The Atlas Six
Ratings374
Average rating3.5
OK so my journey with this book was:
1) Read a review of it in PW that said basically “this is an interesting premise executed poorly”
2) thought to myself “it IS an interesting premise tho so I'll check it out”
3) read it
4) thought “hmm this is an interesting premise executed poorly”
5) went online and found out this was a ~self-published TikTok sensation~ that later got a publishing deal????? and like
I dunno man! It is a cool idea but these 6 characters are all extremely “tell not show”. and there are some characters of color but their allegedly diverse life experiences don't like super show up on the page.
I did read it to completion because I was interested in the plot and there was a kind of cool twist but like............eh IMO
also everyone is tagging this LGBTQ and like, is it? the character Parisa can read minds and she's very hot and her ~thing~ is she likes to have sex with powerful people because their minds are more vulnerable to her powers when they're busy having sex, so like yes she has sex with all genders but is she attracted to them or just horny for power?? unclear?? and then when another female character, Libby, has a F/F/M threesome involving Parisa was SHE into women or just sort of mind controlled by Parisa? and like yes Nico did seem to be obsessed with his former [male] roommate but not explicitly in a romantic way and sort of seemed more like a younger brother intensely protective thing? not that it can't also be gay but I'm just saying like, personally I would prefer to have more intentionally canon queer characters before I hype up a book's queer representation!
4.5 stars. This book was a strange mixture of a lot of things I may not have liked in other books but somehow when it came together in this one, I found myself pretty entranced. This is, I think, a must-read for those who enjoy the dark academia trope/subgenre.
I'm not usually a fan when books name-drop other titles or authors to sell themselves, but I feel like it might be warranted in this case. This book reminded me strongly of A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik, The Secret History by Donna Tartt, and The Magicians by Lev Grossman. In short, basically everything dark academia. Now, I haven't had a really good experience with dark academia - I DNF'ed two of the above titles and didn't really enjoy the third - but for some odd reason, I was pretty sold on this one. I was engrossed from start to finish.
There was something about the writing style that was entrancing. It was sometimes confusing, sometimes infuriatingly opaque, but there was a rhythm and a style to it that I could get behind. Some may diagnose a mild case of purple prose, but for me it trod the line between annoying and lovely, and more often than not inclined towards the latter.
This sometimes worked to its disadvantage sometimes though. Blake has a tendency to leave things unsaid but in a way that feels like when someone starts a sentence and then stops halfway just before they got to the crux of the statement. Another thing I found that Blake tended to do was describing something happening out of nowhere, and then only explaining it later on (if ever). For example, halfway during a conversation, a character is described as blindfolded without explanation. We only realise a page or so later that they are attempting to play darts without seeing. On a smaller scale like this, it could already get annoying, but this also happens on much larger scales, on plot points that span many Parts of the book.
Two things stood out to me positively in this book: the characters and the magic system.
I won't say the characters are likeable. Honestly, I would be hard pressed to give you a character I even remotely liked, much less have a favourite. But they were all so wonderfully complex and you get such a deep character study into their mental states and how much trauma they've each gone through, both because of their unique powers and outside of it. All of the characters we have here are either annoying, morally gray, or both.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the magic system. Superficially, their powers would be considered pretty “basic” in the realm of fantasy: physical manipulation, telepathy, empathy, nature magic, and anti-illusion. However, Blake really leaned into fleshing those powers out to its fullest extent. So many of us have grown up with Professor X from X-Men but he doesn't seem to hold a candle to just how dangerous Parisa could be. Empathy has always seemed “useless” magic in combat but damn, what happens when it falls into the hands of an actual psychopath? So many possibilities here to explore and I loved everything that Blake did with it.
Also the ending was not in any way an ending! There was really barely any resolution and it felt like a lead-up to the sequel at this point, but I don't really mind. I enjoyed having all that time and space to really flesh the world out so I wouldn't mind if the plot spilled over to another book.
Overall, this book may not be to everyone's tastes and I can absolutely see why. I could wish that its storytelling was just a tiny tad simpler and less needlessly convoluted. Ultimately though, I thoroughly enjoyed myself, was engrossed by it, and I'm glad that it's getting a sequel.
