A good continuation of the original story. Excited to see where it goes next!

Great sequel to Sleeping Giants. Troubles galore, more giant robots, and questions whether the human race is doomed, make this a fascinating and fast read.
I received this free from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.

This sequel to Sleeping Giants picks up the pace from the first book, although it definitely could have done with a little summary preface of the events, character names etc, of the first book - it's been a few years and I couldn't quite remember how the story left off last time, so it took me a while to get engrossed in the story again.
While this sci-fi series has a lot going for it - novelty in some ways, fun characters, and most of all the way the author is happy to keep revealing answers to questions as new ones appear - the major problem, in my view, is tone. Because it's structured as a series of "documents", rather than conventionally narrated scenes, the author has to be very much in command of the tone, the atmosphere, of the story, and Neuvel isn't quite as much in control as one would wish. Mixing serious moments with lighthearted banter and romance isn't a problem - except that the tonal shifts here are so sudden that they become jarring. Examples include moments of torture that are (nearly) played for laughs, and unfathomable tragedies happening to very young people that are treated as hi-jinks. For all their differences, there's a bit of a "Chronicles of St. Mary's" problem here in terms of tone. None of the moments are really allowed to breathe, because the author wants us to have about three different reactions at once. I also think, in this kind of supremely unrealistic and almost camp sci-fi narrative, you want to go easy on the profound unpleasantness and corruption of the people you're wanting to root for. There were moments, towards the middle and end, when I was like "well you know if the aliens wipes out humanity, would that really be so bad? Clean slate?" and I don't think that's quite what Neuvel is going for.
But - this is still a hugely enjoyable sci-fi world, and I'll definitely read the next in the series.

Giant robots are back! Themis is no longer the only giant robot on Earth. A new one has appeared in London, standing right in the middle of the city and people are going crazy. What can the EDC, the United Nations or the British government do? Is it friendly? Hostile? A scout or the whole invasion force? Read Waking Gods and find out what all your favorite characters from Sleeping Giants are up to. Plenty of action, a bit of philosophy and dastardly deeds, not to mention plenty of disasters along the way. Enjoy the ride!

With the way Sleeping Giants ended, there's no way I was going to skip this. Waking Gods turned out to be a pretty good sequel.

I was surprised that it picks up years later, but it works. Shit really hits the fan when more giant robots show up causing death and distraction.

I was so curious about where they come from and their purpose. I'm not completely satisfied with what was learned, but I'm sure we'll get more in the next book.

There's plenty of action and intense moments. There are even a couple that surprised and saddened me. Overall, I enjoyed it and looked forward to what comes next.

Sleeping Giants was one of my favorite releases of 2016 and one of my most recommended books of that year. Needless to say, I was pretty hyped up for its sequels and I’m more than happy that Waking Giants kept true to what made me love the first book and did not disappoint but exceeded my expectations.

Sleeping Giants left us hanging on a cliff, leaving question marks floating above my head for the past year and I was glad to see we finally got some answers. More answers than I expected, to be honest. The biggest and most troubling question was answered and while I thought the characters made it seem more complicated than it actually is, I loved what it entailed. It definitely made for very interesting changes not just in group dynamics but especially for one character and their personal struggles. We get to know a lot more about some characters with quite a few surprises here and there.

Action wise, Waking Gods stepped up a level and once again did not only remind me of my absolute favorite movie, but featured Pacific Rim level of epic when it comes to the its action plot lines. I’m still highly impressed how Neuvel keeps me at the edge of my seat during those scenes by telling his story through documents which are mostly interviews. It takes some skill to turn something that is usually considered downright boring into such an engaging book.

Sleeping Giants shocked me most with its characters and some of their very questionable motives and doings, and I was glad, as weird as that sounds, that Waking Gods was just as messed up. At first I thought Waking Giants would lack in that department, but I was soon proven otherwise and once again shuddered at how far some people are willing to go, seeming just too real and therefor making for such a mind blowing book.

If one thing once again proves how epic this series is, it’s Waking Giants plot twist. I can’t say that I saw this one coming. It was such a tiny detail that was suddenly revealed but it changed SO MUCH. It made me want to reread both the first and the second book immediately because it shed a completely different light on events.

