Succession but make it fantasy? Yes please!

Olivie Blake writes messy, morally grey characters like no other. Everyone in here is constantly having a very bad day, and I was so here for it. This is absolutely a character-driven story, with not a whole lot of plot going on, which did detract from my enjoyment by the end, because it did feel like we weren't really getting anywhere. I did have a good time, and I loved getting to know these characters, what drives them, what mistakes their dad made to make them like that, and the random dying from chocolate got me. I also personally found the narrator's voice hilarious, although it will absolutely date this book in a few years time when this internet slang has moved on to different internet slang. Not my favourite of her works, but I would still recommend if you love a character driven work!

3 stars! I really enjoyed this book! It was a really good book however I was expecting more plotwise!

4.5 stars.
I really enjoyed Gifted and Talented. The novel stands out for its rich character development and the depth with which each personality is explored. One of its most compelling aspects is the way it seamlessly weaves together timelines—blending past, present, and future into a narrative that feels both timeless and immediate.

The story itself is whimsical and imaginative, brought to life through Olivie Blake’s lyrical and almost magical prose. Her writing style elevates the narrative, imbuing even quiet moments with a sense of wonder.

What I found most novel and intriguing was the narrator. The choice of narrator adds a unique perspective to the story, one that feels fresh and unexpected. It gave the entire book a distinctive tone that lingered with me long after I finished reading.

Olivie Blake’s books can take me awhile to get through because I loose a bit of momentum when she goes on character tangents BUT she always saves it in the end for me. She created such diverse, wildly unlikeable, damaged, captivating and somehow lovable monsters with those three siblings. The depths of emotion and trauma they each went to before that will was revealed is kind of wild thinking back on now. I just wish I wasn’t pulled out of the plot sometimes. She writes very poetically but also with a lot of dark humor. I would recommend this book to people who like weird stories with a lot of character deep dives and heavier topics that are gradually introduced and really worked through as the book goes on. I’ll definitely be getting into more of her work despite some of my personal caveats to her style.

I tried really hard to get into this one but a couple of things hindered my progress. The formatting of the arc made it kind of difficult to read easily - fi being replaced with y with two dots above it hurt my brain. Secondly, the characters were pretty despicable and I’ll read anything if I can get on board with the characters but this just isn’t for me. I’m sure plenty of others will enjoy!

I really enjoyed the start of this book, the characterisation and world building was done well. Then it lost me. I enjoyed the magical realism element but the storyline didn't do it for me.

However, the book reminded me of the Fall of the House of Usher so I think it would work much better as a limited series!

Love Olivie Blake thought and will continue to read this author.

Thanks: Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5

As a big Olivie Blake fan (and yes, I feel very smug about having the gorgeous FairyLoot edition of this on my shelf), I was so excited to dive in and it didn’t disappoint. The writing has that trademark Blake wit and sharpness, the kind that makes you smirk and then suddenly hits you with something profound. The characters are messy and clever, and I loved the little sparks of magic woven through it all. It does wobble here and there pacing-wise, which is why it’s a four instead of a five, but overall? Totally worth it. Perfect for fans of dark academia vibes and Blake’s own Atlas Six

DNF @ 50%

I enjoyed the set-up for this and found the characters interesting. However, as I approached the halfway point and there was still no plot progression, I started to get bored and decided not to finish. I've enjoyed Olivie Blake's books in the past and will continue to pick up her future work if it sounds intriguing but this wasn't for me.

Brilliant narration and a great example of a binge-worth audiobook.

C&P my audio review of this title:

This was very much a vibes and characters book for me, and something to listen to in the background rather than need to pay close attention to (I listened to it packing up my house for moving!).

I don't think I have any new or unique opinions that don't echo the existing reviews of those who felt similar to me:

- The magic elements were underdeveloped and irrelevant, just make it contemporary rich family tech mogul and it's the same book.

- This led to a confusion of genre identity

- It' was too long and the pacing too slow for the enjoyment I got out of it

- I think it would have been a DNF if I was reading it with my eyeballs

2.5 rounded up for narration!

dnf in at 27%probably will go back to reading it sometime but i didn't want to delay my review far more .
I was hopping to love this one and when the pov from God popped up i said here we go , this is going to be interesting!! But as mush as i was hopping to love it , this couldn't be farther from the truth . It felt like i was inside the minds of three very chaotic and complex characters and while this initially intrigued me and made the book seem more realistic , it quickly became tiresome and flatined me.

I had high hopes for Gifted & Talented—the premise alone is enough to turn heads: three prodigiously gifted siblings reunite after the mysterious death of their tech-mogul father, entangled in a web of magic, grief, and power. It sounds like Succession meets dark academia with a fantastical twist. And yet, for all its potential, the story never quite delivers on its promise.

To be fair, the concept is undeniably intriguing. Blake has created a world where magic is corporate, commodified, and exclusive to the elite—an idea reminiscent of The Atlas Six, but colder, sharper. The idea of magic as a tool of privilege rather than wonder is clever, and there’s a certain brilliance in the way she explores ambition, entitlement, and dysfunction through this lens. But while the setup is rich, the execution feels flat. The magic—so key to the novel’s identity—fades into the background, never fully integrated into the emotional or narrative core of the story. I expected something vivid, kinetic, maybe even a little chaotic. Instead, the magical elements were muted, more conceptual than immersive.

