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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
Thank you for the audiobook ARC!
First, I can’t say enough how refreshing it was that the story starts with older main characters that are retired or close to retirement. The MFC is NOT your typical fantasy character that is 19 years old and somehow trained assassin. Oniera is a middle aged sorceress retired from being a weapon for her Queen and country. Her magic is very interesting and is related to dreams. I am still a little confused by the overall magic system, but that didn’t deter me for enjoying the story. The MMC is a sorcerer named Stearnos, who knows what he wants and he wants the Oniera. I love that he isn’t torn or doubting and grows slowly.
The love story was sweet and I wished we had more of them courting each other.
Spice levels are low and could have been more.
The ending is was also a bit confusing to me. I understood that Oniera was fine with the killing and war. But I didn’t understand how one more death, a death of a sexist war hungry man lead her to her last choice. I will say the ending was very tragic but it was also odd that Stearnos would also choose to end his life since Oniera used her last murder to set him free. What was the purpose of her killing the prince and setting him free for them to both die?
Overall, I would recommend this book and enjoyed the audiobook version.
First, I can’t say enough how refreshing it was that the story starts with older main characters that are retired or close to retirement. The MFC is NOT your typical fantasy character that is 19 years old and somehow trained assassin. Oniera is a middle aged sorceress retired from being a weapon for her Queen and country. Her magic is very interesting and is related to dreams. I am still a little confused by the overall magic system, but that didn’t deter me for enjoying the story. The MMC is a sorcerer named Stearnos, who knows what he wants and he wants the Oniera. I love that he isn’t torn or doubting and grows slowly.
The love story was sweet and I wished we had more of them courting each other.
Spice levels are low and could have been more.
The ending is was also a bit confusing to me. I understood that Oniera was fine with the killing and war. But I didn’t understand how one more death, a death of a sexist war hungry man lead her to her last choice. I will say the ending was very tragic but it was also odd that Stearnos would also choose to end his life since Oniera used her last murder to set him free. What was the purpose of her killing the prince and setting him free for them to both die?
Overall, I would recommend this book and enjoyed the audiobook version.
dark
slow-paced
This was a dark fantasy, with cozy and slow paced vibes. It had less romance than I was anticipating, which isn't a bad thing, but felt surprising given the marketing. Oneira was a really interesting FMC. It really just felt like she was sad, lonely, and gardening for most of the book, which contributed to the slow pacing. I did appreciate how much care was given to the complexity of Oneira's character. The romance between Oneira and Stearanos was more of a subplot and was an incredibly drawn out slow burn. I listened to the audio which was really well done. Chloe Campbell and Shane East were fantastic narrators who really brought the characters to life.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the advance copy!
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the advance copy!
adventurous
challenging
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:
Yes
emotional
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Can't seem to get into it, may try again in a few months and see.
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:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
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
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
DNF @ 33%
While it did get better, the pacing was very slow and the writing style was a little too wordy and difficult to digest for me. The plot felt absent too.
I was hoping it would be a cute, whimsical Frieren-like story with cozy fantasy vibes but I just could not stay interested. 😩 SIGH.
It is also very HEAVY on tell, not show. Almost everything is a rambling description of the character’s inner monologue. Eyes will be glazing over unless you can tolerate the style.
While it did get better, the pacing was very slow and the writing style was a little too wordy and difficult to digest for me. The plot felt absent too.
I was hoping it would be a cute, whimsical Frieren-like story with cozy fantasy vibes but I just could not stay interested. 😩 SIGH.
It is also very HEAVY on tell, not show. Almost everything is a rambling description of the character’s inner monologue. Eyes will be glazing over unless you can tolerate the style.
emotional
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
I pre-ordered this book without reading the blurb or knowing anything about the author. In fact, I didn't even remember putting this book in my cart—it just showed up on my doorstep from Barnes & Noble last week. I am so happy I bought this book, and thank you to my subconscious for placing the order.
Never the Roses takes place in a world where magic users are indentured to first their schools and then their employers through contracts that make it almost impossible for them to buy their freedom. The most powerful sorcerers are forced to commit atrocities in order to please their employers in the hope that someday they'll make enough money to buy their freedom. The sorceress Oneira has finally been able to retire after years of using her gifts for bloodshed and war. She has isolated herself on a plot of land with only her animals for companions. After years of solitude, she realizes she's in search of the answer to a question she can't quite form. On a whim, she steps into the Dream and ends up visiting her longtime rival Stearanos's library. She takes a book from him, beginning a relationship that will change both their lives and suck Oneira back into a world she had abandoned.
The prose in this book was stunning. I was immediately struck by the way the author approached the sentence-level craft. Each word felt carefully chosen, each character's voice was specific and clear. I was really blown away by the level of care that went into the writing.
I've seen this book described as "cozy" and I strongly disagree. While there isn't a ton of plot, there is a deep, impactful emotional journey that is rooted in the trauma our characters have experienced because of their power. And the stakes are enormous. Whenever Oneira or Stearanos were prevailed upon to use their powers, people died—not a small number of people, but whole populations. The challenges they face could not be more existential.
On to why people read my reviews: the romance. The romance in this book is quiet but exquisite. Oneira and Stearanos have been kept separate their entire lives because the system that exploits magic users only works if they are isolated and unable to form their own alliances. But once they begin interacting, they're almost fated to be together. I was immediately drawn into their dynamic and ate up all of their interactions.
The epilogue of this book was devastatingly beautiful. There was one line, which I will not put here because it is a spoiler, that absolutely got me. You'll know what it is when you read this book. Now, just a heads up, Never the Roses is not a romance novel. There is no HEA—in fact, the ending is quite tragic. But it is still touching fantasy with romance, if not a romance novel.
Never the Roses takes place in a world where magic users are indentured to first their schools and then their employers through contracts that make it almost impossible for them to buy their freedom. The most powerful sorcerers are forced to commit atrocities in order to please their employers in the hope that someday they'll make enough money to buy their freedom. The sorceress Oneira has finally been able to retire after years of using her gifts for bloodshed and war. She has isolated herself on a plot of land with only her animals for companions. After years of solitude, she realizes she's in search of the answer to a question she can't quite form. On a whim, she steps into the Dream and ends up visiting her longtime rival Stearanos's library. She takes a book from him, beginning a relationship that will change both their lives and suck Oneira back into a world she had abandoned.
The prose in this book was stunning. I was immediately struck by the way the author approached the sentence-level craft. Each word felt carefully chosen, each character's voice was specific and clear. I was really blown away by the level of care that went into the writing.
I've seen this book described as "cozy" and I strongly disagree. While there isn't a ton of plot, there is a deep, impactful emotional journey that is rooted in the trauma our characters have experienced because of their power. And the stakes are enormous. Whenever Oneira or Stearanos were prevailed upon to use their powers, people died—not a small number of people, but whole populations. The challenges they face could not be more existential.
On to why people read my reviews: the romance. The romance in this book is quiet but exquisite. Oneira and Stearanos have been kept separate their entire lives because the system that exploits magic users only works if they are isolated and unable to form their own alliances. But once they begin interacting, they're almost fated to be together. I was immediately drawn into their dynamic and ate up all of their interactions.
The epilogue of this book was devastatingly beautiful. There was one line, which I will not put here because it is a spoiler, that absolutely got me. You'll know what it is when you read this book. Now, just a heads up, Never the Roses is not a romance novel. There is no HEA—in fact, the ending is quite tragic. But it is still touching fantasy with romance, if not a romance novel.