i love love love love this book. i read the original version last summer and was OBSESSED. the vibe is amazing, the concept is great, the characters are all so complex. i have no complaints and i would HIGHLY recommend this book !!!

This hype to this was is for real and I'll start by saying I did overall enjoy my time with it. It has a very promising premise but ultimately it lost me toward the middle. My biggest gripe being how quickly we are introduced to characters and how they basically vanish out of existence. It seemed as though the author was trying to build a background for each, but those are quicky lost. I really felt the same to our protagonist as well.
Full review to come on YouTube.

I’m so happy I found a new group of morally grey characters to obsess over! I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel as soon as it comes out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of "The Atlas Six" by Olivie Blake.

This was a deep dive into dark academia for me and I really enjoyed it. The setting and the characters really drew me in when I usually do not prefer multiple perspectives. I thought the whole mystery surrounding the Alexandrian Society was great and intriguing as the characters and I slowly learned more and had to keep in mind who knew what about what which caused some mental gymnastics for me.

I loved most of the characters and thought the twist at the end sets this up on a cliff hanger leaving me waiting desperately for the next installment.

Five stars.

This book was confusing and interested. I can not say what happened, but I had a good time. The ending shocked me more than I thought it would, so I’m definitely reading book 2
3,5⭐️

When I heard there's a new dark academia book I squealed in delight, also, the cover is absolutely stunning. I always love books with multiple POVs more, and this one has an amazing cast of gloriously morally grey characters, so it was very interesting to read the story from all of their POVs. But i didn't enjoy the heavy involvement of science and technology and philosophy in the story, but that's because I was never a fan of science as a student and didn't like to read so much about it in a book I read for pleasure. But I did love the dark academia vibes and settings of the story.

Magic and dark academia combined? Sign me up. This was a fun unique story about 6 magical young adults, and I found myself very drawn into their story. I finished this book excited for more and can’t wait to see how this series progresses.

The amount of physics that went into this was just wild. Combining fiction and science to create the literary masterpiece of the society, just blew my mind. The level of detail was so deeply layered that at times it was difficult to follow, so much so that I would catch myself rereading just to understand. Once we got to Ezra, everything just fell into place. I wish it had been sooner, but then we might have not ended in somewhat of a cliffhanger.

I think I consider Tristan to be my favorite, with his ability to see through illusions and his true desire to be wanted and needed. Although, I did expect him to make at least some noise about the little thing he spotted in a portal (that one time). His character just makes sense to me the most. Libby and Nick together make me happy, the beginning of their competition to the development towards the end. Parisa I absolutely love. I love her desire, her development towards freedom, and her secretive manipulation that develops into so much more. Callum, well….he’s Callum. I can imagine his character might have more development in the sequel…but we’ll see. I don’t want to talk about Atlas. I’ll just say that. 😂

I wouldn’t shelve in a Florida high school due to the climate here, but a good NA read. The story will stick with you.

Atlas Six had been on my radar for a while and I'm so glad I finally picked it up. Love the characters in this book and cannot wait for the next one!

DNF PAST 17%
I could not get into this book. The beginning in incredibly dry and while I am interested in what the Alexandrian society is, I do not want to waste my time finding out. It took way too long to get started and at 17 percent, I still cannot gage where this story is going. I care not for any of the characters. I wanted to like this, but I found I was reading whole chapters and not retaining a single word. It did not grab my attention.

Atlas Six is set in an immersive world where certain people are born with a wide range of abilities. Select people are invited to join a secretive society where membership can open doors unavailable to them otherwise. I loved both the world-building and characterization in this book! The story is told from multiple perspectives, which adds to the element of mystery about what’s really going on. I can’t wait to read the next in the series when it comes out!

