Olivie Blake

The Atlas Paradox is the long-awaited sequel to Olivie Blake's New York Times bestselling dark academic sensation The Atlas Six—guaranteed to have even more yearning, backstabbing, betrayal, and chaos. Six magicians were presented with the opportunity of a lifetime. Five are now members of the Society. Two paths lay before them. All must pick a side. Alliances will be tested, hearts will be broken, and The Society of Alexandrians will be revealed for what it is: a secret society with raw, world-changing power, headed by a man whose plans to change life as we know it are already under way. "The Atlas Six introduced six of the most devious, talented, and flawed characters to ever find themselves in a magical library, and then sets them against one another in a series of stunning betrayals and reversals. As much a delicious contest of wit, will, and passion as it is of magic...half mystery, half puzzle, and wholly a delight."—Holly Black, New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Night Also by Olivie Blake Alone With You in the Ether One For My Enemy Masters of Death

The Atlas Paradox

The Atlas Paradox is the long-awaited sequel to the New York Times bestselling dark academic sensation The Atlas Six—guaranteed to have even more yearning, backstabbing, betrayal, and chaos. Six magicians. Two rivalries. One researcher. And a man who can walk through dreams. All must pick a side: do they wish to preserve the world—or destroy it? In this electric sequel to the viral sensation, The Atlas Six, the society of Alexandrians is revealed for what it is: a secret society with raw, world-changing power, headed by a man whose plans to change life as we know it are already under way. But the cost of knowledge is steep, and as the price of power demands each character choose a side, which alliances will hold and which will see their enmity deepen? Praise for The Atlas Six "Lethally smart. Filled with a cast of brilliantly realized characters, each entangled with one another in torturously delicious ways, The Atlas Six will grip you by the throat and refuse to let go. Olivie Blake is a mind-blowing talent."— Chloe Gong, author of the New York Times bestseller These Violent Delights "The Atlas Six is a fantasy novel that understands that what the people want is more dark academia stories with flawless vibes and aesthetics and hot morally fraudulent characters who are constantly on the verge of either killing each other or fucking each other. I'm the people." — chai, viral book reviewer @proyearner At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Elle bagnall

This was just the world. You trusted people, you loved them, you offered them the dignity of your time and the intimacy of your thoughts and the frailty of your hope and thev either accepted it and cared for it or they rejected it and destroyed it and in the end, none of it was up to you. This was just what you got. Heartbreak was inevitable. Disappointment assured.

the derision of Reina's choice to remain behind. Increasingly, Reina became aware of the inadequacy of her singular, lifelong goal. Like Callum and wine, her vice was an unimaginative hindrance. It suddenly seemed intensely shameful that despite all the power in the world, the only thing Reina truly wanted was to hide

 "Not true," said Callum. "I don't actually hate people. I hate predictable things," he admitted. I hate boring little anxieties, ike Rhodes's. People who never exceed their shape because they're too busy wondering why people don't like them, or who they're meant to be, or why they aren't loved

Lauren

Did you know that most of our behaviours come from our adolescence? Tastes evolve, but there's a particular slice of youth that never leaves us. They're called our formative years for a reason. Because we always return to them in some form.

Inés

“We can’t help clinging to our origins,” Callum said. “The past always seems more ordered, Rhodes. It always seems clearer, more straightforward, easier to understand. We have a craving for it, that sense of simplicity. But only an idiot would ever chase the past, because our perception of it is false — it was never that the world was simple. Just that in retrospect it could be known, and therefore understood.”

Emily McMeans

“Because if it was really that bad," he added, "if it was really so bad that I saw through fucking time when I was seven years old fighting for my life above the river Thames, then someone else should have seen it, yeah? Someone else should have known. But nobody did, and so maybe it was just a dream."

“…in that moment I have to see the impossible, the unbelievable, and then somehow find the energy to say no, I won't. I won't fall, I won't drown, I won't break, and I won't—”

"I won't fucking forgive him," Tristan said. "And I won't forgive anyone else who makes me ask myself if I deserve to live."

"You don't win. This isn't a game. This isn't a test. This is just your life."

