Januaries by Olivie Blake

This early review copy was provided to me by Olivie Blake and Tor Books through Colored Pages Book Tours. This in no way impacts the rating of the book. All of my reviews contain my honest opinions.

Title: Januaries: Stories of Love, Magic & Betrayal

Author: Olive Blake

Release Date: October 15, 2024

Publisher: Tor Books

Genre: Fantasy, Short Stories

Source: print, Tor Books/Colored Pages Book Tours; digital, NetGalley

TW: death, mental illness, moderate sexual content, grief, murder

Synopsis

Januaries is a collection of new and iconic short stories and novellas from New York Times bestselling author Olivie Blake.

Once upon a time in a land far, far away, the tutelary spirit to a magical bridge rapidly approaches burnout. Meanwhile, congress enacts a complex auditing system designed to un-waste your youth, a banished fairy answers a Craigslist ad, a Victorian orphan gains literacy for her occult situationship, and 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, featuring modified fairytales, contemporary heists, absurdist poetry, and at least one set of actual wedding vows.

Thoughts

I just finished reading "Januaries: Stories of Love, Magic & Betrayal" by Olivie Blake, and I'm absolutely blown away! This was my first time diving into Blake's writing, and I'm completely hooked. Each story in this collection felt like a new adventure, and I found myself falling in love with every single one.

What struck me most was the incredible range of worlds and characters Blake created. From magical bridges to multiverse assassins, each tale was unique and captivating. I couldn't help but be consumed by her words, eagerly turning page after page to see what wonders awaited me next.

I can already tell that this is a collection I'll be coming back to time and time again. There's so much depth to these stories that I'm certain each reread will reveal something new and exciting. It's rare to find a book that keeps on giving like this, and I'm thrilled to have discovered it.

Now, I'm itching to explore more of Olivie Blake's work. If her other writings are anything like this collection, I know I'm in for a treat. To anyone reading this review, I cannot recommend "Januaries" enough. It's a beautiful, magical journey that any lover of fantasy and short fiction should experience for themselves. Trust me, you won't regret it!