Gifted & Talented

by Olivie Blake

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six, Gifted & Talented by Olivie Blake is the story of three siblings who, upon the death of their father, are forced to reckon with their long-festering rivalries, dangerous abilities and the crushing weight of all their unrealized adolescent potential.

The children of Thayer Wren have been remarkable since the day they were born. Unsurprisingly, since Thayer was the brilliant CEO of Wrenfare Magitech and so-called father of modern technology. Telepathically and telekinetically gifted, his offspring - Meredith, Arthur and Eilidh Wren - are publicly admired and privately capable of extraordinary feats. Any of the Wren prodigies would be a plausible inheritor to the Wrenfare throne. Or at least, so they like to think.

On the day of Thayer Wren's unexpected demise, the lives of the three Wren siblings are in various states of chaos and disrepair. Meredith, now CEO of her own profitable company, is knee-deep in a dystopian capitalist nightmare, haunted by the ghost of a childhood friend. She's also facing imminent exposure for corporate malfeasance by a journalist ex-boyfriend. Congressman Arthur Wren is wrestling with his disgruntled constituency and a strange, magical malady that can only be called the yips. Eilidh, former prima ballerina whose spinal injury ended her career, now finds herself triggering accidental, uncontrolled apocalypse events.

In the wake of Thayer's loss, the Wrens return to their childhood home. Here they will face their contentious relationships with their father, and each other. On the journey of gifted kid to clinical depression, nobody wins - but which Wren will rise to the top? Can one of them seize the prize of their father's crown?

This is a compulsive contemporary fantasy of family, twisted love and dangerous secrets from a writer at the height of her powers.

'Olivie Blake is a mind-blowing talent' - Chloe Gong, author of These Violent Delights

'Sign me up for anything she writes' - Cosmopolitan

Also by Olivie
The Atlas Six
The Atlas Paradox
The Atlas Complex
Alone with You in the Ether
One For My Enemy
Masters of Death
Stories of Love, Magic & Betrayal

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Contemporary, Adult, Audiobook, Magical Realism, Science Fiction

618 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2025

About the author

Olivie Blake is the pseudonym of Alexene Farol Follmuth, a lover and writer of stories, many of which involve the fantastic, the paranormal, or the supernatural, but not always. More often, her works revolve around what it means to be human (or not), and the endlessly interesting complexities of life and love.
​
Olivie has penned several indie SFF projects, including the webtoon Clara and the Devil with illustrator Little Chmura and the viral Atlas series. As Follmuth, her young adult rom-com My Mechanical Romance releases May 2022.

Olivie lives in Los Angeles with her husband and new baby, where she is generally tolerated by her rescue pit bull.

Reviews

[♥︎ Heather ⚔ (New House-Hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book definitely finished me. Definitely couldn't do this one in one sitting 😅- Full review soon

➽──────────────❥
Olivie Blake writes it... I not only buy it, but I devour it in one sitting. 👀🤸‍♀️🤸‍♀️

Here we go! 🤞🏻❤️

❤️Urban Fantasy
❤️Sibling Drama
❤️Superpowers
❤️Sharp, Witty Prose
❤️Succession Vibes
❤️Pretentious/Asshole x Fascinating Characters

[emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

this sounds like magic succession. but in actual fact...

well, there are two problems with the writing of this:
one, too many adjectives. they don't come in limitless supply. if you have to use one on every noun you're going to start repeating by the third chapter. (the third chapter is generous.)

two, slang. the reason books don't use it is because there's no way it'll be read in a timely manner. there's no reason i should be googling "ok boomer original video posted when" while reading a 2025 release. don't even get me started on "in THIS economy?" "girlboss." "yas queen." "as a treat."

honestly, both of these problems are actually pros at first. this has a unique style that piqued my interest, but this book is 500 pages long. that early enjoyment, like my interest in this plot and these characters and its fun narration choice, did not last.

i haven't encountered anything that captures the same dark wry gallows humor intensity of succession, and this is no exception. it has its moments, but otherwise this tale of privileged siblings waiting to hear about their inheritance while each suffering from a unique form of borderline useless magic didn't have much.

i normally come away from a long book with some kind of fondness towards its characters, even the unlikable ones, just by virtue of the kind of sleepaway camp time we've spent together, but that. did not happen here.

i didn't like my other encounter with olivie blake, but this sounded different enough as to be worth another try. now that i've found the same over the top-ness...

bottom line: olivie, i may be retired from the game.

