I loved "Januaries." It is a wonderful collection of short stories. My favorite story is "The Wish Bridge." It's about a bridge that only appears during full moons and is never in the same spot. The bridge leads nowhere; to cross it, you must face the guardian that guards it. You may request a wish or a truth, but not both. She can forgive you a sin or permit you a wrong, but not both. She can also give something back that you've lost or help you get rid of something you wish to lose, but not both. I cannot stop thinking about this story! If you enjoy short stories, "Januaries" needs to be added to your TBR list!

I enjoyed the audiobook, and the narrators did a great job differentiating characters and helping with the pacing and emotions in the stories.

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillian Audio for letting me read the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4 ⭐️

I have read most of Olivie Blake’s books and this is going to be a new favorite of mine.

The multiple narrators were great and almost every story held my attention. I loved the variety of the stories that Blake created and definitely wished for a few to be longer.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook.

A compendium of short stories was just what I needed. Blake didn't disappoint and included all the whimsy and magic I could stand. It's a great break from longer titles!

Januaries by Olivie Blake is a mesmerizing collection of short fiction that transports you through enchanted realms, existential musings, and poignant moments of life, death, and love. As a fan of Blake's imaginative and thought-provoking writing in The Atlas Six, I was excited to dive into this collection, and it did not disappoint.

The audiobook format truly brings each story to life, thanks to a diverse and talented cast of narrators who breathe depth and nuance into these magical tales. From a burned-out wish-granting spirit to a Craigslist fairy, the eclectic mix of characters and settings makes each story feel fresh and immersive. The standout performances for me were "The Wish Bridge" narrated by Stephanie Nemeth Parker and "Fates and Consequences" brought to life by Steve West—both masterfully capturing the emotion and wit of their respective stories.

Blake’s signature writing style shines throughout the collection, combining sharp humor, lush descriptions, and thought-provoking concepts. Whether it’s a Victorian orphan navigating the occult or an assassin pondering missed love in a multiverse, every story is a unique reflection on human desires, relationships, and the consequences of our actions. The absurdist elements, like in "How to Dispel Friends and Curse People," add a playful layer to the collection, balancing out the heavier philosophical themes.

That being said, the collection can feel a bit disjointed at times, with some stories resonating more than others. The range of genres—from modified fairy tales to contemporary heists—offers something for everyone, but this variety can occasionally make it harder to connect with the collection as a whole. Some of the more experimental pieces, like the poetry or absurdist tales, might not appeal to every listener.

Overall, Januaries is a beautifully crafted collection that showcases Olivie Blake’s imaginative prowess and narrative versatility. The audiobook experience enhances the magic with stellar narration, making this a must-listen for fans of speculative fiction and those who enjoy exploring the boundaries of reality and fantasy. If you’re looking for something unique and introspective, this collection is a delightful escape.

I absolutely loved Januaries! As a big fan of Olivie Blake, I was excited to dive into this anthology, and it exceeded my expectations. I listened to the audiobook version, which featured an amazing full cast that really brought each story to life. Their performances added so much depth and emotion to the tales, enhancing the experience in a way I think only an audiobook can. The collection begins with one of my favorite stories and keeps the momentum going with a series of short stories, fairytales, and poems that explore love, life, and the unexpected with a perfect blend of wit and heart. Blake’s talent for creating magical worlds and complex, charming characters shines through in every piece, drawing you in and leaving you wanting more. Each story is a beautifully crafted journey, filled with moments that tug at the heartstrings and surprise you in the best ways. This anthology is an absolute gem, and I can't wait to experience more of Olivie Blake’s work in the future.

*Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for a review copy and access to the advanced listening copy of the book!

I really don't think I knew what I was getting myself into when I decided to dive into Januaries. This collection of short stories lives up to its title: There are moments of love, incorporation of magic, and wild acts of betrayal. With Olivie Blake's talent with words, I should have realized I'd be in for a treat.
While hard to summarize, it is important to realize that this is a short story collection broken up into four seasonally titled sections. The content of these stories vary wildly, but they are all incredibly entertaining in their own way. I think it would be fun to share my favorite short story from each section of this book, those that I feel are absolute stand-outs and make this collection so worth reading. They are as follows: The Wish Bridge, To Make a Man, Sous Vide, and Chaos Theory.
This was my first experience with listening to an audiobook for one of Blake's books and I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to do so. The audiobook includes multi-cast narration, which adds so so much to the storytelling. Each narrator brings something new and exciting to the story they're reading, helping to transport the reader into the pages of this book. The narration for Monsterlove was particularly incredible and made the emotion behind Blake's words so evident. It completely elevated the text and made for a wonderful listening experience.
If you're in the mood for a collection of short stories, do yourself a favor and read this book!

