Due to issues with my digital copy, I’ll have to soft DNF this book, but will definitely complete on publication.

I keep going back to this authors thinking that my opinions will change but alas, I have yet to find the one to do that. Gifted & Talented has such promise, but it didn’t work for me. Also, the formatting in this copy was insanely bad and made the book very difficult to read.

Gifted and Talented is a character-driven family saga following three morally questionable and dysfunctional siblings who must come together and face their own failed potential in the wake of their father’s untimely death. This book is a brilliant work of speculative fiction with modern technology being intertwined with magic, and all three Wren siblings displaying talent with their telepathic and electrokinetic abilities.

Meredith Wren, eldest daughter and young prodigy, is set to lose it all as her journalist-ex boyfriend sets out to expose her for the fraud she really is. Arthur Wren, only son and failing politician, wants nothing more than for everyone to love him, and it doesn’t help that he keeps dying. Eilidh Wren, youngest child and former ballerina, has been working dutifully for her father in a 9-5 and wants nothing more than to be confirmed as his favourite, but can’t seem to stop causing the apocalypse. The Wren siblings are the heart of this novel, unlikeable and yet oh so relatable as they truly are the epitome of the gifted kid turned depressed adult. Their personalities and relationships were well-developed, and they all got the attention they deserved, with the secondary characters blending in perfectly and feeling integral to the story.

The all-knowing narrator was witty and fun addition, and helped move the story along. I enjoyed the shifting perspective and loved that we got to see into the mind of not only the Wren’s, but also the accompanying cast of characters.

This book is fast paced, and I was hooked from the start. I did not want to put it down. I finished it last night and already want to re-read. Olivie Blake truly does not disappoint and has solidified herself as one of my favourite authors. I would recommend Gifted and Talented to lovers of Succession and dysfunctional family dynamics.

*Thank you to the publisher for sending me an early copy in exchange for an honest review*

📚 review 📚

like many of olivie blake’s books, the biggest draw of gifted and talented is the vibes. it’s reality with a hint of magic, something completely unique to the olive blake extended universe.
the best way I can think to describe this is if the hargreeves siblings from the umbrella academy (the nextflix version) found themselves as members of the carrington clan in dynasty - it might look something like this.

in gifted and talented, we follow three siblings, who each have their own thing going on - sometimes literal death and apolocalypses, who have nothing in common apart from their shared parentage, that end up being thrown together after the death of their father and their own complex feelings about the man he was and the legacy he left behind. It’s sardonic and decadently written - in some ways even more so than previous books - it even gets some snarky comments from god, which is not a sentence I thought I would write today.

this one feels like a love letter to anyone who was ever referred to as gifted at school and has since descended into a depressive, existential state with a side of anxiety and the realisation that you aren't special. it’s funny in its truthfulness, with some of the most asshole assholes to ever asshole - its bougie rich people drama at its best. and if you know me, you’ll know that that’s my favourite genre of drama.

this was great fun and if there’s anyone who deserves the title of gifted and talented, it’s olivie blake

gifted and talented is out in april. thank you @netgalley for the early copy

If i got one thing out of this book, its that I felt an incessant need to go and hug my siblings, and I should be far more grateful for them. Also that happiness is completely what you make it out to be, not what anyone else tells you.

Gifted & Talented is a story following three siblings battling with themselves over their supposed sacred gifts and alleged promised talent, after being brought back together during their father’s death. Eldest daughter Meredith is tackling a blackmail case that will total her whole career, middle child Arthur can’t decide if his love lies with his partners, his wife or his work, and youngest Eildih just wants to be seen an appreciated by someone in her family. All three of them have to deal with (you guessed it for an Olivie book), the consequences of their own actions and how to be happy when the thing they’ve built their lives around crumbles.

Unlike other Olivie Blake books where the action is often philosophical, open ended, and leaves you numb at the thought of your existence, Gifted & Talented is an open and closed case. All the pieces are there, all the journeys are complete, all the morals have been learnt and there isn’t anything for you to do except reread and see *how* all these characters changed and got to where they are. I found it extremely clear what the overarching plot is (all siblings have their own storylines, but they’re all tied together by Thayer Wren’s company), and extremely satisfying to see how all the siblings play a part. All the pieces of the puzzle came together slowly- front it starting out as you needing to pick a side, and a sibling to defend but really none of them are the villain. Happiness is.

