Sleeping Giants (Themis Files #1)
Sylvain Neuvel
⭐⭐⭐⭐
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UK Publisher: Penguin Books
UK Release Date: May 16th, 2016
Synopsis:
The Themis Files is a deeply human story about a world-changing alien discovery.
17 years ago, a young girl named Rose fell through the ground in the Black Hills and found herself in an underground chamber filled with gleaming symbols, lying in the palm of a giant metal hand. Now a physicist, Rose leads a research team struggling to determine the hand's origins. When another giant limb is discovered, she quickly devises a method for unearthing the hidden pieces, convinced there is an entire body out there waiting to be found.
Halfway around the globe, Kara watches helplessly as her helicopter shuts down over a pistachio field in Turkey. That'll leave a mark, but she's about to crash her way into what might be the greatest endeavor in human history.
This is a hunt for truth, power, and giant body parts. Written as a series of interview transcripts, journal entries and mission logs, The Themis Files tells the tale of a handful of people whose lives are inexorably linked by the discovery of an alien device and the commotion that follows.
Review
I'm really glad I picked this one up. It does the one thing I like Science Fiction to do best: to make me feel small, in a world, a galaxy, where anything could be possible, but we just haven't got there yet. Usually that notion would cause me to crawl into a fetal position and have a three-day existential crisis, but in fiction like this, its comforting. My actions don't matter, or at least only to myself and those in close proximity to my environment.
The plot was gripping, and I think that's relevant to the fact that there was no stray chapters. Each one was meticulous in building tensions and conflict that led to providing important plot points that had me reading straight into the next chapter.
I'm straying really close to spoilers, but I had to mention it. That ending had me twisting and yelling 'What the Fuck?!' for ten minutes straight. I'd say that's a good sign, if I haven't given you one already.
I thought it rather interesting how Neuvel set up the point-of-view that we got. The book is set up in a series of transcripted documents between the team of scientists and this "above the government" type of character. Characterization was key to what I could read between the lines of what little I was actually shown, as most of it was said and in a one-to-one environment.
Overall, I liked what I read and am really intrigued to move on to Waking Gods. I'm hoping I get some answers, cause GOD-DAMN, I need them.
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Top 5 Wednesday is a weekly blog group that comes together to discuss that week's topic. The idea was first curated by the wonderful Lainey at GingerReadLainey and is now run by Samantha over on ThoughtsonTomes.
If you wish to participate, either on your Blog or Booktube channel then, please, join the group on Goodreads for all the relevant topics.
1. A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic #1)
V.E. Schwab
Goodreads
Waiting for someone to comment about how I use Schwab's books for every answer. You think this is bad? I once used 7 references in a paragraph whilst talking about V's work in a University essay.
I want to be able to pass through into alternate London's. as much as I love my own London I'd love to see what else is out there.
2. Assassin's Apprentice (Farseer Trilogy #1)
Robin Hobb
Goodreads
There are various types of magic within Hobb's Realm of the Elderlings, The Wit being one of them. A type of "beast" magic that is seen as a "dirty" and those found to have the ability are put down.
I really love the idea of being bonded with an animal, to know their mind and become almost like a pack. I feel like I had something like that with my two furbabies, when I had them, just without the intimate bond with the mind.
3. Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell
Susanna Clarke
Goodreads
I love this Dickensian-esque tale about the only two magicians in England. Their magic feeds back into the lore of fae and fairytales and I find it for a fascinating read (when I actually do pick it - I am yet to actually finish the final 200 pages).
4. City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1)
Cassandra Clare
Goodreads
I love the concept of the half-angelic using a language gifted from their creators that help hone whatever superior strengths they may already have.
5. Uprooted
Naomi Novik
Goodreads
I don't remember exactly the magic of Uprooted, other than it was not quite set to a complete magic structure, a little bit more unpredictable and I think that is why I loved it.
I've written this blog post three times and every time something happens, either my Harold (my laptop) runs out of battery before I get a chance to plug it in or it doesn't save or both.
This month was hectic to say the least. I had to prep and pack to move back to North Wales for my final year as an undergraduate, and then I had to catch up with some friends that I haven't seen in three months, only to head straight into classes.
To All the Boys I've Loved Before (To All the Boys I've Loved Before #1)
Jenny Han
⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Of course, with the Netflix release of the adaptation I had to give TATBILB a quick little reread. I loved it! Sweet, funny and I thoroughly enjoy the family dynamics as much as the romantic ones.
Assassin's Quest (Farseer Trilogy #3)
Robin Hobb
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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I wasn't ready to say goodbye to these characters (I know there are other books that follow Fitz and the Fool, but this was the end of their first arc). Hobb's is able to craft the characters I love more than anything - deeply flawed, with their own set of values and enough dynamic to get me turning the pages at a dangerous pace.
Vengeful (Villains #2)
V.E.Schwab
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐+
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I waited five years for a sequel I never thought I'd get. V wrote this, pulled it apart and then rewrote it. I read it, I cried, I reread the ending.
This duology might be my favourite of all time.
P.S.I Still Love You (To All the Boys I've Before #2)
Jenny Han
⭐⭐⭐
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This book just grated on. Peter K acts like a pillock, then we get this sweet romance going with John Ambrose McClaren and the wraps up within 20 pages and just left me with a sour taste in my mouth.
Always and Forever, Lara Jean (To All the Boys I've Loved Before #3)
Jenny Han
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This might be my favourite book of the trilogy.
It deals with so much more than just Lara Jean experiencing relationships for the first time. That transition from the end of one part of your education and into the next. Losing people you care about and moving forward after family tragedy.
