Available Formats
The Sleepless
By (Author) Jen Williams
Pan Macmillan
First Ink
26th August 2025
22nd May 2025
United Kingdom
Young Adult
Fiction
823.92
Hardback
304
Width 162mm, Height 244mm, Spine 28mm
494g
Welcome to a world where gods and monsters roam the earth . . .'I loved every page and can't wait for the sequel!' - Reader review 'Fast paced and full of magic and monsters I couldn't stop turning the page' - 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 '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
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
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
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
Jen Williams is a writer from London currently living in Bristol. A fan of witches and dark folklore from an early age, these days she writes character-driven fantasy novels with plenty of banter and magic as well as horror-tinged crime thrillers with strong female leads. She was nominated for Best Newcomer in the British Fantasy Awards, and her books The Ninth Rain, The Bitter Twins and Talonsister went on to win Best Fantasy Novel. The Sleepless is her first novel for YA readers.