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A review by ktc8
The Atlas Complex by Olivie Blake
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
very torn on my rating for this! i think its been too long since i read the first two to jump right in and expect the same sweeping off my feet that i felt with the others. the writing style before wowed me and i loved the circular motion in the way she wrote scenes, where it felt like we could be in the heads of the these characters. now i felt it was more tiring but that probably was my personal experience! i really dont understand why everyone hates on this one so much, even if i didn't have a riproaring time it wasn't bad and im not sure i realized how many people read this for a romantic plot?? wack.
unfortunately i was Hyper aware of the reviews before starting this and ugh that influenced it all. i saw her at a panel for the british museum's fantasy exhibition program and while it was great to meet her in person and clarified for me 'oh wow she really speaks and thinks exactly how she writes', a couple things she said threw me. she made a point to clarify she doesn't put her own thoughts or philosophies into her writing which just seemed patently untrue - maybe she is oblivious to it? this book constantly felt like she was hammering home philosophical reasoning and while i think it's really interesting to parse out morality through many different and warring characters, it struck me the wrong way to imagine she wasn't actually saying that directly to the audience... of course she was? i was hyper aware if her in the story most of the time. she also spoke about how she started out as a dramione ff writer which kudos to her but its clear that she has worked with writing personal interests in a way where she plays dolls with her blorbos and expositions their thoughts and actions which takes away from the free will and integrity of the characters? i think this was the only time i regretted seeing an author in person, just bc i couldn't divorce the story from their personality, but she was so sweet, well spoken, and funny so don't take this a bad way about her!
in other thoughts, the book felt a bit too long and im not sure after all of it what i was actually supposed to take away, but i really enjoyed the character developments and the exploration of what to do with power once you have it. would love to reread the whole series in the future im sure ill get a better sense of the series then
unfortunately i was Hyper aware of the reviews before starting this and ugh that influenced it all. i saw her at a panel for the british museum's fantasy exhibition program and while it was great to meet her in person and clarified for me 'oh wow she really speaks and thinks exactly how she writes', a couple things she said threw me. she made a point to clarify she doesn't put her own thoughts or philosophies into her writing which just seemed patently untrue - maybe she is oblivious to it? this book constantly felt like she was hammering home philosophical reasoning and while i think it's really interesting to parse out morality through many different and warring characters, it struck me the wrong way to imagine she wasn't actually saying that directly to the audience... of course she was? i was hyper aware if her in the story most of the time. she also spoke about how she started out as a dramione ff writer which kudos to her but its clear that she has worked with writing personal interests in a way where she plays dolls with her blorbos and expositions their thoughts and actions which takes away from the free will and integrity of the characters? i think this was the only time i regretted seeing an author in person, just bc i couldn't divorce the story from their personality, but she was so sweet, well spoken, and funny so don't take this a bad way about her!
in other thoughts, the book felt a bit too long and im not sure after all of it what i was actually supposed to take away, but i really enjoyed the character developments and the exploration of what to do with power once you have it. would love to reread the whole series in the future im sure ill get a better sense of the series then