Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars
🎧 Never the Roses by Jennifer K. Lambert
I’m honestly a little torn on how to feel about this one—but in a good way! It’s beautifully written with gorgeous world-building, and I absolutely loved that it starts where most fantasy books end: with the heroine, Oneira, retired. Yep—our leading lady, a powerful sorceress, is living a quiet life of gardening 🌹 and trying to heal from some seriously dark trauma after years of being an indentured magical weapon for a ruthless queen.
Oneira’s struggle to find meaning, purpose, and peace was so refreshing. As someone in their 30s still figuring out life (🙋♀️), I found her thoughtful, weary, but determined outlook really relatable—even if she’s technically hundreds of years old! I really appreciated the more mature tone woven throughout her story, especially in her sweet rivals-to-lovers romance with Stearanos.
Now, let’s talk audiobook: the dual narration by Chloe Campbell and the king of hot MMCs himself, Shane East 🔥, was phenomenal. Both narrators brought so much life, depth, and emotion to the characters—it’s seriously one of the highlights of the whole experience.
Where I struggled a bit was with the book’s identity (or maybe its tone?). At times, it felt like a cozy magical slice-of-life—think Legends & Lattes vibes—with gentle gardening magic, charming side characters, and warm library scenes. Other times, it got dark with political intrigue, betrayal, and murder à la Throne of Glass. The shift between these moods gave me a bit of whiplash, and I found myself wishing the story would just pick a lane and stick with it.
The pacing was also a little tricky. The actual plot doesn’t really kick off until about 30-40% in, so you’ll need patience for the slower, gentler build. I could definitely see some readers DNF-ing just because of the slow start. And then—plot twist—the ending felt rushed, with huge developments crammed into the last literal 3% that really needed more time to breathe. It’s clearly setting up for a sequel though, and I’m curious to see where it goes next.
✨ Overall:
A beautifully written, slower-paced romantasy with a mature, relatable heroine, enchanting magic, and incredible narration. If you’re in the mood for something quieter but still rich in emotion and atmosphere, this one is definitely worth a listen!
Thank you to Netgalley, Jennifer K. Lambert, and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy of this audiobook!
🎧 Never the Roses by Jennifer K. Lambert
I’m honestly a little torn on how to feel about this one—but in a good way! It’s beautifully written with gorgeous world-building, and I absolutely loved that it starts where most fantasy books end: with the heroine, Oneira, retired. Yep—our leading lady, a powerful sorceress, is living a quiet life of gardening 🌹 and trying to heal from some seriously dark trauma after years of being an indentured magical weapon for a ruthless queen.
Oneira’s struggle to find meaning, purpose, and peace was so refreshing. As someone in their 30s still figuring out life (🙋♀️), I found her thoughtful, weary, but determined outlook really relatable—even if she’s technically hundreds of years old! I really appreciated the more mature tone woven throughout her story, especially in her sweet rivals-to-lovers romance with Stearanos.
Now, let’s talk audiobook: the dual narration by Chloe Campbell and the king of hot MMCs himself, Shane East 🔥, was phenomenal. Both narrators brought so much life, depth, and emotion to the characters—it’s seriously one of the highlights of the whole experience.
Where I struggled a bit was with the book’s identity (or maybe its tone?). At times, it felt like a cozy magical slice-of-life—think Legends & Lattes vibes—with gentle gardening magic, charming side characters, and warm library scenes. Other times, it got dark with political intrigue, betrayal, and murder à la Throne of Glass. The shift between these moods gave me a bit of whiplash, and I found myself wishing the story would just pick a lane and stick with it.
The pacing was also a little tricky. The actual plot doesn’t really kick off until about 30-40% in, so you’ll need patience for the slower, gentler build. I could definitely see some readers DNF-ing just because of the slow start. And then—plot twist—the ending felt rushed, with huge developments crammed into the last literal 3% that really needed more time to breathe. It’s clearly setting up for a sequel though, and I’m curious to see where it goes next.
✨ Overall:
A beautifully written, slower-paced romantasy with a mature, relatable heroine, enchanting magic, and incredible narration. If you’re in the mood for something quieter but still rich in emotion and atmosphere, this one is definitely worth a listen!
