Such an incredible book! My cousin and I are huge fans of Olivie and it was such a good book. The pacing is just right and I loved reading about this world.

Olivie Blake never fails to disappoint. There is something in her writing that just constantly captures my attention, and these stories were no exception. I will devour anything and everything she writes. However, as with all anthologies, there were some I liked more than others but I think all of the stories within this book are really strong and well-written.

It is so hard reviewing one of Olivie Blake’s works because you can see the heart and soul she pours into each and every one!
A “mix tape” for her readers, Januaries is a collection of short stories about love and relationships broken into seasons.
While there were a few stories I did not enjoy/understand, the majority of these were poignant, different, and beautiful. Each character was so distinct and no two ‘meet cute’ were the same. I highly recommend this for readers who have read and enjoyed any of Blake’s works!

I haven’t read anything by this author before. I thought this would be a good way to get a sense for her writing style. I’m not sure if her writing is for me. It could also be that short stories are not her strong suit. There were many that started off very slow and then ramped up with a quick ending. By the time I got into the story it was over. Here’s a little rating breakdown of each story:

The wish bridge – 3
The audit – 2
Sucker for pain – 4
The animation games – 3
The house – 4.5
To make a man – 3
Preexisting condition – 2
Monsterlove – 3
How to dispel friends and curse people – 3
Fates and consequences – 4
Sous vide 3
Sensual tales for carnal pleasures 3.5

This is going to be a short review. It’s so hard to review anthologies. I know there are many people that will love this. I wish I was one of them, but there were so many times I was bored. Some stories I couldn’t connect to at all. If you have enjoyed her work before, you will probably enjoy this. Overall, it was just okay, for me.

Thank you to Tor Books and Netgalley for an e-arc! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was definitely a lot different than the normal things that I read. I really enjoy Olivia’s writing though so I was very excited going in. I think this type/format of book isn’t really for me unfortunately. I did enjoy some aspect such as the writing but overall, just had a hard time connecting with the book. I still look forward to reading more of Olivie Blake’s writing in the future though.

Olivie Blake never fails to dissapoint, with her tales full of melancholy, love, and loss, knows just where to touch the reader, and caress the heartstrings of those reading these tales. Januaries is no exception to this rule, compiling short stories that will stay with you weeks or years after reading. Having read this before it's release, I had not initially left a review, as I had to sit on this and really think on what to say. That being said, I am still in awe of her writing, and will continue to rave about this book, and her other works One for my Enemy, and The Masters of Death.

The most perfect collection of short stories I've ever read. Olivie Blake has such a magical way of writing, it's almost as if you're transported into all of these stories. All were so fantastic, The Bridge has stuck with me long after I have read this. I highly recommend!

I recommend this so much, I got myself a signed special edition ordered so I can treasure it forever.

I had such a fun time reading this, the audit definitely my favorite. I needed this anthology and felt all the feels, amazing

4.5 ⭐️’s

what beautifully written pieces of literature. i’ll never not enjoy something written by Olivie Blake i fear.

the short stories held various descriptions of love and the power it holds over us while also showing the things humans (and non humans) will do in the name of love (‘: she dives into a multitude of topics that bring out all of the emotions while still adding in doses of humor.

each story felt like the perfect length for me. while i connected with some more than other, i found myself enraptured with each story at some point.

I am in love with Olivie Blake's writing! She has the most beautiful writing style. This book is a fabulous collection of short stories rooted in fantasy, fairy tales, and magical realism.

I highly recommend this book to all my friends!

A captivating collection of short stories that blend fantasy, romance, and intrigue. With its diverse range of characters and settings, from magical bridges to multiverse assassins, this book offers a unique and enchanting reading experience. Blake's masterful storytelling and rich, imaginative worlds make "Januaries" a must-read for fans of fantasy and short fiction, promising new discoveries with each reread.

A fantastic collection of short stories that all feel a bit magical to read. I loved the first story the most in this. This collection definitely felt like reading some fairytales and though the collection features modified fairytales and such, it's a good time to read and one I'd definitely recommend for everyone to pick up!

Release Date: October 15,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group | Tordotcom for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Olivie Blake is a magical writer. This was such a pleasant delight. All short stories was perfect for reading during fall. Even though this was a collection of stories I had a great time reading this.

This book is a quirky, captivating mash-up of adult fairytales, speculative fiction, and poetry. The whole collection has this unique charm—it’s part modern fairytale, part magical realism, and fully character-driven, with stories that bring together the magical and the mundane in unexpected ways. Blake’s imagination really shines as she pulls together everything from fairies and foodie demons to sentient houses and even fountain nymphs, making them feel surprisingly relatable.

The stories are centered around relationships, from love stories to dark, twisted tales of revenge. Blake has a knack for blending humor and depth, which makes the book both fun and meaningful. Her writing feels poetic but grounded, with scenes that make you laugh and others that hit right in the feels. Each story is unpredictable, with plenty of satirical jabs and heartfelt moments woven in.

