Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
adventurous
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and the author Jennifer K. Lambert for the ALC copy of Never the Roses! 🎧🖤
✨ Tropes:
• Dual POV
• Retired warrior heroine
• Forbidden romance
• Rivals-to-lovers energy
• Sorceress x sorcerer pairing
• Magic and war backdrop
My Thoughts:
I was so excited for this book—it sounded so intriguing, and the edition releasing is beautiful. But it let me down a bit. The first 50% felt so slow… mostly sleeping, stealing books, and Oneira thinking about how this younger guy made her feel alive again (honestly, she just seemed super sex-deprived and horny).
Around 75%, things finally picked up. The ending and the narrators saved this one for me, but I just wish more had happened in the beginning.
✨ Tropes:
• Dual POV
• Retired warrior heroine
• Forbidden romance
• Rivals-to-lovers energy
• Sorceress x sorcerer pairing
• Magic and war backdrop
My Thoughts:
I was so excited for this book—it sounded so intriguing, and the edition releasing is beautiful. But it let me down a bit. The first 50% felt so slow… mostly sleeping, stealing books, and Oneira thinking about how this younger guy made her feel alive again (honestly, she just seemed super sex-deprived and horny).
Around 75%, things finally picked up. The ending and the narrators saved this one for me, but I just wish more had happened in the beginning.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A romantasy primarily focused on the romance and character building with some background world plot to push the story on. I enjoyed the reflection on grief and healing, but I am left wanting a bit more from the ending. I really appreciated some mature main characters!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Moderate: Murder, War
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
I expected this to be an intriguing romantasy with an enemies to lovers plot, what I got was a remarkable slow burn story that was beautifully told and left me in tears. This might not be for everyone but I adored how much care was put into world building and storytelling. By the time we really took off I felt I had intimate knowledge of both our main characters (Oneira and Stearanos).
The slow build up gave us unique windows into each character's motivations, hearts, and minds and created such depth that the ending here felt that much more beautiful and tragic and hopeful (how the author managed to capture all those things at once, I'll never know, but they did. I think the author does an amazing job capturing how those who have been forced to do things they didn't want or aren't proud of them respond as well as human responses to trauma.
I don't want to give much away because this book should be experienced with wonder and mystery on where it is going. Both Audio narrators did an amazing job giving voice to our characters. While I was listening to the beginning of the story it reminded me of the opening of the Beauty and the Beast movie, setting up for a tale you know you won't forget!
If you love being surprised, deep character exploration, and a love for the ages I would highly recommend this. Thank you to the publisher for providing an ALC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
emotional
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:
Yes
Never the Roses is a slow paced, slow burn and descriptive story that deep dives into the mental health struggles that morally grey characters face. It shows the healing power of nature, pets and love. Focusing on the inner turmoil that our FMC is going through and that the only character (MMC) who understands and is able to help her through it being her enemy, her equal in all things.
That said, I found Never the Roses infuriating. I almost DNF a handful of times due to how slow paced it is and lack of anything actually happening. Do I wish I had DNF at 25% when no other speaking character had yet to be introduced? Yes, yes I do.
This book could have been a novella with how little plot and romance it had, including the open door spice scenes 🌶️. It felt like I was reading a side story of two morally grey sidekicks to our enemies to lovers MCs of our favourite series but it had too many adjectives and just needed to reach a word count.
This book simply was just not my cup of tea. I need action, excitement and a HEA 😭
2.5 ⭐️
That said, I found Never the Roses infuriating. I almost DNF a handful of times due to how slow paced it is and lack of anything actually happening. Do I wish I had DNF at 25% when no other speaking character had yet to be introduced? Yes, yes I do.
This book could have been a novella with how little plot and romance it had, including the open door spice scenes 🌶️. It felt like I was reading a side story of two morally grey sidekicks to our enemies to lovers MCs of our favourite series but it had too many adjectives and just needed to reach a word count.
This book simply was just not my cup of tea. I need action, excitement and a HEA 😭
2.5 ⭐️
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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:
Yes
This book starts out like a dream and as it goes it grows into the sweetest love story. I love good character growth and a fully realized redemption arc. (And I hate Tristan and so will you.)
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an eARC of this book!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an eARC of this book!
Spice level: 🌶️/5
Oneira is a retired dread sorceress, now that she has bought her freedom and is living out her life in the middle of nowhere. She's hit a point of boredom (literally building herself a bier) and decides to visit the most extensive library in existence, that happens to be owned by her rival, Stearanos. Stearanos is a sorcerer still under the command of a king, the rival of Oneira's previous queen. Oneira recklessly steals a book from Stearanos, initiating a taunting correspondence that turns to flirtation.
With excellent dual narration from the two narrators, this is a sweet and slow cozy fantasy. It left me wanting more for Oneira and Stearanos (please, tell me there is more!) Give this a read if you like:
- forbidden love/starcrossed lovers
- rivals to lovers
- slow burn
- past trauma/dark past
- lands on the brink of war
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for an ALC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This book will be published on 7/8/25.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Sexism, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Murder, Colonisation, War
Minor: Child death, Death, Blood
slow-paced
💥💥💥. Book Review 💥💥💥
Never The Roses
By Jennifer K. Lambert
⭐️⭐️ Stars
Never the Roses presented a fascinating premise but was just lifeless and dual with slow pacing. I am sorry. I just couldn’t get into this extremely slow burn book. I have the audio arc and I have tried twice to get into it and like it, but I can’t. I am sorry. I guess I didn’t like the narrator. Plus I just found it boring and fell flat for me.
I want to thank NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
I didn't love this one... I really wanted to, but I just couldn't get into it. It has a great premise and I love the idea behind it, but the story moves at a glacial pace and it was too slow for me. I found myself getting drowsy every time I tried to listen to it.
Perfect for those who love a slower paced, beautifully written book that I would compare to An Enchantment of Ravens
Perfect for those who love a slower paced, beautifully written book that I would compare to An Enchantment of Ravens