Atlas Six (Atlas Series, 1)

Based on the growing hype and exciting premise of this book – 6 magicians with unclear motivations reluctant to cooperate; secret societies; a mysterious library; ‘dark academia with a twist’ – I was convinced this would be my jam. And it actually started off pretty well, I was mostly enjoying the lack of story for the first 35-40% of the book but before the midpoint, it started to drag and be a bit too deliberately *edgy* for my liking. It took me weeks to finish because I could only read about 30 pages a day without getting tired of it, but I was curious enough about where it was all going to continue reading. Let me give credit where it’s due – I applaud Ms Blake for what she was trying to do, she’s throwing out and trying to incorporate some huge concepts and ideas into a unique story but unfortunately, I wasn’t convinced by her execution. I tend to enjoy reading about morally grey characters, but I didn’t root for or gravitate towards anyone in particular in this book, and neither was I invested in the numerous Dramione reinterpretations, I mean character relationships or dynamics, varied as they were. The traits which made the characters intriguing at the beginning were downplayed when they talked and acted like edgy teenagers. Now, I like my fair share of edgy teenage characters but this novel presents itself as a much more eloquent story with mature characters. I know a certain level of pretentiousness is to be expected in a dark academia novel but my god, the navel-gazing, philosophical musings and vague remarks about the mysteries of life, reality, desire, time and space grated on my nerves. I didn't feel like they were incorporated smoothly at all because they ended up coming off as grand but hollow statements. Over the top, bloated dialogue in which characters answer questions with another question tended to either lead nowhere and reveal very little, be exposition heavy or, most frequently, unsuccessfully attempt to heighten tension and create emotions between characters where I felt none. I was also frustrated and confused by the very vague and yet oddly specific science based magic system which had no rules for the reader to follow and was conveniently utilised as the plot required it. It all somehow manages to make the book too underdeveloped and overdeveloped at the same time. Another problem I had is that for a story set in a sinister, academic setting, this novel completely lacked any tangible atmosphere associated with the trope and I think that can be mainly blamed on the shallow characterisation, lack of high stakes and the baffling magic system. There is an interesting twist at the end but by then it was too late to keep me hooked. As my enjoyment of this book continually dwindled down, I will most likely not continue with the series. Hopefully I’ll have better luck with Olivie’s othe...

‘The Atlas Six’ is written in an extraordinarily complex form of conversational narrative reminiscent of Thomas Pynchon. Terms were invented for the form … hysterical realism, metafiction, and relentless reality come to mind in this first installment. Action strikes like a snake bite. Action snaps in a sentence. The recoil drives a microscopic reflection. Unlike a Pynchon or Stephen King-themed beast, the storyline shifts, and suffers as it drifts into formulaic, multi-installment inconclusion. The dystopian background setting was secondary. Incomprehensible magics dwell mundane, present but not yet shifts to the background. The tension is among wholly dysfunctional characters. The characters dwell in on the edges and extremes of neuroses and psychopathy. Characters are seething sacks of self-loathing raised to the power of arrogance and entitlements. No one’s likable, frankly. It’s a designed character development mess that cumulatively delivers much more than I expected. Atlas Six is not typical or light. It's a mental exercise. The depths of Blake's deep-diving, driving, exploration of the psyche might hurdle it into a class of its own. The quality of the storyline, however, is left to be developed in the process. And the reader knows it as the pages dwindle. The Atlas Six sacrificed potential greatness by opting for installments. It will not achieve the legacy triumph of a Stephen King 1000-pager. Nonetheless, it’s a tasker to bring this first installment to terms. The writing demands the mind's full attention. It expanded and consumed the back lot of my typically wandering reading mind. The intense narrative style is best consumed in sips. It's not an all-nighter to my mind. It's best consumed a sip at a time. It suffers severely from the installment publication decision error. Kudos to Olivie Blake! Wicked smart writing. Poor judgment to opt for installments will not be received well.

I mean the synopsis sold me the promise of danger and maybe, I thought that meant like battle magic to the death? It’s not but it is a GREAT plot and I get the feeling that Parisa’s character may have been the author’s favorite. I feel like the book could have been longer with so much more said about all the other characters and their academic studies. Reina and Callum should have been given more chapters. More detail about Dalton’s initiation should have been given. Maybe even a Dalton chapter! What was he studying? Hopefully more detail will be given in the sequel. The promised betrayal really came out of left field. Did not expect it at all! Still a little unsatisfied with the end but I suppose I’m unsatisfied with most endings. Truly what I know is this story had an amazing premise and great characters. I also know that I expected it to be more like Ice and Fire and Harry Potter had a love child. It definitely had me turning pages so I can recommend the book wholeheartedly.

Intellectual, philosophical, mysterious and plot twist-ical (yes, made up word). This book was FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC. So clever and well done. The characters had layers. Like Shrek, lots of oniony layers. The plot had lots of oniony layers too. But seriously, this is a read I'll be thinking about for a long time. The world building and story was phenomenal. I was so intrigued from the beginning. Watching the mystery and plot unfold was amazing; I never wanted to stop reading.This was just brilliant. I have so many questions and theories and I'm still kind of processing what's what. I was so on the fence about reading this and its just been sitting on my TBR. Im so glad i got to experience it as a buddy read and I'm so mad I waited so long to read it. I already pre-ordered book 2.