I made a terrible mistake when reading this book - I started it before going to work in the morning. Aside from a quick half an hour at lunch I had to wait until I got home to continue, and continue I did, to the very last page of the book.
Buried Giants was one of my favourite reads of last year, and to say I was excited for this book would be something of an understatement, so the opportunity to read a proof copy was something I could not resist. I was not disappointed, this book was every bit as good as its predecessor.
Waking Gods takes up the tale almost ten years after the events of Buried Giants, and we are reintroduced to all of our favourite characters ( and a few new ones) in short order. Themis is in action, largely as a PR device, and life seems to be going well for Kara and Vincent , but all this changes when another device appears in London. Excitement, anxiety and piety all ensue, but eventually someone has to take action, and when they do disaster strikes. Has the time come for Themis to strike against one of her own kind? Why are more and more robots appearing in major cities around the world and why is one little girl having vivid nightmares that feel much to real?
For answers to some or all of these questions you'll have to read the book , and I highly recommend that you do.
Written in the same format as Sleeping Giants, a mix of interview transcripts and journal entries in the main, the book skips from one perspective to another, allowing the reader to see multiple points of view and to really connect with several of the characters.
To sum it up, this book is one I loved and know I will read again. I can't recommend it highly enough.

I had read and enjoyed the previous volume in this series, but I just couldn't get into this one. Some review of the plot and characters would have helped, along with less jumping around and fewer inexplicable events. I didn't finish this.

Amazing book! It's rare that a followup is just as good as the first, but this one is. The constant action kept you on your toes, and I was constantly surprised by each twist!

Sleeping Giants was one of my favorite books 2016 so I've been eagerly awaiting Waking Gods. I flew through the first half of the novel and absolutely loved it. Then I hit the second half. Most of what I loved from the first book shifted to the background, leaving behind a faster-paced, more action oriented novel.

What had set this series apart for me originally was that it was very character based. All of these incredible science fiction events would occur, but the focus was on how the events affected the characters. Additionally, I loved seeing how the characters developed over the course of the book. That being said, Waking Gods is not bad, it was just different. While it was an unexpected surprise, I did really enjoy the book.

More so than the previous ones, this was first contact science fiction. I thought that the reactions of the various characters and government agencies were well-developed (and scarily accurate). The plot did jump around a bit toward the end, which made for a slightly disjointed reading experience. There was one subplot that really intrigued me and I can't wait to see what the author does with it in the next book.

Overall, this book was good. Had it been a little longer and developed the plot and the characters a bit more, it would have been great. I still adore the storytelling style and the overall story though. I have grown very attached to all of the characters, which is a testament to the quality of the writing. Did I like Waking Gods as much as Sleeping Giants? No. Did I still like it? Yes, very much so. And, after the set-up in this one, I think I'll like the third installment even more.

Waking Gods, book 2 of the Themis files, continues the story begun in Sleeping Giants. The main cast of Rose, Kara, Vincent, and the nameless man who seems to be pulling the strings all return to provide their input dossier style about Themis and the events that happen about 6 months after then end of Sleeping Giants. The more the cast learns about Themis, the more it seems that someone out there (almost X Files in presentation) is out to kill all members of the human race. The books ends on a cliffhanger that may not sit well with all readers.

Waking Gods is the second book in author Sylvain Neuvel’s series The Themis Files and it is at least as exciting as the first book, Sleeping Giants, which was one of my favourite books of 2016. Like the first book, it is told mainly through emails, letters, reports, and other documents as well as by the unknown narrator so that the reader is never allowed to know more than the characters, giving the story a real sense of urgency as events seem to happen in real time.

The story opens with a new even bigger robot appearing suddenly in a garden in London. At first, nothing happens but, when England sends in the military, things take a huge turn to the horrific. Themis is brought in to stop the devastation and, mostly by sheer luck, the robot is defeated. But that is only the beginning and soon an alien attack on a massive scale is launched. In desperation, Rose must find a way to defeat them and their seemingly indestructible robots but how when they seem impervious even to Earth’s most powerful and deadly weapons.

At the risk of sounding like a fan girl, I am loving this series. The story is one roller coaster of a ride with constant twists and turns and just when you think you know what’s going to happen next, well, you are most likely wrong. Most of the characters we met in the first book are back and we get more of their backstories, their strengths and their flaws. They are not only interesting, they are complex. This is one unputdownable adrenaline rush of a book. It ends on a cliffhanger and I am already impatiently anticipating the next installment of the series. A definite high recommendation from me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publish Group for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

I absolutely loved the first book, so I felt a bit let down with this book. I'm chucking it up to 'middle child syndrome,' but I really hope the next book redeems the series. I read the first book in less than two days; this one took me a whole month because I was so disinterested. I didn't like the explanation given for Rose's reappearance, or the large time lapse between the books 1 and 2, or all the negative things that happen. The ending was a bit of a cliffhanger, so it left me interested enough to want to read book 3 when it comes out.

