Ok so I'm still not 100% sure what happened in this book but it was good. All the characters are interesting, unique, annoying, fully formed and they really drive the story forward. There are twists and turns and a lot of innuendoes, double-crossing and some hate sex. I'm not going to give a plot summary because even if you go in knowing who everyone is you'll still be confused by at least the third chapter. I'm dumb and I'm ok with that and this book was definitely too smart for me. It was super fun and I cannot wait to read the second book which will hopefully come out soon. I lowkey want to be friends with all these characters (except Callum ew no) but they also really scare me. Anyways I highly recommend this book if you're ok with not knowing what's going on for about 90% of the book.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley

Thank you to Netgalley & Tor/Forge for an arc!

This book was so much fun! Smartly written and full of flawed, but fascinating characters, this book felt unlike anything I've read in a long time.

It's difficult to describe the plot, as there really isn't much of one, but the characters and their interactions make up for it. They're all extremely powerful medians (magicians) and they come crashing together when they're chosen as initiates to an elite secret society. Do actual twenty-somethings behave and talk like the ones in this book do? No. But did I love all of their pretentious back-and-forths, anyway? Absolutely I did. Some characters feel more fully realized than others, but they were all interesting perspectives to read from.

There were also some good twists towards the end and I have no idea where the story will go from here, but I'm excited to see what these characters do next!

This was a miss for me. It was just so slow and drawn out. Nothing really happened and there was so much internalization. I also felt confused most of the time. Confused about who the characters were, confused up the magic, confused about the setting. Every part just felt underdeveloped which led to to be not invested in any part of this. There was not world building, there was not real character development, side characters were just thrown in with not real explanation. Overall this felt really messy for a complex fantasy story.

The Atlas Six follows six medeians (or people who posses some sort of power): Nico, Libby, Parisa, Callum, Reina, and Tristan. When Atlas Blakely comes to each of them with an offer to be initiated into one of the most prestigious secret societies not a one of them refuses. They soon come to learn that only five will make the final cut.

I liked this book a lot, but I can't say I loved it. The story was really interesting, and I enjoyed all the characters (except Callum - hated that guy). The representation and diversity was excellent as well. The world building and magic system was great. However, this was tough to get through. Blake uses so much lofty language that it's daunting at times. This book took me significantly longer to read just because of that. Don't get me wrong. I'm an English teacher. I appreciate a solid vocabulary, but in this case it interfered with the story way more than helped it along. Reading should be enjoyable, not exhausting, and so often I was exhausted reading this.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC. I recommend this book, but only if you can handle the vocabulary.

This was my first time reading The Atlas Six and I just don't get the hype around this book. Maybe my expectations were too high but I was not able to enjoy this story as much as I had hoped.

Let's start on a positive note. I really enjoyed the overall synopsis and idea of the book. The magical competition in an academic enivronment was very intriguing and there is a lot of potential for how this story might continue. It was also very refreshing to not have six characters that are best friends from the beginning. The rivalry between the chosen participants was okay, though at one point all the little mind games were a bit annoying. But the different POVs really gave the story more depth and layers that were very interesting.

I had a lot of problems wit TA6. It was very difficult to get into the story because there was quite a lot of unnecessary/uninteresting information that dragged out a lot of scenes. The first 150 pages were a pain to get through and even after that the story did not pick up in speed.
Especially the concept of space and time was presented in a very confusing way. I had a hard time understanding what's going on and could not really conjure a clear picture in my head during most of this novel.
Furthermore some of the characters were extremely unlikeable. Namely Callum, Parisa and Reina just did not do the trick for me. There was nothing that created a connection between the reader and characters and I honestly could not have cared less for some of them.

I will definitely read the second book in this series to see how the story continues, but overall I am just not convinced of this book in its entirety.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC!

Six of the worlds most talented medeians are recruited once every ten years to join the mysterious Alexandrian Society. At the end for he first year six must become five before the members are fully initiated.

I really enjoyed this dark academia novel and am looking forward to the follow up. The book heavily focuses on the characters their interactions and inner turmoil (in some cases) . So if you are looking for big plot arcs and extensive world building this may not be for you.

I had heard alot about this book. Unfortunately it wasn't a book for me. I found it to slow. The whole way through it was this painstakingly slow pace. It's not a bad thing. Clearly people love this book. The story itself had some interesting points too. And the characters where alright. I just didn't love them. I struggled to the bitter end. Determine not to just give on it just incase it would pick up and I'd love it. Sadly for me we weren't a great fit.