The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake is the sequel to The Atlas Six, the runaway TikTok must-read fantasy novel of the year. If you loved Ninth House and A Deadly Education, you'll love this.

The Atlas Paradox: The Atlas Book 2

Mahi Patel

Olympus was empty and so was hell. The devils were all here, in this house. 

Nicky 

Yes?" asked the stranger. Thank god, a stranger. Just some other teenager with Ezra's hair, his height

Nico felt the odd sensation that he should thank her. Or possibly marry her.

Querida mía. Quédate conmigo. Stay, stay awhile with me.

She gave him a look as if she understood something stupid was coming.  "What's wrong?"

What did he have to lose? "I kind of thought you'd smell like roses," 

Emilia Vulliamy

Olympus was empty and so was hell. The devils were all here, in this house.

Rina

She could have said: For the last time, I do not think I am holy. I am not divine. What I am is the kind of powerful that could rewrite cultures, restructure societies. This is what it means to be a god: to enforce a new era of change. Not to create empires, but to shape a new generation. 

Later, Libby's reasoning would be that she wasn't even fully awake whed her hand shot out to close around her ex-boyfriend's throat. "Yeah," she said hoarsely, "Starved."

"I need you to help me die," said Tristan Caine.

Something about Libby's absence had ripped a hole in the fabric of Nico's reality. 

We are our own myths, our own legends. We give things reason.

Thais Soto

 This was just the world. You trusted people, you loved them, you offered them the dignity of your time and the intimacy of your thoughts and the frailty of your hope and they either accepted it and cared for it or they rejected it and destroyed it and in the end, none of it was up to you. This was just what you got. Heartbreak was inevitable. Disappointment assured 

There is doom to be found everywhere if doom is what you seek.

Though, as you know, the world is highly populated by idiots

This one was harder to get through. The plot moved at a snails pace and felt unnecessarily long-winded at points. 

That said, I’m still loving these characters and I’m excited to see how the finale will pan out. 

Kierce

This one was harder to get through. The plot moved at a snails pace and felt unnecessarily long-winded at points. 

That said, I’m still loving these characters and I’m excited to see how the finale will pan out. 

Chase Leitner

Too many characters and therefore too many storylines. I can easily keep them all straight (again the 8+ narrators is such a great touch and they are all perfect for each character) but I’m genuinely interested in each string so it was a bummer they wouldn’t get the time and space they deserved because it felt like the plot could barely move by the time we would get back around to each one. And yet I cried at the end so I had to give it 4 stars. 

Abigail

I may or may not have a little crush for parisa since book 1

Aris 

Dnf. BOOORING. Second book in and i have absolutely no feelings about any of the characters. Byeee.

Christine

I have been waiting for them to kiss for two books now and I couldn’t be happier 

Pia 

At this point the author has managed to describe the way the characters view the world and each other so well that they really feel like they could be real people. 4/5 because even though there's a lot going on, there's not a lot happening. I will pick up the third book just to revisit the characters.

Moa Mattbäck

The ending was awesome and the story is shaping up, and is shaping up to be something really cool.

But I feel like this book brought me further away from the main characters. It is likely my fault for not understanding the book well enough but at times I felt like I was confused why that specific player made that decision. 

Blake is an amazing writer who was created a great universe and has generously shared it with us. That being said I think I need to take a step back from this series for a second because I might be misunderstanding too much of it.

Maxwell B

The ending was awesome and the story is shaping up, and is shaping up to be something really cool.

But I feel like this book brought me further away from the main characters. It is likely my fault for not understanding the book well enough but at times I felt like I was confused why that specific player made that decision. 

Blake is an amazing writer who was created a great universe and has generously shared it with us. That being said I think I need to take a step back from this series for a second because I might be misunderstanding too much of it.

I could fall into this chaotic story and world over and over again! 

Samantha Cummings

I loved this book so much more than the first. The first was a big too slow and character driven for me. Obviously though the characters are amazing and I wasn't ready to give up on them so I read this book. The only downside to it, and the reason it took me so long to finish, is the lack of Libby Rhodes. I love Libby and just always want more of her. I must say I love this series but I am just here for the ride and sometimes I do believe the characters are too smart for me. This though is the best book I have read in awhile.

