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INSOMNUS
Bryony "Bryn" Winters can harm people by dreaming. With no control over whom she hurts, a condition called Somnus, Bryn can't even be sure she won't kill her own family. Protecting them means running away and trusting a mysterious company that possesses as much authority as amorality. And when Bryn meets Cedar Blackthorne, a Somnus with captivating eyes, she can feel he's hiding something. So why can't Bryn help trusting him? And what if she's making a deadly mistake?
282 pages, Paperback
Published August 10, 2016
6 people are currently reading
785 people want to read
About the author
Molly Fennig
2 books38 followersMolly Fennig is a Minnesota native who has published in The Blue Route Literary Magazine, The Blue Nib, other literary presses, two short story anthologies, and multiple scientific journals.
Molly is pursuing her PhD in clinical psychology at Washington University in St. Louis with a specialization in eating disorders. Her YA novel on the subject, Starvation, won a 2021 Independent Press Award.
Outside of her passion for writing and mental health, Molly enjoys eating large quantities of chocolate and spending time with her mini goldendoodle, Peach. Find out more about Molly at her website (mollyfennig.com), on Twitter (@mollyfennig) or on Facebook (mollyfennigauthor).
Molly is pursuing her PhD in clinical psychology at Washington University in St. Louis with a specialization in eating disorders. Her YA novel on the subject, Starvation, won a 2021 Independent Press Award.
Outside of her passion for writing and mental health, Molly enjoys eating large quantities of chocolate and spending time with her mini goldendoodle, Peach. Find out more about Molly at her website (mollyfennig.com), on Twitter (@mollyfennig) or on Facebook (mollyfennigauthor).
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 8, 2017
+Received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
After reading the blurb I was immediately interested because... hurting people in your dreams? I mean that's super cool. I like paranormal stuff but I admit I was a bit disappointed with this book.
THE WORLD: It's a futuristic world after WWIII where the Somnus have control over different US territories and there is a kind of power war going on between the Somnus.
CHARACTERS: The main character is Bryony "Bryn" Winters, an 18 year old whose Somnus condition turns worse than ever before. She knew about her powers but never gave them a second thought, however now she's concerned she will hurt her family in her sleep and decides to go to a Somnus convention. Alone. On her way she meets Cedar Blackthorne who turns out to be another Somnus going to the convention as well. Those two are the main characters although there are a few secondary ones, special mentions to Bryn's and Cedar's siblings.
LOVE: Hello instalove. I hate instalove. I can understand having a crush on someone but start a "relationship" and kiss after like 1 or 2 days after meeting each other for the first time? Is this Romeo and Juliet? (I hate Romeo and Juliet too). No, no, no, no, and no.
PLUS: The book was really interesting up to the half mark. To be honest it started very good. It was fast-paced, interesting, Bryn had to deal with her powers and how to not hurt people. I thought it was going to continue in that direction of self-discovery and badass power controlling lessons but then... boom instalove was added.
The powers themselves and the Somnus condition were interesting as well and a new concept for me.
MINUS: Can you guess? Instalove. Yes, that one cliche most readers hate but is still introduced in 70% of YA books. Like I said, I can understand crushes but reading the main character drooling all over the love interest right after meeting him and even after what he did to her was... even funny. I didn't know if to laugh or start a rant. Oh, and let's not forget to mention that this main character also cheats on her love. Wtf?
OVERALL: 3 stars. Mostly for the first half and the idea of Somnus powers. I am sorry but instalove is a big no-no for me. I would still recommend this book for people aged 12-15 because they're usually more dreamy and like the idea of instalove more.
—P.S. I Love That Book!
After reading the blurb I was immediately interested because... hurting people in your dreams? I mean that's super cool. I like paranormal stuff but I admit I was a bit disappointed with this book.
THE WORLD: It's a futuristic world after WWIII where the Somnus have control over different US territories and there is a kind of power war going on between the Somnus.
