The Atlas Paradox

The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake is the second book in the The Atlas series. You can check out my full review of book one here: The Atlas Six. I didn't think the first book was the best, but I had to read this one because there was something entertaining about The Atlas Six that I never quite put my finger on. I also thought this series was gonna be a duology, unfortunately not....

Oh my god, I thought this was a duology I'm fucking SICK.
— Me

In this book we follow the five candidates who passed the trial to join the Alexandrian Society as they start their second year in the house and are tasked with writing a thesis. Riveting. They have to balance their growing paranoia, the mind games they play with each other and that the school plays with them all while secretly working toward uncovering just what happened to Libby Rhodes.
Through the process of reading this book I came to believe that "Dark Academia" is a kind of power fantasy. Being special because you're good at school and knowledge being a tangible sort of power over society. Then not only having these qualities, but being able to explore them deeply, in isolation, without worrying about money, food, or lodging. When Libby finds herself out on the street with nothing, but the clothes on her back where does she go? The closest university where she is able to get off of the streets and made comfortable because she has knowledge the university wants. The supernatural elements in this series highlights the core of the trend rather than just regurgitating the aesthetics, which is let's face it 99% of it's raison d'etre.

( Cut for length )

I guess I have to chalk this one down as a guilty pleasure, even though I still don't think it's that great. I wanted to write a small fic for it though, but I got bored and gave up lol. It's just so vexxing because there is something about Blake's writing that I like, but I can't figure out what it is. Maybe just the potential I sense from her plots and characters that unfortunately don't go anywhere. I'd definitely like to see her write something else. I'll have to wait and see what she does after she concludes this series. I haven't heard about her getting any new deals though.