Rating: 4.38 leaves out of 5
Characters: 4/5
Cover: 4/5
Story: 4.5/5
Writing: 5/5
Genre: Fantasy/Mystery/Lgbt
Type: Audiobook
Worth?: Yeaaahhh
Woo let's see, where to begin. I got this book thanks to Tiktok and never read it. Lol. Can't really tell you why, I think there was no audiobook for it? I could also be really wrong about that. Either way I hadn't even thought of picking it up till recently when I realized people were reading it in my book club.
Besides that let's get to the actual review. I kinda liked and didn't like the beginning. It seemed to forever go on but I liked the reason why it did. If that makes any sense at all. Then I slowly started to not like Libby. I will die on the hill of bashing Libby. There is nothing on this green earth that could ever make me really and truly care for such an annoying body of cells. Other than her, I really didn't care for Parisa though she did grow on me. Callum... I loved Callum a good bit from the beginning and it kinda stayed at the same level. Same for Reina but I wish there was more to her. Her character was well done. She was like an Ivy plant. You kinda forgot about her until she crept in. Nico was also someone who grew on me and I like him lots. Tristan? Absolutely not. That man is like drying paint that yelled with daddy issues no less. If I had to pick between him or Libby... shit I would pick Libby.
As for Ezra... woo... Libby never deserved that man in the first place. What a waste. He has a great ass power and the way he used it. I know this won't happen but if he could forever lock Libby away in that box that would be 100!
The book kind of felt rush since it jumped a lot in time, but other than that it was a pretty good pace.
There wasn't as much plot and too much heady weird stuff. I enjoyed the world but it didn't delve into it enough. It was about 80 pages too long.
Finally an ensemble cast I can get behind. Each and every one of these characters felt distinct to me and I enjoyed all their viewpoints. This book read a bit more intellectual and less actiony that I anticipated but it was engrossing nonetheless just seeing the characters bounce off each other.
Hmm, this one was quite the rollercoaster for me. I sat down and read the first ~150 pages and told my husband he had to read it with me because I was digging it so much and he wasn't into the book we were currently reading for our two-person book club, so I then took a break while he caught up (and also, I had to finish playing Hades). I struggled to get back into it, partially due to Our Flag Means Death brain rot, but also because I just...lost whatever spark made me so into it in the first place? I don't know!
It has its problems (mostly being overwritten and nothing happening until suddenly everything is happening) but overall I...had fun with it? I don't know! I'm as confused as you! I'm interested enough to keep reading the next book, though. 3.5 secret societies rounded down because of the aforementioned issues.
Who would you be if given everything, money, power, life, and magic?
There is an age-old saying first uttered by English historian Lord Acton, but it is now in common parlance that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. But, I think in terms of The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake, unlimited power, wealth, and magic doesn't corrupt per se, but it brings the chosen six more into who they already are. Weak, strong, or cruel the seeds were planted long ago amongst the students.
The story follows six advanced magic students with unusual or substantial magical gifts. They are those that float to the top as the cream of magical society.
“- Libby Rhodes and Nicolás Ferrer de Varona: inseparable enemies, cosmologists who can control matter with their minds.
- Reina Mori: a naturalist who can speak the language of life itself.
- Parisa Kamali: a mind reader whose powers of seduction are unmatched.
- Tristan Caine: the son of a crime kingpin who can see the secrets of the universe.
- Callum Nova: an insanely rich pretty boy who could bring about the end of the world. He need only ask.”
All so young, or beautiful and enchanting, or both. All, frankly, rather boring. A mysterious and powerful man invites these six people to a unique library where they can study and have access to the great collections of the lost Library of Alexandria, with a possibility of future advancement. Here they can further their skills if they work hard enough, except there is a catch. There is always a catch. Five, they are told, will be initiated. One will be eliminated.
“We are the gods of our own universes, aren't we? Destructive ones.”
In the blurb, it sounded fascinating. I love good dark academia. The darker, the better, as I am a little tramp for any that fall into this category. Plus books. Who knows what one could achieve if given access to these resources. The possibilities of where this plot could take me were endless.
