I was so excited for this book! I've been eagerly anticipating a new book from this author. But man, what a disappointment I found it to be. These characters were pretentious and insufferable, which I understand is partially the point, but it did not make for an enjoyable reading experience. I just wasn't connecting with it at all. It's sadly a DNF for me.

I really enjoyed the larger premise and family drama of this one but Olivie Blake's writing style really did not resonate with me whatsoever. It felt overly flowery and self indulgent to the point where it heavily detracted from the overall flow of the story and narrative.

Gifted and Talented by Olivie Blake feels like watching a Wes Anderson movie through a dark, magical realist lens. This book is funny, witty, quirky, and unlike anything I’ve ever read.

The cast of characters is hard to love. The Wren siblings—Meredith, Arthur, and Eilidh—are the products of their eccentric billionaire tech mogul father and a tormented, heiress mother who died too soon. Each sibling is gifted beyond belief yet emotionally stunted. When their father dies, chaos ensues as they battle for control of the family dynasty while grappling with the scars he left behind. The result? A hilariously vicious family drama.

For the purposes of the story…within every discussion of magic there is an inherent question of worthiness, and of worth itself. If Wrenfare is glory and glory is Eden, it’s hardly my place to decide which a$$hole stays. I’m but a mere voice of God–I neither play favorites nor offer condemnation.

Nor do I need to. By the time their father’s death irreversibly changes the trajectory of all three lives, it’s pretty clear they’ve all equally fuc*ed themselves.

Gifted and Talented isn’t for everyone, but I found it a true delight. The story is narrated from a god’s perspective, and the identity of the narrator is a well-kept secret until about halfway through. Up until that point, the pacing is solid. After the reveal, though, the narrative shifts to introspection and stream-of-consciousness, diving deeper into each character’s emotional turmoil. This slows the story down between the 50% and 75% mark, but it picks up again toward the end. The climactic chapter even reads like a stage play—perfectly capturing the dramatic, offbeat energy that drives the story toward its riveting conclusion.

I’d recommend Gifted and Talented to fans of family drama, sharp-witted narrators, dark magic, and anything delightfully unpredictable.

Genre: Fantasy

Format: Audio/E-book

4🌟 - I liked it!

This author can be hit or miss for me, and overall I liked this one! It was very much no plot and just vibes with a magic system never fully explained and unlikeable characters. Lots of family drama, rich people problems, and of course magic!

Olivie Blake's "Gifted and Talented" is a thought-provoking and emotionally layered exploration of talent, identity, and the complexities of human connection. It dives into the lives of a group of young adults who are anything but ordinary, each possessing unique abilities that set them apart from the rest of society. But as we learn quickly, these gifts don't necessarily make their lives easier. In fact, they often complicate matters in ways that feel eerily reflective of the pressures and struggles that come with being “special” in any capacity.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Olivie Blake's writing does not grab me the way it does other people, so I didn't find this book particularly gripping or compelling. I like the House of Usher-style setup and lightly magical, mysterious tone.

I think this may be a right book wrong time kind of moment. I have read and loved so much of Olivie Blake's work at this point that requesting G&T was an absolute no brainer, but from the first page, this book failed to capture my attention. Something about the tone, perhaps the styling of the characters, just kept me at arm's length, and even as the story developed I could not get absorbed.

If I'm able to update my review once I've had a chance to reread, I will do so, but for now this was a miss for me. :(

Wonderful new title from Olivie Blake! I'm a huge fan of her work and am always impressed by her ability to write a large cast of characters who are all distinct and enthralling in their own ways. Absolutely loved the narration style in this one and will definitely be picking up more from Olivie soon!

Olivie Blake is one of my favorite authors because of her ability to make characters leap off the page, and Gifted and Talented was no exception. Even though this takes place in a world unlike our own, the siblings felt so real from their drive and hopes, to their insecurities, and was truly an raw depiction of a lot of family dynamics. This had me furious for them in some moments, and cracking up at their banter in others. I appreciated that while the magic system was somewhat intangible, and flexible, it drew inspiration that made it make sense in my mind. This is one of my favorites from her, and I'm looking forward to whats next.

