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A review by onthesamepage
The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Writing Style
I didn't find the writing style to be as overwrought as I was half expecting it to be. I will say that the author uses more words than are strictly necessary, but overall I found it readable enough for my tastes. However, she makes some stylistic choices that I didn't like. For example, two characters might be starting a discussion, and then the POV character remembers this other conversation they had with someone else, and we get that entire conversation in the form of a flashback in the middle of the current discussion. It happened often enough that I noticed it.
Characters
I was hoping that I would connect to at least a couple of them, but the most I can say is that they were, mostly, fine. There are characters that we are clearly meant to dislike and mistrust because of the power they have and how they choose to wield it. I think I enjoyed Nico's perspective the most out of the six. I really liked his relationship with Gideon, and the protectiveness he feels towards his friends. I'm pretty lukewarm on the rest of them.
Plot
It's not that this book doesn't have a plot at all, but most of it is characters talking and interacting with each other. The plot is truly minimal, in my opinion. There's a lot of focus on them studying, getting to know each other, and experimenting with their magic. If you like books that have very strong vibes, this might work for you. I don't think it's character-driven either—there's no meaningful growth for any of the six points of view that we get. It's possible that this happens in later books, and I'm curious to see if the sequel will have more of a plot as well.
I didn't find the writing style to be as overwrought as I was half expecting it to be. I will say that the author uses more words than are strictly necessary, but overall I found it readable enough for my tastes. However, she makes some stylistic choices that I didn't like. For example, two characters might be starting a discussion, and then the POV character remembers this other conversation they had with someone else, and we get that entire conversation in the form of a flashback in the middle of the current discussion. It happened often enough that I noticed it.
Characters
I was hoping that I would connect to at least a couple of them, but the most I can say is that they were, mostly, fine. There are characters that we are clearly meant to dislike and mistrust because of the power they have and how they choose to wield it. I think I enjoyed Nico's perspective the most out of the six. I really liked his relationship with Gideon, and the protectiveness he feels towards his friends. I'm pretty lukewarm on the rest of them.
Plot
It's not that this book doesn't have a plot at all, but most of it is characters talking and interacting with each other. The plot is truly minimal, in my opinion. There's a lot of focus on them studying, getting to know each other, and experimenting with their magic. If you like books that have very strong vibes, this might work for you. I don't think it's character-driven either—there's no meaningful growth for any of the six points of view that we get. It's possible that this happens in later books, and I'm curious to see if the sequel will have more of a plot as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Violence, and Gaslighting