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.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐩𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 :)”

Gifted & Talented was like the Kardashians on crack - and I absolutely loved it. This book is quite different from Olivie’s other books, which can mean that this book is not your cup of tea (do try though, I say threateningly). The magic system was so unique too, I wish I got to know more about it!

None of these characters are good, they’re flawed and bordering on morally black sometimes. No one writes a flawed character like Olivie does. At the end of the book I was so attached to all of them it made me sob when I reached the end (my fav colour is morally grey I guess).

the vibes™:
- magic ™
- sibling rivalry
- fucked up version of the inheritance games i guess???? lol
- morally grey characters
- unique magic system
- family

Olivie Blake has done it again! Gifted & Talented is a masterclass in messy, character-driven storytelling, packed with dysfunctional family dynamics, corporate chaos, and the suffocating weight of expectations. The Wren siblings (Meredith, Arthur, and Eilidh) are forced to reunite after the death of their father, Thayer Wren, the genius CEO of Wrenfare Magitech. Each carries their own baggage: Meredith, the ruthless perfectionist; Arthur, the charming but desperate-to-please congressman; and Eilidh, the overlooked former ballerina turned corporate strategist. With their father gone, the question looms: Who will inherit his empire, and at what cost?

This book is wildly addictive. The siblings are deeply flawed, often unlikable, and yet—somehow—Blake makes you root for them by the end. Their dynamic is a chaotic mix of biting banter, buried resentment, and unexpected humor, making their relationships the most compelling part of the story. Told through multiple POVs (including a few surprises), the narrative takes some getting used to, but once it clicks, you’re fully immersed in their world.

Blake’s writing is sharp, poetic, and darkly funny, laced with brutal truths about ambition, trauma, and the desperate need for validation. The Wrens aren’t just fighting for control of their father’s company they’re wrestling with the scars of childhood, the pressure to succeed, and the fear of failure. And then there’s the magic-subtle, strange, and woven seamlessly into their lives.
If you love complex characters, messy relationships, and writing that makes you laugh before it stabs you in the heart, this is your next obsession.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 rounded to 4.

Siblings Meredith, Arthur and Eilidh are insufferable and unlikeable. I think that's meant to be the point of the book, but I really found it difficult to care enough about them to really enjoy the read. While the world this is set in - a mirror to our own where the marriage of magic and tech is as mainstream as Apple products and Uber - is compelling and interesting, I couldn't engage fully with the characters so it made it a struggle to get through. I think Blake is an incredibly talented writer - I've said this many times before, but I find myself enjoying their short stories much more than their full novels. The vibes are always immaculate in their full-length books, but sometimes the substance is missing for me.

This gets 3.5 stars as I can't fault the sometimes beautiful writing, and though the plot meandered around a lot, it was still a coherent read.

Disappointing “fantasy” novel

I chose this book to review, having read and enjoyed one of the author’s previous books, and because I enjoy fantasy fiction. It should be said, straight off, that the fantasy element is relatively negligible and incidental and the novel is much more about the relationships between the main characters, about happiness and love. Thayer Wren’s three children get together with an assortment of “partners” after their father’s death. Revelations and changes in attitude and in relationships ensue. The author loves comparisons: there’s barely a page without a “like ….” which certainly lengthens the text and is presumably there to show the writer’s love of language. As the novel is character-driven, these are well-developed. So I found the experience disappointing, the fault perhaps being mine as I expected more fantasy and less soap opera. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Gifted & Talented is a tale of family, love and chaos. Whilst it is an urban fantasy in that there are very real magical moments, the core of the book is a contemporary family saga with a bit of magic sprinkled in. It follows the three Wren siblings who make up a most dysfunctional family. All are very different from one another, but they each have complicated lives and some quite urgent problems reaching a peak at the same time as the death of their father.

It is at times fairly slow-paced which allows us to dive deep into each sibling's situation and what led them to that point. Despite being slower paced, there is still so much going on in this book. It explores legal complications, betrayals, childhood trauma, attempting to live up to expectations as a 'gifted' child, and of course, relationships. Familial, parental, romantic and more, relationships are the focus of the story. The protagonists aren't always likeable, but they are always fascinating.