(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 5 out of 5]

When There's a Will: A Magical Tale of Power, Greed, and Family Dysfunction!

Rating: 4.5/5 stars (rounded up to 5)

In a brilliant fusion of Succession meets fantasy with hints of The Umbrella Academy, Olivia Blake crafts a captivating, complex farce about a magical family saga that proves impossible to put down.

When tech billionaire Thayer Wren, CEO and founder of Wrenfare Magitech, unexpectedly dies, he leaves behind three dysfunctional successors with whom he maintained troubled relationships. All eyes turn to the family mansion where the inheritance revelation will determine who claims the throne. The question remains: which of his telepathically and electrokinetically gifted children will become the next CEO of the empire?

The Wren siblings, who inherited their father's ruthlessness and their power-hungry mother's ambition, are a fascinating study in dysfunction. Meredith, a young prodigy featured in Forbes' 30 Under 30, founded a groundbreaking tech company and invented the "Chip" - a device purporting to cure mental illness. However, her carefully constructed world threatens to crumble as two secrets emerge: she faked her test results, and her ex-boyfriend-turned-investigative-journalist is about to expose everything.

Arthur, the middle child, presents a striking contrast as a natural people-pleaser with the gift of enchantment. At 29, he's the youngest congressman in history, married to brilliant lawyer Gillian while maintaining relationships with aristocrat Philippa and race driver Yves Reza. His newfound ability to resurrect after death adds another layer to the succession drama.

The youngest, Eilidh, often overlooked by her siblings, transformed from gifted ballerina to Wrenfare's marketing executive following an accident. She harbors perhaps the most dangerous power: the ability to create apocalyptic events when emotionally distressed. Her relationship with her father's assistant Dzhuliya adds another layer of complexity to the inheritance dispute.

As legal complications delay the will's execution, the siblings must confront their past mistakes and seek help from someone they once betrayed. This decision sets in motion a chain of events that will transform their lives irrevocably.

While the narrative occasionally meanders and features largely unlikable protagonists, Blake's masterful storytelling keeps readers engaged throughout. Standout characters like Gillian, Yves, and a mysterious "monster" help balance the Wrens' less appealing qualities. The book's length serves its intricate plot, building to a satisfying conclusion that explores themes of redemption, power, and the true meaning of family.

This spellbinding tale demonstrates Blake's ability to weave together elements of fantasy, corporate intrigue, and family drama into an irresistibly compelling narrative. Despite its flaws, it delivers an entertaining and intelligent reading experience that will keep readers invested until the final page.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for providing a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

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[Madison Kait · Rating 5 out of 5]

i don’t think this is gonna be everyone’s cup of tea, what made this so amazing might not connect for everyone… but IT DID FOR ME - this might be my new fav by olivie & i literally have a one for my enemy quote tattooed, so that’s saying a lot 🤍

[Maddie Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

RATING BREAKDOWN
Characters: 4⭐️
Setting: 4⭐️
Plot: 4⭐️
Themes: 5⭐️
Emotional Impact: 4⭐️
Personal Enjoyment: 5⭐️
Total Rounded Average: 4.5⭐️

This nails all the pretentious prodigy tones of The Atlas Six, with all the absurdity and fun of Masters of Death, some of the top-notch pining of One for My Enemy, and the introspection of Alone With You In the Ether. It's the culmination of everything she does well, in one package. And the play with sibling dynamics is some of her best work yet.

My favorite thing about Olivie Blake's writing style is her intentional structure and the timing of her reveals. It's this flirty little dance she does with readers who are looking for it, and I'm a sucker for it every time. In Gifted and Talented, the story is broken up by days of the week, and narrated by an unknown voice who is cynical, unreliable, and hilariously sarcastic. I also love that her characters are messy and unlikable, until she makes you fall desperately in love with them. And she does it by showing you YOURSELF in them.

This one is witty and funny. It's a little sad and angry. It's a lot cathartic. She puts the things we're ashamed to say out there in the most naked, unabashed way. I was entertained. I felt seen. You can tell Olivie Blake has become a mother. She writes the desperate insanity and unending love of parenthood in a way that exposes and heals you.

I loved this. Fans of Blake's previous work will be obsessed. Literary fiction readers should try Blake for fantasy, and anyone who appreciates the written word as artistic expression will appreciate how adventurous Olivie is and how well she plays with her medium.

