This was absolutely spectacular! It is a stunning study in family dynamics with a twist of magic that I could not put down.

I went into this expecting everything I love about Olivie Blake’s writing and she delivered that plus more!

Olivie Blake is a master at creating dynamic and complex characters that feel so delightfully (and sometimes irritatingly!) real. The characters in Gifted & Talented are no exception; while Meredith, Arthur, and Eilidh aren't perfect or likable at times, they are so complex and nuanced that they really make this intensely character-driven story work.

Meredith, Arthur, and Eilidh Wren are called together to hear the last will and testament of their father. Their father Thayer Wren is an extremely successful man, a giant in the tech industry. His sudden death throws not only his children, but the entire industry, into speculation as to who will be given the reins to the company to carry on his legacy. Burdened by professional and personal troubles of varying catastrophe, the three Wren siblings wait to see what the will and testament says, and contemplate how much the inheritance is correlated with their father's opinion of them.

Gifted & Talented is a story of family legacy, of inheritance, of trying (and failing, or perhaps not?) to live up to the crushing expectations of people who are supposed to love you unconditionally. The magic system is interesting, but takes a backseat to the complex family dynamics. I would have perhaps liked to see more of the Wren's magical abilities in another story, but the focus here was on the internal journey Meredith, Arthur, and Eilidh had to go on. The voice of God narration was snarkily fun, and really reminded me at times of A Series of Unfortunate Events in terms of narration style. Overall, a fascinating character study!

Gifted and Talented is a fascinating character study wrapped in a genre-blurring narrative. At its core, it follows three deeply dysfunctional siblings in the wake of their father’s death, weaving between past and present to unravel the tangled dynamics that shaped them. Each sibling is unapologetically morally gray - self-absorbed, messy, and often oblivious in a way that feels both darkly humorous and deeply compelling.

What sets this story apart is its approach to magic. Rather than existing as a structured system, it feels almost incidental, blending seamlessly with the novel’s sci-fi-leaning elements. This unconventional take makes the world feel unpredictable and offbeat, much like its characters. Their interactions and the frequent fourth-wall breaks evoke the sharp wit and chaotic energy of Arrested Development, making for an entertaining and wildly original read. If you love the Bluths, you’re going to love the Wrens!

I highly recommend this one to readers who enjoy unconventional storytelling, morally complex characters, and a touch of dark humor. Thank you so much to Tor for the advanced ebook!

When CEO Thayer Wren dies, his three children vie to be his successor. Eldest Meredith seemingly has it in the bag- she is the head of her own company and perfect in every way. But she has a secret she will do anything to suppress. Middle child Arthur seemingly has it all-the youngest congressman fights for a better world- but behind the scenes his life is falling apart. Youngest Eilidh, the once famous, gifted dancer who flew too close to the sun, now lives in obscurity as an executive in her dad's company. She may not have the drive or success of her siblings but she has one thing her siblings didn't- her father's love.
Gifted & Talented is Olivia Blake's fantasy take on Succession. Full of dark humour and biting nature, this book will appeal to readers of K. F. Kuang's Yellowface.

THIS APP WILL MAKE YOU HAPPY :)

I was not a fan of Olivie Blake's Atlas Six, but when I heard she was writing another book, specifically a magical book of darkness and Succession vibes, I was tuned in. The cover alone is intriguing and accurately depics three powerful siblings at war with each other. GIFTED & TALENTED dives into this powerful Wren family and theur dynamics.

Thayer Wren, the visionary CEO of Wrenfare Magitech, is dead, leaving his three gifted children vying for the throne. Meredith, the biotech genius, hides a dark secret; Arthur, the ambitious congressman, is losing everything; and Eilidh, the former ballerina, seeks validation from her late father’s fortune. As each struggles with their own personal demons, only one will claim the inheritance—and the power that comes with it.

