That is, at least in part, the question we must ask of The Atlas Paradox, Olivie Blake’s highly anticipated sequel to the popular dark academia novel The Atlas Six, a self-published fantasy debut that went so viral it won a publishing deal and dominated social media publishing discussion for months. If you do not know precisely where impossibility begins and ends, then of course it cannot constrain you. Gideon glanced down at the black Lab beside him, frowning at him in contemplation, and then turned back to the unfamiliar scene, pulling his shirt above his mouth to manifest a thin veil of semi-breathable air.

Gideon dragged himself upright, struggling to maintain his balance in the endless ribbon of sand that rose to the top of his calves. They all turn the Forum down, although Nico never actually meets the person because he’s a falcon at the time of their visit. It was difficult to explain what exactly Nico had done to the air in the room, which Nico himself didn’t appear to have noticed. Don’t get me wrong, if what you’re here for is the various relationships between and among this group of deeply broken human time bombs, you’ll find a lot to like here and the tension within the larger group is deftly handled. On the other side of Castellane society is Lin, a young woman who is a member of the Ashkar, a small community that's forbidden from living outside their walled community.

Things were not burning here, but his arm did disappear instantly, swallowed up to the cuff of his shoulder. It’s a slow, occasionally ponderous tale that’s fully redeemed by the twists and turns of its final third, but be warned: Much like the students in the archives themselves, you’re going to have to do the work to earn it. It must have worked, because the moment Gideon’s lungs emptied, blistering with pleading and strain, the ground gave way beneath him.

That much he would always give, always, because in the deepest caverns of his heart, he knew it was justified. Olivie has penned several indie SFF projects, including the webtoon Clara and the Devil with illustrator Little Chmura and the viral Atlas series. Despite its length, the book reads quickly, switching back and forth between the two leads’ points of view, though the voices aren’t distinct enough to be clear. It feels important to note that without the propulsive murder competition scheme that drove much of The Atlas Six (and the first year of the new initiates’ time at the Society), this sequel initially struggles to find its purpose. A Sword Catcher has all the typical duties of a bodyguard, but Kel’s responsibilities also include wearing a magical amulet that makes people think he’s Conor, allowing him to take the prince’s place at public events when the palace head of security deems it too risky for the prince himself.Lacy Baugher Milas is the Books Editor at Paste Magazine, but loves nerding out about all sorts of pop culture. Whatever tiny weapons were being fired at Gideon now were too small to dodge and too quick to fight—probably nothing that could exist on Earth or be operated by humans. Perhaps there was no way that anything that came after those kinds of highs could ever hope equal them, particularly not the middle novel in a trilogy, which can’t give us the answers we’re so desperately seeking.

As a result, for the bulk of the story, characters pursue their own arcs and emotional journies in ways that are largely separate from one another. If you can’t remember what happened in The Atlas Six and you need a refresher, then you’re in the right place. The moment when others started to find something—many somethings—to reinforce their suspicions that Gideon was repulsive in some way.

Knowing what type of obstacle came next was usually a mixed relief, because it meant that Gideon now had both the ability and the necessity to plan his defense. Libby’s transition from an anxious mess to a literal force of nature is the book’s most compelling, but Reina’s is perhaps the most tragic, given that it’s such a cry for someone, anyone to love her best. Gideon allowed himself to feel the things he tried (under other circumstances) not to, and like a sigh of relief, he felt the realms shift courteously beneath his feet. Wir tauchen immer mehr in die Hintergründe ein und verfolgen die Geschichte, ihre Handlung auf zahlreichen, verschiedenen Ebenen. The smoke was thick, chalky enough to stick in his throat, and if any of it was real it would constitute a medical emergency on the spot.