Olivie always has a way of bringing into this world of just amazing prose. Her words are always impactful and this book was no different.

Olivie Blake can do no wrong. She’s a master at what she does and I love her for it!! This book was amazing in all its stories and I can’t recommend enough.

I lived these short stories collection! This one also was great on audio (I did mix of both). Olive Blake books are not always work for me, but this one was great! Thank you for opportunity to read it early.

Anthologies are tricky. There can be a few standout stories that get dragged down by mediocrity, a lack of cohesion can sink a collection, or too many similarities can make the whole book feel boring and repetitive. Januaries blew any and all of my expectations out of the water and defied all of these pitfalls.

I can’t actually decide where I land on the Blake scale. Alone With You in the Ether is top tier for me, The Atlas Six is needlessly complicated yet compelling, and The Atlas Paradox is a boring disappointment. Even My Mechanical Romance was a bit meh but alright. When it comes to short stories, though, Blake nails it.

Almost every single story here was a hit. Beautifully written, complex and interesting, Blake tackles almost every genre known and likely invents a few of her own. Her writing is so different in each new story it never feels repetitive, but the tone of the entire collection feels very deliberate, tying it all together.

Intricate storytelling, vivid worlds, and unique characters came together in so many different ways, making Januaries an incredible read. Would highly recommend.

I was OBSESSED WITH THIS BOOK OF SHORT STORIES!!!!

Olivie Blake is such a beautiful writer and she cultivates stories with such dynamic characters and I honestly couldn't pick a favorite!

I laughed.
I cried.
I was feeling steamy.
I was feeling romantical.

It was a magic adventure and I loved the ride this author took me on...

I can't wait to read more from this amazing author!

I'm a huge Olivie Blake fan, and I really love most of their other work. I think this one wasn't quite for me, but I sitll enjoyed it all the same and look forward to more work frm this author

What a roller coaster ride. I’m generally not a fan of anthologies but this was a pleasant surprise. I was hooked from the very first story. I wish I could give this a 5 star but the last few stories weren’t my favorites.

My favorites:
The Wish Branch, Sucker for Pain, The Animation Games, Fate and Consequences, and A Year in January.

I need longer versions of some of these stories because they are just so good!

Thank you Netgalley and TOR for the digital galley in exchange for an honest review.

Interesting book - I sometimes don't love anthologies since it's tough to vibe with everyone - this one there was a clear winner to me in spring, and the other three missed the mark for me. I generally really enjoy Blake's writing, and my issue may have been I would have enjoyed more if they were longer.

GENRE: An Anthology
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
FORMAT: eArc

Would I recommend to others?: Yes! There is a short story in this Anthology for everyone

Review:
Below is a list of all the short stories and a very brief one line summary on how I felt about them. Overall, I quite enjoyed majority of the stories and enjoyed the unique elements to them.

Here is a list of all the short stories, a comment and a rating:
🌸 Part I: Spring
The Wish Bridge: Enjoyed it, quite magical, 4/5
The Audit: Weird (in a good way) life existential crisis with futuristic elements, made me think of how this would work if reality was that way, 4.5/5
Sucker for Pain: I love the way this ended, it was strange but in all the good ways. It had gothic fantasy elements, which is usually my vibe, 4.75/5

🌻 Part II: Summer
The Animation Games: This was also kind of horror/gothic fantasy, which again, I loved. This is my favourite of all the anthology stories and it's a 5/5
The House: Didn't really enjoy this one, its quite short and a bit strange to me, 2/5
To Make a Man: Deep, dark and meaningful in an interesting way! Quite liked it; 3.75/5
Preexisting condition: I'm not sure I resonated with this one either, 2.5/5

🍂Part III: Autumn
Monsterlove: Strange short story, in which I think its meant to appreciate mothers. I didn't resonate with this one. 2/5
How to Dispel Friends and Curse People: A poem, 3/5
Fates and Consequences: This is a Hades and Persepone Retelling. Definitely interesting. 3.5/5
Sous Vide: I liked this one! Cant really explain it in a short form so I'd recommend to read it, 3.5/5

❄ Part IV: Winter
Sensual Tales for Carnal Pleasures: Didn't really resonate with this one. 2/5
Chaos Theory: Definitely interesting. Told in multiple POV of what's meant to be the same person in multiple universe. 4.5/5
A Year in January: A good way to end the anthology. Quite liked this one too 3.5/5

Thank you to Netgalley for the eArc in exchange for my honest review.