Recommended to fans of character-driven fiction, and definitely fans of Olivie Blake's other work. Whilst it is very different to the Atlas series, it still has the same feel to it.

Thank you NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for this eCopy to review

I recently finished reading Gifted & Talented by Olivie Blake, and I must say, it was quite an intriguing journey.

The story revolves around three siblings, Meredith, Arthur, and Eilidh Wren, who possess extraordinary telepathic and electrokinetic abilities. Their father, Thayer Wren, the brilliant CEO of Wrenfare Magitech, has passed away, leaving behind a legacy and a fortune that any of his gifted children could inherit.

Meredith, the eldest, is a textbook overachiever who heads her own biotech company and has recently cured mental illness. However, she's hiding a secret that could ruin her reputation. Arthur, the second-youngest congressman in history, is struggling with his personal and professional life, hoping that inheriting his father's throne might turn things around. Eilidh, once a famous ballerina, now works as a marketing executive at her father's company after a life-altering injury.

The plot thickens as the siblings navigate their rivalries, dangerous abilities, and the weight of their unrealized potential. The story is a fascinating blend of family drama, fantasy, and speculative fiction, exploring themes of ambition, identity, and the complexities of sibling relationships.

Blake's writing is engaging and thought-provoking, making it easy to get lost in the world she has created. The characters are well-developed, each with their own unique struggles and motivations. The pacing is steady, with enough twists and turns to keep me hooked until the very end.

Overall, Gifted & Talented is a compelling read that I would highly recommend to fans of fantasy fiction. It offers a fresh perspective on the gifted child trope, delving into the darker aspects of their lives and the pressures they face.

I had never read Olivie Blake before but was tempted in by the pitch. I'd argue it's too long - and takes too long to get to where it needs to go - but the ending was great and very satisfying. The characters really grow on you, in spite of their initial unlikeability. Grateful for the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. 3.5*

Unfortunately this author is not for me. I did not like the writing style at all. I really wanted to love this book but I couldn’t. Also didn’t like any of the characters

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

She does it again!

I have loved Olivie Blake's writing ever since "One for my Enemy" fell into my hands.
Now, this story is definitely far from a tragic Romeo & Juliet retelling, but it is just as fantastic, nerve wrecking and brilliantly done.

As the story of the three siblings unfolds, I couldn't help but form a connection with them. Even though they are definitely not the most likable characters with a questionable moral compass at best, the author made me root for them and question my OWN moral compass at times with her spectacular storytelling and perfectly executed character development.

She combines fantasy, family drama and the ruthless corporate world like it's the most natural thing in the world - blending these themes together almost seamlessly and creating a story that will have you gripping the edge of your seat the entire time.

This book is a breath of fresh air in my collection. It is a deeply vulnerable, honest and messy exploration of childhood trauma, the exhaustion of other people's expectations for you and how it affects you as an adult. Olivie Blake created characters that will hook their claws into the darkest corners of your heart and never let go.

This is my first book by Olivie Blake, and while I've wanted to read more of her work, I'm not sure this one is for me. I have no idea what was going on, despite the fact that the concept is really intriguing.

I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and honestly review an advanced reader’s copy of this book.

This is a classic Olivie Blake story; it is kind of weird and off kilter, the world building isn’t really the point, the magic isn’t really the point. It’s about happiness, it’s about people lying to each other, about people being assholes but still loving each other.

If you enjoyed other Olivie Blake projects like Masters of Death or One for your Enemy, you would like this! I very much did!

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.

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

First off, thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. I’m a huge Olivie Blake fan and this is one of my most anticipated reads of the year. Sadly, the file uploaded for the book has corrupted formatting for me so reading the copy in this state is painful and I would not want to taint my experience of the book through a corrupted format. I have a copy preordered so I will elaborate on this review (if I can still edit it) as soon as I’ve read my copy after the release. I’m sure it will end up being a 5 star, based on my previous experience with Olivie Blake’s books, her continuously maturing story telling and prose and the general premise of the book. I hope to be able to read it very soon, I was super excited about the advanced copy.