SOLID 4.5 stars for this beautiful collection of short stories <3

I don’t even know where to begin with this anthology.. each story held so much depth and took up so much space in my mind. I love the humor, whimsy, and affection that was woven into each and every single narrative. Though they all varied greatly in terms of subject matter, it all did truly come back to love, magic and betrayal! I also loved the nods to Greek mythology (I am obsessed.)

I have been going back and forth about which stories I loved the most and truly, it is SO hard to decide. I am going to try my hardest to only pick one or two from each season that they take place.
-Spring: Sucker for Pain was very magical, though The Wish Bridge was beautifully imaginative and captivating.
-Summer: The Animation Games was absolutely hilarious and I did not expect it at all. To Make A Man literally brought me to tears.
-Autumn: Fates and Consequences had me laughing out loud in the car.
-Winter: Chaos Theory!!!!!!!! Wow. What an incredible story, it was hands down my favorite of the entire book.

I really enjoyed the sense of wonder that I felt while reading each tale. Olivie Blake’s writing was just, simply put, beautiful and romantic. Even in the sad bits, I could still feel like love and sometimes deep grief that was put on the page.

I would recommend to anyone who wants bite sized pieces of magic. I received both the audiobook and ebook ARC of this and I have to say that the narration of the audiobook was top tier!!! Especially in Chaos Theory.

Thank you so much Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for my arcs of this book!!! I loved it so mu

Huge thank you to NetGalley/Tor/Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read this early!

I was able to listen to the audiobook for Januaries and was incredibly impressed not only my the narrators but the depth and emotions of these short stories. Olivie Blake has once again written a book with stories I will go back and reference often. Monster Love is probably one of my favorites which covers the struggles of womanhood and motherhood. I happened to listen to it with my fiancée who didn’t understand it at all as a man and it spurred some amazing conversations between the two of us. This book is absolutely amazing and one you need to read!

This collection of short stories by Olivie Blake was the perfect fall read for me. Just spooky enough to feel seasonal, and just campy enough to have fun. Some of the subject matter is sensitive so it might be worth a quick look at the content warnings. The stories range from paranormal to mythological and were all compelling in their own way, some laugh out loud funny, others can’t put it down suspenseful. The cast of narrators was exceptional and I would definitely get the audiobook of this one.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this audiobook for review purposes.

As expected with anthologies, some of these were hits and some misses for me. Overall I thought it was very creative, interesting, and enjoyable.

I absolutely loved the full-cast narration! All of the narrators were so good and added depth and intrigue, while keeping my interest from story to story. This was an excellent audiobook!

My favorite stories:
"The Wish Bridge" read by Stephanie Nemeth
Parker
"Sucker for Pain"read by Ferdelle Capistrano
"The Animation Games" read by David Monteith

Thank you Macmillan audio and NetGalley for the ALC!

What first drew me in about this anthology was the name. I was just VERY puzzled how it could possibly be a fantasy book. I found out by the end, and I was left existentially changed by all of the stories along the way. Let me tell you, this book was GREAT!

I loved getting snippets or “baby” stories from one author. It feels like we get a glimpse at Blake’s notepad of story ideas, and I was absolutely enjoying all of them! I’m one of those readers that likes to hop from series to series, like flipping channels or shows on tv. So, it feels like you are getting an episode with each story. Think Black Mirror, but not scary at all! Mostly romantic, with some steamy scenes and a little explicit language.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a variety of short, diverse fantasy stories! You get witches, vampires, gods and goddesses, multiverses, magic… just the whole kitchen sink.

Lastly, I listened to this story on audio. The audiobook has a full cast and each of them are fantastic! Olivie also narrates one of the stories herself! Would highly recommend the audiobook. However, this anthology gave me a cozy and cuddle-with-my-book feeling (although some of the topics can be heavy); so, having this book in hardcover while under some warm blankets would also be perfect.

Thank you NetGalley, Olivie Blake and team, Tordotcom, and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 ⭐️ 1.5🌶️

I had a really good time. My favorite stories were Chaos Theory and Monsterlove. But the remainder of the stories all had the same kind of macabre or etherial quality to them, and plot themes and I really enjoy all the stories she's written.

I think Mosterlove will always be so haunting and relateable and just a visceral portrayal of being a mom, and my god, it'll haunt me for a bit, I'm sure. Its one of those things that when you're listening it, you know its a magical piece of writing.

Chaos theory... oh man, I wanted more of it, and I had a really great time. Violetta for president. Because yeah, Violetta could 100% get it done.

The narrators went above and beyond for these short stories. I highly recommend the audiobook for Monsterlove alone. Alex Palting knows what she's doing.

I would like to thank NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for allowing me to listen to an audiobook ARC of this book.

I am a huge fan of Olivie Blake and will read and anything and everything she writes, but I was very intrigued and exited to learn about this short story collection. My personal favorite in the collection was The Wish Bridge. The fact that is was the first story was both good and bad for me. It worked to really draw me in and invest me into the book, because it was SO GOOD!! But then the rest of the stories in comparison to that one were just ok (some were definitely better than others). Some of the themes do repeat themselves, but the stories are unique and special enough to not be too much of an issue. It definitely kept my attention to the very end.