Overall, this book is a joy to read if you’re into stories that feel fresh and surprising, with characters that stay with you. Blake brings a bit of everything to the table—myth, magic, and modern relationships—and wraps it all in her unique, poetic style.

Olivie Blake does it again! She has such a unique style of writing that feels like it braids into your soul. And the Januaries is no different. This collection of stories is more than I could ever ask for from this amazing author! If you are new to Olivie Blake this is a great place to start!

3 ⭐️

“Choose carefully, for no matter what you choose, you will most certainly pay more than you know”

Honestly this book is quite difficult to review and rate. I absolutely adored the majority of the stories in the first 2/3’s of this book. I love love love Olivie Blake’s writing. I just feel like the last third of the book really took a turn that I didn’t personally enjoy. There were some stories I did like though.

There are some beautiful stories in here. Theres great variety, and most of them have great deeper meanings. The characters and plot lines were generally really well done and I could connect with them for the most part. The first still remained one of the most memorable and beautiful for me, even as I read the others.

I would definitely recommend this. Some of the stories get quite overly sexual which I think probably could use a warning for. It is an adult book tho. I just personally preferred the other stories, I thought they were more interesting.

Super appreciative to NetGalley to have received the arc for this book and would definitely recommend reading even just for the first 2/3 of the stories!! Such a fun read.

🫶🏻💕

Man, I love Olivie Blake's writing, and her collection of short stories is no exception! These stories were whimsical, magical, emotional, twisted, and fun.

My favorites were:

🩸 Sucker for Pain - A young girl becomes ward to a mother and son Witch duo. As an adult, she's not sure if she's in love with the son, or if she's just been manipulated her whole life into thinking she should be. I WISH THIS WERE A FULL BOOK it was so good.

👩‍🍳 Sous Vide - A young woman gets a job cooking for a demon. Even though she's not supposed to interact with the demon, she ends up relying on them to work through her romantic relationship with her older professor.

🌌 Chaos Theory - Five women caught in different relationships, living in different times and spaces, find out they are interconnected in a way that will change them forever. This is another one that absolutely could have been its own book, but it was the most substantive and longest of the stories in this collection.

⏳ A Year in January - A young woman finds a roommate off Craigslist who may or may not be from this world. It was a moving account of navigating being bipolar and the effect that has on friendships.

Most stories really worked for me, but a couple didn't. For instance, I should have connected with Monsterlove, a stream-of-consciousness story about motherhood and maintaining one's identity without falling victim to the pressure of perfection. But it was just too chaotic and cerebral for me to find its rhythm.

This collection fits right into and compliments Blake's body of work. I think it would be great for established fans of hers, as well as people just trying her out. I can't wait for her next book!

Overall Rating: 4/5 stars

This is the first short story collection I've completed, and I really enjoyed it! In all fairness, I'd read just about anything that Olivie Blake writes, but still.

The collection is organized by seasons, with each season featuring a few individual stories. The stories varied in length and complexity, but were all grounded in themes of magic and love. The range of writing style between stories was wildly different as well - some stories were more abstract and emotional, while some were more concrete and witty.

My personal favorites were as follows:
The Audit: Very thought-provoking, kind of Black Mirror-esque
Fates and Consequences: This was "LOL" funny, I cackled repeatedly
Chaos Theory: Amazing plotline convergence, I was mind-blown when all POVs came together
A Year in January: Unexpectedly emotional

Thank you to Tor for the advanced copy for review! All opinions are my own.

I’ve wanted to really love Olivie Blake’s work for a while now, but there’s always been something that’s kept me from really enjoying it - plot points, misplaced whimsy, just something. Not so with Januaries - this was a delightful, magical, funny set of short stories. Sometimes I felt like the characters in one story were too like the ones in another, but Blake does really solid work here with creating very different worlds and plots throughout.

4.5 - Oh olivie, the way you write just gets me every time. A collection of short stories, and most I absolutely loved, with each one touching on different topics and themes. The way she grouped the stories with the seasons really flowed well and made the book feel more cohesive. Very few other authors really make me question love, die, sexuality, morals, growth like Olivie. Truly such beautiful writing.

Januaries is a set of short stories, which Olivie has called her "Eras Tour" of her writing throughout her life. Some were previously self published, others are brand new. Each short story is grouped into one of the four seasons, and each season follows a different set of themes. As always, Olivie tackles the topics of life, death, love, morality, goodness and evil, and many others. She intertwines these themes with magical creatures and fantasy worlds, making each character and lesson come to life. I found myself reflecting on many parts of my life and my own life and death, as well as the importance of love in my life, as I often find myself doing when reading Olivie's books.

This was such a homage to Olivie's writing and talent. I loved to reflect on her writing throughout the years and her self published work and how this era has come to an end. If you are an Olivie fan or just love beautiful writing with beautiful themes, I definitely recommend this one! Olivie Blake I love you forever.

Thank you to Tor Books for the free advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!