CHARACTERS: The main character is Bryony "Bryn" Winters, an 18 year old whose Somnus condition turns worse than ever before. She knew about her powers but never gave them a second thought, however now she's concerned she will hurt her family in her sleep and decides to go to a Somnus convention. Alone. On her way she meets Cedar Blackthorne who turns out to be another Somnus going to the convention as well. Those two are the main characters although there are a few secondary ones, special mentions to Bryn's and Cedar's siblings.
LOVE: Hello instalove. I hate instalove. I can understand having a crush on someone but start a "relationship" and kiss after like 1 or 2 days after meeting each other for the first time? Is this Romeo and Juliet? (I hate Romeo and Juliet too). No, no, no, no, and no.
PLUS: The book was really interesting up to the half mark. To be honest it started very good. It was fast-paced, interesting, Bryn had to deal with her powers and how to not hurt people. I thought it was going to continue in that direction of self-discovery and badass power controlling lessons but then... boom instalove was added.
The powers themselves and the Somnus condition were interesting as well and a new concept for me.
MINUS: Can you guess? Instalove. Yes, that one cliche most readers hate but is still introduced in 70% of YA books. Like I said, I can understand crushes but reading the main character drooling all over the love interest right after meeting him and even after what he did to her was... even funny. I didn't know if to laugh or start a rant. Oh, and let's not forget to mention that this main character also cheats on her love. Wtf?
OVERALL: 3 stars. Mostly for the first half and the idea of Somnus powers. I am sorry but instalove is a big no-no for me. I would still recommend this book for people aged 12-15 because they're usually more dreamy and like the idea of instalove more.
—P.S. I Love That Book!
September 16, 2016
After a few days of non-stop reading and tedious nail biting, I have found my favourite read of 2016.
'Bryony "Bryn" Winters can harm people by dreaming. With no control over whom she hurts, a condition called Somnus, Bryn can't even be sure she won't kill her own family. Protecting them means running away and trusting a mysterious company that possesses as much authority as amorality. And when Bryn meets Cedar Blackthorne, a Somnus with captivating eyes, she can feel he's hiding something. So why can't Bryn help trusting him? And what if she's making a deadly mistake?'
I couldn't find a single fault with this book. Not one. Every page drew me deeper into Bryn Winters' world and truth be told, I didn't want it to end. I adored the characters and their unique abilities. Every one of them stood out to me, a remarkable creation within themselves. If I had to pick a favourite (besides Bryn herself), it would be Cedar Blackthorne. There is something so pure and genuine about his character, that no matter the situation we find him in, I always seem to be rooting for him.
I found the romance element to be written remarkably well. While it was introduced quite early in the novel, it didn't deter the reader from the plot, as some romances are want to do. Insomnus was fast paced. I found myself turning each page as though my life depended on it.
The emotions that came across to me most were Bryn's inner conflict with herself and with others. Her triumphs and failures were my own. I felt like I inhabited every scene, figuring out my next move.
As for the main idea of Somnus? This really intrigued me as I have always dreamt of such powers even when I was a small child. I would love to read more about their world and really hope that there will be a sequel one day. This talented young author certainly has me captivated. A well done plot, striking characters, and not a single flaw I could detect.
I would easily give Insomnus 5 stars and recommend it to anyone with a passion for reading.
Insomnus is a rare jewel of a read!
If you'd like to read it, you can find it on the links below:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1...
'Bryony "Bryn" Winters can harm people by dreaming. With no control over whom she hurts, a condition called Somnus, Bryn can't even be sure she won't kill her own family. Protecting them means running away and trusting a mysterious company that possesses as much authority as amorality. And when Bryn meets Cedar Blackthorne, a Somnus with captivating eyes, she can feel he's hiding something. So why can't Bryn help trusting him? And what if she's making a deadly mistake?'
I couldn't find a single fault with this book. Not one. Every page drew me deeper into Bryn Winters' world and truth be told, I didn't want it to end. I adored the characters and their unique abilities. Every one of them stood out to me, a remarkable creation within themselves. If I had to pick a favourite (besides Bryn herself), it would be Cedar Blackthorne. There is something so pure and genuine about his character, that no matter the situation we find him in, I always seem to be rooting for him.
