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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
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
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This one was a slow burn for me - emphasis on slow. For most of the book, I had a hard time getting into it and I honestly wasn’t sure I’d finish. But I’m really glad I stuck with it because once it finally clicked, I couldn’t put it down.
Never the Roses is a unique blend of romance and fantasy and it stands out for doing things a little differently. It captured the enemies to lovers dynamic in a way that felt fresh, with a later in life romance that added depth and realism. The characters had layers, the magic felt grounded, and the emotional payoff snuck up on me in the best way. And the ending? Not your typical neat bow - something I actually appreciated.
Overall it took patience but I’d absolutely read the second book. This story definitely grew on me.en
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Murder, War
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-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:
Yes
Heat Index: 5/10
—evil sorceress/evil sorcerer
—mutually assured destruction but make it people
—what happens when villains retire?
—melancholy and gardening
The Basics:
The "dreamthief" sorceress Oneira, renowned for her destruction, has retired to her keep in solitude (along with a couple of magical animal companions and a goddess's avatar, of course). No more protecting kingdoms through her horrors! Now it's all gardening and waiting for her inevitable death. But she would like a book or two, which leads her to dreamwalk into the library of Stearanos Stormbreaker, the one sorcerer whose power rivals her own—to the point that their respective masters (kings and queens) used them against each other. Though they offered mutually assured destruction, Oneira and Stearanos never actually met. Until she starts stealing his books. But as they get to know each other through notes and taunts, the reality that the wicked king who keeps Stearanos by his side remains; and his threat could bring Oneira out of hidning.
The Review:
In some ways, this book is cozy. In other ways, it's incredibly sad. In all ways, it's beautifully written. That being said, unless there's a sequel, I do feel it needs to be classified as a romantic fantasy, a love story, versus a genre romance. Because while I'll hold back from spoilers... The ending is what I would call bittersweet. It's not closing the door on possibilities, but it is firmly in the realm of romantic fantasy versus fantasy romance.
I loved a lot of things about this. Oneira and Stearanos are both deeply jaded, experienced people who've lived a lot of life. They have gray in their hair (and they're both hot as fuck). They're world-weary. I loved reading about people who aren't 25 falling in love, and I also loved reading about people who are the villains of the story, who have unimaginably power (while still being thwarted) getting so frustrated and bored and done with live... meeting their equals. And finally getting engaged with the world again.
Oneira especially is sort of passively suicidal, waiting to die when the novel begins. One thing I did love is that specifically, several times, her libido gets called out; she's never had great luck with lovers and sort of considered herself sexually dead. WELL. WAKE THE HELL UP, ONEIRA.
Oneira and Stearanos's connection and chemistry is both charming and tragic. They're both deeply aware of one another, and are peers, and have been for decades. But they've never seen one another in the flesh, and they're both missing a sense of understanding only they can provide each other. They're both fearsome and awful, they both exist, essentially, as dehumanized threats. They both have unimaginable power, yet can't really truly exhibit it due to these contracts held by people who essentially own them. Or, so was the case before Oneira bought out her own... for what turns out to have been a terrible price.
Based on the premise and the writing quality and Oneira and Stearanos's interactions, there is a world where this would've been a knockout book for me. It's good, but not quite that, in part due to the pacing. When you have characters like these, with the chemistry they have, there's no reason why the reader should wait until the halfway mark for them to physically meet. And while I would've had more patience with a genuinely epistolary romance done through combative notes (a la Cat Sebastian's excellent historical romance, The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes) they actually don't exchange that many?
Which makes sense. Because one Stearanos knows that this incredibly dangerous woman is stealing his books and going HEEHEE in his dreams, obviously he needs to go out there and suss out the issue. So... why so much time spent on Oneira gardening, and Stearanos fuming? There is a plot here, and the plot does need to happen for the tragedy and the culmination, don't get me wrong. There are scenes that could be cut, yeah, but it's less that *a lot* need to be cut and more that *a lot* need to be shortened and could be shortened through less internal monologue. There's a slow build, and there's holding back from what makes the book good. Which is Oneira and Stearanos.
This is a very "you can't outrun your past" book, and it has a lot of subtle things to say about the state of the world at large, to be honest. The people who use Oneira and Stearanos don't have their gifts, their intelligence, their abilities. But they hold them by their metaphorical collars and therefore wield power. Another character is held by a more literal collar, and is so... terribly tragic... in a way that contrasts to Oneira and Stearanos beautifully.
So while the coziness of the setting and the meandering of Oneira's melancholy was a good framework, I think that it was a little too indulged and kept the novel from packing the full tragedy of its punch.
The Sex:
There's a little bit of sex here, and it's not entirely between Oneira and Stearanos, which I didn't mind at all. Like I mentioned above, I really liked the way that Oneira's mindset interacted with her body, and how that changed as she fell for and connected with Stearanos. There's a scene where she contemplates what it would be like if she just accidentally got pregnant, it's this kind of out-of-body-ness to her inner monologue that adds tot he sadness.
