I was really excited for this one. While I did enjoy it it just wasn’t a love for me. I liked the characters, I liked the story…but it was just that like.

I feel like Olivie Blake might be an author that I only occasionally enjoy.
We just don't always vibe together and while I LOVE One for my Enemy, her YA book and currently I'm enjoying Girl dinner, this book didn't match with me.

Listen my interest was peaked by this synopsis about magic and money and sibling warfare to claim an inheritance. And while these characters were layered and complicated.... I couldn't stand them. While sometimes that 's what you want in books with layers, I was on the wrong end of it, where I couldn't stand them enough to continue reading. I made it to 43% and decided this was not for me. (Trust me I tried, I kept picking it up and putting it down & then getting a library copy)

I think that after I finish Girl Dinner, I will be holding off on requesting her books/ accepting emails that auto approve me. Others who love her more deserve this chance. (I've just had more misses than hits)

This was my first Olivie Blake book, and I enjoyed this weird journey. This was magical realism meets Succession. It was quirky and emotional at the same time. The Wren family is navigating the death of their father and trying to deal with their magical abilities. It's definitely more of a family drama than a fantasy, but I enjoyed it.

This is my first Olive Blake and I know I will read more of her works, but this one just didn't hit for me the way I was hoping it would. I love a character-centered b00k, but this felt too long with too little to say. It took me almost a month and a half to read (which may be a record for non-Brandon Sanderson books), and as someone who revels in analysis, I had a difficult time figuring out what this book was trying to *say*. For such a navel-gazing novel, I'm feeling like I must have missed something in terms of theme. The meat of the story really leads us to subjects like family dynamics, complicated relationships, or legacy, but for the life of me I can't discern what Blake wants us to take away from her writing.

I deeply respect Blake's writing, primarily how she writes the three siblings at the center of this book. It takes skill to craft wildly unrelatable characters that you can see yourself in. They are messy and unethical and yet I found myself caring about them.

Also, this book isn't fantasy. It's hardly magical realism; please don't pick this book up if you want magical siblings or fantasy because it is a side plot point that seems more a muddy metaphor than real magic.

I still plan on giving Blake another try and I can understand why some people like this novel. I just don't think it was for me.

I'm sorry but this was the funniest book I have read so far this year. The chaos the Wren siblings cause just by existing plus their increasingly messy relationship with each other was just so delightful to read. Olivie Blake had me in TEARS at parts.

I LOVE Olivie Blake's writing style. She is one of my favorite authors, which is why I was sad that I just did not connect with this book the way I have with her others. I really loved the characters but just felt lost for majority of the book.

Gifted & Talented was one of my most anticipated reads this year, and it really hit the mark. Part Succession, part magical realism, the story centers the Wren family as they come to grips with the death of their tech mogul father. Rivalries, unmet expectations, and magical abilities come to a head as the three siblings try to ascertain who will inherit the Wrenfare empire—any maybe their father’s approval—once and for all. This book won’t be for everyone, but it was definitely for me. I am a true Olivie Blake stan, and this book delivered all of the wit and chaos that I have come to know and love in her work. Something I appreciate about Blake is that while the stories she writes are so different, I can immediately feel her distinct voice and sense of storytelling. I highly recommend this to those, who like me, like something a little weird—you’ll have a great time.

I will read anything this woman writes. That is my review. She can do no wrong. Reading Girl Dinner immediately. Olivie Blake delivers what I am looking for every time.

What did I just read, and why did I love it so much? Gifted & Talented is pure chaos in the best way. Sibling drama, weird magic, unhinged narration, and a cast of characters who are morally gray at best and completely awful at worst. The Wren family is a disaster, and I could not look away.

The writing is messy, sharp, and self-aware. You’re either going to vibe with it hard or feel like you’re losing your mind. I still don’t totally know what happened, but it was a wild ride and somehow exactly what I wanted. If you like your books strange, smart, and slightly deranged, this one’s for you.