I might have been sad that it was already over again once I reached the end of the book, but Waking Giants features the first ever cliffhanger I was happy about. Waiting still isn’t fun but knowing that the one thing I really wanted to see in these books is going to happen, dampens the pain of that. I can’t wait to see where these metal giants take us in the next book.

I think I’m done with this series. I don’t know if there’s another book, but if there is I probably won’t read it.

I am smad.

Okay, storytime. I like to cook while I listen to audiobooks This is because I find cooking stressful and my anger tends to flare when I make food. And so. I was maybe halfway through this when I started making my dinner (pasta because I’m simple) and I was like, halfway through cooking my food when my book started doing the opposite of what it was meant to be doing for me. Of course, I would listen to a book distract me from my food anger, but instead the characters are soo annoying that the book causes my rage and I end up stressing out and giving myself heartburn and making my stomach acid issues flare up.

By this point, I think that the format is really out-staying its welcome. It was cool in Illuminae and cool in Sleeping Giants but now it’s annoying. Now, it’s pretty clear that it’s not a successful way for me, as a reader to get to know the character. I felt detached from all of the characters and the only real emotion I felt while reading it was annoyance. I didn’t enjoy this, and looking back I’m surprised I enjoyed Sleeping Giants as much as I did.

There was a character, we meet in this book, she’s only like 10 and she’s put through some really bad stuff during the novel. But do I care? No. It got to a point. where I was just so fed up with her and I was actually full on raging because this chick was so annoying.

Now this is how you do a sequel! The story starts off nine years after the events in SLEEPING GIANTS left off. We pick up with Rose coming to terms with what she is, who she is, and how she can continue when she lost so much time. Kara and Vincent are still the only people who can pilot Themis, the giant robot they assembled, and they are in love.

In the meantime, a robot similar to Themis materializes in the middle of London. Everyone has an idea of what to do, and no one is prepared for what happens. Once they figure out what these aliens might want, they have to somehow figure out how to demonstrate it for them. With a little help from “the interviewer” these characters prepare to stand against a faceless enemy hiding in a giant robot.

The format of writing is the same and the story is told through files, logs, and reports. Even with this impersonal style I was able to understand the emotions the characters were probably going through. Also, all of these characters have a story arc that is fun to read about. All of the characters from book one are represented here, and we meet a few new people who I know will be important as the story moves forward.

To be honest, I was shocked at the risks the author took in this story. Right away there is big action and it doesn’t seem like these characters stand a chance. For some of them, that was actually true. That’s right, people actually die in this story and I am still sad about it. The good news is that there is now room for these new characters to take their place. Sort of.

All in all, this was a great follow up. I was shocked by some of the revelations in this book but also very happy to learn so much. Major questions are answered in this story and a few new things popped up keeping my full attention. This is adult science fiction at it’s best! I think even non-sci-fi readers will enjoy this. The human stories within alone are worth checking out. This story is fresh and original and after reading that epilogue I am so ready for the next book.

Nine years after humans discovered the robot they named Themis, another metallic figure has appeared, this time in London. What alien beings guide this new robot and why are they here? The answers may prove to be both intriguing and deadly as more robots are coming… and no one knows how to stop them.

WAKING GODS is the second book in the <i>Themis Files</i> series but can be read on its own merits. However, I suspect that you’ll instantly be hooked and want to know more about this intriguing science fiction mystery. I was a little nervous that WAKING GODS couldn’t top the intrigue of the first book but oh boy was I ever wrong!

Sylvain Nuevel immediately ups the stakes in WAKING GODS. While the first book reminded me a bit of the X-Files with the mysterious interviewer behind the scenes (a la the cigarette smoking man), WAKING GODS is full on action! From the very first news snippet, it’s very apparent that Sylvain Neuvel is putting the whole world in jeopardy as diplomacy is out the window. Instead, Rose Franklin, Kara Resnick, Vincent Couture, and a host of other characters will have to use every bit of their ingenuity if earth is to survive the onslaught.

WAKING GODS, like the first book SLEEPING GIANTS, is told through an epistolary style. We see snippets from the news media, interviews, personal journals, and various other formats as Sylvain Neuvel creates a stunningly good science fiction thriller. If you read just one science fiction book this year, then WAKING GODS is the perfect choice!

