As romantic as it is deadly, Jen Williams stuns in this heartrending sequel to The Sleepless.
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.
The series
In a world where gods tread lightly and monsters lurk just beyond sight, this series invites you into a shadowed realm where danger and desire intertwine. At its heart is Elver, guardian of a cursed forest whose very skin poisons those around her, a solitary figure shaped by a debt paid long ago to a serpent queen. Then comes Artair, a man haunted by an ancient spirit dwelling within him, awakening only in darkness to claim control. Their meeting sparks a fragile, volatile dance between trust and fear, where survival means confronting not only external threats but the shadows within themselves.
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This story weaves rich mythology and haunting magic into a tapestry of identity and sacrifice, exploring how power can bind as tightly as it frees. The atmosphere shifts from eerie stillness to sudden, gripping tension, echoing the dual nature of its protagonists and the world they inhabit. With layered characters caught in a delicate balance of love and peril, the narrative unfolds in unexpected ways that keep the line between ally and adversary deliciously blurred.
Blending elements of dark fantasy and young adult adventure, this duology offers a fresh take on themes of autonomy and transformation, drawing readers into a landscape both beautiful and treacherous. It’s a journey that lingers long after the last page, beckoning those who crave stories where myth feels alive and every choice carries a weight that can’t be undone.
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