I forgot to leave a review for this, but I really enjoyed it! It's been out for ages, so I won't say much more than I need to for my star rating. <3

This book made my little dark academia heart very happy. I am a great fan of Olivia Blake’s work especially her fanfiction and was excited to try her published work. It took a while to hook me in and did often find the writing style hard to read. However once I was reeled in that was it. The plot was unlike anything I have read and the all the characters were so perfectly unique it was amazing. The magic system as well was very complex and fascinating to learn about. The romance confused me at times but overall this book was very enjoyable.

Is this book for everyone? No. Is it for me? YES. The vibes are immaculate and the character driven plot made me FEEL THINGS. Blake is a master of writing realistic characters that you can't help, but be enthralled by. I think the topic of the plot itself could bore some readers, but I urge them to look past the plot and enjoy this book for what it is: a chance to love-hate polarizing characters.

I've somehow managed to read Olivie Blake's books in a very backwards manner, only just now getting to this book years after its come out and after reading several more recent Blake books since. This was probably both a good and bad thing as far as my reading experience went with this book.

For one thing, Blake has a very clear and distinct style to her writing and it's the kind of thing that will really speak to certain readers while annoying the heck out of others. I, for one, really enjoy the more lyrical moments that her writing can strike upon and am typically fairly interested in the philosophical meandering style of some of the narrative. This book definitely leaned in hard to the latter, with a lot of time given to exploring the broader thoughts and feelings of all of the characters.

And here is where it will go off the rails for some: the characters are a mixed bag of traits, all of them with some interesting aspects, but also all of them with other very frustrating decisions and thoughts. If you're a reader who is looking for a definitive "good guy" to follow, this book give you one. There's also a large cast of characters, so at times it can feel a bit grueling going from one to the next, knowing that, while different, they are also largely the same as far as these frustrating arcs can go.

That said, I did like some of the philosophical aspects, and I do enjoy her style of writing, so I was largely invested in the overall story. I also liked the fantasy academia setting of it all. That said, the plot itself is clearly more focused on the development of these characters and their interactions with one another, more than any fast-paced, active, moving plot line. This will either really work for some readers (those who read for characters mostly, like me) or not (those looking for a more plot-centric storyline). Overall, I think if you're a fan of Blake's writing, this one will definitely work for you. But she's also a very specific sort of author, so I can see her work being challenging for general fantasy fans.

why do publishers always feel the need to indicate that a certain book blew up on tik tok? i mean we know it did, no need to remind un by putting it on the cover! apart from this, i really like this book! it's definitely character driven (like there's a plot but it's not really heavy or anything). however i loved the depth to said characters. they were all very distinctive both from their pov's and from other's as well. you would know when reina or parisa was talking and you could feel the difference in their dialogue and inner thoughts. the concept is so fun and i wished we had seen more of the library but i think that will come to play in book 2. overall it was a very good book and it gave the fall vibes i wanted. 4.5/5

"Atlas Six" by Olivie Blake offers a unique exploration of academia, mysticism, and ambition. However, it must be acknowledged that the novel has both strengths and weaknesses.

One of its notable strengths lies in its intricate character development. The six central characters possess diverse talents and intriguing pasts, adding layers of complexity to the story. The dynamics among this group, filled with camaraderie and competition, keep readers engaged and curious about their evolving relationships.

Blake's writing style is rich and evocative, creating a vivid sense of place and atmosphere. The intellectual and sensory aspects of the narrative immerse readers in the esoteric world of the Institute of the Harmonious Order, making it a stimulating experience for those who appreciate thought-provoking literature.

The novel successfully delves into themes such as power, morality, and the pursuit of knowledge, prompting readers to contemplate the consequences of pushing the boundaries of human potential. It doesn't shy away from moral ambiguity, challenging readers to question whether the ends can justify the means.

However, the deliberate pacing of the story may not suit every reader's taste. While it allows for character development and world-building, some may find it slow, and it might test the patience of those seeking a more brisk narrative.

In summary, "Atlas Six" is a thought-provoking novel with rich character development and atmospheric prose. It engages readers in exploring ambition, intrigue, and moral complexity. While its deliberate pace may not appeal to everyone, it offers a unique experience for those willing to delve into the depths of complex characters and moral dilemmas.