*review is in the editing queue at Fresh Fiction*

I'm not sure "fun" should be the word to describe giant alien robots who might kill everyone, but these books are darn entertaining. I think this one didn't have quite the character building of the first in exchange for a much heavier plot, but I think we had built enough of the characters in the first book for me to forgive that to some extent. The interviewer is still such a fascinating character - and shouldn't be, he should be a huge cliche that grates on you, but somehow the author pulls it off. I stayed up late finishing this book because I just had to know what happens next - which is rare for me nowadays. Excited to see where the next one goes!

Another wonderful book from the author of Sleeping Giants. Just as addictive and readable. You cannot put this book down and you actually mourn when it is over.

One of my favorite reads of 2017! Hands down...This one was just as action packed as the first -and this series has such a unique storyline -its amazing in every way.
I had just finished reading Sleeping Giants about two weeks ago (which I absolutely loved) and was so grateful to have Waking Gods to pick up and continue with the story. So many questions and mysteries finally get solved-being reunited with old and now new characters and that ending! I can't wait till the next book is out.

I want to sincerely thank Sylvain Neuvel, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this.

I had to buy myself a copy of the finished book because I loved it so much-and seriously the cover art for the hardback is just as beautiful as the first book.

3 stars--I liked the book.

I liked this book more than the first one in the series. There's a lot to enjoy--mysterious giant robots, aliens who may or may not be trying to destroy earth, humans who are desperately working against the clock to save their planet.

Just like with the first one, I think the format (mostly presented as interview logs or memos) makes the action too distant. However, I thought characterization was better in this book, and the plot was fast-paced and kept me reading. I had a fun time with this book, and the pages seemed to fly by.

I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!

This sequel to Sleeping Giants ramped up the story and the stakes. Themis is not alone, and once again our diverse cast needs to determine what is happening and how to fix it. The book is written primarily using interviews, and although it was interesting in printed form, I suspect it would be fantastic in audio format (and I hear it is). One thing I liked is that the events weren't random - they made sense (eventually). Although things wrapped up nicely, the last sentence makes me think we are not done with the story.

Like its predecessor, Sleeping Giants, Waking Gods is marked by an interesting style, where debriefings, news reports, and journal entries are pieced together to tell the story. The second book of the Themis Files has a markedly different tone than the first: while Sleeping Giants was somewhat contemplative and slow-moving, things really get going in Waking Gods. Despite the difference in tone, I don't think you can really enjoy Waking Gods to the full without reading its predecessor, as the story isn't dragged down by too much exposition of what happened before. The story picks up a few years after the first book, and all of the characters from the first story are back in force, along with a few new perspectives. I was a little disappointed in one of them, as their introduction makes another character's demise painfully obvious rather than a surprising twist or "anyone can die" vibe. However, I did like the new characters and I was happy to see the return of some of my favourites, such as the fiery Kara.

The plot and tone reminded me quite a bit of Orson Welles’ War of the Worlds. As with Welles’ famous story, the reader spends most of the story frustrated, helpless, and adrift, unable to determine what will happen next or why. Despite the crazy events, I think Neuven is quite successful in creating what I'd call, for want of a better term, a tone of realism. Part of achieving this is having atrocities and events can happen without any explanation or any leading plot arc. For me, this made it quite difficult to actually push my way through the book. I stuck with it, and I’m glad I did. As the story moves towards the climax, everything clicks into place with a reasonably satisfying and quite creative solution. As with the previous book, there’s a bit of a hook or cliffhanger for the next story arc, and I’ll be very interested to see where the story goes next.

If you haven’t read the first book in the Themis Files, and you’re a sci-fi fan, then you need to. I had been waiting so anxiously for the follow up to the first book, but was also apprehensive being that so many 2nd books in a series struggle to continue with the story created in the 1st book. That was not the case here. I was immediately hooked into this world again and was so fascinated by the technology and alien themes. I really don’t feel like I can add details without giving things away, so I’ll just say that it was awesome, and really hope the author is going to make this a trilogy! I was also super excited to get to know who the mysterious narrator was, but it was at a cost. This is easily turning into one of my favorite series’ of all time, and one I will most definitely re-read in the future.

ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Another fun novel. Love the format of this novel with different documents and interviews. I read part of the book and listened to part of it. The audio is really fantastic. Looking forward to more!