I found the romance element to be written remarkably well. While it was introduced quite early in the novel, it didn't deter the reader from the plot, as some romances are want to do. Insomnus was fast paced. I found myself turning each page as though my life depended on it.
The emotions that came across to me most were Bryn's inner conflict with herself and with others. Her triumphs and failures were my own. I felt like I inhabited every scene, figuring out my next move.
As for the main idea of Somnus? This really intrigued me as I have always dreamt of such powers even when I was a small child. I would love to read more about their world and really hope that there will be a sequel one day. This talented young author certainly has me captivated. A well done plot, striking characters, and not a single flaw I could detect.
I would easily give Insomnus 5 stars and recommend it to anyone with a passion for reading.
Insomnus is a rare jewel of a read!
If you'd like to read it, you can find it on the links below:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1...
January 28, 2025
3 stars
InSomnus is a Young Adult sci fi tale that starts of slow but is really intriguing with a unique concept. Bryn Winters suffers from a condition called Somnus which allows her to harm people while dreaming but she can also heal. It was a little wordy in some places and a little disjointed at times. You can tell Molly put her heart and soul into the making of this world, the character and the story and considering she was 17 years old when she wrote it is saying something. There is humour, angst. suspense, action and romance. Overall, I enjoyed this it was something a little different.
InSomnus is a Young Adult sci fi tale that starts of slow but is really intriguing with a unique concept. Bryn Winters suffers from a condition called Somnus which allows her to harm people while dreaming but she can also heal. It was a little wordy in some places and a little disjointed at times. You can tell Molly put her heart and soul into the making of this world, the character and the story and considering she was 17 years old when she wrote it is saying something. There is humour, angst. suspense, action and romance. Overall, I enjoyed this it was something a little different.
January 17, 2022
When I read anything with speculative fiction elements, I am constantly reminded that I need to suspend disbelief in order to move the story along. The best novels so entrap me in their world that this suspension is automatic. Then there are those novels where I struggle at times to suspend my disbelief, mostly because I cannot put myself in the protagonist’s shoes as much as I like.
InSomnus by Molly Fennig is a Young Adult science fiction novel that sort of fits in both categories. I found quickly that InSomnus was published when Fennig was just 17, which does explain the tone and the very clear presence of adolescent angst. Bryn Winters is a teen with a very serious problem: she suffers from a condition called Somnus which allows her to harm people while dreaming. This is a novel concept and one that is explained a little. Personally, I would have liked a little more explanation.
Fearing for the lives of those she loves, Bryn seeks to find answers. To do so means leaving her family to attend a convention which aims to bring together others of her kind. Those with Somnus are not limited to harming others. Some can change their appearance while others can influence a person’s decisions. One of the people Bryn meets along the way is a teen named Cedar, and from that meeting comes a mild romance which has its ups and downs (and ups again) throughout the novel.
InSomnus was slow to start, and while the inciting incident was clear, the rising action dragged on a bit at first. I was anxious to get to the convention, but I do understand and appreciate the need to show rather than tell Bryn’s love for her family and the angst she suffers making her decisions. While the first act could be tightened, once the novel moved into the second act, it never really let up. The action was quick, sometimes confusing, but definitely moved the story along to its (rather predictable) conclusion.
I refer back to the point I made in the second paragraph: Fennig was only 17 when InSomnus was published. Count me impressed. The writing can be poetic and a little wordy at times, but it is still good. There are some cringe-worthy elements that I would have rather done without, but overall the novel was an entertaining read. I fully expect her second novel, Starvation, to be much stronger and after that…more good things.
InSomnus by Molly Fennig is a Young Adult science fiction novel that sort of fits in both categories. I found quickly that InSomnus was published when Fennig was just 17, which does explain the tone and the very clear presence of adolescent angst. Bryn Winters is a teen with a very serious problem: she suffers from a condition called Somnus which allows her to harm people while dreaming. This is a novel concept and one that is explained a little. Personally, I would have liked a little more explanation.
