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A review by eluth91
Never the Roses by Jennifer K. Lambert
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
4.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars
🎧 Never the Roses by Jennifer K. Lambert
I’m honestly a little torn on how to feel about this one—but in a good way! It’s beautifully written with gorgeous world-building, and I absolutely loved that it starts where most fantasy books end: with the heroine, Oneira, retired. Yep—our leading lady, a powerful sorceress, is living a quiet life of gardening 🌹 and trying to heal from some seriously dark trauma after years of being an indentured magical weapon for a ruthless queen.
Oneira’s struggle to find meaning, purpose, and peace was so refreshing. As someone in their 30s still figuring out life (🙋♀️), I found her thoughtful, weary, but determined outlook really relatable—even if she’s technically hundreds of years old! I really appreciated the more mature tone woven throughout her story, especially in her sweet rivals-to-lovers romance with Stearanos.
Now, let’s talk audiobook: the dual narration by Chloe Campbell and the king of hot MMCs himself, Shane East 🔥, was phenomenal. Both narrators brought so much life, depth, and emotion to the characters—it’s seriously one of the highlights of the whole experience.
Where I struggled a bit was with the book’s identity (or maybe its tone?). At times, it felt like a cozy magical slice-of-life—think Legends & Lattes vibes—with gentle gardening magic, charming side characters, and warm library scenes. Other times, it got dark with political intrigue, betrayal, and murder à la Throne of Glass. The shift between these moods gave me a bit of whiplash, and I found myself wishing the story would just pick a lane and stick with it.
The pacing was also a little tricky. The actual plot doesn’t really kick off until about 30-40% in, so you’ll need patience for the slower, gentler build. I could definitely see some readers DNF-ing just because of the slow start. And then—plot twist—the ending felt rushed, with huge developments crammed into the last literal 3% that really needed more time to breathe. It’s clearly setting up for a sequel though, and I’m curious to see where it goes next.
✨ Overall:
A beautifully written, slower-paced romantasy with a mature, relatable heroine, enchanting magic, and incredible narration. If you’re in the mood for something quieter but still rich in emotion and atmosphere, this one is definitely worth a listen!
Thank you to Netgalley, Jennifer K. Lambert, and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy of this audiobook!
🎧 Never the Roses by Jennifer K. Lambert
I’m honestly a little torn on how to feel about this one—but in a good way! It’s beautifully written with gorgeous world-building, and I absolutely loved that it starts where most fantasy books end: with the heroine, Oneira, retired. Yep—our leading lady, a powerful sorceress, is living a quiet life of gardening 🌹 and trying to heal from some seriously dark trauma after years of being an indentured magical weapon for a ruthless queen.
Oneira’s struggle to find meaning, purpose, and peace was so refreshing. As someone in their 30s still figuring out life (🙋♀️), I found her thoughtful, weary, but determined outlook really relatable—even if she’s technically hundreds of years old! I really appreciated the more mature tone woven throughout her story, especially in her sweet rivals-to-lovers romance with Stearanos.
Now, let’s talk audiobook: the dual narration by Chloe Campbell and the king of hot MMCs himself, Shane East 🔥, was phenomenal. Both narrators brought so much life, depth, and emotion to the characters—it’s seriously one of the highlights of the whole experience.
Where I struggled a bit was with the book’s identity (or maybe its tone?). At times, it felt like a cozy magical slice-of-life—think Legends & Lattes vibes—with gentle gardening magic, charming side characters, and warm library scenes. Other times, it got dark with political intrigue, betrayal, and murder à la Throne of Glass. The shift between these moods gave me a bit of whiplash, and I found myself wishing the story would just pick a lane and stick with it.
The pacing was also a little tricky. The actual plot doesn’t really kick off until about 30-40% in, so you’ll need patience for the slower, gentler build. I could definitely see some readers DNF-ing just because of the slow start. And then—plot twist—the ending felt rushed, with huge developments crammed into the last literal 3% that really needed more time to breathe. It’s clearly setting up for a sequel though, and I’m curious to see where it goes next.
✨ Overall:
A beautifully written, slower-paced romantasy with a mature, relatable heroine, enchanting magic, and incredible narration. If you’re in the mood for something quieter but still rich in emotion and atmosphere, this one is definitely worth a listen!
Thank you to Netgalley, Jennifer K. Lambert, and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy of this audiobook!