Thank you to Netgalley, Jennifer K. Lambert, and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy of this audiobook!
This one was not for me. While I loved the dream magic and the overall plot, I did not like the insta-love many of the characters. The FMC and MMC had zero chemistry and I was not invested in their story. I might have enjoyed it had it been drawn out into two books, allowing me to become connected to the characters. It felt rushed. But, others have seemed to enjoy it!
*I read this as an ALC*
*I read this as an ALC*
This was beautifully devastating. Oneira is a sorceress, in self imposed exile, alone but for the animals who keep her company. When she's set upon by not only one but two visitors, everything she's known changes in the blink of an eye.
I loved the way we gradually got more tidbits of information about Oneira, and seeing her realize the truth of things after meeting Stearanos. He's been completely entranced by her, no sorcery needed. I really liked the way that we see them collapse into what they want with each other, as if it's been inevitable the whole time.
I loved the way we gradually got more tidbits of information about Oneira, and seeing her realize the truth of things after meeting Stearanos. He's been completely entranced by her, no sorcery needed. I really liked the way that we see them collapse into what they want with each other, as if it's been inevitable the whole time.
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Thank you to Bramble Romance, Tor Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book!
What starts off feeling like a quiet, almost whimsical story becomes a cozy fantasy with emotional depth and unexpected stakes. Never the Roses is a slow burn in every way, both in pacing and character connection, and it absolutely leans into that strength.
Oneira and Stearanos are among the most powerful magic users in the world, but the heart of the story begins with something as simple as boredom. Oneira, out of curiosity and a spark of mischief, begins a game with Stearanos that slowly shifts into mutual respect and something more. I really enjoyed how their relationship built itself out of intellect, challenge, and time. The chemistry isn’t loud, but it is earned.
The pacing is slow and steady. It takes its time setting the stage, letting the characters breathe, and easing the reader into a world that doesn’t rush to impress. Some may want more speed or high-impact moments, but the charm here is in the quiet build. The stakes exist, but they are more emotional than explosive.
Where this book really shines is in the world building and magic. The abilities feel both natural and creative, with clever twists that made the magic feel fresh. There is an elegance to the system and a strong sense that the world has history even if it isn’t all spelled out. It is the kind of world that invites curiosity without overwhelming the reader.
If you are looking for a fast-paced, action-heavy read, this might not hit those marks. But if you are in the mood for something rich in atmosphere, full of smart and powerful characters, and a romance that unfolds with care, Never the Roses delivers a thoughtful and cozy fantasy experience.
What starts off feeling like a quiet, almost whimsical story becomes a cozy fantasy with emotional depth and unexpected stakes. Never the Roses is a slow burn in every way, both in pacing and character connection, and it absolutely leans into that strength.
Oneira and Stearanos are among the most powerful magic users in the world, but the heart of the story begins with something as simple as boredom. Oneira, out of curiosity and a spark of mischief, begins a game with Stearanos that slowly shifts into mutual respect and something more. I really enjoyed how their relationship built itself out of intellect, challenge, and time. The chemistry isn’t loud, but it is earned.
The pacing is slow and steady. It takes its time setting the stage, letting the characters breathe, and easing the reader into a world that doesn’t rush to impress. Some may want more speed or high-impact moments, but the charm here is in the quiet build. The stakes exist, but they are more emotional than explosive.
Where this book really shines is in the world building and magic. The abilities feel both natural and creative, with clever twists that made the magic feel fresh. There is an elegance to the system and a strong sense that the world has history even if it isn’t all spelled out. It is the kind of world that invites curiosity without overwhelming the reader.
If you are looking for a fast-paced, action-heavy read, this might not hit those marks. But if you are in the mood for something rich in atmosphere, full of smart and powerful characters, and a romance that unfolds with care, Never the Roses delivers a thoughtful and cozy fantasy experience.
dark
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC of Never the Roses by Jennifer K. Lambert. All opinions are my own.
Never the Roses is a slow-paced cozy fantasy with a focus on characters over plot.
