Waking Gods (Themis Files #2) – Sylvain Neuvel

Genre: Science Fiction
Publisher: Del Rey

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.

Waking Gods ups the stakes, thrills, and mystery as the reader is thrown headfirst into the fallout of Sleeping Giants.

If you enjoyed Sleeping Giants, you’ll definitely love Waking Gods. Neuvel continues his narrative told through interviews and personal logs that keeps the story constantly moving without ever feeling stagnant.

New characters are introduced and new mysteries unfold as Neuvel expertly answers questions from the first novel while introducing others.

As with Sleeping Giants, Waking Gods tackles themes of weapons of mass destruction, fate and free will, and scientific progression. These themes aren’t at the forefront of Waking Gods as much as its predecessor because Neuvel focuses more on the characters. All of the characters are given more depth, direction, and expanded personalities as the novel unfolds. The reader gets some much-needed answers about a specific character and it’s perfect!

Overall, Waking Gods are a fantastic sequel that continues the genius that was Sleeping Giants while expanding the world and the characters and upping the stakes tenfold.