Like the first book it starts slowly and it stays that way until ~60% when a lot starts happening at once. It's a nice book but it feels like something is missing. Like not enough happened. When the plot moves it's very interesting but it feels like a lot of the time nothing is happening.

I look forward to the next book, highly because this one ended very abruptly and I'm curious what will happen next.

My rating and enjoyment of the book might have been impacted by very badly formatted arc I read. I will likely read this book again once it is out to ensure I didn't miss stuff.

A beautifully written book. Really enjoyed reading this. Thanks to publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A massive thank you to Olivie Blake, Tor and Net Galley for providing me with an ARC copy of The Atlas Paradox in exchange for an honest review.

You have no idea how much I screamed once I got the approval request for this book. I read "The Atlas Six" a couple of months ago since it was part of my Fairyloot monthly subscription. Dark Academia books are my world.

I appreciate the fact they put some info about the characters to review them before getting into the book. It was really helpful.

I'd forgot how powerful and intricate Olivie Blake's writing is. Since I'm not a native speaker, I kinda struggled at first, but once I got dragged into the story, I completely fell in love with this book. I devoured it in a couple of days. I was like, "I don't need sleep, I need answers".

I fell more in love with all of the characters, but Libby has my heart since page one. Her character development is something that I would have never imagined. Big shout out to Olivie Blake and her brilliant mind.

Since it's a Dark Academia there is a lot of talk regarding psychology, ethics, astrophysics, science theories, etc. I'm a woman in STEM so my heart did a backflip every time something was mentioned, but it could be not everyone's cup of tea.

I thought this was going to be duology, so when this book ended with a cliffhanger I was completely shocked. NOW I NEED BOOK 3. In the meantime, I'll wait next to my mailbox for my Illumicrate Exclusive Edition of The Atlas Six and The Atlas Paradox.

I was looking forward to reading this book after reading the first book in the series, atlas six. Unfortunately I didn't enjoy this book as much, I found it quite hard to get in to

Okay, time to organize my thoughts.

The Atlas Paradox picks up where The Atlas Six left off. We see the initiation ritual of our five candidates and accompany them throughout their second year at the Alexandrian Library.

There was some plot going on (especially at the beginning and the end), but mostly the story is character-driven and all vibes. The focus seems to be (again) on the inner workings of everybody – their desires, wants, needs, fears, dark places – and the book dives deep into it.
It's true that there are some unlikely alliances going on, but I really loved the exploration and execution of that. Especially with the attitudes and resistance that went with it.

At times – a lot of times, actually – the book and characters seemed and sounded pretentious. But to be fair, it's a Dark Academia book and pretentiousness is kiiiiiiind of a distinctive element. And it was very well done. *Chef's kiss* I absolutely enjoyed every moment of it!
There was even more talk of science theory, philosophy, psychology, morals, ... than in the first book, and if that doesn't interest you, it could be frustrating to get through.

I have to say that The Atlas Paradox didn't grab me as much as The Atlas Six did. It was very easy to put the book aside and do something else instead. And I'm not used to loving a story but not feeling the need to read everything in one go.
Also, the way the passage of time was shown was sometimes a bit confusing. Weeks or months went by in just one sentence in the middle of a chapter. The casualness of that pulled me out of my reading flow, and I would have liked at least a new paragraph or some other visual separation.

But guys, THE BANTER! The banter and snark and overall dialogues. I just! Wow! I loved it! Olivie Blake certainly knows how to do it! That alone kept me coming back to this book time and time again. Also, the ending? A bit dramatic and maybe cliché, but I have to admit, I ate it up.

The last thing I want to say: I'm both amazed and terrified by Libby's character development. Let's see what the third book will bring.

And now, excuse me, I'm off ordering myself a hardcopy.

First of all, thanks to netgalley and Olivie Blake for letting me read this ARC. The Atlas Paradox was one of my most anticipated reads of the year.

I was looking forward to the sequel that a book as wonderful as the atlas six deserved and so it has been. Olivie blake has done it again. the world and the characters we met in the first book continue to grow and deepen, making you want to keep learning how the story progresses and never lose the desire to know how the story progresses.

I adore the way Olivie writes the development of everyone's powers and how it all converges into a story with an incredible evolution.

Olivie has a very unique and distinctive writing style and I can't wait to find out how it continues. I thought it wasn't possible to fall more in love with the characters, but she has made it so.

✨The Atlas Paradox✨

By Olivie Blake

🤫spoiler free review🤫

I read The Atlas Six earlier this year and was really intrigued by it, so I was looking forward to The Atlas Paradox.

