Only Human by Sylvain Neuvel

Author: Sylvain Neuvel
Original title: Only Human
Edition Language: English
Series: Themis Files  #3
Genres:  Sci-Fi
Format: Audio book
Read by: Sylvain Neuvel, William Hope, Charlie Anson, Laurence Bouvard, Adna Sablylich, Laura Kirman
Duration: 8h41m
Goodreads

Blurb:
   In her childhood, Rose Franklin accidentally discovered a giant metal hand buried beneath the ground outside Deadwood, South Dakota. As an adult, Dr. Rose Franklin led the team that uncovered the rest of the body parts which together form Themis: a powerful robot of mysterious alien origin. She, along with linguist Vincent, pilot Kara, and the unnamed Interviewer, protected the Earth from geopolitical conflict and alien invasion alike. Now, after nearly ten years on another world, Rose returns to find her old alliances forfeit and the planet in shambles. And she must pick up the pieces of the Earth Defense Corps as her own friends turn against each other.
My thoughts:
      I love the series, but this was my least favorite of the three. 
Firstly, some of my favorite characters were no longer around so this lacked the attachment I had before. And there was no longer the air of mystery surrounding Themis that had sucked me in from the start. We basically know everything at this point and it's just wrapping up how things might play out. 
      On the other side, the book is dealing with a lot of racial and religious issues, this is a book that will make you really think about the future. There are tons of great quotes in this book, reading this conclusion will definitely make you contemplate the situation of our world. There were an incredible amount of things talked about that I thought was very relatable and applicable to our society. 
      Unlike the previous two books, there are not a lot of giant robots fighting here, there is only one action sequence in this book. Most of the books is devouted to character development and growth. And it is greatly done and interesting to follow.

“We’re not heroes. No one is. Every movie we watch, every book we read, we see people who can solve every problem, face every danger all on their own. But in real life, Vincent, we just call the cops. That’s what I did.” 

      I listened to the audiobook and I definitely recommend this format if you're able to listen to them. The full cast is always impressive. 
      So, this was a solid ending of fast-paced series, a fun audio experience as always, but I just wasn't as into it.

Rating:  

    4/5 

Wayward Pines by Blake Crouch and TV series

Author: Blake Crouch
Original title: Pines; Wayward; The Last Town
Edition Language: English
Series: Wayward Pines
Genres: Sci-Fi, Thriller
Format: Audio book
Read by: Paul Michael Garcia
Duration: 8h33m; 8h39m; 6h36m
Goodreads

Blurb:
Secret service agent Ethan Burke arrives in Wayward Pines, Idaho, with a clear mission: locate and recover two federal agents who went missing in the bucolic town one month earlier. But within minutes of his arrival, Ethan is involved in a violent accident. He comes to in a hospital, with no ID, no cell phone, and no briefcase.  Why can’t he get any phone calls through to his wife and son in the outside world? Why doesn’t anyone believe he is who he says he is? And what is the purpose of the electrified fences surrounding the town? Are they meant to keep the residents in? Or something else out? 

My thoughts:
     I loved the series. The story was captivating and fast paced. The idea behind the series is great.
     The main point is to get into the book without knowing anything. Do not read any reviews and reaction. Even the indication the genre can be a spoiler. Just read the first book and you know for sure if you will like it or not.

 Rating:  