[Monica · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one is difficult to rate. It’s listed as Fiction / Fantasy / Dark Fantasy / Contemporary. I think it should be primarily classified as dramatic fiction. The fantasy element is just a bit of basil added to tomato soup- it’s fine with or without.

It’s about some rich siblings who have some minor magic that’s rarely mentioned and not developed at all. The main plot driver revolves around which of the children will inherit a mega corporation from dear old Pops. That’s pretty much it in terms of the plot.

The writing was clever, which I appreciated, but that can only fuel a story up to a certain point. Without a forward moving plot, it was difficult to stay interested in the characters, who were all intentionally unrelatable.

There was so much navel-gazing and replaying of past events that it’s difficult to even call this a story. I listened to this on Audible before bedtime and realized I forgot to set the sleep timer, which resulted in me missing about two hours. Didn’t matter. I literally didn’t miss any events that were integral to the story.

[Panic!_at_the_Library · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’ve tried to finish this book so many times, getting over halfway through. The writing is too much. The book does not need to be 500 pages. The pacing is incredibly slow, and as others have pointed out, the characters are insufferable. If I had the option to paint a room in my house or read this book, I’d pick painting. Really couldn’t stand this one.

[s.penkevich [hiatus-will return-miss you all]]

Ooo yay new Olivie Blake about *checks notes* "the pipeline of gifted kid to clinically depressed adult".
Ouch okay attacked????

[sakurablossom95 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dysfunctional sibling dynamics? Corporate chaos? Childhood trauma and the crushing weight of expectations? This book has all this and more in an utterly messy, character-driven story that had me deeply invested..

Three siblings gathering for the funeral of their father, Thayer Wren, the genius CEO of Wrenfare Magitech. Meredith, the eldest, is the overachieving, perfectionist daughter who always strives to prove herself. Arthur, the middle child, is the youngest congressman in history and a people pleaser. And then there’s Eilidh, the youngest, a former star ballerina turned marketing executive who is often overlooked and underestimated. With their father gone, the question remains, who will inherit his empire, and at what cost?

This book was absolute chaos. Messy, intricate, and deeply character-driven, I felt like I was simply along for the ride. These siblings are not what you’d call “likable” characters, but by the time I reached the 60% mark, I found myself sympathizing with their struggles in a way I never expected. Their dynamic with each other was easily my favourite aspect of the book, the banter, the raw emotions, the buried resentment, and unexpected humour were all there.

Now, where does Gifted & Talented rank in my Olivie Blake collection? Honestly, I have no idea. One for My Enemy is still top tier for me, but this book was so different in tone and style. It took me a while to get into, but once I did, I found myself oddly attached to these deeply flawed characters.

The story is told through five different POVs, three of which belong to the siblings. The other two? I won’t spoil it; you’ll just have to read and find out. Some perspectives were easier to follow than others, Eilidh’s, in particular, had me struggling at times (maybe that’s just my inner Meredith coming out because I could not stand her in the first half of the book lol). But in the end, they all grew on me.

But most of all I enjoyed the deeper meaning that the story was trying to bring across. The expectations and childhood trauma that shape the way we are today as adults. The weight and struggle of having to live up to other people’s expectations and wanting to prove oneself. The fear of failure. The crushing desire to be successful, to make something of oneself. The relentless desire to seek out validation could very well be our demise.

I think this one will resonate deeply with those who have ever felt the pressure to be gifted & talented themselves.

Thanks you to Tor Publishing Group for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Close enough, welcome back Roy siblings.

[Ashleigh (a frolic through fiction) · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an audio ARC of this book!