I felt very much the same about this book as I did the first one. It takes some careful reading, and I had to go back a few times to check things. It’s a bit of a slow start, but once again I was quickly drawn in.

The first book was very character driven and The Atlas Paradox is no different. The core characters were well developed already but in this book we get a deeper insight into each of them. I really enjoyed each character’s chapters (even Callum).

I did see reviews saying The Atlas Six was too character driven, with not enough plot, and while I don’t really agree with that, I definitely don’t think it can be said about this book. The story moves forward through each character’s eyes, and we get a lot more insight about what’s going on and why.

I had actually thought these books were a duology, so when The Atlas Paradox ended on a huge cliffhanger, I was momentarily outraged, before a quick google revealed a planned trilogy.

This was a great mid-trilogy book, and I am looking forward to seeing how everything is resolved in the final book.

Also, I need some Gideon and Max in my life.

Thanks to @netgalley @olivieblake and @panmacmillan for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Atlas Paradox will be released on the 25th of October.

i had so much expectations from this .i liked it less than ta6 .For 2/3rd of the book the plot doesn't move forward at all.The characters felt completely one dimensional. Except the last 100 pages the entire story felt like it was being dragged. i look forward to reading the final one in the trilogy i hope the series wraps up well

This was more of everything I loved from the first book:

Physics, astrophysics, philosophy, ethics, character analysis, psychology - everything that made The Atlas book(s) so unique and interesting to me.

Not forgetting the six, probably bad, hot people thrown into difficult situations with tonnes of angst, tension, and both difficult & heartwarming moments. I am obsessed with these characters, and I love that we get to be so in their heads, and really understand what makes them tick.

I adored this novel. As with the first, each word feels so deliberate. I read the entire thing digesting every sentence. Once again this is more character-driven, which in my opinion suits Blake's writing style perfectly, and I savoured the journey.

Now, just to wait anxiously for book three...

A massive thank you to Olivie Blake, Tor and of course Net Galley for providing me with an Arc copy of The Atlas Paradox in exchange for an honest review.

I will start by saying that this has been one of my most anticipated books of the year so far, and it did not disappoint.

I'm trying to write a review without spoilers and it's near on impossible - BUT this book focuses a lot more on the characters themselves and their backstories.

Blake does an amazing job of creating characters that just seem real and raw to me.

All of the flaws and idiosyncrasy most of the characters in this book are deeply unlikeable, they are selfish, elitist and out for themselves and I am here for it.

I think this book is going to massively divide opinion - Personally I loved it although my one criticism would be that the end of the book felt a little rushed, but that may have been more to do with the fact I thought I had an hour left of reading (according to kindle) and it was more like five minutes due to acknowledgments and excepts from up and coming releases.

I will probably reread when I get my physical copy.

Personally couldn't finish this; was a decent read but way too slow. May need to give it a re-read sometime but as for now I really struggled to read it.

Olivie Blake is a talented author. Honestly having read My Mechanical romance in between The Atlas Six and The Atlas Paradox, I am just amazed at her ability to jump from one style to the other. Anyways more about this book. I’ll start off by saying that dark academia isn’t my preferred genre and most likely never will be - it makes it hard for me to read and took me forever.
That said… I am fully invested in this story an these characters. I found this book a lot more engaging than the first one, the plot thickens, unravels, concludes and unravels again. I can’t keep track of who hates who and who loves who or who f* who but I’m reading for book 3 now please.

the atlas six was one of the best fantasies I read in 2021 and continues to be so. this book is everything I love in the fantasy genre and it was nothing short of perfect. I absolutely loved this book and I can't wait to complete this series <3

No more Olivie Blake for me. I hereby officially cut the ties that glued me to the world of Atlas somewhat against my will. This book was so emotionally dissatisfying. The characters shallow. Prose slightly better but didn't do much to elevate the book higher. I loved her YA book and will stick to her YA books, thanks very much.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this arc!

This rating might be clouded by my love for these characters. Even though they can be very annoying and prententious at times, and say things that no one in reality would, I still like them.

Much like the atlas six, the atlas paradox is also pure vibes, with little to no plot, and is very much character driven book. It will not be for everyone, but it works for me.

One problem i had with this the atlas paradox was the pacing, it felt and was rushed. When you thought only days had gone by, it had acutally been weeks and sometimes months.

Sometimes i had a difficult time following some of the conversations between the characters when they were discussing things like, physics etc.

Anyway I’m very much looking forward to the last book in the trilogy.

