I am a fan of Olivie Blake’s style and as soon as I heard she was turning her pen to a short story collection, I knew I had to pick it up. But how did Januaries deliver?
Thank you very much to Olivia-Savannah Roach at Tor UK for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, the spirit tethered to a magical bridge rapidly approaches burnout – and craves her freedom. Elsewhere, Congress enacts a complex auditing system designed to un-waste your youth. We also follow a banished fairy, as she answers a Craigslist ad. And we meet a Victorian orphan, who gains literacy for her occult situationship. In another time and place, a multiverse assassin contemplates the one who got away.
Escape the slow trudge of mortality with these magical ruminations on life, death and the love (or revenge) that outlasts both. This collection also features modified fairy tales, contemporary heists, absurdist poetry and at least one set of actual wedding vows.
Publication Date: 17th October
CW: death, violence, murder, depression, mania, grief
My Thoughts
Januaries is a stunning short story collection that will both break your heart and make you believe in love at the same time. As is characteristic of Blake’s work, it boasts gorgeously evocative writing, complex characters and tightly woven plots – packing a punch even within the limited space of each story.
Olivie Blake continues to cast her spell in this rich, intriguing anthology of short stories. It is divided into seasons, with each mini-collection encapsulating the atmosphere but all spanning various genres and themes. The writing is that sort of magical that sweeps you off your feet and pulls you right into the heart of each story. Very quickly, Blake establishes character, setting and plot – every word feels carefully calibrated for maximum impact on the reader.
It is always hard in reviewing an anthology because some stories just shine that little bit brighter than others but there are plenty of gems to discover here. Every story had its own unique experience while reading and I enjoyed each of them. That being said, my standouts were the opening The Wish Bridge, The Animation Games, Sous Vide and Chaos Theory. These tales just had a little something more that rooted themselves in my brain and made me fall in love a little more. Blake clearly has fun playing with these different narrative styles, giving us a taste of these richly imagined worlds and compelling characters. Many of these would be excellent in an expanded version, but still deliver sublimely in their shorter form. There is a lot of experimentation in terms of form and style, giving you a different slant with each story.
I maintain that Blake is an exciting voice in the Young Adult/New Adult Fantasy space, with incredibly exciting and original ideas that are delivered in wonderfully rich prose. Januaries whet my appetite but I am still ravenous for Gifted & Talented to release next year.
Januaries is a beautifully fraught story story collection with something for every mood and season. Just dip in and let Blake’s words unfurl around you.
A Short Book Lover 
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