I just couldn't keep myself interested in what was happening.
There was something missing in this one that was there in the first book. Left me a bit disappointed.

1/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

DNF @30%

I thought this would be better than The Atlas Six, but I was wrong.

I could not care less about every single character in this book. Yes, I understand they're all unlikable, but I couldn't stand the incessant droning about random stuff.

I couldn't even tell you what happened. The characters milled around, every plot point took 10 pages when it could have taken 1. I eventually got fed up and looked up what happened in hopes that something exciting would happen for me to read on for, and I HATE spoilers with a burning passion. Safe to say I didn't see anything interesting or worth getting through to.

I spent a lot of this book confused. I wanted to love it after really enjoying book 1, but I just couldn't keep myself interested in what was happening. I feel like the educational/knowledge portion of book 1, which made the world so vivid, was missing in book 2.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

I loved the Atlas Six. I loved the pacing, I loved the explanation of the different magic systems, and I loved the character development. I even loved the cliffhanger. I came into The Atlas Paradox directly after a re-read of the TAS and I felt the storyline just stopped. I read an additional 400 pages and learned more about the magic system, but nothing progressed in the plot. I am very hopeful that the next book will return to TAS pacing and plot progression, but the end of this book was a slog. The only reason why I did not DNF was under the auspices that the following book will provide more character and plot development.

Endless thank you's to Macmillan Audio for graciously granting me a copy of this much anticipated release.

"If power is a thing to be had, it must be capable of possession. But power is not any discrete size or weight. Power is continuous. Power is parabolic. Say you are given some power, which then increases your capacity to accumulate more power. Your capacity for power increases exponentially in relation to the actual power you have gained. Thus, to gain power is to be increasingly powerless. If the more power one has, the less one has, then is IT the thing, or are you?"

Elizabeth Rhodes's back must hurt from carrying this entire book on her shoulders.

My thoughts on this sequel can be summed up by the following: The Atlas Paradox suffers from second book syndrome.

Although The Atlas Six was similarly more character-driven rather than plot-driven, the end of book 1 set set some insane events in motion and established a real sense of urgency that I assumed would continue into the next book. However, this was not the case. It was like Blake gave all of her characters a Xanax. The characters quickly became complacent and wasted so much of the book making no progress toward their goals, and I found myself really only caring about Libby's storyline (which appeared very rarely). And even as a filler book (plot-wise), it missed the philosophical prose that graced every chapter of The Atlas Six.

I also must add, I was not pleased with the shuffling of romantic events that occurred. That is perhaps a personal problem.

It was enjoyable, but I was not impressed. it saddens me because I know Olivie Blake is capable of more.

3.5 stars.

Two books in and I’m convinced this series is one I’m always going to have mixed feelings about.

The Atlas Paradox was hit with a hard case of middle book syndrome, the kind of story that feels like one long winding path to a final big event at the end. Like the first book, it reads with the characters as the focus of the story but not necessarily the drivers of the plot. I hesitate to say this series has always been character driven, because this books feels a little aimless, but it’s absolutely the type of book you either love or hate for the characters. I have mixed feelings about the characters because every single one of them has a chip on their shoulder and is convinced they’re the smartest person in the room. Which can be a very fun trope if they didn’t all start blending together. I still can’t differentiate Callum and Tristan.

I have such a push and pull relationship with Olivie Blake’s writing too because some of it reads like absolutely poetry I want to bookmark as a quote to keep forever and other bits were so completely overwritten I wanted to laugh. There’s nothing really new about this story. With how loose the magic system is it feels like a hodgepodge of other fantasy books but stands out from the rest for the characters and the writing. And unfortunately I can never really fully get onboard with either.

Overall, I’ll read the next book just to find out where this meandering plot is eventually trying to take us - and I do think die hard fans of the first book will find a similar spark in this one. The characters are consistently hard to read about and I can swallow my dislike for some of the more interchangeably insufferable characters with more Gideon in the next one.

Thank you to the publisher Macmillan Audio for providing an audiobook ARC via NetGalley for an honest review.

Blake continues building through her characters and their now assured position as initiates.

There is still distrust and animosity between our MCs and it is absolutely enjoyable to experience. The world begins to widen here with the perspectives of minor characters being incorporated and used to further explore what the Society really wants and how alliances past and present are being changed and dissolved.

Each of our characters learns more about what their role is, it is very interesting to uncover who they really are as people, to see and understand their vulnerabilities, how they bury their true selves beneath denial and avoidance, and how they attempt to hide behind contempt and a lack of reactionary emotion.

The realization of what is really going on around them and the part that each of them is needed to play, when it comes upon them, and their reactions, as different as they are, are parallel and similar and up the stakes to come. That Blake is still able to surprise in this installment shows how much control she has over her plot and its development.

I had a hard time with this one. The first book started slow but I really got into it and was looking forward to the next one. I think part of the problem was tracking all of the characters, remembering their backstories and….caring about them. I wanted to love it and it fell a bit flat for me.

First thing I have to say about The Atlas Paradox is that if you don’t listen to the audiobook version you are missing out!! The cast for this series is amazing and they do such a good job bringing each individual character to life. Each character has grown since the previous book while still maintaining the personalities which is important for a book that is so character driven. One thing that Olivie Blake does so well is make each character interesting. I feel that often in novels where each chapter revolves around a character there’s usually one that I don’t love as much as another, but while I might favor some characters over others, I feel that each of their chapters are enjoyable to read. The dark academia vibes of the first book continue into this one which is one of my favorite kinds of book atmospheres and just works so well to bring you into the story. The magic system in this series is one of my favorites and I feel like the mix of science and magic makes it feel like it really could exist in our world. This book is out now and if you haven’t gotten to it yet I highly recommend it, especially the audio! Huge thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced audio copy of this book

This took me way too long to provide thoughts on, life just got busy.

