9/22/2023

The Atlas Paradox-Schicksal Ist Eine Entscheidung by Olivie Blake

I had the tiny hope that I would start liking the plot or story and become part of the enormous fan group, but I don´t share the thrill, most of the bloggers feel. In fact, I am a bit angry. It doesn´t happen very often that I read a book and think what a total nonsense. But here we go. The plot is confusing and crazy, and the author seems to believe that her readers can´t keep the information she gives them for over a minute. Lady, we´re not stupid!

The Atlas Paradox-Schicksal Ist Eine Entscheidung*

by Olivie Blake
The Atlas Trilogy #2
Translation Heide Frank, Alexandra Jordan
Original Title The Atlas Paradox
Illustration Little Chmura
Publisher Fischer Tor on April 26, 2023
Genre Fantasy
Pages 552
Format Hardcover
Source Fischer Tor
Goodreads
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While the five chosen ones go through the initiation of the Alexandrian Society, Libby Rhodes remains missing. Until Nico's friend Gideon sets out on her trail in the dream realm - and receives the first sign of life from her... Reina Mori is trying to unlock the library's secrets, which would go faster if someone helped her. But Parisa is busy investigating Atlas Blakeley's shady motives, and Callum also seems to have other plans. At least when he's sober for once. Tristan knows that he has hidden powers that are activated when his life is in danger. He therefore decides to do something extremely stupid. He asks Nico to kill him. Meanwhile, the Forum waits to bring down the Alexandrian Society once and for all. And at some point it becomes clear to everyone: the pieces are on the board - the big game can begin.

Story

While Libby is fighting her way back to the Alexandrian society, the others go through another test. One Parisa is wondering why they must go through it and what the real meaning is. The answer she finds is nothing she had expected or in mind when searching for it. And why is Atlas asking for help and clearly not in the situation to bring Libby back? Questions over questions and no answers. At least none, the six like to hear.

Style

Aside from the fact that the plot is completely crazy, and I don't mean that in a good way, I like the fast pace of reading. Well, in my opinion, the story often borders on literary nonsense, which absolutely shouldn't have been the case. I now resent the fact that the author is of the opinion that her readers cannot remember two paragraphs on four pages and has therefore repeated many passages repeatedly, over dozens of chapters. She did that in the first volume and it annoyed me there too.

The writing style is kept simple, which should in principle be a positive thing. Unfortunately, it doesn't help the rest of the story save itself into a different rating. Clichés are unpacked and used to either treat femininity in a sexist way or portray it as stupider than stupid. This is particularly noticeable on the pages where Parisa makes her appearances and thinks about what's going on and asks "why", thereby clearly proving that beauty and sex appeal don't have to be associated with stupidity at the same time.

Characters

No matter how I look at it and no matter how wonderfully some of the characters are developed, in the end, there was only one thing that stuck with me: nothing.

Libby Rhodes must fight her way through time and space to get back to where she wants to go, home. On the one hand, Tristan realizes that there is something deep within him that would solve one of Atlas Blakeley's problems, but on the other hand, he is somehow not smart enough to activate it. No matter how you twist it, all the characters seem to be on the fence about their hidden abilities. Didn't we already have that in the first book?

Conclusion

I never thought I'd say that again, but what nonsense was that? And once again I realize I simply cannot share the enthusiasm and hype for this book. The only good thing about this novel is one or two characters and how they think and how they act. But the pitiful remainder? Not worth the paper it's written on. Unfortunately. Far too complicated, confusing, and sometimes even illogical. A pity. A pity. A pity.

Happy reading

*This book was kindly provided to me by Fischer Tor in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Thank you. Therefore, the cover of the German edition is shown first in this review.

Deutsche Rezension

Stil

Mal ganz abgesehen davon, dass die Handlung komplett irre ist, und das meine ich nicht im positiven Sinne, gefällt mir das zügige Lesetempo. Gut, meinem Empfinden nach grenzt die Geschichte oft hart an der Grenze zum literarischen Schwachsinn, was absolut nicht hätte sein müssen. Dass die Autorin offenbar der Ansicht ist, dass ihre Leser sich keine zwei Absätze auf vier Seiten merken können, und daher viele Textstellen immer und immer wieder wiederholt hat, und das über zig Kapitel hinweg, das nehme ich ihr mittlerweile übel. Das hat sie schon im ersten Band gemacht und auch da hat mich das genervt.

Der Schreibstil ist einfach gehalten, was im Prinzip positiv sein müsste. Hilft dem Rest der Story aber leider nicht, sich in ein anderes Rating zu retten. Da werden Klischees ausgepackt und eingesetzt, die die Weiblichkeit entweder absolut sexistisch behandeln oder aber dümmer als dumm hinstellen. Das fällt besonders auf den Seiten besonders ins Gewicht, wo Parisa ihre Auftritte hat und sich über die gerade laufenden Dinge ihre Gedanken macht und nach dem „Warum“ fragt und damit eindeutig beweist, dass Schönheit und Sexappeal nicht gleichzeitig mit Dummheit verbunden sein müssen.

Charaktere

Egal wie ich es betrachte und so herrlich manche Figur auch entwickelt ist, am Ende blieb bei mir nur eins hängen: nichts.

Libby Rhodes muss sich durch Zeit und Raum kämpfen, um wieder dahin zu kommen, wo sie hinwill, nämlich nach Hause. Tristan ist einerseits klar, dass tief in ihm etwas schlummert, was ein Problem von Atlas Blakeley lösen würde, aber andererseits ist er irgendwie nicht schlau genug, es zu aktivieren. Wie man es auch dreht und wendet, die ganzen Charaktere scheinen auf dem Schlauch zu stehen, was ihre verborgenen Fähigkeiten angeht. Hatten wir das nicht schon im ersten Buch?

Resultat

Ich hätte nie gedacht, dass ich das noch mal sagen werde, aber was für ein Schwachsinn war das denn bitte? Und erneut stelle ich fest: Die Begeisterung und den Hype für dieses Buch kann ich einfach nicht teilen. Das einzige Gute an diesem Roman sind die ein oder andere Figur und wie diese denken und wie sie agieren. Aber der klägliche Rest? Nicht das Papier wert, auf dem er steht. Leider. Viel zu umständlich, konfus und stellenweise dann auch noch unlogisch. Schade. Schade. Schade.

Olivie Blake

Olivie Blake loves and writes stories - most of them fantastic. She is particularly fascinated by the endless complexity of life and love. She works in Los Angeles, where she is graciously tolerated by her favorite pit bull. Her self-published book, The Atlas Six, became a TikTok sensation before being republished by Tor Books and translated into over twenty languages.

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