The secret society, the magic, the competition and rivalry all bought me, but I abandoned all my expectations and predictions as soon as I started reading this book. Not once did I dare to guess what was going to happen next. For the most part, it wasn't even about the plot anyway, it was about characters that were so layered, so well thought-out, so complex, and I fell in love with them all. They all had their own agendas, their own motives, they were all a mystery not only to me, but to themselves. That was just so amazing! And I have to say, the book did make me feel stupid! 🙈 I feel like if this me was in the same room as these characters, I would get that ''ugh, she's an idiot!'' kinda look. And I wouldn't even mind, I would totally Ned the situation like ''thank you for letting me be a part of this journey''. I just trusted the story to guide me and now that I've read it, I don't know where it got me. I only know that I am absolutely in love with this book and can't wait to get my hands on the next one! Also, yeah, that's all I'm gonna say about this book because I'm a bit intimidated by it brilliancy and I don't want my dumbness to show. 😬😁

If you're a fan of dark academia, magical libraries, and a memorable cast of characters, this is the book for you. The characters are flawed and engaging, and the plot is addictive. It makes for a jolly good read.

Source of book: NetGalley (thank you)
Relevant disclaimers: none
Please note: This review may not be reproduced or quoted, in whole or in part, without explicit consent from the author.
And remember: I am not here to judge your drag, I mean your book. Books are art and art is subjective. These are just my personal thoughts. They are not meant to be taken as broader commentary on the general quality of the work. Believe me, I have not enjoyed many an excellent book, and my individual lack of enjoyment has not made any of those books less excellent or (more relevantly) less successful.

Well, this was the most exquisite bobbins. And I mean that as pure praise.

It’s one of those “hello, you’ve been invited to a murder society” stories but it’s incredibly well done on absolutely every level. Like, I am legitimately in awe of how brilliantly this is structured: its mysteries carefully built up and then revealed just enough to keep you intrigued but never enough to keep you satisfied.

In other words, this book is edging. It is four hundred pages of edging. And, somehow, I didn’t storm out in frustration after.

Thank fucking God the sequel is due out later this year, though.

Although to give The Atlas Six full credit, and to reassure readers who may be less receptive to being literarily fucked with, while it’s clearly the first book of a thing, with much left to resolve, there’s enough of a … well … um a climax … that you don’t feel cheated or left hanging.

Anyhow, the basic setup here is that every decade six of the world’s most talented and powerful magic-users (the setting is kind of our world but magic) are invited to join the Alexandrian Society: an unregulated, highly secretive organisation that is, among things, an astonishing repository of magical knowledge. Six are invited. Only five make it through.

To be honest, this the least satisfying aspect of the book for me personally. I mean, it works, it adds a tremendous amount of narrative tension, and everybody loves a death game, right? But I can remember turning to my partner in bed while I was reading and being like “If you ran a secret society to which only the best and brightest were invited, why would you have them murder each other?” And then there was a pause and we both said in unison: “for the lulz?”

And there is more to it than that. There’s some noise about great magic needing a great sacrifice. And, more subtly, something one of the characters—Parisa—says about the forces that change a person in fundamental ways, so it’s also clearly about control. I mean, once you’ve had some people do a murder, I guess they’re kind of bound of to each other and to you. But, it wasn’t so much the whole murder angle that bothered me (if there’s one thing I can suspend disbelief over it’s murder games) so much as the fact that nearly every character was shocked to discover it.

I mean, come on people. Have none of you read a book? Ever? It’s like one of the fundamental rules, up there with “definitely make sure the villain is dead, not just unconscious or has fallen off a ledge”, “don’t waste time monologuing about your evil plan when you should be executing your evil your plan”, and “everyone is probably Nyarlathotep”: if you’re invited to join a secret society, and they tell you that only [x] of [y] will be chosen, they’re going to expect you to murder each other at some point.

It’s not, I should add, the book’s main twist or I wouldn’t be talking about it. Plus, it’s obvious from the get-go that murder is on the cards because it was never not going to be. See above re rules.

