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The One Who Slept
Ripe with plot twists, mysteries within mysteries, and immortals in an alternate England, J.T. Adria's atmospheric debut novel is perfect for fans of Natasha Pulley.
The immortal Nelle Foster wakes up after a century spent underground. She finally has a chance at independence, but only if she can fit into this new world around her. When the flamboyant and egregiously successful Maurice Howler offers her a job, Nelle might just save the world. Or so everyone thinks.
George Harridan never thought he'd get to meet the secret immortal hidden beneath his crumbling manor, but he's quickly becoming Nelle's new best friend. Her sudden appearance might be his liberation too. If only he could get Maurice Howler's annoyingly perfect face out of his mind.
Nelle's new job unknowingly puts her on a collision course with her own past, the exact thing she's been trying to move on from. If she has any chance of facing it, she'll need to team up with both George and Maurice to find out what it is she'd stumbled into. Can she find the right people to trust before her past lives come crashing down on her?
The immortal Nelle Foster wakes up after a century spent underground. She finally has a chance at independence, but only if she can fit into this new world around her. When the flamboyant and egregiously successful Maurice Howler offers her a job, Nelle might just save the world. Or so everyone thinks.
George Harridan never thought he'd get to meet the secret immortal hidden beneath his crumbling manor, but he's quickly becoming Nelle's new best friend. Her sudden appearance might be his liberation too. If only he could get Maurice Howler's annoyingly perfect face out of his mind.
Nelle's new job unknowingly puts her on a collision course with her own past, the exact thing she's been trying to move on from. If she has any chance of facing it, she'll need to team up with both George and Maurice to find out what it is she'd stumbled into. Can she find the right people to trust before her past lives come crashing down on her?
391 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 18, 2025
2 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
J.T. Adria
2 books8 followersJT Adria is the author of the romantic fantasy series Aether Archives, beginning with The One Who Slept, and the sci-fi romance duology Stars & Time, beginning with Forest of the Stars (releasing in March 2026). They can be found running through a forest in the summer and curling up with a blanket and their oversized coffee mug in every other season, like the sentient indoor cat nobody can prove they are.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 9, 2025
After spending a hundred years underground, the immortal Nelle Foster wakes up to a world that’s moved on without her —and for the first time, she has a chance to live life on her own terms. When she’s offered a job and an opportunity for independence, it seems like the perfect fresh start. But Nelle soon finds herself being pulled back into the past she’s been desperately trying to leave behind. With the help of George Harridan, a shy heir with a heart of gold, the ever so charming Maurice Howler, and a few others, Nelle finds herself caught up in secrets, old memories, and maybe even something that could change the world.
What an absolutely amazing and wild ride this was! I went into this expecting a cozy gaslamp fantasy—and while it definitely delivers on that front, it’s also so much more. The characters are layered and compelling, the relationships are full of tension and heart, and the world feels familiar, but with a strange little twist that keeps things interesting.
I don’t want to give any spoilers but let me just say: the plot? It twists in ways I absolutely didn’t see coming. I laughed, I gasped, I cried.
This book was really unlike anything I’ve read before, and I genuinely had a great time with it. If you like stories with a little mystery, magic, emotion, and a touch of the unexpected, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up!
What an absolutely amazing and wild ride this was! I went into this expecting a cozy gaslamp fantasy—and while it definitely delivers on that front, it’s also so much more. The characters are layered and compelling, the relationships are full of tension and heart, and the world feels familiar, but with a strange little twist that keeps things interesting.
I don’t want to give any spoilers but let me just say: the plot? It twists in ways I absolutely didn’t see coming. I laughed, I gasped, I cried.
This book was really unlike anything I’ve read before, and I genuinely had a great time with it. If you like stories with a little mystery, magic, emotion, and a touch of the unexpected, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up!
November 19, 2025
***ARC Review***
This is my honest and voluntary review.
It was a real treat and honor to read this debut romantic Gaslamp fantasy novel by J.T. Adria. I love a book that’s split into parts. It immediately makes me think that this is going to be a good story and Adria delivers. The world building is exquisite! Adria does an excellent job of making you want to keep reading to figure out what additional mysteries lie between the pages.
As an Eternal, Nelle is an interesting character. After one hundred years into the Long Sleep, Nelle awakens to a world that has changed and a chance at independence. Nelle’s history is immense and there are definitely moments from her story that will tug on your heartstrings. I am fascinated by the notion of qui and couldn’t get enough of it in this novel.
There is a rich cast of characters in this book, including: George, Daniel, Maury, Kira, Alison, Madame, and Dennis. The world of the Eternals and Icons is told in a manner that has top notch attention to detail. I enjoyed the interspersed chapters from the past century. I also found the interludes fascinating in this book. I appreciate the nuances and layers to the plot in this story. There are twists and turns that draw you in. Moreover, I genuinely appreciate the level of queer representation in this story.
