Alright, I’m back, people! I’ve officially posted my CK review, which you guys should check out if you haven’t already. I read that after I finished Sapiens a few weeks ago and then decided to give the second Atlas book a chance. I’ve actually started my summer job as an assistant receptionist and intern at a theater in NY, and a lot of my job is sitting at the front desk—perfect for getting through books quickly. That’s why I’ve been tearing through my summer reading list as fast as I have, although I haven’t found time to update you guys here. Anyway, let’s dive into The Atlas Paradox.
These books have kind of been a long journey for me, as it took a while for me to finish the first one (that was a year or two ago), and I haven’t felt a yearning to pick the series back up again. On top of that, even though I was invested when I finished the second book a week ago, I soon found out that the third isn’t coming out until 2025. FML!!! I hate when I get invested in a series and then the last one hasn’t come out yet, ie Royal Ranger Book 6. But, the fact that I’m angry about this does indicate I had a good time reading it, so let’s dive in.
I really like the intellectual aspect of these books, especially the scientific and existential topics they touch on. Although it’s not in-depth and it’s in a fictional world that doesn’t have the same rules, I do really enjoy that style of plot that gets my brain working and trying to put all the pieces together. That was part of the reason I went through the first book so slowly, but now that I understand the writing style, I definitely went faster the second time around.
I loved getting the core six again, and there are a lot of funny sibling-esque moments in this book of them. I physically need Tristan Caine, but that’s neither here nor there. I want Nico as a pet, because that’s what he is for the others, and I’m surprised by how much I like Parisa and Libby. Reina was never my favorite, though I relate to her the most, and Callum is an interesting if annoying presence. Also, Gideon is my babygirl and Ezra can jump off a cliff.
Again, I’m angry that I have to wait until next year to finish the series, but I definitely will get the third book when it comes out. I recommend this book for a special group of niche, history/psychology, and fantasy nerds, who love a good little bit of angsty rich kids getting into trouble and attempting to save the world. A super small group, but I would recommend it to those girlies.
Genre: historical fiction, dark academia, fiction, fantasy
Age: 13+
Rating: 8/10