I truly enjoyed the POVs of each of the siblings in their own different ways. Meredith is a complete Slay ICON queen b psychopath, who may have been my overall favorite. Arthur is sensitive and sexy, where he dabbles in polyamory (whether his wife actually agrees on this is still out for the jury) and Eilidh is probably the most normal of the Wren family. The other characters are more down to earth than this trio, and they round out the bunch in fun and messy ways. GIFTED & TALENTED is a book about the three siblings and their journey for power and acceptance. This book is a character-driven family saga at its core, with magic sprinkled in at times, so I would say this book is magic-lite at best (win for me!). I would have given this book a total 5 stars, but midway through the pacing slowed down in ways that I didn't expect, which caught me wanting to take a break from the story. That being said, I did read this saga in only a few days because the overall story kept me completely hooked. If Olivie Blake continues down this journey for her books, this reader will be tuned in!

GIFTED & TALENTED by Olivie Blake won't be for everyone, but for those that appreciate Blake's writing style and off putting characters, you're in for a treat. This book is pitched as SUCCESSION with magic, and while I agree on the complicated sibling dynamics front, I personally found the magic to be a bit underwhelming, but that makes sense as the core of the story belongs to the messy family dynamics of the Wrens, and their less than desirable relationship with their late father. Blake describes these characters as being bitchy, lost, troubled and sad souls so you have to go into their arcs knowing that you'll mostly be disappointed with their bad choices. But if you're able to power through the slow pacing and unnecessarily long page count, you just might find a satisfying ending.

Special thanks to Tor Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Gifted & Talented
By: Olivie Blake

Fantastic. Amazing. Witty, Clever. Wonderful. Gosh I just love Olivie. She has such a unique writing style that draws you in immediately. Thank you so much Tor books for this ARC. As soon as the book begins, we are introduced to three ridiculously outrageous in their own way siblings. Meredith is the eldest of the family, and she is working on the release of an app that is supposed to cure depression… then there is Arthur who is deep in his partying, drugs, and.. erm.. his thruple with his wife on the side? Then we have Eilidh who is more of a softer character.. once a ballerina star but now forced to settle for working for her fathers company after a career ending injury. When their father passes away unexpectedly, the three are forced together as they face off to figure out who their father left his company too and other items in his will. “When there’s a will, there’s a war” sums this book up perfectly. Loved that their was even a flare of magic in this. The characters are so twisted and quirky. This book really had it all. Couldn’t put it down. This releases 4/1! Can’t wait for more from Olivie.

Does it make sense to say that I loved and hated this book? Ultimately, I don’t think it was a good fit for me, but to say that I didn’t like it wouldn’t be accurate at all. This is a complex and interesting story filled with beautiful writing and deeply flawed characters. The story contains some flashbacks but for the most part happens within the course of a week when three siblings who were expected to be prodigies from their exceptionally intelligent and shrewd father find out that their last living parent has died. The book takes place as they come together in the wake of his death to plan for his funeral, and, most importantly, to find out to whom their father left his company.

My favorite part of this book was the dry humor - many times the writing had me chuckling out loud, even as I was filled with disdain for the characters. They are so ridiculously awful, and the omniscient yet unreliable narrator’s comments were absolutely hilarious. I think the book could have been trimmed down significantly for a stronger impact. There were so many passages that I found myself glossing over because either the writing was repetitive or I was just bored.

I think it’s very likely that I am just not smart enough for this book. I still don’t really understand the nature of the family business, the app that the oldest sibling was developing, or what the magic inside of them was all about. Thankfully, I had Yves Reza, the drug-toting, polyamorous racecar driver, to keep me invested! I’d read an entire book just on Yves’ character - so fantastically crazy and lovable! But the rest of the characters? Yeah, they kind of suck.