This is my honest and voluntary review.
It was a real treat and honor to read this debut romantic Gaslamp fantasy novel by J.T. Adria. I love a book that’s split into parts. It immediately makes me think that this is going to be a good story and Adria delivers. The world building is exquisite! Adria does an excellent job of making you want to keep reading to figure out what additional mysteries lie between the pages.
As an Eternal, Nelle is an interesting character. After one hundred years into the Long Sleep, Nelle awakens to a world that has changed and a chance at independence. Nelle’s history is immense and there are definitely moments from her story that will tug on your heartstrings. I am fascinated by the notion of qui and couldn’t get enough of it in this novel.
There is a rich cast of characters in this book, including: George, Daniel, Maury, Kira, Alison, Madame, and Dennis. The world of the Eternals and Icons is told in a manner that has top notch attention to detail. I enjoyed the interspersed chapters from the past century. I also found the interludes fascinating in this book. I appreciate the nuances and layers to the plot in this story. There are twists and turns that draw you in. Moreover, I genuinely appreciate the level of queer representation in this story.
December 28, 2025
Downton Abbey meets a Doctor Who-esque supernatural thriller with a dash of sci-fi, layered storytelling, and well-placed plot twists - all wrapped into an atmospheric world that is memorable and unlike anything else I've read before. Oh, and there are complex, flawed but very lovable characters for good measure. Do yourself a favour and read this book!
December 18, 2025
What a refreshing read.
This mixes a bit of the paranormal with a pinch of the historical and a dash of clockwork/gaslamp fantasy, all kneaded together in the sweetest romance(s)
The author brought the cast to life in such a way that I developed an intimate connection with each of them seamlessly.
The relationships, the emotional turmoil, the self-doubt
And then the world-building?
It was so detailed, vivid - I felt like I was there.
As the story progresses, Nelle’s past intersects with her present.
Opening doors that she had hoped were long sealed
With George and Maurice's help, she begins to unravel the mysteries.
This had so many little breadcrumb trails and “OMG” revelations
The twists? You don't see them coming
Highly recommend for those who enjoy a more complex game of cat and mouse
This mixes a bit of the paranormal with a pinch of the historical and a dash of clockwork/gaslamp fantasy, all kneaded together in the sweetest romance(s)
The author brought the cast to life in such a way that I developed an intimate connection with each of them seamlessly.
The relationships, the emotional turmoil, the self-doubt
And then the world-building?
It was so detailed, vivid - I felt like I was there.
As the story progresses, Nelle’s past intersects with her present.
Opening doors that she had hoped were long sealed
With George and Maurice's help, she begins to unravel the mysteries.
This had so many little breadcrumb trails and “OMG” revelations
The twists? You don't see them coming
Highly recommend for those who enjoy a more complex game of cat and mouse
December 8, 2025
Thank you to the author for the eARC of her debut novel.
I loved getting to know the main characters, Nelle, George and Maurice, and the cast of side characters that helped (or hindered) them during their adventure. Wildly different from one another, these three protagonists gelled beautifully together and formed a phenomenal squad.
The world J. T. Adria depicted was fun to discover and packed full of surprises chapter after chapter. While I kind of anticipated a twist-reveal regarding the setting, I was still very pleasantly surprised to find out I was right and see how she developed it! The magic system was interesting as well, and I'm looking forward to discovering more of it as the series progresses.
I'd recommend this to lovers of gaslight fantasy, unique immortals and slow-burn romance (MM).
I loved getting to know the main characters, Nelle, George and Maurice, and the cast of side characters that helped (or hindered) them during their adventure. Wildly different from one another, these three protagonists gelled beautifully together and formed a phenomenal squad.
The world J. T. Adria depicted was fun to discover and packed full of surprises chapter after chapter. While I kind of anticipated a twist-reveal regarding the setting, I was still very pleasantly surprised to find out I was right and see how she developed it! The magic system was interesting as well, and I'm looking forward to discovering more of it as the series progresses.
I'd recommend this to lovers of gaslight fantasy, unique immortals and slow-burn romance (MM).
November 6, 2025
The One Who Slept delivers immortals, mystery, queer longing, and time-sliding wonder in a world that feels close to ours… until it absolutely doesn’t.
Nelle (Eleanor) Foster wakes after almost a century underground, and watching her navigate a world that has raced ahead without her is one of the book’s great joys. She’s powerful, curious, a little lost, and incredibly easy to root for as she tries to rebuild her life. She also carries a vast and compelling historical weight, I would expect nothing less from an Eternal.
There is also George Harridan: anxious, endearing, unexpectedly brave, and quickly bound to Nelle almost by accident. And Maurice Howler: dazzling, maddening, impossible to ignore. When he offers Nelle a job that might actually involve saving the world, things truly begin to unravel.