But, nothing. Nothing really happens. Frustratingly so. Don't get me wrong; there is plenty of turmoil, relationship drama, and inner monologuing about “what does it all mean!?' The interpersonal relationship woes reminded me of a pseudo Dangerous Liaisons mixed with characters from the tv adaption of Lev Grossman's The Magicians. Especially Parisa as Margo Hanson and Callum as Elliot. While they are not carbon copies, the characters' attitudes reminded me of them.
“A flaw of humanity,” said Parisa, shrugging. “The compulsion to be unique, which is at war with the desire to belong to a single identifiable sameness.”
This is a darling of BookTok and gets talked about endlessly; much of what is hailed about The Atlas Six are the characters, but not so much the plot. Again, many of these characters have the depth of a teaspoon. So much so that I had a difficult time telling them apart. Libby and Nicolás Ferrer de Varona are easy to tell apart as they are unnecessarily swiping at each other because of “sexual tension.” Out of the bunch of characters, I enjoyed Nicolas the most. He had more depth than any of the other characters as we learned more about what was happening in his life outside of the competition.
Reina as a naturalist, was odd. I could differentiate her character by the amount of plant squealing and chatter she had to endure. Parisa was a seductress. I enjoyed her openness and freedoms, but it sometimes came off as forced. Tristan was a character that blossomed but got lost in the Libby, Parisa, and Callum machinations. Callum seemed like a sociopath.
The ending upset me so much that I stood in awe at it; either it is brilliant and above my intellect or, um, “what?” I don't even know what to say about it other than, “wow that came out of left field.”
Other than that, I have got nothing. There is a plot of something something, but it all gets lost in pretentious self-absorption.
I know this is a beloved book for many people, which is lovely! Not every book is for every reader, and this book was certainly not for me.
I don't understand the hype for this book, I had to really push myself to finish reading it.
The start of the book felt promising with the rivalry between Libby and Nico and the recruiting of the characters. I was also happy there was a fight/action scene at the beginning of the book, but after that nothing was able to keep me interested in the story.
There were no description of any of the places or any of the characters, i felt there were no ambience given to the story, even thought it clearley wanted to be a Dark Academia type of book, it missed the mark for me.
I'm happy lots of readers enjoyed it, but unfortunately I am not one of them...
Six incredibly powerful initiates are chosen chosen to spend one year in a competition to see who will gain membership to the Alexandrian Society. One will be eliminated.
What I loved most about this story was the exploration of the pursuit of power. It is placed squarely in dark academia and given gripping human context. Humans don't seek power and knowledge devoid of their past experiences and Blake brings out the best in how death, neglect, abuse, and loyalty can shape our pursuits.
It also has a really interesting magic system, where the type of magic you can do is classified and able to be refined in a special college. Magic can often come about because of great pain or loss. This puts a whole new spin on the undercurrents and ideals behind magic users.
For those of you looking for a darker look at power, knowledge, and magic.... you've found it.
3.5 stars
I liked it, but I felt that it was so hard to concentrate on the story at some points, I had no idea what was going on and there was so much stuff being talked about. The book is not bad, but it's just not for me.
I received a copy of this book at no cost from NetGalley.
I actually looked into buying this book when I was looking for An Interesting Book to read for my Adult Self, Not For Reviewing, Just For Reading, For Fun, Remember When You Used to Have Fun Reading? (To be clear I also have a lot of fun reviewing, but I am also frequently very stressed about it.) Goodreads, however, had a lot of top reviewers pretty unimpressed with it, so I ended up buying IF WE WERE VILLAINS by M.L Rio. I am about ten pages into that book and really enjoyed those ten pages. Maybe this month I will read another ten pages. Anyhow, I was really intrigued by the fact that this book went BACK into NetGalley and is getting like, republished because it went viral?? “Now newly revised”? Because it was republished traditionally? I'm intrigued. But you know what, Chai of @proyearner (who is credited here as a “viral book reviewer”??) says that “The Atlas Six is a fantasy novel that understands that what the people want is more dark academia stories with flawless vibes and aesthetics and hot morally fraudulent characters who are constantly on the verge of either killing each other or fucking each other. I'm the people.” So I guess I am extremely here for it??? (Also there is a great recommendation from Chloe Gong). Honestly, blurbs have never really mattered to me at all, but both of these are incredible forces in The Book World and also, honestly, of my heart?
