Plot Summary
The Atlas Paradox, the second book in the Atlas trilogy, picks up where The Atlas Six left off. The latest group of six Alexandrian Society initiates—Tristan, Callum, Parisa, Nico, Libby, and Reina—have completed their first year, but Libby has been stolen. Despite their best efforts, the Society has been unable to locate her. However, it is evident from the novel’s first pages that Libby has survived her kidnapping and is being held by Ezra, her ex-boyfriend.
Ezra imprisoned Libby 30 years ago, in 1989, and she attempts to return home throughout the rest of the tale. Libby evolves from someone the other initiates regard as the group’s conscience to someone willing to suspend all morality to achieve her personal objectives. Libby eventually returns, but she betrays Belen, the only person who aided and cared for her in 1989, and causes a nuclear explosion.
As the story progresses, it becomes clear that Ezra, whom both Libby and Nico recognized as a classmate, is considerably older and was a Society initiate at the same time as the current Caretaker, Atlas Blakely. Despite the fact that he and Atlas intended to destroy the Society, Atlas has formed his own agenda, and in response, Ezra resolves to collaborate with a slew of outsiders to demolish and reconstruct the Society himself. Libby’s kidnapping was the first step in his plan, which includes the eventual kidnapping of all the initiates.
While these broader plans are in the works, the initiates who remain at the Society continue to study. Furthermore, they develop partnerships that affect both their personalities and their plans. Although they recognize the advantages of total teamwork, they only collaborate in short bursts to achieve their own particular goals. Although Nico wishes they might become closer, the others are prepared to let their affiliations lapse and follow their own plans at the conclusion of their second year.
By the end of the novel, the initiates have completed their second year and have left the Society. Libby murders Ezra and meets Nico and Gideon in Paris. Parisa and Dalton are in Osaka when they decide to use Dalton’s findings to construct their own universe, leaving their previous one behind. Atlas is continuing working on his own ideas for building a portal to the other planet he is certain exists. Tristan resolves to stay and work with Atlas, utilizing his skills to aid in the search, and to be safe on the Society’s grounds, secure from his father’s attacks. Callum, the most reclusive of the initiates, exhibits a deep depth of emotion and hatred, indicating that he has a plan and doesn’t seem to mind if it destroys everything. Reina comes to the conclusion that medeians are the next generation of gods and that it is her job to use her abilities. Furthermore, she now believes that the Society’s resources should be made available to others in order to assist in ushering the globe into a new era. The Atlas Complex, the final novel in the trilogy, chronicles the further development of each initiate’s character and plans.
Analysis of Part 3 Prologue
The prologue begins with Gideon Drake, who—although not one of the initiates—is an important character in the book. In this short section, Blake begins this second novel in the trilogy by providing orientation. Through Gideon’s perspective, the narrative conveys that Nico is still at the Society and shows that time has passed since the end of the first novel—Nico has been at the Society for a year now. In addition, Gideon’s perspective reintroduces the topic of Libby’s disappearance and establishes that Gideon and Nico are actively engaged in finding her.
The importance of Libby’s disappearance to the plot is reinforced in Part 1, which is short, consisting of only two chapters, one from both Libby and Ezra’s perspectives. Libby has been abducted by Ezra, a fact that wasn’t evident at the end of the first book. Blake uses dramatic irony here—the narrative has established that Libby has been abducted by Ezra and is safe and unharmed, but her friends don’t know this—a fact that is reinforced by Gideon and Nico’s search in the Prologue. By placing Libby’s disappearance front and center in the story, the author emphasizes the importance of this plotline.
Part 2 returns to the society, where the other characters participate in an initiation ceremony that uses astral projections. As the initiates realize, these projections are revealing because they’re products of the participants’ unique perspectives. They offer insight into their preoccupations as well as the way they perceive the other initiates. In the case of Nico and Reina, for example, his perception of her reshapes and eventually destroys their relationship—and sets Reina on a new course of study. Parisa’s insight that someone or something is learning about them from these rituals begins her own course of study, in which she probes the sentience of the archives themselves. Although the ceremony appears pointless to some participants, it puts both Reina and Parisa onto a new path.