Picked this one up purely because it was described as "Succession with magic," and it didn't let me down. While I did have some difficulty following at times (I was also lost a majority of the time watching Succession), it was still thoroughly enjoyable. I did wish there was a little bit more magic, or delves into the siblings' powers, but there was enough to keep me interested for the entire book. I did read this a little faster than normal to meet the deadline, but you can guarantee I'm picking up a special edition when it releases to do a reread when I can spend more time with it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the free copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

3-4 stars

Thank you so much NetGalley for an E ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve teetered between loving and really disliking Olivie Blake’s novels — I really disliked The Atlas Six, but Alone With You In The Ether is one of my favorite books of all time. I’m really excited for this book to come out and was happy with what I ended up reading.

I think the way she crafts her magic systems are incredibly unique and I have always found her characters to be interesting. This novel explores the tainted and flawed Wren siblings and their shock and scramble for power when their father suddenly dies. I loved the modern take on magic and how it is immediately transformed into a commodity and a means of production to further the lives of the money hungry. I also loved this sibling dynamic (reminds me a lot of Succession, which I am obsessed with) and how deep we go into their character design and thought process. The Wren siblings all come from privileged backgrounds; all from Ivy League schools that thrust them into incredibly successful careers. Behind these carefully constructed facades are lives built on lies and deceit. I thought it was fantastic how Blake crafted these facades and tore them down by getting us into the nitty gritty with the siblings and how much their lives are really messed up.

Overall really good — my one thing is that it should’ve been shorter. Blake could have easily shaved off 100 pages of repetitive language.

Ideal for readers who enjoy emotionally charged family sagas blended with magical realism, exploring the complexities of sibling rivalries and the burdens of unrealized potential.

3.5 stars
Gifted & Talented is the story of three "telepathically and electrokinetically gifted" siblings who are forced to come to terms with their rivalries, magical abilities and unrealized potential when their brilliant but distant father Thayer Wren, CEO of Wrenfare Magitech, dies unexpectedly.

Meredith, the eldest daughter, runs her own biotech company with a successful product that purports to have cured mental illness but her journalist ex-boyfriend is investigating her for fraud, middle child Arthur is the second youngest congressman in history but he's losing his re-election campaign, and Eilidh, the youngest child, was once the world's most famous ballerina but is working in marketing at her father's company after a life-altering injury five years earlier ended her career. The three siblings are forced to confront the past and deal with present complications as they prepare for their father's funeral and await the reading of the will to discover who has been tapped to take over their father's billion dollar business empire.

I haven't read any of bestselling author Olivie Blake's previous books and don't generally care for fantasy or magical realism but the description of Gifted & Talented appealed to me despite that. As it turns out, the three Wren siblings have magical abilities (never fully explained) but the story is more about the family relationships so it felt more like contemporary family drama with elements of fantasy to me.

This is a long (500+ pages), slow-paced, character-driven story of a dysfunctional family told from multiple points of view and I had no idea where it was going but was hooked from the beginning anyway. Set in the world of the filthy rich, none of the characters are particularly likeable yet you can't help but love them and the family dynamics between siblings are relatable even if the world they live in is not. I enjoyed Blake's style of writing and storytelling and, although I thought it was building to a more dramatic conclusion, this was overall a satisfying read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for sending a digital ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I ended up DNFing 10% of the way into the book. The book was extremely dry and I was bored. I did like that we got multiple character POV, but I just feel like there should have been a better way to introduce us to each of the characters.

Unfortunately this was a very quick dnf. The writing is all over the place and jumped from thoughts so quickly that it just didn't make sense what was happening. The writing style also feels very juvenile and not what I'd expect from someone with so many books under their belt.

Olivie has crafted another intricate story focusing on the highs and lows of “power”. The Wren siblings have their fair share of struggles and can be hard to root for. I was a bit disappointed by the execution of different plot lines and wish there was more usage of the powers that the Wren children have. I do feel that this book is perfect for those who crave a “Succession” inspired story, however for me, I was only able to make it to 60% before setting it aside. I’m bummed because Olivie’s work is usually an easy 4-5 stars, but this one just missed the mark for me!

