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Sleepless Duology #2
The Dreamless
Not yet published
Expected 29 Sep 26Jen Williams stuns in a heartrending sequel to The Sleepless that is as romantic as it is deadly.
Will Lucian pursue chaos and power?
Will Artair choose isolation, or will he choose to walk out into the wider world?
And Elver, perhaps, has the hardest choice of all.
After being sacrificed yet again at the hands of Mother Maura, Elver has returned from the dead even more jih than human. A strange new power simmers beneath her skin alongside a warning from the Queen of Serpents: though she’s been granted another chance at life, someday soon, Elver will be called from the land of mortals.
Now that Artair knows the spirit with whom he shares a body, Lucian, is an ordinary human, the two have formed an uneasy truce. While they attempt to wield their shred of Maura’s stolen power—the only thing keeping her from ascending to full godhood—they’re also confronted with feelings for Elver that are impossible to deny.
But Maura is out for revenge. As dangerous new alliances brew among the Twelve, Elver, Artair, and Lucian must set out to find the only being in existence capable of killing a god. And Elver will need to decide once and for all with which of the Sleepless her poisoned heart lies.
Will Lucian pursue chaos and power?
Will Artair choose isolation, or will he choose to walk out into the wider world?
And Elver, perhaps, has the hardest choice of all.
After being sacrificed yet again at the hands of Mother Maura, Elver has returned from the dead even more jih than human. A strange new power simmers beneath her skin alongside a warning from the Queen of Serpents: though she’s been granted another chance at life, someday soon, Elver will be called from the land of mortals.
Now that Artair knows the spirit with whom he shares a body, Lucian, is an ordinary human, the two have formed an uneasy truce. While they attempt to wield their shred of Maura’s stolen power—the only thing keeping her from ascending to full godhood—they’re also confronted with feelings for Elver that are impossible to deny.
But Maura is out for revenge. As dangerous new alliances brew among the Twelve, Elver, Artair, and Lucian must set out to find the only being in existence capable of killing a god. And Elver will need to decide once and for all with which of the Sleepless her poisoned heart lies.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published May 7, 2026
About the author
Jen Williams
37 books1,698 followersJen Williams lives in London with her partner and their small ridiculous cat. Having been a fan of grisly fairy tales from a young age, these days Jen writes dark unsettling thrillers with strong female leads, as well as character-driven fantasy novels with plenty of adventure and magic. Her debut novel, The Copper Promise, kicked off the Copper Cat trilogy in 2014, and since then she has twice won the British Fantasy Award for her second trilogy, the Winnowing Flame. Her first thriller, Dog Rose Dirt, was published with HarperCollins in July 2021. Jen has two upcoming releases in 2023: Games for Dead Girls with Harpercollins, and Talonsister with Titan. When she’s not writing books she enjoys messing about with video games and embroidery, and also works as a part-time bookseller and a freelance copywriter.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 30, 2026
What a wonderful way to complete this duology. I can see myself rereading this series multiple times.
Jen did a wonderful job at exploring power, relationships and self-discovery all while keeping a very whimsical and witty tone.
I’m so glad that I got to spend more time with my fave MMCs (yes, there’s 2) and our admirable FMC. I feel very attached to these characters and it’s hard to believe that they aren’t actually real 💔
This series just feels like a warm hug and I look forward to reading more by this author.
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Jen did a wonderful job at exploring power, relationships and self-discovery all while keeping a very whimsical and witty tone.
I’m so glad that I got to spend more time with my fave MMCs (yes, there’s 2) and our admirable FMC. I feel very attached to these characters and it’s hard to believe that they aren’t actually real 💔
This series just feels like a warm hug and I look forward to reading more by this author.
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What I just don’t get is why Jen Williams is not one of those authors everyone is absolutely screaming about! Every book I have ever read by Jen Williams has been an absolute cornucopia of world-building, character creation and development and blow your mind, stunning plots and craft that always transport me away from this absolute mess of a world we live in.
The Dreamless is the conclusion to the duology that began The Sleepless truly and richly deserves, a duology whose originality raises it head and shoulders above the vast number of YA romance fantasy series that plague our bookshelves. Williams world building is so well structured, layered, complex and rich that the atmosphere raised the hairs on my neck. The structure of the story of conflict between gods, monsters and magic that at its heart puts the world itself at peril.
