Gifted & Talented by Olivie Blake -> Restarting August 1st, 2025

[Jamie]

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six comes 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.

Where there’s a will, there’s a war.

Thayer Wren, the brilliant CEO of Wrenfare Magitech and so-called father of modern technology, is dead. Any one of his three telepathically and electrokinetically gifted children would be a plausible inheritor to the Wrenfare throne.

Or at least, so they like to think.

Meredith, textbook accomplished eldest daughter and the head of her own groundbreaking biotech company, has recently cured mental illness. You're welcome! If only her father's fortune wasn't her last hope for keeping her journalist ex-boyfriend from exposing what she really is: a total fraud.

Arthur, second-youngest congressman in history, fights the good fight every day of his life. And yet, his wife might be leaving him, and he's losing his re-election campaign. But his dead father’s approval in the form of a seat on the Wrenfare throne might just turn his sinking ship around.

Eilidh, once the world's most famous ballerina, has spent the last five years as a run-of-the-mill marketing executive at her father’s company after a life-altering injury put an end to her prodigious career. She might be lacking in accolades compared to her siblings, but if her father left her everything, it would finally validate her worth—by confirming she'd been his favorite all along.

On the pipeline of gifted kid to clinically depressed adult, nobody wins—but which Wren will come out on top?

[Elizabeth]

Still planning to read this one

[Elizabeth]

Catching up with another BR first

[Jessica]

Just started and this is really interesting. They are all terrible thus far but it's really fascinating. I'm doing the audiobook which I think really helps.

[Elizabeth]

I'm behind, but hoping to get to it soon

[Jessica]

Monday
(view spoiler)[ All of these characters are terrible but also weirdly fascinating. Arthur and Gillian’s dynamic is so interesting and I don’t understand why Eilidh doesn’t teach or do something dance related since it’s her passion. The ending of this chapter was intense, what the hell is going on with Arthur and did Meredith save him? Speaking of Meredith god, her app is annoying and I’m sure will only become more so as we go on.
(hide spoiler)]

Tuesday
(view spoiler)[ So is Arthur going to die every day? Is that what’s happening here? Meredith and Jamie are playing with fire. LOL that Gillian that talked to Yves about sensuality, I am loving these two and hope we get more scenes of them together. I’m very excited to finally meet Lou.
(hide spoiler)]

Wednesday
(view spoiler)[ So Lou has been the narrator, interesting, I didn’t see that coming and in retrospect probably should have. Philippa is definitely faking this baby, and yep I was right. But who got Dzhuliya pregnant? If it was their dad I’m going to throw up, but it couldn't have been because she had a thing with Eilidh.
(hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

Thursday
(view spoiler)[ Okay I was not expecting Philippa to die, damn. I love Gillian, Yves and Arthur though, so here for this thruple. Omg, I was right about Dzhuliya but ew, why did she sleep with Eilidh when she was pregnant with her sibling, that is so gross.
(hide spoiler)]

Friday
(view spoiler)[ Well that was quite the book, I enjoyed it a lot more than her other books. I loved the siblings finally being there for each other and all the relationship dynamics were so interesting. I would totally read another book about this family. That said the magic added nothing, it easily could have been basically the same without it and there was never any world building around it. I know Olivie Blake is more vibes than substance but that still bothered me.
(hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

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RESTARTING AUGUST 1ST, 2025


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[Trisha]

Monday (before)

wow, a bunch of not very nice siblings lol

(view spoiler)[

Arthur really sucks but at least his wife seems to know about his affairs. I'm kind of glad he's losing his political career. he seems to suck at it

Meredith has some kind of telepathy thing going on, right? convincing people they are happier for a moment. but it must wear off? I wonder how Jamie is going to explain her brainwashing them into believing they were happier. Hypnotism?

and finally Eilidh - she has a what in her? a parasite? is that how she survived her accident alive? or semi alive? how did she save the plane only to cause locusts? what is happening?

(hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

oh and I love the artwork in here, that was an interesting surprise!

