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Review: The Sleepless by Jen Williams

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The Sleepless by Jen Williams

The Sleepless
Jen Williams
Wednesday Books
Published September 30, 2025

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About The Sleepless

Godkiller meets Powerless in this epic gods-and-monsters romantic fantasy from British Fantasy Award-winning author Jen Williams.

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.

My Review

Yeah, I have to give the cover copy credit; this book definitely had me spellbound by the end. The story world is so different. In some ways, there’s so much worldbuilding that I felt really immersed in the pantheon of gods and their history with each other. Both main characters are deeply devoted to their way of life. They come from very different backgrounds, but they find some critical common ground. Both are incredibly isolated, and they’ve each assumed their lives must be that way. Their experiences make it impossible for them to return to those isolated, closed lives, though. I loved that for them, and I love that as part of their character growth.

Lucian is also a really interesting character. I flip-flopped back and forth on how I felt about him multiple times. Is he misunderstood? Evil? Has he changed because of Elver’s kindness? What happens if he recovers his memories and remembers who he was?

There’s also a very slow-burning romance/love triangle in the story. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about it, but actually, I think the author pulls the romance together nicely.

This is the first part of a duology, and the ending shows that. There’s a partial resolution, but it’s clear that the characters have more still to do before they can be truly free.

The Sleepless is the first novel by Jen Williams that I’ve read, and I definitely want to read more. Currently, the conclusion to the duology is scheduled for publication in May 2026. I’ve already got it on my list to read next year!

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used a few times.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. Brief, very vague reference to sex.

Spiritual Content
The story world contains a pantheon of gods, each of whom have different abilities, temples, and followers. One god demands blood sacrifices in exchange for power or attention. Another god uses light to burn away the presence of magic from other gods, which sometimes causes death.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. A group of people throw a child over a cliff into the sea to appease a god. (She does not die.) Some characters do not sleep. Instead, when they go unconscious, another person “wakes up” inside them and that alternate person is sometimes violent. These Sleepless are imprisoned in a monastery where their others cannot hurt anyone. One character intends to sacrifice others to their god in exchange for power. One character’s touch is toxic to humans. She uses this to incapacitate or hurt those who wish to harm her or her allies. Brief battles between characters occur. References to the death of children as a result of a conflict between gods.

Drug Content
Characters drink alcohol at one point. It’s unclear whether they knew the drinks were alcoholic. They received them while hiding from pursuers.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: The Crimson Throne by Sara Raasch and Beth Revis

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Historical, Romance, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , ,

The Crimson Throne
Sara Raasch and Beth Revis
Sourcebooks Fire
Published October 7, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Crimson Throne

Powerless meets Reign in this new historical romantasy from the New York Times bestselling authors of Night of the Witch.

Samson Calthorpe’s curse has isolated him from everyone he has ever cared about. So, when the opportunity arises to break the curse, he grabs it. All he has to do for his freedom is risk his life and become a royal spy, using every bit of the skills and resolve he’s picked up on the streets of London to infiltrate the court of the Scottish Queen and uncover a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth.

For years, Alyth Graham has been protecting Mary Queen of Scots from threats both physical and magical, including the Queen’s own husband, Lord Darnley. Alyth is more than meets the eye though, the child of a fae prince and a human mother, she is among the most powerful protectors in Scotland: guardians sworn to defend against the Red Caps, a bloodthirsty fae clan . . . that Lord Darnley is in league with to overtake Scotland.

As Alyth and Samson circle each other in the volatile and glamorous Scottish court, both seek to uncover threats to their own countries. They have one unifying link: their shared hatred and suspicion of Lord Darnley…and their undeniable pull towards each other. Using secret codes, hidden messages, and a little bit of magic, Alyth and Samson unravel a plot centuries in the making. Lord Darnley is only a pawn, and in this game, the queen takes all.

“A biting historical fantasy series launch that fuses Tudor-era courtcraft with Celtic fae legend… …confronting duty, destiny, and betrayal” —Publishers Weekly

“An atmospheric fantasy brimming with intrigue and heart.” —Kirkus Reviews

My Review

I really liked Night of the Witch, so I had this book on my reading list as soon as I saw it announced. This one is steeped in Scottish history with legendary creatures threaded throughout. I liked the way the authors blended history and myth together to tell a sort of alternate, magic-infused account of the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots.

As you’d expect with a romantasy, Alyth and Samson have an immediate, powerful connection, though it takes some time for them to stop denying it. I think it really works because though they should be enemies, they both have many reasons to question what’s happening and whether they really belong on opposing sides. I like that it takes a bit for them to overcome their resistance to their feelings of attraction. It created a lot of tension, which really kept me reading.