I absolutely adored each and every one of the characters in this duology, even those I loathed, as their structure, creation, arc and development was so comprehensively and beautifully created to bring out those distinct facets of their personalities. From Lucian and Artair’s initial conflict in The Sleepless to the dynamics in their relationship in one and the same body as they faced foes and enemies in their journey with Elver to fight Maura and keep the Jih safe, to Elver’s arc as she grew and changed throughout both The Sleepless and The Dreamless, plus of course Fleet growing from baby to adolescent, pack, pack, pack.
From the first page to the last I was totally immersed in their journey and the dynamics of their relationships, which most definitely did not have the most auspicious of starts, and I absolutely adored my return to the magical world of gods and monsters, where not all monsters are seen through the seeing eye. I am full of admiration for how Williams challenges the distinction between the internal and external monster, and just how like you cannot judge a book by it’s cover, you often can’t judge a monster by it’s appearance.
I’m not going to go into the details of the plot as this will only take it away from those fortunate enough to read it for the first time but, the bitter-sweetness of the story is perfect for this world and if you are truly looking for your next auto-buy author, pick up The Sleepless and The Dreamless to be transported to a world where beauty and monstrousness are not defined by what the eye sees.
Thank you so much First Ink, MacMillan Children’s Books, and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
The Dreamless is the conclusion to the duology that began The Sleepless truly and richly deserves, a duology whose originality raises it head and shoulders above the vast number of YA romance fantasy series that plague our bookshelves. Williams world building is so well structured, layered, complex and rich that the atmosphere raised the hairs on my neck. The structure of the story of conflict between gods, monsters and magic that at its heart puts the world itself at peril.
I absolutely adored each and every one of the characters in this duology, even those I loathed, as their structure, creation, arc and development was so comprehensively and beautifully created to bring out those distinct facets of their personalities. From Lucian and Artair’s initial conflict in The Sleepless to the dynamics in their relationship in one and the same body as they faced foes and enemies in their journey with Elver to fight Maura and keep the Jih safe, to Elver’s arc as she grew and changed throughout both The Sleepless and The Dreamless, plus of course Fleet growing from baby to adolescent, pack, pack, pack.
From the first page to the last I was totally immersed in their journey and the dynamics of their relationships, which most definitely did not have the most auspicious of starts, and I absolutely adored my return to the magical world of gods and monsters, where not all monsters are seen through the seeing eye. I am full of admiration for how Williams challenges the distinction between the internal and external monster, and just how like you cannot judge a book by it’s cover, you often can’t judge a monster by it’s appearance.
I’m not going to go into the details of the plot as this will only take it away from those fortunate enough to read it for the first time but, the bitter-sweetness of the story is perfect for this world and if you are truly looking for your next auto-buy author, pick up The Sleepless and The Dreamless to be transported to a world where beauty and monstrousness are not defined by what the eye sees.
Thank you so much First Ink, MacMillan Children’s Books, and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
I give The Dreamless 4.5 stars, but I rounded up for the book being and overall solid read and satisfying ending to The Sleepless duology.
I was entranced by the world of The Sleepless, and The Dreamless doesn't disappoint, setting up a pitch that twists and lands well, at least for me. I wasn't sure how the prologue was going to connect back to the main plot, but I felt like it was a necessary introduction and paid off decently well by the end.
I continued to enjoy Elver, Artair, and Lucian for the interesting characters that they are, and though I'm more of a "why choose" reader (so I was slightly disappointed on that front), I thought the resolution was reasonable and still hopeful in some ways (and there's definitely room for fic at the Inn). I enjoyed that the tensions between them were heightened and intense while still maintaining the characters' motivations and sense of self and without getting too weird-jealous in a way that can be hard for me to read and enjoy. And I could definitely use more stories of any kind within the world - Fleet and Sunay are still really good, and I want to see more of Gus.
The pacing was good and the writing was excellent. It kept my attention and I finished the book in a few big chunks of reading over only two or so days.
I can definitely recommend The Sleepless duology to anyone looking for a fantastical adventure with a trio of complex and motivated characters who change each other and with each other. It's a romance with a monster girl who isn't so monstrous (but powerful and scary to those who fear women with power) and a couple of boys who deserve to get to see the world(s).