Left review (marked hidden for minor spoilers) on Goodreads and will leave on Amazon when book is released.

Loved this, right up my street. Giant robots, mysterious government officials, clever plot, what's not to love?

Waking Gods, by Sylvain Neuvel, April 2017
Nuevel’s exciting sequel to Sleeping Giants is filled with even more giant, alien robots.
What’s not to love? Rose Franklin returns to a world she doesn’t quite remember, but she is determined to save humanity from the alien invasion. Waking Gods is fast-paced action and great fun!

Neuvel's style is not for everyone, but this is a "quiet" novel well worth reading, not just for fans of the genre. Highly recommended.

Waking Gods is the second book of the Themis Files Trilogy. I thought the first book, Sleeping Giants was a solid read with a compelling story. I did end the first book intrigued and wanting more. Waking Gods surpassed my expectations in every way. I feel that this book had more twists, excitement and better pacing than the first book. I highly recommend this book. I am all in and hooked! I very much look forward to the third book in the trilogy.

Neuvel managed something with the first book that I never thought possible: got me interested in a mecha story. Until I read this, I've never had any interest in giant fighting robots. What can they do, after all? Um, fight. And blow things up. Okay, if you're into fighting and explosions, awesome, but I want character interactions that are not all about killing, I want humor, sense of wonder, and the tension that arises out of conflicting agendas and needing to solve mysteries. The first book gave me that.

The second book began to give me that, but slowly became another type of story--sliding along the bead from SF to apocalyptic horror. Many readers are going to thoroughly enjoy the layers of darkness and the upping up stakes, because hoo boy, those stakes are exponentially raised.

But I read for character, and of my four favorites, well . . .(view spoiler)

The format remains the same: vividly written, taut files and interviews that manage for the most part to convey images, at least until the last third. In this book, many questions are answered, but I found that--especially through the last third--though individually the explanations scenes contained fascinating scientific facts, overall, I came out feeling that the questions had been far more interesting than the answers.

By the end, I was poised to say goodbye to a storyline that had thoroughly engaged me in the first book--until I hit the last line.

Okay, jury still out.

Sleeping Giants, the first book in the Themis File series, was a very cool and exciting science fiction tale that introduced us to a universe in which we are clearly not alone. What that means exactly for humanity in the grand scheme of things is something that the sequel, Waking Gods, begins to explore.

Without giving too much away, this picks up shortly after the events of Sleeping Giants. Another giant robot has appeared. this time in London. The appearance sets off a series of events that furthers the conspiracy first touched on in the first book. It also presents some new questions about humanity, innocence, and the cosmos.

Much of what made the first volume great remains in this book: the interview format, tone, some familiar faces, cool sci-fi tech. I'd imagine not every reader likes interview-style storytelling but I think the format really works well for this series, and continues to do so. It may not always contain as many environmental or scenery details but it does enable the imagination to be further engaged as well cover a lot of time and events with out needlessly creating a huge page-count. There are a number of moments of learning mirrored with many moments of loss, which could have been diluted in the format but Neuvel manages to balance this very well. He's not afraid to add a little dialogue that, in more standard prose, might not seem natural but serves here to highlight the details necessary for the scene.

I really enjoy when a series raises the stakes and this book certainly does that. Stakes are raised not only for our main characters but for the planet and species as well. There are many exciting, sad, reveling moments through out. And, yes, there is another cliffhanger. But being the second book of a series, that is to be expected. If I have any negatives to point out it might be that some of the original thrill is missing simply because the discovery element that drove much, if not all, of Sleeping Giants isn't present as much. But the trade off is that you get to spend more time with and learn much more about the characters involved.

The Themis Files is shaping up to be a very cool, high-tech adventure. I can't wait to see where things go next!


Full disclosure: Special thanks to NetGallly and Random House for the ARC.

A very well written, exciting, and intriguing sequel to this author's debut novel, Sleeping Giants.

Taking place nearly 10 years after the events that lead to the development of the EDC (Earth Defense Corps), we return to find that not all is what it seems. The scientific team carefully curated by our mysterious narrator is struggling to accept the shocking events that occurred at the end of Sleeping Giants, as well as the appearance of yet another extra-terrestrial, titian-like robot that appears in London.

This read was immensely enjoyable, and practically un-put-downable. With 10 years between the events in the first book, the key characters have grown in a way that is rewarding for the reader. Especially, the development seen in the mysterious, unnamed narrator. Whom, in my opinion, is what makes these books so successful. There is something eeriely effective about a narrator whose allegiance is not clear. Though we learn a great deal about "our unnamed friend" in this installment, he remains a mystery.

I also appreciate the breadth of topics covered in Waking Gods, that really sets this novel apart from it's contemporaries. There is an almost perfect balance of human interest and scientific fact in the plot. Readers bounce from cloning to gender roles in the military, from micro-biology to genocide etc. I found that I was never not interested, even when we read a lot about math. And I hate math!

