The Sleepless - Jen Williams

Godkiller meets Powerless in this epic gods-and-monsters romantic fantasy from British Fantasy Award-winning author Jen Williams. DELUXE EDITION - featuring beautiful sprayed edges and a custom foil case stamp. Order your copy while supplies last!

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. 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.

With a love triangle like you’ve never seen it, incredible world-building, brilliant writing, and a dangerous quest, The Sleepless will have you spellbound.

"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)

"[A] compulsively readable and original YA fantasy." —The Guardian

"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

"Refined omniscient third-person narration deftly conveys a complexly wrought world shaped by divine manipulation and populated by eerie, inventive creatures, while slow-burning romantic elements simmer in the background." —Publishers Weekly

"[A] smooth exceptionally well-crafted novel with a darkly, deliciously awkward love triangle between Elver, Artair, and Lucian. Readers will be thrilled to see that Williams has laid the groundwork for a promising sequel even as she deftly wraps up the main plot." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

"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 New York Times bestselling author of The Games Gods Play