Description

A thrilling, enchanting quest fantasy with a magical twist on a slow-burn love triangle at its heart. Get ready for:

An immersive gods and monsters magical world
Dark and lyrical writing
A journey to far-flung lands and an unexpected quest squad
An adorable and fierce animal companion
The beginnings of a love triangle between a young monster woman – and two men stuck in the same body
Grumpy (her) meets sunshine (him)
And enemies-to-lovers

Discover the book readers can’t stop talking about!

‘I couldn’t put this down . . . The unique storyline, characters, world building all tied together beautifully to give you a stunning story!’ – 5-star reader review
‘Fans of T. Kingfisher and Naomi Novik will absolutely devour The Sleepless [by Jen Williams]’ – 4-star reader review
‘The world is dark, magical, and completely original – gods, monsters, and curses everywhere.’ – 4-star reader review
‘Elver is the grumpy, reluctant heroine who wants to be left alone with her books. Altair is the sunshine boy before his transformation. His joyful energy stands in sharp contrast to Lucian’s coldness, which chills every scene he’s in.’ – 4-star Reader review
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 defences 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
‘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

Publisher Review

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 * The Bookseller * 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 *