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midnightivy's review against another edition
1.0
DNF. I looked forward to this after TAS and it went immediately onto my library wait list. I checked my place in line constantly until it was finally available and then… a book about nothing. This one is so disappointing and life is too short to read books you hate, so I’m moving on.
burtini's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I started The Atlas Paradox with some apprehension after reading Atlas Six. My main issue with the first instalment in this series was it just confused me and made me spend time with characters I didn’t like or care what happened to them. That said I was intrigued.
In The Atlas Paradox characters not previously explored enough are better dissected and built on.Through a projection test where they must fight each other near the start of the book, the weaknesses, thought processes and backgrounds of several characters in particular are better explored. Reina and Callum in Atlas Six were just sort of there, here we better understand Callum’s self loathing and pain, Reina’s need to be invisible and the anxiety and guilt that plagues Tristan. That said the characters are still very unlikeable, not morally grey which would make them interesting, but dastardly selfish and unnecessary which doesn’t make them feel real. Reina in particular is just plain annoying and everything she looks down on other people for, in particular Parisa, she fails to see she is more morally corrupt than. For Nico the only interesting thing about him is Gideon, although we learn more about him which I’m glad for. I did enjoy the characters working more together in this book, there’s only really one key moment in Atlas Six when this happened and it frustrated me because I wanted more of these people using their skills collaboratively and putting aside their issues. This does happen more in this instalment, more pairings than a group but you do see more compromise and less squabbling here.
Parisa is still,for me, the most interesting and engaging character and her observations and delving into the other characters helps add better understanding to them all. Is she calculating and manipulative? Yes. But she’s fascinating and more layered and I enjoyed her.
Libby too is a highlight, after every character was just awful to her in the first book (and I must’ve missed the part in all the bullying where they apparently cared for her like they say in this one), in this one she must survive by her own resources and step away from the shadows and condescension of the others. In Libby’s chapters you follow her learning to hold her head higher and not be so apologetic for existing, she becomes a little ruthless and takes no **** - this is a Libby I liked and it’s promising for the next book.
That said, this book, like Atlas Six, made me feel very stupid and confused so I never really felt I could emerge myself in and it made reading a slower experience. I don’t understand Quantum Physics but then this isn’t marketed as a science/physics book but simply fantasy fiction so I wish it were better explained. It really felt like this book just talked at me at times, rather than engaged me by talking to me. I fully hold my hands up that it could just be that I’m stupid but it felt overwhelming at times, I got it at a general surface level just the science really bounced off my head and I struggled to understand. If you understand these concepts and can digest all the book on this level, possibly this book is a different experience.
For all its difficulties there is something about this series that draws me in and will probably bring me back. The characters are better bulked up and easier to spend time with, I just wish I understood what was happening.
Thank you NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review
I started The Atlas Paradox with some apprehension after reading Atlas Six. My main issue with the first instalment in this series was it just confused me and made me spend time with characters I didn’t like or care what happened to them. That said I was intrigued.
In The Atlas Paradox characters not previously explored enough are better dissected and built on.Through a projection test where they must fight each other near the start of the book, the weaknesses, thought processes and backgrounds of several characters in particular are better explored. Reina and Callum in Atlas Six were just sort of there, here we better understand Callum’s self loathing and pain, Reina’s need to be invisible and the anxiety and guilt that plagues Tristan. That said the characters are still very unlikeable, not morally grey which would make them interesting, but dastardly selfish and unnecessary which doesn’t make them feel real. Reina in particular is just plain annoying and everything she looks down on other people for, in particular Parisa, she fails to see she is more morally corrupt than. For Nico the only interesting thing about him is Gideon, although we learn more about him which I’m glad for. I did enjoy the characters working more together in this book, there’s only really one key moment in Atlas Six when this happened and it frustrated me because I wanted more of these people using their skills collaboratively and putting aside their issues. This does happen more in this instalment, more pairings than a group but you do see more compromise and less squabbling here.
Parisa is still,for me, the most interesting and engaging character and her observations and delving into the other characters helps add better understanding to them all. Is she calculating and manipulative? Yes. But she’s fascinating and more layered and I enjoyed her.
Libby too is a highlight, after every character was just awful to her in the first book (and I must’ve missed the part in all the bullying where they apparently cared for her like they say in this one), in this one she must survive by her own resources and step away from the shadows and condescension of the others. In Libby’s chapters you follow her learning to hold her head higher and not be so apologetic for existing, she becomes a little ruthless and takes no **** - this is a Libby I liked and it’s promising for the next book.
That said, this book, like Atlas Six, made me feel very stupid and confused so I never really felt I could emerge myself in and it made reading a slower experience. I don’t understand Quantum Physics but then this isn’t marketed as a science/physics book but simply fantasy fiction so I wish it were better explained. It really felt like this book just talked at me at times, rather than engaged me by talking to me. I fully hold my hands up that it could just be that I’m stupid but it felt overwhelming at times, I got it at a general surface level just the science really bounced off my head and I struggled to understand. If you understand these concepts and can digest all the book on this level, possibly this book is a different experience.
For all its difficulties there is something about this series that draws me in and will probably bring me back. The characters are better bulked up and easier to spend time with, I just wish I understood what was happening.
Thank you NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review
diagenesisofsteph's review against another edition
4.0
Ooh, the drama continues from book 1! Still very dialogue heavy with some good action scenes interspersed. Most of these characters are pompous a$$holes but omg why am I so entertained by their bickering interactions?
Audiobook was phenomenal! I don’t love all the voice actors but a few of them were incredible. Belen’s one chapter was the best audiobook narration I’ve ever heard.
Audiobook was phenomenal! I don’t love all the voice actors but a few of them were incredible. Belen’s one chapter was the best audiobook narration I’ve ever heard.
joseybg's review against another edition
3.0
It’s like if every character was umbridge from Harry Potter. I need at least one character to be able to garnish some sympathy if you’re going to make them this unlikeable, otherwise it really is just annoying to read. All narcissists are the same, so it’s also very repetitive. 2 stars for how long and insufferable it was, 3 stars for the ending bc it did come together nicely. It was a good ending, I’ll give it that.
thebbookeeper's review against another edition
5.0
Nobody talk to me I am unwell after finishing this beautiful book. I NEED MORE. HOW DOES OLIVIE BLAKE DO THIS?! I tried to make this book last as long as possible and it was a struggle not to read chapter after chapter. Blake’s writing is addictive and the characters are just *clenches fist* so perfect AAGH. I’m still in denial that I have to wait months for the next book.
cecmason's review against another edition
4.0
Definitely found the audiobook engaging and am now needing to know how this series concludes. While sometimes dense and wandering in nature, it felt like we learned more about the characters which make them more relatable.
roobydooby_boo's review against another edition
5.0
meep omg ugh damn. i j love these wee characters so much but ugh i want the third one i want to know what happens damn. like the last one i only got like 70% of what happened in the book but in a good way (mostly) damn i just like don’t really know i feel like i don’t have thots about this book just emotions.
soulbacon's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5