Reviews

The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake

mwalsh97's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

I would give this book more than 5 stars if I could. I think this series is going to be one that I reread multiple times ad each time I'm going to put new connections together. Blake continues with the themes from the first book with magic being intertwined with physics and still to this day is the most creative magic system I've ever read about. But with book two, she adds in this urgency of end of the world like destruction is on the horizon. The best way I can recommend this book to someone is just read it. Trust me, a stranger on the internet, and go read these books. 

rizbee's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

i enjoyed this one more than the first one, but i still feel like there was something lacking. the language is difficult to get through sometimes (again, i know we’re in a pretentious organization but some things have limits). however, the saving grace of this one was the characters once again. this provided a lot more interaction and exploration between the main characters that i thought was super interesting. they were definitely fleshed out  and played into each other more than the first one. i really loved learning more about tristan. i found his character very interesting and loved the further insight into callum’s character. i also thought the inclusion of more “outside” characters like gideon was a good move because honestly he’s the best one. 

there’s also something about the last 30 pages of these books that make me insane. i was pretty meh about both the first one and this one until the endings. i just think they really keep you in the edge of your seat. it sets up the next book well which i hope takes in that feeling. 

elvenrapier's review against another edition

adventurous 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

3.5

It seems the characters are growing on me. After reading the first book, I found most of them quite unlikeable, although I did like Gideon. I was just curious about what would happen to these terrible people. And in this book, we finally see some real action. Where most of the previous book was about getting to know the characters, their interactions and what the library would take from them in order to accept them, this book shows more of what is going on in their world and how they could change it. It is still a book that makes you think, though. And Gideon is still my favorite.

haleybrooker's review against another edition

4.0

Things got even weirder in this one. Can’t wait to see how the series ends

talaskali's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

Started of slow, got better and better. 

norahlovestotalk's review against another edition

4.0

I love Tristan.

fictionallp's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

4.25

gerardthefrog420's review against another edition

adventurous tense medium-paced

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

2.5

There’s so many moving pieces and characters that it can sometimes be hard to keep track. Seemed like all the problems at the start either compounded or stayed the same at the end.

mapleblossom's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

I really enjoyed this sequel. It just a really fun read. All of the characters are so interesting. Their personalites are so full and fleshed out. The book is not very plot heavy, relying instead on the interactions between the characters. For me, this really worked. I honestly loved all the characters. The only reason this isn't getting the full five stars is because the book wasn't amazingly memorable for me. It was good, but it wasn't that impactful for me personally. 

slorogs's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

• Strong character development? No

2.5

I’m ok with a character-driven book in a series where the plot takes a back seat, but The Atlas Paradox is really missing both. It never finds its purpose, with only the last few pages being interesting. It’s essentially a filler book masquerading as one-third of a trilogy. I really like Olivie Blake’s writing style and she does a good job of putting you in the mindset of her unique characters, but there just wasn’t enough substance to make what those interesting characters were doing worth reading about. A bummer follow-up to The Atlas Six, which I really enjoyed.