New favorite Olivie Blake book alert! Gifted & Talented was W-I-L-D y’all! We’ve got some magical realism, sibling drama to rival all sibling drama, tons of queer rep, absurdity to the endless degree, & an utterly unique chaotic story. There’s something about the way Olivie Blake writes that is just so visceral for me & I absolutely love it. Highly recommend.

Cannot properly review this book as Netgalley has made it difficult to review anything. This is an accessibility issue now going from ASCM to LCPL.

DNF - I don’t think Olivie Blake’s books are for me. The writing irritated me and I hated all of the characters. Thank you NetGalley and Tor for the eARC.

Yet another Olivie Blake book finished—this is my seventh (ninth if you count the contemporary romances). And at this point, I can confidently say: every one of her books would benefit from being about 100 pages shorter. Don’t get me wrong, I like her writing—Masters of Death is a standout for me—but her tendency to meander with long, winding sentences often dilutes the more interesting parts of the story. If you’ve read her before, you know exactly what I mean.

That said, Gifted and Talented had its moments. The narration was fun, with Blake’s signature fourth-wall breaks and sharp, self-aware tone. And as always, the characters were a strong point—she knows how to write compelling, layered people. But the plot? Kind of dull. The story takes place over five days, and not a whole lot happens. It’s meant to be a character (or family) study, which I get, but I still found myself wanting a bit more movement or tension in the plot.

Not my favorite of hers, but not my least favorite either. If you're already a fan, you might enjoy the style and character work—just don’t expect a gripping storyline.

Took me a while to fully get into this, because the first chapter throws you in headfirst, but I ended up enjoying this and letting myself go along for the ride! The characters are deliciously complex to the point where you don't know if you love to hate them or hate to love them.

Utterly deranged.

I didn’t wholly understand what actually happened, but at least I still get the glimpses of it. The Wren siblings brought chaotic family dynamic and morally grey personalities to another level. In fact the grey was so dark it was almost black. So, morally dark-grey. Huh.

Olivie managed to make a magical realism story that’s borderline unhinged. It was hard to grasp the story at first, and I did consider to DNF early on but I was weirdly captivated? I was curious to see how it plays out. Turned out it was pretty fun (in a crazy way).

The narrative was so messy, felt like thoughts vomit with long sentences and trivial commentaries here and here. The “narrator” didn’t hold back a bit and I love to see that, especialy because the actual narrator was revealed later in the story.

What did I get from this? Idk. But it was sure a reading experience.

Olivie Blake has such a talent for writing multiple characters that have a lot of depth. Like her other works, this one heavily relies on characters to drive the plot forward. There is a lot of commentary between the characters, so readers should be prepared to be in the characters minds. I really enjoyed this one.

You know that feeling when you finish a book and just sit there thinking, “Wait… what did I just read?” That’s Gifted and Talented in a nutshell—in the best, most gloriously chaotic way.

Olivie Blake, reigning queen of eccentric brilliance, is back with a character-driven urban fantasy that’s sharp, strange, and full of superpowers. This time, we follow a group of siblings, each spiraling in their own uniquely dysfunctional way—think corporate fraud, political collapse, and maybe just a touch of the supernatural. It’s witty. It’s weird. And it absolutely skewers power, privilege, and the dangerous glitter of ambition.

The characters? Deliciously complex. You’ll love to hate them—or maybe hate how much you love them. The prose is trademark Blake: biting, brainy, and bursting with personality. If you're already a fan (hi, welcome to the club), this book will hook you all over again.

My only gripe? The pacing. It occasionally wades into muddy waters, but if you’re patient, you’ll find plenty of gold beneath the surface.

This isn’t just a book, it’s an experience, a ride through chaos, sharp wit, and unsettling family dynamics that leave you wondering what just happened. It moves fast, then slows down, then throws something at you that you didn’t see coming. It’s the kind of book that makes you pause, reread, and mutter, “Wait, what?” more times than you’d like to admit.