Lucille

Hmm,, let's try and make this review as succinct as possible. 

Has there ever been a book that's felt a bit too existential? That's how this book came off to me. There is a lot happening and I fear it's at the loss of a real plot. It will tickle your sciencey cerebral fancy really well but it also feels like a conscious stream of thought instead of a book. Ezra's character is absolutely useless and didn't really add anything for me and Belen almost seems like a manic rant put to paper if that makes sense? Her character had so much potential but devolved so badly. Much appreciated the anti-colonial rant but it seemed a bit misplaced in this book. Take my review with a pinch of salt because I still read it in a night. Blake's writing is still delightfully addicting and her world-building is lovely. Her approach to friendship and love is so unbelievably open and Queer and sweet. Our main six seem a lot softer in this book but also kind of haggard though I suppose that is intentional. A lot happens but it also feels like nothing at all happens. Also not sure if I can forgive Blake for NOT giving me my NicoLibby reunion that I was absolutely DESPERATE for, howeverrrr Nico and Gideon FINALLY getting their shit together at the end softened the blow a teensy tiny bit. But yeah, by the end I kind of felt like Nico during their last week at the manor when he's just stumped that,,, this is it? All that and it's just,,, done? I read the first two books in a three day haze (that one day break was thanks to amazon's delivery service) and I think I need to take a break before I dive into the third one. Hopefully there's more Libby in general in that one :) if you made it to the end of this, you're much appreciated  xo 

Edit: also,,, it was delightfully sciencey and academic but then wasn't in the moments that it should have been ? Would have loved more deep dive into the plan to get Libby back and seen them work together. It just kind of,,, came together? And I was like oh! Ok. Also their self study work, it piqued ny interest but it just kind of faded in and out without real focus. Also WHAT HAPPENED to reina, the whole god thing is a cool premise but her chatacter kind of went,,,, wrong? And why do I low-key like Callum now? Though he needs an intervention for his drinking... also what was the actual point of their little simulation initiation thing? but yeah I swear I'm done now

Ameira Raveendran 

Hmm,, let's try and make this review as succinct as possible. 

Has there ever been a book that's felt a bit too existential? That's how this book came off to me. There is a lot happening and I fear it's at the loss of a real plot. It will tickle your sciencey cerebral fancy really well but it also feels like a conscious stream of thought instead of a book. Ezra's character is absolutely useless and didn't really add anything for me and Belen almost seems like a manic rant put to paper if that makes sense? Her character had so much potential but devolved so badly. Much appreciated the anti-colonial rant but it seemed a bit misplaced in this book. Take my review with a pinch of salt because I still read it in a night. Blake's writing is still delightfully addicting and her world-building is lovely. Her approach to friendship and love is so unbelievably open and Queer and sweet. Our main six seem a lot softer in this book but also kind of haggard though I suppose that is intentional. A lot happens but it also feels like nothing at all happens. Also not sure if I can forgive Blake for NOT giving me my NicoLibby reunion that I was absolutely DESPERATE for, howeverrrr Nico and Gideon FINALLY getting their shit together at the end softened the blow a teensy tiny bit. But yeah, by the end I kind of felt like Nico during their last week at the manor when he's just stumped that,,, this is it? All that and it's just,,, done? I read the first two books in a three day haze (that one day break was thanks to amazon's delivery service) and I think I need to take a break before I dive into the third one. Hopefully there's more Libby in general in that one :) if you made it to the end of this, you're much appreciated  xo 

Edit: also,,, it was delightfully sciencey and academic but then wasn't in the moments that it should have been ? Would have loved more deep dive into the plan to get Libby back and seen them work together. It just kind of,,, came together? And I was like oh! Ok. Also their self study work, it piqued ny interest but it just kind of faded in and out without real focus. Also WHAT HAPPENED to reina, the whole god thing is a cool premise but her chatacter kind of went,,,, wrong? And why do I low-key like Callum now? Though he needs an intervention for his drinking... also what was the actual point of their little simulation initiation thing? but yeah I swear I'm done now