[Ricarda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know that this is a character focused story, but some kind of overarching plot would have been nice in a 500+ page book. Don't get me wrong, the characters were very well developed and everyone was interesting to read about, but just imagine how good this book could have been if these characters were actually doing something other than pitying themselves and having sex. The story is mainly about the three Wren siblings who are rich and pretty and smart but somehow all underperforming in life. Meredith is the CEO of a magic tech company but the app she developed is a scam, Arthur is a congressman who rather enjoys himself at orgies than doing any politics, and Eilidh is a former ballerina who is causing small apocalypses when she's upset. The three of them come together after the death of their father and together with some other characters (like Arthur's wife and Arthur's girlfriend and Arthur's boyfriend) they sit around until the reading of the will which doesn't happen until the 80% mark of the book. The pacing is my main issue here, because barely anything happens and everything is dragged out to the max. 20% of the book pass until everyone was informed about the father's death and it took another 20% before everyone arrived at the family home. Every time the characters went from one place to another the entire drive there was shown for some reason, and it just felt like there was never any progress in the story. It wasn't building up to anything, so the book was entirely about flawed people being mean to and / or sleeping with each other. That's a vibe for sure, but it didn't carry a 500-page book for me. I was also disappointed by the magic. It existed openly in this world and all of the siblings have some kind of magic, but it was rarely ever discussed. Eilidh can literally cause the apocalypse and Arthur keeps dying from time to time, and no one is really thinking twice about that. It was frustrating, really. Speaking of frustration: the writing style didn't do it for me either. It was very stream of consciousness, complete with every intrusive thought possible, and maybe it's me, but I am not vibing with sentences like: "Then she looked into the crowd and felt her heart cascade into her vagina." There also was this weird switch from 3rd person to 1st person narrative, and I will never understand why this one character suddenly was the narrator of the entire book. I am complaining a lot, but it wasn't a totally unenjoyable reading experience for me. There were too many interesting characters with complex problems and complicated pasts for me not to like it. (I do have to say that Philippa was randomly thrown under the bus, though.) I too liked this book a lot better than The Atlas Six, which makes me happy (because I literally own every single other Olivie Blake book under the sun).

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan / Tor for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Olivie Blake can write complicated, beautiful, unlikeable but loveable characters in all-encompassing, messy relationships like no one else.

Meredith Wren, the eldest and striving for perfection, is CEO of her own magitech company, Birdsong. She is a woman in power, arrogant, ambitious, and one-minded.
Arthur Wren is the second-youngest congressman in history, able to love anyone and desperate to be loved. He is currently married and in a three-way relationship with a heiress and race car driver.
Eilidh Wren is the youngest, favoured by their father and working for his company Wrenfare following an injury which killed her dream, her sense of self - at one point primed to be the world’s most recognizable ballerina.
Following their father’s death, which of the Wrens now deserved the Wrenfare throne?

Blake’s writing is something to be devoured delicately. Addictive, toxic, beautiful. It reveals something about the world, humanity, ourselves.
This also brought in some concepts that were explored in her short story collection Januaries.

Like before Babel had fallen, some prior versions of themselves were laid in the same brick, sharing the same mortar, such that they’d always been able to speak the same language no matter what forms they took.

This is contemporary except for the fact that there seems to be some sort of weird trends around the siblings. Meredith seems very persuasive. Arthur appears to be in a situationship between himself and every electrical current. Eilidh keeps bringing about mini apocalypses.

So, completely normal for a completely normal family.
They all have a complicated relationship with their father, with each other, with how they try and cope with growing older and being saddled with so many expectations. Of inheriting a legacy, being a prodigy, doing something do worth with their lives.

Ballet was both delicacy and contortion. Like girlhood, ballet was art meant for consumption; it was virtuous because it was beautiful pain.

Finally, Olivie Blake’s writing style.
It is just so unique. We have an unreliable narrator, an unreliable and unconventional writing style, different formats, and a whole lot of ways of showing love.

No doubt about it.
Olivie Blake is GIFTED AND TALENTED.

Physical arc gifted by Book Break Pan MacMillan.
My neighbours definitely heard me squeal when I opened my post.

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[Lilyya ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

”but hey, a bad dad is a bad dad.”

from as long as i can remember, words have always flowed effortlessly whenever i tried to write a review. but Gifted and Talented has proven to be my most challenging yet; perhaps because of the characters’ complexity, the plot’s layered diversity, or the tangled, conflicting relationships that unfold within its pages.

at its core, this is a story about three siblings, bound by blood yet fractured in ways only family can be. Meredith, who built an empire on a fraudulent app, her success now threatened by an ex-boyfriend journalist poised to expose her. Arthur, the eldest, a married politician navigating a polyamorous relationship while still tethered, irrevocably, to his wife. and the youngest, their father’s golden child—Eilidth—a former ballerina whose dreams were shattered by an accident that forced her into the rigid embrace of corporate life, right beside their patriarch.

their father’s death is the catalyst, the moment that sets everything into motion, yet the story is less about what happens and more about how they dissolve. told through shifting perspectives and an arsenal of writing styles, this novel is a masterclass in narrative craftsmanship. Olivie Blake’s penmanship is anything but orthodox; it demands attention, forces you to linger on every syllable, every carefully chosen word.

but beyond its literary prowess, this is a book driven by characters. or more accurately, daddy issues. the brilliance of it lies in how it captures the subtle yet seismic ways siblings can grow up under the same roof, share the same parents, and yet; experience entirely different versions of the people who raised them.