I give The Dreamless 4.5 stars, but I rounded up for the book being and overall solid read and satisfying ending to The Sleepless duology.
I was entranced by the world of The Sleepless, and The Dreamless doesn't disappoint, setting up a pitch that twists and lands well, at least for me. I wasn't sure how the prologue was going to connect back to the main plot, but I felt like it was a necessary introduction and paid off decently well by the end.
I continued to enjoy Elver, Artair, and Lucian for the interesting characters that they are, and though I'm more of a "why choose" reader (so I was slightly disappointed on that front), I thought the resolution was reasonable and still hopeful in some ways (and there's definitely room for fic at the Inn). I enjoyed that the tensions between them were heightened and intense while still maintaining the characters' motivations and sense of self and without getting too weird-jealous in a way that can be hard for me to read and enjoy. And I could definitely use more stories of any kind within the world - Fleet and Sunay are still really good, and I want to see more of Gus.
The pacing was good and the writing was excellent. It kept my attention and I finished the book in a few big chunks of reading over only two or so days.
I can definitely recommend The Sleepless duology to anyone looking for a fantastical adventure with a trio of complex and motivated characters who change each other and with each other. It's a romance with a monster girl who isn't so monstrous (but powerful and scary to those who fear women with power) and a couple of boys who deserve to get to see the world(s).
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Dreamless by Jen Williams
This was such a satisfying way to wrap up the duology.
I was already really invested after the first book, so getting back into this world was instant comfort. Jen Williams has this way of writing that feels whimsical but still grounded in real emotional weight, and that balance worked really well here again.
The story continues to explore power, identity, relationships, and self-discovery, but what I really appreciated is how naturally it all unfolds alongside the main plot. Nothing feels overly forced into theme—it’s just woven into the characters’ experiences as they move through the story.
I also really enjoyed spending more time with Elver, Artair, and Lucian. Their dynamic is what makes this series so memorable. There’s tension, connection, and shifting loyalty, but it never loses sight of who they are as individuals. Even when things get complicated, the emotional core between them stays consistent, which I liked a lot.
The pacing is solid throughout—fairly fast, with short chapters that make it easy to fly through. It kept me engaged the entire way through without feeling like it dragged.
The ending also felt fitting for the series. It wraps things up in a way that feels complete, but still leaves just enough openness that the world doesn’t feel fully closed off.
Overall, this duology really does feel like a warm, slightly chaotic fantasy hug—adventurous, character-driven, and easy to get emotionally attached to.
I can definitely see myself revisiting it in the future.
This was such a satisfying way to wrap up the duology.
I was already really invested after the first book, so getting back into this world was instant comfort. Jen Williams has this way of writing that feels whimsical but still grounded in real emotional weight, and that balance worked really well here again.
The story continues to explore power, identity, relationships, and self-discovery, but what I really appreciated is how naturally it all unfolds alongside the main plot. Nothing feels overly forced into theme—it’s just woven into the characters’ experiences as they move through the story.
I also really enjoyed spending more time with Elver, Artair, and Lucian. Their dynamic is what makes this series so memorable. There’s tension, connection, and shifting loyalty, but it never loses sight of who they are as individuals. Even when things get complicated, the emotional core between them stays consistent, which I liked a lot.
The pacing is solid throughout—fairly fast, with short chapters that make it easy to fly through. It kept me engaged the entire way through without feeling like it dragged.
The ending also felt fitting for the series. It wraps things up in a way that feels complete, but still leaves just enough openness that the world doesn’t feel fully closed off.
Overall, this duology really does feel like a warm, slightly chaotic fantasy hug—adventurous, character-driven, and easy to get emotionally attached to.
I can definitely see myself revisiting it in the future.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🦊 I received an advanced copy of this ebook on Netgalley 🦊
As with the first book, The Sleepless, this story feels like a fairytale with its many magical creatures and its meddling deities involving themselves in the lives of our characters. We get to meet more of the Twelve in this volume, which is a lot of fun. (Barleycorn's inn is a vibe!)
There's a great juxtaposition here between Maura (the mage of Tisk who turned to the Bloody Claw after her family's unfortunate demise and has since been hell-bent on finding a way to bring them back) and the Serpent Queen (who refused to let her own child die, even if she had to change his form in order to save his life).
