All I can say is... Olivia NEVER DISAPPOINTS. This book came at the perfect time to get me out of a reading slump and I couldn't be more grateful!

Family, fortune and magic?
Upon the sudden death of their father, Thayer Wren, siblings Meredith, Arthur and Eilidh Wren all gather to figure out which of the three power-hungry, dysfunctional sibling will inherit Wrenfare Magitech.

Gifted & Talented by Olivia Blake

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.25/5

Whew, buddy! I just earned a degree in vocabulary after that one. I swear I highlighted like 100 different words to look up on my Kindle haha 😂 I do love a book that makes me think, and this one definitely did. I have been an Olivie fan since her fanfic days, so I am always down to support her books. She never disappoints! Gifted & Talented is no different.

“There’s no quota on the love you can lose. No quota, either, on the love you can share. Earned or not.”

There were a lot of things I really enjoyed about this book. It’s so different from what I typically read. I especially enjoyed the narrator. From the beginning, it’s clear that someone is narrating this from an omniscient yet biased perspective. I believe it’s called “voice of God” narration. It was super cool. I’ve never read a book narrated like this, and it was so intriguing. I loved finding out later in the book who the narrator was 👀. It added a whole new layer of complexity to an already super complex story.

“If one politician can hold a government hostage, then yeah, one should be good enough to fix it, too.”

The Wrens are such an interesting family to read about. They’re those people that you love to hate. They are all very much assholes but in a lovable way?? And actually pretty relatable. As a former gifted child myself, I was actually really able to relate to Meredith. I completely understand the pressure of growing up being told you’re a “genius” and that you’re going to do amazing things in life just to become an adult and immediately feel washed up (even though you’re only 26) and like you aren’t contributing to society at all. I fully understand why Meredith did what she did. I think I understood her character more than any of the others. I loved seeing her finally take accountability and start mending the relationships that mattered to her. It’s easy to isolate yourself and become an emotional terrorist when you’ve grown up with a shitty parent.

“But hey, a bad dad is a bad dad.”

I also really liked Eilidh. As an eldest daughter, I couldn’t fully relate to her in the way I could Meredith, but I do relate to her struggle with an injury that derails your entire life plan. Having been there myself recently, I, too, feel like an apocalypse demon occasionally lives in my chest. Her character development in the end was stunning, and I’m so proud of her (like I wrote her myself psht, I very much did not). Arthur, too. I related to him least but still love how his story ended (good for you, Gillian!).

The cast of side characters in this is phenomenal. If you can even call them side characters. Gillian, Yves, Cass, Jamie, Dhzuliya, Lou, Monster. I loved them all (except little miss PVDM, she can go kick rocks). They made the story what it is. I can confidently say the Wrens collective character growth can almost entirely be attributed to them, but that’s just a great example of how the people who love us inspire us to be better people.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. However, it is not one that you could sit down and read in one sitting. You really have to focus and pay attention, or you’ll miss something. It’s better digested in small doses at a time. I also switched back and forth between my Kindle and the audiobook and really enjoyed reading it that way. The audio narrator is fantastic and gave a great voice to the story that added yet another layer of complexity.

“Dummies, every single one of us. The gifted ones most of all.”

Yeah, that quote about sums up exactly how I feel as a person. I like to think of myself as less of an asshole than the Wrens, but it’s a great reminder that we can always be growing and learning and adapting into the best versions of ourselves.

I would recommend this book to lit fic or magical realism fans and also to the gifted kid burnout girlies. Unfortunately, you will probably see yourself in one or more of these characters, but I think it’s good to look in the mirror every now and then.

Thank you to NetGalley, Olivie Blake, and Tor Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions stated are my own.

DNF at 25%. I requested the audiobook after I DNF'd, thinking I could get through it by listening. But after reading a handful of reviews, I think it would be a very unwise use of my reading time to continue on with an 18+ hour book that I'm VERY much not enjoying. This is my 4th Olivie Blake book. I did enjoy The Atlas Six, but the others were a STRUGGLE. All that to say, I just don't think O.B. is the author for me.