Fearing for the lives of those she loves, Bryn seeks to find answers. To do so means leaving her family to attend a convention which aims to bring together others of her kind. Those with Somnus are not limited to harming others. Some can change their appearance while others can influence a person’s decisions. One of the people Bryn meets along the way is a teen named Cedar, and from that meeting comes a mild romance which has its ups and downs (and ups again) throughout the novel.
InSomnus was slow to start, and while the inciting incident was clear, the rising action dragged on a bit at first. I was anxious to get to the convention, but I do understand and appreciate the need to show rather than tell Bryn’s love for her family and the angst she suffers making her decisions. While the first act could be tightened, once the novel moved into the second act, it never really let up. The action was quick, sometimes confusing, but definitely moved the story along to its (rather predictable) conclusion.
I refer back to the point I made in the second paragraph: Fennig was only 17 when InSomnus was published. Count me impressed. The writing can be poetic and a little wordy at times, but it is still good. There are some cringe-worthy elements that I would have rather done without, but overall the novel was an entertaining read. I fully expect her second novel, Starvation, to be much stronger and after that…more good things.
February 9, 2022
Thank you to Voracious Readers Only through StoryOrigin and Molly Fennig for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
There was a lot to like about this book, including a really interesting premise and some beautiful and interesting descriptions throughout. You could tell Fennig put a lot of thought into the alternate universe and what was entailed in being a Somnus.
There are two main reasons I could not rate this higher, the first being that the entire book seemed rushed, which in turn made all of the relationships Bryn developed also seem rushed and unbelievable, including her relationship with her love interest, Cedar. I would also have loved if Fennig had included more world-building information. An extra 100 pages of world and character building would have done the story wonders!
The second reason was I was not a fan of the writing style. Fennig seemed to be mainly writing for the YA genre which makes sense considering Bryn's age, but then she sprinkles in random descriptors and sentences that sound too adult and advanced for the teenage Bryn Fennig has created. It makes the writing feel very disjointed at parts and was a bit difficult to read.
Overall though I am in awe that Fennig managed to come up with this story when she was only 17 and it was a good debut novel.
There was a lot to like about this book, including a really interesting premise and some beautiful and interesting descriptions throughout. You could tell Fennig put a lot of thought into the alternate universe and what was entailed in being a Somnus.
There are two main reasons I could not rate this higher, the first being that the entire book seemed rushed, which in turn made all of the relationships Bryn developed also seem rushed and unbelievable, including her relationship with her love interest, Cedar. I would also have loved if Fennig had included more world-building information. An extra 100 pages of world and character building would have done the story wonders!
The second reason was I was not a fan of the writing style. Fennig seemed to be mainly writing for the YA genre which makes sense considering Bryn's age, but then she sprinkles in random descriptors and sentences that sound too adult and advanced for the teenage Bryn Fennig has created. It makes the writing feel very disjointed at parts and was a bit difficult to read.
Overall though I am in awe that Fennig managed to come up with this story when she was only 17 and it was a good debut novel.
June 10, 2022
After several truly scary events, Bryony "Bryn" Winters learns that she has Somnus, a disease that imbues those who have it with various powers. For Byrn, she can cut people when she's sleeping. If she's alone, she will often cut herself. She also has the ability to heal, but the harming part truly frightens her. After learning of her diagnosis, she also learns about an organization specifically for individuals who have Somnus. She signs up to attend an upcoming conference and things - well, they don't exactly go the way you'd think.