In any case, The Atlas Six is sort of … The Secret History meets The Hunger Games meets … The Magicians? And, if you like the sort of thing it is, which I (and enough people to shoot this book straight to the NYT bestseller list) evidently do it’s fucking fabulous. I feel a bit bad saying it has no sense of irony, because it clearly does, but it’s a book unafraid to be what it needs to be to sell a story built in these particular influences: which is to say, it’s exactly the right sort of pretentious (dark academia requires pretention like Magdalen College requires a hand-crafted port-passing machine) and its character dynamics are deliciously histrionic. You have the two academic rivals who hate each other but are obsessed with each other (albeit in a refreshingly non-sexual way), the emotionally damaged femme fatale who is just too fucking cool to be tragic, the sociopathic empath working his manipulations on the illusionist who can see the world clearly but cannot see his own value, and … uh … a dour Japanese lady who likes punching things? Yeah sorry. While Reina’s power is interesting (and is creepy as fuck), she felt a bit underdeveloped to me, especially compared to the rest of the cast, who both live up to and complicate their expected archetypes superlatively.

Libby, I think, is an interesting example of this: she’s essentially dark academia girl but, ye Gods, is she annoying. She’s insecure in super relatable ways, as well as being driven by family tragedy, but I was sort of intrigued by the way the consistently makes her difficult to relate to. It would have been so easy, I think, for her, gawky white girl that she is, to become both the emotional centre and the sort of default reader stand-in: in many ways she’s the most normal of everyone but … but … she’s hard to root for. Because there’s no getting away from the fact that certain vulnerabilities are kind of ugly, and I appreciated the book for going there with that—although it is sort of interesting to me, in an “examine your prejudices, Hall” kind of way, that I found Libby’s vulnerabilities more frustrating than, say, Tristan’s. Since Tristan spends most of the book passively mooping around, hoping someone will love him and/or use him, trying only half-heartedly to discover what his powers actually are. Say what you will for the hot mess of neuroses that is Libby, at least she does stuff.

But then something The Atlas Six does very, very well is fuck with reader sympathy. Its mysteries extend to character as well as to plot—with motivations and alliances constantly in flux, and new revelations coming to light with tantalising regularity. If I’m completely honest, I think maybe the book might be a tiny bit TOO in love with its own characters, in that whole chapters can go of just Character X talking to Character Y about what is driving Character Z (and in extreme cases Character X talking to Character Y about what is driving Character Y) like they’re on a particularly cut-throat season of Love Island. But … ehhh … I was into it anyway?

Although I will say, in terms of uneven character dynamics, Nico—Libby’s counterpart—felt maybe disproportionately sympathetic? Everyone else is fucked up, almost irredeemably so, and untrustworthy in the extreme, but Nico is notably capable of caring for someone else. Like a large of part of his motivation for joining the Murder Society of Murderers is to help his friend Gideon, with whom he has a relationship that is intense to the point of queer-baity. I’m going to take it on trust that it isn’t queer-baity because there’s plenty queer in this book—although it is also notable that the only depicted romantic/sexual relationships (however fucked up they maybe) are between opposite sex partners. Like, and mild spoiler here, there’s an mff threesome between Parisa, Libby and Tristan but Parisa’s bisexuality seems more operational than preferential (as in, she fucks women, but more because she doesn’t see any reason not to, than because she actively wants to) and Libby, while she admires Parisa in an envious/aspirational way, is mostly there for Tristan. Tristan and Callum do have a thing together, but it’s noticeably off-page. And I’m not saying I felt it was a problem that this book did not depict queer sex explicitly—queerness is not sex after all—but when you are depicting m/f quite directly and you fade on black on queerness it feels … it feels complicated?

Then again, it’s hard to know what queer identity really means when you’re essentially trapped in a game of intense mutual manipulation with an intended outcome of murder? And what I will add about the m/f sex scenes is that they’re always about more than the sex, if that makes sense. They’re about knowledge and power and influence, with pleasure a side-effect rather than the aim. Within those narrative terms, the fade to black on Callum and Tristan potentially makes sense: except it’s also a significant moment in their relationship, or in Callum’s manipulations of Tristan and Tristan’s surrender to those manipulations (as opposed to other manipulations currently on offer to him—Tristram is very much the belle of the ball when it comes to toxic relationships). And that’s brings me back to complicated again, given the text does not withdraw from those kind of emotional-sexual power dynamics in m/f couples.