Genuinely my favorite book of the year. I will never stop talking about this. Eldest daughter being assholes because of parents is valid and I feel called out and in desperate need to go back to therapy.

This book was great. I think the writing style was something I have never read before but I enjoyed it and I found it hard to put down, as the story itself was very unique. The last bit drug on a little for me as I was anxious to get to the big reveals at the end and I will say the plot twist was surprising to me. I liked how the story wrapped up for the characters and it was a satisfying ending. I wish there would have been an epilogue though because I would have loved to see how a few characters carried out the things given to them at the end of the book year down the line. Overall a great book with a unique plot that I have never see before. And I would recommend.

thank you netgalley and tor for this e-arc! olivie - my fairy godmother, thank you for writing yet another banger. i laughed, i cried, i threw my kindle across the room. every emotion was felt. scroll to see my full review and pick this up when it releases 4/1 - you won’t regret it!

thank you net galley and tor for this e-arc! i went into this book blind and damn it, olivie strikes again (although how could i expect anything left, the woman only knows how to write bangers).

if you were a fan of the tv show succession, but wished there were some magical elements - look no further, this is your book. after the unexpected death of their billionaire father, the Wren children (meredith, arthur, and eilidh) convene in their childhood home to navigate their grief, reflect on their complicated relationship of their father, and ultimately wait to hear how their father bequeathed his magitech company in his will.

each child has their own eccentric personality, but as olivie said in the first sentence of the book, they are all really assholes at the end of the day. and to wrap this all up with a bow, they all of them suffer from magical extremities - seriously olivie, i need to be in your brain for a day (for science).

let’s face it, they all kind of suck. but as much as i love to hate them, i hate to love them as well. at the end of the day, we are shaped by our parents or parental figures, and they became this way through very complicated relationships with their parents. olivie had me laughing out loud, per usual, with her witty pros and hilarious asides. i’m a sucker for a stream of consciousness tirade, especially from the queen herself. this also had one of the best unreliable narrators in the game - the reveal was truly jaw dropping.

olivie is so damn smart, and her characters feel so real, raw, and treated with the utmost care. i think this may be her best yet. pick this up on 4/1 if you’re looking for a chaotic, messy, and hilarious family drama with our favorite asshole billionaire fam.

My Rating: 4 stars!

The pipeline from gifted child to depressed and/or anxiety-ridden adult strikes again.

This book was, definitely, a book. All the characters were, in their own ways, deeply unlikable in a way that kinda made you love them. The plot being three adults forced to deal with their own shortcomings with the sudden death of their father mixed together with magical maladies and possible apocalypses made me constantly question what was happening and what I was reading, but I found myself turning the page and always wanting to know more.

I wish we’d gotten a continuation, to find out just what happened after everything was decided on. And I feel like the Philippa outcome was random in its placement (which could fit in with the suddenness and meaninglessness of life, but still felt odd) as well as something that was swept away too quickly, no real outcome discovered.

4.25 stars ~ You know that feeling when a book feels like it was written just for you? That’s Gifted & Talented. It’s funny, heartbreaking, and weird in the best way—classic Olivie Blake. The premise hooked me right away: the pipeline from gifted kid to clinically depressed adult. Olivie, don’t make me spiral rn please. Blake takes that very real existential dread and spins it into something sharp, relatable, and surprisingly hilarious.

If you liked the voice in Blake’s last release, Januaries, you’ll be right at home here. Expect fourth-wall breaks, philosophical tangents, and plenty of snark. I was highlighting lines every other page. The only thing that brought this down for me is that It’s a little long—there were moments where I wished for a faster pace.. The characters are messy and chaotic (think Umbrella Academy), the magic is casual and hilarious, and the vibe is just immaculate.

If you’re into family drama with humor, heart, and a splash of magical nonsense, this one’s for you. Someone, please make it a TV show.. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group | Tor Books for this arc!