Waking Gods

Written by Sylvain Neuvel

In the gripping sequel to Sleeping Giants, which was hailed by Pierce Brown as “a luminous conspiracy yarn . . . reminiscent of The Martian and World War Z,” Sylvain Neuvel’s innovative series about human-alien contact takes another giant step forward.
 
As a child, Rose Franklin made an astonishing discovery: a giant metallic hand, buried deep within the earth. As an adult, she’s dedicated her brilliant scientific career to solving the mystery that began that fateful day: Why was a titanic robot of unknown origin buried in pieces around the world? Years of investigation have produced intriguing answers—and even more perplexing questions. But the truth is closer than ever before when a second robot, more massive than the first, materializes and lashes out with deadly force.
 
Now humankind faces a nightmare invasion scenario made real, as more colossal machines touch down across the globe. But Rose and her team at the Earth Defense Corps refuse to surrender. They can turn the tide if they can unlock the last secrets of an advanced alien technology. The greatest weapon humanity wields is knowledge in a do-or-die battle to inherit the Earth . . . and maybe even the stars.


Cast of Narrators:
Andy Secombe - Interviewer
Eric Meyers - Headings
Roy McMillan - Jacob Lawson
Laurel Lefkow - Rose Franklin
Adna Sablylich - Marina Antoniou AKA Alyssa Papantoniou
Charlie Anson - Vincent Couture; Jamie
Christopher Ragland - Ryan Mitchell; Lieutenant General Alan A Simms
William Hope - Mr Burns; Eugene Govender
Madeleine Rose - Kara Resnik
Karina Fernandez - Eva Reyes
Olivia Dowd - Sarah Kent
Sarah Wells - Deborah Horsburgh


Praise for Sylvain Neuvel’s Sleeping Giants
 
“As high-concept as it is, Sleeping Giants is a thriller through and through. . . . One of the most promising series kickoffs in recent memory.”—NPR
 
“Neuvel weaves a complex tapestry with ancient machinery buried in the Earth, shadow governments, and geopolitical conflicts. But the most surprising thing about the book may just be how compelling the central characters are in the midst of these larger-than-life concepts.”—Chicago Review of Books
 
“This stellar debut novel . . . masterfully blends together elements of sci-fi, political thriller and apocalyptic fiction. . . . A page-turner of the highest order.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
 
“Reminiscent of The Martian and World War Z, Sleeping Giants is a luminous conspiracy yarn that shoots for (and lands among) the stars.”—Pierce Brown, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Red Rising trilogy
 
“First-time novelist Sylvain Neuvel does a bold, splashy cannonball off the high dive with Sleeping Giants. It bursts at the seams with big ideas. This book is a sheer blast from start to finish. I haven’t had this much fun reading in ages.”—Blake Crouch, author of Dark Matter and the bestselling Wayward Pines trilogy
 
“A remarkable debut.”—Library Journal (starred review)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
• Release date: Apr 4, 2017
• ISBN: 9781524773984

Sylvain Neuvel

Sylvain Neuvel has taught linguistics in India and worked as a software engineer in Montreal. He is also a certified translator, though he wishes he were an astronaut. His girlfriend would have him believe that he has too many toys, so he writes about aliens and giant robots as a blatant excuse to build action figures (for his son, of course). His debut, Sleeping Giants, was described by NPR as “one of the most promising series kickoffs in recent memory.”

Reviews for Waking Gods

[rena613 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great follow-up to the first book. A new giant robot suddenly pops up in London. Then things escalate rapidly. Rose is back from the dead (it's explained, sort of) and she's once again heading the robot team.
There's a lot of action and mayhem and I didn't think a certain character would die and I'm so shocked about that.
This book too ends with a cliffhanger, so I can't wait to read the next.

[wvlibrarydude · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Giant alien robots, teleportation, lots of characters, great plotting, and a good seasoning of geek humor. Have fun reading.

[andsoitgoes_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This second novel in the Themis trilogy was as interesting and well-thought out as Sleeping Giants. I started with the audio version was ensemble cast and I almost gave up on the book because I found the narrators of two of the main characters poorly done. When I switched to the print version I enjoyed the story so much more and am looking forward to the third book. I do not recommend audio version.

[tuusannuuska-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

4,7 stars

I liked the first book, I liked this even more.

This was interesting and in parts very emotionally taxing. The format didn't suffer an inflation and was very successfully executed.

I'm so glad I waited this long to read this, though, it'd be torture to wait for the next book for more than a month or so, with the mother of all cliffhangers ending this one.

[vladmihaisima · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

More like a documentary of a disaster, presents short glimpses of the action via dialogues between the characters. There are not many descriptions, unless the characters talk about one thing of another. The focus jump around between a couple of key characters but the general impression is that they are caught in the flow without much choice. Has a couple of ideas but they are in the end rather simple. Enjoyable to read due to the peculiar format and ability to keep a sense of suspense.