Ultimately, I strongly suggest this series, which if the ending of Waking Gods is any indication, is likely to be a trilogy. If you enjoy clever writing, a well develop, exciting, action-packed plot, and characters that jump of the page despite the fact that the tale is told in snippets of dialogue, news articles, and scientific logs... this is a candidate for your next read.

Just like the first book in this series, this was amazing!
The way the story is related through journal entries and interviews makes it feel so immediate and action-packed.
The second book addresses questions about what it means to be human and makes a great point about meddling with nature and "inferior" species.
While this made the book a bit quieter than "Sleeping Giants", it still has those wtf?!-moments I loved so much in part one.
Can't wait for the next instalment!

Well. This is sort of tricky. I was so convinced this book was going to be even better than the first because it had such a strong beginning. Reading Waking Gods felt like riding a fast train that slowed down the longer it operated.

The first half was exciting and engaging, a solid 4.5 stars. It had what I hoped for after reading Sleeping Giants and it was so fun to read! The second half however, felt more like a 3-star read. It had more info dumps than the first book with some information being quite repetitive. There were also chapters with only one-line dialogues that could have used more substance.

There were plot twists I loved and some I didn’t. I found one twist quite shocking and I’m left questioning whether or not it was a good decision.

Waking Gods did bring more elements I’m looking forward to exploring. This book expanded on the world it’s set in but I’m also concerned about the change in the format of its storytelling. I’m hoping it doesn’t affect how well the following book will be received because this series has so much potential to be amazing.

(This review will be published on my blog on April 1, 2017)

I didn't quite enjoy this second book as much as I did the first in the series, but that may be due to the format. I listened to the audio book of Sleeping Giants and read Waking Gods. Something about the books' format (a collection of files--letters, diary entries, and interviews) lent itself better to the audiobook, which was performed by several people so it really came to life. Reading Waking Gods was a less enjoyable experience, but I wouldn't say that was from any fault in the story as it's just as compelling as the first. I don't think fans of Sleeping Giants will be disappointed.

I am so enthralled in this series. The second book, Walking gods, was so much more action packed and fast paced. It shifted from the science aspect of the book to the action and the most anticipated part of the series (getting to see the other robots). Because of this shift from science to action, it opens the door for the range of readers because there is something for everyone. The same funny characters were apart of this book, making it so much more relatable and realistic (it didn't feel like everything they said was scripted... which it technically is, but that's what made it refreshing). There was a reflection of our society now, which gives the author an outlet of what I would assume is his opinions.
Basically, I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars..... no! 7 out of 5 stars. Love Themis and Love where the second book ended. I am definitely excited to see where the story goes from there.

Sleeping Giants, the first novel in this series, follows the journey of scientist Rose Franklin, who discovers a giant robotic hand that is alien in nature. Rose led a team to recover and piece together the other pieces to the robot, and unlock the secrets of how to activate and pilot the robot. Waking Gods picks up the story as a second robot descends and lands near London. The robot obliterates much of London, and all conventional weapons against it have no effect- humanity is challenged once again to face this alien threat using whatever means necessary. Inevitable questions arise- why has the second robot arrived? Who is piloting it and why is it being used as a war machine against humanity? Is a larger invasion on the way?

In a story that combines elements of War of the Worlds, 2001:A Space Odyssey, and The X-Files, humanity is in a race against time to discover a way to defeat this threat, and find out why the alien race is attacking them and try to negotiate with them. Scientist Rose Franklin has died, but has been resurrected somehow, and is humanity's best hope to defeat this menace- but Rose doesn't even trust that shes human anymore, as portions of her memory are incomplete and she seems not to have aged in the years before she was resurrected.

The story is much like the first, although more action-oriented, and most chapters are in interview fashion, as plans are constructed in secret rooms, by powerful men who sway governments and armies behind the scenes, unbeknownst to the general public. There is the rogue geneticist who is brilliant but morally bankrupt, who is seeking answers in the genetic makeup of the aliens. There is Mr Burns, a shadowy figure revealed to be one of the aliens who has lived among us for centuries, and has been providing help to the humans. There are the first robot's human pilots, whose unique DNA enables them to telepathically command the alien robot. There is the military commander who shifts armies and coordinates information between the scientists, the alien Mr Burns, and world leaders, in an attempt to save humanity.

The interview format and covert ops reminds me of The X-Files. where powerful men made decisions for the rest of humanity, with the general public unaware. If this interview style of writing is offputting to anyone, you may want to skip this novel. I found it to be great peeking behind the curtain as these people generally let morality fall to the wayside as they move their pieces on the chessboard, which is honestly what many of us suspect our world leaders to be doing.

Of course there is some morality at play, often from unlikely sources, and as Waking Gods pushes humanity to the brink, what will it reveal about humanity? Will our darker aspects be our undoing, or will our better aspects win out? Are we in the end not much more than intelligent beasts, or can we aspire to a higher destiny? Waking Gods left me a lot to think about afterward, and that is something rare.