[Trisha]

Monday (after)

*sigh* so far I don't like any of the characters

(view spoiler)[ ugh, they all kind of suck
and the writing is odd. I'm not finding the quirkiness of the characters cute or endearing. The fact they've grown up so rich and are still such assholes kind of sucks. I hope they start to do something. . .good? or, at least, less awful

(hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Oh no, I don't like hearing that! I'm so character driven when reading my books.

[Trisha]

I'm really hoping they get better as the story goes on!

[Vicki]

Fingers crossed!

[Vicki]

I just got my book from the library so I'm going to start it in just a bit. :) I am worried after your comments.

I opened the book and the inside cover is gorgeous! I wasn't expecting that. So, of course, I skimmed through the rest of the book and I love the art in it. Pictures give it a lift and a sense of the direction it's going.

Trisha, I read the inside jacket and it states that Eilidh's career ended due to a "life-altering injury."

[Vicki]

Through Monday (Before)

(view spoiler)[OK, I see what you mean about the characters being not so likeable.

Meredith seems controlling, calculating and prideful. But at the same time she also seems insecure, fearful of exposure and damaged from family trauma. I agree that her app, Chirp, is very annoying and she's not being upfront about who she is and what she's done.

Arthur is a dog. Obviously their marriage is strained and for good reason. He's emotionally and physically involved with Yves and it appears he's a serial cheater with multiple women. But Gillian also seems to tolerate his cheating for the sake of how things appear, so I don't see her as a strong woman as of now. He carries the weight of being the good one but he's anything but!

Elidh is rather passive and seems to be emotionally delicate. Everyone treats her like she needs protecting. I feel for her though. She's haunted by both her father's favoritism and her lost dancing career (SO sad!). She also appears to resent her siblings' treatment and the isolation she feels. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Through Monday (After)

(view spoiler)[Wow, the reading of Thayer's will showed a lot about the siblings' characters. I feel like Meredith's identity has been wrapped up in being the heir to the family's inheritance. She feels betrayed and she's ugly-acting. Her desperation shows in her actions especially how she lashes out at Arthur. I think she feels like she's lost her power and she's felt so entitled, I think this will be a turning point for her and not for the better.

Arthur isn't as brave or ethical as he wants to be or sees himself. He's more like his father than he has thought himself. I think he sees the will as a chance to reset things, so to speak. Possibly to "right" what his father made wrong.

Eilidh seems to be breaking down with her grief and fear as well as her feelings of being ignored. She is highly likely infected with parasites. She's sick as heck and possessed, it appears. Ugh...gross. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

Tuesday

(view spoiler)[
Tuesday can be summed up in pretty easy parts
no movement on the will - the 2 attorney's need to argue it out before a judge
but the question of propriety makes me think that maybe he a month ago he left the company to his assistant and the new attorney? and maybe THAT's why the old attorney is worried.

Arthur keeps dying - he's died twice
are his own skills misfiring and he's shorting his own heart out?
is it Eilidh and her plagues?

and . . .Lou - they are going to try to find her to help them even though she hates them (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

Wednesday

(view spoiler)[
well. . .we're still at a stalemate with the lawyers - they are still with judges
sounds like Lou is in - because she wants to help the youngest
but she did text Arthur and made him smile

and Gillian is learning to love. . .Arthur? I mean, I'm glad she's figuring her life out but this drama with Phillipa is meh. I just don't care

Meredith is still trying to keep Jamie from publishing the article. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Through Tuesday

(view spoiler)[The reading of the will seems to have started what I'd call a social experiment that's psychological welfare. The lawyers aren't acting professionally and are like ringmasters of this little twisted game. Meaning they're controlling things and just watching the chaos unfold without really stepping in to clarify or constrain. They're formal, distant, and unemotional. Yet the will's terms are bizarre, manipulative, and intrusive. I think they understand the full implications better that the siblings do. It's like they're curators of chaos. Am I making any sense? lol (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Through Wednesday

(view spoiler)[These lawyers...they're just still being stoic, nearly inhuman, so I'm wondering if they're hiding something. Lou's trying to make sense of things and I feel like she's the one person who stands out as the emotional and ethical center.

