Reviews with content warning for Cancer - The Atlas Complex

I enjoyed this one, but the last 77 pages felt very drawn out to me, it felt like it could’ve been wrapped up much sooner, but, I did like the ending! And the first half and middle of the book were great too, it was just the drawn out dialogue to the end that got me.

Content Warnings

yourlocalbookreader's review against another edition

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emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

“The point is there are no villains in this story, or maybe there are no heroes.”

When I read the Atlas Six, I knew that I would become obsessed with these people and their twisted lives. And while I hated them occasionally (and regularly found them insufferable), I knew I was bewitched and my love for this series has only grown since. I read this book almost exclusively on the hours when the sun wasn't up yet and I think that fundamentally impacted my perception of it.

Because while the series might have started as Nico, Libby, Parisa, Reina, Tristan and Callum, it ends up being so much bigger than that. It's the soul crushing moments of being human with people around you - with coming to terms with the fact that you DO actually care for others, with the ideas of platonic soulmates and ever ending love. It's knowing that we are all just victims of our own circumstances. In some worlds we're the ants, and in another we're the foot that steps on it unknowingly.

The Atlas Complex is not going to be everyone's cup of tea - and the 3 star rating on Goodreads confirms that. It's a polarizing book, with people saying that it's too long and yet about nothing at the same time. It's exhausting and pretentious and the characters ramble about things that don't matter but are simultaneously world ending. All of that is likely true.

But oh god - if that's the mood you're in. If you want to sit there and struggle with the pain of the universe and your own purpose and see the curtain fall after the show? If you're someone who overthinks every moment and sees significance in the smallest of moments. If you're gonna have an epiphany on a random wednesday night staring out the window- then this is the book for you, and I welcome you to join me silently crying about it on the train at night.

rep// Black MC, Asian Mc, Poly / queer rep

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aliyachaudhry's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

"I'm actually an elite member of a secret society"

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stormeno's review

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emotional mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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itsheyfay's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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shelbybean's review

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Philosophy and poetic waxing on the reason for the human species so dense you'll feel like you're studying for an ethics exam - wrapped in an extremely compelling (and often devastating) character drama. With magic 🎉 I may never recover.

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aileron's review against another edition

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adventurous dark reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

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takarakei's review

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dark emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I finished this a few days ago and haven't stopped thinking about it.

This series is so hard to form coherent thoughts around because it really is so unique and unlike anything else I've read. To quote Ms Olivie Blake herself: "The relationships will be the plot, because relationships are all that matter. They're all we can ever take with us. They're the only real things we leave behind."

I've seen some mixed reviews of this book and I truly don't know what people were expecting having read the first two books? The characters are the focus. Their relationship dynamics are what makes this series interesting. The point of this book is to make you think about our existence. It's a rumination on the meaning of life. Do our choices matter? Is it all worth it?

Does that mean that this series it not for everyone? Absolutely! But I for one actually look forward to rereading this series for the rest of my life!

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