THE COVER IS STUNNING. I've never seen a more eye-catching, beautiful cover as this one. If only the book were as good as that cover!

All of the BIG words she uses in her story, completely distract from what she's actually trying to say. It's like she grabbed a thesaurus and substituted every normal word she possibly could. I don't find that writing style unique or enjoyable. It seems as if she so consumed with writing lyrical and brilliant prose that she forgot about the actual story itself. I've never read more boring or unlikeable characters. The book used a ton of words, but never actually said a thing.

I do NOT DNF books lightly. Rarely, do I do it. So it pains me very much to do it now. I think this is my break-up book with Olivie. I don't think we were meant to be.

Thank you to Tor for the e-Arc

Let’s start with the good: Olivie Blake is objectively a talented writer. Her prose is beautiful, and she doesn’t shy away from tackling complex themes—politics, nepotism, racism, how siblings experience different versions of the same parents, and the public perception of billionaires. There are plenty of thoughtful moments and social commentary woven throughout.
But that wasn’t enough to save the experience for me. The plot felt almost nonexistent, and I couldn’t connect with any of the main characters. Ironically, the two I did care about weren’t even part of the central trio. The characters I liked most were Gillian (Arthur’s wife) and Yves (Arthur’s boyfriend). I wanted more of their stories, but even then, it felt like I didn’t get enough depth, especially with Gillian.

And somewhere around the halfway point, the story shifted focus more toward parenthood, which lost my interest even further.
I kept picking up other things, putting it down, doing anything to avoid coming back to this book. It just drained me.

The magic elements drew me in at first but then they were never explained at all.
And the big ‘surprise’ at the end I guessed at about half way.

I switched from the e-arc to the audio after I only got through 40% in two weeks, I do think I would have enjoyed it more if I’d listened to the whole thing that way, the story felt slightly more engaging in audio, but ultimately, I just didn’t enjoy it.


Books I have read by Olivia Blake:
Alone with you in the Ether - 5 stars
The Atlas Six - 3.75 stars
Masters of Death - 4 stars
Gifted and Talented -2.5 stars

Dysfunctional with a capital D. That is how to categorize the Wren family. When their billionaire father passes away, his three children- Meredith, Arthur, and Eilidh- fight to see who will inherit his company and the family legacy. What's so special about the Wren children? That they are each prenaturally gifted with superpowers, of course.

This book isn't Blake's typical fantasy, but readers won't be disappointed as it still has magical elements and ties. It's incredibly character driven, but it's also so sharp and witty and entertaining. Don't get me wrong - it's long at almost 500 pages and incredibly complex so pay attention!!- but there were Succession vibes a plenty, and I was here for all of it.

Older sister and CEO of an app that forcres you to be happy, Meredith was my favourite character by far. She was bossy and mean and oh so fascinating. An incredibly unlikeable character that somehow you love, if that makes any sense. This was my weekend read and despite the length, once I sat down and immersed myself in it, I couldn't put it down!

Olivie Blake writes the most delightfully detestable characters—and the Wren family is no exception. They’re truly awful, and it’s absolutely delicious.

When family monarch Thayer Wren suddenly dies, the question on everyone’s mind is: who inherits his massive magitech empire?

Is it Meredith, the ruthless eldest daughter he once swore would never succeed? Arthur, the son who never lived up to his expectations? Or Eilidh, the broken former dancer—the only one who actually stayed to care for him?

Think Succession meets dark academia, with a spark of magic and a whole lot of family drama.

Blake’s prose is lyrical, dripping with sarcasm, humor, and wry wit. Her characters are unapologetically flawed—hard to like at times, yet so deeply human. But watching their growth makes the payoff all the more satisfying.

This book is about familial trauma, regular run-of-the-mill trauma, growing up, apocalypses, the cost of magic, love, and, above all, happiness. Because who doesn’t want to be happy?

Gifted & Talented is also wonderfully diverse. With an Asian lead family and bisexual, sapphic, polyamorous, and asexual main characters, it’s a perfect read for anyone who loves rich, inclusive storytelling.

