Review & Thoughts : Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel

Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel
☆☆☆☆☆

Published by Del Rey
Publication Date : April 26th, 2016
Available as Hardback & eBook – 320 Pages
Source : Purchased!

A page-turning debut in the tradition of Michael Crichton,World War Z, and The Martian, Sleeping Giants is a thriller fueled by an earthshaking mystery—and a fight to control a gargantuan power.

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.

But some can never stop searching for answers.

Rose Franklin is now a highly trained physicist leading a top secret team to crack the hand’s code. And along with her colleagues, she is being interviewed by a nameless interrogator whose power and purview are as enigmatic as the provenance of the relic. What’s clear is that Rose and her compatriots are on the edge of unraveling history’s most perplexing discovery—and figuring out what it portends for humanity. But once the pieces of the puzzle are in place, will the result prove to be an instrument of lasting peace or a weapon of mass destruction?

Thoughts:
I enjoyed this one so, so much. I was hesitant going in, outstanding premise but I’ve seen mixed reviews. Some said it kept them at arms reach (it did) and that the format of the story limited what happened (which it also did). All of these are spot on to the story. Somehow in this case though it worked for me.
The only ‘character’ that I truly grew attached to was our narrator. Being the narrator that means that he/she is likely safe (for now) from harm. Because of these the events that unfold are almost like watching a crazy movie or family drama. My mentality and what I was looking for with this one made this exactly what I wanted. I also have a series problem not loving epistolary novels. I can’t think of one I haven’t enjoyed.
Speaking of a narrator I have to say, I felt like the this person, changed and developed. There are things that are done, things that happen, and things that are said that I saw as actual character to that narrator. I saw some personality, some reactions in the character. I felt almost like Agent Coulson. Sometimes things and reactions were played off but maybe our narrator is not as all seeing and planning as they’d like us to think?
The other characters were kind of what I expected, but managed to surprise me in the little things and actions they took. From Ryan to Kara and Rose (OMG that ending though?) I really wound up liking all of them a lot. Good solid cast, and I can’t wait to see more of them in the future.
Like all books, it’s up to the reader but I really loved this. I highly recommend giving it a try if giant robots are your thing (if they aren’t then clearly you are way more adult than I am). If nothing else you’ll have a quick and fun read.