Talk about a book that has so much hype all over the internet. I had seen this almost every day on BookTok and so when I saw it on Netgalley, I knew I had to request. That being said, I didn’t know anything about it before reading so that was an adventure. Keep reading this book review for my full thoughts.
Summary
The Alexandrian Society is a secret society of magical academicians, the best in the world. Their members are caretakers of lost knowledge from the greatest civilizations of antiquity. And those who earn a place among their number will secure a life of wealth, power, and prestige beyond their wildest dreams. Each decade, the world’s six most uniquely talented magicians are selected for initiation – and here are the chosen few…
– Libby Rhodes and Nicolás Ferrer de Varona: inseparable enemies, cosmologists who can control matter with their minds.
– Reina Mori: a naturalist who can speak the language of life itself.
– Parisa Kamali: a mind reader whose powers of seduction are unmatched.
– Tristan Caine: the son of a crime kingpin who can see the secrets of the universe.
– Callum Nova: an insanely rich pretty boy who could bring about the end of the world. He need only ask.
When the candidates are recruited by the mysterious Atlas Blakely, they are told they must spend one year together to qualify for initiation. During this time, they will be permitted access to the Society’s archives and judged on their contributions to arcane areas of knowledge. Five, they are told, will be initiated. One will be eliminated. If they can prove themselves to be the best, they will survive. Most of them.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
The first thing you might think is, “MAGICAL COMPETITION? I am expecting epic magic battles on every page”. And you’d be wrong. The Atlas Six is a multiple POV novel that is fueled by character development. Once you’ve re-framed your expectations, you are treated to a story which allows you to know each nook and cranny of a character. To hear what makes them tick, to see the secrets they try to hide on their surface. If you love rivals, people hiding from their own secrets, trying to escape boredom, and discover answers, then this is for you.
Once I got accustomed to the slightly slower pacing – because we keep switching between POVs – I ended up sinking into my fascination for these characters. Talk about a fantastic set of diverse characters as well! By the end of the book, I became fully committed. Not only are there breadcrumbs, clues, and pieces of a character that bloom, but also The Atlas Six ends up concluding with an explosive finish. Blake takes the time to have readers get to know the characters. All the magical talents, untapped potential, and puzzles as they figure out the secrets of the Alexandrian society.
Overall
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If you’re also not only a fan of strangers coming together and forming a team, but also knowing that team is hella fragile and a moment away from toppling, The Atlas Six is for you. The banter is also incredibly sharp with plenty of mind games. For me, towards the ending, it all just clicked for me. It’s like I was waiting for the sparks, the tension, to let loose and when it began to, I was 100% committed to the ride. Additionally, if you love the idea of a group of individuals who are driven to extremes in the pursuit of knowledge – you know academics to the core – then this is also for you.
Can you tell I became totally enamored?? Find The Atlas Six on Goodreads, Amazon (US)(UK), Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.
This is one I had seen all over the place as well. Glad to hear it was a good one! Probably won’t pick it up myself, but I will definitely suggest it to people I know would enjoy it. Great review!