Reviews

Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel

kitkat13's review against another edition

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mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

jomalou's review against another edition

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mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

fredosbrother's review against another edition

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tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

an_anzal's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.0

fancycar's review against another edition

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5.0

the main reason i don't read much sci-fi is because my overall experience has been that world-building and plot take center stage, and i'm the kind of person who will read a book that has me rolling my eyes at the entire story, as long as i am emotionally invested in the characters. (bonus points if they suffer and i cry.)

this book? absolutely delivers on plot, intriguing characters, and actual character development.
the ~mysterious~ narrator is truly the driving force at work, pushing both the story and the characters forward. and even though his character is portrayed as this well-connected puppetmaster who absolutely handles situations and gets. shit. done. very sexy of him tbh, i never felt like there were any deux ex machina moments.

reading this almost felt like reading a play: the cast is small and there are only a handful of places the main story and dialogue take place. i can see how this would be frustrating for someone who likes their sci-fi to be filled with that expansive world-building, but there is honestly still so much packed into such a relatively short book.

as someone who mainly reads fantasy and chick lit, the political and social commentary from the author was... refreshing, i guess? in a book that's essentially about a giant (alien) weapon of mass destruction, it's not unexpected when we're asked to confront the cost of war–or, more accurately, the value of a human life–as well as our place in the universe, both individually and collectively.

i initially started listening to this on audiobook before getting so into the story that i had to switch to the ebook, but it's the first time i've ever been sad to switch. i honestly think the ensemble cast, and especially the narration by andy secombe, make the audiobook a better more immersive experience overall–although, i would recommend listening at 1.5 speed, at least.

if you like giant alien robots, found family, mysterious and cryptic but well-intentioned covert agent type dudes... highly recommend.

laviskrg's review against another edition

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4.0

This was a great read, although in my opinion the "many voices / interview style" book has only one supreme ruler: World War Z. None can come close to it but I liked this for what it is: a chill, fast paced, balanced summer read.

I thought that a lot of the drama was solved much to easily towards the end of the book. The beginning and the middle parts are definitely the best written. Overall, I think this is a strong debut and I will continue with the series.

emray14's review against another edition

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hopeful mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.75

Big fan of the format and the missing gaps in the story it leaves. However, the explanation that alien descendants lived on through human history and were considered exceptionally intelligent and physically superior feels too close to ancient aliens bullshit.

pleoniesmith's review against another edition

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2.0

This is why I avoid SF.

lukija's review against another edition

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2.0

Tämä oli mukavan nopeasti nautittu poliittinen jännäri scifi-kulisseissa tai kepeässä scifi-marinadissa uitettuna. Elokuvallinen tuntu juonenkulussa pääosin dialogisesta tekstimateriaalista huolimatta. World War Z kohtaa DaVinci-koodin.