Blake caricatures this phenomenon with precision, braiding in threads of magical realism and just the right soupçon of family drama. it’s messy, it’s intricate, it’s painfully human. and maybe that’s why it’s so difficult to review; because how do you encapsulate a book that isn’t just a story, but an examination of the bonds that define and destroy us in equal measure?

and thanks to Tor for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review

[✨Julie✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

✩ 2.75 stars ✩

What to Expect:
➼ Sibling Relationships
➼ Complex Family Dynamics
➼ Miserable/Pretentious Characters
➼ Powered MC’s
➼ Presence of Magic Left Largely Unexplained
➼ Character Driven
➼ Processing Grief & Loss
➼ Narrated by Eunice Wong
➼ First Person Multi POV + Unreliable Narrator

Dedication - “For my family (lol)”

Having read this book, I can tell you that this dedication is absolutely diabolical. I can only hope that it’s genuinely a joke and not an epic FU… but wouldn’t that be an epic FU? 😆

This book was very well written, but it was also an extremely character driven story following some of the most miserable people I’ve ever read. Reading the title and description, I expected the focus to be on the succession of their father’s fortune as well as their powers, but both of these topics took a back seat to their complex sibling dynamics.

As a fantasy reader who rarely enjoys contemporary fiction, this was a pretty disappointing read for me. Their powers were only discussed on a surface level and didn’t play a significant role in the story. It’s also never really made clear if powers like theirs are commonplace or if they discuss them openly with others in society, etc. Some of their powers seemed pretty dangerous, but were they a secret? There was really no world building or explanation for them at all.

The character work was phenomenal, but with no lovable characters to root for and nothing very eventful happening in the plot, this was mostly a miss for me. I think most people will agree that this isn’t her best work, but it might still be a hit for those who truly love contemporary fiction.

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼

Pre-read: I honestly hated The Atlas Six, but I’ll give this author another chance…

Fairyloot is definitely influencing my reading habits again, but I want to read this so I can decide if I should sell my copy or not.

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

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[Fernanda (ivyfer_isreading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Olivie Blake at her best. I always trust her to give me the messed up, complex and kinda unlikable characters that I will love anyway. 

If you loved The Atlas Six you need to pick up this book immediately, it feels so remnant of that series, I can almost see glimpses of the world and traces of the characters blending into the ones here. 

Gifted & Talented explores many topics such as success, privilege, loss, love, motherhood and just life in general. The complex characters with even more complex relationships make exactly my type of book. 

I love the way it is told, the choice of narrator, the structure and the tone, it is so darkly funny I caught myself laughing many times. 

If you liked Blake's other books(especially Atlas) I can almost guarantee you will love this one, but if you just enjoy reading about messed up rich and complicated families this is perfect too. 

[Niharika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Post-Reading Update

If I'm being completely honest with you, this was more of a soap opera than an HBO prestige drama. But I did have an absolute blast reading this, and I'm feeling particularly jovial lately, so five stars it is!

Will definitely lower the rating later. Longer review to follow.

A Conversation Between Me and My Brain cell (in singular) As I Add This To My TBR

Braincell:- But you don't like reading fantasy anymore!
Me:- It says Succession in the blurb!!
Braincell:- You can't trust Olivie Blake...she alternatively hits and misses for you!
Me:- So this time it will be a hit!!
Braincell:- You shouldn't even be hopeful about stuff...remember the Nihilist video we watched on YouTube yesterday? In this house we believe in pessimism!
Me:- But it says Succession on the blurb!!

[jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

i don't throw the words masterpiece around lightly but ...


if you read fantasy books because you want some high-stakes, intricate plot (boring) and need the magic system of the fantasy world explained to you in minute detail (more boring) and if you go into this thinking that this book is going to be fantasy at all (that would be like, super boring) and if you need your characters to be "likeable" (say it with me: BORING)- then this book is not for you.


if you on the other hand like stories about complex humans with complex emotions, stories that are basically plotless but feature characters that are just such a vibe - then this book is the best thing on the market for you right now. throw in some god-tier writing (literally) and philosophical ruminations about life and its meaning and you get a book that quite frankly could have been four times longer and i would have been even more ECSTATIC. 4.5 stars.

