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challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love Olivie Blake's writing style SO much! The banter and the snark is just phenomenal. The narrator was perfect Lou was my favorite character, hands down. Chef's kiss for writing a great character, Olivie! . Olivie said in her acknowledgements that she was inspired by Wes Anderson's The Royal Tenenbaums, and I can totally see that. There were so many fascinating characters that all seemed very implausible for them to have any connection, but they did and it was great. Even though the 3 siblings were unlikeable in different ways, I still enjoyed getting to know them and see their personal growth. Olivie has such a unique way of describing emotions and although it sometimes was confusing, I ultimately (I think) understood what she was getting at. I think my book rating was a little lower than I initially expected because 1. It dragged a bit in the middle, 2. I was confused about a lot of things for a while (but many did get cleared up) particularly the whole Magic tech stuff not actually being "magic" , and 3. I thought there would be more magic and honestly, I feel like there was a lot left unexplained about the Wrens' magic. Maybe this is me not being a smart literary person and missing the deeper meaning of their magic, but I just still have questions. . I realized that although there was magic, the focus of the story wasn't magic, but moreso the complex ty of emotions and relationships. Regardless of these (perceived) limitations, I still quite enjoyed the book and it just reiterated my love for Olivie Blake's books and writing style.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Toxic friendship
Minor: Vomit
I thought Olivie did well with the polyamory and I enjoyed it!
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have complicated feelings about Olivie Blake's books. Her writing is very ramble-y in a way that I'm not sure I like. It definitely takes some getting used to! Anyway, there wasn't much of a plot in this book. It was mostly about the character's daddy issues and precarious mental states. Additionally, I thought the magic aspect was poorly explained and felt random. I continued reading mainly because I wanted to know what was in the will (which was very dragged out), but I actually enjoyed all the drama, so I guess it wasn't bad.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Abandonment
Minor: Eating disorder, Sexism, Car accident, Pregnancy, Classism
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Alcohol, Classism
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was not a book for me. It was a family drama of completely unlikable characters with crass language.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Infidelity, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Pregnancy
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
getting lost in the twists and turns of the human condition and the inner worlds she builds for her characters was fun. olivie always has such a nuanced take on mental health and i appreciate her dialogue as always. was there really a plot? sort of. and its definetly secondary to just existing with the characters. I just like the way she weaves words even if it sort of comes to a bit of a non ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent
Moderate: Eating disorder
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Olivie Blake can do no wrong. Her writing makes me feral. So much so that she has the ability to make me feel something for billionaires and that’s saying a lot.
IMO this shouldn’t be categorized as a fantasy bc while this is a world that has technology-magic it basically functions as technology. It reads not dissimilar to our world now so I would call it more magical realism! Just to set expectations bc also Olivie has written much more blatant fantasy books. This one reads more litfic kinda like AWYITE
IMO this shouldn’t be categorized as a fantasy bc while this is a world that has technology-magic it basically functions as technology. It reads not dissimilar to our world now so I would call it more magical realism! Just to set expectations bc also Olivie has written much more blatant fantasy books. This one reads more litfic kinda like AWYITE
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Classism
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Grief, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship
Minor: Sexual content
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent
Minor: Eating disorder
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is very much a contemporary book with some magical realism sprinkled in, but still an entertaining read!
If you want a book with great family drama, character depth and a critical lens on social issues and the tech industry. Then this is a great book. If you want lots of magic, then this is less the book for you.
But this book really sucks you in, with characters that were both loveable and hateable. Their lives are messy, but you can’t look away!
🩰🗳️💻
Premise:
Thayer Wren, CEO of tech empire Wrenfare, dies suddenly. The week following his death his three adult children come together at their family home, to reflect and most importantly, understand who will be taking over his empire.
But at the same time, they are all dealing with their own issues, which stem from their overarching desire to impress their father.
Meredith Wren is facing fraud allegations for her own tech company.
Arthur Wren is facing losing an election, whilst navigating his polyamorous affair.
And Eilidh Wren, the only one who seemed to love her father, just brought forth the apocalypse.
💻🗳️🩰
This is a truly character driven book, and all their stories are incredibly compelling.
My favourite dynamic was Arthur and his wife. Despite Gillian’s fear of physical intimacy, I absolutely adored their emotional intimacy! The way their communication developed and their cavalier attitude by the end towards public perception was just fantastic. Plus I loved Yves and the energy he brought to all his interactions!
Meredith on the other hand is incredibly unlikeable, but probably grows the most as a character. I think certainly seeing her through Jamie and Lou’s eyes certainly helps humanise her (oh to be adored how Jamie adored her!). And I love her bantering dynamic with Arthur. And by the end, her heart to heart with Eilidh, definitely warmed me to her. I did also love her attitude in the face of misogyny in her industry (and even getting angry about ancient curses specifying eldest sons!)
Eilidh is the most interesting in the sense of her apocalypse dilemma but at times perhaps didn’t have the most exciting story compared to the others, potentially because she was the only character actually grieving. But I enjoyed her personal reflection and strength she gained.
And the magic… I’m torn whether I liked it in this book. (I say, as an avid fantasy reader) Part of me feels the book could have held its own very easily without it. But certainly I understand how in part it was needed as a reflection of the characters and for Eilidh to take control of herself.
Either way, it was still a good book!
I would say, whilst I read this, I suspect it could be quite an entertaining choice for an audiobook listen, just due to the tongue in cheek nature and direct nature of the narration.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent
Minor: Eating disorder
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The plot and characters are very similar to succession but I liked the author’s twist on it. If you are a people pleasing perfectionist all of your anxieties will be laid out before your very eyes. It took me a while to get into the book because the plot moves very slowly, but the characters won me in the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Pregnancy
Minor: Eating disorder, Misogyny, Abandonment