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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Okay okay, let's do this.
I'm (hopefully) just coming out of a reading slump. I've been reading The Atlas Six for a while, and finally just made myself finish it so I could at least attempt to get back into my good reading habits. Here we go!
I went into this one with high expectations! And it did not disappoint. Dark academia, witty writing, mind-bending sort of magic system. What's not to love? Cannot help but congratulate Olivie for her fantastic plot building!
The existential questioning of it all was very enjoyable, keeping up with the reasoning behind the why's and the how's felt like being taken on a journey. Not always an easy task - at times I felt somewhat unfit to fully appreciate what Blake was trying to explain. This felt like a step up in the philosophical complexity of what I usually read (let's be honest, fairy smut is not exactly intellectually advanced) - and I'm ready for more.
Nonetheless, the story could have done with more action and, through it, relationship-building between the characters. To say that Callum loved Tristan was, in my opinion, difficult to justify, for example. Good friends, yes, but with far too many barriers for love to be the case. Same with Parisa and Dalton - they had fun together, but what was it exactly that Dalton was so enthralled with, knowing Parisa relied on seduction, almost exclusively, to get what she wanted out of people? The characters felt too intelligent to have (what felt like) superficial relationships.
And then there were some plot holes..! What exactly happened between Parisa and Callum that had her so scared, when she was, otherwise, so in control? What was Atlas doing inside Dalton's mind? What is Dalton's purpose in all of this?
In the final chapter, I did enjoy how it's (almost) all revealed. This ulterior motive, 'not-what you-thought' sort of move is so effective! But I almost wanted more, and at the same time less? It felt a bit rushed, not very connected with everything else presented throughout the book... I love being surprised with a good plot twist, but I need to fully believe it. Be so surprised because I didn't see it coming but 'oh-my-god-of-course'. The way Olivie decided to keep that under wraps until then was almost too detached for me to be convinced.
I think, generally, the story could have done with more of Atlas. Who is he, what does he want, what is his role in all of this? After all, the book is named after him, but we mostly don't hear from him except for the beginning and the end. I wanted to care about him, believe or doubt him, be curious about his next move but Blake excluded him too much from the main storyline for that to happen.
To wrap up this diary entry, essentially, let me just say that even though I've included a lot of my perceived shortcomings, I genuinely enjoyed the story. This has been very different than most of my reads so far and I love that I got to experience this story. Olivie's comfort with complex subjects is notable and so refreshing. I was promised a ride, and I got one! Were there bumps? Yes. But, overall, it felt elegant and beautiful. I will certainly read the next one - it's already sitting on my shelf, edges sprayed and cover page signed, shouting at me to be next in line like the plants shouted "mothermothermother" at Reina.
I'm (hopefully) just coming out of a reading slump. I've been reading The Atlas Six for a while, and finally just made myself finish it so I could at least attempt to get back into my good reading habits. Here we go!
I went into this one with high expectations! And it did not disappoint. Dark academia, witty writing, mind-bending sort of magic system. What's not to love? Cannot help but congratulate Olivie for her fantastic plot building!
The existential questioning of it all was very enjoyable, keeping up with the reasoning behind the why's and the how's felt like being taken on a journey. Not always an easy task - at times I felt somewhat unfit to fully appreciate what Blake was trying to explain. This felt like a step up in the philosophical complexity of what I usually read (let's be honest, fairy smut is not exactly intellectually advanced) - and I'm ready for more.
Nonetheless, the story could have done with more action and, through it, relationship-building between the characters. To say that Callum loved Tristan was, in my opinion, difficult to justify, for example. Good friends, yes, but with far too many barriers for love to be the case. Same with Parisa and Dalton - they had fun together, but what was it exactly that Dalton was so enthralled with, knowing Parisa relied on seduction, almost exclusively, to get what she wanted out of people? The characters felt too intelligent to have (what felt like) superficial relationships.
And then there were some plot holes..! What exactly happened between Parisa and Callum that had her so scared, when she was, otherwise, so in control? What was Atlas doing inside Dalton's mind? What is Dalton's purpose in all of this?
In the final chapter, I did enjoy how it's (almost) all revealed. This ulterior motive, 'not-what you-thought' sort of move is so effective! But I almost wanted more, and at the same time less? It felt a bit rushed, not very connected with everything else presented throughout the book... I love being surprised with a good plot twist, but I need to fully believe it. Be so surprised because I didn't see it coming but 'oh-my-god-of-course'. The way Olivie decided to keep that under wraps until then was almost too detached for me to be convinced.
I think, generally, the story could have done with more of Atlas. Who is he, what does he want, what is his role in all of this? After all, the book is named after him, but we mostly don't hear from him except for the beginning and the end. I wanted to care about him, believe or doubt him, be curious about his next move but Blake excluded him too much from the main storyline for that to happen.
To wrap up this diary entry, essentially, let me just say that even though I've included a lot of my perceived shortcomings, I genuinely enjoyed the story. This has been very different than most of my reads so far and I love that I got to experience this story. Olivie's comfort with complex subjects is notable and so refreshing. I was promised a ride, and I got one! Were there bumps? Yes. But, overall, it felt elegant and beautiful. I will certainly read the next one - it's already sitting on my shelf, edges sprayed and cover page signed, shouting at me to be next in line like the plants shouted "mothermothermother" at Reina.
4.5 the ending wasn’t as confusing as i remembered which weirdly made me like it less
Ever walk into a coffee shop that’s busy and there are 10 different conversations happening and you only catch snippets of each? That’s what this book is. Except they live in a library and apparently have powers. No idea what the actual plot is besides one of the six dies? They spend a whole year learning…what exactly I do not know. But they research! Again, not really sure what they research. They get no direction and just start messing with “time” and wormholes…with no greater purpose. The society is all very hush hush and that includes not telling the reader.
It was boring and unnecessary. 1 star is generous. Also, I made it to 75%…the last 25 could have been the best, I just can’t.
It was boring and unnecessary. 1 star is generous. Also, I made it to 75%…the last 25 could have been the best, I just can’t.
Good world building and characters, but a long book for the fact that it didn’t resolve any of its plot. Also the final twist was easy to see parts of.
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No