Januaries

The 14 tales in this dreamy collection from bestseller Blake (The Atlas Six) showcase the distinctive style, big ideas, and slippery worldbuilding that have earned the author her large fan base. “The Wish Bridge” follows star-crossed lovers, one of whom is always confined to a bridge that only appears on the full moon, granting wishes and telling truths to those that seek to cross. “Chaos Theory,” the volume’s longest entry, spans multiple universes and involves assassinations, coups, secret love affairs, and a cat’s intrinsic hatred for birds. Though some individual stories are less straightforwardly exciting, such as “Monsterlove,” a surreal meditation on the complexity of motherhood through the lens of a shape-shifting monster-mother, the collection as a whole is a propulsive delight. By turns hopeful, sarcastic, silly, heartbreaking, deadpan, and ornate, these tales have something for everyone, whether they’re already familiar with Blake’s singular style or not. It’s a treasure trove for adults who never stopped loving fairy tales and campfire stories. Agent: Amelia Appel, Triada US. (Oct.)