As other reviews have noted, this book starts off very slowly. Indeed, I had to force myself to keep reading it. It's not that I didn't want to - I did - it's just that it was so slow. I wanted to get to the conference because it was easy to see that was where stuff was going to start happening, but I also understood that setting up Bryn's love for her family was important. On the way to the conference, Bryn meets Cedar and is excited to finally meet someone else with Somnus. That was cool. What wasn't cool was the immediate "in a relationship/I'm in love" that happened between the two of them. Later in the book, there's even a line where Bryn pokes fun at Disney princesses for falling in love and getting married 2 days later and I laughed out loud because that's basically what Bryn did (minus the marriage part) only her "relationship" is a LOT more toxic because
The entire story was really good, and I wanted to give it 5 stars for the premise alone, but the process of revealing the background information was really choppy and confusing. It's revealed pretty early on that all Winters descendants are Prosus, and that the rest of the Somnus world is searching for the Winters family. If that is the case, and the world is basically ruled by these Somnus families, then why did Bryn not know about ANY OF THIS? Even if she didn't know about her OWN FAMILY HISTORY, shouldn't she have been aware of Somnus and Prosus before her diagnosis - especially since they rule the world? Yes, there was an attempt to explain why she didn't know about these things toward the end of the book, but it fell VERY short of what was truly needed. In addition, there really should have been some explanation about why Bryn was so clueless to everything much earlier. Once the story got to the post-escape-attempt, it became choppy, or at least choppier, with respect to the history-building of the Somnus world, and that made it hard to stay in the story. One question that I have, which was never answered and still doesn't make any sense even after finishing reading - if Lynea and Bryn are so close, why did Lynea not tell Bryn she was still in contact with their dad? Especially after Bryn was diagnosed with Somnus? That would have been the perfect time to tell her. And even though Lynea told Bryn she would explain everything, she never did. That was a loose thread that really should have been sewn into the end of the story. Instead of tying that up, we get a hint that Lynea - who's supposed to be 14/15 - is going to be spending the night with one of the guards she met while being held captive - a guard that is presumably an adult and therefore MUCH TOO OLD FOR HER. Another VERY PROBLEMATIC relationship in this story possessing a string of problematic relationships.
All that aside, the action in the book was really good. Once the story picked up, it really didn't let up until the end. And while the ending was predictable, the road to get there really wasn't. It remained twisty and turny in a way that kept the reader on the edge of their seat.
The action is why I gave the story 4 stars. The problematic relationships is why I would argue AGAINST this being a YA book, despite the protagonist being 17. These are not relationships that need to be celebrated or normalized. At all. If it weren't for the fact that the author was 17 when she wrote the book, I would only give it 3 stars.
As other reviews have noted, this book starts off very slowly. Indeed, I had to force myself to keep reading it. It's not that I didn't want to - I did - it's just that it was so slow. I wanted to get to the conference because it was easy to see that was where stuff was going to start happening, but I also understood that setting up Bryn's love for her family was important. On the way to the conference, Bryn meets Cedar and is excited to finally meet someone else with Somnus. That was cool. What wasn't cool was the immediate "in a relationship/I'm in love" that happened between the two of them. Later in the book, there's even a line where Bryn pokes fun at Disney princesses for falling in love and getting married 2 days later and I laughed out loud because that's basically what Bryn did (minus the marriage part) only her "relationship" is a LOT more toxic because
The entire story was really good, and I wanted to give it 5 stars for the premise alone, but the process of revealing the background information was really choppy and confusing. It's revealed pretty early on that all Winters descendants are Prosus, and that the rest of the Somnus world is searching for the Winters family. If that is the case, and the world is basically ruled by these Somnus families, then why did Bryn not know about ANY OF THIS? Even if she didn't know about her OWN FAMILY HISTORY, shouldn't she have been aware of Somnus and Prosus before her diagnosis - especially since they rule the world? Yes, there was an attempt to explain why she didn't know about these things toward the end of the book, but it fell VERY short of what was truly needed. In addition, there really should have been some explanation about why Bryn was so clueless to everything much earlier. Once the story got to the post-escape-attempt, it became choppy, or at least choppier, with respect to the history-building of the Somnus world, and that made it hard to stay in the story. One question that I have, which was never answered and still doesn't make any sense even after finishing reading - if Lynea and Bryn are so close, why did Lynea not tell Bryn she was still in contact with their dad? Especially after Bryn was diagnosed with Somnus? That would have been the perfect time to tell her. And even though Lynea told Bryn she would explain everything, she never did. That was a loose thread that really should have been sewn into the end of the story. Instead of tying that up, we get a hint that Lynea - who's supposed to be 14/15 - is going to be spending the night with one of the guards she met while being held captive - a guard that is presumably an adult and therefore MUCH TOO OLD FOR HER. Another VERY PROBLEMATIC relationship in this story possessing a string of problematic relationships.