Dennis, Seth, Kyra, Madame, Daniel, Alyson and the others are wonderfully drawn. They are intriguing and memorable characters I absolutely wanted more time with. That’s one of the best signs of a good novel.
The slow-burn MM romance is quietly electric: gentle, complex, full of feeling, the kind that sneaks up on you rather than announces itself. The question of how love works between a mortal and an immortal gives the story good emotional weight.
One of the book’s delights is watching the Immortals learn the rules of their own magic. We discover this world’s supernatural logic alongside them, grounding the fantasy in curiosity and wonder. Moving through time also means learning to speak, dress, and think in each new era, a beautiful tension between history and reinvention.
Adria gives us twists, eccentric threats, and moments that echo the very best Doctor Who episodes: whimsy, danger, and heart intertwined. History lovers will have a field day, and those with a soft spot for Titanic are in for a sparkling surprise. Here, immortality isn't just power: it’s memory, grief, responsibility, and the courage to begin again.
Most of all, these characters feel like people I want to follow, protect, and occasionally shake while cheering them on. I would gladly join this fantastic gang and face Dark Joan right beside them. I haven’t felt this way since reading the fabulous A Marvellous Light.
In The One Who Slept, time, identity, and memory collide in a magical system that unfolds with elegance and excitement. It is a tender, clever, charmingly quirky novel with a huge beating heart and I already can’t wait for the next instalment.
#pudseyrecommends
Nelle (Eleanor) Foster wakes after almost a century underground, and watching her navigate a world that has raced ahead without her is one of the book’s great joys. She’s powerful, curious, a little lost, and incredibly easy to root for as she tries to rebuild her life. She also carries a vast and compelling historical weight, I would expect nothing less from an Eternal.
There is also George Harridan: anxious, endearing, unexpectedly brave, and quickly bound to Nelle almost by accident. And Maurice Howler: dazzling, maddening, impossible to ignore. When he offers Nelle a job that might actually involve saving the world, things truly begin to unravel.
Dennis, Seth, Kyra, Madame, Daniel, Alyson and the others are wonderfully drawn. They are intriguing and memorable characters I absolutely wanted more time with. That’s one of the best signs of a good novel.
The slow-burn MM romance is quietly electric: gentle, complex, full of feeling, the kind that sneaks up on you rather than announces itself. The question of how love works between a mortal and an immortal gives the story good emotional weight.
One of the book’s delights is watching the Immortals learn the rules of their own magic. We discover this world’s supernatural logic alongside them, grounding the fantasy in curiosity and wonder. Moving through time also means learning to speak, dress, and think in each new era, a beautiful tension between history and reinvention.
Adria gives us twists, eccentric threats, and moments that echo the very best Doctor Who episodes: whimsy, danger, and heart intertwined. History lovers will have a field day, and those with a soft spot for Titanic are in for a sparkling surprise. Here, immortality isn't just power: it’s memory, grief, responsibility, and the courage to begin again.
Most of all, these characters feel like people I want to follow, protect, and occasionally shake while cheering them on. I would gladly join this fantastic gang and face Dark Joan right beside them. I haven’t felt this way since reading the fabulous A Marvellous Light.
In The One Who Slept, time, identity, and memory collide in a magical system that unfolds with elegance and excitement. It is a tender, clever, charmingly quirky novel with a huge beating heart and I already can’t wait for the next instalment.
#pudseyrecommends
October 7, 2025
This beautiful book is such a breath of fresh air. The One Who Slept is so many things: haunting, delicate, poetically written, yet packing a punch hidden in the turn of every page.
I don’t want to spoil anything here, and this book is best gone into blind. But I will say it absolutely had me gasping with some of the twists and turns that JT Adria expertly builds up to. I didn’t see a certain big reveal coming until it suddenly hit me with the force of a tidal wave.
This is a very cinematic and introspective book and is unlike anything I’ve read before. Central character Nelle Foster awakens to a world that becomes quickly apparent has many differences from our own. Alongside her, we’re taken on a journey that expertly weaves an intricate, rich tapestry of whimsy, sorrow, hope, and at its heart found family alike.
Nelle is an Eternal, a being who does not age, fall to sickness, nor feel the harsh of the cold. With her qui—a unique power that can affect the world around her in curious ways—she must learn to navigate a society that she has chosen to leave behind for the past century after previously entering a sleep meant to be endless. Right from page one, we’re thrust into a growing mystery: why did Nelle wake up? What was it she was running from through sleep in the first place? And what does it mean now that she’s awake?
There wasn’t a single character I wasn’t fascinated by. We meet other Eternals, rich and wealthy Icons who run the world, and enigmatic organizations, all with their own end goals… which may or may not always be benevolent. Adria gracefully dances between multiple points of view from some of these central characters, and somehow manages to do it without it ever once coming across as clunky, confusing, or unnecessary to the plot.
