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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
š¹New Book Release!š¹
I was so thankful to @netgalley, @torbooks and most of all @jenniferk.lambert , author of this emotionally devastating romantasy, for sending me an e-ARC of Never the Roses!
Synopsis:
š¹The powerful sorceress Oneira has retired, weary from years of serving royalty in endless wars.
š¹She expects death soon and lives in solitudeāexcept for a mythical wolf, a goddessās avatar, and a magic-infused cat and bird.
š¹Bored and restless, she impulsively visits the worldās largest libraryāowned by her longtime rival, Stearanos.
š¹She steals a book, triggering an unexpected secret correspondence between her and Stearanos.
š¹Through witty letters, they develop a rare connection neither has found before.
š¹Oneira discovers Stearanos is now serving a cruel king preparing to attack the queen she once fought for.
š¹Though a relationship with him is dangerous, sheās drawn to himāand canāt stay away.
š¹Their bond could either reignite her will to liveā¦ or lead to her ruin.
Thoughts:
While the start is slow, once the library trips start and the witty banter between Oneira and Stearanos āEmā began, I was captivated.
Their relationship is so gentle and sweet, which contrasts so much with the fact that they both are such powerful beings. I love that they are able to relate to each other because they have had to do horrible things for these rulers who literally owned them and yet they still hold onto their humanity.
And the endingā I bawled! Picture me in the middle of the night laying in bed with my left arm elevated on a pillow feeling like crap because Iāve been sick on top of having surgery. With tears streaming down my face, trying to be quiet because my girlfriend is asleep next to me. I havenāt been this broken hearted over a book in ages!
I want to see artwork of Oneiraās white castle on a cliff over the pink sands below and gardens outside the doors with her wolf, cat, and bird trailing behind her like shadows.
3š¶ļø
Author: @jenniferk.lambert
Publisher: @brambleromance
Release Day: July 8, 2025
I was so thankful to @netgalley, @torbooks and most of all @jenniferk.lambert , author of this emotionally devastating romantasy, for sending me an e-ARC of Never the Roses!
Synopsis:
š¹The powerful sorceress Oneira has retired, weary from years of serving royalty in endless wars.
š¹She expects death soon and lives in solitudeāexcept for a mythical wolf, a goddessās avatar, and a magic-infused cat and bird.
š¹Bored and restless, she impulsively visits the worldās largest libraryāowned by her longtime rival, Stearanos.
š¹She steals a book, triggering an unexpected secret correspondence between her and Stearanos.
š¹Through witty letters, they develop a rare connection neither has found before.
š¹Oneira discovers Stearanos is now serving a cruel king preparing to attack the queen she once fought for.
š¹Though a relationship with him is dangerous, sheās drawn to himāand canāt stay away.
š¹Their bond could either reignite her will to liveā¦ or lead to her ruin.
Thoughts:
While the start is slow, once the library trips start and the witty banter between Oneira and Stearanos āEmā began, I was captivated.
Their relationship is so gentle and sweet, which contrasts so much with the fact that they both are such powerful beings. I love that they are able to relate to each other because they have had to do horrible things for these rulers who literally owned them and yet they still hold onto their humanity.
And the endingā I bawled! Picture me in the middle of the night laying in bed with my left arm elevated on a pillow feeling like crap because Iāve been sick on top of having surgery. With tears streaming down my face, trying to be quiet because my girlfriend is asleep next to me. I havenāt been this broken hearted over a book in ages!
I want to see artwork of Oneiraās white castle on a cliff over the pink sands below and gardens outside the doors with her wolf, cat, and bird trailing behind her like shadows.
3š¶ļø
Author: @jenniferk.lambert
Publisher: @brambleromance
Release Day: July 8, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Bramble and author Jennifer K. Lambert for this eARC
Well this was an interesting read... On the one hand I loved it - the writing was beautiful, lyrical and had a very fitting dream-like quality to it. Lambert created a wonderful atmospheric setting. I loved it!
It also started out great with our MC Oneira living her quiet life after retirement. However it just took too much time for me for the plot to finally get going. I wasn't expecting aa fast, action packed adventure, but I did hope for a little plot development before the 60% mark.
I did thoroughly enjoy the last 20% even if the ending was somewhat unexpected for a romantasy.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is the āThief of my heart.ā It has healed my soul in ways I didnāt know that it needed. To then have the end break my heart into a million pieces. Actual tears were cried. It has finished meā¦ and I loved it so much.
