I love and hate this book, and honestly, that feels very on brand for my relationship with Olivie Blake’s writing. Sometimes it hits; sometimes it misses. Gifted and Talented leans into her usual witty, stylized prose, but this time, it didn’t quite land for me. The tone felt like it was trying to be sharp and clever, but in this context, it came off more like it was trying too hard.

The book is marketed as a Succession-style sibling drama, and I was ready for power plays, backstabbing, and ego wars. What I got instead felt more like “Rich People Attempt Parenting: Intro to Emotional Damage.” It’s less about cutthroat legacy games and more about how messed up people raise (or avoid raising) children while projecting all their baggage onto them.

It had moments of insight and emotional bite, but overall, the focus felt muddled. I was expecting ambition and scheming, I got awkward family therapy sessions and existential angst in a trust fund wrapper.

If you love Olivie Blake’s voice and don’t mind when the plot takes a backseat to vibes and musings, you might enjoy this one. For me, it didn’t quite live up to its pitch.

(2.5 stars rounded down)

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I don't have enough words to describe the way this book made me feel. She is one of my favorites authors and everytime I think sha can't blow my mind again, she comes and do it again. The way you can totally feel the complexity of her characters and how she interwined their stories it's insane.
It's just another master piece by this author.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7191520718

I've read almost all Olivie Blake's now and this one is very similar to the others. It's all centred around the relationship between three rich, beautiful damaged siblings following the death of their wealthy tech magnate dad, as they wait to hear what they've inherited from him. So basically a family drama with Olivie's usual touch of the supernatural thrown in. I don't think it will convert anyone who isn't already a fan of hers, but I'm sure those who are will enjoy it a lot.

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

I need to admit that Olivie Blake's writing style really isn't for me. It's grating and pretentious and it makes me deeply dislike all of the characters and not connect with them at all. The premise for this sounded so fun - siblings squabbling amongst themselves to seize their late father's fortune, but in reality the execution and writing style just really let me down. The pacing is also woefully slow, with very little movement in the plot (there's that many flashbacks I thought we were actually going backwards at one point). And to call this a fantasy is to do a disservice to all actual fantasy books, as the siblings have a hint of magic that is hardly developed and rarely mentioned.

I could go on, but my main takeaway is that the writing style is very much not to my taste, and the plot had a lot of potential but fell very flat, with many unanswered questions. Not for me.

4.5 upped to 5
I don't know if there's a specific genre for this novel: it's could technofantasy, urban fantasy, family saga with a paranormal side.
The title of of Brasilian telenoval came to my mind "Even the Rich cry", this could Even the Talented Rich Offspring Cry.
The Wren sibling could be inspired by a novel about sisters and brothers that are fighting for money but that also must heal themselves and their relationship.
Ms Blake did an excellent job in delivering a cast delighfully dislikeable characters and a plot that kept me turning pages. I had fun but also appreciated the description of a world that is so similar to high tech (no magic though).
This is a huge book but there's not something which is too much and I enjoyed it
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I loved Masters of Death so was very excited for this one, but unfortunately it didn't hit the mark for me.

The first 50% was great, I loved getting to know these eccentric and quite horrible characters and was really intrigued as to where this could go, especially with the magic element.

However, I feel it lacked plot to a point where after being introduced to these characters I was waiting for something major to happen and it didn't really. There was just a lot of sitting around talking. So my interest waned for the last 50%.

Absolutely loved the narrator as definitely getting Masters of Death vibes then.

I'm sure many will love this as the premise is a good one, I just couldn't quite get into it as much as I had hoped.

Oh this one was EVERYTHING to me. chaotic dysfunctional siblings with complicated rivalry, relationships and dynamics, each with their own worries and fucked up crisis but at the same time with the most fucked up behaviors as well... complicated romantic relationships too with the best yearning i've ever seen so far from olivie (and that's saying something bc i have not recovered from Alone with You in the Ether)..... this book has everything i love.

olivie blake. my queen. the greatest of all time. i am truly blessed to live in the same era as her.

Thank-you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in return for an honest review.

Olivie Blake writes such complex and intelligent characters. I will confess that I struggled a little with the first portion of this book, but persevered on the basis of how much I love One for my enemy and The Atlas Six. Thank goodness I did.

One of my favourite things is her whip smart back and forth banter between characters. I saw another review that compared this to Aaron Sorkin, and I can definitely see the protagonists on the set of the West Wing, trading verbal blows with sarcasm and a glint in their eye.

One thing that always strikes me about Blake's writing is how truly and wholly and agonisingly she understands human relationships. There's just something about how she writes people being desperately but painfully in love that rips my heart out, and she did it again here with aplomb.

I'm not sure the blurb does much to set you up for the reality of this book, but it is well worth a read!

He tenido un problema muy grande mientras leía Gifted & Talented de Olivie Blake porque los personajes son odiosos. Están representados de tal manera que la primera reacción, muy visceral, es odiarles con todas tus ganas y encima desde ahí, ya solo puedes ir subiendo porque sus acciones tampoco es que desdigan la primera impresión.