Lots of theoretical and physical science explanations in it, but has a much better plot than I think the first one

Lillian

Dark Academia meets Fantasy. »The Atlas Paradox« ist die Fortsetzung des Bestsellers »The Atlas Six«, in dem sich sechs talentierte Magier*innen den tödlichen Prüfungen der Alexandrinischen Gesellschaft stellen. Mehr Geheimnisse. Verrat. Verführung. Herzen werden gebrochen, Allianzen geschmiedet und wieder zerbrochen, und die Alexandrinische Gesellschaft wird als das enthüllt, was sie ist: eine mächtige Organisation, die von einem Mann geführt wird, der unsere Welt revolutionieren möchte. Doch die Gesellschaft verfügt auch über mächtige Feinde, die von sich behaupten, eine bessere Alternative zu sein. Die Magier*innen werden sich für eine der beiden Seiten entscheiden müssen. Und allen ist klar: Von dieser Entscheidung hängt nicht nur ihr eigenes Schicksal ab. Für Leser*innen von Sarah J. Maas, Leigh Bardugo und V. E. Schwab.

Schicksal ist eine Entscheidung

cee 

The characters felt more alive this time around and the story overall was more engaging than the first.

sammy

I love Olivie Blake's writing, it's so calm and poetically calculated. It's perfect for slowly revealing the plot, which is so cleverly disguised behind a group of young adults hating and occasionally making out with each other! 

The characters all have their faults and are completely unapologetic about that! They feel real, and annoying at times, but I love them all (ironically, my favourite is the one the rest of them hate the most!) 

I'm so glad I waited to read this as that ending would not have allowed me to wait a year to see how this story concludes, but now I am ready (with 6 days to wait, which still feels painful!)

Victoria Justice

I love Olivie Blake's writing, it's so calm and poetically calculated. It's perfect for slowly revealing the plot, which is so cleverly disguised behind a group of young adults hating and occasionally making out with each other! 

The characters all have their faults and are completely unapologetic about that! They feel real, and annoying at times, but I love them all (ironically, my favourite is the one the rest of them hate the most!) 

I'm so glad I waited to read this as that ending would not have allowed me to wait a year to see how this story concludes, but now I am ready (with 6 days to wait, which still feels painful!)

only read this for the (few) libbynico crumbles which were basically nico going insane over libby's absence.

“something about libby’s absence had ripped a hole in the fabric of nico’s reality”

“he missed libby rhodes the way he would miss having electricity. or his left hand. he did not know how to function without her.”

anyways, the plot was somewhat interesting but dragged on for SOO LONGG zzz like it finally picked it up towards the very end. personally, the book was overshadowed by the pretentiousness and dark academia of it all. i wish the author developed the core six's relationship/friendship with each other. it felt like reading about six coworkers with magical abilities that occasionally made out with each other. also, the six characters in the first book were their own distinct person but in this book, it felt like they were all so similar to the point where they all blended together!

idk this book had potential to be more than just dark academia with mind aching vocabulary

only read this for the (few) libbynico crumbles which were basically nico going insane over libby's absence.

fav quotes hehe
“something about libby’s absence had ripped a hole in the fabric of nico’s reality”

“he missed libby rhodes the way he would miss having electricity. or his left hand. he did not know how to function without her.”

anyways, the plot was somewhat interesting but dragged on for SOO LONGG zzz like it finally picked it up towards the very end. personally, the book was overshadowed by the pretentiousness and dark academia of it all. i wish the author developed the core six's relationship/friendship with each other. it felt like reading about six coworkers with magical abilities that occasionally made out with each other. also, the six characters in the first book were their own distinct person but in this book, it felt like they were all so similar to the point where they all blended together!

idk this book had potential to be more than just dark academia with mind aching vocabulary

This book really just checks all the boxes for me. It has magic and drama and lots of cerebral, existential thinking throughout the whole novel. The characters are loveable and so unique from one another that it's hard not to love them. Blake does such a good job at balancing so many different narratives and points of view without making it confusing. So many elements of this book and its predecessor are dense and full of complex meaning, it just makes you want to pick apart every sentence to conjure as much understanding as you can. 