All that aside, the action in the book was really good. Once the story picked up, it really didn't let up until the end. And while the ending was predictable, the road to get there really wasn't. It remained twisty and turny in a way that kept the reader on the edge of their seat.
The action is why I gave the story 4 stars. The problematic relationships is why I would argue AGAINST this being a YA book, despite the protagonist being 17. These are not relationships that need to be celebrated or normalized. At all. If it weren't for the fact that the author was 17 when she wrote the book, I would only give it 3 stars.
February 5, 2022
***may contain spoilers***I received a free copy of this book from Voracious Readers Only in exchange for my honest review.
In her debut novel, Molly Fennig outlines a post-WWIII dystopia centered around a 17 year old high school student, Bryn. Since she was 5 years old, Bryn has a telekinetic power to harm and heal while she sleeps but doesn’t know why this is happening to her or how to control it. Since these events happen while she sleeps, her only option is to, well, not sleep. She soon discovers she is a Somnus - a powerful person who can use the energy around her to inflict or heal physical injury. After being invited to the Somnus International convention, Bryn learns there are others like her. They each have a unique Somnus - some can change appearances, some can almost preform mind control, and many more. Somnus cannot use their abilities on other Somnus… at least they’re not suppose to be able to do so. Bryn then finds herself thrust into a world of corruption, misuse of power, and evil forces at work who see the only way to maintain power is through bloodshed. Bryn must form alliances while honing and strengthening her abilities or everyone she loves may face a fatal ending.
I have not read a YA novel in a long time so I really had to shift my mindset to the intention of the author and the target audience. Bryn’s biggest desire is to be a normal teenager - go to the mall, have close friends, have a boyfriend. These basic social needs are evident throughout the book. Bryn starts to form close relationships and even begins to feel intimate feelings for a boy she just met. For a teenage/YA audience I can see a strong connection to this character. Even as Bryn becomes more confident in herself and her abilities, she still remains true to herself and her values.
Each main character has a clear and unique voice although the dialogue can be heavily dramatic at times (luckily a little humor is sprinkled in here or there to break up the angsty-ness). The story is well structured and flows easily making this a real page turner. Questions I had in the beginning were pretty much wrapped up by the last page with a few good twists and turns. The action scenes were well described with a “show-not-tell” approach which I, personally, appreciate.
I’m really impressed that Molly wrote this at age 17. A YA novel written by an actual young adult provides a level of insight that adults who write YA might miss. I can only assume Molly is going to continue to be successful in her future writing career if this is just the beginning of what she has to offer.
In her debut novel, Molly Fennig outlines a post-WWIII dystopia centered around a 17 year old high school student, Bryn. Since she was 5 years old, Bryn has a telekinetic power to harm and heal while she sleeps but doesn’t know why this is happening to her or how to control it. Since these events happen while she sleeps, her only option is to, well, not sleep. She soon discovers she is a Somnus - a powerful person who can use the energy around her to inflict or heal physical injury. After being invited to the Somnus International convention, Bryn learns there are others like her. They each have a unique Somnus - some can change appearances, some can almost preform mind control, and many more. Somnus cannot use their abilities on other Somnus… at least they’re not suppose to be able to do so. Bryn then finds herself thrust into a world of corruption, misuse of power, and evil forces at work who see the only way to maintain power is through bloodshed. Bryn must form alliances while honing and strengthening her abilities or everyone she loves may face a fatal ending.
I have not read a YA novel in a long time so I really had to shift my mindset to the intention of the author and the target audience. Bryn’s biggest desire is to be a normal teenager - go to the mall, have close friends, have a boyfriend. These basic social needs are evident throughout the book. Bryn starts to form close relationships and even begins to feel intimate feelings for a boy she just met. For a teenage/YA audience I can see a strong connection to this character. Even as Bryn becomes more confident in herself and her abilities, she still remains true to herself and her values.