Just WHO is Arthur anyway? And why did he structure his will and his death in such a manipulative way?

And Gillian seems focused on maintaining her image and composure. I think she might've edorsed some of Arthur's manipulative tendencies, too. I think their bond is more intellectual and amoral. It's built on secrets and not love. I do think that even though she doesn't love him, she does respect him and is probably about the only one to really understand the games he's playing even in his death. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

sorry, finished last night but fell asleep before I updated

Thursday and Friday kind of ran together - I didn't see a lot to post about just for Thursday so I just kept reading

(view spoiler)[ I was surprised when the dad really did give the company to Meredith - I couldn't help but think he didn't know she'd be drowning like she was - getting ready to be arrested and her company going down - but maybe he did. It was just a month earlier so maybe their dad really did want to have her drag the company down or have it take her down

and wow! Only 2 million to split between them? I was surprised he had so little left

and YUCK! the fact he'd been sleeping with his assistant and that assistant was also starting something with the youngest sister. Ugh. I was shocked and I didn't blame Eilidh for her initial reaction.

and I was so done with Meredith. I was glad she took ownership, in the end - gave the company to Lou (I was SHOCKED!) and then turned herself in for the law she broke - but ugh, she was just so awful with Cass and Jamie.

I liked Gillian and the way that she and Arthur were learning to let their walls down and actually love each other. Interesting that they still kept Yves

I was shocked that Phillipa wasn't actually pregnant and I was sad that she'd died before they could connect better.

meh. I just did not like this one but it definitely feels like it's because I'm not the intended audience and I'm okay with that lol (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Trisha wrote: "sorry, finished last night but fell asleep before I updated

Thursday and Friday kind of ran together - I didn't see a lot to post about just for Thursday so I just kept reading

I was surprised w..."

I know what you mean. lol

[Vicki]

Finished

(view spoiler)[ Funny that I felt the same way. Not much to post about each of the last two chapters.

I was surprised that Phillipa wasn't pregnant too but now that I know that, it makes sense. She was using her "pregnancy" in my opinion as a way to control conversations lol as well as to protect herself emotionally. I thought there'd be a reconciliation, not a loss/death.

And I don't think Arthur and Gillian truly learned to love each other. I think that Arthur wants to be loved but he doesn't really offer true love. I'm not sure he's really capable. (hide spoiler)]

[Carrie]

Trisha wrote: "Monday (after)

*sigh* so far I don't like any of the characters

ugh, they all kind of suck
and the writing is odd. I'm not finding the quirkiness of the characters cute or endearing. The fact th..."

I am in complete agreement. I also didn't like the fact that barely a few sentences in the book, It was F,,,F,,,,F. I was planning on listening to this one while I worked, but on second thought, will have to read to myself.

[Trisha]

yeah, I was trying to think - I don't think the F bombs get any better. I think they actually probably get worse as the characters all gather together

[Carrie]

Jessica wrote: "Just started and this is really interesting. They are all terrible thus far but it's really fascinating. I'm doing the audiobook which I think really helps."
yes I think it might be better but for sure can' t be read out loud

[Carrie]

Trisha wrote: "yeah, I was trying to think - I don't think the F bombs get any better. I think they actually probably get worse as the characters all gather together"

no I tried to turn it down and listen a little longer because I didn't like any of the characters, I was intrigued

[Carrie]

Im into chapter 16 now and really starting to enjoy it after all. I guess I just needed a little break away from it. The characters are for sure nasty and very unlikeable, but that is what is making it interesting. Excited to see where it goes.

[Trisha]

yay! I'm so glad you're loving it!!

[Carrie]

Im struggling again somewhere in the ch 60's. This family was spiraling from the beginning and the drama and Magic kept getting worse. I couldn't keep u with who was sleeping with who and what magical powers each had. They were all bad people. Even as brilliant as these siblings were, they were so very flawed. I guess the dark humor was just too dark for me to see! Most brilliant line is " Happiness is not given!" and by the amount of power, priveledge and money in this book, it appears it can't be bought either.

[Elizabeth]

Still planning to read this