This book ends in an abrubt, almost incomplete way that demands a follow up, which I'm pleasantly surprised to learn comes out in January of 2024. I'm excited to see what Blake does with this story! 

Paige Leitner

This book really just checks all the boxes for me. It has magic and drama and lots of cerebral, existential thinking throughout the whole novel. The characters are loveable and so unique from one another that it's hard not to love them. Blake does such a good job at balancing so many different narratives and points of view without making it confusing. So many elements of this book and its predecessor are dense and full of complex meaning, it just makes you want to pick apart every sentence to conjure as much understanding as you can. 

This book ends in an abrubt, almost incomplete way that demands a follow up, which I'm pleasantly surprised to learn comes out in January of 2024. I'm excited to see what Blake does with this story! 

Not as good as book one but has interesting moments

Suzanne

I really did not vibe with this one as much as I did the first one. It was a really slow burn and only picked up pace around 200 page mark. 

Elizabeth Denny

this was okay but can it really be dark academia if there was no academics? I think this was supposed to be more romantic too but the only couple I cared about from the last book didn’t interact at all in this book lol

fris🐝

You know how they say ‘the sequel is never as good as the original’? Well, this is definitely not the case! 

The second installment of the trilogy was just as gripping as the first. My feelings on the style of Blake’s writing and the characterization of the series as a plotless book which are in my review of ‘The Atlas Six’ remain unchanged. ‘The Atlas Paradox’ is a continuation of the circumstances of our initiate class finishing out their second year at the archives, minus Libby who has spent the year tucked away at the end of the year 1989 and into the next decade. They have conflict with each other and they work together to try to peek behind the smoke and mirrors to see what the Society’s true use is of them. Typically, they all hold pieces of the puzzle close to their chests so that only the reader can see the whole, or at least most, of the story. 

This book does two things phenomenally, and which I enjoy. The first is that it’s characters are relatable, stuttering, selfish, and unpredictable. The second is the real intellectual part to it. Putting aside the mastery Blake has over the magic system she created, she must have also dug into some big theories in order to write in a way which (at least to me, as a soft sciences person) I feel like I’m being taught theory about the multiverse, nonlinear time, and nuclear fusion. 

I am very excited to read the third book when it comes out. Blake is a powerhouse, and I’m sure I’ll pick up her other work to hold me over until ‘The Atlas Complex’ hits shelves.

The second installment of the trilogy was just as gripping as the first. My feelings on the style of Blake’s writing and the characterization of the series as a plotless book which are in my review of ‘The Atlas Six’ remain unchanged. ‘The Atlas Paradox’ is a continuation of the circumstances of our initiate class finishing out their second year at the archives, minus Libby who has spent the year tucked away at the end of the year 1989 and into the next decade. They have conflict with each other and they work together to try to peek behind the smoke and mirrors to see what the Society’s true use is of them. Typically, they all hold pieces of the puzzle close to their chests so that only the reader can see the whole, or at least most, of the story. 

This book does two things phenomenally, and which I enjoy. The first is that it’s characters are relatable, stuttering, selfish, and unpredictable. The second is the real intellectual part to it. Putting aside the mastery Blake has over the magic system she created, she must have also dug into some big theories in order to write in a way which (at least to me, as a soft sciences person) I feel like I’m being taught theory about the multiverse, nonlinear time, and nuclear fusion. 

I am very excited to read the third book when it comes out. Blake is a powerhouse, and I’m sure I’ll pick up her other work to hold me over until ‘The Atlas Complex’ hits shelves.

In this highly anticipated sequel to viral sensation The Atlas Six, the magicians of the Alexandrian Society must decide what to do with their newfound knowledge. Meanwhile, a powerful figure reveals his plans to dominate the world.

Lizeth Esmeralda

Slow to pick up but the ending makes me excited for what’s to come next

The Atlas Paradox

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