I saw a review describe this book as complex and interesting and I think I have to agree. It’s definitely well written and deeply existential and mind boggling book but I fear it may not have been for me. I am still going to rate it 3.5 stars though because I did find it funny and did find most of the characters likeable!

This book is about a complex relationship with your siblings and parents, and then ?potentially? becoming parents (I agree with some reviews; in that I don’t care much about motherhood/parenthood and it’s not really what I signed up for so I did find that aspect really boring) and having very deep existential thoughts about it.

But also, about being nepotism babies, wanting the benefit of being a nepo baby, but hating being a nepo baby (because they’re leftists and don’t agree with it). Also about being really unhappy in your current relationship and wanting something you can’t or shouldn’t have.

I also expected a lot more magic but I feel like that aspect didn’t really deliver? Still slightly confused about the context of the magic and why it was there? I really thought there would be more of it.

I listened to this mainly via audiobook (and read some chapters via e-book) and I did find it a *tiny* bit easier to keep up via audiobook with the voice changes. There are times during the book where the POV keeps changing both between characters but also two completely different situations and it’s kind of hard to keep track.

Thank you to TOR/Pan Macmillan for the early copy of this book (both audio and e-book in my case) in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Net Galley, Macmillan Audio and Olivie Blake for this audio ARC.

This book was truly unique and a bit of a rollercoaster, if you are looking so something fantasy but different, then Gifted & Talented should be bumped up your TBR.

I received the audiobook for this and really enjoyed it, at first I was concerned I would get a bit lost in the story, it is from the narrators point of view (no spoilers as to who this is). However, after getting through the first hour of establishing our main characters and starting to learn about them, you get sucked in and there is no return.

Gifted & Talented introduces us to the Wren family, learning to process their grief on the passing of their father in comparison to the insecurities that he influenced. Whilst the fantasy element isn't subtle as it plays an important part to the story later on, there are no magic wands or fae, but their 'gifts' are impactful to those around them (though our characters do not necessarily deem them as such). There is a lot of complexity to each of the characters and you see how they grow in a short space of time, as though there are a few throwbacks the story is set in the short period after the death of Thayer Wren.

Meredith is the eldest, having fought her whole life for her father's approval he dies just as her company Birdsong starts to sink under the discovery of her lies. Arthur's relationship woes are just one his of his problems, aside from the pressure of his political career and insecurities that his father never loved him. Eilidh cannot move past the injury that ended her ballerina career, and now works for her father who is overly protective of her.

The ending of this was perfect, making up for a slightly slow start that I appreciate was necessary as the story was built. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone in a reading slump and needing something completely different.

Tropes:
- Dysfunctional family
- Witty
- Magical realism
- Mystery
- Modern world
- Unreliable narrator

This was a powerful and addictive story, which dealt with a number of complex and important topics such as capitalism, ambition, power, success, technology, morality, sexism, social issues and social media influence. The family politics element to this story felt very much like Succession so I was immediately drawn to the characters. There are flawed and deeply troubled characters who struggle with their life choices and with love.

I was very intrigued with where the plot was going and the audio was really enticing. There was a lot of humour which I loved - very sarcastic at times. And the dialogue was gripping. The side characters were also fantastic - Eve was epic.

However, I did feel like there could have been a bit more at the end - it felt like it was just missing something. There wasn’t a huge amount of actual plot and I wanted a bit more from the magical elements.

Overall, an interesting, complex and thought provoking read.

Gifted & Talented was a such a unique read. The book is complex and nuanced and it does require a little critical thinking to understand some of the underlying messaging. But even so, Olivie's Olivie's writing style and the way it reads like a dark comedy in a lot of places really elevated the experience for me.

I really liked the magic system in this books, and how it does feel like in a way parts of their magic - for Arthur and Eilidh at least - could also be manifestations of their mental blocks or trauma.

Arthur has a desperation to be loved and will do anything for it, and it feels like he's losing his loved ones and his political campaign he gets the 'yips'. Eilidh has compact physical and mental trauma after a career ending injury, and lots of internal rage at living in her siblings shadow, hence the biblical plagues.

I also really enjoyed Meredith's character on several layers. Yes, in my ways I can see how she is a hated character for the way she acts. How her behaviour can be seen as blunt or cruel or dismissive, when really she has a good heart and she is just terrible at expressing it the way her siblings do. You can see the many sides of her, the ones you like and the ones you don't.

