The Atlas Paradox (The Atlas #2) by Olivie Blake - Starting September 15th 2022

[Dannii]

“DESTINY IS A CHOICE”

The Atlas Paradox is the long-awaited sequel to dark academic sensation The Atlas Six—guaranteed to have even more yearning, backstabbing, betrayal, and chaos.

Six magicians. Two rivalries. One researcher. And a man who can walk through dreams. All must pick a side: do they wish to preserve the world—or destroy it? In this electric sequel to the viral sensation, The Atlas Six, the society of Alexandrians is revealed for what it is: a secret society with raw, world-changing power, headed by a man whose plans to change life as we know it are already under way. But the cost of knowledge is steep, and as the price of power demands each character choose a side, which alliances will hold and which will see their enmity deepen?”

[Dannii]

A little early but just starting this one 😊

[Dannii]

First quarter - (view spoiler)[I'm already loving this as much as book one! The academy initiates were all reintriduced and I appreciated the subtle reminders of their abilities. Libby's loss is still keenly felt as Dalton introduces their next task - to confront each other in a simulation, not as they actually are but as each individual perceives them to be.

I thought it interesting to see how they each saw each other and Parisa's insights that they were performing for another, that the simulation was to track patterns of behaviour and thought, was ingenious. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Ended up putting this down for about a week as I didn't have much reading time but carrying on with it today and hoping to finish it by tomorrow :) I'm still loving it so much!

[Dannii]

So, obviously didn't end up picking it back up but am still enjoying it, even though I find I can't read more than a few pages at a time as it is so dense! I kept this as my book to read in work but find I need all my focus to concentrate on the theories and the philosophies that this is focusing on. I'm going to carry on with it after work and on my days off to really focus on the rest of the book.

[Dannii]

The main aspect I'm loving is how (view spoiler)[Nico's thesis and Tristan's abilities are conjoining. They may be able to help each other. This focus is also tying into why they are in the society, I feel. My brain feels foggy after reading this because I'm finding it far denser than book one. Still really loving this about it though! (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Second quarter- (view spoiler)[Ezra transported Libby back in time!! I'm slowly seeing how all their abilities will combine to save her and how all their areas of interest are intersecting. I'm loving the snarky interactions between them all but am also longing to see them all bond and become closer, too. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Third quarter - (view spoiler)[Making super slow progress with this one, but not for lack of enjoyment. Im just enjoying having it as my work read and getting through a few pages at a time on my dinner half hour break. I'm finding the pacing very slow but am still, as in all my other updates, loving the focus on the physics of magic. Libby's still stuck back in time but has made more dream contact with Gideon and there's hope of her returning to her own time, as she has joined forces with one of the students studying science relating to her issue. I still don't agree with his actions but Ezra's perspective showed he genuinely wanted to keep her safe by transporting her.

I did not expect to read the softest most heart-warming scene between Nico and Parisa yet here we are. Am I actually shipping them?

The coversation between Tristan and Atlas about multiple universes was interesting! (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Might have taken me two whole months but ive finally finished this. It was a dense read, focused on theories rather than action, and i can't see it being to everyone's taste, but i did have a good time with it. I am hoping for more battles and magic in the next instalment though.