Each main character has a clear and unique voice although the dialogue can be heavily dramatic at times (luckily a little humor is sprinkled in here or there to break up the angsty-ness). The story is well structured and flows easily making this a real page turner. Questions I had in the beginning were pretty much wrapped up by the last page with a few good twists and turns. The action scenes were well described with a “show-not-tell” approach which I, personally, appreciate.
I’m really impressed that Molly wrote this at age 17. A YA novel written by an actual young adult provides a level of insight that adults who write YA might miss. I can only assume Molly is going to continue to be successful in her future writing career if this is just the beginning of what she has to offer.
October 24, 2016
Fennig is a talented writer and INSOMNUS is by far my new favorite book. There was nothing I didn't like about INSOMNUS except that it ended. I loved the characters and the fact that I haven't read a book with a similar premise before. There was a perfect balance of dialogue and description so it was both impossible to put down and satisfying to read. There was also a good balance of humor, suspense, and romance throughout. I couldn't stop thinking about the characters and loved the relationships they had with each other.
December 13, 2025
A tense, character-driven dark fantasy that leans hard into moral uncertainty. The idea of Somnus killing without intent or memory, creates real psychological weight, not just a gimmick. Bryn’s fear of herself is as compelling as the external threats, and the choice to run doesn’t feel dramatic, it feels necessary. Cedar Blackthorne adds a sharp edge of intrigue; the trust between them is uneasy, earned moment by moment, and never safe. The story works best when it explores control, guilt, and the cost of survival, making the danger feel personal long before it becomes deadly.
December 23, 2022
Terrible!!! Obviously it is a story with elements similar to Harry Potter and Game of Thrones but the execution is nowhere near as captivating. I had to force myself to complete the book. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
August 26, 2021
I need
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2022
I’m very impressed that the author wrote this at 17. This book was based on such an intriguing idea and the plot was interesting but I felt like parts of it were confusing. Some of it seemed to go by very quickly with very abrupt changes. And it didn’t always seem to flow together. Overall it was an okay read but I feel like some tweaks could help it.
Side note: I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Side note: I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 2, 2017
Molly Fennig’s debut novel, In Somnus, has a solid story. Nonetheless, there are real problems; this book is more of a first step in her inchoate writing journey, rather than a true showcase.
The premise behind In Somnus is essentially quite simple: there are people in the world who have special abilities, be it healing, the manipulation of light or electricity, or even mind control. But there is another element of complexity—as these abilities generally manifest most strongly in sleep. This is why the term ‘Somnus’ (Latin for sleep) is used to describe such individuals.
But, there is a catch: Somni can’t affect other Somni. But there is a group of Somni, called Prosus (plural: Prosii), who can.
The protagonist, a Bryony Winters, is one such. The story follows her journey, firstly as she discovers her powers; then as she meets other Somni; and finally, as a nefarious Prosus scheme unfolds. It will force Bryony to confront everything in life—be it love, death, or the terrible understanding that humans are capable of murder.
As I say: the premise is solid, and the execution of the plot is largely successful. The beginning draws the readers’ attention into the protagonist’s mysterious power; the middle is suffused with apprehensive fear and burgeoning romance; and the ending, well, let’s just say it’s a page turner.
But why, then, have I not rated it more highly?
There are many problems. The pacing is a little awry, at times stalling the plot, at others accelerating it into a confusing mishmash of scenes. Speaking of which: there was quite a lot in the book that left me scratching my head. Another group of somni, called Lumen, also exist; though I never understood who and what they were. Some scenes simply don’t make any sense—either by their own or in the context of the plot. Important elements of Somnus society and the functioning of their abilities are described unclearly.
In short, the book is a bit of a mess.
Then there’s the romance. While I personally was quite fond of both characters (always an important consideration in a romance) and while the author’s execution was technically passable, I did think it was very cliché. Bryony fell for two very attractive boys, both identical twins. Both boys, in turn, fell in love with her, although—as if often the case with romance written from a female perspective—the protagonist didn’t seem to be all that attractive or (dare I say?) interesting.
Some of the clichés carried into the writing. In one scene, the protagonist ‘almost stops breathing’ when she sees a dress; in another scene, characters try to write with blood. And in this futuristic world, a person can be conveniently knocked out with a syringe.
