Sleepless by Cyn Balog
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (July 13, 2010)
Summary: 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?
My review: In her debut novel, FAIRY TALE, Balog wrote an engagingly funny story with tender moments (I’ll never forget the fortune cookie). With her second novel she doesn’t continue that tale but offers us something different: an interesting spin on the classic sandman myth.
The main character, Julia, has just lost her boyfriend, Griffin. Despite their uncommon relationship, everyone around Julia watches her, expecting some teary-eyed reaction. Julia keeps her emotions hidden; that was the reason Griffin, a jokester and quick jabber, was so appealing.
Eron, an old-fashioned, well mannered guy who accidentally died at 17, is Julia’s Sandman. I liked the Sandman lore created here: sandbringers are recruited before death by elders called Originals (non humans). They are assigned 'human charges' which they 'seduce into sleep' and watch over their entire lifetimes. Most charges live close to each other and sandmen have a special bond knowing when each is tired. They almost sound guardian angel-ish. Griffin is to become Julia’s new sandman since Eron’s 100 anniversary is nearing and he is able to become human again. But what can he do when he’s fallen for Julia and Griffin won’t let her go? Besides that dilemma, his boss Chimere has grown too fond of him and Griffin’s best friend, Bret, is moving in on Julia.
I really liked this light hearted book. There was a nice touch of humor throughout. Having Julia and Eron switch narrating back and forth helped us understand the unfolding story through their different perspectives. I thought the ending, with Griffin’s giving in was too rushed, I expected something more, but otherwise it held. The one scene I didn’t find plausible was Julia’s practicing parallel parking in the bad section of town. Being a city girl I get tired of having ‘bad parts’ of neighborhoods depicted in the same way with drug pushers loitering on the corners and garbage all around. I didn’t believe Julia’s mother (who was sitting beside her) would neither allow her daughter to drive, nor to go around the block a few times to find the right spot in such a bad neighborhood.
RATING: ++++
FAVORITE SECTION: (from page 97, ARC, Eron narrating)
“One of them, a girl with dark skin and even darker hair, straightens to get a better look at me. “Are you going to get naked?”
I turn my ear toward her, certain I’m mistaken. “Beg pardon?”
She shrugs. “Damn. I thought someone had sent us a strip-o-gram. You’re fine.”
A strip-o-. . . ? I hope they’re not implying what I think they are. Julia is too young and upstanding to dabble in such things; it is a disappointment to discover that she is again choosing to surround herself with individuals who are beneath her. “Yes, I am fine, thank you very much,” I answer. “How do you do?”
A moment of silence passes before they all break into laughter. I’m doing frightfully well, if my intention was to be a comic act.”
Cover comment: With so many gorgeous YA covers on the market, I found this one plain and too dark.
For fans of: YA fantasy.
Book source: Traveling ARC Tours
Reviewed by: Laurie
I really liked this light hearted book. There was a nice touch of humor throughout. Having Julia and Eron switch narrating back and forth helped us understand the unfolding story through their different perspectives. I thought the ending, with Griffin’s giving in was too rushed, I expected something more, but otherwise it held. The one scene I didn’t find plausible was Julia’s practicing parallel parking in the bad section of town. Being a city girl I get tired of having ‘bad parts’ of neighborhoods depicted in the same way with drug pushers loitering on the corners and garbage all around. I didn’t believe Julia’s mother (who was sitting beside her) would neither allow her daughter to drive, nor to go around the block a few times to find the right spot in such a bad neighborhood.
RATING: ++++
FAVORITE SECTION: (from page 97, ARC, Eron narrating)
“One of them, a girl with dark skin and even darker hair, straightens to get a better look at me. “Are you going to get naked?”
I turn my ear toward her, certain I’m mistaken. “Beg pardon?”
She shrugs. “Damn. I thought someone had sent us a strip-o-gram. You’re fine.”
A strip-o-. . . ? I hope they’re not implying what I think they are. Julia is too young and upstanding to dabble in such things; it is a disappointment to discover that she is again choosing to surround herself with individuals who are beneath her. “Yes, I am fine, thank you very much,” I answer. “How do you do?”
A moment of silence passes before they all break into laughter. I’m doing frightfully well, if my intention was to be a comic act.”
Cover comment: With so many gorgeous YA covers on the market, I found this one plain and too dark.
For fans of: YA fantasy.
Book source: Traveling ARC Tours
Reviewed by: Laurie
This sounds interesting. I love a book that goes outside the normal supernatural beings and this definitely does that! I hadn't heard of it. Thanks for recommending it!
ReplyDeleteI liked this one, but didn't 'love' it. And on the cover artwork - doesn't it seem a bit reminiscent of Twilight?! That was my thought, anyway. Nice review.
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