A fascinating collection of stories from a talented writer! Januaries was varied, interesting, emotional, and thrilling. A thoroughly enjoyable experience!!

A short story collection that offers a bit of everything. You will definitely have some favorites from the bunch!

Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc! I absolutely love Olivie Blake's writing, and I loved seeing her different styles across multiple short stories. I think the first story was my favorite, but it was always a joy to pick this book up and finish a short story in between reading other books. I would definitely recommend this book as a great short story collection.

I love Olivie Blake books so was very excited to read this and it did not disappoint. The short stories were all so unique and intriguing - full of magic and love and made you think. The only criticism is some of the stories I wanted to be even longer which isn’t even a criticism! Will be adding to my personal collection and library collection 100%.

This was a good collection of short stories with different types of stories for different interests. I thought each story was interesting in various ways, but I particularly liked the 'The Audit" story. I wanted some of the stories to be a bit longer so I could fully enjoy them but overall they all had very good writing and were full of emotions.

As someone who finds Olivie Blake a little hit or miss, I was intruiged to see what my opinion of Januaries would be. Overall I adored it, i think the short story format really lends itself to her strengths as a writer - namely her characters and concepts - whilst keeping it concise enough not to feel overly verbose.

Dare I say, this may be my favourite Olivie Blake book to date!

As with any short story collection, i did like some more than others and you can see my individual ratings below:

The wish bridge ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The audit ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨️
Sucker for pain ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The animation games ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The house ⭐️⭐️⭐️
To make a man ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Preexisting condition ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨️
Monsterlove ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
How to dispell friends and curse people ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fates and consequences ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sous vide ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨️
Sensual tales for carnel pleasures ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Chaos theory ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A year in January ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨️

Januaries was such a good read for me. I rated it 4 stars and it really deserved it. I loved every single second of this book. So well written, the characters were immaculate. So so good.

I love this book so much. The first two stories in the collection had be thinking about them for weeks. The emotions of all of them were beautiful and powerful! Thank you for letting me read it early!

Thank you, NetGalley and Tor Books for the ARC!

“Januaries” is a short story collection written by the best-selling author, Olivie Blake. This collection features stories that will make you smile, make you cry, and make you reflect on all your life choices. You’ll love the characters (you’ll definitely hate some of them), and the lessons those characters learn.

My favorite stories are The Animation Games, The Wish Bridge, and Chaos Theory. The House was just absolutely beautiful. I resonated with that one immensely, being in a long term relationship myself. I really loved the separation of short stories by categorizing them into the different seasons of a year.

However, some of the stories just didn’t make sense to me. Maybe I read them while I was tired and couldn’t comprehend what I was visually digesting; maybe I haven’t had the life experience yet to appreciate them. For example, the self-titled story, “January”. I didn’t really understand what was going on. I knew January wasn’t apart of the main character’s world. I didn’t quite understand their relationship and that makes me very sad. That story was one of the ones I was looking forward to just based on title alone.

Overall, I really enjoyed “The Januaries”! I’ve been a fan of Olivie Blake’s since “Alone With You in the Ether”. This was another great read. Thank you again for letting me voice my review with an ARC of this book.

Januaries by Olivie Blake is a short story collection and I believe that Blake did a fantastic job of bringing these stories to life. Like so many other short story collections, some stories are more memorable than others and this one is no different. Overall, I enjoyed my time reading them and I thought that Blake's writing was entertaining and well done.

Thank you to NetGally and Tor Books for my arc in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

This is the first Olivie Blake book that I've read. I've had a copy of "The Atlas Six" (pre-major publication too) for ages and haven't gotten around to it and I am so upset I have waited so long to read her writing. This is a short story collection and while some stories were a bit of work to get through, the vast majority of the collection was delightful to read. Blake is clearly a gifted writer and this shows in her deft handling of multiple different themes, narratives, characters, and writing technique. And just. Blake is SO creative. The ways that each story, even the ones I didn't really like, surprised me with her creativity and spin made for a fun reading experience. And while romance is usually something that I am not a fan of, Blake's presentation of romance had me kicking my feet and twirling my hair! Honestly, the stories that I felt were weaker are still miles ahead of most "experienced" published writers.

I would absolutely recommend this. New readers and fans of Blake will find this a super enjoyable and fun read.

Olivie Blake is always an auto-buy author for me as her prose is enchanting to say the least. She is a masterful wordsmith, weaving words in a way that is memorable and beautiful. Moreover, her stories and ideas are just as unique as her writing. In this short story collection, Blake revamps classic tales and provides new ones for readers to be swept away by. Like many fairytales, her stories reflect love and heartbreak but also mental health struggles and more. Personally I was on the fence about a short story collection as I never fully am invested in what I am reading but Blake convinced me to give the genre another go. All in all, Januaries is classic Blake; fans of her work will be pleasantly surprised.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me this arc💗
4⭐️

I think with any short story collections there will be some better than the others. Blake does such an amazing job taking you into each of the worlds she created and her lyrical writing is completely mesmerizing. There were two stories that felt to drag on a bit but the other stories more than made up for it.