[shmerica-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

GIANT SPACE ROBOTS!

[thewallflower-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It feels like an odd coincidence, reading this so close to A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor, both of which are about large alien robots no one knows what to do about. The difference is that one is about the effect on pop culture. The other is global politics a la Godzilla/total-destruction-weapons “I’m gonna smash everything, whatcha gonna do about it?”

I wish I could say I thought of it myself, but it reminds me of what an American version of Neon Genesis Evangelion might look like. Less on the Christianity, more on the whizbang Hollywood moments (mix thoroughly) — but that’s a compliment. There’s less angst and more CSI-style character drama. But it’s still good.

The problem is, if you go into this expecting a typical mecha story, with action and team strife and missiles flying around and questions of fate vs. destiny, that’s not here. These themes are more nihilistic and “we’re all doomed because we can’t get the world to act together”.

But it’s a sequel, so if you didn’t read the first one, I don’t know why you’d read the second.

[wagner5sarah35 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This series is really proving to be gripping! It's not one I expected to like so much, but like its predecessor, this book was been incredibly distracting and immersive. I've grown to really like the characters (and be saddened by some of their fates), and I even find the technical descriptions of science and genetics fascinating. This novel was a quick read, but also a memorable and striking one. Recommended for anyone who enjoys a good book.

[morgan.goose · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love this writing style, so unique

[jzacsh-533759 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved this book. Highly recommend this series for a fun adventure scifi.

[pjohanneson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I forgot to take my time with this one, to savour it. I devoured it instead, in a little more than 24 hours.

And now I can't wait to read the third book, which isn't out for another couple months.

[phyllis.mann · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent! Yokits amazing!

Do yourself a favor and have all three Themis Files books on hand when you begin the first: "Sleeping Giants," "Waking Gods," and "Only Human." They read super-fast and you'll be kicking yourself when you finish one if you don't have the next to start right away.

[jekka-986711 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This series is so good! The format is original, the subject is entertaining, the characters are written well, and the plot is well-paced and interesting.

[obtusata · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

While I didn't enjoy this quite as much as the first in the trilogy, I still had a hard time putting it down. It's an interesting concept and I enjoy the characters, even the unlikable ones.

[kinwolf · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It's an ok read. Lots of places though that are apparent contradictions to what what mentioned in the first book. I am also not a huge fan of writers that write an avatar of themselves as the hero of a series, it's weird.

[ray_-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

OHMYGOD OHMYGOD OHMYGOD OHMYGOD

What the hell?!
Like, what the actual hell????

Too much has happened in this damned book I can't even!


First, Dr. Franklin is actually alive but she's actually 27 aka younger than how old she was when she died in the first place.
Then, one giant alien robot comes to earth and it basically erases half of London
Then, more giant alien robots come to earth and land in the biggest cities of the world and they kill millions of people using some sort of deadly gas
And Vincent and Cara have a daughter????? (Fuck you too Alyssa whatever the fuck your last name is)
Her name is Eva and she's a weirdass cinnamon roll.
CARA FUCKING DIES!
HE FUCKING DIES AFTER TELLING ROSE HIS LIFE STORY! (I gotta admit I was kinda disappointed by that turn of events bc I expected a much more grand background story)
Vincent and Eva bond after the death of Cara and he teaches her how to pilot Themis (cue my heart melting)
And somehow Rose takes HIS place and then finds a way to kick the alien robots out and by some damned miracle it works

Badaboom we're happy and partying but THEN
DUN DUN DUUUUUUUUUUN
Themis is activated on her own and *gasps* THEY'RE IN SPACE!!!!


What an ending!
What a fucking ending!
And that cliffhanger omg!!!

I just NEED the next book NOW

[bluesalamanders · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I don’t even know how to talk about this book. I’m not sure I would have read it if I’d known what it was about. I definitely wouldn’t have listened to the audiobook if I’d known about the torture scene, the major character deaths, and the times when it seemed like major characters had died because I listened to this book while at work and none of those things were conducive to calm and productive work time.

I do think it’s a bit better written than the first book and the characters are even better developed. The story went in several directions I definitely did not see coming but worked well or made perfect sense once revealed.

Content warnings: apocalypse-level amounts of death, major character deaths, descriptions of major injuries, torture (VERY dramatic in the audiobook), kidnapping, nuclear bomb

[julesgdside · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As good as the first book.

[charlotteburt · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book but I didn't love it as much as Sleeping Giants.  I think the reason for this is that this second volume is much darker previous book and the body count is huge.
The overall feeling of this book is of the sense that we are all going to die and soon with not a huge amount of hope.  It all gets darker and darker until the last 50 pages or so, when it all lightens up considerably, which was a relief.
This is a good second volume, it is fast paced and engaging and well written with interesting characters.  I just can't wait for the third book to find out what happens to the world.

