Atlas Six is an ensemble cast of magicians competing for a place in a prestigious magical society. The diversity of the characters and unique world-building make this a standout in this crowded genre. You never quite know who's the good guy and who's the bad guy, and you never fully like or fully dislike any of the characters. This book will keep you on your toes trying to figure out the true motives of the characters. Fantastic.

The Atlas Six is an enchanting story in a world of secret societies, forbidden knowledge and characters that feel very real with their complexity and flaws.

The story follows six uniquely talented magicians as they’re selected for initiation into the Alexandrian Society, a mysterious organization that holds the secrets of the world’s greatest knowledge. Only five will continue, one will be eliminated. The six potential initiates will fight to survive the next year of their lives, and if they prove themselves to be the best among their rivals most of them will.

This is not my first novel by Olivie Blake, but every time I read something by her I’m in awe at how lush and magical her prose is.
The Atlas Six is a character driven story and every single character has depth, complexity and flaws that make them unique and real. They’re all morally grey and they’re all very likable.

Fans of dark academia, magic and morally grey characters will definitely enjoy reading this story.

Another fantasy novel about a magic school?? Sign me up. I enjoyed this first book quite a bit, and am excited to read the rest of the series.

Interesting world building.
Compelling characters.
Relatable writing.
.... I'm off to hunt down book two immediately!

I have tried to get in to this book a few times. And I love the concept, but unfortunately was not pulled in and had to push through . Thank you for sharing with me

This was definitely an interesting concept but I don’t think this book is worth all the hype unfortunately.

The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake is a perfect fit for readers who crave a thrilling and immersive tale of dark academia, rivalries, and magical discovery, with a dash of mystery and adventure, and are eager to delve into a world of ancient knowledge and hidden secrets.

Olivie Blake’s The Atlas Six is a spellbinding journey into a world of magic, mystery, and intellectual intrigue. This debut novel introduces readers to a secretive and elite society of magicians, the Alexandrian Society, whose members are said to be the caretakers of lost knowledge from the Library of Alexandria. With its complex characters, intricate plot, and philosophical underpinnings, The Atlas Six is a fresh and compelling entry into the fantasy genre.

The story centers around six uniquely talented magicians who are selected to compete for a place in the prestigious Alexandrian Society. Each of these individuals—Libby Rhodes, Nico de Varona, Reina Mori, Parisa Kamali, Tristan Caine, and Callum Nova—brings their own distinct magical abilities and personal ambitions to the table. They are invited by the enigmatic Atlas Blakely, who offers them a chance to unlock the secrets of the universe, but only five will be chosen to continue.

Blake excels at character development, giving each of the six protagonists a distinct voice and rich backstory. Libby and Nico, former rivals at magical university, bring a mix of tension and camaraderie. Reina, with her deep connection to nature, and Parisa, with her mind-reading abilities, add layers of intrigue and depth. Tristan’s ability to see through illusions and Callum’s manipulative charm create further complexity. Their interactions are charged with tension, alliances, and betrayals, making for a dynamic and unpredictable narrative.

The novel's setting is equally compelling. The Alexandrian Society's headquarters is a place of wonder and danger, filled with arcane knowledge and hidden threats. Blake’s descriptive prose brings this mysterious world to life, creating an atmosphere that is both enchanting and foreboding. The library’s secret chambers and magical artifacts are described with such detail that readers can easily imagine themselves walking through its halls.

The plot of The Atlas Six is intricate and multi-layered, blending elements of competition, espionage, and existential inquiry. The six candidates must navigate not only their own ambitions but also the manipulations of Atlas and the secrets of the society itself. Blake weaves in themes of power, knowledge, and the nature of reality, prompting readers to ponder philosophical questions while remaining engaged in the unfolding drama.

Blake's writing is sophisticated and lyrical, with a penchant for introspective and philosophical passages that delve into the minds of the characters. This style might be demanding for some readers, but it adds a level of intellectual engagement that sets the novel apart from more straightforward fantasy tales. The narrative is punctuated by moments of intense action and suspense, balancing the cerebral with the visceral.

One of the strengths of The Atlas Six is its exploration of the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by its characters. Each of the six must confront their own motivations and the consequences of their actions, leading to moments of introspection and growth. The novel does not shy away from the darker aspects of ambition and power, making it a thought-provoking read.

