This was an AMAZING sequel that really packed a punch. Neuvel continues the fun mixed media approach of narrative to great effect. The different types of documents kept me really engaged in the story--so much so that I'm already 2/3 done with the final book in the series.

3.9 - a solid sequel... although I didn't remember all of the details of the first book, there were enough allusions through this one to trigger my memory... looking forward to the end of the trilogy!

My interest in this series definitely dropped off during this book, though, honestly, it wasn't very high after Sleeping Giants. Though I admit this is nitpicky, I was so irritated that the trained scientists didn't recognize the alien language as math, even though simple algebra is a symbolic language with recognizable syntax that any simple algorithm would pick up. Math is a language. That no one recognized it as such is plot contrivance.

However, I'm not enough of a crank that I don't recognize that this series isn't hard science, and judging it on those parameters isn't necessarily the most germane. I was largely into Sleeping Giants for the giant robots, and giant robots I got. I'm also a fan of the epistolary novel, and Waking Gods continued to deliver its machinations in the diffuse ephemera of notes and recorded conversations, diaries and missives. That said, and it's possible this is just second novel syndrome, but I found Waking Gods somewhat tedious. Mysteries, such as the specifics of Rose's resurrection, dragged on too long,

All told, Waking Gods just didn't do it for me. I'm a huge fan of both pulpy mecha mechanics, and considered contact narratives. Unfortunately, I don't think those two genres marry well, as you either have to take it seriously, or not. I never knew if I should take Waking Gods seriously, in which case its bad science was a strike against it, or if I should let go and enjoy the pulp robot fights, in which case all of the overheated interpersonal stuff seemed distracting. The ambiguous tone did me in.

Waking Gods is a worthy sequel to one of my favorite reads this year so far, Sleeping Giants. Bringing more action, more heart, and more intrigue, Waking Gods brings forth a lot of questions about human nature, world peace, and the great big universe. Go into this series knowing nothing and you'll have a lot to gain. Trust me.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. THANK YOU.

WAKING GODS, the second book in Sylvain Neuvel’s THE THEMIS FILES series, is much darker and more emotionally difficult (for me) than its predecessor. There was even a point at which I felt like giving up because of something that happened. Nevertheless, I finished the book in just a couple of days, and am now very excited for the third instalment.

I read the Sleeping Giants as a print book, so I had a completely different experience with this one. Like its predecessor, Waking Gods is told through a collection of archives. Transcripts of conversations and interviews and written correspondence. We pick up over a decade after the events of the first book. Just like Independence Day 2 (please for the love of all things fluffy if you like the first one avoid it), despite many years, humans still aren’t prepared for the battle to come. Sleeping Giants set up the story, and Waking Gods begins the war. Millions will die, and it’s up to those who understand these ancient robots best to save as much of humanity as possible. Though many questions from the first book are answered in the conversations recorded in this book, Neuvel brings up many more to keep us occupied in the forthcoming Only Human.

Since I listened instead of pouring over each written word, there were a few confusing things for me in this book. Like the first one, there are many characters, and it’s plot heavy, particularly in the back story and where humanity might be headed next. However, Neuvel did a good job breaking it down, so even when I felt a little lost, I stuck with it for a couple of more chapters and quickly got back on track.

In many audiobooks, I find a full cast distracting and un-enjoyable. Not so with this one. I couldn’t get beyond an hour of Lincoln in the Bardo (now on my print TBR list), but I had no trouble following these characters. It was a quick listen for me, just under twenty-four hours, and my only complaint is the audio levels at some parts of the story. Scenes of intense action called for screams and loud shouting followed by normal talking, which made me need to adjust the volume back and forth during several chapters. Aside from that, however, solid production and acting.

I am not sure if it was the geek inside me reading into things, but I fully appreciated what seemed to me to be references to Battlestar Galactica. One of the characters refers to themselves as, “The Harbinger of Death,” and since book 1, I have pictured the pilot Kara Resnick as Katee Sackhoff as Kara Thrace.