Their lack of understanding about the purpose of the ceremony highlights the lack of direction that the students have received at the Society: Since Atlas recruited them, everything has been cloaked in secrecy. However, this reinforces the idea that the novel isn’t concerned with the Society’s rituals or exploring the world of magic. This novel—and trilogy—is more interested in examining the relationships among the initiates and the way that their experiences shape their relationships and actions moving forward.
The trilogy isn’t composed of stand-alone books, meaning that understanding the plot and character development in this second novel depends on having read the first. As such, this second novel operates as the “middle” of the trilogy. The first book establishes the Society’s setting and the status quo of both the story and the characters. The task of this second novel is to further develop those relationships and to show how the status quo shifts, how those relationships change or deepen, and how the characters’ goals and beliefs change because of their studies.
By the end of Part 2, the narrative has reintroduced each of the characters through the initiation ceremony. The simulations, rather than bring them closer together, seem designed to force them further apart, as was the elimination in the previous novel. At this point, the characters are separated by distrust, disappointment, and misunderstanding. They feel alone and are pursuing their studies isolated from their peers.
One example of this is the effect of the simulation on Nico and Reina’s relationship. Nico’s projection of Reina isn’t a true depiction of her but Nico’s perception of her. As a result, Reina can suddenly see what Nico really thinks of her. Reina now knows, or thinks she knows, that Nico doesn’t respect her because he doesn’t see her as a threat. Furthermore, Nico would never kill anyone to save her life, as she would for him. This is notable because Reina is withdrawn and reserved, and she doesn’t become close to many people. This is mostly a result of her background and the way that people have tried to manipulate her in order to use her power. Because of Reina’s deep distrust and her difficulty getting close to others, Nico’s perception of her is especially hurtful.
Part 3, however, offers signs that the group is beginning to come back together or at least that some of them have discovered the necessity of working together. The first of these is Tristan, who asks for Nico’s help; then Reina convinces Callum to collaborate with her, and it becomes clear that the initiates are forming new relationships. These relationships, however, are more than friendships; they’re alliances, which the initiates form to explore and learn about their powers. Despite the fact that the Society doesn’t seem to overtly advance their studies, the environment furthers both their development and their studies, albeit in a roundabout way.
At the end of Part 3, the narrative returns to Libby, and Gideon’s attempts to communicate with her, bringing the focus back to that storyline. The chapter ends with her opposing Ezra, showing that Libby’s status quo is changing and that her story is about to enter a new phase. This provides a nice counterpoint to the storylines happening at the Society—although there’s a lot going on in these early chapters, the narrative mostly involves the characters’ shifting relationships with one another. Libby’s story, conversely, provides additional tension and involves more physical, elemental action—attack and escape.
Analysis of Parts 4-5
Libby’s escape is where Part 4, Chapter 12, leaves off from the previous chapter. In a matter of pages, she has broken free from Ezra, perhaps burning to death, and realized that she is a prisoner not just of place but also of time—she is imprisoned in 1989. Her character’s journey is now complicated by her desire to flee 1989 and return to her own time. This complicating factor dictates her actions and choices for the remainder of the book because it will be much more difficult to escape now.
Furthermore, Libby’s character development has started. Libby changes slightly from the nervous girl who served as the other initiates’ collective conscience with every step she has to take to get away. Her attack on Ezra, which results in the motel where he was holding her burning down, makes this metamorphosis evident. The fact that she leaves him there and doesn’t feel guilty or regret for starting the fire already indicates that she is changing, even though she still hopes that no one was hurt and that the fire department arrives before Ezra passes away.
Practically speaking, the author is able to maintain the progression of each of these distinct tale strands since the chapters are written from the alternating perspectives of a diverse group of people. Despite living in the same house as Atlas and Dalton, the initiates have rather different goals in mind. But their relationships are starting to converge in this section. Nico and Tristan have joined forces, as does Reina and Callum. Parisa is also romantically linked with Dalton and appears to be getting closer to another telepath, Atlas.
Finally persuading Callum to assist her in influencing the archives, Reina starts her own metamorphosis in Chapter 13. Although Reina has lived her entire life in hiding from her abilities, she is now passionate about study and wants to find out more about her own mission. This marks the start of the evolution of Reina’s theory, which forms the basis of the theme of A New Generation of Gods, that she and the other medeians are, in fact, supreme beings.
