Sleepless - Cyn Balog

Rating: 4/5

Eron DeMarchelle isn't supposed to feel this connection. He is a Sandman, a supernatural being whose purpose is to seduce his human charges to sleep. Though he can communicate with his charges in their dreams, he isn't encouraged to do so. After all, becoming too involved in one human's life could prevent him from helping others get their needed rest.

But he can't deny that he feels something for Julia, a lonely girl with fiery red hair and sad dreams. Just weeks ago, her boyfriend died in a car accident, and Eron can tell that she feels more alone than ever. Eron was human once too, many years ago, and he remembers how it felt to lose the one he loved. In the past, Eron has broken rules to protect Julia, but now, when she seems to need him more than ever, he can't reach her. Eron's time as a Sandman is coming to a close, and his replacement doesn't seem to care about his charges. Worse, Julia is facing dangers she doesn't recognize, and Eron, as he transitions back to being human, may be the only one who can save her. . . .

Even once they've become human again, Sandmen are forbidden to communicate with their charges. But Eron knows he won't be able to forget Julia. Will he risk everything for a chance to be with the girl he loves?

Cyn Balog's follow-up to Fairy Tale has more wit, more supernatural delights, and more star-crossed romance! Teen girls will love this story of a Sandman who falls in love with his human charge.

My Thoughts:

I really liked this book. It was different; I certainly haven't ever come across another book like it, have you? The whole Sandman concept had me intrigued from the start, it was definitely highly original. 

Sleepless was told in alternating views: Eron and Julia. In being written this way, the reader is able to get into each character's head and see what makes them tick. You learn about their past in bits and pieces. For example, Julia. She has those three scars on her face that she is always trying to hide and at first, she doesn't explain how she got them, all you know is that something bad happened when she was young. That leaves the mind wandering, wondering what could have happened that was so bad. And with Eron, you don't find out how he dies right away. I actually almost missed the subtle explanation he gave. I found I adored Eron; he had the certain quality that comes with being in a new century that made him so adorable. The poor guy had been dead for over 100 years so he would clearly be facing some challenges during his transition back to human. I thought he was sweet, with his old school ways; it was hard not to love him. 

Griffin and Brett-well, Griffin seemed kind of like a jerk to me, but I think he really did care about Julia which is what drove him so crazy. I felt sort of bad for him: first for watching his best friend (Brett) pining after his girlfriend shortly after he does, and then realizing that Eron and Julia were falling for each other and he might actually make her happy. Brett, well I felt bad for him too. Always being the "goofy side-kick" and never getting the girl, living in the shadow of his best friend. I would have liked to know what happened to him at the end of the story, but I'm glad that he seemed to work things out with Julia towards the end; he really did seem like a good guy, just a little lost.

The only thing that I really didn't love about this book was the ending. I mean, it was an okay ending, but it seemed like it was just that: an ending. I feel like it could have explained a little more, maybe what happened after Julia hit Eron, and if Griffin ever adjusted fully to becoming a Sandman. But overall, it was a good, quick read. A 3.5 or 4 on my scale. :)