The Sleepless

The Sleepless is an entertaining fantasy adventure set in a vivid world. This story follows Elver, Artair, and Lucian. Elver has been sent by her god, the Queen of Serpents, to retrieve a stolen monster cub. Artair intends on using the monster cub to trade for the lives of his kidnapped friends. Lucian, trapped in Artair's body, wants freedom from his imprisonment. I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. It left me wanting more, from the interactions of the 12 gods to the histories of the sleepless. I would gladly read three more books set in this world. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 starsJen Williams crafts a world of gods and monsters in her romantic fantasy adventure, The Sleepless. The story opens with intriguing introductions to our main characters: Elver, rescued from the brink of death by a god and now the guardian of the wild, notorious as the "Poison Child" due to her toxic skin; Artair, determined to save his covenant friends; and Lucian, who inhabits Artair’s body while he sleeps, carrying his own mysterious agenda.The first few chapters are gripping, laying the groundwork for what promises to be a thrilling tale. However, as the narrative unfolds, the momentum falters. The once vivid and immersive worldbuilding fades, making way for a plot that becomes increasingly muddled. With a growing cast of gods and redundant tasks, the story loses its spark, turning into something tedious rather than exhilarating.As for the romantic fantasy aspect, it fell short of expectations. The lack of emotional connection between characters made it difficult to invest in their relationships, and any potential chemistry was overshadowed by neglected character development. Hopefully, the next instalment in The Sleepless series will reignite its potential and deliver the epic experience that this world deserves.Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read =)