The audiobook version was even more enchanting than the eBook version! I loved the narrator. She kept great pacing, and made the characters come across as real and relatable. The narrator also did a good job with the author's different styles of writing throughout the collection. It made for a very interesting and delightful listen!

There were a few stories that had a very repetitive portion (a word or phrase that was repeated over and over in a row to the point it almost became too much). It is much more noticeable (and annoying) in the audiobook version vs the eBook. That is really the only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5.

I will definitely be recommending this audiobook to my friends and family. I mean, what's not to love!? If you like Magic, Life, Death, Love, & Revenge as much as I do then this book is for you. These 14 tales, are witty, whimsical, romantic, and will enchant you. Fans of Olivie Blake and stories about magic will want to check this one out!

Some of these stories were a hit for me and others I was left confused wondering if I missed a part while listening. After re-listening to it, I still didn't get it, so I'll have to read some goodreads reviews on this book once it comes out to see if others were confused, or if it was just me. :) That said, I loved the magic, murder and wedding vows!

Magic. Fate. Revenge. Love. Motherhood (and monsterhood). The fourteen stories within Januaries are mesmerizing. From the breathtaking "To Make a Man" (which I had to listen to at least 3 times before sitting with it because it just gripped me by the throat) to the shades of dark in "Sous Vide" and "Chaos Theory" and the wistfulness and beauty of "The Wish Bridge", this collection feels like experiencing new beginnings. Each story follows a narrator who becomes transformed or is dealing with how they have been transformed and seeking fulfillment in that metamorphosis. A January, if you will.

While some stories didn't work for me - some feel a little more dense than others, some stories end abruptly - Januaries easily snags the title of my favorite of OB's short story collections. The wit and snark of her characters, as well as their beating hearts made this an immediate preorder.

Personal favorites are "Monsterlove" (read by Alex Palting), "The Audit" (read by David Monteith), and "To Make a Man" (read by Stephanie Nemeth Parker).

This ALC was provided c/o @netgalley, and opinions expressed are wholly my own

Video: https://youtu.be/gGsJi_WVaKY

Okay wow!! This was a phenomenal short story collection and I'm hard pressed to find any bad ones, most of them are bangers.

It's divided thematically by season and the stories range from sci-fi to fantasy to lightly speculative or metaphorical. Sometimes drawing on mythology or folklore, sometimes poetic, often tragic. Thematically there is a lot on love, relationships, motherhood, mental health, power and more. I generally like Blakes writing and was excited for this, but often stories in collections are fairly hit or miss for me . Januaries I enjoyed all the way through and would definitely recommend if you like her writing style!

The audiobook is narrated by a full cast and is really well done. Loved it and would recommend! I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

5 ⭐ 1 🌶️ 5 🎧

This was my first Olivie Blake experience, but it absolutely won't be my last. I fell so hard for her writing and loved every one of these little shorts. They were magical and tragic and lovely and everything in between. I honestly can't believe how often I laughed, especially given the content of a few of them. Unaliving wars with your true love? Sure, why not.

Each story was so unique too. I think my favorite was The Wish Bridge, which is first, but it didn't go downhill from there. I truly enjoyed them all. Another fave was To Make a Man, which was really beautiful and kinda haunting in that beauty. And we end with A Year in January, another one I loved that explores the relationship of two roommates brought together by craigslist.

The audio was amazing. Such a fantastic cast with someone new narrating each story. Alexandra Palting, Daniel Henning, David Monteith, Ferdelle Capistrano, Olivie Blake, Stephanie Németh-Parker and Steve West is the list, I wish I knew who did what and if Olivie actually narrated one of the stories or if it was just a part of the production. Regardless, I could listen to this book time and time again with all the wonder it held.

Unfortunately it was very hit and miss for me as some stories made sense and some didn’t. There were some well done stories involving magic and murder and there were some trippy ones that just left me confused. I think it may be due to the audiobook format, as it may be easier to follow along when you can reread a sentence or paragraph in order to understand it better, but still I did enjoy some stories so it’s a sold 3 stars for me.

THANK YOU publishing God's for the audio ARC of Januaries!!!!! 💠


⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

5 Stars - Olivie Blake can do no wrong and will forever be an auto buy author for me 💖

Januaries is an anthology of Love, Magic, Betrayal, and Revenge. The narrators are superb!! Monster Love is a brutally honest rollercoaster ride reviewing motherhood 😂 and the story of how not to waste your youth had me in giggles.


This book is for anyone who enjoys fairy tales, unhinged women, murder, and revenge ☺️

As with any anthology, some stories resonated with me while others missed the mark. At times, I found myself puzzled about the narrative, even within the confines of a short story. However, the few that I truly enjoyed left me wishing for an entire book dedicated to their tales.