I think The Atlas Six will be one of the most popular fantasy books this year, it’s a big call, but there was just so much to love and I can see it being one of the books to watch.

In The Atlas Six, the worlds best young magicians accept the opportunity of a a lifetime. Six are chosen. Only five will walk away.

The Alexandrian Society is a secret society of magical academicians, the best in the world. Their members are caretakers of lost knowledge from the greatest civilisations of antiquity. And those who earn a place among their number will secure a life of wealth, power and prestige beyond their wildest dreams.

The six candidates spent a year together to qualify for initiation, during that time they’re free to use the library of knowledge to further their interests and also build up the library’s areas of knowledge.

What they don’t get told, is they have to sacrifice one of the six to basically keep the library functioning for the next decade.

I love the mix of characters, which each had various magic powers - including mind reading, control over plants and moving matter.

I loved the mix of secret society, with the sort of hunger games aspect, but instead of only one surviving, five must decide who dies. It’s a lot to put on young people and such an interesting combination. Will they buck the trend, or is something else at play? Definitely pick up a copy to find out.

Interesting characters and magic system. The pacing was a bit slow and it's not a brand new book so lots of people have posted spoilers. It was very character driven and not so much plot driven. This surpasses deadly education.

Originally back in September I read the paperback, indie copy of The Atlas Six. I went into this eARC knowing that I was going to compare and contrast the changes made by Tor Books. My hopes were high, and I can safely say now that they did a phenomenal job! WHOOPEEEE!

My biggest issue with the original copy was the lack of exposition at large to the story. Sometimes scenes were hard to follow or the explanation was not good enough, but Tor and Olivie Blake fixed those issues really well. I still wish there was a bit more world building, but The Atlas Six is 110% a much stronger story. The specific scenes that shined much brighter were Libby's conversation with Atlas about the sacrifice and the climax of the novel (no spoilers). I was flipping back and forth between my digital copy and the original, and both scenes are powerfully executed in this rerelease version. Amazing! This entire reread was worth it, and I cannot wait for new readers to unveil this much stronger story arc of these amazing characters.

My rating back in September was around a 3.25/5 but now it's a solid 4.25/5. I already loved the characters within this novel, but I've come to love them even more for their faults, ambitions, and individuality. I will be anxiously awaiting The Atlas Paradox. It skyrocketed as one of my most anticipated sequel releases of 2022. See ya then for my review!

This book was so awesome. It kept me reading well into early morning. The mystery surrounding the six unveiled itself at just the right pace. The different connections were intriguing. The author had a great way of making you either love or hate a character. The novel was extremely well-written with description in all the right places without being too wordy. I hope there is a sequel out there in the works!! Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.

This was RAVED about on tiktok but I never got around to it - and I’m so thankful I got to read the ARC.

This wasn’t really my cup of tea, unfortunately. It felt too convoluted at some parts and too slow in others. The constant use of last names (Nico calling Libby “Rhodes” literally 5 times in half a page is excessive).

The beginning was slow and introduced TONS of characters - 6 major characters, some major side characters, and lots of minor side characters. I would love a glossary to keep track of it all, because I often forgot who was friends with who.

The characters in this were very complex, but not super likable (which I like!). It’s the plot and worldbuilding that I found to be lacking, and I feel this was so apparent BECAUSE the characters were so full of depth. At the same time, there were entire pages without dialogue and that’s not my preference as a reader.

I think this would be best for people who love an atmospheric setting and interesting characters. The plot was slow but interesting when it picked up. The action sequences were great!! I’ll pick up the sequel for sure!

No, it isn't deja vu you're feeling, I did already read and review this one. However, I also thought I had read that the re-release via trad publisher was going to have some edits or minor changes and.. I don't think it did. So it could be that I misremembered a thing or two, the changes were subtle, or I was wrong in thinking that changes were to come. Pick your poison.

Either way, alas, my thoughts have not really changed from the first go round. I do think I enjoyed my time with the book a little more (which is why I bumped it a bit, even though it's just semantics) but fundamentally my thoughts are the same.

This book somehow manages to be big and small in scope and the ensemble is a merry go round of shifting dynamics, in a mostly good way, but I think this'll be a series that shines more in hindsight than it does in the infancy of it all. But, I mean, it could also all go to pot along the way depending on what awaits us. But. I choose to hope.

If you love an ensemble, if you are into academia-settings, fantasy and magic, and a whole lot of wtaf and mystery, you should definitely give this one a go.