Callum makes frequent appearances in the book, however they are usually in the background and are usually in relation to other characters. He is quiet and hides his own nature beneath a façade of dissolution and indifference. Though the story gives some insight into his thinking, the other characters are not given much, and it is evident that he is far more perceptive and proactive than he makes himself out to be. For example, he observes that everyone’s energy seems to be being sapped by the house. Because there are no plants around to irritate Reina, he also knows her well enough to locate her in the chapel. Callum turns out to be far more involved in the story than he initially appears to be, especially when it comes to incidents like Libby’s disappearance.
To gain access to Tristan’s abilities, Nico and Tristan have forged an uneasy alliance. Nico sees the wider picture and realizes the full implications of Tristan’s power, while Tristan is more focused on how to access and use them at will: “The universe through Tristan’s eyes would be orderly—and that, more than anything, was the closest thing Nico could imagine to omnipotence” (140). He draws the same conclusion with this remark as Reina is starting to draw: that Tristan’s abilities are godlike, or, in Nico’s words, “as close to divine as anything could possibly be” (140). Nico thus uses their shared thought about becoming gods—which shapes the concept of A New Generation of Gods—to relate his work with Tristan to Reina’s studies.
Chapter 15 provides further clarity on Ezra’s plan and how his group of collaborators is organized. As he did with Libby, he intends to thwart Atlas’s plan by apprehending each initiate in turn. When he considers how the Society “had buried Ezra himself, erasing his existence and thus crafting their own doom,” the story begins to explain why (146). With this idea, Ezra contributes to the topic of Outsiders Searching for Belonging by demonstrating that his decision to overthrow the Society is more personal and the outcome of his own rejection from the group than he makes his allies think. Blake also presents the enigmatic Dr. J. Araña, whose relationship to the Society is revealed in subsequent chapters.
While working together, Nico and Tristan remain adversarial in Chapter 18. Furthermore, Nico is starting to put pressure on Tristan to collaborate more with his studies because he is the kind of person who always wants everyone to get along and work together. The idea of Outsiders Searching for Belonging is supported when Dalton says something similar to Tristan, reminding him that he is an outsider. He also says that “think bigger” is the abusive refrain that he can’t stop thinking about. Be more astute. Increase your efforts”.
Analysis of Part 7 Interlude
Echoing the Prologue, the Interlude returns to Gideon; however, here, the paths of Gideon and Parisa diverge. It is now evident that the young Dalton who is imprisoned in Dalton’s thoughts is the Prince who Eilif wants Gideon to release. Eilif obviously acts on the criminal side, as evidenced by their past interactions and Nico’s response to her. The question now becomes why she has urged Gideon to liberate the Prince and for whom she is working. This plot, which seems to relate to the larger story arc in which many powers are vying for control of the Society, has no clear resolution in the current book.
But Blake also links it to the connections amongst the initiates when Parisa approaches Nico to find out more details about Gideon. The two men’s relationship is complicated by her remark that Gideon thought about Nico while he was dying; their friendship has always been close, and Parisa’s information supports that. This culminates in a kiss between Gideon and Nico in the Epilogue section, where their relationship takes a new turn.
Belen is first introduced in Chapter 22. By proposing ley lines as a source of energy, she offers the key that ultimately enables Libby to reunite with the other initiates. But Belen’s persona also serves as a reminder of the obvious, pervasive gender and racial prejudice that existed in the US in 1989. After a while, Libby comes to the realization that she has “cast her lot with the wrong crowd” and perpetuated the power structure by only associating with the white male doctorate students. Libby is embarrassed to learn that she has unwittingly accepted that these guys are better capable of providing for her, without taking into account the ways in which the hierarchy has withheld and hidden those who are even more capable.