What you will find in this book:
- Cozy Romantasy
- Healing After Trauma
- Rival Kingdoms/Magic Workers
- Witty Banter
- True Enemies to Lovers
- Dual POV
It definitely has a slower pace than I usually read, but I felt like it needed to be for Oneiraās and Stearanoās story to play out in the beautiful way it did. I binged the entire book in less than 24 hours - simply needing more of it - and to know where their story would go.
The underlying themes and stories also just hit all the right notes in the current state of the world for meā¦. I know this is my own interpretation, but the tyranny of the monarchs in this and the way they controlled things with debt/money just felt so freaking accurate and applicable to the real world. Contracts that kept magic workers enslaved and forced them to do horrific actsā¦ So real for this ex-corporate worker.
I have no notes - other than thank you. Thank you so much to Jennifer K. Lambert for this gem of a story - I will dream of it forever.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio & NetGalley for the ALC. Chloe Campbell & Shane East were fantastic and I cannot recommend listening to this book enough!
āWeāre happening to each other. Give it a try, Oneira. You have only your loneliness to lose. Let me show you how it can be.ā
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
āļøāļøāļøāļø 4/5 stars
š§ Never the Roses by Jennifer K. Lambert
Iām honestly a little torn on how to feel about this oneābut in a good way! Itās beautifully written with gorgeous world-building, and I absolutely loved that it starts where most fantasy books end: with the heroine, Oneira, retired. Yepāour leading lady, a powerful sorceress, is living a quiet life of gardening š¹ and trying to heal from some seriously dark trauma after years of being an indentured magical weapon for a ruthless queen.
Oneiraās struggle to find meaning, purpose, and peace was so refreshing. As someone in their 30s still figuring out life (šāāļø), I found her thoughtful, weary, but determined outlook really relatableāeven if sheās 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, letās talk audiobook: the dual narration by Chloe Campbell and the king of hot MMCs himself, Shane East š„, was phenomenal. Both narrators brought so much life, depth, and emotion to the charactersāitās seriously one of the highlights of the whole experience.
Where I struggled a bit was with the bookās identity (or maybe its tone?). At times, it felt like a cozy magical slice-of-lifeāthink Legends & Lattes vibesāwith gentle gardening magic, charming side characters, and warm library scenes. Other times, it got dark with political intrigue, betrayal, and murder Ć 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 doesnāt really kick off until about 30-40% in, so youāll need patience for the slower, gentler build. I could definitely see some readers DNF-ing just because of the slow start. And thenāplot twistāthe ending felt rushed, with huge developments crammed into the last literal 3% that really needed more time to breathe. Itās clearly setting up for a sequel though, and Iām curious to see where it goes next.
āØ Overall:
A beautifully written, slower-paced romantasy with a mature, relatable heroine, enchanting magic, and incredible narration. If youāre 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!
š§ Never the Roses by Jennifer K. Lambert
Iām honestly a little torn on how to feel about this oneābut in a good way! Itās beautifully written with gorgeous world-building, and I absolutely loved that it starts where most fantasy books end: with the heroine, Oneira, retired. Yepāour leading lady, a powerful sorceress, is living a quiet life of gardening š¹ and trying to heal from some seriously dark trauma after years of being an indentured magical weapon for a ruthless queen.
Oneiraās struggle to find meaning, purpose, and peace was so refreshing. As someone in their 30s still figuring out life (šāāļø), I found her thoughtful, weary, but determined outlook really relatableāeven if sheās 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, letās talk audiobook: the dual narration by Chloe Campbell and the king of hot MMCs himself, Shane East š„, was phenomenal. Both narrators brought so much life, depth, and emotion to the charactersāitās seriously one of the highlights of the whole experience.
Where I struggled a bit was with the bookās identity (or maybe its tone?). At times, it felt like a cozy magical slice-of-lifeāthink Legends & Lattes vibesāwith gentle gardening magic, charming side characters, and warm library scenes. Other times, it got dark with political intrigue, betrayal, and murder Ć 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 doesnāt really kick off until about 30-40% in, so youāll need patience for the slower, gentler build. I could definitely see some readers DNF-ing just because of the slow start. And thenāplot twistāthe ending felt rushed, with huge developments crammed into the last literal 3% that really needed more time to breathe. Itās clearly setting up for a sequel though, and Iām curious to see where it goes next.
āØ Overall:
A beautifully written, slower-paced romantasy with a mature, relatable heroine, enchanting magic, and incredible narration. If youāre 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 isnāt 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 doesnāt 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 isnāt 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 isnāt 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 doesnāt 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 isnāt 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 Iāve 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 wasnāt 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