I am positive that I will be thinking about these characters for a long time.

BOOK REVIEW: GIFTED AND TALENTED by OLIVIE BLAKE

4.75 ⭐️

Putting it simply, this book is brilliant. Everything from the character work to the plot and story telling completely blew me away. The Wren siblings are ones I will not forget. They are complicated and unpredictable, and I absolutely hate to love them. ✨💗 I love how this book is wickedly funny but also can dive into the greed and power of privilege.

This book made me laugh out loud, gasp, and scream at the pages. Every new book I read by Olivie Blake I fall more in love with her stories and her writing. My new favorite from her and a must read!

"I didn't want happiness--I wanted an A!... I wanted to get a good grade in life, in adulthood, in existing--but who was ever going to give me that?"

This book is if Succession and The Royal Tennenbaums (with a dash of The Dropout) had a baby. Thayer Wren, the CEO of Wrenfare Magitech is dead. Who will inherit his throne? Eldest daughter Meredith who is about to be exposed by her journalist ex as a complete fraud? Arthur, the second youngest congressman in history who is about to lose his reelection campaign? or will it be youngest daughter Eilidh, once a world-famous ballerina and now a marketing executive at Wrenfare.

This isn't so much a book with a plot as a detailed character study. Yes, the questions of who will take over Wrenfare, who did daddy love the most, who did daddy hate the most, are the accelerant of the story, but the real fuel is Thayer's broken children. You learn a lot about Meredith, Arthur and Eilidh in this book but you also learn about Arthur's wife, his lovers, Meredith's ex, her current boyfriend and Thayer's assistant. And of course the best friend that Meredith betrayed years and years ago. They all get their say in this book of mental gymnastics and rants and interludes.

This book won't be for everyone. It is long, it is almost simplistic in its form yet a veritable chewing of scenery from Blake who doesn't let a chance to monologue about motherhood pass her by. I had a hard time reading this book. I didn't like anyone. I loved everyone. Five stars.

Thank you so much to Tor and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Olivie Blake is both gifted and talented when it comes to writing magical realism. She also does an excellent job with sibling dynamics and the dysfunctional families. While the book initially was a bit difficult to get into, once it clicked, it was smooth sailing. I particularly liked the internal dialogue of Eilidgh, though, I am an eldest sibling myself.

Review posted on Goodreads 4/8/25.

Olivie Blake, how did you know I've always wanted to read a fictional story with a character that vaguely resembles Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes (yes, the one charged for fraud) but with the family dynamics of Succession (Shiv deserved better) and with magic added?! Also with half-Asian characters all set in the Bay Area tech scene?! Did she literally pull this from my dreams or what...?

Very stress inducing story (in the best way) that is signature Olivie Blake, with well-developed characters and complex character dynamics. This one's definitely for those that were labeled as "gifted" in elementary school to then later burn out as an adult (me, it's for me).

Thanks to the publisher the ARC!

I hate to do this and I considered not DNF-ing for a while but I need to be honest. I stopped reading around the 60% mark and actually read 3 other books before finally deciding that I was not going to finish this book. I liked the concept and at first I was pretty interested in the story itself. However, it just felt like nothing was actually happening. I am someone who enjoys plot more than character work so this was just a miss for me. I think it had potential and you have to be in a certain headspace and mood to make this work for you, I was just not in that headspace/mood. I have read other books by Olivie and liked them so I just think it might have been this book in particular that didn’t quite catch my personal attention. Individually the characters were interesting and I wish we got to see more of their magic than I did within the first 60%. Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love how I can instantly tell I am reading an Olivie Blake book. Her voice is so unique! She is able to lull you into a trance with her beautiful yet humorous prose. Before you know it, you’re halfway through the book! It’s magic, truly.

Gifted & Talented is no different. I was immediately intrigued on page one. The satire in this book is phenomenally done. Fans of Succession, this is the book for you! When Thayer Wren, CEO and founder of Wrenfare Magitech, dies unexpectedly, he leaves behind three children. Now the world, and his children, wonder who will take over his empire now that he is gone. Gifted & Talented follows three siblings and explores their dysfunctional relationships and their privilege as they navigate life after their father’s death.

