2/5 stars

Thank you so much to Netgalley for granting me access to an eARC.

This might be the most disappointing reads of this year--I'm so upset that I didn't enjoy this book as much as I did when I read The Atlas Six. I just want to say, before I continue on with this review, that I think Olivie is a very talented author and her writing is immensely rich and descriptive. I think my biggest issues with this novel stems from the way it progresses and it's lack of plot.

Very early on it became evident to me that there just... wasn't a lot going on. Usually I'm a big fan of character-driven novels, which is what I found the most appealing about TAS, but there was also a lot of plot-driven things that I really enjoyed in the first book that weren't even remotely present in the second book. Not only that, but the only characters that I was remotely interesting were Libby, Tristan, and Nico, and with that being less than half of the cast of characters we read about, it really wasn't a novel that kept my attention. Even if I'm reading about characters that I don't necessarily enjoy, I like to att least have my attention kept, and it wasn't kept in this book.

I'm not sure if maybe dark academia just isn't my genre, but regardless, it was a huge miss for me. I'll probably discontinue with this and just cherish the time I had when I read TAS.

4/5⭐️

Much like the book itself, this review is going to be all over a place and a little confusing but bare with me.

Man, where do I even start? I guess I’ll say that I did genuinely enjoy this book. It was slow for the first little bit but the second half was addictive. The plot was interesting, I never knew what would happen next and I was continuously on the edge of my seat. I felt like every page turned was an opportunity for some new relationship or plot point that I could never see coming.

That being said, Olivie Blake never fails to make me feel simultaneously smarter and dumber than I am. One second I’m like, “oh I get it, wow look at me go” and then I turn the page and go “what the hell am I reading here?” Similar to The Atlas Six, this book is not for those uninterested in theory and academic literature (it is EXTREMELY heavy in both). If it weren’t for the characters and storylines that I love, I probably would have given up because this book makes me think harder than a book you read for fun should. I often found myself having to stop reading and sit there for a few minutes to try and process all of the information I just read.

However, if Blake knows how to do anything, it’s write complex characters that were undoubtedly my favorite part of this book.

I know this is an unpopular view in terms of likability but ever since I read the first book, I liked Libby and I think it’s mainly because I see myself in her a lot (anxiety-ridden, academic performance reliant girl who just wants to be liked). I felt she got a lot of shit from other characters in the first book so I really liked how all of them acknowledged how her absence set them off balance in this book. The only thing I wanted from her in the first book was a backbone, and boy did she grow one in this book - this was the start of Libby’s villain origin story and I am HERE for it.

I also really enjoyed how Raina and Callum were expanded upon as characters in this book, since I found them a bit one dimensional and boring in the first. I kind of… like Callum now? I thought he was one of the funniest characters in this book, besides Nico of course who will always be a lovable idiot. Tristan is still meh for me.

Parisa is and always will be that bitch who I would do anything to be with. She is so smart and manipulative and unapologetic and UGH WOMEN.

Gideon, oh my sweet Gideon. He is the best, I love him. Even Parisa, who doesn’t like anyone, can’t help but like him. Also, NicoGideon supremacy.

The queer pining in this book was TOP NOTCH. The Atlas Six had a lot of references to queer relationships but this book really solidified a lot of them for me - Nico and Gideon, Tristan and Callum, Libby and Belen. Give me more. All I need is a Parisa/Libby endgame and I can die happy.

So where does that leave us? I have no idea. This book was confusing in almost every way but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Do with that information what you will.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me an ARC of this book! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I loved Atlas Six, so I kind of had high expectations walking into this. Overall, I really mostly enjoyed Libby's story. I found myself hoping the other chapters would go by faster. Not a fan of Parisa or Callum at all this time around.

Personally, I found that this book was good but not as great as the first installment in the series. I feel like it was a good setup for the following (and final?) book, but I found that parts of the book could have been whittled down more and could have been more concise. The writing is still beautiful in true Blake fashion. A very soild 4/5 stars.

Fantastic! I love how truly immersive the world of The Atlas series is. Between our six main characters and three main side characters, there’s so much story to cover in this sequel—almost too much but thankfully there seems to be a third installation coming. The beginning is slow, allowing us to catch up and set the stage for each characters trajectory. Once that initial set up has passed, it’s nonstop plot until the end.

My favorite part was the switch up of character pairings. We truly get to see everyone react and, while they may not appreciate it, become closer as a whole. I absolutely loved it and impatiently wait for more!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

First off I want to thank TOR and Netgalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

NGL - writing this breaks my heart because I’ve been waiting for this sequel for over a year. Given how much I LOVED The Atlas Six this was probably my most anticipated book of the year. Unfortunately, Blake did not manage to write up to the hype she cultivated with this first book of the series. I don’t want to spoil anyone so I’ll try to be as specific as I can without doing so.

