Review SLEEPLESS by Cyn Balog

SLEEPLESS
By,
CYN BALOG



Details: Published July 13th 2010 by Delacorte Press

Hardcover, 224 pages

Placement in Pile: Middle of the Stack

Summary: Eron De Marchelle isn't supposed to feel a connection. He is a Sandman, a supernatural being whose purpose is to seduce human charges to sleep. While he can communicate with his charges in their dreams, he isn't encouraged to--after all, getting too involved in one human's life would prevent him helping his other charges get their needed rest.

But he can't deny that he feels something for Julia. Julia, with her fiery red hair and her 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. Eron has always felt protective of Julia . . . but now, when she seems to need him more than ever, he can't seem to reach her . . .

Sandmen are forbidden from communicating with humans outside their dreams. But will Eron be willing to risk everything for a chance to be with the person he loves?

Review: This book was definitely an interesting and unique premise, and overall it was a good read. It just wasn't fabulous in my opinion. I went into it expecting something a little bit different, based on the summary. Cyn Balog's imagination is certainly creative, coming up with an entire world based on "Sandmen" was pretty unique as far as I know. The writing was solid, the plot was fun and different, but in some ways this book just fell a little flat for me. Especially the ending. I felt like it ended way too neatly and easily for how much build up there was. Also, I had no idea Eron was supposed to be like insanely hot until over halfway through the book, so that was a surprise. Knowing that earlier might have helped a little bit. So, now you know--he's really hot apparently. ;)

Overall, this was a good read, but it didn't grab me and make me love it how I hoped it would. One way I rate my books is by the intensity of my desire to finish the book--the easier I can put it down, the lower the rating and vice-versa. While I wanted to know what happened, I could put this book down pretty easily at points, especially during the first half. Finally, the last third of the book grabbed my attention enough that I felt more urgency to finish it, but again the ending seemed a little too easy. But I liked how it ended, so... I was okay with it, but thought it would have been more meaningful if, well, it wasn't so easy. (I'm trying not to be spoilery.)

What did you think of SLEEPLESS?