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Sleepless

by Cyn Balog

3.50 · rating details · 1,222 ratings · 270 reviews

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 tha...more

Hardcover, 215 pages

Published July 13th 2010 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

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Nov 21, 2011

Bookwatcher rated it

Recommended to Bookwatcher by: Kika

Shelves: teen-ya, hate-it

I was happily reading this YA novel when I read something...
It's not a spoiler, it's on page 50 of the book (really on the begin) and the Sandman is talking to someone and get confused hearing the expression "Cool"...

Eron (the sandman) live for almost 100 years as a sandman, staying on earth and observing the humans during the day, when he has nothing to do.... So, can anyone tell me why he don't understand an easy slang as "cool"? Really a strange thing, to...more

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Sep 15, 2011

Kat Kennedy marked it as do-not-read

http://cyn2write.livejournal.com/172471....

like 16 likes

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Nov 07, 2011

Anila rated it

If you're interested in why this rating is now one star, as opposed to the three I originally gave the book, check the comments. Given as GR has recently deleted some of my reviews for mentioning things the author said external to the book itself, I'm taking no chances. The appropriate link is now found in comment #2, and Cait's comment (#1) will make more sense if you read the link first.

Original review does not contain spoilers, but is spoilertagged because it is no longer what d...moreIf you're interested in why this rating is now one star, as opposed to the three I originally gave the book, check the comments. Given as GR has recently deleted some of my reviews for mentioning things the author said external to the book itself, I'm taking no chances. The appropriate link is now found in comment #2, and Cait's comment (#1) will make more sense if you read the link first.

Original review does not contain spoilers, but is spoilertagged because it is no longer what determines the star rating.

(view spoiler)(less)

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Apr 24, 2010

Olga rated it

Shelves: read-in-2010

I read the ARC of this book so don't know what will end up hitting the shelves but based on my copy I can say that it's a nice read.
I really liked the idea of a Sandman falling in love with one of his charges and breaking rules to protect her. I am generally a fan of incorporating folklore into contemporary fiction and building stories around it so here Ms. Balog did well as far as I'm concerned. What I was much less fond of is how from a perfectly satisfying middle of the book where the s...more

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Sep 03, 2010

Sara E. rated it

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy

lol this sounds ridunkulous... <---(what I wrote before I read this book)

Young Ladies of the Universe, or maybe at least, America:

I have some advice for you. Now, you are probably giving your computer screen (and me through it) the side-eye stank, but even though I only have spent 28 years of life on this planet, I think I am experienced and smart, about some things, at least. Here is my advice. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE SO NICE. It's OK to be a bitch. I'm not advocating th...morelol this sounds ridunkulous... <---(what I wrote before I read this book)

Young Ladies of the Universe, or maybe at least, America:

I have some advice for you. Now, you are probably giving your computer screen (and me through it) the side-eye stank, but even though I only have spent 28 years of life on this planet, I think I am experienced and smart, about some things, at least. Here is my advice. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE SO NICE. It's OK to be a bitch. I'm not advocating that you run around punching babies or kicking puppies; I'm just letting you know that it is okay to assert yourself in a negative manner.

At some point in your life you will encounter a guy that won't take no for an answer. He might be a stranger, but more than likely, he will be a friend, an acquaintance or even someone that you are dating. He will be pushy, touchy-feely, and you might feel uncomfortable, not knowing how to express that you don't want the same things that he does. You are afraid of coming off like a bitch, and he is your friend/acquaintance/date, so you don't want to make him feel bad or anything, but he just doesn't get it.

Be a bitch. Be honest. Be mean. There are some guys who won't get it. They will interpret your niceness as weakness, or as someone who really likes them but is unsure how to express it, or willing to have your opinion changed, or perhaps you really do like them. They WILL NEVER GET IT. So be honest. Tell them you don't like them, and that you never will. They will react in two ways. In the preferable reaction, they will say OK and leave you alone. The other reaction is that they will get angry, loud or violent. If that is the case, you don't need that person in your life.

