The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake – Blog Tour Book Review and #ShowUsYourShelves
The second book in the dark academia Atlas trilogy is out now. Check out my review of book one – The Atlas Six – and do share your Dark Academia shelves with us online using #ShowUsYourShelves. Here’s mine.
About the Book
Six magicians were offered the opportunity of a lifetime. Five are now members of the Society. And two paths lie before them.
In this thrilling next instalment, the secret society of Alexandrians is unmasked. Its newest recruits realise the institute is capable of raw, world-changing power. It’s also headed by a man with plans to change life as we know it – and these are already under way. But the cost of the knowledge is as high as the price of power, and each initiate must choose what faction to follow. Yet as events gather momentum and dangers multiply, which of their alliances will hold? Can friendships hold true and are enemies quite what they seem?
About the Author
Olivie Blake, the pseudonym of Alexene Farol Follmoitj, is a lover and writer of stories. She has penned several indie SFF projects, including the webtoon Clara and the Devil with illustrator Little Chmura and the BookTok viral Atlas series. As Alexene, she has written the young adult rom-com My Mechanical Romance. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, new baby and rescue pit bull. Find her at olivieblake.com.
What I Thought
One of the taglines for The Atlas Six was – Six are chosen only five will walk away. The blurb for the Atlas Paradox reminds us that only five are now members of the Alexandrian Society. I am going to try and keep this review spoiler free for both books so I’m not going to name who made it, or perhaps more vitally who didn’t and why.
One of the things I will say is that one of my favourite side characters from book one gets a more starring role in this one which was a very pleasant surprise. Although I’d have been happy with more POV chapters from them please.
One of the good things about the first book was that immediately we got a sense of how the Society fits within the wider magical world and how the two interact and this of course continues in this book.
The academic discussions continue and build up a picture of possibility that I’m hoping will come to fruition in the final book. In book one the topics taught very much lent into the plot but I do think we get a bit more future set up information here.
The relationships between the characters continue to be complex and this is very much an adult book in tone and nuance. I also continue to enjoy the lighter moments of humour amongst all the planing and plotting.
It’s interesting to see how – as the characters develop their magic – they generally develop. The saying that power corrupts absolutely is definitely on display here with all characters walking that fine morality line – which way will they turn and what will that mean for the rest of humanity? If you don’t like your characters messy and flawed then this may not be the book for you.
I found it highly readable because of the characters although it does touch on complex themes and discussions which sometimes take a slower read through to grasp – especially wherever time is concerned.
The Atlas trilogy is very much a social commentary on how power and knowledge is used and propagated wrapped up in a fantastical world.
We now also have a title for book 3 – The Atlas Complex. I will definitely be picking it up to see how this all turns out. Check out the rest of the blog tour to see what everyone else thought about The Atlas Paradox. Thanks to U.K. Tor/Panmacmillan and Black Crow PR for the gifted copy for the purposes of an honest review.
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Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree – Blog Tour Book Review and Show Us How You Latte!
This cosy fantasy publishes on the 10th and is perfect to read with a Costa Toblerone latte (other coffee shops and latte varieties are available).
However a couple of years back I discovered that I could buy the syrups Costa use and have my own little latte station at home now. Budgets are tight and we need all the book money we can get. Now after reading the book I also feel the need for a pastry or three.
About the Book
A cosy, heart-warming slice-of-life fantasy about found families and fresh starts – perfect for fans of TJ Klune, Katherine Addison, T. Kingfisher, and snuggling up on the sofa.
After decades of adventuring, Vov the orc barbarian is finally hanging up her sword for good. Now she sights her sights on a new dream – for she plans to open the first coffee shop in the city of Thune. Even though no one there knows what coffee actually is…
If Viv wants to put the past behind her, she can’t go it alone. And help might arrive from unexpected quarters. Yet old rivals and new stand in the way of success. And Thane’s shady underbelly could make it all too easy for Viv to take up the blade once more.
But the true reward of the unchartered path is the travellers you meet along the way. Whether bound by ancient magic, delicious pastries, or a freshly brewed cup, they may become something deeper than Viv ever could have imagined.
High fantasy, low stakes – with a double shot of coffee.
About the Author
Travis Baldree is a full-time audiobook narrator who has lent his voice to hundreds of stories. Before that, he spent decade designing and building video games like Torchlight, Rebel Galaxy, and Fate. Apparently, he also now writes books. He lives in the Pacific Northwest with his very patient family and their small, nervous dog. Legends & Lattes is his debut novel.
What I Thought
Does for fantasy what Becky Chambers did for sci-fi.