ANYHOW. This book. Honestly? I feel like it has good bones. I feel like I would write good fanfiction of this book. It starts and introduces all these interesting concepts and characters and ideas, and it doesn't really do anything with them? The stakes are kind unclear, and I would kill for like, a description every now and again and honestly I don't often say that. Erin L. on NetGalley writes that “it's mostly hot people being mean to each other”, which is honestly its strongest and most interesting feature. Plus it's set in a dark academia vibes world! And there's a sequel coming!
I was extremely into “The 100”, the CW television show, which is about hot people and good ideas being destroyed by the apocalypse, and honestly that is kind of what this book feels like? I'm really glad that it's gone viral and is apparently very popular on TikTok, because I'm hoping that means it WILL become a CW show and I can read really good fanfiction of it instead. Or maybe the sequel will be better!
I don't know! I have confusing thoughts about this book! I feel both frustrated and intrigued! Three and a half stars, rounded up to four for NetGalley!
Six candidates are chosen to test for a year in a secret, magical society. At the end of that year, 5 of the candidates are chosen to be inducted. They all are extremely powerful magic users, each with their own specialty. They are tasked with working together to solve a problem. What follows is a story of manipulation, deception, and magic.
I am now officially fully on the bandwagon for this book. My sole task on this earth is to get everyone to read it. It was incredible. The prose, the characters, the plot; everything came together to make an incredible story.
The prose in this story is very high brow and almost pretentious, which works so well in this dark academia setting. All of these characters are the best at what they do, and they know it. The prose highlights this throughout, really helping the characterization advance. There were some lines where I was just gushing at how beautifully written it was.
The characters are all so incredible. I think that some were explored more than others, but that didn't bother me too much. I do wish we had gotten a little more of Reina. I think the complex dynamics that exist between everyone is so engaging.
The plot is fast paced and twisted. I had no idea what was coming around every turn. I thought that the entire concept of the society is fascinating, and some of the discoveries these 6 people made literally made me get up off my couch and pace around. My husband thought I was losing it.
All in all, this book was a masterpiece. I am dying for the second book. This is now my whole personality.
TW: alcohol, blood, death, degenerative disease, guns/gunshot wound, manipulation, murder, sex scenes (not explicit), suicide
this book felt like a labyrinth i was desperately trying to escape. so many subplots inside of one, weird ending: ezra was the villain. or was he? was it atlas? callum? parisa? to be honest, i do not know. i do not have the intelligence to even begin to comprehend this book but all i can tell you is that it was quite naturally gay, as if every character was bisexual on default. nico and libby = academic rivals to lovers. tristan and callum had so much tension; i was yearning for them to kiss. i believe it is slightly homophobic that tristan libby and parisa had a whole threesome scene (fuck was that about ???) yet we couldn't even have ONE tristan x callum kiss
The dialogue here was less than great, but the premise and plot of the book itself was excellent. And what a cliffhanger to end on!!
2.99/5 stars
This book wasn't awful but it was also full of so much wasted potential? I didn't hate it but I'm also more disappointed then my mother.
But tbh the problem is probably me. I found 90% of this book was so, so incredibly boring. There's 6+ main character and I don't feel attached to any of them. The magic system was either underexplained or I'm just too dumb for it (probably the latter tbh). There was random parenthesis in the middle of paragraphs to add in additional information that wasn't really relevent and it was the worst writing style I've seen since I read a book with no capital letters.
I read this book extra slowly to try to understand the plot but in two weeks, if you asked me about anything that just happened, I won't be able to tell you
Anyway, I won't be reading this book ever again and will not be continuing the series. Thank you and have a nice day.
Entirely underwhelmed.
Loved the characters and thought the plot seemed really interesting. My problem was I thought it had a ton of potential that none of it was executed on. There was just so much potential for some psychological, thought provoking writing, and I saw none of that at all. Left feeling incredibly disappointed and upset.
I regret reading this because the next book is not going to be released until next year