The love triangle between Elver, Artair, and Lucian continues to get more complicated, especially once Artair and Lucian develop a greater awareness of one another's actions while being the "awakened" one inside of Artair's body.
Pacing was consistent, like a slow simmer, until the closing chapters when everything boiled over. The biggest emotions for me were at the end of the final chapter, leading into the epilogue. If you're an epilogue skipper, don't skip this one. It definitely matters!
Overall, I think this was a fun adventure with a satisfying conclusion.
3.5/5 ⭐️ rounded up
As with the first book, The Sleepless, this story feels like a fairytale with its many magical creatures and its meddling deities involving themselves in the lives of our characters. We get to meet more of the Twelve in this volume, which is a lot of fun. (Barleycorn's inn is a vibe!)
There's a great juxtaposition here between Maura (the mage of Tisk who turned to the Bloody Claw after her family's unfortunate demise and has since been hell-bent on finding a way to bring them back) and the Serpent Queen (who refused to let her own child die, even if she had to change his form in order to save his life).
The love triangle between Elver, Artair, and Lucian continues to get more complicated, especially once Artair and Lucian develop a greater awareness of one another's actions while being the "awakened" one inside of Artair's body.
Pacing was consistent, like a slow simmer, until the closing chapters when everything boiled over. The biggest emotions for me were at the end of the final chapter, leading into the epilogue. If you're an epilogue skipper, don't skip this one. It definitely matters!
Overall, I think this was a fun adventure with a satisfying conclusion.
3.5/5 ⭐️ rounded up
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What an amazing way to finish this duology.
I bought the first book without ever reading anything by Jen Williams before, and I completely fell in love with it, so I was incredibly excited, and very grateful to get the chance to read the ARC of The Dreamless. Somehow this second book captured everything I loved about the first and gave me the perfect conclusion to the series.
This duology honestly felt like a warm hug. The world-building is magical, immersive, and so easy to get lost in. I was pulled straight back into the story from the very first page and didn’t want to leave this world behind again.
Sometimes with duologies, one book ends up stronger than the other, but that definitely wasn’t the case here. Both books are equally brilliant in my opinion, and together they create such a beautiful YA romantasy series.
I can already see myself rereading this in the future, and now I desperately need the special edition from Waterstones to match my copy of the first book.
I bought the first book without ever reading anything by Jen Williams before, and I completely fell in love with it, so I was incredibly excited, and very grateful to get the chance to read the ARC of The Dreamless. Somehow this second book captured everything I loved about the first and gave me the perfect conclusion to the series.
This duology honestly felt like a warm hug. The world-building is magical, immersive, and so easy to get lost in. I was pulled straight back into the story from the very first page and didn’t want to leave this world behind again.
Sometimes with duologies, one book ends up stronger than the other, but that definitely wasn’t the case here. Both books are equally brilliant in my opinion, and together they create such a beautiful YA romantasy series.
I can already see myself rereading this in the future, and now I desperately need the special edition from Waterstones to match my copy of the first book.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
If you’re tired of YA fantasy that feels the same over and over again, this duology is SUCH a good change of pace. The world-building is incredible (gods, monsters, magic, weird dreamlike atmosphere) it all feels so vivid and immersive without being overwhelming.
I got so attached to these characters, especially Lucian, Artair, Elver, and honestly Fleet stole my heart completely. The relationships and character development throughout both books were SO well done, and I loved how messy and complicated everyone felt. Also one of my favourite things was how the story constantly challenges what makes someone a monster and who actually deserves empathy.
The ending was bittersweet in the best way and felt really fitting for the story. Basically, if you want fantasy that feels original, emotional, beautifully written, and completely absorbing, please pick up The Sleepless and The Dreamless. I need more people to read these books so I can scream about them.
I got so attached to these characters, especially Lucian, Artair, Elver, and honestly Fleet stole my heart completely. The relationships and character development throughout both books were SO well done, and I loved how messy and complicated everyone felt. Also one of my favourite things was how the story constantly challenges what makes someone a monster and who actually deserves empathy.
The ending was bittersweet in the best way and felt really fitting for the story. Basically, if you want fantasy that feels original, emotional, beautifully written, and completely absorbing, please pick up The Sleepless and The Dreamless. I need more people to read these books so I can scream about them.
