelty wore off, but I found myself less invested as it went on. Still, if you’re looking for a YA fantasy with strong world-building, interesting magic, and a bit of humor, it’s worth picking up. I’d probably read the sequel.

Check out The Sleepless, and discover what happens when you live in a world where gods and monsters roam the earth.

Happy Reading :)