Review:

“You will never be happier than you are right now, because the only plane on which you exist in the space-time continuum is right now.”

I wanted to read something different, and that’s when I picked up Blessed Be the Billionaires. What intrigued me was the question at the heart of the book: What if it were illegal to be rich? What happens when extreme wealth becomes a crime? And can capitalism itself be changed?

Blessed Be the Billionaires by Luc Upson explores these questions through a compelling story set in the near future, where oligarchs have consolidated so much wealth that they control much of society, while the rest survive by renting from them. In this world, owning a home has become almost impossible, wealth determines power, and the gap between those who have everything and those who have almost nothing has become the new normal.

Against this backdrop, we meet Sadie, Garrett and Nishanthi – three very different people who, in their own ways, decide not to simply accept the world as it is. Sadie dreams of owning a house and living a slower, simpler life. When she stumbles across something valuable and decides to cash it in for a house, she finds herself on the wrong side of the law.

Nishanthi, meanwhile, is a rising activist who sparks a global debate by campaigning to cap personal wealth at €9 million. What initially sounds almost impossible eventually gains momentum, with multiple nations moving to accept the legislation. But the oligarchs are not willing to let go of their power. The backlash is swift, allegations surface, careers implode, and the consequences become far more personal than Nishanthi could have imagined. 

Garrett, a multinational executive, is tasked with sabotaging Nishanthi’s movement by fabricating evidence of corruption. But as he gets deeper into the assignment, he too becomes caught in the consequences of the choices he has made. 

Eventually, Sadie, Garrett and Nishanthi find themselves thrown together in an Amsterdam prison, where the larger debate over wealth suddenly becomes deeply personal. Each of them arrives with their own choices, their own reasons and their own version of what has happened.  What initially seem like three separate stories slowly begin to connect, and that’s when they begin trying to put together the pieces of the puzzle they have messed up along the way.

What I particularly enjoyed about the plot is the way Luc introduces us to the three protagonists individually before bringing them together. The story begins with Sadie, moves to Garrett, then Nishanthi, and eventually brings all three into the prison, where their conversations become an important part of the narrative. But the prison is not simply a place where they sit and debate wealth. Death threats emerge, truths begin to unfold, and they realise that they are not necessarily safe even behind prison walls. The danger continues, and with every revelation, the stakes become higher.

I particularly enjoyed their conversations in the prison – the way three people with completely different perspectives begin debating wealth, power, privilege and the choices that brought them there. The prison almost becomes a space where they are forced to confront not just each other, but also their own choices. Watching these three very different people sit together, debate wealth and question the choices that brought them there makes the book much more than a story about money. Sadie is facing the possible loss of everything she has worked towards, Nishanthi is trying to come to terms with what has been taken from her, and Garrett is forced to confront the kind of person he has become. It makes you think about what wealth does to people, what having too much can mean, and what having too little can take away.

What makes the book interesting is that it doesn’t remain just a story about billionaires and money. It explores wealth, capitalism, inequality, power, crime and the consequences of a society where a small group controls an enormous share of resources. But at the same time, it keeps returning to something much more human –  what people are willing to do when they are trying to build the life they want. Luc takes us into the complicated worlds of millionaires and billionaires and shows us how complicated money itself can become. Having too much can come with its own problems, but having too little can take away choices, opportunities and even something as basic as the possibility of owning a home.

The plot is interesting, with a crisp, descriptive narrative and a smooth pace that keeps the story moving. Every event adds something to the story, and just when you think you understand where one character’s journey is heading, something happens that changes the direction and makes you want to know what comes next. Even though there are multiple characters, storylines and developments, the narrative gradually brings everything together. At times, it can definitely feel overwhelming because there is a lot happening, but the multiple threads ultimately add to the larger picture of the world Luc has created. The pacing remains smooth, and every development makes the story more interesting rather than slowing it down.

