Januaries by Olivie Blake is a beautifully written, introspective novel that explores themes of self-discovery, love, and change. With captivating prose and a strong emotional depth, Blake creates a compelling narrative that resonates with readers. It's a reflective and engaging read for those who enjoy character-driven stories.

I am glad I tried out this compilation of short stories from Olivie. This collection had a few major hits - I enjoyed her imaginative approach and variety. I liked the more whimsical and paranormal stories but the others were a bit more mundane and nuanced sandwiched in between. I think I am maybe not the perfect short story audience! And that’s okay. I appreciate the arc copy and I’m glad I tried them out :) thank you very much, I would like to try her longer form stories in the future.

This collection of short stories was absolutely fantastic, and I’m honestly struggling to put into words just how much I loved it. Each story had this incredible ability to hook me, especially with the way so many of them delivered a jaw-dropping twist in the final paragraph—or even the very last sentence! It was like a masterclass in keeping readers on their toes. I found myself eagerly trying to predict where each story was headed, only to be completely blindsided in the best way possible. With themes of love, magic, and betrayal woven through the pages, it perfectly delivered on its promise.

I have to admit, short stories usually aren’t my thing, but this book completely shattered my expectations. The variety and depth packed into each tale were remarkable, and the emotional punches they delivered left me wanting more. I didn’t just read these stories—I devoured them. This book has not only made me rethink my stance on short stories but also has me itching to explore more from this author. If you’re hesitant about diving into a short story collection, let this be the one that changes your mind!

Another book by this author that is worth the read. “Januaries” showcases Olivie Blake’s versatility and creativity, offering readers a rich tapestry of stories that delve into the complexities of human experience through fantastical lenses.

I’ve been enjoying Olivie Blakes writing and will likely continue to grab all of her books. Multieverse and a Craigslist add this book was just fun

favorite story probably that I've ever read in my whole life: "The House"

despite this taking me 2 months to finish, the writing is gorgeous and this collection has everything from vampires to parallel universes to romance to the underworld to magic bridges, etc. Olivie Blake is so damn talented.

Olivie Blake's books are very hit or miss for me, and that was definitely still the case between the different stories in this book. They were either 4/5 stars, or 1/2 stars, and nothing in between. That makes it very difficult to leave a rating, but I'm ultimately going to go 2 stars rather than 3 because I probably wouldn't not recommend it.

The one story that I can't recommend enough, though, is THE WISH BRIDGE. I think it's worth borrowing this from the library for this story alone (and then skipping the rest). This may be one of my favorite short stories of all time.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy!

Januaries by Olivie Blake is an intriguing and atmospheric novel with beautiful prose and a unique concept. The story has moments of brilliance, but the pacing can feel uneven, making it a bit difficult to stay fully engaged. While it doesn’t quite reach its full potential, the book still offers an enjoyable and thought-provoking read, earning a fair three stars.

I read my first and so far only 5 star book of 2025 last month!

Januaries is a short story compilation from the magnificent mind of Olivie Blake. It is weird and beautiful and haunting. It is a mixture of fantasy and sci-fi and even a little horror maybe? There are witches and demons and vampires and gods and Al algorithms. There is a focus on love in all its forms, a poignant reflection on motherhood, and one of the most beautiful stories centered on mental health that l've ever read.

The audio experience of this book was AMAZING and I highly recommend it as there are so many narrators working to give each story its own unique voice and feel, and they do each one justice!

Special thanks to @netgalley and @tordotcompub for access to an eARC of this title!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Januaries by Olivie Blake!

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.