La novela trata sobre tres hermanos, hijos de un poderoso magnate tecnomante, que a su muerte deberán resolver las rencillas y los años de problemas que se han ido enquistando en sus relaciones. Creo que Blake quería hacer uso del tropo de “pobre niño rico” pero en realidad le ha salido el de “estúpido niño rico insoportable apártate de mi vista”.

Meredith, Arthur y Eilidh, son harina de un costal bastante especial. Meredith, considerada un genio desde su más tierna infancia, decidida a crear una tecnología que haga feliz a la gente se vendió al mejor postor, que resultó ser un enemigo acérrimo de su padre. Y la jugada no le salió muy bien. Arthur, uno de los congresistas más jóvenes de la historia de EE.UU. dedica el tiempo que le queda entre orgía y orgía a fracasar con cada una de sus legislaciones. Y Eilidh, antaño una gran bailarina, sufrió el descenso a los infiernos de una lesión que truncó su carrera. No nos engañemos, Gifted & Talented es un culebrón de mucho cuidado con ciertos toques de magia para que sea encasillable como dentro del fantástico y también para que la autora pueda manejar las situaciones inverosímiles que se le vengan a la cabeza, como desencadenar miniplagas de Egipto en algunos momentos determinados o que la gente muera sin problemas para recuperarse después.

Hay que reconocer que la autora puede crear personajes fascinantes, aunque la trama luego vaya dejando cosas que desear. Mostrando las miserias de Los ricos también lloran, alcanza a un público cansado de ver cómo todos triunfan y prosperan a su alrededor, achacándolo a la cultura del esfuerzo cuando es evidente que no todos parten del mismo punto. En este sentido, la crítica de Blake es acerada, precisa e incluso divertida por momentos.

La elección del narrador es bastante retorcida y es uno de los alicientes de la lectura, ya que es omnisciente, pero a partir de cierto punto rompe contantemente la cuarta pared de una forma socarrona. Este es uno de los alicientes de la lectura, la verdad.

Supongo que pronto la veremos traducida a nuestro idioma.

I really love Blake's writing style, so its not surprising I loved it in this book too. But I did not like the plot as much as I wanted to like it. I tought this book will be a really exciting and intereting book, but for me it was not really. I do not really love character driven books so it was kinda disappointing to me. But overall I loved the characters, I loved that the pov changed to e/1 at some point. I did not plan to reread it, but i did not regret reading it.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC!

Olivie Blake doesn't write bad books. Every creation of hers is elegantly written, well-plotted, and a pleasure to read. So is Gifted and Talented. Is it perfect? No, but it still kept me captivated and is 100% worth 5 stars.

My favorite part of the book is the pacing. The story takes place over the course of 5 days. There are no explosions, no magical dragons, no trials or fights. The action is generated by the characters, their interactions, thoughts, and dreams. And it is enough to keep the plot going and keep me invested in every chapter. Intricately woven POVs switch smoothly between the siblings, written from the perspective of a not-so-reliable narrator. You get absorbed by the main characters’ drama, and before you realize it, the book concludes with an ambivalent ending.

Out of the three siblings, my favorite is Meredith, the definition of a firstborn child, spending her entire life devoted to copying her father in hopes of his approval. But as always, no matter how closely she follows in his footsteps, it is never enough. We get a ‘why choose’ moment, and it is the very first time I do not know which choice I would prefer my protagonist to make. In the end, her decisions have lifelong consequences for everyone. Arthur is realistic, as well, an emotional, gentle, sweet boy, dreaming to hear ‘I love you’ from his dad. And balancing it with his more decadent side, and a history of polyamory. Philippa was annoying, spoiled, and entitled. Ives is charming and kind-hearted, and Gillian has a hidden trauma to deal with. Eilidh fights her own demons, broken dreams, always the daddy’s girl, having to face the reality that her father was not a perfect man.

My only criticism is that the ending relies so heavily on Lou. It seems like the easiest way to tie up all the loose ends in a moral way, without actually taking into account that the book is about three spoiled rich brats, who have no life skills, and always fall back on their wealthy past and the stability it gives. A more believable ending could showcase an unethical solution to the company’s problem and a very realistic way affluent people deal with issues.

Nonetheless, Olivie Blake’s writing is a fascinating study into people’s personalities, their internal thoughts, needs, recounting stories of pain and desire most honestly and beautifully. Like her every book, a deep character survey, becoming another one of my favorites.

4.25 stars!

It was quite confusing at times, and while I do not necessarily gravitate towards character-driven stories, the writing style of Olivie Blake never fails to amaze me. The characters and their journey throughout the story was very intricately woven together, which I have loved very much. I enjoyed reading it!

Thank you to the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book as an arc!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of 'Gifted & Talented' by Olivie Blake.

Olivie Blake is back again!
'Gifted & Talented' is raw and messy - in a human way - and I was enticed by the words I read. It is truly difficult to review such a complex book, I urge you to try and read this for yourself. Complex but beautiful is the only way I can say it. Thank you Olivie for writing such real experiences that people can read with intensity.

