The Atlas Six by Olivia Blake

The Atlas Six is one of those books that pulled me in and left me questioning everything by the end. And Olivie Blake is one of those writers that simply expects the best from her readers.

Most times, I read something and get through on vibes alone, and while this does possess a multitude of vibes, don’t get me wrong, I feel like Blake forces the reader to meet the characters where they are. It’s intellectual and elevated without ever being condescending. Every time I finish one of her novels (yes, I’ve read them all), I come out a better reader on the other side of it. So few authors can depict the complexity of the human experience like she does. And boy, does she do it unapologetically. The characters are so tragically complex and utterly flawed that it’s hard to tell which you like at any given time. If you like any of them at all.

“Funny how that worked; the innocent fragility of being human. There were so many ways to break and so few of them heroic or noble.”

The premise is there are six medeians, or magicians that each have their own specialty, chosen to be a part of The Society™. Essentially, it’s this underlying widespread magical society containing all the knowledge in the world that only the most powerful medeians can be a part of.
The thing is only five of the six initiates can become fully fledged members of The Society™…

“More interesting than the game is always the players, you know.”

There’s Libby, a neurotic academic who exists in a state of perpetual anxiety and a need for perfection. She’s frankly as annoying as she is brilliant.

Nico, an utterly charming fella whose power is unmatched and is at The Society™ for the noblest of reasons. I would give my life for this man. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Nico’s best friend, Gideon, here. I know this won’t shock you, but I have an affinity for side characters and Gideon stole my heart in this, even though he’s barely in the book. His connection with Nico is so precious, it warms me up from the inside. I want to squish him. Meanwhile, Nico and Libby are two sides of the same coin. They’re presented as a unit, often against their will, because they practice the same discipline.

“If not for her, Nico might not have noticed most of the things he did, and probably vice versa. A uniquely upsetting curse, really, how little he knew how to exist when she wasn’t there.”

Tristan, a deeply cynic and untrusting man whose abilities are as untapped as his daddy issues are vast. And believe me, they are vast.

Reina, who is generally uncaring about anything besides the knowledge that The Society™ has to offer. Seriously, she is there solely for the ability to learn things no one else knows and the plants that communicate with her on a daily basis.

Then there’s Parisia, a telepathic hooker who is not afraid to use sex to get what and where she wants. On the opposite end of the spectrum from Reina, but not all that different. Parisia will do only what benefits her – if and when she feels like it.

And finally, Callum, an empath who lacks empathy and approaches life with the apathetic nature of a man who knows his talent and simply does not have the energy to care about anyone or anything.

Or at least, that’s how he presents himself. (An interesting dynamic arises between him and Tristan that intrigues me on so many levels.)

They are – to put it simply – brilliant, but maudlin. Charming, but occasionally repulsive. Would I ever want to be their friend? No (well, besides Nico.) They are perfect, polished little messes thrown into a grown up’s game with deadly stakes.

“Because the problem with knowledge, Miss Rhodes, is its inexhaustible craving. The more of it you have, the less you feel you know,” said Atlas. “Thus, men often go mad in search of it.”

The weight of their strive for success has them doing unimaginable things and it leads the six to make a final unforgivable choice. I ate every single sentence of this up.

The Atlas Six is part of a trilogy. Give yourself time to digest the story, but read them all. I cannot recommend enough the beauty of this kind of dark academia, magical realism. It’s an imperfect world filled with imperfect people making disastrous choices at the whim of others for no other reason than because they can. It’s not all that dissimilar to the world we live in, which is a terrifyingly accurate thought.

Listen, the people of Goodreads are claiming this is a 3.5 star book and that is just false. I’m sorry for you all, you don’t get The Atlas Six like I get it. Trust me, please!