First, I want to thank Pan MacMillan for the free copy in exchange for my honest review. I am very grateful and very happy.

“Gifted and talented” is about three siblings, Meredith, Arthur and Eilidh, whose father died recently and they must come together to find out who will inherit the Wrenfare throne. The thing about these siblings is that they have different magical abilities, that may sound like they’re helpful, but they’re not. At the same time, the Wren siblings are not the kindest people. In fact, they’re assholes.
Meredith is a fraud, Arthur is a people pleaser, and Eilidh is alone.
Who will inherit everything?

The other book that I read from Olivie Blake is “Masters of death” and I enjoyed it a lot! I think her standalones are the best, and I will probably read most of her next books. The truth is that i don’t know if i would have read this book if it weren’t for the guys from Pan. Thanks to them, Olivie Blake is on my “authors to buy” list.

“Gifted and talented” was a great book. It’s not for everyone, it’s a very character driven story, a lot of descriptive scenes, with awful characters, but great writing and engaging storytelling. It’s a book about dysfunctional families that don’t know how to make peace with their traumas and how to fulfill people’s expectations. It’s a very messy book and it’s hard to root for them, especially for the first 50% of the book. They have complicated relationships with their father, they don’t have friend and they have problems with each other.
I didn’t have a favourite for half of the book, especially when you find out about the events that happened in their past. But, with every new chapter, I started to care a little about them and I started to feel sorry for them. It’s not their fault that they are like this. Of course they can’t deal with their trauma, when no one showed them how to do it.

It’s not a book only about family. It’s about our world, about the future and how hard it can be to find happiness. To just wake up and find a reason to live, about the fact that we need people, we can’t survive on our own no matter how much we want to. It’s easy to say that the Wren siblings deserve everything that’s happening to them, but at the end of the day, they are only humans who are trying their best.
In the end, I actually cried while reading their thoughts and feelings.

I loved how Olivie Blake added everything together, the mystery around Lou and God as a narrator?? Amazing, so good. I gasped out loud multiple times because damn, what a great author! The unreliable narrator was so well done, it became one of my favourite tropes. Can’t wait to read more from her.

The magic was soft, each character had something different, and flawed, exactly like our protagonists. Which is intriguing, because I felt like their magic attract each other’s energy and attention. Like Eilidh’s monster is calmer when she’s with Meredith and Arthur.

“Gifted and talented” is a great book. I keep thinking about it now and then, about how much I loved it and how real it felt. I found myself in each character and it made me think about my life and my family. I started underlining some quotes and scenes, but I became so invested in the book, that I forgot to continue it. It’s one of those books that I want to reread. I think that no matter what I’ll read from Olivie Blake, this will remain my favourite by her. It felt very personal and it made me so sad near the end. It was so complex and emotional, some scenes hit me harder than others. It made me reflect about some decisions that I took in my life and about the paths that I didn’t take.
It was a great book. It’s possible you won’t love it, because it’s dense and you may find it boring because it doesn’t have a lot of action. But I say to give it a chance, the characters will annoy you and you won’t root for them in the beginning, but give them a chance. They’re only humans.

Again, thanks to Pan MacMillan for the free copy and to NetGalley for the free e-arc.

Well, who doesn’t love a dysfunctional family with daddy issues? Olivie Blake has knocked it out of the park again with her love-to-hate trio of recalcitrant siblings whose lives are unavoidably slammed together when their father dies unexpectedly. Each has their own personal ordeal they are facing before you add “family” into the mix. Corporate fraud, political candidacy, faltering extra-marital relationships and life-changing trauma make a stressful dynamic even more fractious. And then we add magic into the mix.
Brilliant, as always.

My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own unbiased opinion.

Please note that this review is based on the physical proof the publisher kindly sent me after I was unable to read the digital proof due to formatting issues.

Gifted & Talented is another smash hit from a powerhouse in the genre.

I remember seeing the lofty pitch of Succession with magic and I was sold. This book lives up to its pitch with complex familial relationships and an examination of legacy, power and privilege with some majorly flawed people.