One of the things that sucked me into TA6 was the world building and character development. Not only was it incredibly well written and well paced, but it was engaging - more so than almost anything else I’ve read! The magic system was heavily rooted in science to the extent that I could reasonably see how the world we live in now could have been different with a few well placed technological developments. Granted I understand a decent amount about science but I never felt bogged down by Blake’s elaboration - I felt fascinated and respected! The fact that Blake managed to do a lot of describing without condescension was impressive and TA6 was better for it. Given HOW MUCH development occurred in The Atlas Paradox with certain characters learning new things about their abilities, I expected more of the same. That’s on me I guess, because what could have been more of what I loved from TA6 was just pretentious word vomit with no descriptive value.

What’s worse is that by the end of the book we have learned absolutely nothing about the characters we came to love in TA6. They just feel like hollow stereotypes with maybe one defining trait (if they’re lucky) that Blake puppets around to do things just for the sake of wondering what would happen if XYZ. Especially given how much I LOVED these characters, this is a huge disservice to the potential development that could have happened.

My past and biggest critique is that there is… no plot. Literally. If someone asked me what happened in this book I would say 3 words. Even better is the fact that those three words have NO larger purpose from what I can tell. They mean that we end up at more or less the exact same place we were left at the end of TA6 minus maybe 5 pages.

All in all, this book suffers heavily from 2nd-book-in-the-trilogy syndrome and it’s worse for it.

Just like the first book, this was incredible! I couldn't put it down and I am so excited to see it on the shelves of my store and that I can now publicky about it!

The Atlas Paradox is a different beast from The Atlas Six and with no murder plot looming over their heads, one of them lost in time, and study topic decisions looming, the Alexandrian Society initiates find themselves mostly existing quietly amongst themselves for most of this novel. The Atlas Paradox, then, is a naturally slower novel than its predecessor that can seem to wander aimlessly in places, but Olivie Blake's characters and their fascinating interior perspectives kept me from ever growing bored or unsure of this novel. While I do think it suffers mildly from second book syndrome, I had the time of my life with it and I can't wait for The Atlas Complex to drop to see how all of this comes to an end.

Thank you to Netgalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed Atlas Six and was excited to get the second book in the series, but I found myself disappointed in this one.

Without the murder plot of the first book, much of the tension drains out of the story. In fact, at about 30 percent in, I thought about just giving up on it. I really missed Libby and her role in the group and found the remaining members tedious a good part of the time. I finished but it was more of a struggle than I anticipated, and I'm not sure I'll go on with the series. Perhaps the final book will save it as middle books are often tough to get right.

A worthy sequel to the first with a slow ramp up to the action. As always, the vibes are impeccable and the characters are complicated and compelling. A very cool blend of science and fantasy, with some interesting food for thought on academia and elitism, though I wish the plot were a bit heftier. All in all, great fun.

Picking up immediately after the first book, this is a book written to be a movie. Not always a bad thing, but not my cup of tea. Good characters and pacing help a lot with the book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ms. Blake, and MacMillan/Tor for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

Wellllll. This is a mixed feelings moment, for sure.

Some things about tAP, I loved: I loved its cerebral quality, I loved the murky nature of intentions and the sly jabs at academia as a festering, cannibalistic, partially sentient devourer. Seems about right. I loved its beautiful prose and its ability to parse human nature.

...and some things, I did NOT love. I wish the characters had done less navel-gazing and more plot. Frankly, there was very little plot here. Lots of thinking, even DEEPER thinking, some short-lived experimenting, lots of snarking, general antagonizing, quite a bit of ennui, but little plot.

Most of the characters spent the bulk of the book sunk into something:
-Parisa: Dalton
-Tristan: existential crisis over not being useful
-Callum: alcohol
-Reina: arguably, an insanity spiral?
-Nico: sleep
-Libby: the past
-Dalton: himself
-Atlas: nefarious plots and hiding in the house
-Ezra: being Ineffective (TM)

... I just wish *someone* would have done something, a little more often. Objectively the book is absolutely beautiful. I saw another reviewer say "style over substance." I think that is an apt description here. I enjoyed it aesthetically but I was vaguely bored by the story itself. Bridge book syndrome, I suppose. Let's hope Atlas #3 will get things moving. All the pieces are in place, certainly. I'll look forward to it.

This is my absolutely favourite fantasy series currently. Blake basically writes magical heists books with lots of action and emotions.
I love the big questions: What do you actually see when you can see through every illusions? Can you see time? And can you control it?