Although some of the themes and events in this book are pretty dark, the story overall has a lighthearted tone that I’ve come to expect in a cozy fantasy.
The characters in this story were older, which was a nice change from the books I typically read. Although they were more mature, the characters both had a playfulness about them.
My biggest issue with this book was the almost non-existent plot. A lot of the story was just about what the characters were thinking and their communication through letters. Not much happened and what did happen kind of annoyed me.
I did like the gardening aspect and the magical creatures, but overall, this wasn’t a very memorable story for me.
I listened to the audiobook for this, and I enjoyed both narrators. They fit their characters well and were easy to listen to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content
Moderate: Death
Minor: Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Before I begin I would like to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance listening copy. All opinions are my own for this honest review. Of note, as Macmillan Audio kindly reminded me, this review is based on a pre-release version of the audiobook, therefore I have not taken into account any issues with the audio in its current state.
Style: Dual POV, Dual Narration.
Length: 11.5 hrs
As this is a ALC, we'll start with Narration! I thought both Chloe Campbell and Shane East delivered beautifully emotive performances that elevated this romantic fantasy into something "dreamlike". I almost hate to call it "romantasy" or "fantasy romance" because it felt more Fairytale-esque. The British narration brought what I would call a fairytale quality that worked perfectly with the novel’s tone; filled with quiet ache of longing, loneliness, and the fragile hope of connection. Their voices, while not extensively varied between side characters, were consistent and easy to follow, and both matched their characters exceptionally well.
Chloe portrayed Oneira’s solitude and inner ache in a delicately fragile way while maintaining her fierce independence. Shane, on the other hand, brought a weary yearning to Stearanos that lingered throughout, especially in the ending epilogue (which I think actually broke a little part of me, if I'm being honest).
Not usually something I mention in my reviews, but I think the soft musical bookends were a really beautiful touch and enhanced the dreamlike "fairytale" atmosphere. I actually found myself wishing that musical motif had returned throughout the book (as led me to an aside where I went on a deep inner tangent about how awesome it would be to have music in more audios like Graphic Audios tend to do, but I digress...)
I found the audio to be relatively smooth and immersive listen. I typically listen at 1.5x speed, and the pacing held beautifully without distortion or tonal loss in both the POVs for both narrators. While this was an ALC and did contain some minor technical inconsistencies (noted but not factored into my review), I have no doubt they’ll all be resolved in the final edit.
This is a deeply atmospheric, very slow-burn romantasy that really requires a lot of patience. It takes its time building the world of dreams, vast and very complex magic system, and exudes quiet sorrow. The first half leans heavily into Oneira’s self imposed loneliness and isolation. There is NO dialogue or interaction for quite a few chapters, yet her loneliness is also her strength. The lack of dialogue, while being told in third person requires the listener (or reader) to sit beside her and feel the weight of what living alone really and truly means. It's not only the lack of interaction, it's the lack of voice, in physical act of using one's voice, but also in the words and ways we interact with others later. I did feel like there was a very abrupt shift when Stearanos enters the picture, they spent a couple of chapters as enemies to lovers, but from 0-60 went from that to instalove with very few interactions. While the romance arc moved rapidly, I did feel like it was still rewarding because the groundwork for their grief, mutual exhaustion, and long-buried desire makes it believable and also gut wrenching.
Story-wise I did love that this couple were older main characters navigating intimacy and the feelings for worthiness (or lack thereof) after years of detachment. Oneira’s realization that she is not done with life or desire despite her age was one of the most moving moments I’ve experienced in a very long time. I loved watching her rediscover her capacity for tenderness and connection after so long in emotional survival mode.
I do feel the need to throw in some Trigger/content warnings because it's definitely there and important to know going in I think. You can expect; functional depression, suicidal ideation, parental abandonment, grief, death, and a whole lost of self loathing.
Overall I really enjoyed the book and I think a lot of women who know what it is to feel that bone-tired exhaustion from the world (and dating scene), but still quietly, silently harbour a hope that magic still exists will be able to relate to this book, and honestly the same for men. It did end on a cliffhanger (because of COURSE it did) and Now (of course) I am dying to know what happens! I don't think the second book has been announced yet, so I'll quitely keep the hope open that we don't have to wait to long!