Highlights include:
- POV switching mid chapter,
- The use of different writing styles and formatting (mainly case switching and scriptwriting)
- The narrator

Oh my goodness the narrator! I was prepared for an Olivie insert (usually in the form of a character backstory, or some inhuman being) and I thought I got that…but no! We got an extremely unreliable narrator in the form of the Wrens’ childhood best friend, and this was so perfectly written in I couldnt ask for anything else. The beginning people so ruthless and unhinged made much more sense when we realise Lou’s relationships toward the siblings. How much or little she knows of them, and how this reflects her views. Her then being a crucial part of the story, still while narrating everything really brought the unreliability into play. I too, thought Meredith pushed Jamie off the cliff. Our side characters are all loveable, and it’s clear they exist to support the three siblings and aren’t a plot of themselves. I enjoyed the polyamorous representation, and bringing light Arthur’s conflicts about the love he feels for his wife, and the different love he feels for his partners, and the love he has for wanting to *be* loved. Eilidh and Dzyhulia shared a complicated, intertwined story namely one of comparison and gave a great story of ‘the grass is always greener. Jamie and Cass I could write an essay on how they’re foils for each other, and how love comes in different shapes and sizes. Be honest with those you love.

‘We only see each other at weddings and funerals’ is the phrase i’d title this whole thing

And the language? If you love Olivie-isms then this one is filled plenty with them. It’s delightfully unhinged.

I will always love Olivie Blake's writing! Every book by her is so exciting, filled with fantasy and wonder, and leaves me feeling fulfilled. In particular Gifted and Talented felt like a hug from a warm friend, Blake's writing oozes mastery and craft. It was satirical, engaging, and just a true joy to read.

Olivie Blake is a master at crafting messy, unlikeable, but compelling characters!

Gifted & Talented follows three siblings over the course of a week as they wait to find out from their father's will which one of them will take over his magic tech company. This is very much Umbrella Academy meet Succession vibes as each of the siblings wants their father's empire for their own reasons but each pf them also has a magical gift and a lot issues (especially daddy issues).

This is a a very character focused book and I think that people who like spending a lot of time in characters' heads and want stories based around character development and relationships will love this. I would have liked more plot in this book though as this book is very slow moving and I found as a result it took me a long time to read this.

There is a vibe shift about 50% of the way through and the focus shifts from awful people and their sibling rivalry to a conversation around parenthood and redemption. I enjoyed both halves of the book although I think I preferred the story when the focus was solely on the toxic Wren siblings.

First and foremost, I would like to express my gratitude to Panmacmillan for providing me with an advance copy of this remarkable book.

Olivie’s unique writing style sets her books apart from many others. I particularly enjoyed the narrative style of this book, which captivated me from the outset.

The story follows the lives of three siblings: Meredith, Arthur, and Elidith, whose lives are upended by the death of their tech billionaire father, Thayer Wrens. Thayer, a dysfunctional father, had equally dysfunctional relationships with his children, who, in turn, became troubled adults. The question on their minds is who will inherit the CEO position of his company, Magitech.

Meredith Wren, the eldest, is a successful and ruthless businesswoman who has “cured” mental illness through her company. She has an ex-boyfriend journalist determined to expose her as a fraud. Meredith is deeply flawed, possessing arrogance, ruthlessness, and bluntness, but her ultimate desire is her father’s approval.

Arthur Wren, my favourite character, is the middle child and a congressman (whose election may be at risk). He is the most people-pleasing individual you will encounter. One of the youngest congressmen to date, he is married to a lawyer while engaged in an open relationship. Arthur simply wants to be loved, which makes him endearing. He is an enjoyable read, and one cannot help but root for his success.

Elidith is the youngest child and a character I deeply resonated with (as the youngest of three). A gifted ballerina, she was forced to retire after a life-altering injury, leading her to work for her father in marketing. Being her father’s favourite has its advantages, but as more revelations emerge, it has her questioning everything. Often feeling like the black sheep and excluded from her siblings’ banter and relationships, she embodies the experiences of all youngest siblings, and her raw honesty and relatability makes you want to read on more

Throughout the book, the author skillfully weaves a tapestry of emotions, including envy, hatred, jealousy, desire, love, and power. This integration of diverse themes is refreshing and engaging, as the narrative unfolds through the perspectives of various characters. We gain insights into their past experiences and relationships with supporting characters, enriching our understanding of their lore. This is a remarkable achievement, considering the brevity of the book’s page count.

