Recent Reads: The Atlas Six

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Overall Rating: 4/5 stars

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Atlas Six is the first novel in the Atlas Paradox series by Olivie Blake.

The novel follows six powerful magicians through their journey and their induction into an elusive, mysterious, and down right confusing secret society. It is the unraveling of lives where motives are questioned, relationships are tested, and secrets are harboured.

Blake’s writing style is unlike many other authors, and part of the reason I was excited by the book and able to digest it within the week! I had read some of her earlier works published on Wattpad and Fanfiction.net, and so I knew going into the book that her writing was extremely character based. By this I mean the story and plot moves through the characters rather than the characters experiencing and following the plot. The traditional arc of an exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution, seems to have no place here, for one may argue that we never truly experience the final two stages.

This deviation from traditional plot and story building works well. It is unique as each chapter is from the point of view of one of the six characters, offering their perspectives, thoughts , and a lovely bit of dramatic irony for the reader. Due to this, the story moves at an inconsistent pace, yet you never feel like you’re falling behind as the reader. Chapters can jump by hours, days, weeks, or months, yet because we are not following one plot line, and rather the characters’ individual thoughts and actions, it never feels rushed or that we are missing time as a reader.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book and give it 4/5 stars!