If you’re looking for a book with magic, complicated family dynamics, and tons of drama, look no further than Gifted & Talented.

Magical Siblings? Yes, please. And on top of that, lots of family drama, backstabbing, and each of them trying to be the next to succeed their father. The book is complex, so prepare yourself for lots of twists and turns, as well as clever, witty conversation between the characters.

I didn’t know when I picked up this book that each character would be so dynamic and contribute to the web of intrigue. They aren’t likeable but they feel more “real” than many characters in fiction books where they have a sense of perfection about them. There is a sense of the writing style being modern, with the snarky banter, and asides. It did take me a handful of pages to really get into the meat of the book as the story opens with a chapter on each sibling and what they are doing at the current moment.

I give it 4* because it is an intense read that I wasn’t sure I was prepared for when I first picked it up. I probably should have known, based on Olivie Blake’s style, but this is a book I did not breeze through in a day or two. If it could be translated into a movie, I think it could do really well.

Olivie Blake is a hit-or-miss author for me, and I'm finding I much prefer her YA books at this point. Full of her usual pretentious writing, Gifted & Talented veered into painful territory for me with how bogged down it got by this writing style. For so many words, it felt lacking in substance.

This book??? Was so complex I had to literally put my phone on airplane mode and lock myself in like I was preparing for an exam. I’m not kidding when I say my brain had to be ON every time I cracked it open. I loved that. I hated that. I wanted to scream. I also wanted to kiss Olivie Blake on the mouth. The prose demands you to engage, like fully sit down, shut up, and read for your life. No vibes-only reading here. You will be annotating. You will be flipping back a few pages to reread something someone said three chapters ago that now hits entirely differently. It’s delicious and exhausting and kind of genius.

I thought I knew what I was getting into when this hit my NetGalley, but NOPE. Olivie Blake threw me entirely off my axis in the best way possible. I expected sibling drama and gifted kid trauma (and yes, I got both), but what I didn't expect was how emotionally wrecked I'd be by the end. Like... why did I spiral into reflecting on my own unrealized adolescent potential?

Blake’s prose is, as always, enthralling, you don’t read it, you sink into it. She could write a grocery list and I’d still highlight every line. Her writing is moody, magnetic, and so precise it feels surgical. And the characters? No one writes messy, brilliant, unraveling people quite like she does. Meredith, Arthur, and Eilidh are all trainwrecks, but the deliciously compelling kind. Every chapter felt like peeling back another layer of dysfunction and ambition and fear, and I loved AND simultaneously hated them all.

But here's the thing: this isn’t a story you coast through. It’s demanding. It’s dense. You have to work for it, and I honestly adored that about it. There were moments where I felt like I was decoding a thesis, not just reading a novel, but once you settle into the rhythm, it becomes addictive. This book is relentless in its intelligence, its moral ambiguity, and its refusal to simplify itself for the reader. You’re either in or you’re not—and if you’re in, it’s a deeply rewarding experience.

And let’s talk about the characters, because I resented them, I empathized with them, I wanted to shake them and simultaneously protect them from the world. Blake gives us three protagonists who are deeply flawed, often infuriating, occasionally delusional, and yet still manage to pull at something visceral. I didn’t *like* them, but I also couldn’t stop thinking about them.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely. But with the disclaimer that this book demands your attention. It will challenge you. It will exhaust you. And if you let it, it will wreck you in all the right ways.

10/10 would fight my siblings for a spot in Thayer Wren’s will.

3.5/5 stars, rounded up

Thank you Tor Books for the advanced reading copy!

I have had to sit with this one for a few days, because when I finished it (and, honestly, while reading it) I had no idea what to think. Here's where I have landed --

Overall, I liked, but didn't love, this book. I thought it dragged for the entire first half but hooked me enough to keep reading, and I am ultimately glad I did. I doubt I would have finished it if it wasn't for the audio and Eunice Wong's narration. Her pacing kept me interested and she was well-suited for the wild and chaotic stream of consciousness narration of this story.