May 9, 2026
What came to mind reading this one:
- Adventure storyline with high stakes
- love triangle but not main focus
- unusual love triangle, definitely not the norm!
- mythical creatures
- funny, lovable animal companion
- fights with gods
- narrative around being different and acceptance
- quite fast paced
- short chapters, quick read
This is the 2nd in a duology and wraps up quite nicely with a sprinkle of a hint that maybe there will be more from the world to come.
One thing to note is this series is marketed as a fantasy romance but I would say it's fantasy with romantic subplot. The romance doesn't even start until the very end of book one.
Overall I enjoyed the Duology! I have read three series by this author now - The Ninth Rain remains my favourite but this one has earned second place. :)
- Adventure storyline with high stakes
- love triangle but not main focus
- unusual love triangle, definitely not the norm!
- mythical creatures
- funny, lovable animal companion
- fights with gods
- narrative around being different and acceptance
- quite fast paced
- short chapters, quick read
This is the 2nd in a duology and wraps up quite nicely with a sprinkle of a hint that maybe there will be more from the world to come.
One thing to note is this series is marketed as a fantasy romance but I would say it's fantasy with romantic subplot. The romance doesn't even start until the very end of book one.
Overall I enjoyed the Duology! I have read three series by this author now - The Ninth Rain remains my favourite but this one has earned second place. :)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a magnificent ending to the story started in The Sleepless! The Dreamless is the conclusion of a dreamy fantasy that will capture the imagination of anyone who decides to get lost in its forest. Elver, Artair, and Lucian have a curious connection where only the smallest aspect is whom Elver will give her heart to, because before any romantic notions are settled, they must deal with the gods. We plunge deeper into the world we entered in The Sleepless to find what is causing trouble. Adventure, peril, and metamorphosis bubble up and spill over to a powerful conclusion. Blending epic-level high stakes into a cozy setting, this book was a delight to read.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin's Press - Wednesday Books) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin's Press - Wednesday Books) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
While The Dreamless offers an imaginative conclusion to Jen Williams' gods-and-monsters duology, it fell slightly short of the first book for me. The unique premise of Artair and Lucian sharing a single body remains fascinating, and the romantic tension with Elver provides great high stakes. However, the complex magical rules and shifting plot structure felt a bit messy and overcomplicated in this installment. The world-building is undeniably rich and the writing is vivid, but the pacing dragged during the heavy quest sequences. A decent fantasy read, but it lacked the tighter execution of The Sleepless.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review.
As much as I like duologies, I kinda want a third book because I have a few unanswered questions. I didn’t like this one as much as the first book, though it was still a very good read. The world expanded a lot more. The romance got a bit more complicated. Relationships and tension grew. I do wish that the other Sleepless were addressed. It sort of was, but it was really like a sentence or two at the end. Otherwise, I found this to be fun and enjoyable read!
As much as I like duologies, I kinda want a third book because I have a few unanswered questions. I didn’t like this one as much as the first book, though it was still a very good read. The world expanded a lot more. The romance got a bit more complicated. Relationships and tension grew. I do wish that the other Sleepless were addressed. It sort of was, but it was really like a sentence or two at the end. Otherwise, I found this to be fun and enjoyable read!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What a way to end the duolgy 🥹
I knew if I wasn't in a funk with reading at the moment I would have devoured this book quicker. I loved how this book picks up immediately after the events of the Sleepless and now on this new journey there are plenty of new things to discover and gods too.
The ending did get me abit emotionally (no spoilers) but my heart it suffering from that final decision made 😭
I knew if I wasn't in a funk with reading at the moment I would have devoured this book quicker. I loved how this book picks up immediately after the events of the Sleepless and now on this new journey there are plenty of new things to discover and gods too.
The ending did get me abit emotionally (no spoilers) but my heart it suffering from that final decision made 😭
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is such a brilliant duology, and I'm so glad I gave it a chance. After the turbulent events of The Sleepless, this sequel is an exciting and non-stop adventure of Gods and magic and "monsters". The world building is clever and I loved every page!
I received a copy form the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy form the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
gotta-buy
May 23, 2026why is this book already in my local bookstore hahahahhaah...?
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