This is a book with teeth – satirical and sharp, making precise cuts at the topics it’s grappling with. Ultimately these are extremely privileged people who will not loose that much in the long run. Their status and power simply will not allow it. Yet, you get caught up in their neuorses and their grief and their shameless power plays. They are fairly despicable people and you love to hate them. I loved that we got to grapple with each of their headspaces (ish) and unpick a little of what makes each of them tick. They have been through a pressure cooker of a childhood and always felt the need for greatness and often achieved it, though with the immense support and resources they have at hand. Blake is not shy of showing this contrast on page, adding to that cathartic skewering. In particular, there is a narrative device Blake uses that made a smile break out on my face because of how twisted and appropriate it was. Without giving anything away, it very much suits the story and the tone that Blake is spinning.

I really enjoy Blake’s particular brand of fairly grounded speculative fantasy that heavily focuses on our characters but is interspersed with these fascinating details of the wider world. Here we get a good sense of magitech and its potential, but also the way it has become so normalised and commercialised. It is thought-provoking and interesting, but somewhat acts as the backdrop for this focused family drama. Of course it is the legacy they’re all fighting over and for and I enjoyed the smaller details Blake includes that hint at much larger politics surrounding this. These people are making moves that could reshape the world but they’re focused on their interpersonal dramas instead of thinking of the wider scale. Everything has always come easily to them and will continue to long after the final page of this book.

Gifted & Talented is a salacious, sensational and severely messed up story about people with the world at their fingertips as they grapple with unimaginable power.

Gifted and Talented by Olivie Blake is a compelling exploration of family dynamics, ambition, and the complex intersections of personal talent and inherited power. Following the death of Thayer Wren, a tech mogul with a reputation for revolutionizing modern technology, his three gifted children—Meredith, Arthur, and Eilidh—are thrust into a fierce competition for the inheritance and control of his empire. Each sibling carries their own brand of brilliance, flaws, and unresolved issues, making for a tense and character-driven read that keeps you hooked from beginning to end.

Blake’s writing is razor-sharp and immersive, capturing the underlying rivalry, resentment, and desire for validation that pulse beneath the surface of this dysfunctional family. Meredith, the accomplished eldest daughter, is the most outwardly successful, but her internal struggle with imposter syndrome is palpable and relatable. Arthur, the ambitious congressman, is running out of time to prove his worth, and Eilidh, the once-famous ballerina whose career was derailed by an injury, yearns for the validation she’s always sought from her father. These three complex, flawed characters are at the heart of the novel, and their interactions are a masterclass in tension and psychological depth.

The supernatural abilities of the Wren siblings—telepathy and electrokinetics—add an intriguing layer to the narrative, heightening the stakes of their personal conflicts and the broader battle for control of Wrenfare Magitech. However, it’s Blake’s exploration of the emotional toll that these abilities, and the expectations that come with them, take on the characters that makes this book so compelling. The tension between the siblings, each vying for their father’s approval and inheritance, is palpable, and the subtle psychological manipulation at play is both captivating and heartbreaking.

While the character-driven drama is excellent, the pacing does slow in places, particularly when the story veers into introspective or philosophical territory. At times, the balance between the action-driven plot and the deep dives into character motivations can feel uneven. That said, the emotional payoff and the unraveling of the Wren family dynamics make it well worth the read.

Gifted and Talented is a thought-provoking, slow-burn thriller that examines the price of success, family loyalty, and the crushing weight of unrealized potential. Olivie Blake’s keen understanding of human nature and her ability to craft deeply flawed yet fascinating characters make this a standout novel, particularly for fans of complex family dramas and speculative fiction. While it may not offer the high-speed thrills of some other books, it will keep you engaged with its compelling character work and psychological depth.

Okay this is the book perfect for the sci-fi fans! The author blends brilliantly the fantasy element with heavy and actual topics in which everyone can relate. I was hooked from the beginning and I’ve devoured it in a couple of days.
So many thanks to the publisher for granting me this opportunity!