In the first book Libby was my favourite character and that`s why I´m so excited for the next book.

Also didn`t see the plottwists commiing, gasped every time. Except for the love. I expected that and am not disappointed.

I recommend this fantastic series to everyone who loves imagination beyond things possiple.

Oh my god! What was that ???? There is no way the book ended like this ?? I’m shaking! My heart is beating so fast! (I finished the book 2 minutes ago).

everyone knows I had problems with the atlas six even though I enjoyed some of it but THIS! Olivie is a mastermind! This book is so chaotic and mind blowing. Everything is on fire. It’s insane. I always say that the sequels are better than the first book and again I’m correct. The book was 400 pages but nothing was slow. Everything is happening all at once but in a fun way. I loved seeing the characters forming alliances with each other and there this one duo that never in million years I expected them to work together. Nico is still my love. I love reading his thoughts and how *sobs* he feels lost without his other half *iykyk*. I can’t wrap my head around how Olivie wrote two characters who are rivals with intense chemistry but they are not in love ?? But they feel lost without each other ??

Now to Libby. My goddess. I’m so proud of her. It’s her reputation (Taylor swift) era and I can’t. I’m Libby Rhodes fan. Human second.

One of the characters that I found very interesting in this book was Tristan. I enjoyed watching him learn more about his abilities and his dynamic with Nico in this book was comedy.

I can write essays talk about how I feel about this book so let me summarize it: the plot of the book still seems vague but it’s more character driven than the atlas six which was great and made me love the book. Expect the unexpected. Things you think they will happen they won’t. it’s an epic roller coaster.

It’s official, Olivie Blake’s writing is like crack for my soul.
While this book had some issues, I truly don’t care. I am absolutely not waiting patiently for the next one.
I do think this sequel could have benefitted from higher stakes through the middle portion, or at least clearer ones, but I never felt bored as I thrive off the character interactions. I eat up every crumb of pretentiousness and penchant for drama that each of them exude. Everyone is even more unhinged and blinded by their own importance than before, and that’s the whole point. It’s illustrated perfectly through our new character Belen, who I better see on a chapter header in the future or I’ll be very disappointed.
Atlas and Dalton were the biggest mystery I was hoping would be solved in this book in order to create a larger and clearer picture, and by the end it gave me exactly what I needed. Villains are only ever people trying to do what they think is right. How will Atlas or Ezra’s plans change the fate of the world? No one knows, but those with the power to change it are going to find out, for better or for worse.
I was hoping the ending would end on a bigger climax like the first, but it has enough going for it where I can’t say it was underwhelming. I am so ready for Libby to keep blowing things up. Go get em!!!

A worth sequel to “The Atlas Six”. The first section felt a little slow but they action starts picking up. I think Blake’s writing style improved upon the first book.

Starts slow, but definitely picks up speed. I need to reflect on it more before I can fully make sense of it all, but it did what it needed to do.

Picking up exactly where Dark Academia sensation The Atlas Six left off, The Atlas Paradox begins with the new fellows beginning their second year with the Alexandrian Society. With Libby still trapped in the past, Nico and Tristan are desperate to bring her back, while Callum tries to drink himself to death, Parisa explores the secrets withheld from her, and Reina considers exactly how far her powers can be extended. The interpersonal dynamics are less claustrophobic than in the first book - each of the characters is on their own separate path and the interactions are less charged. Libby's path from anxious wreck to force of nature is compelling, while Parisa, Nico, and Tristan get comparatively shortchanged. Reina and Callum develop in an interesting direction that plays into the fears and ambitions of the Forum. Maybe it's the perils of being the second book after a tour-de-force, but Paradox feels somewhat underwhelming and unfinished, setting up a third book while implying "nothing to see here." Do yourself a favor and reread The Atlas Six first - you'll catch much more of the subtle detail work that makes Blake's novels shine that way.

This series needs to have an orgy. That’s the only thing I’m taking away from the second book. Nothing happens for a long time. Not much plot. Many of the pages are characters interacting and drawing conclusions about each other. There’s this odd tension between all of the characters that I feel would end in an orgy.

I still enjoyed reading it, but in the end, I had to think about what happened in the book.

This review is based on an advanced reader copy provided through Netgalley for an honest review.

This series just wasn't for me. If I hadn't listened to it as an audiobook I probably wouldn't have finished. I felt like the majority of the 400 pages I just read was made up of fluff and nothing really happened. The first half of the book was incredibly boring with literally nothing important seeming to happen. The only things that happen in this book is finding out about Libby and finding what Atlas's plans are/ what he wants to do.