Several characters have the chance to mingle during the Society’s gala ball in Chapter 23, which also introduces Ezra and Dr. J. Araña. The initiates start deciphering Libby’s disappearance mystery when Tristan spots Ezra, who is simply there to demonstrate to Atlas his newly acquired powerful connections. In Chapter 25, Nico and Tristan learn that the Ezra they met on the grounds is actually Libby’s ex-boyfriend and that he is not who he seems to be. Ezra used to downplay his abilities while they were at school together, but Tristan now corrects Nico’s perception of Ezra. Once more, the story demonstrates how, similar to Tristan or Callum, Ezra may be the most powerful of all, yet he minimizes his influence. Compared to someone like Nico, who acts like a child, this demonstrates a maturity that suggests a lengthier strategy. Nico exhibits this trait by stomping off following his talk with Tristan in a childlike manner. When Tristan follows Nico and turns the topic back to what matters—getting Libby back—he demonstrates his maturity. Although they are still unsure of the motivation, Tristan and Nico learn in these chapters that Adrian, Tristan’s father, is the one sending the individuals who have been attacking them.
The concept of A New Generation of Gods is once again highlighted in Chapter 27, as Reina’s studies help her continue on her path of metamorphosis and her conviction that medeians are evolving into superior beings. She comes to the conclusion that the archive ought to be made public so that everyone can profit from it. She is starting to sound a lot like the Forum and other organizations that are interested in the Society’s archives at this point. She’s going to be a part of the group of medeians that have different opinions about what should happen with the Society, including Atlas, Ezra, and Nothazai. Furthermore, in keeping with the book’s theme of finding balance, Reina forges an alliance with Callum after realizing that, in spite of her misgivings, their partnership has an intriguing equilibrium given their respective powers and fields of study (hers of nature, his of humanity).
When Libby encounters Tristan in Chapter 29, the novel shifts back to her plot and she eventually reunites with the other initiates. Though he hasn’t yet succeeded in alerting Libby to his deliberate appearances in her dreams, Gideon does converse with her, introducing the idea of Callanish Circle. Her growing intimacy with Belen complicates Libby’s predicament, yet she continues to withhold important information from Belen. Libby has already gone a long way from being the group’s conscience—the nervous member who was constantly concerned about the consequences. Despite her shame and her affection for Belen, she is willing to use her and doesn’t let that stop her from taking the necessary actions. She then uses a broader interpretation of this trait when she purposefully does significant harm to the planet in order to return home.
Analysis of Part 8 Epilogue
The story goes back in time to before Tristan and Libby met in Callanish Circle in Chapter 30. The story shows that Callum has been employed even though it seems like he only drinks alcohol. It turns out that he has been more intent on getting Libby back than any of them, figuring out how much power is needed. Callum does, however, also demonstrate that his motivations aren’t wholly selfless: Based on his calculations and their understanding of Libby’s personality, they conclude that she won’t come back. Callum and Tristan think Libby will never try to come back because he would hurt other people if he did. But it’s clear from the story that Libby has evolved. Furthermore, Callum promises to follow through on his plan because he is furious about Tristan’s betrayal. At last, Callum admits that other people’s actions have a profound emotional impact on him, something he had previously gone to considerable lengths to conceal.
Libby’s metamorphosis quickens in Chapter 33 as she understands that she must use her power if she has it. This realization is the same as Reina’s, and in Libby’s case, it gives her the justification she needs to carry out her plans in spite of the suffering they will cause: “What would it mean for her to live her life now, to decide to be small, to be powerless on purpose? She had the power, the formulas, the calculations—she had the goddamn means.”. She further justifies doing it by citing Tristan’s statement that they discovered the report proving she had already done the act. Libby is one step closer to her metamorphosis now that she has let go of her moral code.
Part 9 sees Belen’s persona unite with Ezra’s enigmatic partner, Dr. J. Araña. Despite her cynicism and jadedness, she still believes that striving to alter the course of events is worthwhile. But like Libby, she compromises her morals to achieve her objectives.
The initiates are confronting the conclusion of their stay at the Society in these last chapters. Nico acts like they’re graduating from school and, in typical child fashion, wants one more get-together and celebration. But the others don’t care; they all have things to do. They all appear to see what he does not: that they have already transcended the confines of the Society and that their own goals and initiatives extend beyond its boundaries. Nico’s character changes the least out of all of them, even if he forges a new bond with Gideon in the epilogue.
The initiates decide to show up at each other’s houses to ward off their assailants, even if they all go their own ways. This suggests a level of cooperation they may not even recognize and that they have never experienced before. But in the end of the tale, their plan works, and they’re all still alive and well. Blake builds suspense and raises questions for the third book by revealing the plans of each character in passing. In Osaka, Parisa and Dalton have made the decision to work together to create a new universe using his creative studies. Parisa is a little concerned that Dalton is acting differently; even though the Prince is controlling him, Dalton has changed, and Parisa may not know what she’s getting into anymore.