Overall, I was very pleased with this one and cannot wait to devour Only Human soon.

First, thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for an advanced copy of Waking Gods!

It's been a few hours since I finished this book and I am still reeling from the experience of reading Waking Gods!

Like Sleeping Giants, the sequel is told from interviews, personal logs, news stories, transcriptions, etc. I have to say that I really enjoyed this format as you never knew what the next page was going to bring or how.

The story begins with a second giant robot appearing in London ten years after the events of Sleeping Giants ends. The nameless interviewer (my favorite character), Dr. Rose Franklin, and pilots Kara and Vincent, are all back to try to save the world from a possible alien invasion.

I read most of this book in one day because I could hardly put it down and when I did, it was usually because of a huge twist or a gut punch that made me want to throw my ereader. My heart was pounding through the entire book as the intensity never slowed... Not for even a few minutes. Constant action coupled with twists and turns and reveals made for a mind blowing experience! I couldn't turn the pages fast enough and found myself holding my breath over and over again.

We do get all the answers we hoped for and then some. And once again... Neuvel gave us another ending that better have another book waiting in the wings. Incredible read! Waking Gods will most definitely will be in my top favorites for 2017.

Another outstanding book in this exciting and unique series by Sylvain Neuvel. I was hooked from the first paragraph of Sleeping Giants and Waking Gods does not disappoint as a follow up. I'm tingling with anticipation for the third and final book.

"I started out thinking I could remove the bad from the world one piece at a time until there was none left. The world, unfortunately, does not work that way. Perhaps it needs a certain equilibrium to function properly… I came to realize that good and evil were out of my reach, that time was the only thing I had any control over. I could buy time, create intervals. I could not truly make the world a better place, but I could make part of it a better place for a short while."

Waking Gods is the sequel to Sleeping Giants and the second book in Sylvain Neuvel’s The Themis Files.

This book starts out several years after the end of Sleeping Giants (review). After she was found on the side of the road in Ireland with no memory of the last four years of her life, Dr. Rose Franklin once again is heading the science division of the Earth Defense Corps (EDC) and discovering as much information as possible from Themis. Then one day, another robot appears in the middle of London, causing irreparable damage and the loss of thousands of lives. It isn’t long before a dozen robots are strategically positioned in the most populous cities throughout Earth, with the seemingly sole purpose of wiping out the human population. It becomes a race against the clock as the EDC desperately tries to find a solution that will stop the invasion and save the rest of the human population.

As with Sleeping Giants, Waking Gods is stylistically similar as it is told through interviews, diary entries, and other recorded entries, which gives it a truly unique feel. Although it can be a bit tedious at times – the reader has to rely on the narrators to provide sufficient details of the world around them – I think it was well-done and very enjoyable to read. It was definitely more action-packed than the first one - seeing as there was a full-scale alien invasion - but it was just as enjoyable to read.

I really like the characters - Kara and Rose, in particular, are my favorites. Though the dialogue and banter between the characters are generally realistic, it can feel forced at times as the characters also have to "set the scene." However, as with the previous book, I don't think it detracted too much from the overall story. Also, the unnamed narrator is intriguing, and I’m glad the reader gets to learn a little about his background in this book – finally!

Although science fiction is, by definition, the marriage of "science" and "fiction," I thought the author did this particularly well. Although I kept wanting to know more, especially about the genetic makeup of the aliens, etc., I was generally satisfied and felt there was just enough science to keep it interesting without bogging down the story and overloading the reader.

I am beyond excited for the conclusion of The Themis Files in Only Human . May 1st, 2018 can't come soon enough!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for a copy of this eBook in exchange for an honest review.