I also really enjoyed how much diverse representation was in this book! We had strong female characters, we had references to metal health and neurodiversity, we had polyamory and queer relationships - we love to see that!

The book is brilliant in its simplicity. The overarching story is simple - rich, asshole patriarch dies and now his kids have to pick up the pieces. It is Olivie's writing style, the complex characters and family drama and nuanced relationships she creates that bring so much depth and life to the story outside of that simple plot. And for that, I loved this book.

The audio for this book was especially well done - I really liked the narrator and I felt like she added even more depth to the story. Sometimes with complex books reading them without audio can be a challenge for me, but with this one I had 0 issues because audiobook was fantastic!

You know when you're so intrigued by an author but keep putting off picking up their books for no apparent reason? Until this year, that's what Olivie Blake was to me, when I finally decided to dive into Januaries (in January of course).
Having really enjoyed that, I knew I needed to read more of her works. So when I saw her next release was being touted as Succession, but with magic, I knew I had to get my hands on it.
Gifted & Talented follows Meredith, Arthur and Eilidh Wren, three telepathically and electrokinetically gifted siblings who are forced to confront their long-standing rivalries and dangerous abilities when their father, Thayer Wren, suddenly dies. Not to mention, there's the small matter of who will inherit Thayer's company, Wrenfare Magitech.
This is a longer read (or in my case, listen), but I absolutely flew through it. The pacing and narrative style make it really engaging, I felt like I completely knew and understood the motivations of all the siblings by the end. They're messy and, at several points, very dislikeable, but I couldn't help but root for them. The secondary characters are super memorable too, with Yves and Gillian standing out to me in particular. The whole world just felt so fleshed out, something I often find is missing in reads like this.
The only thing stopping this from being a five-star read for me is the ending. Personally, it wasn't for me, but I can see how others would feel differently.
Eunice Wong, who narrates the audiobook version, is perfect for this book. She breathed so much life into all of the (many) characters and each one was instantly recognisable when she was speaking, making it far easier to track the story while listening.
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan UK Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to begin this review by thanking NetGalley and MacMillan UK Audio for the opportunity to review this ALC.

I have always been a fan of Olivie Blake, though I had to take a pause after finishing her trilogy. This book brought back all my faith in this author.

Olivie Blake knows how to write messy characters. Individuals who are all so flawed in such a natural human way. Her characters are realistic, and it is because of this that you both hate and admire almost every major and minor character that is introduced. It is easy to sympathise with all three main characters in this novel, whilst also accepting how terrible they are as people. It is quite a reflective book, in the way it makes you think of how you perceive others.

There is not much to discuss regarding the plot, it is as stated within the description. But the characters and the narration make up for it entirely. I was never once bored. The narration style was so fun to listen to in this ALC, as the tenses switched often from third person to first - which only makes sense as you progress in the story - with a lot of ‘breaking the fourth-wall’ which was so entertaining to listen to.

I also occasionally teared up, despite this story not entirely being a sad one. It focuses on the complexity of familial relationships, romantic relationships, and childhood friendships. And the way everything so beautifully rounded off at the end introduced a somewhat nostalgic, heart-warming feeling that I appreciated.

3.75 🌟

I should possibly have rated this a little higher, but here’s the odd thing. I really enjoyed this book. I was completely invested in the lives of these screwed up siblings, but if you’d have told me I’d patiently wait approximately 12 hours into a story that’s essentially focused on the reading of a will to get to the actual reading of the will, I’d have laughed. But here’s the weird part. I waited completely patiently. I enjoyed getting to know each of the siblings, with all of their flaws and obscurities. I found it incredibly funny, and touching. Yet after all of that book, I don’t really have much else to say 🤷🏻‍♀️ I wish I could offer a meaningful review, but all I’ve got is that I really enjoyed it. There’s magic, deceit, betrayal, backbiting, double crossing and rejection. I’ve seen loads of reviews that compare to succession, which I’ve never seen but it seems I’d also enjoy.

I enjoyed the narration, but I did find I had to mess around a fair bit I couldn’t settle between 1.5 or 1.75 one was too slow the other too fast, I eventually got used to 1.75.

I’m really grateful to MacMillan Audio U.K. and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

I was pleasently surprised with this story. I went in expecting a world filled by magic that would influence the fight for succession, but 'Gifted & Talented' focus on family drama. Yes, there is magic, but it is regarded in the same way as we look at the internet, and while the three main characters think about their fathers company, the main conflicts stem from their personal lives or family dynamics.

