A Quick Note On This Review: This article includes affiliate links to Bookshop.org as a way of supporting both local bookshops and my own ability to write.
The six magicians chosen by Atlas Blakely find themselves in a troubling situation: Libby’s been abducted following an attack on the society and the other initiates find themselves inducted into the Alexandrian Society, even as they progress to the next phase of their studies. Atlas has become far less engaged than he was before, but surely that has little to do with the fact that he may know who abducted Libby, and that the past doesn’t always stay safely in the past when you have a world to remake.
The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake was an interesting continuation of the Atlas series, mostly because it struggles to maintain some of the momentum built up by its predecessor, The Atlas Six. However, that doesn’t mean that Blake’s second installment isn’t worth the read; it still offers in-depth characterization and a compelling enough story centered around Libby that it can hold an audience’s attention quite effectively while moving the story forward.
While the first novel focused on Libby, Nico, Tristan, Callum, Parisa, and Reina in their entirety, The Atlas Paradox focuses a little more on Libby and her journey back to the main group. Without giving too much away, it becomes a journey for Libby centered around what type of person she wants to be in the face of unconscionable choices, the kinds of choices that others in the group have already made without hesitation. In some ways, Libby is changing from the kind of person that would never have achieved a place in the Alexandrian Society because of her inherent goodness to someone who is far more indifferent to the cost and consequences of her actions so long as they progress her towards her goals. This gets reflected in the plot lines of the other characters as well, with the possible exception of Tristan, who begins to understand that indifference to the world isn’t a moral code, or even particularly realistic.
For casual readers, The Atlas Paradox offers a richly character-focused story which would appeal to anyone who likes novels with a strong cast of characters. The book also leans in to the darker side of ambition, and attempts to explore the ways in which people who believe they have a right to meddle in the lives of others don’t always believe they want to, which could appeal to readers interested in books that explore how relationship dynamics can have profound impacts on society at large. Finally, anyone who enjoyed the first book would likely enjoy the second, though it’s worth noting that the second installment will have some major differences in tone and focus than the first, even if it does serve as a continuation of the storyline.
For writers, Blake’s work is a great template for how to create compelling characters and allowing them to lead the story. While there are areas where The Atlas Paradox specifically may show some weaknesses, the characters themselves are fully realized and illustrated in such a way that they are simultaneously gritty and fantastical. This also helps the novel delve into questions about morality and ethics, which also could benefit writers that wish to tell stories that lean heavily on moralizing without coming across as downright preachy. As one would imagine, given that the book fits into the dark academia genre, writers who wish to work within a similar wheelhouse would benefit from reading through The Atlas Paradox.
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What’s Next?
I am an avid reader and have quite a few thoughts on how some books could benefit both people that want to be entertained and those looking to sharpen their literary skills.
If you’re interested in finding out more about what I’ve been reading – and how it could benefit you – I will be publishing those thoughts on Fridays on a weekly basis. Check back next week for a discussion of Stephan Graham Jones’s The Buffalo Hunter Hunter!
The Writerly Review 