This book had so many themes and tropes and was a true genre-bender. We had unexpected love and romance, found family, grief, complex family dynamics, friendships, character growth and development, coming of age, past loves and regrets, to name a few. This book did make me think about death in a lot of existential ways, which was an interesting side effect of reading.

The characters were all so annoying and mostly insufferable, yet I rooted for them?! Jillian was probably my favorite, despite her myriad of issues, and I grew to appreciate the rest all while disliking them. The narrator surprise was slightly but expected but well executed, and I think Olivie Blake did a great job of tracking the changing POV's with this one. The writing overall was simple in structure, yet complex in theme and meaning. It felt unique in that way.

The magical elements were super interesting, and I actually wish there had been more. What there was felt largely unexplained, though I just accepted and enjoyed that for what it was.

Overall this one stumped me a bit. Not sure if that's because it's not my normal genre or if I don't typically read books like this because maybe they're not my thing?! Would love to hear others' thoughts on this one!!

As a fan of Olivie Blake's writing style, I was so excited to dive into Gifted & Talented. And it did not disappoint!

Voicey and tongue-in-cheek, I was drawn immediately into the story. Each sibling's point of view felt engaging and unique, and the mysterious god narrator added humor and insight. While the characters aren't initially the most likeable (unsurprising, as the narrative shapes this expectation from the first page), I grew to care about them and found myself deeply invested by the end.

Funny, creatively written, and, at times, overwhelmingly heartfelt, I was highlighting and making notes the whole way through. The supporting characters have depth and interest, and there was not a single POV that didn't hold my attention.

I did find the last third sagged in places, and at times the plot and magic system felt vague and hand wavy. But honestly, when it comes to Olivie Blake's writing, the vibes are often enough for me. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

*Thank you to Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for access to the advanced reader copy for this book!

I think I'm obsessed with Olivie Blake and her absolutely fantastic writing.
I am always beyond excited for a new story from Blake and have found that what she delivers often blows my (high) expectations away.
Gifted & Talented is such a showcase for the exquisite quality of Blake's writing. Truly, her prose is on another level. Blake excels when painting a picture with her complex and pretentious (I mean that in a good way) writing. She is so skilled that I found myself stopping multiple times while reading this book because I was in absolute awe of her talent.
Gifted & Talented is a story with many characters and many moving parts. Blake's attention to character detail is evident throughout this book and serves as a highlight for this story. This book does not work if Blake doesn't succeed at making the reader fall in love with the Wren family. And we shouldn't, we really shouldn't love them. They're kind of terrible. But somehow, the power of Blake's writing makes you care more deeply than imaginable for this family and what they're gone through/are going through. Pulling off that feat is only possible because of Blake's skill.
While I could happily get lost in the characters of this story, I do think it's worth mentioning that the plot is also incredibly entertaining. It's bizarre, surprising, and oftentimes relatable. There's also a heartfelt nature to this story that I was not initially anticipating, but think is such a wonderful touch.
Olivie Blake is an author whose books I will read forever. This story is such a wonderful example of her skill. She is truly gifted and talented. I highly recommend adding this book to your TBR.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

I don’t think I have coherent thoughts about this book, even waiting a day or so to develop them. I love, love, love the way that Olivie Blake writes. Just phenomenal and evocative writing that will pierce your senses. And as a former gifted kid, this book hit home in many ways.

Each character’s voice is so unique and interesting, full of their own snark, attitudes and liveliness – applying to the three Wren siblings and many of the side characters. Just seeing the internal monologues, especially for Meredith, is just wild as to how their brains work. Yet I loved every second of it and a lot of it resonates so much.

For the world itself, I love how magic is so integrated into biology and technology in a way that it feels more subtle and a part of reality versus something larger and world-ending or saving.

Also, treat yourself to the audiobook 👌👌👌 it’s so good. The narrator will blow you away with the emotion put into each of the characters, bringing to life their unique voices!

Thank you to @torbooks and @netgalley for the eARC and @macmillan.audio for the ALC! All thoughts are my own.