I’m absolutely astounded this was a debut fantasy novel. It’s so beautifully written and absolutely unputdownable.i can’t wait for more from Jennifer!

Man.. I really wanted to love this book. The cover and synopsis were stunning and I was just certain it was going to be a favorite for me. I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s as awful as some of the reviews I am seeing here; but it’s one that if I noticed if people were asking if they should read it, I would suggest maybe but to not put it near the top of their TBR. The pacing was quite a bit slow; even for those qualifying it a cozy fantasy. I’m a big cozy fantasy fan — this was slow. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the MMC, and found him to be brutish to the point of immature quite a lot of the time. The ending may have carried more of a punch if I found myself more invested in the characters.

I was antsy in my seat from the first sentence. I loved the slow burn. I loved the chemistry. This book is so good. I loved the personality of each character. I need more of this!

Oh, what a delightful surprise this book turned out to be. I picked it up thinking it would be good based on the blurb, but what I found was so much more. I adored it. There’s a delicious mix of quiet rebellion and tender moments tucked into every page. Oneira’s secret visits to Stearanos’ library are not about stealing knowledge, but about piecing together the parts of herself she never had the chance to discover. The back-and-forth between these two former foes feels like a magical concoction, brimming with tension, laced with humor, and sprinkled with a pinch of mutual respect that neither can quite shake.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Bramble for the advanced reader copy in exchange for this honest and gleeful review. The dark, mysterious cover and enticing premise drew me in immediately, and I’m so glad I followed that spark of curiosity. The characters were beautifully crafted, and the snappy exchanges between the leads had me grinning from start to finish. This is a story I will be happily adding to my shelf the moment it’s published.

Oniera is perhaps the most powerful sorcerer in her world and after decades of being used to wage war for whatever ruler has purchased her services, she manages to buy out her contract and 'retire' to a home she builds herself. The peace and quiet, and the companionship of avatar-esque animals slowly starts to heal her until on a whim, she dreamwalks into a rival sorceror's library and finds a book on growing extremely rare roses. He does not exactly approve of this and the flirtation grows from there.

There are so many tropes that could apply to this novel, but I think I'm going to stick with 'fairy tale for adults'. Lambert touches on many topics here but this lush romance takes centre stage. Gorgeously written and absolutely heartbreaking, this will stay with you for a long time.

Highly recommended.

I received an ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I went into this kinda understanding what I was getting into based off the summary blurb. I was not expecting to fall in love with it as much I did. The vibe is very cozy cottage core high fantasy, including animal companions that come down to join Oneira. Oneira and Stearanos are the slowburn I wanted, and I wish I had looked at the tags more because my brain glossed over the words "tragic romance", which is what this is. Especially with that epilogue.

I don't often read books and go, "wow, that needs a sequel", since I think some duologys are more cash grabs. However, as soon as I finished, I went immediately to the internet and searched for "never the roses second book" and was even sadder after realizing this is a true standalone. I don't think I could have my heart break anymore if this continued.

I think this is perfect for the reader who wants some hurt with their romance.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC,

The banter between the FC and the MC was fun and entertaining. The FC is isolated from the world since she retired. I thought it was cool the way she was obsessing over death. She had a bier ready and everything. The books was a slow read. It picked up a bit like a third of the way in. This is a slow burn and little to no I spice in my opinion. I didn’t see them getting together in the beginning but slowly they started to grow feelings for each other. The ending was set up nicely for book 2..

💜 Never the Roses by Jennifer K. Lambert

🐇 “I have never been in love, thus my heart is intact.”

🤍 Never the Roses is a quietly powerful romantasy that blooms in emotional intensity more than action. This book is more focused on the character-driven growth, and less action packed.

💜 Oneira is a retired sorceress that is tired of being used to fight wars by others. She’s decided that retirement is what’s best for her at this point. She spends her days in her cottage she’s created for herself and her furry friends. Sounds like a dream, right?

🐇 But her nemesis can’t seem to stop haunting her. The tension BLOOMING between Oneira and Stearanos is sure to satisfy you.

🤍 Read this if you love:
- Cozy Fantasy
- Rivals to Lovers
- Dream Magic
- Slow Burn

💜 Thank you, @brambleromance, for the eARC!

Wowww, wooww, woooowwww. This will easily be one of my top reads of the year. This book had be in a choke hold, I laughed, I teared up, and I was completely enamored. The romance was sweet and tender and unfolded so delicately at the most perfect pace.

Ending completely gutted me, I loved it. Another please.

Lived for this new romantasy! The sorcery, fantasy magical aspects were so refreshing and the sizzling romantic tension between the leads was amazing. I'm going to be rereading this one, it's fantastic and that ending chef's kiss. 5 stars

I went into this not knowing what to expect and what I got was a deeply moving character driven story with cozy forest vibes and animal companions. This story is a little slow but is so incredibly written that I did not mind the slower pace at all. The time spent developing these two characters just makes you love and connect with them that much more.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be reading book 2 especially after that heartbreaking cliffhanger.