I loved Olivie Blake's short stories! This was a treat and I'm glad that I was able to pick it up but I did find that the stories started to blend together a bit.

Januaries is a magical and emotional collection of stories that pulls you in with its dreamy worlds and relatable characters. Each story feels unique, but they all share themes like love, change, and the way time shapes our lives.

The writing is beautiful and poetic without feeling over-the-top. My favorites were “The Clockmaker’s Daughter,” about a family making time-altering clocks, and “The House That Never Was,” a haunting story about a house that changes based on its owner’s desires.

It’s not a fast read, but it’s perfect for when you want something thoughtful and a little magical. Definitely give it a shot!

Olivie Blake can do no wrong. If she writes it, I will read it. I have loved every single one of her books and Januaries was no exception. A collection of short stories about witches, magic, fate, and fairytales? The best combination. The stories are all of magic, lust, and love and I just couldn't put it down. I don't remember the last time a read a book of short stories I liked as much as Januaries (I honestly would have been okay if some of them were longer).

Another beautifully written book of stories from Olivie Blake’s that showcases her incredible prose. I enjoyed this anthology of short stories and even more than any of her full length novels so far because it was so light and whimsical while also being thought-provoking & masterfully done.

Some of the stories like The Wish Branch and The Animation Games were like fairytale, nighttime stories for adults. Just so whimsical, quirky, funny, and a breath of fresh air!

I love character driven stories, which is something Olivie Blake always does well. This is no exception. The stories center around the human experience & relationships which I really enjoyed.

I REALLY hope she comes out with more short stories like this - it was the PERFECT way to digest her writing for me.

This is my first Olivie Blake, and I definitely think I should have started with another one of her books... I don't LOVE short stories, so the reason I chose to start with this one is completely lost on me, but I did enjoy some of these stories. Some of them were so incredible, while others fell flat, and I felt that way with each season as well. Overall, I'd recommend it, if you love anthologies!

. I genuinely LOVED most of these stories and there were only a few (specifically in the Autumn section) that I hated. Luckily they are all short stories so it was easy to work through the less than stellar ones. But most of the stories I was yearning for more. I loved how so many stories began so “normal” and then got more magical and fun. It was a fantastic read and I’d recommend it if you’re in the market for something new and fantasy like without the commitment of world building.

I cannot express how much I love Olivie Blake. Typically I’m not a fan of short stories or anthologies because they often feel unfinished or leave me wanting more, but this one was so incredible. The stories were so impactful and beautiful and I could have read 100 more. I will read literally anything Olivie Blake writes. Her style is so mature and engaging and this anthology is a continued reflection of that.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The opening story captivated me instantly with its emotional depth and beautiful writing, setting high expectations for the rest of the collection—and I was not disappointed. This anthology is a heartfelt blend of stories, fairytales, and poems that explore life and love, sprinkled with wit and unexpected twists.

The magical worlds and delightful, sometimes mischievous characters are expertly crafted, drawing you into each tale and leaving you eager for more. The author demonstrates a deep understanding of her themes, delivering them with tenderness and care—her talent shines through on every page.

This book is perfect for readers who enjoy stories that tug at the heartstrings while keeping them on their toes with moments of surprise. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to discovering more works like this in the future.

Olivie Blake is absolutely masterful at what she does. Shockingly, Januaries is the first of her works that I've read and I know I'll be going through her entire backlist and upcoming releases. She's got such amazing prose and the ability to keep you hooked. Her writing has a flow that sucked me right into the book.

I've come to learn Olivie's work has a more serious and reflective tone to it. I was surprised to find that Januaries felt very fresh and fun! We're reading about fairytales, heists and poetry mixed together! What an absolutely delightful combination.

I will be digging into this book in further depth to pull out my favourite quotes and then sharing them incessantly on my reviewer socials. Everyone is about to get sick of me and my new love for Olivie Blake!

Thank you so much Tor Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this ebook!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

This was my first book by Olivie Blake and I very much enjoyed it. It has been quite a while since I have read an anthology of short stories, so I was excited to start this.

I read them in small bites between other books and liked the small break it gave me.

The thing that struck me the most about Blake’s writing is the combination of whimsy and frankness. Her writing is not flowery or overly descriptive, but poignant and even profound at times.

Out of all of them I think my favorite story was The Wish Bridge. I loved the humor in the story, and the way that it showed the fickleness of humankind.

This book would be perfect for readers who enjoy literary fictions, short stories, and a good dose of dry, sarcastic humor mixed with sometimes bleak circumstances.