My favorites were :
the first one
The wish bridge
And I so wish that there was more to the ending 😭
And also Fates and Consequences because ofc we need a story involving a Greek god or two.

Monsterlove

This one was so cute and short and I giggled at the end… this one prob had my fav quotes::

“I would dig up bodies for you if you
needed it
I think maybe that's a bad sign I think maybe that might be love?
You might remember I mentioned that
briefly
My affections et cetera et cetera
And you sighed
And turned me into a beetle”

“You said I'll have to write more absurdist
poetry
If I intend to live in your house either that or plant more tomatoes.

Absurd? I said
No, this is clearly the height of romance”

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read Januaries by Olivie Blake.
Please let me start by saying that I loved the author's Atlas series and was looking forward to reading this collection of short stories.
Some of the stories were very good. Others were the reason the title only gets 3 out of 5 stars.

The writing was beautiful as always with Olivie Blake but I did think some of the stories were better than others which is normal for story collections for me.

Title: Januaries by Olivie Blake

Release Date: October, 15th, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars

Januaries is a captivating collection of short stories. This anthology took me by surprise…in a very good way! Januaries offers a blend of new narratives and beloved classics, taking readers on a whimsical journey through a variety of genres and themes.

Here's why I loved this collection and what stood out to me:

What I Enjoyed:

* Inventive Storytelling:
* Each story in this collection is a testament to Blake’s imaginative prowess. Whether it's a tutelary spirit dealing with burnout or a banished fairy navigating modern-day Craigslist, the creativity in these tales is boundless.

* Rich Allegory and Metaphor:
* Blakes ability to weave allegory and metaphor into her stories is nothing short of genius. She masterfully captures the essence of human experience, distilling complex emotions and situations into beautifully written narratives.

* Diverse Themes:
* The stories cover a wide range of themes, from motherhood and mental health to thermodynamics and entropy. This diversity keeps the reader engaged and offers something for everyone.

* Modified Fairytales:
* The collection includes modern twists on classic fairytales, adding depth and new perspectives to beloved stories. These modified fairytales are both nostalgic and refreshing.

* Contemporary Heists and Absurdist Poetry:
* The contemporary heists are thrilling, and the absurdist poetry adds a layer of humour and introspection. This combination of genres highlights Blakes versatility as a writer.

* Multiverse Adventures:
* These tales explore fascinating what-if scenarios that captivate the imagination.

* Human Experience:
* Blakes exploration of what it means to be human is both brutal and beautiful. She doesn't shy away from the great and terrible aspects of life, presenting them with clarity and empathy.

* Engaging Writing Style:
* Blake’s writing is engaging and evocative. Her prose is both lyrical and accessible, making the stories a joy to read.

Januaries by Olivie Blake is a must-read for anyone who loves imaginative, thought-provoking short stories. With her unique blend of allegory, metaphor, and rich thematic exploration, Blake has crafted a collection that is both entertaining and deeply moving. Whether you’re drawn to modified fairytales, contemporary heists, or multiverse assassins, this anthology has something to offer.

Dive into Januaries and escape the mundane with these magical ruminations on life, death, and everything in between!


Thank you to The Publisher Tor Publishing Group | Tor Books ,The Author Olivie Blake & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

Despite having her books on both my physical and digital TBR lists, I have never actually read anything by Olivie Blake. I feel like this collection of short stories was a good insight into her writing style and preferences.

The stories were magical and whimsical, making me look forward to read her full length novels.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Januaries by Olivie Blake
Stories of Love, Magic & Betrayal
Rating:4/5
Release Date: 15 October 2024

I unexpectedly found myself captivated by this collection of short stories,

The initial story left me awestruck and every subsequent tale held me spellbound. The characters are irresistible, each story presenting romance in a fresh, occasionally unsettling manner, and with each passing section, the story surpassed the last.

“Januaries” was an absolutely wonderful read. Thank you, Olivie Blake.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, and the author, Olivia Blake, for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for an honest and fair review.

"Januaries" is a mesmerizing journey through the timeless themes of love, heartbreak, and mortality, portrayed through a captivating fairytale lens. Olivie's distinctive blend of sharp wit and poignant twists creates an enchanting narrative that seamlessly weaves together modified fairytales, contemporary heists, and absurdist poetry. Each page is imbued with magical ruminations on life and love, making this book a spellbinding read from start to finish.

I loved this collection of short stories so much. Blake is a genius of allegory, metaphor, and somehow summing up great and terrible aspects of what it means to be human with brutal and beautiful clarity. From motherhood to mental health, with a dose of thermodynamics and entropy, she does it all in this collection. Forever in awe of her brilliance across genres and mediums.

Thanks to Tor Books and NetGalley for the ARC!