A review by annettebooksofhopeanddreams
Never the Roses by Jennifer K. Lambert

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective tense 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? It's complicated

4.5

Did I pre-order this book because it looked insanely pretty? Yes. However, I discovered that the book was also on Netgalley and of course I had to request a digital review copy. Luckily Tor Bramble was so kind to accept my request!

When I started this book I was afraid it was not gonna be for me. There is a lot of information in the first few chapters and it was hard to grasp all of it. However, now I finished the book and the first thing I'm gonna do when I get to hold my physical copy is reading the beginning again. Once the plot of the book started I was sold. Within a few chapters I started caring about the characters and I was not prepared for this book to shatter my heart in a million pieces.

If you're here for an epic plot about a fantasy war between two sorcerers, this is not your book. In a way this is actually more of a cosy fantasy. Those two sorcerers want only one thing: to live the rest of their lives in peace. The book is therefore basically a love story. A love story between two people who understand each other on a level no-one else will ever be able to understand them, connecting in a playful, slightly teasing, way.

Is there a part of me that would have loved to see more of the world and its magic? Yes. And yet there is also a part of me believing this book was perfect. It was heartwarming, it was hopeful, it was lighthearted, it was funny. It was also heartbreaking, therapeutic, dramatic, political and even a little bit sad. Basically, the book made me feel everything there is to feel and now I finished it I only want one thing: More of this!