Publishing these days is often all about the hard sell, the hook, the pacy adventure and sometimes you want something a little more laid back with a bit less peril. Slice-of-life with found family (and a sneaky bit of romance) is a perfect description and the characterisation in this, is Thimble chef’s kiss!
If you love food don’t be surprised to find yourself salivating and craving a trip to your local cafe or patisserie – I love that they include a recipe for one of the goodies in the book. As well as a bonus short story and a Q&A with the author. For any U.K. fans sad we don’t have the US cover, the cover image appears on the end pages.
There are so many cool characters and species included and definite spin off potential! Obviously, as our main character, Viv the barbarian Orc has the most growth throughout the book. Just be warned though that despite the cosy feel of most of the book the prologue is a little gruesome but this works as stark contrast and to show why Viv is striving to follow a different path now.
Final thought. Are you really a bookworm if you’ve never daydreamed bout owning a book & coffee shop?! Nod to any friends reading this who remembers the 80s BBC computer game Teashop. This is a coffee shop version of that in book form mixed with the fantasy adventure game I can’t remember the name of.
Do follow along with the tour and use the hashtag#ShowUsHowYouLatte to share your fave coffee spots or rituals.
Thanks to Black Crow PR and the publisher for the gifted copy for the purpose of an honest review.
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Witchstorm by Tim Tilley – Blog Tour Book Review
About the Book
Join a hunt for lost witch treasure, in an enchanting adventure story of storms, spells, and the magic of the natural world, from bestselling and award-winning Tim Tilley.
Will believes in witches and the stories he’s grown up with – of mythical storm-lions, disappearing villages, and secret songs. Most of all, he believes the tales of magical treasure hidden in the Fens centuries ago. Treasure that he has to find, to solve the mystery of his Ma’s disappearance.
Then, in the eye of a storm, a witch arrives. She holds the key to finding the lost treasure – a powerful magical object that can summon storms. But someone else is searching for it too. If it falls into the wrong hands, Will’s beloved home could be destroyed, and with it, his chances of ever finding his ma.
Join Will on an epic quest filled with riddles, ruined towers, cloud cities and broomstick chases, on a journey to save everything he loves before time runs out.
About the Author
Tim Tilley studied illustration at Anglia Ruskin University and now teaches children’s book illustration courses at City Lit. He is always watchful of the world around him and loves collecting and drawing beautiful snapshots of nature, relishing the small things people often miss. Tim’s debut children’s book, the bestselling and critically-acclaimed Harklights, is the winner of the Joan Aiken Future Classics Prize and the Junior Design Award.
Twitter: http://twitter.com/timbertilley
Instagram: http://instagram.com/timbertilleytales
What I Thought
To me this was a pacy, Witchy Indiana Jones with Ecological themes. Full of action and adventure this does roll along at breakbroom speed.
Our protagonist Will is distressed by his mother’s disappearance and wonders if, the family legend about ‘that time their ancestor saved a witch’, has anything to do with it. Spending his days searching for her he’s lost touch with one of his friends and Fa never believed in witches anyway.
I couldn’t quite place this originally thinking it was a contemporary urban fantasy but I think it’s more an alternative and older version of our world and one that isn’t as technological.
Humans are referred to by witches as Grounders – which does make sense later on. Not only is there a history of witch trials, grounders are now pillaging the earth. Taking but not giving back. No balance or care. This leads one witch to want to do something about it, except he’s prepared to sacrifice others to achieve this.
Will’s Cool Aunt Hera is the Indiana Jones esque archaeologist and I very much pictured her as an Amelia Earhart lookalike but in a motorcar rather than a plane – oh yeah and she has a sword!
Witch coven leader in training Magda literally crashes into their lives and we barely get a breath as not only do they have to try and save both Will and Magda’s mother but also the witch and grounder communities, the former literally falling to pieces and the latter on the precipice of a severe storm. There’s also a theme around gaining inner confidence in order to focus and control magic and the support the young characters give each other is heartwarming – even when it comes to saving Will’s bully.
I would say that this felt at the younger age of middle grade with the peril being tamer than for a slightly older audience. However, the search for Agatha Crow’s amulet’s Ruby was the most enjoyable part of this and I particularly loved the riddles and booby traps they had to get through. There’s even a touch of the mind control we see in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
The ecological message is returned to at the end and I’m not sure if something that happens towards the end hints at a potential sequel.
A huge thanks to Bee at Kaleidoscopic Tours and Usborne for the gifted ARC copy. As ever all opinions are my own. Follow along with the blogtour by using the hashtag #Witchstorm.
kirstyes 