3.5 stars

I saw people rave about this novel on Instagram a while back, and when I saw the option of requesting a new, edited version here on Netgalley, I jumped at the occasion.
"The Atlas Six" has become an instant obsession from the very first chapter, thanks to Blake's poetic prose and an array of mysterious, intriguing characters.
The plot is weaved perfectly, with enlightening conversations on the classism in academia, which are severely lacking in many "dark academia" novels. I found this extremely engaging and even the magic system was alluring and well explained.

The Atlas Six is delightfully sinister, populated with tricky characters whose loyalties and intentions are ever-shifting, which makes for an addictive puzzle. Sadly, it's all foreplay and no follow-through. The first book in a series will always spend significant time setting up the events of the next book, if not the next several. However, it should still have its own arc, its own climax before ratcheting up the tension again to get readers excited for what is to come. And this book lacks that, leaving this reader, at least, asking, "that's it?" And without even a small measure of satisfaction to reward me for getting through this book and to give me faith that the sequels will deliver, I find myself uninterested in reading more — particularly when I think this story is better suited to be a standalone anyway. It's a shame, as I was completely ready to give this a high rating before I reached the final act and realized it was going nowhere — or rather that it was going somewhere but was hoarding every payoff, trying to use them as bait so I'd keep reading. But this carrot is not good enough for me to play donkey.

My thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge, Tor Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Did you know the Library of Alexandria didn't burn? That's right! What if, instead, it went underground-- a secret library full of the wonders of the world, available only to a select few? Libby and Nico, rivals throughout their undergraduate careers at a magical baccalaureate institution in New York, are both offered spots in a 6-person independent study program of sorts at the Library of Alexandria. There's a promise of age-old secrets and glorious power, but as Libby, Nico, and the other students settle in, it becomes more and more obvious that, despite untold wonders, there's an incredibly high cost to pay.

Two words: dark academia. The Atlas Six has a vibe that will please fans of Lev Grossman's Magicians and other magical boarding school tales. There's plenty of magic, violence, sexual tension, and some plot twists. This is clearly the first in a series, so there's little satisfaction in this first volume but plenty of set-up for raised stakes in the subsequent volumes. I enjoyed it, especially the complexities of the magical systems and their impact to the plot.

Olivie Blake's self-published novel took the world by storm last year, so of course, when TOR acquired it, I had to request it. With incredibly popular books, it's easy to have high hopes because of the hype and be underwhelmed when you actually experience the text for yourself. The Atlas Six, however, lived up to and even exceeded my expectations. This lush dark academia story has a unique, intriguing premise. It is full of witty dialogue, believable rivalries, and well-fleshed-out characters. I loved every second of it.

Six of the best magical medeians in the world are given the opportunity to become members of the Alexandrian Society. A society that that owns a library full of immense knowledge. However, only five will become members, and one will be eliminated.

This book was wild! It’s full of mysteries and magic. The possibilities were truly endless in this one.

The six initiates are amazingly beautiful characters. Their hopes, fears and inner thoughts are so raw and realistic, I forgot that these characters aren’t real people.
The connection between the characters are so complex but they flow together so well.

The ending made my brain explode. The build up and writing was spectacular.

Sometimes there were a lot of sciencey information that my head could not process.

Perfect for fans of All of Us Villains or A Darker Shade of Magic.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Six of the world’s greatest magicians (or medeians as they are called) are picked for an opportunity to join the enigmatic Alexandrian Society. Only five positions are open and the individuals must study and prove themselves over the course of a year, but surviving may prove a difficult task.

At first glance, The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake sounded like it had all the trappings of a story I should love: dark academia, a magical library, and a Kingsman-like premise.

However, this was an excruciating read.

The novel spends page upon page telling readers how charming and intelligent its main protagonists are when they instead come across as obnoxious pseudointellectuals who unironically misuse basic logical fallacies.

I much preferred when the characters weren’t flinging middle school insults and were instead focused on researching the nature of magic. That part I did enjoy since it’s the book incorporates a science-based magic system and some cool powers. For instance, physicists like Nico can alter gravity and Parisa can walk through mind labyrinths to uncover someone’s secrets.

The magic system alone isn't enough to redeem its poorly written characters though.

Overall, if you’re looking for a dark academia that better handles philosophy and metaphysics, I'd recommend Vita Nostra instead.

This is a stunning book, both inside and out. I love the dark academia feel of it, combined with the magic of fantasy and the Hunger Games-esque competition aspect! The characters were easy to love and I cannot wait to get my hands on the physical copy!