As mentioned in the beginning, I received an ALC of this audiobook from NetGalley and Macmillian in exchange for an honest review. Having said that, all thoughts are my own.
Style: Dual POV, Dual Narration.
Length: 11.5 hrs
As this is a ALC, we'll start with Narration! I thought both Chloe Campbell and Shane East delivered beautifully emotive performances that elevated this romantic fantasy into something "dreamlike". I almost hate to call it "romantasy" or "fantasy romance" because it felt more Fairytale-esque. The British narration brought what I would call a fairytale quality that worked perfectly with the novel’s tone; filled with quiet ache of longing, loneliness, and the fragile hope of connection. Their voices, while not extensively varied between side characters, were consistent and easy to follow, and both matched their characters exceptionally well.
Chloe portrayed Oneira’s solitude and inner ache in a delicately fragile way while maintaining her fierce independence. Shane, on the other hand, brought a weary yearning to Stearanos that lingered throughout, especially in the ending epilogue (which I think actually broke a little part of me, if I'm being honest).
Not usually something I mention in my reviews, but I think the soft musical bookends were a really beautiful touch and enhanced the dreamlike "fairytale" atmosphere. I actually found myself wishing that musical motif had returned throughout the book (as led me to an aside where I went on a deep inner tangent about how awesome it would be to have music in more audios like Graphic Audios tend to do, but I digress...)
I found the audio to be relatively smooth and immersive listen. I typically listen at 1.5x speed, and the pacing held beautifully without distortion or tonal loss in both the POVs for both narrators. While this was an ALC and did contain some minor technical inconsistencies (noted but not factored into my review), I have no doubt they’ll all be resolved in the final edit.
This is a deeply atmospheric, very slow-burn romantasy that really requires a lot of patience. It takes its time building the world of dreams, vast and very complex magic system, and exudes quiet sorrow. The first half leans heavily into Oneira’s self imposed loneliness and isolation. There is NO dialogue or interaction for quite a few chapters, yet her loneliness is also her strength. The lack of dialogue, while being told in third person requires the listener (or reader) to sit beside her and feel the weight of what living alone really and truly means. It's not only the lack of interaction, it's the lack of voice, in physical act of using one's voice, but also in the words and ways we interact with others later. I did feel like there was a very abrupt shift when Stearanos enters the picture, they spent a couple of chapters as enemies to lovers, but from 0-60 went from that to instalove with very few interactions. While the romance arc moved rapidly, I did feel like it was still rewarding because the groundwork for their grief, mutual exhaustion, and long-buried desire makes it believable and also gut wrenching.
Story-wise I did love that this couple were older main characters navigating intimacy and the feelings for worthiness (or lack thereof) after years of detachment. Oneira’s realization that she is not done with life or desire despite her age was one of the most moving moments I’ve experienced in a very long time. I loved watching her rediscover her capacity for tenderness and connection after so long in emotional survival mode.
I do feel the need to throw in some Trigger/content warnings because it's definitely there and important to know going in I think. You can expect; functional depression, suicidal ideation, parental abandonment, grief, death, and a whole lost of self loathing.
Overall I really enjoyed the book and I think a lot of women who know what it is to feel that bone-tired exhaustion from the world (and dating scene), but still quietly, silently harbour a hope that magic still exists will be able to relate to this book, and honestly the same for men. It did end on a cliffhanger (because of COURSE it did) and Now (of course) I am dying to know what happens! I don't think the second book has been announced yet, so I'll quitely keep the hope open that we don't have to wait to long!
As mentioned in the beginning, I received an ALC of this audiobook from NetGalley and Macmillian in exchange for an honest review. Having said that, all thoughts are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment
Sadly this is the first time I've had to DNF a book in a long time. I was really intrigued by the premise and was super excited to read it but I could not get behind the writing style of this book. I often found myself very confused and had to reread full pages. There are moments where the writing is beautifully descriptive but sadly it can also get too descriptive to the point that my ADHD brain would stop focusing. I love a descriptive book but I felt that the description was misplaced and more focused on random elements than on the important parts of the narrative. After about 50 pages I was still finding myself struggling to be invested in the story.