I loved the expereince of reading this and somehow still don't know what i read. These were some of the most interesting characters I've ever read about, I just wish the plot made sense

I found this book to be beautifully written in terms of style, but there were some sticking points that made it pretty difficult for me to make it all the way to the end. Dark academica is usually very popular with my high school students, but many of them reported similar experiences to my own while reading: feeling confused by what was going on, bored for long stretches of time and not caring what happens, and not connecting to any of the characters.

***Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book to review.***

I tried reading this on my kindle a while back. I got maybe 40% through it and lost interest. I do want to try and pick this one up again because I loved the concept. I have the audiobook now so I might try that format and see if I have better success!

I don’t really get all the hype about this one. I ended up DNFing half way through because nothing had happened yet. All the characters were surface level and I had a hard time connecting to them.

OMG This book made me an instant stan of Olivie Blake. I was a little skeptical of the book when I started. It was a little slow, but the characters, especially Libby and Nico, made it easy to want to continue. But as soon as they all start interacting, sparks fly, literally and figuratively. It was a fun ride that makes you excited for the rest of the trilogy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

The Atlas Six is such a beautifully written fantasy. The world-building is outstanding. The story is well written with an enchanting storyline and well-developed characters that engage from start to finish. The world is atmospheric and feels real with vivid descriptions and rich imagery. I cannot get enough. Highly recommended. Be sure to check out The Atlas Six today.

This was such a great read! I was looking forward to reading this book, it sounded really great, and it's gotten great reviews-and the story of it, being self-published, and then picked up for tradition published-it's a great story, and I was really excited to read this new and improved version! And it was such a great read!

This world of the Alexandrian Society-where the lost knowledge is kept safe-I loved it so much! This is a magical world, with different abilities, and I really enjoyed learning more about it, and watching these characters delve into their studies!

We followed all 6 of these characters, and it was really interesting to be in their heads, because they are in a competition against one another, that one of them won't make it in, and that was a pretty interesting dynamic! Especially since they didn't know that from the start-it's something they learn after they've had a ahcen to form different relationships with one another, it is shakes up the dynamics!

Towards the end when things were getting more serious, there were twists and reveals aplenty, and I was just absorbing this information. With that ending, I'm so excited for the sequel, I really can't wait to see where things go from here!

Loved reading this book, and I can't wait for the sequel!

It took me a while to get through this book but I absolutely adore it. The writing is pretentious and beautiful, and the plot is a piece of art. I loved the ending and I can't wait to dive into the sequel. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to have access to this book.

the fact that I got to read the book earlier than others feels like such a precious little detail after reading it. It is a dark academia story that understands what people want and need in life at a deeper level.

Do you like "The Magicians?" Or the Scholomance series by Naomi Novik? Or even just a casual fan of The Hunger Games? Then you will love this book (and series).

This is the very first volume of the Atlas series, and while it is a bit slow on the action and plot, I really appreciated the careful set up of the world we have entered, and each of the characters we are going to be spending a lot of time with. I love when a book is written KNOWING it will have follow ups, because it gives it room to breathe and expand so we, as readers, are comfortable.

There are six magicians every year who are chosen to join the prestigious Alexandrian Society and study with Atlas Blakely, and this year's class is full of narcissistic, privileged, troubled youths. When you put them together, momentous things are bound to happen, and fireworks are bound to go off left and right.

Really fun and full of characters you might love to hate a little, this is a great series for people who love fantasy and what happens when the youth gets hold of magical powers that are large enough to destroy.

Great story and love that it kept my attention throughout the whole book. I would love to read more by this author.

thank you for my advance copy in exchange for a fair review.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc! I enjoyed this one a lot, even if it was difficult to understand the characters' decision making at times. The dark academia will definitely appeal to lots of people and I look forward to recommending it to customers!

I was really excited to read this but I think the book is a bit too slow for me. Not much happens and it's more character focused than I was expecting. I think I'm realizing that dark academia isn't for me but I think this would appeal to a lot of people who enjoy a character focused fantasy book.