I could probably, if I wanted to, remember a few times the pacing lagged for me (there’s a big moment at the 80% mark, followed by a weird loss of momentum before the book charges full tilt towards its ending) but it doesn’t feel necessary. I’m weirdly thinking, of all things, of a moment of an episode of Strictly Come Dancing, when the cranky traditionalist judge, Len Goodman gave a dance a ten that the other judges hadn’t a given a ten to, and he said something like “A ten doesn’t always have to mean absolutely perfect in every way. Sometimes it just means, better than a nine.” And while I don’t give ratings on reviews, if I did, I would give this book ten out of ten on Len Goodman grounds. I’m not saying it’s perfect, but I’m saying it’s better than a nine.

Basically, it does what it wants to do phenomenally well, and I loved it for that. There’s no getting away from the fact that it’s a manipulative book because it plays you like a fucking fiddle from beginning to end. But it’s manipulative in the way its own charismatic, compelling femme fatale is manipulative: which is to say, you know it’s manipulating you but it makes you want to be manipulated, and, afterwards, leaves you with no regrets—secretly hoping to be manipulated again.

PS - I meant to say this in the body review but I was too swept away and forgot. The other thing I really appreciated about The Atlas Six was that it interrogates a lot of its dark academia themes in interesting, and for me necessary, ways. I think dark academia is sort of everyone's problematic fave in that part of its appeal is linked almost directly to its centring privilege, especially privilege around access to knowledge. The Atlas Six has a diverse cast which helps to push back against some of this, but it also invites us to ask questions about elitism and exclusivity, as well as knowledge and the sharing of knowledge. Which I do think are important to be asked, as much as we enjoy secret societies, murder, and massive libraries.

Thank you #NetGalley and Publishers for the ARC of the Traditional Release of #TheAtlasSix in exchange for an honest review.

I was really mad at myself. This book was on my TBR for the longest time and I never got around to reading the original release and then I saw it got pulled for the traditional release, so I'm not sure how things changed (or if they did at all). But I could have skipped this book entirely.

I was HERE for this book. I was all about magical schools, special libraries, secret societies, murderous mysteries, everything that this book is about! And for the first 75% of the book, I was hooked. But the last chunk... I don't know what happened but it just fell so flat and I lost all interest. I was hoping that in the end, there'd be some magical amazing wrapup that all these other reviewers loved but ... nothing. It just ends...? And it's not in a nice like "Woah, my mind has just been blown" cliffhanger, kind of way. But in a "cut off in the middle of a story" kind of way. But I don't even want to go read The Atlas Paradox (The Atlas #2) which is supposed to be released in 10/2022 to find out what happens, and I'm a completionist.

In a word: Drat.

I’m disappointed. There was so much hype surrounding this book, and it was, for me, both not as described and also not particularly compelling.

First, this is absolutely not, as advertised, Dark Academia. There is nothing academic about it, and it has absolutely zero atmosphere.

In truth it’s a magic school novel, and framed that way, it is…adequate. If you’re just looking for a throwaway YA fantasy novel that takes place at a school, this will probably suffice. It’s heavy on action and the magical system is fine, if not particularly riveting or unique.

Having read many books in the subgenre, I find that books like this can be really solid entertainment, even if they’re tropey and comprised of average writing. That’s largely true for this one, though it’s overlong, and I wish the characters had been either more likable or more original.

Though it’s overlong, the book moves pretty well, and might make a good beach read. But when laid against the hype, it’s a letdown.

Loved the multiple perspectives, while not every character was my favorite. But I enjoyed the ambiance and style of the book a lot.