[Zana · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

Eunice Wong's audiobook narration was absolute perfection. The way she captured the sarcastic narrator's voice was to die for. And I'm saying this as someone who has listened to a lot of audiobooks.

I'll be real with you. I really liked Olivie Blake's Atlas Six (only the first book), but every re-released trad pubbed novel I've read from her left me feeling very unimpressed. But as a masochist, I still keep on trying. (And Alexene is really nice in person, so it's hard to hate.)

Gifted & Talented is the kind of novel that, in theory, isn't something I'm interested in because nothing actually happens and the fantasy element is very, very minimal. It's a character study about three dysfunctional wealthy siblings who are the definition of "poor little rich kid."

But then Eunice Wong comes swinging in with her narration. Combine that with the novel's narrator's strong level of disdain for every single character mentioned, including calling a small child "Monster," left me snorting and chuckling at every witty turn of phrase thrown into the prose every now and then.

It surprises me to say that this is, hands down, one of my favorite audiobooks I've listened to so far this year.

Thank you wholeheartedly to MacMillan Audio for this arc!

[Althea ☾ · Rating 5 out of 5]

a masterclass in character-focused narratives. On this hill, i stand. If you like nuanced character work built around a kind-of mystery event where context unfolds through flashbacks and character interactions (like Daisy Jones and the Six) you should read this.

i didn’t mind that there was little magic because it actually matches how traditional filipino culture looks at magic and mythology

THE NUANCE. THE DRAMA. THE CHAOTIC ENERGY. THE SOCIAL COMMENTARY ON CAPITALISM. the exploration of biracial identity and diaspora weaved into the narrative?? the fully bipoc cast with illustrations so that no one can deny it?? this is peak literature and full-on entertainment. you cannot convince me this is a bad book, i am so sorry. this is daisy jones and the six but instead of a band breaking up it’s about three siblings amidst their father’s death. i was laughing and tearing up within the same page.

it’s amazing to me bc the narrating voice is snarky 90% of the time so the 10% when Olivie Blake does a 180 and suddenly drops the most beautiful lines and character exchanges… feel so HEART WRENCHING — it shows u that she could be writing this with more seriousness but she chooses not to. she doesn’t take herself so seriously and, i don’t know abt her other books but, it translates into the narrative for this story really well.

”This love; the feeling of a cup of coffee on a sunny day; the way the breeze riffles my hair; the wonderful years I shared with a man who wasn’t the right one, but a kind one; the freedom I claimed for myself and my son so that someday, I will have the strength to reach for wonderful years again.”

this is for those who love drama that is written with tenderness and self-awareness. every single character is written with nuance and insight while exploring how differently grief manifests in people.

i didn’t mind that this had little magic in it because i accepted very early on that this was not the kind of book u read if u want fantasy. it just uses that space as a plot device for the story it wants to tell. i do have to say that the way it introduced each character’s power was one of the most creative intros i’ve read.

if i read this with less years in me, i might not have loved it as much — a lot of subtext would have gone over my head. luckily, it found the 20-something version of me that is more traumatized by life lol

my favorite part was how this explored how someone can understand you, love you, respect you, and be a safe space… and still not be the one for you. because that’s just life 😭

this whole book is a commentary on capitalism and how we fixate on specific ppl’s incapacity to love us the way we need them to — but we fail to see the other types of love around us or how we, ourselves, might be hindering our own happiness. it’s about how people often mistake excitement as love and turn their life into something that has to be won. but also about how life can be too short and some narratives are forever left unfinished.

“Participation in capitalism is its own form of doom— it can only end pointlessly no matter what you do, we all go into the ground.”

when i opened the first page, i immediately understood what ppl were saying abt the writing style HOWEVER… the sharp-tongued, sometimes satire, and uninhibited chewy writing style suits the tone and intention/commentary of the story — especially because she balances it with soft and tender beats appropriately. It makes the softer moments stand out.

i’ve seen criticism that “the writing is too much. it does not need to be 500 pages.” but respectfully, i DISAGREE. i sometimes think we’ve lost the love for character-building and the ability to sit with characters and let the author build upon a point. but maybe those are my preferences because i give a lot of weight to an author’s execution and the flesh of the story just as much as their final point. i see the appeal of books that can have multiple interpretations but i find myself loving stories that are more intentional with their commentary and writing… in-story. it makes said books more special to me because the author is not only able to conceptualize their vision but also depict it within the world they created. books that do not always leave things for the readers to interpret are important but most especially within the BIPOC and queer spaces.