I enjoyed this book, however I do think that it suffers a bit from second book syndrome with a lot of set up but not a lot plot progression.

Yet I still find myself way more invested in the story than I was at the end of Atlas Six.

I did this as an audiobook, and I think the full cast POV really works well with this story, and we got some of Gideon’s POV in the story and he’s become my favorite character.

Overall, I think the series is going to be great overall but as a single book there are some major pacing issues, as well as non-delivery of promises. However, if you are here for the vibes than this is definitely the dark academia book for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to read this book for review. While I did receive this in exchange for a review it does not affect my thoughts on this work.

I had some struggles with getting into the first book of the series, The Atlas Six, but took it as an introduction the characters and when action started occurring at the end and left on a cliffhanger, I was looking forward to a sequel that would start of with a focused and action-packed plot I was hoping for; but, once again it was a lot of dialogue that seemed to go in circles. It seems like there isn't quite a plan for the plot, it's just stream of consciousness. As someone who craves fast-paced plots, I'm afraid this series just isn't for me.

I voluntarily listened to and reviewed an advanced audiobook of The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC.

This book had me so confused. I felt like I should love it since the dark academia and magic system are my style. But the more I focused on the actual plot of the novel, the more I realized that nothing is happening. So many character interactions, and just when you think there is going to an emotional connection between...anyone. It fizzles away as if the interaction never happened. The concept was solid, and I enjoyed the characters, but the lack of character development and plot movement left me wanting. I give The Atlas Paradox 2.5/5 stars.

I struggled so hard to get through Atlas Paradox. This book was so long and verbose and yet said very little there was no real stated direction for the characters. This book could have easily been half of the length that it was, and the real death blow for me, I realized, is that I didn't really care enough about any of it to want to finish this book. The only thing keeping me going is that I received an ARC, and I felt compelled to finish it so I could give my thoughts on it. I feel like the two stars I am giving this book might be generous.

An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

This book was so hard for me since Atlas Six was one of my favorite reads. Every relationship and the dynamic of all these characters coming together in the first book felt like it was completely thrown out in book 2. I had felt so invested and then felt let down. The only thing that redeemed this book for me was the Magic system and world building. That part was 5 out of 5 stars but I was so disappointed with character development.

I've been waiting for this sequel for AGES and it absolutely did not disappoint.
This was amazing, all the stories crossing together never knowing who I could trust or whose side I was on? Loved loved loved. I love these characters, I love their dynamic, and I'm so excited for the next book. Being in the 'school' was exciting but it did start to feel claustrophobic. Very excited to see our gang out in the world making trouble.

The last 10 chapters get a 5 star. The rest of the book gets a 2.5. SO MUCH DRAGGING BUILD-UP! This book could have been so condensed. It is a very slow read.

The end was amazing. But it’s a miracle I made it. And I like this kinda stuff! Time travel x sci-fi x fantasy is my fave!!!! So why was it so hard to read?!?! I MISSED THE BANTER AND THE ACADEMIC RIVALS AND ALL THAT. It just was not the same as the first book.

Lots of thoughts about the ending but they are spoilers. So I will just say AHHHHHHH

I loved every single line in this book! The introspection of the characters and their reflections along with the LGBTQIA+ representation and the fantasy made this book such a great and satisfying read. I’m really happy with how Olivie Blake did this follow up to Atlas Six and I’m hoping there’s a next book to this series.

To share, one of my favorite lines comes at the end and it’s, “Olympus was empty, the gods were already here.”

I swear, this book was worth every minute and fraction of attention that you have. You won’t regret it.

This is the second book in the “The Atlas” series. The first book, The Atlas Six, ended with a lot of things on the line for all MCs, and not to be left behind, this book ended with even more to digest and to expect.

This story is set in a world that looks very much like our contemporary world, but with an important difference…magician, witches and various creatures exist. A world where magic has been studied for hundreds of years. A lot of the world’s knowledge is story at the Alexandria Society archives. The archives are mysterious and they withhold specific information from specific people. The logic of how the archive works is a big question mark…

Here the initiated magicians (remember we have six prospective initiates in the first book? Our six MCs?) are in their second year at the Society, when they can work on the chosen topic or research to contribute to the archive’s growth. More things are at play, the dynamic between our MCs changes a lot and more unexpected interactions keep happening.

The future of the world is at stake. Dreams, past, future, present, time, space, physics, nature, mind, feelings, perception,… There’s so much happening all at once. Someone or a group of people may come to destroy the world and rebuild it a new…whose plan is that anyway?

It’s hard to write a review for this book because there’re so many things happening all at once that I don’t know where to focus my attention on. However, it’s still possible to follow all of it without losing oneself on the way.

It may be a lot for those who get overwhelmed with many scientific stuff, but I believe all is explained with an adequate amount of details to keep it interesting.

I can’t wait to find out what will happen to all of them (and the world) next

Thanks NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an audiobook ARC exchange for a honest review.

I wasn’t that big of the fan of the first book but I wanted to give the second book a chance. Unfortunately this book fell as flat as the first. The author builds the story for something to happen but by the end you’re sitting there thinking “that’s it?”. Nothing really happens, the characters don’t really do anything and I feel like everything is being saved for the third book but at this point I’ve lost interest.
Most of their issues from the first book could have been solved in the second if they just talked to one and other.
I love dark academia books but unfortunately this missed the mark.

I had high hopes for this book after enjoying most of the first book. I was very confused throughout. I found the characters to be one-dimensional and didn't like that there wasn't a lot of world-building. There was also a lot going on with Libby, Ezra, and the initiations, but felt that nothing was really explained. I curious to see how the series ends with the last book.