If you loved The Atlas Six and Alone with you in the Ether, you'll love Gifted and Talented too! The book is long and complex, with the interesting characters and powers of Atlas, and the complex and fraught relationships of Alone (and Atlas too, by the end). If this is your introduction to Olivie Blake, I would suggest one of her shorter books, because while I love her style and prose and always recommend it, I'd start with a smaller bite first :)

I was really excited for this one. While I did enjoy it it just wasn’t a love for me. I liked the characters, I liked the story…but it was just that like.

I feel like Olivie Blake might be an author that I only occasionally enjoy.
We just don't always vibe together and while I LOVE One for my Enemy, her YA book and currently I'm enjoying Girl dinner, this book didn't match with me.

Listen my interest was peaked by this synopsis about magic and money and sibling warfare to claim an inheritance. And while these characters were layered and complicated.... I couldn't stand them. While sometimes that 's what you want in books with layers, I was on the wrong end of it, where I couldn't stand them enough to continue reading. I made it to 43% and decided this was not for me. (Trust me I tried, I kept picking it up and putting it down & then getting a library copy)

I think that after I finish Girl Dinner, I will be holding off on requesting her books/ accepting emails that auto approve me. Others who love her more deserve this chance. (I've just had more misses than hits)

This was my first Olivie Blake book, and I enjoyed this weird journey. This was magical realism meets Succession. It was quirky and emotional at the same time. The Wren family is navigating the death of their father and trying to deal with their magical abilities. It's definitely more of a family drama than a fantasy, but I enjoyed it.

This is my first Olive Blake and I know I will read more of her works, but this one just didn't hit for me the way I was hoping it would. I love a character-centered b00k, but this felt too long with too little to say. It took me almost a month and a half to read (which may be a record for non-Brandon Sanderson books), and as someone who revels in analysis, I had a difficult time figuring out what this book was trying to *say*. For such a navel-gazing novel, I'm feeling like I must have missed something in terms of theme. The meat of the story really leads us to subjects like family dynamics, complicated relationships, or legacy, but for the life of me I can't discern what Blake wants us to take away from her writing.

I deeply respect Blake's writing, primarily how she writes the three siblings at the center of this book. It takes skill to craft wildly unrelatable characters that you can see yourself in. They are messy and unethical and yet I found myself caring about them.

Also, this book isn't fantasy. It's hardly magical realism; please don't pick this book up if you want magical siblings or fantasy because it is a side plot point that seems more a muddy metaphor than real magic.

I still plan on giving Blake another try and I can understand why some people like this novel. I just don't think it was for me.

I'm sorry but this was the funniest book I have read so far this year. The chaos the Wren siblings cause just by existing plus their increasingly messy relationship with each other was just so delightful to read. Olivie Blake had me in TEARS at parts.

I LOVE Olivie Blake's writing style. She is one of my favorite authors, which is why I was sad that I just did not connect with this book the way I have with her others. I really loved the characters but just felt lost for majority of the book.

Gifted & Talented was one of my most anticipated reads this year, and it really hit the mark. Part Succession, part magical realism, the story centers the Wren family as they come to grips with the death of their tech mogul father. Rivalries, unmet expectations, and magical abilities come to a head as the three siblings try to ascertain who will inherit the Wrenfare empire—any maybe their father’s approval—once and for all. This book won’t be for everyone, but it was definitely for me. I am a true Olivie Blake stan, and this book delivered all of the wit and chaos that I have come to know and love in her work. Something I appreciate about Blake is that while the stories she writes are so different, I can immediately feel her distinct voice and sense of storytelling. I highly recommend this to those, who like me, like something a little weird—you’ll have a great time.

I will read anything this woman writes. That is my review. She can do no wrong. Reading Girl Dinner immediately. Olivie Blake delivers what I am looking for every time.

What did I just read, and why did I love it so much? Gifted & Talented is pure chaos in the best way. Sibling drama, weird magic, unhinged narration, and a cast of characters who are morally gray at best and completely awful at worst. The Wren family is a disaster, and I could not look away.

The writing is messy, sharp, and self-aware. You’re either going to vibe with it hard or feel like you’re losing your mind. I still don’t totally know what happened, but it was a wild ride and somehow exactly what I wanted. If you like your books strange, smart, and slightly deranged, this one’s for you.