I’m very happy that I read this book. I think I like this even more than Night of the Witch, though I enjoyed that one, too. The sequel will absolutely be on my reading list next year.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 15 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used somewhat frequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. References to sex.

Spiritual Content
References to Queen Mary’s Catholic faith. Alyth is part fae, and has some ability to do magic. Other characters share similar lineage. The story contains other characters and creatures from Scottish folkstories.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Characters use magical artifacts to control and/or kill others. Brief descriptions of characters attacking and killing someone.

Drug Content
One character is often drunk.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Grave Flowers by Autumn Krause

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , , ,

Grave Flowers
Autumn Krause
Peachtree Teen
Published September 2, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Grave Flowers

A twisty, dark royalcore fantasy that takes the courtly intrigue of Hamlet and infuses it with the vicious ambition of the Boleyn family. For readers who love Holly Black and Sarah J. Maas.

“A sumptuously dark tale of revenge and atonement that beautifully explores the ties both duty and family use to claim us. From the first page to the last, I was dazzled.” —Erin A. Craig, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Thirteenth Child

Marry the prince, then kill him.

Princess Madalina and her twin sister, Inessa, were born attached at the hand and separated right after. That’s the only time the sisters ever held hands. The girls’ personalities have been shaped in the Sinet family’s drive to make their kingdom more than what it is: unrespectable and loathsome, a damp place where deceit fills the palace walls like mold.

Madalina is different from her family. She’s considered the weak one and only finds peace in the garden, tending her magical flowers, which are pejoratively called grave flowers because they are ideal for torture and torment. Secretly, she dreams of escape and a new life.

Then Inessa, who was betrothed to the heir of a wealthy kingdom—Prince Aeric—gets trapped in Bide, a terrifying purgatory, and begs Madalina to set her free. Now, not only must Madalina take her sister’s place as Aeric’s bride-to-be, but she also must finish Inessa’s secret mission: Inessa wasn’t just sent to marry Prince Aeric, but to kill him, too, and solidify a profitable pact with his traitorous uncle.

On behalf of her family, Madalina will need to resist the infuriatingly clever prince—as well as her own heart—if she’s to free her sister and finish the job.

My Review

Dangerous plants star in this twisting tale of love and political intrigue. At first, it seems the flowers are simply a quirk of the fantasy world, and Princess Madalina’s passion project. As the story progresses, we learn more about the king’s experiment with them. It takes time for the connection between those experiments and the challenges Madalina faces to become apparent.

I liked the tenuous connection between Madalina and Aeric. They bond over their neglectful childhoods and the loss of parents they were closest to. They both hide big secrets.

I do wish there had been more explanation of Aeric’s behavior, though. Sometimes he would say wildly romantic things about wanting to protect Madalina forever and kissing no one else but her, as his betrothed. But then he would be aloof and remote at other times. I get that in those moments he withdrew on purpose. I think I just wanted a little more connecting of those two disparate parts of his personality, especially at the end.

Madalina and Inessa were born conjoined twins, separated at birth. The fact that they were conjoined is hidden from everyone but their parents. They each bear a scar on their hands from their separation. The scar connects them in strange ways, so the plot depends on conjoined twin magic in some places.

On the whole, the story world is dark and imaginative. I think that will appeal to a lot of readers looking for dark fantasy right now. The romance is tender and stays pretty PG, which makes this accessible to a broad audience.

Readers who enjoyed House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig or A Forgery of Roses by Jessica S. Olson will want to check this one out.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
One instance of mild profanity.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. References to human trafficking.

Spiritual Content
Grave flowers have supernatural abilities. Drinking the nectar of one flower reveals someone’s secrets. Another flower’s roots can devour a human. Madaline sees spirits or ghosts of people who have died. The people generally worship the Primeval Family, a group of powerful deities, who sit in judgment over humanity in the afterlife. One can sidestep facing judgment by being sent to Bide, a purgatory-like place.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Several descriptions of murder. After her death, Inessa visits Madaline, but her body undergoes strange changes, such as decay and a hunger for unusual things, including an insect. Between the chapters of the story, records of experiments with the grave flowers show violent deaths, some at the hands of the plants themselves. References to child abuse and execution. Brief body horror.