⋆.˚✮ 5 stars ✮˚.⋆

⤿ Thank you to Bramble and Tor Books for the arc through netgalley and physical advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

this cover is so gorgeous, but it really gives the vibes of extremely dark romantasy, especially because of those gorgeous sprayed edges on the finished copy. but i really came out of this book with such a different story, and one that i definitely needed right at this moment. this story centers around Oneira the sorceress as she retires and has finally paid of her indenture, she wants to live in solitude but magical creatures seem to keep finding her and she feels drawn inexplicably towards the library of her long-time rival sorcerer, Stearanos. they've never actually met, as the kingdoms they served deemed it too dangerous (as they were weapons for enemy kingdoms), but something might just continue to tug each other towards a shared future.

a cozy fantasy is not what i was expecting, but this definitely reads this way for most of the book. while in the latter half of the book, a few political things start to swing into the story, it's still i would say more of a cozy romantic fantasy. and! for fans of slow burn and major yearning (which i am and desperately needed at this moment) this is such a wonderful example of that. Oneira and Stearanos obviously feel curiosity and something pulling them together, but the emotional connection that is prioritized in the writing between them was so important. these are two people who are the only people in the world who could understand each other, and it was so interesting to see them start to unfold some of their wards to connect with each other. even Oneira's little magical animal companions that found her were so fun to read about- i love this trope in books so it was perfection.

i have to be so honest, there wasn't a lot that happened in terms of actual plot until the end. but as someone who really enjoys getting to know characters and prefers character-driven stories, this was perfect. it gave me so much time to connect with Oneira and Stearanos, especially as this is dual perspective, and it made me able to see both sides of their worlds. but this story, especially with the emphasis on the specific roses that Oniera chooses to grow (trust me the title will make sense), is really about emotional growth and healing. there was a lot of emphasis on this in the story through those roses but also about how the two sorcerers connected, that set the stage for the ending.

i did enjoy how it picked up at the end though, adding a bit more tension and leaving me feeling so torn up over the ending. i really hope that this is going to be a series because i cannot tell if it's meant to stay open-ended or there's meant to be more books. i am desperately hoping for an ending though because i need more of these characters!!

↬ trigger warnings: death and murder, brief sexual scenes, indentured people, war themes

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.

Thank you to Bramble and NetGalley for the advance copy!

If you've ever wanted your fantasy steeped in sass, swoon, and sentient magical pets, Never the Roses delivers a delightfully character-driven romance wrapped in soft, forest-drenched magic.

Oneira, a retired sorceress with a grudge and a goddess for a houseguest, lives a quiet life filled with snarky animals and stolen library books, until her longtime rival, Stearanos, enters the picture. Their enemies-to-lovers journey unfolds through biting banter and slow-burning tension that simmers beneath every exchanged note and stolen glance.

Lambert’s prose is lush and lyrical, and her talent for subtle emotional tension shines through in the quieter moments. The worldbuilding is mysterious, the magic soft and thematic, and the plot unfolds with a patient, intimate pace.

That said, not every thread lands. Some relationships (particularly with Tristan) felt jarringly rushed, lacking the buildup to make their emotional weight believable. The concept of kisses as currency added a quirky touch but raised more questions than it answered. And while Oneira is clearly a solitary character, her quick acceptance of sudden companionship felt inconsistent with her fiercely independent nature.

Still, Never the Roses is a unique, witchy fantasy romance that will appeal to readers who love sharp wit, quiet longing, and morally complex love stories with just a hint of danger.

I tried really hard to like this book. I was so excited to get this arc because everything I had seen about it looked so interesting and intriguing. So much so that I had preordered the hardcover. The cover is beautiful. The edges are gorgeous, but the story itself leaves something to be desired. I was just... bored. There's no other way to put it really. I didn't really feel the need to continue on. Fifty pages into this book, and I had nothing that kept me wanting to go back and continue reading. The writing style is very lyrical, and I enjoyed that. But I felt no connection to the characters or the story and had no desire to continue reading.

This was my first Jennifer K. Lambert novel and I am writing this to say that it will not be my last either. The way that the words were weaved together so magically was refreshing and brought a whole new sense of excitement to my when reading the story. I enjoyed learning more about Oneira and her struggles of coming to find herself and who she is after serving the queen. I saw another review where someone mentioned the "Never the Roses" wasn't just a book and a story but it was an experience and I honestly couldn't agree more with that sentiment. I cannot wait to see where Jennifer K. Lambert goes, not just with this story and characters but also with whatever else she writes.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bramble/Tor for the ARC!

"Never the Roses" is a beautifully written, emotionally rich story that explores love, loss, and resilience with grace and sensitivity. Jennifer Lambert’s lyrical prose and well-crafted characters create a deeply moving experience that stays with you long after the last page. Perfect for readers who appreciate heartfelt, character-driven fiction with a touch of historical depth.

The story is not only a romantic sea, but it creates a world in which there is yearning and darkness and emotions that keep you captivated from start to finish.. I love the pushing pole between the characters and how everything feels like every moment is life or death. It’s emotional and beautifully written.

Don't let the cover fool you — this is a surprisingly cozy romance, for all its darker elements and (admittedly) emotionally devastating ending. I really loved how thoughtful this was in terms of being a meditation on loneliness, especially with two damaged people finding connection in the unlikeliest of places (or dimensions, as it happens). Yet given where this wraps up, I also found myself craving a sequel — or at the very least, a bonus epilogue for Oneira and Steranos. I wanted more at the end of it all, which to me is also one of the hallmarks of a great read, alongside the fact that I've never read a book like this before and doubt I will again.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this edition from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for review. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

A wonderfully unique concept with beautiful prose, Never the Roses follows retired sorceress Oneira as she seeks peace and healing following a life of fighting an insidious queen’s wars. Along the way, she meets her long-time nemesis, the sorcerer Stearanos, and her growing affection for him threatens to end her hard-won retirement.

What I loved most about this book was the whimsy and heart! The prose is stunningly lyrical, yet Oneira’s voice shines through with sharp humour. The romance as well is so sweet, the choices both make heart-wrenching and precious. This book’s strength is its soft emotionality, and its found myself moved to tears at the end.

The main reason this wasn’t five stars for me was because I found the middle section a little slow, and Oneira’s ongoing hesitation repetitive. I also felt there were parts that were significantly darker and at odds with the gentler, more whimsical tone of the rest of the story, which took me out of the flow. (For example, the SA of a side character that is treated somewhat casually by the narrative and never really unpacked.)