Sleepless (Volume 1 & 2) by Sarah Vaughn (Author), Leila del Duca (Artist), Alissa Sallah (Colorist), Deron Bennett (Letterer)
Reviewed By: Katie Smith, Reference Specialist
Genre: Fantasy
Suggested Age: Teen and Adult
What is this Book About? As the illegitimate daughter and only living child of the king of Harbeny, Lady “Poppy” Pyppenia is surprised (and relieved) when the throne instead passes to her uncle Surno. After Surno’s coronation, she hopes to return to her countryside estate and live a peaceful life – but an assassination attempt on Poppy’s life changes everything. Forced to remain in Harbeny by her uncle’s command, she must join forces with her loyal knight, Cyrenic (an elite member of the Sleepless Order, a prestigious and magically gifted group of knights who vow to never sleep) to uncover who is behind these assassination plots. Tension grows as they navigate the dangers of life at court in addition to their growing feelings for one another.
My Review: I was immediately drawn to this book by its cover. The art style they used works so well for a medieval fantasy setting, plus it is visually stunning – colors are bold and the splashes of pattern are woven throughout the illustrations. Each panel is drawn with immense attention to detail, and what really seals the deal is that the plot and characters are so captivating! Poppy is considered a princess in her homeland, but as the illegitimate daughter of the King here in the land of Harbeny, so she’s caught between being too noble to freely mingle with the commoners and being not royal enough to do as she would wish in the court. She’s also the bridge between the leaders of two magical nations – Harbeny, which is associated with time and dreams, and her mother’s homeland of Mribesh is connected to fortune-telling and stargazing. I enjoyed delving into the political and social expectations that influenced Poppy, in addition to learning all about Cyrenic and his magical oath. Verdict: This is a great graphic novel duology (everything is packed into just two volumes) – so if you’re looking for a medieval fantasy that’s a fast and interesting read, check Sleepless out!
Three Words That Describe This Book: Opulent, Conspiracy, Suspense
Give this a try if you like… Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi, Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson, or The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold.
Rating: 4.5/5
This title is also available on hoopla digital with your Fondulac District Library card.
About FDL Reads
FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.