Drug Content
Characters drink wine at social events. The prince tricks Madalina into drinking more wine than she intended, so she lowers her guard in conversation with him. The prince is apparently drunk in several scenes.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: The Labyrinth of Souls by Leslie Vedder

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The Labyrinth of Souls (The Labyrinth of Souls #1)
Leslie Vedder
G. P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Published February 11, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Labyrinth of Souls

A darkly inventive fantasy for fans of Tim Burton, about a girl who can see Nightmare creatures from the forbidden Labyrinth of Souls.

In the Kingdom of Spinar, there are seven rules for safeguarding your soul from the Sorrows and Nightmare creatures—most importantly: never, ever enter the Labyrinth of Souls.

Ix Tatterfall has always been an outcast with big secrets: She can cross into the Labyrinth, home to the powerful Sorrows, and she can see strange Nightmare beasts when no one else can. Some, like the shadowy Inklings or bothersome Stubbed Toads, are merely a nuisance. Many more—like the Jimber-Jawed Hounds—are dangerous. Even deadly.

But something is very wrong in the Labyrinth. A terrible new Nightmare—a raggedy scarecrow called Jack—has been ravaging the misty maze, gobbling up wraiths and lost souls and allowing Nightmares to seep into the Waking World.

On one forbidden trip, Ix comes face to face with Jack. Worse, she’s apprehended by Candle Corps, an elite magical group that protects the kingdom against Nightmares. Instead of exile, Ix is allowed to enter the mysterious Candle Corps Academy. For the first time, she’s surrounded by others who can see what she sees: Morrigan Bea, a hot-tempered girl who might be a monster; Ollie Pembrooke, a shy boy who loves books and Dreamchaser dogs; and Hanky the Inkling, Ix’s faithful Nightmare companion.

But more and more Nightmares are bleeding into Spinar. Raggedy Jack is on the hunt for something—someone—from the Waking World.

Ix Tatterfall herself.

My Review

This book has such a creative story world. I loved all the names of the nightmare creatures, like Weighty Sloths, Teasel Weasels, and Sleepless Mice. The book description has it right– this feels like the kind of story world that Tim Burton would bring to the screen. Whereas I sometimes find Burton to drift into darkly gross storytelling, this book is more in the vein of darkly charming.

The characters are phenomenal, too. Ix has never had a friend besides the Nightmares before coming to Candle Corps Academy, but she soon warms up to the intrepid Ollie and moody Morrigan. Those three make a great team, and the story hints at the beginnings of a found family with Captain Kel and his husband. It’s super sweet.

I’m always a fan of a book with a cat-who-is-not-a-cat, so I loved Smiles, the mistcat who befriends Ix and helps her while she’s in the Labyrinth. The Labyrinth was an interesting landscape, too. I liked that it responded to people’s emotions, and that Ix, who felt weak and lost in the real world, had power and confidence in the Labyrinth.

If you’re looking for a spooky read that gives lots of Halloween vibes paired with a charming story world, this will be a perfect pick for the season. It’s also a really fun series opener about kids at a magic school, so reach for this next time you have a craving for something like that.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Reference to romantic relationships between adults.

Spiritual Content
Contains fantasy creatures made of shadows. Some are harmless while others intend harm. The creatures live in the Labyrinth, a realm between life and death. An elite magical group called the Candle Corps protect people by capturing nightmare creatures. If someone’s soul becomes separated from their body, they will die.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Monsters attack or trick the characters. Someone threatens to kill one character unless others do what they want. Some members of Candle Corps bully Ix and another character or say prejudicial things to them.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday

I’m sharing this post as a part of a weekly round-up of middle-grade posts called Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday. Check out other blogs with posts about middle-grade books today on Marvelous Middle-Grade Mondays at Always in the Middle.

MMGM Review: The Song of Orphan’s Garden by Nicole M. Hewitt

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The Song of Orphan’s Garden
Nicole M. Hewitt
Feiwel & Friends
Published January 21, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Song of Orphan’s Garden

Combining the gentleness of Miyazaki, the wintry wonderland of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and the whimsicality of Newbery winner The Girl Who Drank the Moon, Nicole M. Hewitt’s debut middle-grade novel, The Song of Orphan’s Garden, is an enchanting fantasy tale with all the makings of a new classic.

In an arctic world that’s getting colder every day, Lyriana’s only hope of survival is to get her little brother Zave and herself to the fabled Orphan’s Garden. It’s rumored to be the one place in the world not controlled by deadly Winter Spirits or ruled by the tyrant Giant king. In Orphan’s Garden, healing trees will melt away Winter’s pains, and Lyriana and Zave can live safely in the warmth of Spring. If the garden exists, they must find it. They won’t live much longer without it.