I might have waited too long to read Sleeping Giants, but I didn’t waste a moment picking up its sequel. Back to back reading. That probably tells you how much I liked the first book. Now I can tell you all about how awesome book 2 was. Neuvel has done the nearly impossible trick of improving upon the original. 9 years have passed since the events of Sleeping Giants, the world has more of less gotten used to the idea of having a giant robot from outer space around, Themis is officially the metal lady protector of the Earth with an international defense agency to manage it. So now how does one best a book about a 20 story tall robot? Why, naturally by adding more robots. For a total of 14. And the newcomers are showing up in the major cities all over the world to a positively menacing effect. Is it intergalactic war, global annihilation or a far superior intelligence trying to correct a creational snafu? Read and find out. All the things that make this fictional universe so strikingly original and spectacular are taken to the next level…the characters have matured, the science has gotten more complicated (yeah, it’s actually educational now), the alien backstory have expanded. We finally find out about the mysterious nameless interviewer, this part was actually oddly underwhelming, but anyway, the cast gets trimmed down and at the same time expanded by a crucial new character. The entire thing is just…more in the best possible way. Even the writing seems to have upgraded, practice does make perfect. But the main element remains and shines as brightly as ever...this is just such an exciting story. A grand adventure, a terrific fun, wildly entertaining read. Now please, please Netgalley approve my request for the third one so I can find out how it all plays out. And thanks for this one. And why isn’t someone making this into a movie or maybe a tv series? Has this somehow made it past Netflix’ ever hungry radar? Sure one can argue giant alien robots have been done before, but these don’t turn into cars. And also, you can’t really have too many giant robot stories the same way you can’t really have too much good weather or love or books.

The second installment in this serious is just fantastic; I couldn’t put it down! Neuvel is a genius, weaving together a thrilling science fiction tale, with suburb character development, the threat of doomsday, a dry-witted interviewer, and, of course, technological advanced robots. To top it all off, the epistolary format gives it just the right amount of tension and “what next” moments to make you want (need) to keep reading.

The concept of this book and the format are so interesting. I will continue to read this series, I can't wait to see where they take the storyline and the characters.

A worthy sequel that continues the awesome premise of the first novel. The stakes in WAKING GODS have been significantly raised; they are literally life and death for many in the cast, even the leads. I found myself desperately turning pages to find out what happens, and certain events evoked anger and sadness, which is a testament to how well Neuvel crafts these characters. They feel real to the reader, and when we lose them, we grieve.

This series is sci-fi at its finest. I can't wait for the third book!

Another stellar installment of this gripping story. These days, it is most important to me to have some kind of new idea, and to write well enough about it that I don't want to gouge out my eyes after a few chapters. This series so far has exceeded my expectations. I was stoked to see this next one available.

I finished "Sleeping Giants" really wanting to know what would happen next - so I was eager to pick up this sequel. Unfortunately, for me at least (I do see that other reviewers disagree), this continuation of the story didn't really deliver what I wanted. Instead of discoveries and answers, enigmatic mysteries continue - and this installment felt less focused than the first. It has a broader scope, and less emotional investment in any individual character - and it's already hard to be fully invested when the format the story is told in involves "official statements" and "after-the-fact interviews."

The premise of the sequel is:
Well, remember that big mecha-robot of unknown origin that we discovered and began to learn how to use in the first book? Nine years later, an even BIGGER robot has just appeared on earth; and whoever owns it doesn't seem to have ANY trouble using it. And they don't seem to be friendly, either. Perhaps they're mad that we messed with their stuff!

So, yes. Giant battlebots. Much destruction. The fate of humanity looks pretty much sealed.
The scenario is quite reminiscent of 'The War of the Worlds.'

And yes, there's going to be another sequel.

Fun stuff, but I wasn't quite as enthused by this one as the first in the series.

Many thanks to Del Rey & NetGalley for the opportunity to read.

*I received a free digital copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review*

The audiobook for Sleeping Giants was so amazing I decided to borrow Waking Gods from the library to listen to along side the text. Unfortunately, I didn't end up enjoying it as much. There was a lot more action, which sounds great, except it literally didn't. There was an emptiness surrounding some of the heavier action scenes which made events feel like they were taking place inside a vacuum. Eva's voice was supposed to be that of a child but sounded exactly like an adult playing a child. It took me out of the story every time she spoke. Despite this, I'm still interested in the story and will be picking up the next book. It's not that I disliked it, I just didn't love it.