If you've been on the bookish side of the internet, you've probably heard of someone mention The Atlas Six. Right when I planned to buy it, Tor announced that they were acquiring it, so I decided to hold off until the revised version's release. This is a review of that version, not the one published in 2020. From what I've heard, there have been some significant changes between the two versions. If you've read the 2020 version and want to know if it's worth reading the 2022 version, this is not the review for you.

This book starts with some background information on The Alexandrian Society, a secret magical society that is sworn to protect magical knowledge. The society recruits six magicians every ten years, though only five will go on to become full members of the society. Libby and Nico are classmates and rivals, which you witness early on. Reina has a gift with plants. Parisa is a mind reader who can use her powers to get to the core of a person's desires. Tristan can break down illusions. And finally, there is Callum.

Much of this book involves the characters simply existing throughout their first year and having conversations and conflict. It wasn't exactly fast paced, but I thought the pacing suited the story quite well. Olivie Blake's writing is well-done and engaging. It took me a while to get started because I haven't been in the mood to read physically, but once I really got started, it was difficult to stop.

I can see a lot of people relating to Libby, and honestly, same. She's so eager to prove herself, yet you can see that she cares about people. Parisa is probably my second favorite character.

I thought I knew where this book was going until the second to last chapter, but WHEW, that was a ride! I can't wait to pick up The Atlas Paradox when it comes out. If you're a fan of dark academia, this is an easy book to recommend. I love the idea of dark academia, but I haven't loved all of the books I've read that fit into the category.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books (Macmillan) for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Atlas Six es una novela destinada a convertirse en un super ventas con una promoción bestial, que trata sobre un tema muy goloso como son las escuelas mágicas y las sociedades secretas que manejan los hilos del poder en el mundo. Olivia Blake escribe con mucho oficio sabiendo quién es su público objetivo y como contentarlo. Y la jugada le sale muy bien, dando lugar a una novela absorbente con personajes un poco estereotipados que además caen mal como todo buen alumno de universidad mágica que se aprecie (sí, te estoy mirando a ti, Quentin Coldwater).


Al principio del libro vamos conociendo a los jóvenes que conformarán el sexteto de Atlas, personajes con extraordinarias capacidades mágicas a los que su propia naturaleza ha llevado a vidas poco equilibradas. Poco a poco iremos conociendo a estos personajes y su pasado, que les ha marcado de forma indeleble. Es difícil empatizar con ellos porque apenas se pueden considerar humanos, sus poderes les ponen muy por encima de la sociedad. Atlas Blakely les recluta para la Alexandrian Society, heredera y cuidadora del conocimiento de la Biblioteca de Alejandría y todo lo que vino después. Pero todo tiene un precio y como los seis descubrirán, quizá no estén preparados para pagarlo.

The Atlas Six no viene a reinventar la rueda, ni falta que le hace. Los conflictos están a flor de piel desde que se sabe que han de competir entre ellos aunque solo uno quedará fuera de la sociedad mágica y la autora los azuza de manera inmisericorde, juega con los peones que ha ideado para nuestro disfrute. Es cierto que pueden parecer bastante genéricos en un principio, pero conforme van avanzando los capítulos y las interrelaciones, vemos cómo estaba todo planeado desde el principio.

La prosa es en ocasiones recargada y los diálogos no suenan muy naturales, pero creo que es debido a lo “especiales” que son los personajes, es que no hay ninguno normal y son pretenciosos hasta decir basta, pero cuando puedes crear agujeros negros con un pequeño esfuerzo, normal lo que se dice normal no eres.

La trama, que parecía bastante clara desde un principio, se van complicando con las revelaciones finales y Blake se guarda muchas cartas para la siguientes entregas. Indudablemente, juega con la información y se saca de la manga algunos datos que consiguen cambiar totalmente el panorama. Pero está hecho de forma elegante y da un resultado muy bueno, sobre todo en el tramo final cuando “se descubre el pastel”. Y entonces te das cuenta de que se acaba el libro y de que necesitas el siguiente.