For the full review check out my blog: Engrossed in a Good Book

[hobbitlass · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

2nd in a great sci-fi trilogy which explores what it means to be human.

[publiusdb-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Sylvain Neuvel has some interesting ideas and a narrative style told entirely by documentary...but Waking Gods just isn't as good as the first installment in the Themis Files, Sleeping Giants. He is, however, merciless in treating his characters as no more powerful or special than anyone else. They are human, they are flawed.

Not a bad read. I'd almost give it four stars but felt a little disappointed in some of the plotting choices and, frankly, it just wasn't memorable. I recommend it for a fun read over a cold weekend by the fire or a long day on the beach. Well worth the time.

[guide2_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another quick enjoyable read, but not as good as the first one of the series.

[reading_fox · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The cover is subtitled (at least in my edition) as 'time to die' which is pretty accurate. The interesting style of the book in epistolary file reports continues, but has lost the novelty that made the first book so memorable. It does drag a little across the middle, and the change in narrator doesn't really help as everybody (left surviving) hangs about feeling sorry for themselves, which takes more skill than this author has to make entertaining reading.

The book opens some 9 years later than the end of the previous one. It turns out that Aylssa's unscrupulous manipulations have born fruit in the case of Eva a precocious 9yr old girl blessed with genetics from both parents (note only 25% chance of this - part of one of the extended expositions that drag the middle section of the book) and cursed with visions of the future - mostly of everybody dying.

First one and then another 13 alien robots teleport onto Earth. Vincent and Klara are summoned to answer the 1st, while the rest of the earth stands by, but the remaining 13 are far too many for them to deal with. Nobody knows why they came or what they want, they don't communicate, and many speculations are proposed. Our unknown commentator meets with his 'friendly alien' in the chinese restaurant again, for more exposition in the form of stories which don't really explain anything. I'm not a fan of this as there's no plausible way for the almost-human to know this. Other plot holes include a lack of necessary recovery for the various injuries the characters experience.

[kristelh_15 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

second installment of the The Themis Files, Waking Gods is a story where several robots appear around the world with deadly effects leading to a possible end of human life as it is known. Themis can only be operated by two people which leaves the world vulnerable without these two pilots. But is that true. Why, do only some people die when the robots react? The characters are much the same with some dying and some coming to the surface. Again, very readable.

[chellebearss · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I think I liked this one more than the first! This one made me scared, worried, sad and pretty much all the feels. I’m going to start the next one right away!

[iira_24 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love this series! Robots, aliens, how could it go wrong?! The book consists of file entries and is therefore fast to read. I read the first book in Finnish, and I think that felt more like a YA partly because of that. There is something very much movielike in this series, perhaps because the narrating voice is missing and dialogue is emphasized. This narration technique works great for these books. There was plenty of action, although I may have forgotten some from the first. Can't wait for the next one (the finale?)! In space?

[sboren-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I purchased this book from Amazon to read after reading Book 1, Sleeping Giants. All opinions are my own. ? Waking Gods by Sylvain Neuvel Book 2 of The Themis Files. ????
Dr. Franklin is on the verge of mental break after discovering Themis but there is not time to figure out all the answers she wants to know. Suddenly in London there is another Robot. This one bigger, much bigger than Themis. What does it want? Where did it come from? What's it going to do? Then Vincent disappears and Kara is given information that requires and action from her immediately and suddenly Themis has no pilots and there are even more of these gigantic robots showing up all over Earth. Will Rose find the answers she needs to keep her sanity? Does Vincent return in time with Kara to save the world? ????

In my personal opinion this contained more dramatics than the first and less action, however, The information in this one can only be prelude to the Third book being released on May 1, 2018. I can not wait to gets my hands on that one!!!!! This series is one of my favorite Sci Fi series written. Review also posted on Instagram @borenbooks, Library Thing, Go Read, Goodreads/StacieBoren, Amazon, Twitter @jason_stacie and my blog at readsbystacie.com

[jamiebh-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

So good, just as captivating as Sleeping Giants. One of my favorite audiobook series, I seriously recommend everyone listen to these books (as opposed to or in addition to reading them).

[allison_krajewski-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

"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.

[bookworm12_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The second book in the series picks up 10 years after the end of the first. A alien robot appears and our familiar main characters return to try to save the world. **SLIGHT SPOILER*** Two of my favorite characters have unexpected endings that I didn't love in this book. I know that I'll miss them in the third book. **SPOILERS OVER***

I am looking forward to reading the final book in the series when it is released. I absolutely adore the audio versions of this entire series. There is a full cast and it works so well with the interview/journal style of the narrative. I don't know that I would have enjoyed it nearly as much if I'd read it in print.

"Kara is a smart woman. She knows there are many ways to be a good mother."