The themes of love, loss, family, relationships, trauma, friendship and healing run through the story. There is also a strong sense of trying to make things right with other people, with the choices we have made, and perhaps with ourselves. I also enjoyed the tone of the story. It is dystopian, political and thought-provoking, but it never feels like a dry commentary on capitalism. There are moments of absurdity and dark humour alongside the heavier conversations about wealth and power, which give the book a distinctive quality.

The characters are brilliantly crafted. You will relate to Sadie and Nishanthi, but you will also understand Garrett, particularly as their individual stories unfold and their pasts begin to explain their choices. All three characters carry their own childhood experiences, losses, insecurities and emotional wounds. Sadie’s story particularly stayed with me. There is the painful incident that took her parents away, and separately, another incident that changed her brother. Both experiences shape the person she becomes and the choices she makes later in life. Then there is Jax, who becomes an important part of Sadie’s journey – someone connected to her brother and someone who tells her that he loves her. What happens next is one of the mysteries that keeps you reading.

Garrett’s story goes beyond the assignment he is given. We also see Garrett as a husband and a father, his relationship with his wife and children, his childhood, insecurities and the experiences that have shaped him. We get to see the man behind the professional role and understand how his personal life influences his choices.

Nishanthi’s journey shows what happens when an idea that begins as activism starts challenging people who have enormous power to protect. And then there is Hamad, whose role becomes crucial to her story and who became one of the characters I found particularly interesting. None of these characters feel simply good or bad. They are people making complicated choices, often under complicated circumstances, and that makes their journeys more interesting.

And then comes the climax, which turns out to be cinematic and exciting. By this point, all the individual threads have gathered enough momentum that the climax feels like the culmination of everything these characters have been carrying throughout the story.

What stayed with me is the larger idea that the systems we accept as permanent may not necessarily be permanent at all. The book questions whether capitalism is something that simply has to be accepted or whether a system created by people can also be rewritten. That question gives the story a larger meaning beyond the lives of Sadie, Garrett and Nishanthi. It makes you question how much wealth is enough, who gets to decide that, who controls the systems we live within, and whether the rules of society are really as permanent as we assume them to be.

In all, Blessed Be the Billionaires is an intense, thought-provoking and surprisingly emotional journey. It is a different kind of dystopian story that brings together wealth, politics, crime, inequality, family, trauma and human choices. With its smooth pacing, intriguing characters and a plot that keeps adding new layers, it keeps you invested until the end and leaves you with questions that stay long after you finish the book.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is Blessed Be the Billionaires by Luc Upson about?

Blessed Be the Billionaires is a dystopian story set in the near future, exploring wealth, capitalism, inequality and power through the lives of Sadie, Garrett and Nishanthi.

2. Is Blessed Be the Billionaires a dystopian novel?

Yes. The novel is set in a near-future society where oligarchs control enormous amounts of wealth and power, creating a world where ordinary people struggle to own even basic things such as homes.

3. What are the major themes in Blessed Be the Billionaires?

The book explores wealth, capitalism, inequality, power, crime, family, relationships, trauma, love, friendship and healing, while questioning how much wealth is enough and who gets to decide.

4. Who are the main characters in Blessed Be the Billionaires?

The story follows Sadie, Garrett and Nishanthi, whose very different lives eventually bring them together in an Amsterdam prison. Jax and Hamad also play important roles in their respective journeys.

5. Is Blessed Be the Billionaires worth reading?

Yes, especially if you enjoy thought-provoking dystopian fiction with political themes, multiple perspectives, suspense and complex characters. The smooth pacing and unfolding revelations keep the story engaging.

Reader_viddh’s Take

A thought-provoking and different kind of dystopian read that makes you look at wealth, power and capitalism differently. I enjoyed how the three seemingly separate stories gradually came together, with every event adding another layer to the narrative. The conversations in the prison, the complex characters and the questions the book raises about how much wealth is enough stayed with me. A compelling read for anyone who enjoys fiction that entertains you while also making you think.

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