In conclusion, The Atlas Six is a remarkable debut that combines rich character development, a captivating plot, and philosophical depth. Olivie Blake has crafted a fantasy novel that is both intellectually stimulating and thoroughly entertaining. Readers who enjoy complex characters, intricate world-building, and a touch of the arcane will find much to love in this book. The Atlas Six is a promising start to what is sure to be a celebrated series, leaving readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in this magical and mysterious world.

I forgot to leave a review for this, but I really enjoyed it! It's been out for ages, so I won't say much more than I need to for my star rating. <3

This book made my little dark academia heart very happy. I am a great fan of Olivia Blake’s work especially her fanfiction and was excited to try her published work. It took a while to hook me in and did often find the writing style hard to read. However once I was reeled in that was it. The plot was unlike anything I have read and the all the characters were so perfectly unique it was amazing. The magic system as well was very complex and fascinating to learn about. The romance confused me at times but overall this book was very enjoyable.

Is this book for everyone? No. Is it for me? YES. The vibes are immaculate and the character driven plot made me FEEL THINGS. Blake is a master of writing realistic characters that you can't help, but be enthralled by. I think the topic of the plot itself could bore some readers, but I urge them to look past the plot and enjoy this book for what it is: a chance to love-hate polarizing characters.

I've somehow managed to read Olivie Blake's books in a very backwards manner, only just now getting to this book years after its come out and after reading several more recent Blake books since. This was probably both a good and bad thing as far as my reading experience went with this book.

For one thing, Blake has a very clear and distinct style to her writing and it's the kind of thing that will really speak to certain readers while annoying the heck out of others. I, for one, really enjoy the more lyrical moments that her writing can strike upon and am typically fairly interested in the philosophical meandering style of some of the narrative. This book definitely leaned in hard to the latter, with a lot of time given to exploring the broader thoughts and feelings of all of the characters.

And here is where it will go off the rails for some: the characters are a mixed bag of traits, all of them with some interesting aspects, but also all of them with other very frustrating decisions and thoughts. If you're a reader who is looking for a definitive "good guy" to follow, this book give you one. There's also a large cast of characters, so at times it can feel a bit grueling going from one to the next, knowing that, while different, they are also largely the same as far as these frustrating arcs can go.

That said, I did like some of the philosophical aspects, and I do enjoy her style of writing, so I was largely invested in the overall story. I also liked the fantasy academia setting of it all. That said, the plot itself is clearly more focused on the development of these characters and their interactions with one another, more than any fast-paced, active, moving plot line. This will either really work for some readers (those who read for characters mostly, like me) or not (those looking for a more plot-centric storyline). Overall, I think if you're a fan of Blake's writing, this one will definitely work for you. But she's also a very specific sort of author, so I can see her work being challenging for general fantasy fans.

why do publishers always feel the need to indicate that a certain book blew up on tik tok? i mean we know it did, no need to remind un by putting it on the cover! apart from this, i really like this book! it's definitely character driven (like there's a plot but it's not really heavy or anything). however i loved the depth to said characters. they were all very distinctive both from their pov's and from other's as well. you would know when reina or parisa was talking and you could feel the difference in their dialogue and inner thoughts. the concept is so fun and i wished we had seen more of the library but i think that will come to play in book 2. overall it was a very good book and it gave the fall vibes i wanted. 4.5/5

I loved the expereince of reading this and somehow still don't know what i read. These were some of the most interesting characters I've ever read about, I just wish the plot made sense

I found this book to be beautifully written in terms of style, but there were some sticking points that made it pretty difficult for me to make it all the way to the end. Dark academica is usually very popular with my high school students, but many of them reported similar experiences to my own while reading: feeling confused by what was going on, bored for long stretches of time and not caring what happens, and not connecting to any of the characters.

***Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book to review.***

I tried reading this on my kindle a while back. I got maybe 40% through it and lost interest. I do want to try and pick this one up again because I loved the concept. I have the audiobook now so I might try that format and see if I have better success!

I don’t really get all the hype about this one. I ended up DNFing half way through because nothing had happened yet. All the characters were surface level and I had a hard time connecting to them.

OMG This book made me an instant stan of Olivie Blake. I was a little skeptical of the book when I started. It was a little slow, but the characters, especially Libby and Nico, made it easy to want to continue. But as soon as they all start interacting, sparks fly, literally and figuratively. It was a fun ride that makes you excited for the rest of the trilogy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

The Atlas Six is such a beautifully written fantasy. The world-building is outstanding. The story is well written with an enchanting storyline and well-developed characters that engage from start to finish. The world is atmospheric and feels real with vivid descriptions and rich imagery. I cannot get enough. Highly recommended. Be sure to check out The Atlas Six today.