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.