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While Cerberus Sleeps
In the Hesperia Territory, revolution never wins. Fledgling reporter Mila Ray should know—for generations, her ancestors have died trying to overthrow their insidiously tyrannical government. For the last 200 years, Hesperia has beaten its people into complacency—but for those who are paying attention, the banned books, the work camps, and the Hesperia Domestic Safety Act that allows Hesperian officials to arrest almost anyone who dares to look too closely, have not gone unnoticed.She’s determined to find another way.
A whistleblower shares chilling government secrets and begs Mila to go with him to the Belgae, a small but growing group of insurgents who intend battle. She agrees — but the plan goes terribly wrong, and Mila must run from a sadistic Hesperian agent who has his own twisted agenda for her.
As she plunges into the crevices of her society, a chance encounter reveals a powerful new ally that would allow Mila a chance to incite a revolution unlike any Hesperia has ever known… or watch history repeat itself.
The debut novel from Leah Noel, While Cerberus Sleeps is a dystopian story with a philosophical feel, a great fit for fans of Emily St. John Mandel's Station Eleven.
A whistleblower shares chilling government secrets and begs Mila to go with him to the Belgae, a small but growing group of insurgents who intend battle. She agrees — but the plan goes terribly wrong, and Mila must run from a sadistic Hesperian agent who has his own twisted agenda for her.
As she plunges into the crevices of her society, a chance encounter reveals a powerful new ally that would allow Mila a chance to incite a revolution unlike any Hesperia has ever known… or watch history repeat itself.
The debut novel from Leah Noel, While Cerberus Sleeps is a dystopian story with a philosophical feel, a great fit for fans of Emily St. John Mandel's Station Eleven.
- GenresScience FictionDystopia
597 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 2016
About the author
Leah Noel Sims
3 books7 followersLeah Noel Sims has filled journals and written stories since she was six years old, when she won a writing contest for kids in Atlanta's major newspaper. She tried to be logical for a little while by pursuing a career in journalism, but has traveled full-circle and returned to her lifelong passion of fiction writing. She lives in a 19th-century farmhouse south of Atlanta with her husband, two children, and galumphing German Shepherd. WHILE CERBERUS SLEEPS is her first novel. She is working on her second novel.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 7, 2022
You ever finish a book and need to just sit in it? Let it linger? While Cerberus Sleeps is brilliant. Timely address of the complacency of man, of the battle between right and safe, acknowledgment of the fight between helping those closest to us or help the world at large. I found myself devouring the second half of the book, not knowing where it was going next, and with tears in my eyes at the sheer satisfaction of having read it.
November 5, 2016
A corrupt dystopian future, a rebel group fighting for change and a clandestine organization cultivating an underground society where enlightenment is valued. Enter Mila Ray – a young woman prepared to fight for a free society. This despite being pursued by a vicious government operative with an unnatural fixation on her.
There’s also a refreshing love story subplot between Mila and an agent with the rebel group along with some nice sci-fi touches.
But what I found most interesting as a reader was Mila’s determination to give people a voice in their government. Never satisfied with easy answers from the rebels or the underground group, Mila is the one who pushes for justice, despite her own fears and self-doubt.
This is a strong debut novel that focuses on a young woman with the guts to fight for what is right in the face of overwhelming odds.
We can only hope there are some Milas to fight for our freedom if our country should descend into such demagoguery.
There’s also a refreshing love story subplot between Mila and an agent with the rebel group along with some nice sci-fi touches.
But what I found most interesting as a reader was Mila’s determination to give people a voice in their government. Never satisfied with easy answers from the rebels or the underground group, Mila is the one who pushes for justice, despite her own fears and self-doubt.
This is a strong debut novel that focuses on a young woman with the guts to fight for what is right in the face of overwhelming odds.
We can only hope there are some Milas to fight for our freedom if our country should descend into such demagoguery.
November 18, 2016
This novel is definitely a page turner that kept me in suspense all the way to the last page! It's perfect for fans of futuristic dystopian novels, like me. I found it to be The Giver meets Divergent meets The Hunger Games.
I grew to love the characters and think of them as good friends (always a sign of a good book to me) - especially the strong female lead, Mila. I was never for want of what was going on in her head and felt like I was experiencing everything with her - her fears, her drive, and even her love.
It's very easy to get lost in this book as it reads like you're watching a movie. (You actually may try to remember what movie you were watching and try to find it on TV; I mean, I may have done that...). Make sure you don't read it when you're supposed to be doing something else!
I grew to love the characters and think of them as good friends (always a sign of a good book to me) - especially the strong female lead, Mila. I was never for want of what was going on in her head and felt like I was experiencing everything with her - her fears, her drive, and even her love.
It's very easy to get lost in this book as it reads like you're watching a movie. (You actually may try to remember what movie you were watching and try to find it on TV; I mean, I may have done that...). Make sure you don't read it when you're supposed to be doing something else!
November 28, 2016
Outstanding book! After reading the book, I was left with so many contradictory emotions of contentment and sadness. Contentment because I had just finished such a wonderful read, but sadness because I honestly wish I could see this made into a movie. The book is written in a way that engrossed me and my imagination with each chapter, as if it were developing in front of me! I cannot wait for the next book!
November 22, 2016
I really enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down. The book was full of hope and determination from Mila, along with a vicious government operative out to get her and of course, a love interest. I felt like I was in the book. Highly recommended!
April 17, 2018
“While Cerberus Sleeps” is set in a future that seems almost uncomfortably close to ours. The protagonist Mila Ray is a news tip specialist who unwittingly becomes the face and voice of a rebellion against an out of control Big Brother government.
