Giant alien robots and people-eating spiders! Quick thoughts on the finales of these two trilogies.
Only HumanAuthor: Sylvain Neuvel
Series: Themis Files #3
Published by: Del Rey
Publication Date: May 1, 2018
Format: eARC
Pages: 336
Source: Publisher
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.
The trilogy has come to an end, and I must say, Only Human was my favorite of the three. The major questions of where the giant robot came from and what its purpose was were answered. The book picks up almost ten years later, and I was pleasantly surprised where the story actually took us. While it does jump to the future, we get flashbacks of what was going on during that time. There were a couple of instramental characters that I missed, but their absence didn’t hinder the story like I feared it might. Overall, it was a worthy conclusion.
Zero DayAuthor: Ezekiel Boone
Series: The Hatching #3
Published by: Atria Books
Publication Date: February 27, 2018
Format: eARC
Pages: 336
Source: Publisher
In the finale of Ezekiel Boone’s Hatching series, the United States goes to war against the queen spiders that threaten to overtake the human race forever.
The world is on the brink of apocalypse. Zero Day has come.
The only thing more terrifying than millions of spiders is the realization that those spiders work as one. But among the government, there is dissent: do we try to kill all of the spiders, or do we gamble on Professor Guyer’s theory that we need to kill only the queens?
For President Stephanie Pilgrim, it’s an easy answer. She’s gone as far as she can—more than two dozen American cities hit with tactical nukes, the country torn asunder—and the only answer is to believe in Professor Guyer. Unfortunately, Ben Broussard and the military men who follow him don’t agree, and Pilgrim, Guyer, and the loyal members of the government have to flee, leaving the question: what’s more dangerous, the spiders or ourselves?
My wishy-washy feelings for this trilogy continued with this final book, but at least I finished! It feels so slow and drawn-out a lot during much of the book, and I skimmed more than a couple times. Yet, I still liked it. *shrugs* It’s complicated. Anyway, I love spiders, but if you thought they were creepy in the first book, prepare for your nightmares to get worse. Honestly, though, this trilogy could’ve easily been trimmed to two books.
Glad your Only Human turned out to be a great finish and you got to the end of your creepy spider series. I’m curious about the spiders, but just can’t. However, the Themis Files are on my list. Great minis!
I haven’t tried the series with Only Human. It is on my wishlist though. I enjoyed Zero Day but for a final book, I was disappointed. Great reviews Christy.
I do agree that the Hatching Trilogy could have been two books easily but it was fun and creepy getting to see the spiders evolve. Glad you liked both endings to these even if Zero wasn’t your favorite. Have a great weekend!
glad to have you back posting. I am hoping to get to Only Human too, I have an audiobook waiting for some attention 😀 glad to hear you think it wrapped up well, def a bit nervous about it.
I haven’t tried any of these series but I heard about them
Meh.. I wasn’t willing to continue the spider series. I liked the first book, but I hated all the view points. Glad I skipped the others. The Human series sounds interesting.
Works like a charm.
Sweet!
Ooh the reviews coming out now for Only human are making me kinda want to jump back into this series. I read book one and was kinda meh, but I’ve heard they get better!
And spiders… no 🙂
I have Sleeping Giants, but I still need to read it!
People-eating spiders?! Ack–nightmares!! Lol.
Do You Dog-ear?
Both of these look really good. I’ve had the spider series on my TBR since I saw reviews for the first book. I’m not adding Only Human book one onto the list too. Great reviews.
I haven’t read these but Only Human sounds interesting. There used to be a tv show called Only Human about a human looking robot and I liked it.
I have not read any of these, but I want to read the hatchling series.
I forgot that the spider series ended up being a let down after the first book. That sucks the last one didn’t rise to the occasion – BOOOOOOO! The robot book series stills sounds good.
Question: what does “intramental” mean? 😛 xoxoxoxoxo
InSTramental, dammit! lol! I suppose I could try to justify the use of “intramental” for one character, but … yeah, freaking typo. 😀
I need to check out the series that Only Human is from and soon. Glad you enjoy these. 🙂
OMFG! I don’t know how you guys read this. I could barely kill a spider let alone read a whole series about them creepy crawlies!! Even now I’m getting goosebumps, I have scenes from Arachnophobia on my brain *shivers*
Now it’s my turn to read Neuvel’s trilogy. I am glad you enjoyed it–especially the final book.
I haven’t tried either of these yet, but the Themis Files one really intrigues me. I’m glad to hear that series ends on a satisfying note. I’m on the fence about the other series…
That’s good to hear that Only Human had a good conclusion and gave you the answers you wanted!
The Hatching series is one that I never plan to read lol. I hate spiders!
I’m happy that one out of two was fulfilling! I don’t know about the robots and I really don’t know about the spiders….I actually got The Hatching for review before I realized it was about spiders. *shudders* Not exactly a fan. Anyway, it’s interesting that despite its pace you still managed to like it. That says something about the story.