In fact, the writing was flawed in other ways as well: the author tried to write poetic imagery, sometimes succeeding, but at other times writing prosaically rather than poetically. When, for the umpteenth time, the author launched another lengthy diatribe about the colour of a person’s eyes or the white blankness of a room; then I no was no longer enthralled, but counting the pages.
For all this, though, In Somnus isn’t a bad book. The premise is cogent; the execution competent; and the ending is powerful. Some aspects of characterisation are charming, such as the tendency of a cute boy to use very unusual words. All in all, it’s a readable book, and the author shows a lot of potential—a potential that, with time and experience, I am sure will become something more than that.
Rating: 3/5
The premise behind In Somnus is essentially quite simple: there are people in the world who have special abilities, be it healing, the manipulation of light or electricity, or even mind control. But there is another element of complexity—as these abilities generally manifest most strongly in sleep. This is why the term ‘Somnus’ (Latin for sleep) is used to describe such individuals.
But, there is a catch: Somni can’t affect other Somni. But there is a group of Somni, called Prosus (plural: Prosii), who can.
The protagonist, a Bryony Winters, is one such. The story follows her journey, firstly as she discovers her powers; then as she meets other Somni; and finally, as a nefarious Prosus scheme unfolds. It will force Bryony to confront everything in life—be it love, death, or the terrible understanding that humans are capable of murder.
As I say: the premise is solid, and the execution of the plot is largely successful. The beginning draws the readers’ attention into the protagonist’s mysterious power; the middle is suffused with apprehensive fear and burgeoning romance; and the ending, well, let’s just say it’s a page turner.
But why, then, have I not rated it more highly?
There are many problems. The pacing is a little awry, at times stalling the plot, at others accelerating it into a confusing mishmash of scenes. Speaking of which: there was quite a lot in the book that left me scratching my head. Another group of somni, called Lumen, also exist; though I never understood who and what they were. Some scenes simply don’t make any sense—either by their own or in the context of the plot. Important elements of Somnus society and the functioning of their abilities are described unclearly.
In short, the book is a bit of a mess.
Then there’s the romance. While I personally was quite fond of both characters (always an important consideration in a romance) and while the author’s execution was technically passable, I did think it was very cliché. Bryony fell for two very attractive boys, both identical twins. Both boys, in turn, fell in love with her, although—as if often the case with romance written from a female perspective—the protagonist didn’t seem to be all that attractive or (dare I say?) interesting.
Some of the clichés carried into the writing. In one scene, the protagonist ‘almost stops breathing’ when she sees a dress; in another scene, characters try to write with blood. And in this futuristic world, a person can be conveniently knocked out with a syringe.
In fact, the writing was flawed in other ways as well: the author tried to write poetic imagery, sometimes succeeding, but at other times writing prosaically rather than poetically. When, for the umpteenth time, the author launched another lengthy diatribe about the colour of a person’s eyes or the white blankness of a room; then I no was no longer enthralled, but counting the pages.
For all this, though, In Somnus isn’t a bad book. The premise is cogent; the execution competent; and the ending is powerful. Some aspects of characterisation are charming, such as the tendency of a cute boy to use very unusual words. All in all, it’s a readable book, and the author shows a lot of potential—a potential that, with time and experience, I am sure will become something more than that.
Rating: 3/5
December 3, 2018
A Promising young author!
I enjoyed this book immensely from cover to cover. The subject matter was definitely interesting and a nice storyline. Support a promising young author and give this book a read!
I enjoyed this book immensely from cover to cover. The subject matter was definitely interesting and a nice storyline. Support a promising young author and give this book a read!
October 17, 2016
Full review coming soon!
Read my status updates to get an idea why I rated this 1-star....
www.livthebooknerd.blospot.com
Read my status updates to get an idea why I rated this 1-star....
www.livthebooknerd.blospot.com
May 13, 2021
FYI: now 99c on Amazon, or free on Kindle Unlimited.
https://www.amazon.com/InSomnus-Molly...
https://www.amazon.com/InSomnus-Molly...
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