“I told myself that I would exist wholly in this moment, and this one, and this one, and thus over time I would simply change. I would be grounded. I would be better. I would hate myself less, or at least less often.”

this book was wildly entertaining and a masterclass in character-focused storytelling in a standalone. what made it work was that all the siblings already had their own lives when we meet them but we see an unravelling of their dynamics and background through their interactions with each other and the rest of the world.

not all books are meant to be adapted but this is one that is just begging for a tv show adaptation. i think people would be livid 🤣🤣 social media will have a grand ol time debating this show

for a book tackling generational trauma and grief, this was the farthest thing from grim and depressing. Olivie Blake has crafted her own style that, although unhinged, highlights the soft and tender moments.

this is an intentionally messy and entertaining character-focused family drama. it’s chewy and explores nuanced perspectives on adulthood, parenthood, and friendship with an unhinged narrating voice. if you’re going to read this, u need to be ready to sit in the characters mindscapes. this is a new favorite of mine for it’s deep nuance and self-aware writing.

the characters may seem insufferable – but then you see that they’re just broken, hurting, and messy, like every other human being on this planet. they do need to go to therapy though.

[to be edited]

[Ajna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I procrastinated reading this book because it was actually kind of boring – imagine me saying this with a shocked voice.
I was definitely expecting more, since I tend to appreciate most of Olivie Blake’s work, one way or another, but this gave me absolutely nothing. Not even the writing could save it, the syntax being so complex at times that it was absurdly hard to read and understand for me (a non native english speaker).
The characters were mid, and I’m all about a character driven story, the plot was mid, nothing really relevant happened and most of it – the name of Lou’s son, for example – was painfully predictable from the moment it was mentioned the first time.
I didn’t mind the switch from third to first person narrator, even though, sometimes, it felt a bit like a too long flow of consciousness I couldn’t care less about – the constant digression on Lou’s relationship with her son because quickly redundant, I had an hard time reading the last chapter because, at that point, it was completely overdone.
Also, it was so long, and for what?

[liv ❁]

dnf @25%

Dnf-ing an Olivie Blake book was not on my 2025 bingo card, but here we are. This book is simply not for me, and I am aware that a lot of people will find this vastly entertaining. My issue was simply that everyone is extremely hateable and extremely horny and I just felt borderline sick everytime I listened to any of these povs. The point of this book is that everyone is extremely hateable and extremely horny though, so it feels kind of wrong to painfully listen to a book I actively dislike from an author I actively love just to give it a low rating for something it was trying to do.

Maybe I’ll be in the mood for this at a later date, but as of now it’s a hard dnf.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Have you ever had a really good idea for a book and started writing out your characters' backstories? The starting idea is so great. You're going to write a family drama! You've also figured out that you want it to include magic, but you're not sure how yet. You also don't have a plot ... but that's not a big deal, because you have one good idea for a twist. Maybe you can just start writing the book and see if a plot appears? Maybe it will be more of a character-driven drama. I mean, you have all these great ingredients! If you mix them all in and write 500+ pages, a plot will definitely appear. Right?

Unfortunately, it turns out that you are Olivie Blake, which means you are a talented writer with a great voice, so no one on your editorial team suggests that you find a plot.

Spoilers (about the character backstories) abound:

- The setup for this book, the writing style, and the characters are pretty good. The problem is that they never go anywhere. It's a book about each character understanding their relationship with their dead father and then moving forward by thinking about it at length. Everyone in this book has a Realization about something that happened in the past. Nothing happens in the present. Except for Philippa getting hit by a car, which is an extremely funny way to replace her in the throuple.

- It's very clear that the magic in this book never made it out of the ideation phase. This is barely a fantasy and the application is genuinely very silly. We're just in an alternate world with different tech giants. Arthur dying and Eilidh starting the apocalypse (!!) are the beginnings of a story. The resolutions of "Arthur ate too many drugs!" and "Eilidh had to self-actualize!" are the resolutions that you get to when you are interested in navel gazing instead of writing a story.