    4/5 

Name: Wayward Pines
Year: 2015-2016
Creator: Chad Hodge
Cast: Siobhan Fallon Hogan, Toby Jones, Shannyn Sossamon, Matt Dillon
Genres: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Language: English
Country: USA
Time: 20 episodes
      I was looking forward to TV series even that I know the BIG TWIST, still I was sure I would enjoy it.
     First couple of series of the first season, I was a bit irritated as I did not know where the series are going and I did not like little omissions in the plot. Then I calmed down and thought: "Here it is a new twist to the series, it is going to be different with different characteristics and motivations". But for a long time I could not believe that nurse Pam is actually being on the good side! Can you just imagine my shock? There must be a catch! It is a pity, that the suspense that I felt in the movie was not so intense, and in the series it felt more as an evil town turned against proper Ethan Burke, and not so much of his fear of going mad. But altogether the first season was a solid part of a story.
     The second season made really angry and agitated. I actually hated how they twisted the story and it felt like another apocalyptic teen movie with the only difference: there was no "chosen one". Oh no, wait, there was - Jason. The beginning was abrupt and not logical (you guys get on the wagon and catch up later) - it felt like I started the season from the 2 episode, and every episode was about someone's death from the season 1. What was the point? What's the point to bring old characters in episode 2 and kill them in episode 3 -  just to connect the seasons? It really irritated me - the plot felt so raw, illogical and crumpled that I really wish I could un-watch this season. And I really hated how they handled Adam Hassler in the series. In the book he is a really dramatic figure and though he is not in the foreground, he is quite a strong and unique character. In the series, he is actually some kind of hysteric weirdo who did not wash for ages.
      So the second season hinted my enjoyment of Wayward Pines
  

Rating:  

    2,5/5 

Waking Gods by Sylvain Neuvel

Author: Sylvain Neuvel  
Original title: Waking Gods
Edition Language: English  
Series: Themis Files #2  
Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction  
Format: Audio book  
Read by: Andy Secombe, Adna Sablyich, Laurel Lefkow, William Hope, Charlie Anson, Christopher Ragland
Duration: 9h08m
Goodreads 

 Blurb:     
    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.

    My thoughts:
    I am greatly confused and enchanted by this book. I still did not get how the book ended and how the crisis was resolved, but I loved the story development and characters.
It was a great turn in the plot when aliens invaded and from this point the story developed so rapidly, that I could not stop listening. It was a lot of difficult scenes that I was fighting my tears, but altogether the story was a great read. I was a bit puzzled by the ending, how the invasion was stopped. And though it was explained, I still did not get it. Maybe it will be discussed in the final book.
    My only complaint was the voice of the young girl, it was so irritating and piercing that I clenched my teeth every time she spoke. I heard some reviews where readers complain about the accents, which is ok with me, since many of them were not correct, thus none should be offended, but the girl was just utterly irritating and was really close to ruining the listening experience.

Rating:  

       4,5/5    

Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel

Author: Sylvain Neuvel  
Original title: Sleeping Giants  
Edition Language: English  
Series: Themis Files #1  
Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction  
Format: Audio book  
Read by: Andy Secombe, Christopher Ragland, Charlie Anson, Laurel Lefkow, Eric Meyers, Liza Ross  
Duration: 11h08m
Goodreads

 Blurb:     
     A girl named Rose is riding her new bike near her home in Deadwood, South Dakota, when she falls through the earth. She wakes up at the bottom of a square hole, its walls glowing with intricate carvings. But the firemen who come to save her peer down upon something even stranger: a little girl in the palm of a giant metal hand.    Seventeen years later, the mystery of the bizarre artifact remains unsolved—its origins, architects, and purpose unknown. Its carbon dating defies belief; military reports are redacted; theories are floated, then rejected.  

    My thoughts:
     I loved the book. And I loved the audio book! I believe this is the case when the audio format can be better than the printed version. There might be questions to the correct representations of the accents, but I am not so picky on this part. at the beginning I felt some difficulties to get into the story, but then I just fell for it. My favorite character is “our unnamed friend”. I just do not know, but there is something about this guy I like. He is cruel, pragmatic and intimidating, but at the same time he cares. He is the better version of fanatic, we can imagine in comparison with the psychopath fanatics as Papantonio.
     As for the story I liked the structure of the book and plot development. Since the book is in file format it might have become dry science fiction story, but it is a nice balance between science, psychology, action scenes and human interaction. The story develops so slowly that you can easily say this is not a story about aliens, but story about how people slowly come to the understanding that they are not alone in the universe and how the need to reevaluate their perception of the world.

Rating:  

       4,5/5