Pacing was another hurdle. This is a long book, and it feels long. The narrative is slow-moving, heavy with introspection and dialogue that often skirts action in favor of internal conflict. While this might appeal to readers who enjoy deep character studies, I found myself waiting for something—anything—to ignite the plot. The characters themselves are a complex mix. Meredith, Arthur, and Eilidh are undeniably well-crafted in terms of voice and dysfunction, but I struggled to connect with them. They are meant to be flawed, privileged, and often unlikable—and they are. But the lack of emotional connection made it hard to invest in their arcs. I didn’t root for them; I didn’t hate them. I just… observed them.

That said, there’s something compelling about Olivie Blake’s style. Her writing is sharp, observant, and often beautiful in its cynicism. She has a way of pulling the ugliness out of her characters while still making you search for the humanity underneath. For some readers, that will be enough to stay hooked.

I think at this point I have just accepted that Olivier Blake is not an author for me. I completely understand why some people love the level of pretentious in the dark academia setting but it just annoys me,

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for this eARC.

Overall this book is enjoyable however I do believe that the classification of fantasy is misleading. There are certainly magical elements, however primarily this is a novel explores the complex and toxic family relationships of the Wren’s. If you enjoy family dramas featuring character so unlikeable you can’t help but be invested in their endeavours then this is the book for you. The magical element is very minor and is not the driving force of the novel, so do not go into this book with the desire for a fantasy.
Personally, although the premise is interesting and the writing is accomplished brilliantly, there felt as though there was something missing for me that prevented me from being completely invested in the story and characters.

Olivie Blake owns my heart body and soul. Like all of her books, I know this isn't going to be for everyone but my god i loved it. I was so hooked from start to end. These characters are so messy and so flawed like so many of her characters are and I loved this journey of emotional turmoil so much

Thank you to netgalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. This was a great read. Loved the writing style. And the characters

Tech mogul Thayer Wren is dead, and his three telepathically gifted kids are all convinced they deserve his fortune. There's Meredith, the "perfect" eldest who supposedly cured mental illness but is actually a total fraud trying to keep her ex from exposing her. Arthur, the second-youngest congressman ever, whose wife might leave him and whose campaign is tanking. And Eilidh, former world-famous ballerina turned marketing exec after a career-ending injury, desperately hoping daddy's money will finally prove she was his favorite.

Olivie Blake writes with this witty, naked honesty that puts all our shameful thoughts right out there. I felt entertained AND seen, which is honestly all I want from a book. Perfect for anyone who loves family dysfunction with a side of telepathic powers and existential dread!

The story centres on three gifted siblings—Meredith, Arthur, and Eilidh—who are forced to confront their powers, past traumas, and each other after the death of their father, Thayer Wren, a legendary technomancer and founder of Wrenfare Magitech. Each sibling is uniquely brilliant and deeply flawed: Meredith is a neuromancer mogul with a questionable mental health app, Arthur is a congressman with unstable electrokinetic powers, and Eilidh harbours a parasitic entity with apocalyptic potential  I didnt really like any of the characters, none made me want to 'side or sympathise' with them and I think thats why I struggled a little with this.

Blake doesn’t offer a traditional fantasy arc. Instead, she delivers a tangled, emotionally charged narrative that explores inherited trauma, late capitalism, and the cost of being exceptional. It’s messy, biting, and often brilliant—but also hard to stay focused on. While the prose is sharp and the themes are compelling, I found myself drifting.

This book was definitely a struggle for me. I absolutely loved the premise and was so excited to read, however I found the writing style difficult to get into and did unfortunately decide dnf, I hope to go back to this at a later date and give it another try, however for now it is not the book for me.

Since attending a talk with the author, I always keep an eye out for her work. In person she managed to fully focus on the interview in a witty, charming and eloquent manner, whilst simultaneously wrestling a slightly bored and tired toddler on her lap. I lapped up The Atlas Six so I knew that I was in for a treat with Gifted and Talented. I'm please to say I was right.

If anything I underestimated just how much I would love this book. The characters are pretty awful, self-centred and needy in lots of different ways. But they are also undeniably talented and charming. Blake manages to write the most likeable yet awful characters.

This is a book you could race through but instead I read it on my daily commute, 35 minutes a day with nothing else to focus on. This was the perfect book to escape into after a long day at work. Whilst parts of the book are shocking, there is a really dark humour about many of the events. The complexity of the characters (even the minor characters who appear to be surface level only) is surprising. This is a tale of awful people doing awful things, but somehow you still root for them! Loved every moment of this book!

Fully embracing that the spell Olivie Blake had over me has broken as it has progressively been fading with each book release! This one I think is my last attempt :(

I LOVE her writing style but also I really REALLY hate her writing style, it makes me feel smart one second then hella stupid and honestly I just read for escapism and I don't find I get this from her work anymore which is sad as I had such enjoyment previously. (I may be bitter from the end of TAS series lmao)

Sorry for requesting this and not being able to finish it, it was before when I was young and full of Olivie Blake hope.