There’s no shortage of quotable lines, either. Some are funny, some are profound, and others just hit differently. If you go the audiobook route, do yourself a favor and speed it up a notch. It heightens the manic energy and makes the humor shine even brighter. Speaking of humor, it won’t be for everyone, but if it works for you, it really works.

The first few chapters are a jumble of confusion as Blake throws the reader headfirst into the tangled backstories of the Wren siblings. It’s overwhelming, but once things settle, the real intrigue begins. That is, until you realize you have no idea who Lou is and who’s telling this story. Let’s just say their identity is part of the fun. The reveal? Brilliant. And Lou’s identity? An unexpected twist that makes you rethink everything.

Now, about the world-building. The Magitech industry, with its roots in electromagnetic waves dating back to Tesla’s era, offers a fascinating backdrop. But despite being placed in the fantasy genre, magic isn’t really the driving force here. Sure, the siblings have their abilities, but this isn’t a story about spellcasting or grand magical battles. No, this is a story about deeply flawed people making bad decisions, tangled in dysfunctional family dynamics that steal the spotlight.

And let’s be honest: Gifted and Talented does not offer a single truly likable character. Some had potential, but you wouldn’t want to sit down to dinner with most of them; they’re either morally gray or downright terrible. That said, the morally gray ones would make for some fascinating conversation, but don’t believe a word they say.

This was my first Olivie Blake novel, and I completely understand the hype. It’s unpredictable, clever, and relentless. A book that lingers in your mind long after you’ve turned the last page.

I’m a simple girl - I see Olivie, I lock in. Thank you for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! I am working through my backlog, and will be momentarily posting reviews for the stories I have yet to get posted but have finished reading.

It's a bold choice to write a >500 page book that is pretty much no plot, just vibes - and I for one, approve of the choice, because I loved every second of it.

Gifted & Talented follows the three Wren siblings Meredith, Arthur and Eilidh, who could not be more different if they tried. Their father, a tech billionaire, is dead, raising the question of inheritance.

All three siblings have their own stuff going on, and as different as they are, they do have some things in common: complicated romantic entanglements, a failed career or career on the brink of destruction, a strained relationship with their father, and some sort of supernatural ability that is not working out to be in their favour.

The book centeres of the complex and, frankly, fucked up dynamics of the Wren family and the people around them - and most of them are assholes. It was a delight to read.
There's death, there's drama, there's toxic relationships, there's lies, but there's also love and joy and people getting exactly what they deserve.

The worldbuilding only just does the bare minimum. To the very end I was not entirely sure how the magic or the siblings' abilities really worked, or what their purpose was. Usually this would bother me extremely, but for this book, it somehow worked wonderfully. Can I say I really understood it, or caught the nuance? Absolutely not, but I loved it nevertheless.

Another aspect of the book that I usually hate but found very enjoyable here is the narration style - there is a seeminlgy all-knowing, omnipresent narrator that direcly tells the story to the reader, and occasionally addresses you directly or goes on a tangent. Usually I hate that sort of narration, as I find it creates an emotional distance between the reader and the characters, and it usually significantly lowers my engagement with the book, but here it somehow worked for me. Maybe it's because of the specific tone, or because the narrator is actually a character in the story, even if they are only introduced later.

I loved the characters. Sure, they are all assholes, but somehow I loved hearing about them and being in their heads. I think the fact that they were ALL assholes is what made this work, as I particularly enjoyed the dynamics between them all.
I did not realize this would be as diverse as it was - there are multiple queer characters (though sexuality is never discussed), and almost all important characters are PoC.

I really could not tell you how the story manages to fill so many pages, as there isn't really all that much that happens (as I said, no plot, just vibes) but it was so, so good. I was highly entertained the entire way through. While I absolutely adored the ending, and think the timing of it was perfect, I would happily read another 500 pages about these people.