Brob, a Giant boy, also needs sanctuary. When the Giant king banishes his family to the Winter Blight, it’s a death sentence. Orphan’s Garden is his family’s only hope, and as far as Brob’s concerned, it belongs to him. After all, he was the one who accidentally used an ancient magic to grow the garden years ago. He has no intention of sharing his haven with pesky humans, who will just use up its magic and ruin it.

When it becomes clear that Orphan’s Garden is in danger of being destroyed, Lyriana and Brob are the only ones who can save it—but only if they can put the ages-old battle between Humans and Giants aside and find a way to work together.

My Review

I’ve heard so much about this book this year that I couldn’t wait to finally get my hands on a copy. I read this whole book in less than 24 hours. It’s written in verse, and alternates back and forth mainly between Lyriana and Brob’s perspectives. The lines in Lyriana’s scenes are very short compared to Brob’s scenes, which was cool. It kind of reflected their different sizes.

I kind of figured out what was missing from the magic very early in the book, but I loved watching the characters coming to those realizations. The way that the author uses music in connection with magic is also really cool.

I do wish there had been another young female character besides Lyriana. I think the group of kids has other girls in it, but they don’t contribute much individually. Several female characters sacrifice themselves to save the people they love, too. I think it would have been cool to have that not restricted to a role that women in the story played.

On the whole, though, this story captivated me from the first chapter to the last. I love that the author wrote this fantasy novel in verse and still created what feels like a rich story world and unforgettable characters.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Contains characters who are giants. Each season has spirits who help or harm depending on their natures. References to a deity called The Composer. Songs draw forth magic called Fermata. Some giants can use Fermata to make plants grow. A special tree has the power to heal those who climb into its branches.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. References to battles between humans and giants. Death of a parent. Appearance of death of a sibling.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday

I’m sharing this post as a part of a weekly round-up of middle-grade posts called Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday. Check out other blogs with posts about middle-grade books today on Marvelous Middle-Grade Mondays at Always in the Middle.

Review: Coming Back by Jessi Zabarsky

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Graphic Novel or Adaptation, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , ,

Coming Back
Jessi Zabarsky
RH Graphic
Published January 18, 2022

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Coming Back

A beautiful graphic novel fantasy romance that follows two young women who have to go on their own separate adventures to discover the truth about themselves and about each other.

Preet is magic.

Valissa is not.

Everyone in their village has magic in their bones, and Preet is the strongest of them all. Without any power of her own, how can Valissa ever be worthy of Preet’s love? When their home is attacked, Valissa has a chance to prove herself, but that means leaving Preet behind. On her own for the first time Preet breaks the village’s most sacred laws, and is rejected from the only home she’s ever known and sent into a new world.

Divided by different paths, insecurities, and distance, will Valissa and Preet be able to find their way back to each other?

A beautiful story of two young women who are so focused on proving they’re meant to be together that they end up hurting each other in the process. This gorgeous graphic novel is an LGTBQ+ romance about young love and how it can grow into something strong no matter what obstacles get in the way.

My Review

This graphic novel has a lot of panels with pictures that show action, such as someone performing a ritual. I don’t know that I’ve ever read anything quite like this book before, so it took a little bit of getting used to. Once I felt like I grasped how the author was using still panels to indicate movement or action, it was easier to follow what was happening or fill in the interim movements in my head.

Once I got used to this style of storytelling, I found it really cool. A lot of the scenes have no text or only onomotopeia. There’s something really different about reading a scene without words to interpret what’s happening. It’s like that made me filter the story through a completely different part of my brain. I loved that experience, even though it was unfamiliar.

I also appreciate that this story follows two characters who break the norms of their group. Preet has powerful magic, but she uses it in an unapproved way. In their community, the people depend on those with powerful magic to help one another. Valissa doesn’t have magic, but she doesn’t let that stop her from risking her life to protect her people.

I also enjoyed the color palette of the book. It’s got peach and turquoise tones that make the scenes seem really nature-based. They’re soothing colors, too.

I hadn’t heard of this book, but found it while browsing at the library. I’m really glad I picked it up, and I would love to read more by Jessi Zabarsky.

If you like nature-centered fantasy graphic novels, put this one on your list.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 13 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Two characters are in a relationship.

Spiritual Content
Some characters can do magic, such as changing shape and creating wind, etc. Some characters are mythical creatures.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Prejudice and shaming drive some characters from their home.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I borrowed a copy of this book from my library. All opinions are my own.