If you like complicated characters and difficult family/personal relationships - pick this up!

4.5⭐️ Olivie Blake truly has a way with words, so much so that even as someone who generally has trouble being invested in books that follow unlikable characters, I found myself rooting for each one of them by the end…

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan UK Audio for the advance copy.

Olivie Blake is an author that I will always want to read their books.
The random and quirky elements always make the story interesting and fun to read.

I was glad to receive the advance for this book as the synopsis sounded great. I enjoyed how messy the siblings are and how weird the other characters are in their lives.

The three have their own issues which stem from their father’s inability to be better and leads them on a journey which includes magic and love.

This was a fun read.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan UK audio for giving me the opportunity to listen to the audiobook ARC 🎧

4 ⭐️
Okay this was v good!! The narrator did suchhh a good job with this as I can’t imagine how this would read in book form. I think audiobook really helped with the formatting of the book.

Magical realism meets Succession. The book revolves around 3 siblings and following their family dynamics after their dad dies. To be honest, not much ACTUALLY happens, but it was giving fun witty drama and made for a great listen.

Rated 3.5/5 stars

Somehow Olivie Blake makes reading about insufferable people so damn fun.
This is a story of pure satire, built in the age of social media as an on-the-nose look at the elite and their shambles of a life. Following three siblings awaiting the fate of their father’s inheritance, we run through a riot of thoughts and events as each character spirals into some form of disillusioned chaos. They’re incredibly out of touch but hey, self awareness counts for something?

It’s always interesting when you have those moments of feeling for characters you, in reality, should hate. Or even when you DO hate them, but it makes it all the more fun to read about them going through it. Olivie’s books are always a play on characters, but never more have they felt more like a statement than in this book. It’s clear there’s much to be said, and I imagine it’ll prove quite a marmite book, with every moment seeming a quip at the modern world and media.

The audiobook was definitely a big help to me, and the narrator was brilliant at portraying the tone of lofty indifference in a way that only elevates the elitism felt through these characters. The ridiculousness of their lives compared to most popped through in a way that seemed natural, and made it a lot easier to win with the story amidst all the societal commentary that may have otherwise proved a slow read.

Ultimately I enjoyed this one, but it’s definitely one you’d have to be in the mood for. Leaning towards a similar vein to Kuang’s ‘Yellowface’, it’s a fantastical look on the modern world, the elite, and the blasé caricatures that fuel the world as we know it.

Told with Blake's usual flamboyance and unabashed wordy opulance, this Succession with Magic tale of family, betrayal, envy and human frailty is not to be missed. Utterly compelling and just as utterly filled with reprehensible, messy and complicated characters this was a strange breath of fresh air.

This is a slow paced, character-driven story on the more real end of the magical realism spectrum. I was expecting magic to play a bigger role in the plot, but it’s more of a study of family relationships and sibling dynamics, with a sprinkling of magic with not much world building.
Eunice Wong is a fantastic reader, but I found the slightly exasperated and sarcastic style of narration lost some of the impact of the writing. It felt like there was limited light and shade in the tone, and some of the humour was lost as a result. I also prefer audiobooks with the majority of breaths removed, so sadly, I think the editorial / style choices just aren’t for me on this one! I’d be interested to see if reading the text would be a different experience to listening to the audiobook.
This is the first traditionally published Olivie Blake book that I’ve read, but I am familiar with her fanworks, so I was really curious going into this one. While this wasn’t a complete winner for me, I’ll be giving the Atlas series a go, as I love the prose and style of writing.

4.25⭐️

I’m sad this is the first book I haven’t given 5 stars from Olivie Blake, but 4.25 is still an amazing review!

This is a complex and messy tale about 3 siblings from a rich family, none of which are particularly likeable, but by the end of the book I found myself oddly attached to them.

This story won’t be for everyone, it’s very vibes over plot, and largely character driven. The pacing doesn’t always stay consistent and may be off putting for some, but it kind of kept me on my toes.

The dynamic between the siblings was my favourite part, on the face of it you feel as if they hate each other, but as you read on you realise that they do have deep love for each other, but it’s just not conventional in how they show it. They are all damaged from generational trauma and the pressure to be the best at what they do. They carry the wait of the dead father’s judgement and it puts a strain on each of them in very different ways.