The concept of magic and technology is both intriguing and entertaining. Meredith possesses persuasive abilities, Arthur wields electrical powers, and Elidith frequently triggers small apocalypses. The characters’ attempts to harness and control these powers create a captivating narrative.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book, devouring it in three distinct sittings. It was a complex and multifaceted work, both messy and beautiful, yet toxic in its nature. The book provokes thought, particularly on human nature and morality, challenging our darknesses and examining the adverse effects they can have on ourselves and others.

I was unprepared for the raw intensity of the book, but I must say that it stands as her finest work to date. It evoked a range of emotions, including tears, laughter, and gasps. I highly recommend reading this book at some point.

Once again, I extend my gratitude to PanMacmillan (specifically, Olivia) for providing me with an advance copy of the book.

Instagram review - https://www.instagram.com/p/DGidI6PI37t/?igsh=dDNia3N5a213eXFv

I'm a big fan of Olivie Blake and I saw someone describe this as Succession meets Umbrella Academy and I was sold.
I love an unlikeable character and boy did this book deliver. She sets up the book masterfully from the first chapter and I was hooked. I loved getting to know each of the Wren siblings and without spoilers- I loved the 'magical' element to the family dynamic as well.

Olivie Blake is undeniably a wonderful writer. I love the sophistication of her style and her imaginative story writing.

Unfortunately on a personal taste level, I just couldn’t click with this novel. I just really didn’t care about the characters and if I don’t care about the characters at all then I’m just not going to be invested in the story.

I’m sure lots of people will love the vibes and find the largely unlikeable characters captivating. I just felt irritated.

Unfortunately this file is corrupted as myself and others have reported.

Would love to read it but it's impossible.

Gifted and Talented by Olivie Blake completely captivated me with its sharp wit, layered characters, and effortlessly clever dialogue. From the first page, I was drawn into the tangled, often chaotic world of these overachievers, each navigating their own ambitions, insecurities, and relationships in a way that felt painfully real. Blake’s writing is as intelligent as it is emotionally charged, making me laugh one moment and ache the next. The characters’ chemistry crackles with tension, and their interactions feel so authentic that I found myself deeply invested in their successes and failures. It’s a book that lingers in your mind long after you finish, making you question just how much of yourself you see in these flawed, brilliant individuals.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing for the advance copy of this book. I really enjoyed this book. It was genuinely very funny at times and I enjoyed each of the in depth character backgrounds. Each character was so complex. I did struggle a little with the slow moving plot but the characters made up for it (for the most part). Overall, a very enjoyable read.

This book is not for me and I don't think this author is for me, unfortunately. The characters felt very one-dimensional.

Along with other readers, I have received a corrupted file which is unreadable but would love to read once it has been sorted as I have high expectations for this one!

Olivie Blake’s most Olivie Blake™ book to date (complimentary.)
I know she may be a hit or miss author for many, but for me she is firmly a hit. I just really vibe with her snarky, witty, super-contemporary-but-not-dated writing style, and even more so when she plays around with the format and narration of a story, which really shines in Gifted and Talented. Here, she explores gifted kid burnout, mental illness, family dysfunction, the intersection of fantasy and technology, classism & poverty, motherhood, and honestly just What It Means To Be Human with such evocative and raw writing.
This one is for the unlikable characters lovers out there!! These siblings are insufferable arseholes!! (No, truly.) But, as a master at her craft, Olivie Blake takes 400 pages and makes you somehow grow to care about them and their Happiness ☺(Even Meredith!)
I didn’t even fathom just how much I was emotionally invested in their sibling relationship until there was a certain scene at the very end which made me want to tear up.
Thank you to Pan Macmillan, Tor Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC. All opinions are my own.

This was ok, but it could have all been over in less than 300 pages, honestly. More on that in a sec.
God, at his(?) wits’ end with the three siblings, makes a wonderfully sarcastic and ambivalent narrator. I really enjoyed his/her/their interjections, which were witty, sharp and to the point. There’s a nice twist involving them, which I’m not going to spoil.
I love the pace, snark and confrontational nature of Blake’s writing. (Great opening line, by the way.) I’m less keen on its elitism. A little more empathy for the reader would go a long way. No one wants to be asking Siri for definitions at the turn of every page.
Examples:
* Qubit
* Purulent
* Ensorceling [stet] - actual spelling: Ensorcelling (the typo is karma for not using a word that even an editor understands).
Also (dare I say, tangentially-which you’ll get, if you make it to the end) a note on sentence length. 69 words is typically considered too long for reading ease. Around 20 is a comfortable average. I found a 78 at one point and threw up my hands in despair.🤷🏼‍♀️ (This did improve as the book progressed.)
While the pace was fast, the plot was not. (As I said, 300 pages would have been about right.) This is primarily a character-based story, with a great deal of indulgent navel gazing and over-thinking on the part of everyone.
There is an underlying plot, but my goodness, it takes its own sweet time coming to fruition. Having said that, I enjoyed the last 25% significantly more than the rest of the book, and the last 5% was ace.
If you’re a die-hard Olivie Blake fan, I’m sure you’ll love the whole thing. I wanted to, really I did. Maybe next time.
Providing there’s a little more action.
And shorter sentences.
For now though, I’m good with adoring the last 5%. So four stars from me, with thanks to Netgalley and Panmacmillan Tor for the review copy.