I loved the Atlas Six and this one was well awaited. The cover is stunning, the artwork inside the book is stunning and the whole world this is set in holds so much promise for future books.

It’s full of intrigue, fantastic writing and some great characters but I was a bit confused about the direction of this one in parts. Maybe that was the desired effect but I definitely couldn’t tell where this book was going so certainly kept me on the edge of my seat.

There is something frantic and a slightly unhinged feeling about this book. It darts from here to there and you feel like, as a reader, you’re trying to hold onto strings and draw things together but nothing quite makes sense. But as you go along, some things start to click into place as you try to build a picture up of what’s happening. It’s certainly a book you have to use your brain with, it’s not one of those effortless, mindlessly race through sort of books as you’re likely to drop a thread and get confused as to where you are!

I love the writing though and the references to science and physics makes my scientists heart very happy. I’ll definitely be avidly waiting for the next one to see how it’ll all pan out.

A really enjoyable read that follows on perfectly from the first book. It was well written with a compelling storyline and well developed charcaters that I loved. As soon as I finsihed it I was sad that there wasn't the new one immediately. I cannot wait to get my hands on it

starting this with a huge thank you to netgalley + the publisher for the ARC of this, cannot put into words how excited i was to read this (:

/

now, with a heavy heart my excitement ends here. this was probably?? a 2/2.5 stars, but i settled for 3 for the blessing that is nico de varona and surprisingly callum nova. other than those two?? and at times tristan, this book was really dull and a bit pointless. like genuinely, nothing happened.

things seemed to be happening just to chuck in a little more scientific theory that really didn’t tie in to the general plot of the book. the most notable things that happened were like, in total, 4 things? and most of that happened at the end. also, it felt like ms blake had a disconnect with the characters because they all changed so that they fit a distinct trope. i loved reina in the first book but in this one? insufferable. couldn’t stand to read about her and her god complex. unlikely allies doesn’t mean making these characters i love seem like shells of themselves.

i hope the next book fixes the characters and makes them… them again? i also hope there’s more actual plot next time, and not just a whole lot of nothing. i seriously thought about DNFing this and then it’d mention nico and id have to carry on reading. (rooting for u nico and gideon)

really disappointed with this one because i loved the first. it just didn’t give me that feeling. anyway, in conclusion. id die for nico.

Copy provided by publisher via NetGalley.

So, firstly I’m going to say I think there will be many readers who will thoroughly enjoy this book…it just left me in a quandary (no spoilers!)

Like ‘The Atlas Six’ this is dense and I’m glad I read the two back-to-back. Both have so many clever aspects to them like the characters’ abilities, how they function as a group, pairs and individually, and the impressive volume of world building. This felt very much like a twisted, darker version of X-Men for me and the characters have so much explosive potential. I very much enjoyed the final quarter where the plot builds to an exciting pace….and, although there were many elements of the rest that I felt was spectacular, I just found it too slow. I experienced this with the first one and found that I was skipping sections just to get to the dialogue. The action just feels too minimal for me and I struggled to stay focused on the longer sections of the characters’ thoughts. I have a sneaky feeling this may change in the third one and I will enjoy discovering what happens to the characters next.

This is where I’m in a quandary- for the most part I felt like I would give it 3 stars but towards the end, it very much felt like a 4 star book. So, I will have to settle on 3.5,

If I ever die bury me with this series. 💀

For real, a gal really do be screaming, crying and throwing up. This was everything I wanted from book two and MORE.

Firstly, Blake is coming through for the sapphics, gays and aces with the full on pride parade my ass is craving. She really said, pride may be over but this series is not and I’m HERE FOR IT.✨

Also Parisa or Libby could stab me and I’d probably say thank you and ask them if they needed anything else.

This book is so well written, we start off where the last left off.

The hunt for Libby is the main focus and whilst I wish to give no spoilers I’m here Libby she has entered her doc marten era for sure.

The vibes? Immaculate. Steep me in dark academia any day but Blake writes it so well that you feel transported to these bleak libraries. I just curled up with a hot drink most of the time even though it was like 35 degrees out.

What I didn’t like? Mixed feelings about the new character intro, kind of intrigued to see if or how they will play into the next. That was probably it and that’s being picky.

Rep// MLM, WLW, Ace.


Thank you to publisher and netgalley for providing me with an ARC.


TW’s listed below, please skip if you do not want vague spoilers:







Tw/CW// Nuclear weapons, Kidnapping, Parental abuse, Claustrophobia, Homelessness, Fire mentions, Death, Misogyny, Ableist language, mild violence.