What is up, everyone? Have you missed me? Aww, it’s okay, I know you did. Anyway, I finally finished The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake after starting it at the beginning of November and wanted to write a review immediately. I think it has something to do with the cliffhanger ending (spoiler alert!), but I have NOT been able to stop thinking about it. Let’s dive into my thoughts on this book!
So, like I said, I started this book in November, but this was the second time I’ve started this book. I picked it up for the first time about a year ago, I think, and just couldn’t get into it; after about two pages, I was just super confused by the writing style and was not enjoying myself in the slightest. I just DNFed it right then and there and decided I didn’t like it, but it’s been sitting on my bookshelf for about a year now and it looked so lonely—I had to give it another shot!
If I’m being honest…it was still a bit boring in the beginning. I was just not super into the world-building and all that, but I’ve read dark academia before and liked it in the end, so I convenience myself to push through. After about 150 pages, I was getting super into the book, a feeling I’ve missed after being in a bit of a reading slump for the past few months. The plot of The Atlas Six was super intriguing, delving into complex topics of academia and existentialism, all in a magical, secret society with top-notch magicians.
Although at times pretentious and way more intelligent than I could comprehend, I got super invested in the heightened stakes and the romance and friendship dynamics of the group (except for you, Parisa, eff off). When I started getting close to the end, I was having all those moments that signify a good book, having to stand/sit up because something major just happened, smiling and making faces at the characters, etcetera. I even, when I got to the last 50 or so pages, woke up early to finish the book in bed in the morning—I’ve never had such an awesome day as that one, let me just say!
The book ended on an ominous note and I know there is a sequel that I need to read, and I definitely will, but Christmas is coming up and I’ve asked for lots of books so, as crazy as it sounds, I don’t want to start something so soon that I have to put it down for the books that were on my wishlist. Ah, the life of a slow reader! Anyway, loved this book and would highly recommend it if you liked The Secret History of If We Were Villains (or read my reviews and added them to your TBR, also add this book).
Genre: dark academia, fantasy, historical(-ish) fiction
Age: 14+
Rating: 7.5/10