Lastly, I think the dour disposition of the main character also made it difficult for me to want to follow along with her story. For all of these reasons I had to DNF this book and it gets a 1 star from me.
Thank you NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, and Bramble for the eARC
Lastly, I think the dour disposition of the main character also made it difficult for me to want to follow along with her story. For all of these reasons I had to DNF this book and it gets a 1 star from me.
Thank you NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, and Bramble for the eARC
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This felt like a mediocre romantasy that was trying to be cozy - which it maybe succeeded in for the first bit (I enjoyed the parts where she was visiting his library and exchanging notes), but then devolved quite quickly as soon as a male character shows up at the FMC's house. At that point it became jarring insta-lust and weird contemplations of "maybe I should get pregnant to pass the time before I decide to die," etc etc. Not much to redeem it after that point.
Oneira's godly animal companions felt like they were going to be super important (or at least, have a strong, meaningful relationship with her) but then never ended up amounting to more than a way to insert a "wise" comment to the main characters once or twice, which was disappointing. The "evil" characters felt very one-dimensional and cartoonish (they're evil because their three lines of dialogue are either sexism or narcissism - no further fleshing out). It seemed like they were just included to cause trouble for drama's sake. If this book was trying to be cozy, it certainly lost the plot on that by introducing impending war and especially by ending the book with her having to break her retirement/morals to kill the prince and stop the war, followed by her effectively committing/attempting suicide afterward.
Definitely a few eyebrow-raising writing choices that took me out of the fantasy moment. I also can't tell if this book is meant to end on a cliff-hanger or if it is just a dramatically vague ending. I don't know if I am invested enough to read a book two, even if there does end up being one. Certainly not the worst book I've read, but glad it was a free ARC rather than a purchase.
Oneira's godly animal companions felt like they were going to be super important (or at least, have a strong, meaningful relationship with her) but then never ended up amounting to more than a way to insert a "wise" comment to the main characters once or twice, which was disappointing. The "evil" characters felt very one-dimensional and cartoonish (they're evil because their three lines of dialogue are either sexism or narcissism - no further fleshing out). It seemed like they were just included to cause trouble for drama's sake. If this book was trying to be cozy, it certainly lost the plot on that by introducing impending war and especially by ending the book with
Definitely a few eyebrow-raising writing choices that took me out of the fantasy moment. I also can't tell if this book is meant to end on a cliff-hanger or if it is just a dramatically vague ending. I don't know if I am invested enough to read a book two, even if there does end up being one. Certainly not the worst book I've read, but glad it was a free ARC rather than a purchase.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt, War
Minor: Violence, Pregnancy
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
I really enjoyed this book. It started out cozy, but it definitely ended up mixing in some high stakes conflict. I loved the animal companions. I am not generally a very emotional reader, but I definitely felt it toward the end of this book. The dream world magic was unique. I listened to the audiobook and the narration by both narrators was perfect. Thanks for the advanced listening copy!
Thank you to the author / publisher / and Netgalley for the early copy. All opinions are my own
Unfortunately this was a DNF 😭
The storyline sounded interesting and the author did a great job at setting up the world that Oneira and Stearanos live in. With vivid and very detailed descriptions it was easy to picture everything as I read.
The problem for me was the pacing was too slow. With so little action and dialogue I struggled to stay engaged. I know this was done with purpose to highlight how Oneira was living, but unfortunately it was hard to for me to remain in the story
If you like slower paced books you may want to try Never The Roses
Unfortunately this was a DNF 😭
The storyline sounded interesting and the author did a great job at setting up the world that Oneira and Stearanos live in. With vivid and very detailed descriptions it was easy to picture everything as I read.
The problem for me was the pacing was too slow. With so little action and dialogue I struggled to stay engaged. I know this was done with purpose to highlight how Oneira was living, but unfortunately it was hard to for me to remain in the story
If you like slower paced books you may want to try Never The Roses