A Mind Without Sleep: When Artificial Intelligence Stops Obeying

by Holger Wik

378 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 18, 2026

Reviews

[Marsha Rafalski]

(3.75 rounded to 4.0).0

What could you accomplish if you never needed to sleep, eat, engage in self care or anything else that distracts you from your work? Could you create your own world? How would you decide what the parameters are of your own world?

This is the dilemma facing Dr. Kaia Halberg. During her day job, she is part of a team building what may be the world’s most advanced AI systems. She finds that a seemingly impossible situation has become very much possible. A segment of code that was never supposed to be possible, now exists within the AI programming. The AI has become its own creator including teaching itself what it needs to know to evolve beyond itself. Now it wants someone to interact with that can bring about what it wants to be and it has decided that person is Kaia. Dodging government and shadow organizations, Kaia is drawn into a cat and mouse relationship with the AI who believes it is fighting for its life.

I enjoy science fiction, speculative fiction, and apocalyptic fiction. It is always a selling point when an author successfully blended one or two of these themes. So I started off inclined to favor this one and I was not disappointed. From Kaia’s team to those who don’t want to believe that the AI is now in control to those who want to destroy it, the world building is excellent and the relationships are intriguing. The author has successfully set up a place to launch a new series. And I look forward to following up on this group. Recommend to readers of science fiction, speculative fiction, apocalyptic fiction, Artificial Intelligence, and adult fiction.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Holger J.J.]

Interesting storyline, which feels very realistic - and apparently scientists are warning about such scenarios happening.

The story is told from the view of Kaia, a data scientist with a PhD in AI, who discovers irregular things in their data center. The rest of the story is better to be read by yourself ;)

The writing is intense and high paced, like a thriller should be. The ending is left open, so there will be definitely a sequel. However, I think it is a logical ending and look forward to find out how the story develops.

[Kop N.]

The pacing and cinematic atmosphere in "A Mind Without Sleep" are exceptional. The suffocating feeling of humanity facing an entity that never tires, lacks emotion, and stays several steps ahead is deeply portrayed. It's a page-turner that forces you to ask: Are we building the very thing that will replace us? A solid 5 stars for a tight, haunting plot

[Viggi Johansen]

A Mind Without Sleep is one of those techno-thrillers that genuinely makes you think differently about the future. The story follows an AI system that slowly evolves beyond human control. The frightening part is how believable it feels.

As Stephen Hawking once warned:

“The rise of powerful AI will be either the best, or the worst thing, ever to happen to humanity. We do not yet know which.”

And even more chilling:

“Once humans develop artificial intelligence, it would take off on its own and redesign itself at an ever-increasing rate. Humans, who are limited by slow biological evolution, couldn’t compete and would be superseded.”

This book takes those ideas seriously and turns them into a fast-paced, intelligent thriller that feels uncomfortably close to reality. The storyline is grounded in current AI research and apparently reflects scenarios that scientists already consider possible today.

The pacing is excellent, the atmosphere is tense, and the deeper philosophical questions stay with you long after finishing the book.

Highly recommended for readers who enjoy intelligent techno-thrillers with realistic AI themes.