For additional thoughts, please check out my video review: https://youtu.be/EMcfclT-m9U

A return to the group of scientists who discovered a giant robot with the arrival of others and even more secrets. So much happens and it’s so interesting, a damn great sequel with an ending that makes your jaw drop

DNF. This book is so slow. The journal entries were interesting last time, but it really slows down the story in this version. The dialogue comes across as tedious and makes any excitement distant. I just can't find the desire to care. Maybe I"m in the wrong frame of mind for this one, so I'll try it again later and update my review if I ever finish it.

As a big fan of Sylvain Neuvel's highly innovative and exceptionally compelling Sleeping Giants, I was peeing-my-pants excited to read Waking Gods. (Was that TMI?) The book picks up about a decade after the events in Sleeping Giants and continues with it’s unusual technique of storytelling through government documents, interviews, media transcripts and classified reports. Not sure this style is right for everyone but I thought it was fascinating.

For some reason, I especially love the mysterious, unnamed character at the center of the story. He has a cold, emotionless demeanor that allows him to logically assess any situation — including contact with an alien species — and calmly decide how to best deploy his almost limitless access to government assets. The dude is like blend of Spock and M from the James Bond series.

As usual however, I have a few nits to pick: (Warning: semi-spoilers ahead)
Mystery man’s decision to enlist the aid of Ryan, the guy who helped force Kara to undergo medical procedures against her will and almost killed Vincent, in his plan to secure the daughter Kara and Vincent were unaware of, seems like incredibly poor judgement on his part. Granted, he admits as much on multiple occasions but it still felt like an uncharacteristically huge miscalculation for someone who was so, well...calculating.
The lunch guest who constantly spoke in riddles got to be a bit tiresome after awhile, especially his quirky stories with supposedly deep meaning...or not. Enough already. Get to the point.
The twist towards the end involving Kara felt completely unnecessary. In my opinion it didn’t really serve the overall story and in fact removed a few really interesting possibilities.

All that said, these are very minor issues. On the whole, the story was an odd mix of strange, compelling and mind-blowing. It’s possible some people may not enjoy the unusual storytelling technique as much as I did but I thought it was an extremely interesting and powerful device. I have to admit to being a bit surprised to learn there will be a third (at least) installment of the story but not disappointed in the least. So far, this series has been a highly enjoyable departure from typical paranormal novels.

I had so much fun reading this book! I recently listened to the first book in this series so I was pretty eager to fit this book into my reading schedule. It turned out to be one of those books that are almost impossible to put down. Every time I would tell myself that I was just going to read one more chapter something would happen in the story and one more chapter just wouldn't be enough. I ended up reading the whole book in a single day and enjoyed every minute of it.

This book picks up ten years the events of the first book. This is a series that really does need to be read in order since it really is a continuation of the same larger story. Due to the nature of the series, there may be some spoilers for the first book in this review. If you haven't read the first book yet and plan to, I would recommend trying not to read anything about the later books in the series in order to avoid spoilers.

Things have been pretty calm for the Themis team since the events of the previous book. That changes quickly when a second giant robot shows up in the middle of London. It doesn't really do anything at first but its presence alone seems threatening enough. The world is at a loss as to what they should do about it and fear what the robot is planning. Events get exciting really quickly and there may be more danger than they ever imagined.

All of the characters from the first book are back for this installment. Since I recently listened to the audio of the first book, I had their voices in my head as I read through the journal entries, interviews, and reports. I think that this really added to the enjoyment of the story for me. Rose, Kara, and Vincent all have personal issues to deal with in this book in addition to the world events. There are some new characters that make an appearance and add to the story as well.

I would recommend this series to others. It is a really great mix of characters cast in an incredibly exciting story. The book is told in such an interesting manner through journal entries, interviews, and documents. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book in this exciting series!

I received an advance reader edition of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine via NetGalley.