- Lou as the narrator sinks the entire book. It's a really good twist when you're 30% in and still trust that the book is going somewhere. But the problem is that Lou is not an objective narrator and that it really doesn't make any sense that she has this central position in the drama. If she could have actually helped with the magic, then yes, that would have made sense. She's another person who is put into the right position, but doesn't actualize on the page. It's also problematic because Lou spends the entire book saying that the Wrens are assholes, but by the end you realize that's not true—she's actually fond of them. And on that note ...

- The author is also too fond of her characters. As a result, the characters get everything they want, and it's a happy ending without true strife or growth. This reminds me of The Atlas Six, where Blake is too fond of those characters and it sinks the premise of the book.

- I skimmed the last 20% of this book and when I got to the diatribe about sleep training, I was like L O L

[Willow Heath]

While her novel The Atlas Six was an immediate smash hit, Gifted & Talented is certainly the superior novel. This is a richly detailed novel, written with a kind of gilded prose, which presents us with the lives of three horrible siblings: Meredith, Arthur, and Eilidh.

These nepobabies are the children of Thayer Wren, CEO of a magitech company. Meredith invented an app that asserts an ability to cure mental illness; Arthur is a young senator; and Eilidh is a former ballerina whose career was cut short by an injury.

Our protagonists are all horrid in their own entertaining ways, and each one is a potential inheritor of their father's empire. Or are they? The events of the novel take a backseat to the unfolding of their hilariously unlovable personalities and behaviours; and Blake also sprinkles in a little (though arguably not enough) fun magic along the way.

My full thoughts: https://booksandbao.com/unmissable-fa...

[Flo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tbh, this book didn't fully hook me until a little past the halfway mark—right around when the omniscient narrator suddenly inserted herself into the story in first person. That shift? Brilliantly weird, totally Olivie Blake, and exactly what pulled me in. (I just love how she plays with narrative; it's one of my favorite things about her.)
I didn't feel the magic aspect was fully explored, but I also didn't really care because I was absorbed by these tangled characters: messy, morally gray, haunted, and dramatic, navigating ambition while trying to make sense of their longing.

The family dynamic is a standout—satirical, dysfunctional, a little demented, broken, and impossible to look away from. Darkly funny, a bit bizarre at times, messy, intricate, and written in a unique way. I just loved it.

3.5 ☆, rounded up because—it's Olivie Blake.

[Ingerlisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is what I imagine an Olivie Blake book feels like to non Olivie Blake readers.

-No plot
-Slow
-dense
-Minimal magic
which usually I love, usually I love her characters but this just did not work for me.

I feel like I knew what Olivie Blake wanted me to feel for each of these characters by the end of the book before the end even came and it took away the magic. The 'twists' I saw coming and the writing wasn't constructed in the way that I usually love.

Pre-read:
Update: OMG !?!! We have a cover and it is stunning 😍

I would quite literally sell my soul for this 💀…

[Jillian B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one’s for all the former “gifted kids.”

As teenagers, the Wren children were high achievers, succeeding at everything they set their minds to. As young adults, they’re floundering. Eldest daughter Meredith is the founder of a buzzy new mental-health app…but is about to be exposed as a total fraud. Middle child Arthur was elected as one of the youngest-ever members of congress—but a debilitating magical affliction has left him unwell and stressed. And youngest daughter Eilidh has gone from prima ballerina to mid-level marketing manager with a chronic back injury. Oh, and there is a literal demon living inside her trying to bring about the next apocalypse…

When their wildly wealthy father suddenly dies, the three siblings and their loved ones are brought together for the reading of the will. But which failed achiever will be the one to inherit his empire?

I am NOT a fantasy girlie but Olivie Blake is an autobuy author for me at this point. The great thing about her books is that they’re much more about relationships than magic, and the magical elements of this book are handled with an especially light touch. Think of this book as a gossipy family saga a la Crazy Rich Asians, with the addition of a couple of supernatural forces.

The close third-person narration breaks the fourth wall a lot (and you’ll learn why later in the book) with wry, snarky little asides, and it made me laugh out loud multiple times. All of the characters are well-developed, with rich backstories and distinct voices—even the very minor ones.

This book is a longer read, but it’s a completely fun one. If you haven’t given Blake’s work a chance yet, this is a great one to start with!

Thank you to the publisher for giving me access to an eARC of this book.

[Sian · Rating 3 out of 5]

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? God, I'm so sad.

Thank you so much to the team at PanMac for the physical arc of this book!

[Jaime Fok · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
wait this is FUNNY.
everyone is a hot mess, and it’s so entertaining

[lisa (fc hollywood's version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day for everyone involved