I will say! That Oneira getting her period at an inopportune moment is a part of this... And while I loved Stearanos saying "I don't mind a little blood", as any murderous sorcerer should, I must ask? Why not? Just? Do it? I am merely a romance reader asking for authors to write period sex on the page.
The Conclusion:
The Circe comparisons are apt, and I would also throw in the sense of deep melancholy I got from The Last Unicorn. This book has absolutely gorgeous prose and a great concept, and if there is a sequel in the future I would definitely read it. I really can't critique a lot of plot and character stuff. What it needed to tighten up and work a bit better, however, was better pacing and a more streamlined narrative. Because when you have hot, "morally charcoal but trying to be better" tragic villains falling in love, that needs to be the star of the show.
Thanks to Bramble and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
—evil sorceress/evil sorcerer
—mutually assured destruction but make it people
—what happens when villains retire?
—melancholy and gardening
The Basics:
The "dreamthief" sorceress Oneira, renowned for her destruction, has retired to her keep in solitude (along with a couple of magical animal companions and a goddess's avatar, of course). No more protecting kingdoms through her horrors! Now it's all gardening and waiting for her inevitable death. But she would like a book or two, which leads her to dreamwalk into the library of Stearanos Stormbreaker, the one sorcerer whose power rivals her own—to the point that their respective masters (kings and queens) used them against each other. Though they offered mutually assured destruction, Oneira and Stearanos never actually met. Until she starts stealing his books. But as they get to know each other through notes and taunts, the reality that the wicked king who keeps Stearanos by his side remains; and his threat could bring Oneira out of hidning.
The Review:
In some ways, this book is cozy. In other ways, it's incredibly sad. In all ways, it's beautifully written. That being said, unless there's a sequel, I do feel it needs to be classified as a romantic fantasy, a love story, versus a genre romance. Because while I'll hold back from spoilers... The ending is what I would call bittersweet. It's not closing the door on possibilities, but it is firmly in the realm of romantic fantasy versus fantasy romance.
I loved a lot of things about this. Oneira and Stearanos are both deeply jaded, experienced people who've lived a lot of life. They have gray in their hair (and they're both hot as fuck). They're world-weary. I loved reading about people who aren't 25 falling in love, and I also loved reading about people who are the villains of the story, who have unimaginably power (while still being thwarted) getting so frustrated and bored and done with live... meeting their equals. And finally getting engaged with the world again.
Oneira especially is sort of passively suicidal, waiting to die when the novel begins. One thing I did love is that specifically, several times, her libido gets called out; she's never had great luck with lovers and sort of considered herself sexually dead. WELL. WAKE THE HELL UP, ONEIRA.
Oneira and Stearanos's connection and chemistry is both charming and tragic. They're both deeply aware of one another, and are peers, and have been for decades. But they've never seen one another in the flesh, and they're both missing a sense of understanding only they can provide each other. They're both fearsome and awful, they both exist, essentially, as dehumanized threats. They both have unimaginable power, yet can't really truly exhibit it due to these contracts held by people who essentially own them. Or, so was the case before Oneira bought out her own... for what turns out to have been a terrible price.
Based on the premise and the writing quality and Oneira and Stearanos's interactions, there is a world where this would've been a knockout book for me. It's good, but not quite that, in part due to the pacing. When you have characters like these, with the chemistry they have, there's no reason why the reader should wait until the halfway mark for them to physically meet. And while I would've had more patience with a genuinely epistolary romance done through combative notes (a la Cat Sebastian's excellent historical romance, The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes) they actually don't exchange that many?
Which makes sense. Because one Stearanos knows that this incredibly dangerous woman is stealing his books and going HEEHEE in his dreams, obviously he needs to go out there and suss out the issue. So... why so much time spent on Oneira gardening, and Stearanos fuming? There is a plot here, and the plot does need to happen for the tragedy and the culmination, don't get me wrong. There are scenes that could be cut, yeah, but it's less that *a lot* need to be cut and more that *a lot* need to be shortened and could be shortened through less internal monologue. There's a slow build, and there's holding back from what makes the book good. Which is Oneira and Stearanos.
This is a very "you can't outrun your past" book, and it has a lot of subtle things to say about the state of the world at large, to be honest. The people who use Oneira and Stearanos don't have their gifts, their intelligence, their abilities. But they hold them by their metaphorical collars and therefore wield power. Another character is held by a more literal collar, and is so... terribly tragic... in a way that contrasts to Oneira and Stearanos beautifully.
So while the coziness of the setting and the meandering of Oneira's melancholy was a good framework, I think that it was a little too indulged and kept the novel from packing the full tragedy of its punch.
