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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
I tried to pick up this book SOO many times but just couldn’t get into it. It was so painfully slow. Even 30 pages in and NOTHING has happened but her describing different things. Reading reviews it doesn’t get much better. I prefer a lot of more action and even dialogue between characters.
4⭐
It was absolute delight—this book had me chuckling, crying, and completely swept away. The romance is tender, sweet, and unfolds at the perfect pace.
this book was not at all what i expected and it took me a bit to get into the story. Oneira is a powerful sorceress who’s decided she no longer wants a hand in all the war and destruction, so she retires and lives a life of reclusion in her cottage. the romance and the gradual connection built between Oneira and Stearanos, it was so sweet. the ending was a punch right in the gut and i cannot forgive the author for that cliffhanger..
Thank you netgalley for the arc.
It was absolute delight—this book had me chuckling, crying, and completely swept away. The romance is tender, sweet, and unfolds at the perfect pace.
this book was not at all what i expected and it took me a bit to get into the story. Oneira is a powerful sorceress who’s decided she no longer wants a hand in all the war and destruction, so she retires and lives a life of reclusion in her cottage. the romance and the gradual connection built between Oneira and Stearanos, it was so sweet. the ending was a punch right in the gut and i cannot forgive the author for that cliffhanger..
Thank you netgalley for the arc.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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:
Complicated
I’m not sure how this one ended up on my Edelweiss request list, but I’m glad it did. Never the Roses is a quietly romantic fantasy about two rival sorcerers, Oneira and Stearanos, who have been adversaries for most of their lives. Now in retirement, Oneira impulsively breaks into Stearanos’ home and steals a book from his library. This single act sparks a whimsical exchange of notes, flirtation, and book thievery that might just be the most charming premise I’ve read this year. But as Oneira retreats into her quiet life, her absence leaves her homeland vulnerable to invasion, forcing her back into the dangerous political world she had tried to escape.
This book was a lovely change of pace for me. After a string of darker reads, Never the Roses felt like a balm. The romance is slow and thoughtful, shaped by shared history and mutual weariness. The magical pets are a delightful bonus, and the banter between Oneira and Stearanos was a highlight throughout.
That said, the ending left me conflicted. I don’t necessarily need every story to have a happily-ever-after, but I found the resolution lacking in emotional payoff. It felt like there were a few directions the story could have gone that would have been more satisfying for the characters and the journey they’d taken. I’m rounding my rating up to four stars because of how much I enjoyed the journey, even if I wasn’t entirely sold on the destination.
If you enjoy low-stakes romantasy with a focus on character growth, emotional healing, and gentle magic, this is well worth picking up.
This book was a lovely change of pace for me. After a string of darker reads, Never the Roses felt like a balm. The romance is slow and thoughtful, shaped by shared history and mutual weariness. The magical pets are a delightful bonus, and the banter between Oneira and Stearanos was a highlight throughout.
That said, the ending left me conflicted. I don’t necessarily need every story to have a happily-ever-after, but I found the resolution lacking in emotional payoff. It felt like there were a few directions the story could have gone that would have been more satisfying for the characters and the journey they’d taken. I’m rounding my rating up to four stars because of how much I enjoyed the journey, even if I wasn’t entirely sold on the destination.
If you enjoy low-stakes romantasy with a focus on character growth, emotional healing, and gentle magic, this is well worth picking up.
reflective
slow-paced
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
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 really beautiful. However, even though it is a fantasy, it reads more as literary fiction. There is some romantic interest, but I would not categorize it as a romance. Read this light spoiler if you're intereted in the romance part of the book: Slight spoiler, but there is no HEA.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder
Moderate: Suicide, War
Minor: Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There was no dialogue this far in and it was painfully slow.
emotional
funny
hopeful
relaxing
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
Such a lighthearted romantic read! I truly enjoyed this book so much more than I ever thought I would and it’s the first book that made me cry since Throne of Glass series
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character