My favorite element of this novel is that Mila is a flawed character without special powers or incredible beauty. It makes the story believable and inspiring because Mila is an ordinary person and if she has a weapon at all, it is her intelligence and determination. Coupled with a super creepy villain and a love story to root for, this book doesn't leave you when you put it down. That to me is a sign of a great author. This novel did not have a predictable ending and included well fleshed out characters. Excellent read!
My favorite element of this novel is that Mila is a flawed character without special powers or incredible beauty. It makes the story believable and inspiring because Mila is an ordinary person and if she has a weapon at all, it is her intelligence and determination. Coupled with a super creepy villain and a love story to root for, this book doesn't leave you when you put it down. That to me is a sign of a great author. This novel did not have a predictable ending and included well fleshed out characters. Excellent read!
July 10, 2023
I loved the scary villain moments in this dystopian future novel. The story wove together in a culmination that was thoughtful and meaningful. I still consider it years later.
February 14, 2017
This started out really strong - I was interested and invested in Mila and some of the other characters. Everything was interesting and I was excited to see what was going to happen. But then it just got bogged down. Everything seemed to drag on and parts just became disjointed. I sped read through the last few chapters.
A shame because at the start I was looking forward to the story.
A shame because at the start I was looking forward to the story.
February 2, 2017
Well-rounded, foldable read with one major flaw.
While Cerberus Sleeps has an engaging and incredibly timely plot with all of the political unrest at the moment as well as the debate on the role of the media, particularly dealing with government criticism and civil unrest. The main character was infinitely likeable and felt very well-rounded and of a genuine resolve. The villain, Falk, is treated intelligently and felt as cold and calculated nearly on par with Grand Admiral Thrawn from Timothy Zahn's Star Wars novels.
The future setting was enjoyable and felt well-developed, making me able to picture everything and everywhere.
My major complaint is that particularly the male end of the romantic subplot felt unnatural and ham-fisted. Some dialogue changes would have worked wonders to make it feel more natural. It felt too forced at times and jumped ahead far too quickly.
Other smaller criticisms were that for about the last third, I lost track of who was where doing what.
That said, the bones of the ending itself were phenomenal and brought my rating back up a star after all of my eye-rolling at the majority of the romance lost it a star.
I have far more things to compliment, but dinner awaits. Huzzah!
(But for real, I thoroughly enjoyed my read and look forward to Book 2, Leah. :-) )
While Cerberus Sleeps has an engaging and incredibly timely plot with all of the political unrest at the moment as well as the debate on the role of the media, particularly dealing with government criticism and civil unrest. The main character was infinitely likeable and felt very well-rounded and of a genuine resolve. The villain, Falk, is treated intelligently and felt as cold and calculated nearly on par with Grand Admiral Thrawn from Timothy Zahn's Star Wars novels.
The future setting was enjoyable and felt well-developed, making me able to picture everything and everywhere.
My major complaint is that particularly the male end of the romantic subplot felt unnatural and ham-fisted. Some dialogue changes would have worked wonders to make it feel more natural. It felt too forced at times and jumped ahead far too quickly.
Other smaller criticisms were that for about the last third, I lost track of who was where doing what.
That said, the bones of the ending itself were phenomenal and brought my rating back up a star after all of my eye-rolling at the majority of the romance lost it a star.
I have far more things to compliment, but dinner awaits. Huzzah!
(But for real, I thoroughly enjoyed my read and look forward to Book 2, Leah. :-) )
December 28, 2016
Although the plot of "While Cerberus Sleeps" could be compared to others of the dystopian genre (Hunger Games and The Fifth Wave trilogies, for example), Sims' gripping writing, engrossing story line, and complex characters differentiate her novel from others. We follow Mila Ray, a Hesperia native whose "ancestors have died trying to overthrow their insidious, ever-watching government," as she begins to question everything she knows. Thrust into a tumultuous journey Mila never anticipated, we watch as she grows into a powerful, and unintentionally influential, young woman. She is desperate to save her people, but not in the traditional ways.
What I respect so much about Sims and this novel is the acknowledgement that there may not be a clear, right answer to solving Hesperia's problems. Mila, to her core, struggles throughout the book with what she believes in and what the "right" thing is in every situation. She is a refreshingly real character, and one most anyone can relate to.
I highly recommend this book - if I had not known this was the author's first novel, I never would have guessed it. I am eagerly anticipating another novel by Ms. Sims.
What I respect so much about Sims and this novel is the acknowledgement that there may not be a clear, right answer to solving Hesperia's problems. Mila, to her core, struggles throughout the book with what she believes in and what the "right" thing is in every situation. She is a refreshingly real character, and one most anyone can relate to.
I highly recommend this book - if I had not known this was the author's first novel, I never would have guessed it. I am eagerly anticipating another novel by Ms. Sims.
December 15, 2016
"While Cerberus Sleeps" makes you think! The story is set in the distant future where government puts on a happy face for its people, but it's not fooling everyone. Throughout the novel, the protagonist Mila explores what can happen when people get too comfortable overlooking important shifts in government. It hits very close to home.
The characters have well-defined voices and personalities that feel genuine, so it's easy to become invested very quickly. Many novels in this genre can read stilted or cut and dry, but the prose is beautifully crafted in and of itself. It's for those reasons that I give it five stars and say it's worth a read even if you're not typically into the dystopian future novels a-la "1984" and "Brave New World." This is special.
The characters have well-defined voices and personalities that feel genuine, so it's easy to become invested very quickly. Many novels in this genre can read stilted or cut and dry, but the prose is beautifully crafted in and of itself. It's for those reasons that I give it five stars and say it's worth a read even if you're not typically into the dystopian future novels a-la "1984" and "Brave New World." This is special.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews