Review: Sleep No More by Aprilynne Pike
What: Sleep No More by Aprilynne Pike
Who: HarperCollins Children’s Books
When: May 8th 2014
How: A copy of this novel was provided by Harper Collins Australia in exchange for an honest review.
‘Inception’ meets ‘The Body Finder’ in this dark thriller from No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Aprilynne Pike – perfect for fans of Kelley Armstrong, Alyson Noel and Kimberly Derting. Charlotte Westing has a gift. She is an Oracle and has the ability to tell the future. Not that it does her much good. Instead of using their miraculous powers, Oracles are told to fight their visions – to refrain from interfering. And Charlotte knows too well the terrible price of breaking the rules. But when a premonition of a classmate’s death is too strong for her to ignore, Charlotte is forced to make an impossible decision: continue following the rules or risk everything – even her sanity – to stop the serial killer who is stalking her town.
WOW. Okay, let me start off by saying that I read Sleep No More in about three hours, which is a pretty big feat, especially since I started it at 9pm. NO SLEEP TO BE HAD FOR AMAZING BOOKS. But seriously, I was blown away.
I must admit something to you all. I simply must. … I am a fan of novels that have a small cast of characters. Yes, I like to read novels that have a wide range of characters with differing personalities and motives etc etc. But I prefer to have a small cast. One where we can really get to know the characters: who they are, why they do what they do, what is really important to them. I love getting to know the nitty gritty of a character and I think a small cast allows this on a greater level.
Sleep No More has a small cast. It pretty much centres on the same five characters and their journey, but also includes other characters who may not have a huge role scene or speech-wise but play a huge role in the novel overall. Did I achieve confusion? *high fives you*
I’d call Sleep No More a thriller, and that’s one of the reasons why I liked it so much. Most of the YA novels I read don’t really have any suspense. And sure, that may be because I am not scouring the shelves for thrillers, but that might change now because I loved the thrill that reading Sleep No More gave me. I loved the guessing and the condemning and the heart beating. I love it when a book makes me feel different things (that aren’t depressing or swoony).
Because of this mystery aspect, there really is not a lot I can say about the storyline because I think even the slightest speculation on my part could potentially ruin the entire story for you and then I’d feel immense guilt and sorrow.
So. Great characters. Mystery. Eerie happenings. MURDER. BETRAYAL. Love. Lust. MAGIC. THRILLS. Suspicion. Secrets. AWESOMESAUCE.
Okay maybe that last one wasn’t in the novel, but everything else was and they are all reasons why Sleep No More should be the next book to hit your shelves! Or your eyes, but not in the way that would hurt you.
*pushes you out the door* Go. Go now and read Sleep No More!
© 2014, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.
Your Turn: Do you prefer books with a small cast of characters, or a large? Why? Are thrilling novels exciting for you to read?
Oh gawd *whines* I want it! I wwwwwwwwwwwant it!
You’re so right, where are all the great YA thrillers? I’ve discovered a few by accident, but they’ve been those fusion type books, mostly dystopians with a suspenseful plotline in places. I like the smaller groups too, otherwise it ends up too busy and you really can’t get a feel of each individual character and you end up assuming that eventually some of them will be picked off.
Love the vague review, you could sell ice to the eskimos. You’re killing me woman, I’ve gotta have this!
YAY! :D My job here is done, haha.
Yes! I am definitely going to try and find some more YA thrillers because this one was so fun and awesome to read.
Exactly, you know what I mean about the cast of characters, Kelly! I like really getting to know the people that the story is about – it makes me more connected to them and the plot overall.
Haha, I’m so glad you liked it, and I hope you can get your hands on a copy! I saw them at Big W the other day :D
I wasn’t one hundred percent sure I wanted to read this but now I’ve read your review I can’t wait! It’s sounds like it is a great read. Thanks for sharing :)
I’m so glad I am persuading people to want to read this book! I definitely think it’s worthwhile :D
I think I’m a fan of thrillers as well – there don’t seem to be that many in the YA market, but the ones I HAVE read I’ve enjoyed. So I’d love to read Sleep No More! Like you, I enjoy a small cast of characters – might be one of the reasons I like contemporary YA so much. Great review, I need to find this book now :)
I need more! This book has opened up a new world of YA to me and I cannot wait to find some more books like this one :D
I hope you get around to reading it, Emily! It was a great story.
I definitely do like that about YA contemporary, and this one is almost contemporary but with thriller and paranormal aspects. Which made it even more interesting!
Thank you Chiara… now I HAVE to get my hands on this!
Yay! I’m glad to have persuaded you :)
Well this sounds like my kind of book! I love suspense and the fact that you read it so fast as well is very promising! I’ve never really thought about whether I enjoy small or large cast of characters – I can see the merits of both, and sometimes I might be in the mood for a more character intensive story, so I guess it all just depends for me! :)
I’m so glad, Charlene! :) The suspense was great which is one of the reasons I had to finish the book and find out everything, haha :D
There are instances where a large cast of characters is necessary for a story but I must say I have a general preference fewer characters!
*failed high five* Sorry, but I followed that pretty well and understood it completely. I’ll have to find this, as I’m interested in another of her books (Earthbound), and I’ll be going to Anderson’s tomorrow (Sat, 10/5) for the last stop on the Dark Days tour.
I’m glad you found something new, especially since that something is a thriller. I love horror/thriller/things in the like. I hope eventually you’ll get interested in The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken (it’s really dark and a lot to take in, so you should be prepared for that).
Yay! It was not my intention to confuse anyone so I’m glad I didn’t, haha.
I hope you were able to get a copy! I quite liked Earthbound and am definitely going to read the sequel. but I did prefer this novel.
I think I am going to try and read more thriller/horror novels (although this one was definitely more thriller/suspense/mystery). I have Anna Dressed in Blood, which I have been hearing good things about and I am very interested in The Darkest Minds! I have heard heaps of good things about it, and I don’t mind dark :D
Unfortunately, I forgot to look because I was mostly interested in finding The One, which seems to be the most popular book and most anticipated this month. Hah!
I’ve been dying to get my hands on Anna Dressed in Blood!!
The title for The Darkest Minds #3 was recently revealed, I’m simply waiting for the cover to come out now. The author did a fantastic job with the titling, as all three book titles form a sentence.
Aw, no! Maybe next time? :D
Ohmygosh me, too! And I own it, so it’s just sitting there begging to be read D:
I just looked up the titles, and it is pretty amazing that they fit so well together! I think I might wait until the final book is released and then binge read the series!
Oooh, how interesting, I’m really curious about this book now because it centers on the same characters and the suspense, yes please! Thank you for the review lovely <3 I'll have to read it now.
YAY! It seems I am converting people with this review, which make me uber happy :D :D
Yayyyyyyyyy it’s good! I read another review which was a bit different than yours, but I somehow trust yours more, lol. I love small casts, too because it means that there’s more chance of character development. Great review <3
It is, it is! :D Aw, yay, I’m glad you trust my reviews, Marianne! :D
Exactly! I love to see characters really change and grow due to the events which take place.
Thank you, dear! ^.^
This sounds amazing! Especially the mention of Kelley Armstrong I adored her Sea of Shadows novel. I’ll have to keep an eye out for this one, great review!
It is amazing! :D And Kelley Armstrong is pretty great, isn’t she? I’d day this is somewhat like The Summoning although not TOO similar.
Thank you! I hope you can grab a copy ;D