Scan barcode
airstos's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail
linguisticali's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
4.0
Too slow moving to be thrilling as a thriller, but great sci-fi and a good mystery. It did a good job of integrating the broader societal concerns with the personal implications and the central mystery.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
cypresslynx's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I couldn't put this down. Victor Manibo masterfully crafted a story that kept me intrigued and had me trying to predict the mysteries (and being wrong). His characters are complex and his plot is innovative. I absolutely cannot wait for another book by him. Plus, it's really cool to see Filipino representation in sci-fi.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
toopunkrockforshul's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Interesting premise but the writing was a bit clunky for me and the story dragged. Didn't feel like there was much point to the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Drug use, Blood, Alcohol, Addiction, Confinement, and Suicide
Moderate: Death and Murder
Minor: Sexual content
rebeccalynn's review against another edition
1.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide, and Forced institutionalization
gcreed13's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Drug use
ollie_again's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
They say that if you’re Sleepless, you can think of the future in one of two ways: tomorrow never comes, or, tomorrow’s always today. Either way, there are no tomorrows.
A very interesting concept of a book, part mystery, hints of dystopia, a thriller towards the end and social commentary through all of it. The way capitalism shapes the world we live in, whether we know it or not. We never have enough time now, but looking at Jamie, would we really be done and satiated if we had all the time possible? With The Sleepless not taking breaks gains a new meaning all together. I truly appreciated the commentary on all of those things.
I don't read much thriller in general and I think I would prefer for it to be just the literary sci-fi focusing on the self/reflection, but the mystery in the heart of this book has its charm. For one it gives the story the sinister undercurrent throughout which fit the overall tone of the book. There are some twists and turns and while I wouldn't say it's exactly a whiplash for the reader I think they are pretty good. For a debut novel I'm actually pretty impressed and I will be looking for another book Victor Manibo comes out with.
I listened to an audiobook and while I'm not exactly an audiobook connoisseur, I enjoyed the narration by Joel de la Fuente, just enough voice acting without doing too much.
Thanks to RB Media for providing me an audiobook through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Suicide
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Drug abuse, and Gun violence
Minor: Blood, Medical content, and Sexual content
mar's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I love a sci-fi book that takes a simple "what if?" scenario and then just RUNS with it like this. The Sleepless is a fun blend of near-future sci-fi, thriller, and mystery that reminded me a bit of Michael Crichton's technothrillers (but, yknow, more diverse and with less focus on the science and more on the characters).
The story's compelling and immersive from the beginning and only gets more exciting as the pace slowly picks up. It keeps you guessing till the end, and all the threads pull together into a satisfying conclusion (though I did feel like everything following the climax was a bit too drawn out, making the ending less punchy than it could've been). Jamie's a great, well-rounded protagonist - messy, unreliable, driven; I'm not sure if I'd call him likeable, but he's interesting as hell and I love how his tireless persistence in finding the truth drives the story. Love the worldbuilding, too - not just all the Sleepless stuff, but also the technology like drones or VR, even details like the outrageous price of coffee - the 2040s world of The Sleepless feels like such a seamless, believable extention of our times. I found the exploration of the consequences of Sleeplessness under capitalism - how some people found it desirable not to have more time to learn or pursue hobbies or anything like that, but to *work* - particularly interesting (and painfully realistic).
Also, I wasn't expecting so much casual queer rep, so that was a pleasant surprise, and I really liked Jamie and Veronica's friendship - it's rare to see close, platonic friendships between men and women in fiction like that.
Overall, if you enjoy multilayered, slowly unfolding thriller mysteries with a sci-fi flair, I definitely recommend this book :)
(Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!)
The story's compelling and immersive from the beginning and only gets more exciting as the pace slowly picks up. It keeps you guessing till the end, and all the threads pull together into a satisfying conclusion (though I did feel like everything following the climax was a bit too drawn out, making the ending less punchy than it could've been). Jamie's a great, well-rounded protagonist - messy, unreliable, driven; I'm not sure if I'd call him likeable, but he's interesting as hell and I love how his tireless persistence in finding the truth drives the story. Love the worldbuilding, too - not just all the Sleepless stuff, but also the technology like drones or VR, even details like the outrageous price of coffee - the 2040s world of The Sleepless feels like such a seamless, believable extention of our times. I found the exploration of the consequences of Sleeplessness under capitalism - how some people found it desirable not to have more time to learn or pursue hobbies or anything like that, but to *work* - particularly interesting (and painfully realistic).
Also, I wasn't expecting so much casual queer rep, so that was a pleasant surprise, and I really liked Jamie and Veronica's friendship - it's rare to see close, platonic friendships between men and women in fiction like that.
Overall, if you enjoy multilayered, slowly unfolding thriller mysteries with a sci-fi flair, I definitely recommend this book :)
(Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Drug use, and Suicide
Moderate: Violence
foursythia's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The Sleepless is a speculative sci-fi, half dystopian story about a sub community called The Sleepless (pretty self explanatory). Sleeplessness is many things but among them an illness, or a defect, or a blessing to some if may argue; but the book deals with the question of how Sleepless came to be and the ploy behind it, through the narrator's voice, Jamie Vega, a sleepless investigative journalist.
At first chops, I feel a little confused at following the timeline and the writing seems a little too descriptive. But as it went on, it's exactly what the book needed.
Let's talk twist: nothing mind blowing, plot twist lovers probably see it miles away (I don't), but I don't think Manibo intend for it either. But a note for those who care a lot about plot revelations.
The world building was above decent, it keeps me intrigued by the new, post-Sleepless pandemic society that is the setting of the story. The characters introduced contribute to the story just right, I just feel like overall the book was done right. Nothing too much & excessive or lacking & less than needed.
As Jamie struggle through his entrapping puzzled situations, he also learn to proceed his lost, his (arguably poor) choices, the people he trusted and their relationship and of course, moral dilemma of why he do what he felt he should do and making peace with it.
Speculative fiction isn't my most go-to genre, but I enjoyed this one, I believe others will find it a nice introduction & gateway to the genre too. Great read, worth the time & money you'd spend for it (luckily saved by Erewhon Books providing me with an eARC in exchange for this honest review!)
At first chops, I feel a little confused at following the timeline and the writing seems a little too descriptive. But as it went on, it's exactly what the book needed.
Let's talk twist: nothing mind blowing, plot twist lovers probably see it miles away (I don't), but I don't think Manibo intend for it either. But a note for those who care a lot about plot revelations.
The world building was above decent, it keeps me intrigued by the new, post-Sleepless pandemic society that is the setting of the story. The characters introduced contribute to the story just right, I just feel like overall the book was done right. Nothing too much & excessive or lacking & less than needed.
As Jamie struggle through his entrapping puzzled situations, he also learn to proceed his lost, his (arguably poor) choices, the people he trusted and their relationship and of course, moral dilemma of why he do what he felt he should do and making peace with it.
Speculative fiction isn't my most go-to genre, but I enjoyed this one, I believe others will find it a nice introduction & gateway to the genre too. Great read, worth the time & money you'd spend for it (luckily saved by Erewhon Books providing me with an eARC in exchange for this honest review!)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
franlopes's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Everything in the central plot of the book held me in a surreal way: the mystery, the main character investigating, the technology of this future, and the pandemic and its consequences. The book develops the protagonist so well without being a hero without flaws but how he himself with flaws does his best to be able to live and overcome everything he went through that still affect his mental health. A true psychological dive into a surprising and interesting story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts
More...