I weirdly identified a lot with Meredith as the oldest daughter- while her role is exaggerated, the pressures she feels are very relatable to anyone that is also the oldest daughter 😂

The magical realism added to the whimsy of the story and felt so plausible when input into the narrative- if that isn’t you usual thing I wouldn’t let it put you off.

Overall, this was so very Olivie Blake in the best way- the only reason it’s not 5⭐️ is because I just didn’t get that 5⭐️ feeling when reading it (I can’t explain 😂) but I still highly recommend this one- especially if you loved Masters of Death- feel like the story telling style was most similar to that

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan UK Audio for the ALC.

I've been wanting to try Olivie Blake's work for a long while now but as this is an author that seems to be like marmite I felt constantly in a cycle of being compelled vs put off trying them after seeing reviews.

In hindsight, an early copy was probably not the best way to try but when I saw the ALC available to request I couldn't resist, especially as even when I'm not fully into a book I usually find it easier to get along with via audio.

Sadly I wasn't able to finish this, I'm aware that Olivie has a very distinct writing style but to me it felt rambly and couldn't hold my attention. There were moments where it really shone - the wry humour and witty tone had me laughing but then there would be huge paragraphs going off on a tangent preventing my immersion into the story.

I love character driven novels and am fine with an unlikeable main character, it was the writing that I just couldn't get on with. I will say that the narration was fantastic - the narrator did an amazing job of lifting the tone of the narrative off the pages although I would have preferred a bit of variation between the voices of the 3 characters.

Overall I think that Olivie Blake fans and those that vibe with very lengthy prose will love this, but it won't be for everyone.

This was my first book by Olivie Blake but it definitely will not be my last. The magic system was so unique in this book and kept me intrigued the whole time. This book is a little bit out of my comfort zone but I am so glad i gave it a chance. I can't wait to recommend this to allow my friends. The narrator was so perfect for this book. She had a nice voice to listen to and kept me in the story.

Succession with magic. The wittiest, driest narrator. A set of siblings that are completely unlikeable but you can’t help but root for as they all deal with their daddy issues. I wasn’t particularly taken with Atlas Six so was hesitant to give this a go but the subject matter jumped out at me. I’m so pleased I gave it a go because this is going to stick with me for agessss wishing I had the narrator talking me through my dullest work meetings. This one is going to win awards.

Thank you Macmillan UK audio and Olivie Blake for the arc audiobook via NetGalley in return for an honest review. The audiobook is well paced, performed and suits the narrator down to the ground - amazing casting.

This author always smashes the assignment when it comes to vibes and immersing you into a deep, winding tale.

I always find you need to be tuned into these sort of books before you start and I don’t think I was as tuned in as I could have been. So I found it a little hard to connect to the audiobook and it started to feel a little long for me and I struggled to stick with it but it’s not a reflection of the book, I think more of a reflection on me.

The audiobook narration was great and a great format to consume if you like listening or reading ‘hands free’. I wish I could have immersed more but it was entertaining nonetheless.

Olivie Blake is Queen at crafting complicated, deep, messy characters which may be hard to like but add to the weaving of the plot. I think those who love this author and this genre will find no problem getting into the story.

4.5⭐

This was my first Olivie Blake book and now I can't believe I've waited this long. What wonderful insight on the messy nature of families, sibling rivalry and how the pressure of growing up as a "gifted" kid can totally mess with your sense of self worth and achievement as an adult. Pretty much all of the characters in this were terrible people - or at least they were imperfect people trying to achieve happiness through all the wrong methods.

Olivie is a master of character. Meredith, Arthur and Eilidh felt so real and each of their voices was distinct in its own unique way. Meridith is such a MEAN person but I loved her POV, her unabashed pragmatism and avoidance of emotion. Arthur is a clingy kitten at heart, and Eilidh was one of those people that pretends to be sweet and innocent so much they genuinely believe it themselves. Some of the thoughts these characters articualted such specific feelings that it had me saying "omg, yes!" Meredith and Lou in particular had me laughing a lot. This book is FUNNY

The magical was almost incidental as magic. It was useful to move along the character development and the plot (incentive to find Lou, and of course Meredith's company) but it could easily have been replaced with something non-magical and I don't think it would have made much of a difference. It was fun though so I'm not complaining.

The audibook was narrated excellently, I could always tell whose POV we were in, and Eve's character was especially hilarious.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor/Pan Macmillan / Macmillan audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.