This was messy, chaotic, and packed with some of the most frustrating characters I’ve ever read, but somehow that made it even better. Olivie Blake’s writing is sharp and dramatic, and even when the plot lost me a little, the emotional payoff was worth it. Definitely not for everyone, but it worked for me.

I will literally read anything Olivie Blake writes and I'm thrilled to say this is another superbly dark and twisty tale from her.

Thank you Pan Macmillan for the e-arc of Gifted and Talented by Olivie Blake!

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Where do I begin? Consider me “Sister Shook”. To sum up this book (which is super difficult as there is so much going on):

- Extremely wealthy family in “Magitech”
- Eldest daughter who is the CEO of a company funded by a rival
- Middle son who is a congressman
- Youngest daughter who is a former ballerina
- The father passes and his billions in wealth is up for grabs…
- Set over the space of one week
- They also are able to do magic

This book was nothing like I’ve read before- the writing was highly descriptive, reflective and lyrical in some places. I believe Olivie Blake is known for this style and since this was the first book of hers I’ve read, I now need to read through all of her catalog as this writing style worked for me!

This book had tension, drama and so much wit alongside gorgeous illustrations at the end of some chapters which I rarely see!

This was a hit for me - so many of Olivie Blake's books aren't, but this was good. Her writing style is good, but often the characters don't resonate with me.

Gifted & Talented is Olivie Blake’s latest novel. I have a love/hate relationship with her novels. I loved the first Atlas novel but the sequels felt really disappointing whereas I read One for my Enemy and loved it. My enjoyment of her books seems to be a hit and miss.
The novel opens with eldest Wren sibling, Meredith. From the start she seems very uptight, and generally has a very stressed disposition. She is obviously very intelligent and she is about to go on stage to present her life’s work. Meredith works in biomancy. It seems that her tech can make people happy. She doesn’t seem the best person but it is enjoyable to read. Blake is great at making unlikable characters slightly likable to read about.
Middle sibling Arthur seems to have his own issues going on. Art is in politics and there is discussion of him running for whichever important American political sector he works in. Arthur definitely tries to keep up appearances but when the reader meets him, he is with his boyfriend and girlfriend. Eilidh is the youngest and most sensitive sibling. As an ex ballet dancer who was ripped from her passion after a life changing car accident, she is just trying to survive and fit herself into a world she doesn’t really understand.
As we meet the three siblings, we see as they learn about the death of their father, a complex man with complex relationships with each of his children.
Now, we also learn something strange about each sibling. They appear to have ‘powers’ of a sort. Eilidh stabilises a plane that is about to crash, Arthur has strange electrical powers and Meredith is more complex but seems like she can command things to her will. It is very hush hush at the beginning of the book with only hints at what the potential of each one is.
As the three are forced back into each other’s company to handle their father’s estate and funeral, other events and problems become intertwined. Meredith is at risk of an expose article being released by her ex-boyfriend Jamie. Arthur is going through some strange things, one of which is balancing his polyamorous relationship with his picture-perfect wife who he definitely is not in a relationship with. Eilidh seems to be the only sibling experiencing some semblance of grief, as she had a good relationship with her father, especially after her accident which left her completely isolated.
Reading Gifted & Talented, it felt like I was sitting in the same room when the three Wren siblings had a dispute. It was mainly a family drama following the death of their father with some magic woven between it all. I did enjoy this book. It felt very real, the arguments and concerns the siblings had. All I wish was that it had a more developed plot. It felt like reading one very long scene and then it was the end. In my opinion, it needed something more, maybe a bigger conflict to bring the three together.
I look forward to seeing what Blake releases next. Thank you for the eARC!

3.75/5 Stars

The Wren siblings all have a myriad of issues to solve and on top of that their father unexpectedly dies and thus forces them to all reunite under the roof of what is technically their family home. This is definitely an interesting premise and if we add the fact that this is no average family the plot thickens. In fact Thayer Wren has built what is considered to be an empire with his company Wrenfare Magitech, of whom he was the CEO. So, as you can imagine, his death comes with a lot of baggage and also some shocking secrets and truths which will be revealed throughout the story and most importantly in his last will.

The story itself might seem to be pretty straightforward, but in reality there are actually a lot of revelations and moments where the characters have to come face to face with the truth, wether it’s been revealed to them or it’s been there all along and they were just too afraid to admit it to themselves. These moments of realizations were honestly my favorites, because they depicted the characters as vulnerable and deeply human and so they offered a lot to the story.

The dynamics among the characters work well, not only the siblings, that are crafted realistically, but also the side characters that all have their own moments to shine and tell their side of the story and also play an active role in it.

One aspect I would have developed more is the magic and the powers the siblings have. There definitely was potential and in my opinion it could have had a bigger part in the story.

Overall Olivie Blake confirms to be a skillful writer who always comes up with original stories and that’s honestly the reason why I’m always intrigued by her novels and curious to check them out. This one did not disappoint for sure!