More information about Atlas is revealed in the last chapter than at any other time in the book. Atlas finally confronts this in his fight with Ezra, despite the fact that Callum discovered the deaths of the other four initiates in his and Ezra’s class. He believed that in order for their deaths to signify nothing, he had to devote himself entirely to his goal. This talk also reveals Ezra’s lack of awareness of his own goals and the people he is collaborating with. He has become so focused on stopping Atlas that he is unable to recognize the activities he is personally involved in. This scene has a shocking conclusion when Libby shows up, indicating that her time travel attempt was successful. Her first action is to murder Ezra. This demonstrates that Atlas was correct—Ezra altered Libby in an attempt to thwart Atlas’s plan, making her potentially the most deadly of them all.
By the time the book ends, Libby has completely changed; she will now detonate something akin to an atomic bomb in order to further her own goals. She also kills Ezra in a fit of vengeance, something that the Libby from the previous book would never have been able to accomplish. The action and suspense in this second book, which finishes on a cliffhanger, hint at the possibility of a resolution in the third and final book of the Atlas trilogy.
Discussion Questions
1. How does the absence of Libby influence the equilibrium among the initiates, as perceived by Parisa? In what ways does her return at the end of the novel alter the group’s dynamics?
2. Analyze Atlas’s theory of balance and its impact on his worldview. How does this philosophy impact his actions, both in his broad plan and daily obligations as Caretaker?
3. Reina considers her existence and powers as components of balance in the world. How does her awareness of balance influence her plans for the future, especially in her relationship with Callum?
4. Discuss the diverse viewpoints on balance offered by Parisa, Atlas, and Reina. How do their distinct qualities and experiences contribute to their interpretations of balance in their lives?
5. Explore the concept of belonging in the context of Tristan, Gideon, and Ezra. How does each character struggle with their outsider status, and to what extent do they find success in finding belonging?
6. In what ways does Gideon’s magical nature put him different at NYUMA? How does his friendship with Max and Nico offer him with a sense of belonging, and what significance does his reunion with Tristan hold?
7. How does Reina’s work as a naturalist influence her perspective of balance, especially in the age of the Anthropocene? How does her sense of balance apply to her partnership with Callum?
8. Consider the role of balance as a reoccurring motif in the story. How does it contribute to character development, relationships, and greater issues about life and purpose?
9. Compare and contrast the characters’ efforts of seeking belonging. What similarities and distinctions exist in the challenges and successes of Gideon, Tristan, and Ezra?
10. Reflect on the implications of Gideon discovering true belonging and acceptance when he kisses Tristan in Paris. How does this moment illustrate his trip and the notion of outsiders discovering a sense of home?
Reflection Essays
1. Track Libby’s development as a person throughout the book. Why and how does she change?
2. Of the six initiates, Callum is the most mysterious. Examine his intentions, actions, and character development throughout the narrative as you analyze him.
3. In what sense does The Atlas Paradox belong in the genre of dark academia? Give particular instances of the gloomy academic traditions that you find in the book.
4. Examine the bond between Atlas and Ezra. What changes does it go through in the book?
5. Despite being a supporting character, Belen serves a number of crucial roles in the book. Talk about how her persona reveals and muddies the core themes of the book.
6. Parisa argues that the Society’s records are sentient even though they aren’t alive. What does she mean when she says this, and what is the difference? What impact does the sentience of the archive have on the protagonists’ lives?
7. What is the Anthropocene Era, and how is the novel incorporated with this concept? Keep an eye out for how Reina develops her theory regarding the reason for her talents using this idea.
8. Throughout the book, Callum emphasizes the significance of one’s upbringing and the manner in which it permanently shapes our personalities. With what intention does he use this information to advise whom?
9. Dalton is aware of Parisa just sometimes, but Gideon lives in a fantasy world. The lines separating reality from other states are blurred in this book. In what ways does the novel answer the question of reality?
10. Throughout the book, the topic of fate is raised multiple times. What answers does Blake offer, and what conclusions do the characters come to?