The Sex:
There's a little bit of sex here, and it's not entirely between Oneira and Stearanos, which I didn't mind at all. Like I mentioned above, I really liked the way that Oneira's mindset interacted with her body, and how that changed as she fell for and connected with Stearanos. There's a scene where she contemplates what it would be like if she just accidentally got pregnant, it's this kind of out-of-body-ness to her inner monologue that adds tot he sadness.
I will say! That Oneira getting her period at an inopportune moment is a part of this... And while I loved Stearanos saying "I don't mind a little blood", as any murderous sorcerer should, I must ask? Why not? Just? Do it? I am merely a romance reader asking for authors to write period sex on the page.
The Conclusion:
The Circe comparisons are apt, and I would also throw in the sense of deep melancholy I got from The Last Unicorn. This book has absolutely gorgeous prose and a great concept, and if there is a sequel in the future I would definitely read it. I really can't critique a lot of plot and character stuff. What it needed to tighten up and work a bit better, however, was better pacing and a more streamlined narrative. Because when you have hot, "morally charcoal but trying to be better" tragic villains falling in love, that needs to be the star of the show.
Thanks to Bramble and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
challenging
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Never The Roses was an interesting, yet incredibly slow-paced story.
The story was entirely character driven with a very minimal focus on plot...or anything. The romance was slow-burn, but sweet. The mystical characters were there, but only in tiny tidbits. There was more internal dialogue than anything else.
There was potential for more plot with hints of betrayal, espionage, war, and forbidden love, but it never materialized.
It feels like the prequal for something more exciting to come. I do not know if this is meant to be a standalone or a series, but it could have some redemption if some action came in the next book. The end wasn't a complete wrap up, so it does seem possible that there is more to the story.
The narrators for the audio did a really good job for keeping me engaged even when it was a bit dull of a story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC.
The story was entirely character driven with a very minimal focus on plot...or anything. The romance was slow-burn, but sweet. The mystical characters were there, but only in tiny tidbits. There was more internal dialogue than anything else.
There was potential for more plot with hints of betrayal, espionage, war, and forbidden love, but it never materialized.
It feels like the prequal for something more exciting to come. I do not know if this is meant to be a standalone or a series, but it could have some redemption if some action came in the next book. The end wasn't a complete wrap up, so it does seem possible that there is more to the story.
The narrators for the audio did a really good job for keeping me engaged even when it was a bit dull of a story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
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:
N/A
I had such a fun time with this book. I adored the banter between the 2 main characters.
They just seemed so perfect for each other, even though they are supposed to be enemies.
The ending broke my heart, yet I still loved every second.
Thank you to NetGalley for the gifted eARC!
They just seemed so perfect for each other, even though they are supposed to be enemies.
The ending broke my heart, yet I still loved every second.
Thank you to NetGalley for the gifted eARC!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I'll be honest: I didn't get through more than about 40 pages of this. It wasn't really that there was anything wrong with the book; I simply found the style of writing wildly unappealing and the pace was so slow I couldn't justify continuing with it. Please do not take this review as some sort of judgement on the quality of the book, because I genuinely believe it was just a matter of personal taste for me. I hope others can get more out of it than I was able to.
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
DNF
Was so enchanted by the promise of the blurb, but boy howdy did it not deliver. Honestly almost quit from the first line. Decided to persevere and made it through ch 6. Nigh-on impenetrable Rube Goldberg machines of sentences. Hypocritical FMC with a deep love for all life who romanticizes her own death, and kills copious of flowers in pursuit of post-mortal vanity (I do not understand her callousness to plant life. Maddening).
"In an excess of caution, she ran a finger along the spine [of the dummy book she's leaving in the stead of the one she's stealing], removing as much imprint of her house or companions from the book as she could. Just in case. It would be insane to compromise their safety over a whim."
SHE HAS LITERALLY BEEN COMPROMISING THEIR SAFETY OVER SO MANY WHIMS BEFORE GETTING TO THIS POINT.
And then we finally get the MMC pov chapter which contains the stunning poetry of "Stearanos crawled out from under the covers and stood naked in the center of his bedchamber, scratching his balls sleepily."
Was fodder to laugh at with friends, I guess.
"In an excess of caution, she ran a finger along the spine [of the dummy book she's leaving in the stead of the one she's stealing], removing as much imprint of her house or companions from the book as she could. Just in case. It would be insane to compromise their safety over a whim."
SHE HAS LITERALLY BEEN COMPROMISING THEIR SAFETY OVER SO MANY WHIMS BEFORE GETTING TO THIS POINT.
And then we finally get the MMC pov chapter which contains the stunning poetry of "Stearanos crawled out from under the covers and stood naked in the center of his bedchamber, scratching his balls sleepily."
Was fodder to laugh at with friends, I guess.