The Sleepless

A thrilling slow-burn gods-and-monsters YA fantasy romance

By: Jen Williams

Narrated by: Esme Lonsdale, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith

Welcome to a world where gods and monsters roam the earth . . .
'Incredible heroines... incredible fantasy... Escapism at its finest' - Stylist on The Bitter Twins

'One of the great original voices of fantasy' - Adrian Tchaikovsky on Talonsister
'I can't wait for the sequel!' - Reader review
Get ready to fall in love with The Sleepless, the first in an epic slow-burn YA fantasy duology from multi-award-winning author Jen Williams.
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.
'Beautiful writing, solid world building, interesting characters and a truly unique magic system' - Reader review

Critic reviews

The Sleepless is a fresh, vibrant, uniquely compelling read filled with fascinating characters in a beautifully intricate world that I couldn't get enough of. I could not put it down. (Abigail Owen, #1 NYT bestselling author of The Games Gods Play)

Epic in scope and breathtakingly exciting

Williams brilliantly weaves the tale of a monster girl, a possessed boy and the evil spirit that inhabits him, and I adored everything about this intricate, absorbing fantasy. Perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Lauren Roberts, readers will adore this vivid, enchanting fantasy filled with treacherous alliances, dangerous monsters, and ancient magic. A must read! (Emily Varga, internationally bestselling author of For She is Wrath)

Williams’ monstrously enjoyable imagination is on full show here. An enormously entertaining and original work of fantasy. (Adrian Tchaikovsky, award-winning author of Children of Time)

In this duology opener, award-winner Williams’ rich worldbuilding supports an action-packed fantasy that features original character dynamics and a thoughtful exploration of themes of invisible prisons, lost identity, and belonging... A complex and riveting tapestry. (Kirkus, starred review)

Dual perspective narration, an expansive 12-god religious system, and complex magical rules are all made more accessible by intriguing characters and a lyrical tone with immersive imagery. (Booklist)

The hallmarks of a Jen Williams novel: a fast pace, humour, slick and sure worldbuilding, but most importantly it's driven by characters you immediately adore (Lucy Holland, author of Sistersong on Talonsister)

Britain's Queen of fantasy (Fantasy Hive)

The worldbuilding is top-notch, the plot is gripping and the characters just get better and better. A sublime read (SFX on The Ninth Rain)

Incredible heroines... incredible fantasy... Escapism at its finest (Stylist on The Bitter Twins)