We shouldn't have to deal with this. In a perfect world, a woman would say "No, I don't like you" and the guy would nod, say OK and walk away. Unfortunately, sometimes that isn't the case. So I'm just letting you know that you should be firm and honest. Don't sugarcoat things.

I wish I could share this bit of advice with the protagonist of this book. Julia is a Bella. She doesn't want the Mormon happy ending (babies and sparkly eternity with magical one-hundred-year-old lover-boy); Julia aspires to be an architect or something. However, she would not kick a sparkly magical one-hundred-year-old lover-boy out of her bed, and she is the most passive push-over I have ever encountered in any YA book ever. I wanted to shake her plenty of times. If my dead boyfriend's best friend kept trying to make the move on me, I would tell him off, but Julia instead accepts his creepy come-on's with desperation; she dreads every awkward moment spent in his presence, but does not once let him know that she doesn't like him in that way at all, yet somehow we are supposed to feel sorry for her, or feel like he is victimizing her in some way. Meh.

Also thrown into this love pentagon are Julia's dead boyfriend, who is being trained in the weird art of Sandman-ery by expert Sandman Eron (short for GERONIMO, Sweet Baby Jesus!), and Eron's supervisor or whatever, Chimene or Chimera or Chimney or something, who has some romantical attachments of her own.

The premise of the book itself is interesting, and it is not the worse thing I've read in paranormal YA romance fic (Here's looking at you,
Hush, Hush), but I just couldn't get into the story. Not a terrible way to spend your afternoon, this short book will probably leave you wanting something with a bit more substance.

PS. GERONIMO, SERIOUSLY. They couldn't have named him Giuseppe or something.(less)

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Aug 11, 2010

Erica (daydreamer) rated it

Shelves: 2010-reads, i-own, release-in-2010, really-liked, ya

Sleepless is a quick, light, fun read. I really liked it, it just wasn't amazing. It needed to be longer. The ending was too short and abrupt, and should have been explained more. I really liked the idea of the story, it's very original. The execution of it was okay, but it could have been better. The characters were okay, just didn't seem to have a lot of development in them. Eron was very nice and sweet. At first, he just seemed weird, but then later he turned into one of those swoon worthy ch...more

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Nov 29, 2011

Michelle rated it

Shelves: fantasy, romance, teen

Eron is a sandman. He has watched over Julia ever since she was a little girl. His term of service is just about up, but his replacement is Julia’s boyfriend, Griffin, who just died in a car crash. Griffin has a hard time following the rules especially when it comes to Julia. If he can’t learn to do his job Eron may be stuck as a sandman for another hundred years. [return][return]I loved CB’s first book Fairy Tale, so I was really looking forward to this book. I was pretty disappointed. F...more

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Mar 09, 2011

Reading Vacation's Mom rated it

Sleepless tells the dreamy story of Julia and her sandman, Eron. Julia has been having a hard time sleeping because her boyfriend, Griffin, recently died in an accident. Also, Griffin’s best friend is trying to become her new boyfriend. Julia feels lost and vulnerable without Griffin. What a nightmare!

Eron makes an excellent Sandman. He has been a Sandman for many years and Julia has been one of his charges since she was a baby. Isn’t it great to think that a baby has a Sandman? Eron has such gr...more

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Oct 18, 2011

Readergirl added it

This is my first read by author Cyn Balog, and she caught me at the first word. This has to be one of the most unique paranormal storylines I've read in a while. The idea that "the Sandman" is real, was such a different one, that I couldn't help but be captured. Add to that the fact that it isn't just one, but multiple sandmen, and that everyone has their own who helps put them to sleep at night, and this is so intriguing. Eron is Julia's sandman. He has watched over her all of he...more

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Aug 11, 2011

Vicki Keire rated it

Really liked the premise. With this author, the delight is in the details. I loved the way her heroine ate like a real person. I can't remember the last time I read a book when the heroine sat down and ate a Cinnabon without worrying about the weight gain. She had a job, too. It involved actual labor that took place in the book. I found it refreshing to read about having sticky hands after her shift at the ice cream shop, rather than another teen with loads of money or a token, off-stage kind of...more

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Mar 31, 2011

Whatchyareading added it

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, christine

This is Eron’s book (pronounced like Aaron). Sure, Julia makes contributions to the plot and she has her own chapters, but Eron is the focus and the force behind everything that happens. It took me a while to get into Eron, though.

Cyn Balog did a good job of making his mannerisms and speech typical of someone who was alive 100 years ago and never got a chance to become immersed in a changing culture before now. I think the difference was so marked, however, he was like an elderly gra...more

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Mar 21, 2011

Brooke (Bright Wishes) Hostetler rated it

I really enjoyed reading this book. It's not too long, so I finished it in a couple of hours but it kept me wanting to read more. I loved the different point of views each chapter. Those are my favorite types of books to read. Sleeplessreally enhances who sandmen are and I love the imagination that Balog uses. I like that she didn't make it too complicated. For example, in some stories there's so much you have to do to walk through a wall, but in this story it's really quite simple. It mad...more

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Mar 02, 2011

Dawn Vanniman rated it

· review of another edition

When I was a little girl, my Grandma told me about how the Sandman would sprinkle sand in my eyes to force me to sleep. I. Was. Terrified. Until I heard the song "Mr. Sandman" by The Chordettes on the oldies station. Then I decided that the Sandman was a cute guy in a tux who brought me wonderful dreams...and maybe a boyfriend! ;)

It would seem that Cyn Balog had the same thoughts! The story starts right off with Julia's boyfriend, Griffin (great name!), falling asleep at ...more

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Dec 25, 2010

S.F. Robertson rated it

Recommends it for: Anyone who dreams of someone special.

Shelves: ya, otherworldly

It’s taken me a long time to write this review. I should have posted it weeks ago, but I couldn’t figure out what to say about this book. I had some strong likes and dislikes and just couldn't figure out how to reconcile them.

Since the moment I heard about this book I had wanted to read it. Sandmen, an existence somewhere between life and death, and a strange love triangle. I was instantly enamored, and, at the same time, concerned this book wouldn’t live up to my expectation. ...more

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Dec 01, 2010

Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids rated it

Shelves: 2009-100-book-challenge, books-i-own, mundie-moms-reviews

2.5 stars

I was really drawn to Sleepless by both the cover (it's a catchy cover) and the premise. The story follows Julia, who's just lost her boyfriend in a tragic accident and Eron DeMarchelle, who's a Sandman and has been one for the last 100 years. Now that his time is set to expire, Eron will become human again as soon as his replacement takes over. To not giveaway any spoilers, the new Sandman wants to stop Eron from becoming human, as Eron has fallen for Julia, the girl he's wat...more2.5 stars

I was really drawn to Sleepless by both the cover (it's a catchy cover) and the premise. The story follows Julia, who's just lost her boyfriend in a tragic accident and Eron DeMarchelle, who's a Sandman and has been one for the last 100 years. Now that his time is set to expire, Eron will become human again as soon as his replacement takes over. To not giveaway any spoilers, the new Sandman wants to stop Eron from becoming human, as Eron has fallen for Julia, the girl he's watched over since she was a baby and recently sworn to protect, it's not the first time he's protected her.

I found Sleepless to be very unique, as I've not read a book about Sandman before. I liked that part of the story, and I liked Eron, but I had a very hard time really getting into the story and liking any of the other characters. The story is told from both Julia and and Eron's point of views, which worked great for the story. I really wanted to like Julia more, but I felt like I didn't get to really know her until towards the every end of the book.

I felt like I was able to get to know Eron more, as he reminisces about his life in Italy and why his family immigrated to The United States, and seeing how he struggled with being human 100 years after he has been a sandman. In watching Eron and Julia's relationship grow, I felt that there was a couple things missing. I didn't feel a connection to them, nor did I feel they had a strong connection to keep me invested in the story, until the last few pages of the book.

I felt the ending was a little too sudden and wrapped up things a little too quickly. I was hoping to get to know more about the characters and to see where their story would continue, especially with one character who's choices through out the story directly effected Julia and Eron, and in the end, I felt his actions were excused a bit to too quickly.

While I had wanted to like Sleepless more than I did, I think it's a book that will appeal to many readers who like unique spins on fairy tales and myths. It's not a read with strong character chemistry or in-depth characters, but a short, light hearted read you can easily read in a couple hours while sitting on a warm sandy beach, or cuddled up under the blankets, sitting in front of a fire.(less)

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Oct 31, 2010

Brooke rated it

I really enjoyed reading this book. It's not too long, so I finished it in a couple of hours but it kept me wanting to read more. I loved the different point of views each chapter. Those are my favorite types of books to read. Sleepless really enhances who sandmen are and I love the imagination that Balog uses. I like that she didn't make it too complicated. For example, in some stories there's so much you have to do to walk through a wall, but in this story it's really quite simple. It ma...more

· see review

Oct 03, 2010

Jen rated it

Though 16-year-old Julia doesn’t know it, Eron DeMarshelle has known her his entire life. Eron is a Sandman – charged with helping humans fall asleep each night. It is a fate that Eron chose. He would be saved from death if he promised 100 years of service. The 100 years are almost up and he will soon rejoin the land of the living – that is if he can successfully train his replacement. This replacement just happens to be Julia’s recently deceased boyfriend, Griffin.

Eron knows Ju...moreThough 16-year-old Julia doesn’t know it, Eron DeMarshelle has known her his entire life. Eron is a Sandman – charged with helping humans fall asleep each night. It is a fate that Eron chose. He would be saved from death if he promised 100 years of service. The 100 years are almost up and he will soon rejoin the land of the living – that is if he can successfully train his replacement. This replacement just happens to be Julia’s recently deceased boyfriend, Griffin.

Eron knows Julia’s past and the terrible reason why she has three little scars on her face. He finds himself falling in love with Julia, even though it is forbidden. As a Sandman he was able to save her life once, but as a human will he be able to save her again from a new, unexpected danger, and finally find true happiness with someone he loves?

Review: For this review, I am going to break the book down into aspects that I liked and ones that I didn’t as I am having a difficult time writing a review about this novel. I have typed and deleted and retyped more times than I would like to think about. Normally, I feel very strongly about a book – books for me either fall in the “Oh, I LOVE that book” or “That book was terrible and here are the reasons why” to varying degrees, of course. I just didn’t form any strong opinions about Sleepless. However, it was a good book and I enjoyed reading it.

Likes - The character of Eron was both likable and believable. I thought that his feelings for Julia were conveyed in a realistic, but subtle manner. The historical period that he was from was portrayed accurately in his speech, dress and mannerisms. I was rooting for Eron to find true love at last. I also thought that the premise of the book was unique. With so many vampires, werewolves and zombies out there, it was nice to see paranormal fiction from a different perspective. Another aspect of the book that I liked was the alternating narrator. It was neat to see the love story evolve from both the perspectives of Julia and Eron. Finally, I thought that Julia was really intelligent. It is nice to see a heroine who can fall in love but still be an independent thinker with aspirations of her own. (This is especially evident in the ending of the book but I don’t want to spoil it for you!)

Dislikes – This book left me with a lot of unanswered questions and some confusion; I felt that areas of the story could have been fleshed out a bit more to make the plot more cohesive. For example, from Julia’s flashbacks, Griffin does not seem like a doting, caring boyfriend. More often then not, he traded jabs and insults with Julia, never telling her that he loved her. I know that Julia was with him because he treated her like she was normal, but I thought that Griffin was incredibly unlikable, and I was upset at Julia for staying with him. Therefore, when Griffin becomes a Sandman and gets all crazy possessive over her, I was confused by his actions because there was nothing earlier in the plot that indicated these deep feelings existed.

I also thought that the book got off to a bit of a slow start. However, when Eron and Julia were able to interact in the human world, it really picked up, and I was able to be drawn into the story.(less)

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Sep 23, 2010

fennie rated it

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. this is the first time since i started writing reviews that i didn't immediately start thinking about what i was going to write upon finishing reading and i think that's very telling of this book. it's a nice read to keep you distracted with an interesting premise, but the plot and the characters are easily forgettable and unfortunately will not stick with you. at the same time, i didn't hate it - it wasn't amazing or terrible, just a mediocre, fade-into-the-background kind of book.

t...morethis is the first time since i started writing reviews that i didn't immediately start thinking about what i was going to write upon finishing reading and i think that's very telling of this book. it's a nice read to keep you distracted with an interesting premise, but the plot and the characters are easily forgettable and unfortunately will not stick with you. at the same time, i didn't hate it - it wasn't amazing or terrible, just a mediocre, fade-into-the-background kind of book.

the best thing about this book is its design - the cover is beautiful and the way the alternating chapters have been set in different typefaces with their corresponding images/names is quite nice. the author did a good job of keeping the characters' voices flowing between the alternating chapters, which in turn allowed me to keep the pages turning.

as for characterization, i never warmed up to julia (and typically i need to find a connection with my main characters otherwise a book will not sit well with me) - there was just something missing. literally her only saving grace in my eyes was her love of architecture, which was barely explored. as for eron, i found him charmingly cute, but there wasn't much more substance besides that. he has a need to protect this girl who is/used to be one of his charges which is endearing, but other than that, he doesn't have much of a personality. and then we get to griffin and bret. i wanted to slap both of them, repeatedly. i just don't understand how they could be so utterly possessive, clueless and well, stupid. i will say that julia is also at fault; how could she not stand up for herself? instead she needs her sandman-in-shining-armor to save her from a compromising situation.

on a positive note, i felt that the book was too short. there was so much more that could have been explored and explained.

on a side note: how can sandmen just reappear as humans after their 100 years? i don't mean supernaturally, but logistically. eron has no social security number or birth certificate and he definitely can't use his actual date of birth for any documents. when he gets paid from his job, how is he supposed to deposit his check when he can't even get a bank account without this type of personal information? i know it's the adult in me speaking, but this important loophole really bothered me.(less)

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Sep 03, 2010

Ellz Readz rated it

My thoughts...Sleepless has a very original plot that gives readers a fresh reading experience. The story is about a Sandman and his charge. Eron, who was a human boy about 100 years ago, became my favorite character almost instantly. His old world manners and charm made his character very enjoyable. He is in charge of putting Julia, among others, to sleep every night. Julia's character felt cold to me at times, but she dealt with her misfortunes in her own way and still maintained her dig...more

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Aug 25, 2010

BookBegger rated it

Shelves: favorites

Summary from Amazon: 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 ...more

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Aug 04, 2010

P.M. rated it

Eron is a Sandman who has watched over Julia's sleep for all of her 16 years. When he was a textile picker in a factory in 1910, he was pulled into a machine and fatally injured. Chimere, an Original, offered him a job as a Sandman for 100 years. If he trained an acceptable replacement, he could then resume his life and finish his unfinished business. When Julia's boyfriend Griffin dies in a traffic accident, he becomes the new potential Sandman whom Eron must train. Unfortunately, Griffin is ve...more

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Mar 06, 2011

Reading Lark rated it

Review Written by Andrea @ Reading Lark

I have been a big fan of Cyn Balog since her first novel. It took me awhile to get around to this one, but I am glad I finally sat down and read it. Sleepless takes a spin on the paranormal that I have honestly never read before - the life and trials of Sandmen. We've all heard of these mythical beings who help us get to sleep each evening, but I can't think of any other novels that brings their stories to life. I loved that this book was somethin...moreReview Written by Andrea @ Reading Lark

I have been a big fan of Cyn Balog since her first novel. It took me awhile to get around to this one, but I am glad I finally sat down and read it. Sleepless takes a spin on the paranormal that I have honestly never read before - the life and trials of Sandmen. We've all heard of these mythical beings who help us get to sleep each evening, but I can't think of any other novels that brings their stories to life. I loved that this book was something unique. I also really enjoyed Cyn's writing style and the alternating narrators.

Sleepless tells the story of Julia, a teen girl who has just lost her boyfriend, Griffin, to a terrible car accident, but when she can't shake the hunch that Griffin is still lingering around she has to figure out how to handle what she knows is crazy. On top of everything else she finds herself attracted to the handsome Eron, whom she swears she has met someone before. As the story progress, Julia learns just how well she knows Eron. Will he become a replacement for Griffin?

Even though I enjoyed the book there was one major thing that bugged me. There is so much build up throughout the book between Julia, Eron, and Griffin. The ending ties everything up nice and neat, which didn't sit well with me because it didn't seem to mesh with the rest of the novel. I just don't think the solution should have come as easily.

I will say that this novel is predictable and not one that will go down as one of the best I have read this year, but it served me well. I needed something light and fluffy after a string of depressing and disturbing reads. Sleepless was just the right amount of fluff and romance that I was seeking. However, since I knew the book would deliver on this front - I wasn't disappointed.

One Last Gripe: I never truly believed in Julia and Griffin's relationship. It didn't seem like it was that big of a deal, but then Griffin acted like Julia was the love of his life or something.

My Favorite Thing About This Book: The Sandman concept

First Sentence: Griffin Colburn knew something was wrong the moment he slid into the driver's seat.

Favorite Character: Julia

Least Favorite Character: Griffin(less)

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Aug 21, 2010

Rebecca rated it

This was a very disappointing read. When I first heard about this book, I was intrigued by the premise. I still think it's an interesting premise, I just don't believe enough was done with it. We never really get to know the characters that well except for Julia and Eron, and even that could have been explored in greater detail, especially the seemingly complex relationship the two should have. The plot had so much potential, but wasted almost all of it. And worse, the ending was not only c...more

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Jun 05, 2010

Betty rated it

Remember the tales of the sandman of your childhood? He sprinkled sand on you and helped you sleep. ZZzzZZZzz Did you wonder where he came from?

Cyn Balog weaves a fabulous description of the sandmen "culture" and how they interact with the humans they are charged to protect.
Eron is a sandman who has helped Julia go to sleep during her sixteen years. Soon, though, Eron will become human himself. Uh oh, what next?

I truly don't want to tell more about t...more

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Jul 16, 2011

Mella rated it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. From a literary perspective, maybe this wasn't the greatest novel of all time, but I enjoyed it anyway!! :) I knew I'd like the concept; having a Sandman put you to sleep at night? And for that matter, he's going to be someone you'd be attracted to? SA-WOON! And Eron is one of those characters you like because he's old-fashioned (and don't many girls, especially book readers, love those old-fashioned guys from the past?) He's been around for a hundred years, yes, but he's never been out of his c...moreFrom a literary perspective, maybe this wasn't the greatest novel of all time, but I enjoyed it anyway!! :) I knew I'd like the concept; having a Sandman put you to sleep at night? And for that matter, he's going to be someone you'd be attracted to? SA-WOON! And Eron is one of those characters you like because he's old-fashioned (and don't many girls, especially book readers, love those old-fashioned guys from the past?) He's been around for a hundred years, yes, but he's never been out of his charges' area. Basically staying at their houses like 24/7 so he also has *almost* no idea what the world is like nowadays. Total turn-on for Miss Julia~

And although Julia is a bit of a pushover, I couldn't hate her. The reason she didn't push Bret away was because he was the only person she had left. And besides that, he was drunk the two times that he went after her - so he would be even harder to get rid of. But I did like that once they met when he was sober, she was finally like, "Dude, I don't like you. We're just FRIENDS." I was quite impressed. And after Eron visited Bret's room and saw those pictures, I felt kind of bad for him. But only a little bit. I still hate him though, very strongly~

In the first place, I don't think that Griffin and Julia would have been a good couple. Like she said, they never really TALKED - ever. And Griffin really angered me when he started getting all possessive. I understood when he wanted to protect her from Bret but when he went awol and started scaring her, it made me angry.

And that just reminds me of Chimere. I had a sneaky suspicion from the start that she chose Griffin so that he would fail and she could keep Eron. And when it was confirmed, I hated her even more than I already did. I hope those two are happy together, Griffin and Chimere. At least they both let go and I'm thankful for that. Though that part could have been more...in-depth? It felt a little rushed. Like why would Griffin give up Julia (whom he loved SO dearly) for Chimere?

I want to add something! :D When I was reading, I was wondering, "How the heck does Eron get off doing all this crazy stuff and for that matter, Griffin, too? Isn't there like some great council of Originals somewhere keeping an eye on them?" It wasn't explored so I guess it wasn't an issue but is Chimere the ONLY Original who watches them? I find that odd. And why does Eron get an Original for a Sandwoman but others have people who have died? Hmmm... Questions, questions...

Though if I'm thinking about it, I must have liked it. ;)(less)

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Jun 18, 2010

Andrea rated it

3.5 out of 5 rating

The premise of this story is definitely new. A Sandman? I've definitely never read anything of the likes. (And where is mine? I always have a hard time falling asleep and wake up at least once an hour so my Sandman must not be doing his/her job :) ) Anyways, when I read what the story was about, I knew I had to read it.

The idea was good and the plot was well thought out, but I didn't really like the characters. I definitely didn't like Griffin ...more

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Mar 11, 2011

Jenni rated it

Shelves: dreams, paranormal

I thought this book were quite good, and this is the second book in this Dream genre that I've read (the first one were Lisa McMann's Wake series). But some things did caught my attention. For example the term Sandman. Unlike other countries, I've never heard of the tale about the sandman who could bring good dreams to you when you are asleep. The first impression, or correctly said the first image that I got were THAT sandman in the Spiderman movies (that villain anyone? xD)
Ok, that part ...more

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Aug 27, 2010

Jamie rated it

I will come right out and confess that I am not well-read when it comes to the paranormal romance genre. Reading YA is a new thing for me this year and I've been turning my nose up to most paranormal books because I thought they would all be overdone with vampires and werewolves. Don't get me wrong. I like those things in moderation but I get a little bored when everything seems like I'm rereading Twilight over and over again. Call me a book snob if you wish.

Upon reading the descript...moreI will come right out and confess that I am not well-read when it comes to the paranormal romance genre. Reading YA is a new thing for me this year and I've been turning my nose up to most paranormal books because I thought they would all be overdone with vampires and werewolves. Don't get me wrong. I like those things in moderation but I get a little bored when everything seems like I'm rereading Twilight over and over again. Call me a book snob if you wish.

Upon reading the description of this book and hearing excellent things about it, I decided to shell out the money and dabble in a little bit of paranormal romance. The premise of this book is certainly unique and made me excited to get started as soon as I got home from PAYA. Instead of vampires and werewolves, Cyn Balog creates a world around those who bring sleep to humans--also known as the Sandman! *waits for you to get the "Mr. Sandman" song out of your head* Our beloved Sandman is Eron and one of the humans he is assigned to seduce to sleep is Julia--a girl who is considered an outcast by her schoolmates and suppresses her emotions by jokes and sarcasm. Eron has a strong connection with Julia--more than a Sandman should ever have with one of his humans. Eron, who was once a human, faces making the transition back to becoming a human after completing his 100 years as a Sandman. He is troubled by his new replacement as well as dangers that he wants to protect Julia from but can't due to rules that forbid it.

This book was such a compelling read. I read it in the course of one day and I just loved the idea of this world of the Sandman. Props to Cyn Balog for originality! I really liked the characters of Eron and Julia. Eron was such a charming character and I felt like Balog really created a vivid picture of him in my head. Sometimes he seemed a little too perfect but I got over that pretty quickly. Julia was a very complex character that was written very well. Her facade quickly crumbles and we learn who she really is after the death of her boyfriend Griffon (not a spoiler!). The story unfolded through alternating chapters and I was more than pleased with how Balog was able to smoothly go from Julia to Eron, as there is nothing I hate more than a jarring transition between point of views.

I was quickly on my way to slapping a whopping 5/5 stars on this and serving it to you all on a shiny, silver platter that would cause you all to be flocking to your local bookstores to make this your next read. But then--much to my dismay-- a few issues prevented this from happening.

1. The ending! I was starting to get panicky towards the end as I was realizing how few pages were left. I could not comprehend how this could be resolved with what was left. I started checking to make sure I wasn't missing pages or that this was part of a planned series. I could feel the anxiety level rising and sadly this was the end indeed. I felt the ending was rushed and some of the character's actions were too contrived, just for the sake of ending it neatly. (I'm talking about the ending with Griffon and how he went from one emotion to the next and finally gave in without a fight)
2. I felt like for the most part Balog did a really great job with Eron's transition into being a human. A few minuscule parts, however, did not feel believable. I find it hard to believe that after observing humans for a hundred years that he was so bewildered by a BUS! I mean, he had clearly seen cars before. This shouldn't have been a big deal but he sat there acting like it was a giant cheeseburger flying through the air. I understand that he didn't get some of the intricacies of how human speech had evolved or the trends but that part just didn't seem believable to me.

I really did enjoy this book and think that the concept of the book was one of the most unique out there! Had it not been for the things I mentioned above, I would have happily given it 5 stars as it really would have deserved it. Balog has a knack for writing a compelling storyline and sucking you far into it. If you are a paranormal romance fan, this is a MUST read! If you are not really a paranormal fan, I'd read a few other things and THEN read this so that you will appreciate a truly unique story in what has become a very saturated "market".(less)

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Dec 08, 2010

Emma rated it

Everything is a joke to Griffin Colburn from the usual pranks and hijinks right down to his relationship with his girlfriend, Julia Devine.

So, really, maybe it isn't so surprising when Julia thinks the news of Griffin's death is a practical joke. Maybe it isn't so surprising that he seems to be playing mean pranks on her . . . after, well, you know.

Julia is used to being the center of attention for all the wrong reasons. She's used to the whispers and the gossip.

...more

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Jul 19, 2010

Lea rated it

Recommends it for: 14 and up.

Julia Devine is haunted by an incident from her childhood, and it throws a shadow over all of her interactions with her family and her schoolmates. Her boyfriend Griffin is one of the few people that she connects with, yet they speak to each other in a series of insults and jokes. Eron DeMarchelle is a Sleepbringer, a Sandman, and he has watched over Julia's sleep every night of her life. But when it comes time for Eron to train his replacement, Eron finds himself increasingly drawn into Julia's...more

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About Cyn Balog

Cyn Balog is a normal, everyday Jersey Girl who always believed magical things can happen to us when we least expect them. She is author of young adult paranormals FAIRY TALE (2009), SLEEPLESS(2010), and two other forthcoming novels from Delacorte. She lives outside Allentown, Pennsylvania with her husband and daughters.

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“Oh, hell, he'd look hot in a chicken suit.” — 28 people liked it

“What's with the strange clothes?"
I smile through my labored breath, pleased to be making progress. "Where I'm from, you'd be the one dressed strangely."
Thank goodness, she slows a bit. "And what planet is that again?"
"Er. Canada.” — 7 people liked it

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