Today is my stop on the blog tour hosted by Angry Robot for Awakened by Laura Elliott! 

Awakened by Laura Elliott
Published by Angry Robot
Age Group: Adult
Format: Fiction
Genres and Categories: Alternative Universe, Futuristic Setting, London, Black Characters, Mental Health Representation, Muslim Characters, OwnVoices Representation, Chronic Illness, Learning Disabilities, Mental Health, Mobility Aids, Neurodivergent, Trauma, Disabled and Neurodivergent Authors, Diverse Representation, Scientist Characters, Treasure Hunters, Villain Characters, Dystopian Sci Fi, Horror Thriller, Survival Horror, Monsters, Vampires, Scientific Discovery, Supernatural Regeneration
My Rating:
Published on: 10th June 2025
Pages: 400
Disability Representation: ME/CFS, post-viral fatigue, non-verbal, unknown learning disability, neurodivergent, sleep disorders, insomnia, parasomnia, sleep paralysis, wheelchair user, migraines, unknown terminal condition, mental health, and trauma.
Buy this Book! Amazon UK / Amazon US / Barnes & Noble / Blackwells / Forbidden Planet / Bookshop.org US / Bookshop.org UK / Waterstones / BookBeat Audio
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From debut author Laura Elliot comes a tense horror novel emboldened by the surreal, perfect for fans of 28 Days Later and The Girl With All the Gifts.

Science has stolen sleep and awakened a world of horror.

“I’ve been an insomniac all of my life, but I’m not Sleepless and I won’t become Sleepless, just as long as the chips that were put into their heads never get put into mine. There’s little chance of that, since I won’t put the machinery into my brain and neither will Edgar and neither will the Professor, and we’re the only three left who could. I don’t want to be Sleepless…”

Civilisation has ended. In a bid to make us more productive, to give us more time, science took sleep from humanity. But sleeplessness turned people into feral monsters and now a small group of scientists are trapped in the Tower of London, consumed by guilt at what they have done and desperately searching for a cure. And then one day, as the last ravens circle, two miraculous survivors walk into the Tower.

Are they the answer or a terrible question?

This book was provided for free by the Publisher and the publishers in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book!

Content Warnings:

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Set in the 2050s, Awakened by Laura Elliott is a horror dystopian science fiction novel that covers a surprising number of themes, from ableism and medical negligence, to scientific discovery and the issues of playing god. In the format of a diary, Elliott tells the story of Dr. Thea Chares, a scientist who helps create a neurological chip that enables humans to go without sleep for long periods. Driven by the desire to cure her mother of ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), Thea’s diary entries take us through the events that led to the end of the world and what happened after.

Trapped in the Tower of London, the base of operations for the Orex Corporation, Thea lives with her bed-bound mother and other survivors. Most of them are her colleagues, and she works with them to find a cure for the zombie-like state caused by the chips they created. Entries jump from present to past events, slowly revealing Thea’s past and information about her companions. Things change for them all when two figures approach the Tower, two survivors, or so they believe. The ‘Sleepers’ are vampiric monsters, and over time it becomes clear that one of the survivors, the man, is not quite as human as they first thought… 

The relationship between Thea and Vladimir, the survivor, was my favourite part of Awakened. It is dark, destructive and seductive, and watching Thea gradually give in to her darkest desires was wonderful. In some ways, Vladimir is the epitome of vampire mythos; however, Elliott’s setting of a post-apocalyptic world and the emphasis on science transform this into something else. Vladimir is like a filter, constantly pushing Thea to question herself and her actions, and the big reveal was a huge shock. 

As someone who has ME/CFS and identifies as disabled, I loved that Elliott used her narrative to comment on the condition and how people with ME/CFS have struggled for recognition in the medical community. As a scientist, Thea can’t help but include relevant facts and information in her diary, and that provides Elliott with the opportunity to discuss past events, such as when it was discovered, re-named, and the damaging psychological study by psychologists who didn’t examine a single patient.

The story of how Thea’s mother became sick is one that many of us will find familiar: exposed to the flu by someone who thought they were recovered. Thea was just a child when her mother’s body failed to recover, and she started to suffer from post-viral symptoms. It is interesting to see things from a child’s perspective and how her mother’s illness led to her becoming a scientist. 

The ending of Awakened was fitting, although personally, I would have preferred more answers. This is a book that asks a lot of questions, and if you’re someone who likes to know the ins and outs of world-building, be prepared to be disappointed. This one is more about the psychological impact on the main character, and just how far a person can go before they break. It was interesting, and it is extremely well written. It just didn’t quite get there for me, and I was left wanting more.

About Laura Elliott

Laura Elliott is a disabled writer and journalist, originally from Scunthorpe. Her work has been published by The Guardian, ByLine Times, Boudicca Press, Monstrous Regiment, Hachette Kids, and others. She lives in Sheffield with her partner, James, and their two feline overseers, Catticus Finch and Hercule Purrot. Her debut novel, Awakened, will be published by Angry Robot books in June 2025

Website | Goodreads | Instagram | Twitter

Thanks for reading my book review for Awakened by Laura Elliott!

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