honesty, it felt like nothing happened for the first 250 pages. things started to pick up after that, but even then it was incredibly slow paced. i don’t mind unreliable narrators or unlikeable characters, but when nothing’s happening besides unnecessary backstory, of course i’m not going to like it.

the magic was really interesting. it was also the only reason i continued to the end — i had questions and i wanted answers. unfortunately, most of those went unanswered, and i was left wondering why i even bothered.

along with the lack of plot, we also have a lack of character development. while meredith goes through some, it wasn’t a lot. i felt arthur and eilidh didn’t change much from beginning to end either. the main redeeming aspect of this book was the side characters. i definitely enjoyed them a lot more than anyone else in this book.

if i had to summarise this book it would be: nothing happened, none of my questions were answered, and i gained nothing from reading this.

i was really excited to read gifted & talented, and was quite disappointed by my lack of enjoyment. i don’t know if this book just went over my head and i missed an integral part of it, but most of the reviews for gifted & talented are raving about how good it was.

Olivie Blake delves into the world of the filthy rich to explore themes of ambition, relationships, (childhood) trauma, and power. She portrays three siblings—Meredith, Arthur, and Eilidh—as they navigate the death of their father, the CEO of a modern tech company.

A lot of people say that this book gives off strong Succession vibes—and that's absolutely true. It's nearly impossible not to compare the Wrens to the Roys, especially considering that not a single character in this book can be called a truly decent human being, which is something that only deepens that comparison. That said, I also think Gifted & Talented bears some similarities to Olivie Blake's earlier work, The Atlas Six trilogy. I don't mean in terms of plot, but in the way the characters interact—you can clearly tell it's the same person behind both works. Since Gifted & Talented features only three main characters, the author had the opportunity to give each of them the attention needed to develop fully realized personalities. (Meredith, by the way, gave me major Parissa vibes). The secondary characters are also well-written and do not feel like mere avatars orbiting around the Wren siblings.

This is a deeply character-driven book, which is typical of Olivie Blake's work. Not much really happens in terms of plot, and you could probably summarize the story in just a few sentences. That said, the narrative remains accessible (which is worth noting, as it's not always the case with this author’s novels), and what we do get is surprisingly fast-paced and engaging. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean the book wouldn’t have benefited from being a bit shorter. Still, in my opinion, the greatest success of this novel is that it keeps you invested, even though the characters are entirely unlikable.

This book includes speculative elements, such as the characters' telekinetic abilities, but I’m starting to think they might not have been entirely necessary. They don’t contribute significantly to the plot. In fact, the story could have been just as compelling if it focused on a dysfunctional family of billionaires, with no supernatural abilities at all. After all, money can serve as its own form of superpower.

All in all, reading this novel, I got mostly what I expected. If you enjoy Olivie Blake's prose, family dramas with a touch of humor, and deeply character-driven stories, this book will definitely be for you.

I still am unsure what to rate this book. To accurately review it I'll need to split this into two parts, and if the second part is vague it's because I so desperately am trying not to spoil the book for anyone.

The first 50% of the book? Immaculate. The succession vibes were incredible. The character development was intricate and really well done. This has Olivie's usual style of prose where there are long paragraphs packed with interesting character and plot tidbits. The voice was witty and interesting and provided a really unique perspective to the three Wren siblings.

However... at about the 50% mark it became apparent that book is not about siblinghood but rather about parenthood which was not really what I signed up for. The long interesting paragraphs about our MCs turn into long paragraphs of thinking about motherhood and having a toddler etc and my enjoyment decreased significantly. It felt like this was a book for Olivie to talk about her experience with motherhood and having a son with a character that felt almost like a self insert. This isn't inherently a problem but I didn't enjoy it at all.

So. if part one is a 5 star read and part two is a 2.5 star read, I suppose the only thing is to meet in the middle? We've landed on a 3.5 I suppose?

Thank you to the publisher and to netgalley for the arc!