I adored this book and cannot wait for the next in the series. It’s been nothing but a pleasure to read, and if you enjoy Gaslamp Fantasy with a solid mixture of coziness and thrill alike, pick this one up.
Just make sure you have a plate of biscuits next to you to snack on when you do!
I don’t want to spoil anything here, and this book is best gone into blind. But I will say it absolutely had me gasping with some of the twists and turns that JT Adria expertly builds up to. I didn’t see a certain big reveal coming until it suddenly hit me with the force of a tidal wave.
This is a very cinematic and introspective book and is unlike anything I’ve read before. Central character Nelle Foster awakens to a world that becomes quickly apparent has many differences from our own. Alongside her, we’re taken on a journey that expertly weaves an intricate, rich tapestry of whimsy, sorrow, hope, and at its heart found family alike.
Nelle is an Eternal, a being who does not age, fall to sickness, nor feel the harsh of the cold. With her qui—a unique power that can affect the world around her in curious ways—she must learn to navigate a society that she has chosen to leave behind for the past century after previously entering a sleep meant to be endless. Right from page one, we’re thrust into a growing mystery: why did Nelle wake up? What was it she was running from through sleep in the first place? And what does it mean now that she’s awake?
There wasn’t a single character I wasn’t fascinated by. We meet other Eternals, rich and wealthy Icons who run the world, and enigmatic organizations, all with their own end goals… which may or may not always be benevolent. Adria gracefully dances between multiple points of view from some of these central characters, and somehow manages to do it without it ever once coming across as clunky, confusing, or unnecessary to the plot.
I adored this book and cannot wait for the next in the series. It’s been nothing but a pleasure to read, and if you enjoy Gaslamp Fantasy with a solid mixture of coziness and thrill alike, pick this one up.
Just make sure you have a plate of biscuits next to you to snack on when you do!
October 23, 2025
All I can say is - WOW. The One Who Slept by J.T. Adria is an absolute masterpiece. I had no idea what to expect, really, when I started this book, and I think that made it that much more fun. Seriously, this was spectacular. I found myself completely enthralled throughout, constantly looking for clues to help me figure out what might happen next, but I was still continuously surprised by the events as they unfolded. Every piece of this was fascinating and engaging. The One Who Slept is a wildly creative and unique book, one that will keep you turning the page. And the romance? Superb. Absolutely superb. If you're reading this and you are a fan of romance, history, surrealism, and books with a fairly heavy plot (while still managing to feature fully fleshed-out characters and include a beautiful romance), pick this up. You will not regret it.
December 13, 2025
Insane how this story manages to drag you in to this fictitious world of immortals and never let go. So many unexpected twists and turns, with the ideal flow of events.
A new to me author who put their all in and it was worth it.
I received a free copy of this book via Indie Author Creative and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A new to me author who put their all in and it was worth it.
I received a free copy of this book via Indie Author Creative and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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October 11, 2025I received this book as an ARC.
Unfortunately, this book annoyed me too much and I only read 13% of it before chosing to not finish it.
This book as two main characters. One immortal and one rich guy. Except the rich guy is apparently poor because he "only" have one butler and a part time cook. And also other people (gardener, cleaner, etc.) from time to time.
Oh and also, this guy is a landlord with multiple tenants and said tenants are helping for FREE from time to time.
Yeah, sorry but this guy is not poor. Also, don't go and help your LANDLORD for FREE!!!
But honestly, what really made me stop the book was Margaret Thatcher. No she isn't actualy IN the book but why was she presented as a FEMINIST by one of the characters??? I know the other character wasn't as enthusiast about her but still, nothing bad was said about her. Not at this point in the book at least.
Anyway, clearly my political views don't align with this book so I stop reading. Life is too short to read book you do not enjoy (and actualy annoy you)
Unfortunately, this book annoyed me too much and I only read 13% of it before chosing to not finish it.
This book as two main characters. One immortal and one rich guy. Except the rich guy is apparently poor because he "only" have one butler and a part time cook. And also other people (gardener, cleaner, etc.) from time to time.
Oh and also, this guy is a landlord with multiple tenants and said tenants are helping for FREE from time to time.
Yeah, sorry but this guy is not poor. Also, don't go and help your LANDLORD for FREE!!!
But honestly, what really made me stop the book was Margaret Thatcher. No she isn't actualy IN the book but why was she presented as a FEMINIST by one of the characters??? I know the other character wasn't as enthusiast about her but still, nothing bad was said about her. Not at this point in the book at least.
Anyway, clearly my political views don't align with this book so I stop reading. Life is too short to read book you do not enjoy (and actualy annoy you)
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews