Dreams and reality intertwine in this new romantic fantasy read where rival kingdoms, sorcerers, and hearts must inevitably collide.

This read swept me away and into a beautiful lush world full of dreams and magic. It left me wholly enchanted by this story about love, grief, and finding peace. I loved every aspect of it, from the poetic storytelling to the emotional romance between the rival sorcerers, to the animal companions, and the fantastical setting. The only reason this book wasn’t a five-star read was the slower pacing.

This truly reads like a dreamy fairytale, and I can’t wait to see what this author will write next!

3.75/5

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

DNF at 10%

I wanted to like this but I think that cozy fantasy is not for me. The whole first 10% was just the MC gardening, collecting random magical creatures that show up at her house and reading books....

Oneira is one of the most dangerous people on a battlefield. Her dream magic can create nightmares of horrific proportions. After a truly unspeakable conquest, Oneira finally has the means to buy her freedom and escape into a retirement she was never supposed to earn. That retirement turns out to be a little too relaxing. Boring really. One thing leads to another and soon Oneira finds herself regularly breaking into the library of her life-long rival, Stearanos Stormbreaker. Through a series of witty letters, the two get to know each other as another war threatens to bring Oneira out of retirement. Part cozy fantasy, part rivals to lovers, Lambert's debut title has created world full of warring kingdoms, broken sorcerers, and fantastical animal companions that will captivate readers. Perfect for fans of The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst and House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune.

Never the Roses by Jennifer K. Lambert really caught me by surprise. It’s a story that feels both heartfelt and real, dealing with some tough emotions without getting too heavy. The characters are written in a way that made me care about what happened to them, and the relationships felt genuine and complicated in a good way.

What stood out to me was how the book handled grief and healing, not in a way that’s overly dramatic, but with quiet moments that hit just right. Lambert’s writing is simple but effective, making it easy to get lost in the story. I appreciated the balance between sadness and hope throughout.

If you want a book that’s thoughtful and emotional without being overwhelming, Never the Roses is a solid pick. It stuck with me long after I closed the cover.

This was such a fun read! From the mature main characters, to the slow (ish) burn of the romance, to the stand-alone (with an open ended conclusion) nature of the story, this is the kind of romantasy novel that is few and far between in a crowded but often too similar-feeling genre.

One of the first things that stood out was how committed the author was to establishing not only this world, but our main characters, disconnected from one another. So often, it feels like romantasy falls into the trap where the entirety of what makes up the characters is tied up in their dynamics together. Here, the book is largely focused on Oneira’s personal arc, one where she explores themes regarding regret, responsibility, and repentance. Through this journey, she almost backs her way into the relationship with Stearnos. And even there, through their love story, both she and Stearnos further these greater themes, even as they fall in love.

I also really enjoyed the slow-burn nature of the romance. The book gets through a solid quarter of the page count before there’s any interaction between the characters at all, and it’s not until closer to the halfway mark where they even really meet in person. That said, between the shifting perspectives and the interesting magical elements that make up this world, there was more than enough plot to go around. However, the story is definitely on the slower side, overall. I, personally, really enjoyed the more reserved approach to storytelling that was used here, as I think it matches well with some of the heavier themes explored throughout. But readers looking for more action may not connect as well. And, as much as I enjoyed the slow nature of the love story, the true highs of the story were found when we did finally get to see these two together. The banter was everything, and the author did a fantastic job with showing this relationship progress in a truly lovely way.

With this strong focus on the love story and the characters’ personal journeys, the greater plot conflict did fall a bit to the side and was wrapped up fairly succinctly towards the end. However, it never felt like any of these greater plot points were the true focus to begin with, so I felt satisfied with the way they were handled. There were moments where I perhaps would have liked to see a bit more fleshing out of the political systems at play and ways in which magic was used and monitored, but I was still happy enough with what we received.

The ending definitely fell on the bittersweet side of things. Though, again, I think the nature of this conclusion fit perfectly alongside the themes that were so strongly centered in the story. As of now, I don’t see anything indicating that this is the beginning of a duology or series, but the door is definitely left open for a return to this world. Readers looking for a beautiful stand-lone love story with a focus on mature main characters should definitely check this one out!

Rating 8: Luscious and deeply romantic, this book is a beautiful portrayal of forgiveness and redemption.

Link will go live on The Library Ladies on July 9

This felt like a cozy romantasy, it took me by surprise I really enjoyed this, the writing was well paced and characters felt fully fleshed

thank you so much for the approval- i cannot wait to dive in, this is one of my most anticipated reads of the year! i will be sure to leave a review on GR/retailers to come! 💞

Overall, I enjoyed Never the Roses, but it is not close to one of my favorite reads of the year. Never the Roses had a very intriguing premise and I was really looking forward to it. On paper, it sounds like it would be one of my favorites – morally grey characters, forbidden romance.

However, the narration was very hard to follow along and I often felt like I was lost and found myself rereading paragraphs to make sure I understand fully what I had read. Oneira was a very interesting character, but I felt like she continually focused on several things and did not have a lot of growth throughout the story. I really struggled to get through the first half of the book because of the characters and the writing style.

I really enjoyed the world-builidng and the romance. I loved the moral greyness and the slow burning. I thought this is more of a romance book than a true romantasy, but the romance was my favorite part of the read.

I went into this completely blind and was expecting a typical romantasy type book, but boy was I wrong. Never the Roses has a very unique, cozy type story with a rich world and older MCs that I found refreshing. I enjoyed the world building, animal companions, and magic system; however, the plot was too slow paced for me and I wasn't invested until 2/3rds of the way through. Due to it's glacial pace, the ending conflict felt a bit rushed and sudden. I most likely won't pick up the next book in the series, but I definitely appreciate Never the Roses as a fresh take on what is becoming a repetitive genre. If you're looking for a romantasy that feels a little bit like Wooing the Witch Queen but nontraditional characters and a slower plot, this book is for you.

Thank you to Bramble, NetGalley, and the author for sending me an early copy!

This was a refreshing read as it was slower paced and romantic. The main characters were also unique for a romantasy book because they were older and felt much wiser. The book itself was whimsical, but there were a lot of too slow moments where I didn’t know where the author wanted the book to go. The ending over was bittersweet, and it’s an enjoyable read.

4 ⭐️ .5 🌶️

Review:

How did a book I was ready to DNF, make me so emotional and teary eyed towards the end??

Okay look, there’s no getting around how loooooong the first 1/3 of this book is. The fact that there’s no dialogue and it’s told in 3rd person, about nothing really makes it hard to get through. And then in the 2/3 we start meeting other characters and conversations are being had, thus picking up traction. Then the final 1/3 hits you right in the heart. I kept hoping for the best possible outcome, but was not expecting that ending. For how great the ending was I wish the beginning was cut shorter because it truly felt like a disservice to the rest of the book.

Summary:

After years of serving the Queen through countless wars, sorceress Oneira has finally paid her debt to be freed. Fleeing far away from everyone she resides in a humble home going back to the basics. Everything is silent, peaceful, and… boring. Searching for more entertainment, she decides to sneak in to Sorcerer Searanos’s extensive library. After finding new material to read, she wasn’t expecting to also find a note the next visit informing her that he knew a thief had been there. Beginning a new witty correspondence between one another, even though they should be rivals. With their countries on the brink of war, will they be able continue pursuing what they’ve found in one another?

Favorite Quote:

“Suffering isn’t quantifiable. It cannot be counted and weighed and totaled up to be compared to another’s. Suffering is personal, and we all suffer in our own ways, struggling under the burden of it.”

Tropes:
•rivals
•forbidden romance
•magic-sorcerer/sorceress
•political

Heat Index: 5/10

—evil sorceress/evil sorcerer

—mutually assured destruction but make it people

—what happens when villains retire?

—melancholy and gardening

The Basics:

The "dreamthief" sorceress Oneira, renowned for her destruction, has retired to her keep in solitude (along with a couple of magical animal companions and a goddess's avatar, of course). No more protecting kingdoms through her horrors! Now it's all gardening and waiting for her inevitable death. But she would like a book or two, which leads her to dreamwalk into the library of Stearanos Stormbreaker, the one sorcerer whose power rivals her own—to the point that their respective masters (kings and queens) used them against each other. Though they offered mutually assured destruction, Oneira and Stearanos never actually met. Until she starts stealing his books. But as they get to know each other through notes and taunts, the reality that the wicked king who keeps Stearanos by his side remains; and his threat could bring Oneira out of hidning.

The Review:

In some ways, this book is cozy. In other ways, it's incredibly sad. In all ways, it's beautifully written. That being said, unless there's a sequel, I do feel it needs to be classified as a romantic fantasy, a love story, versus a genre romance. Because while I'll hold back from spoilers... The ending is what I would call bittersweet. It's not closing the door on possibilities, but it is firmly in the realm of romantic fantasy versus fantasy romance.

I loved a lot of things about this. Oneira and Stearanos are both deeply jaded, experienced people who've lived a lot of life. They have gray in their hair (and they're both hot as fuck). They're world-weary. I loved reading about people who aren't 25 falling in love, and I also loved reading about people who are the villains of the story, who have unimaginably power (while still being thwarted) getting so frustrated and bored and done with live... meeting their equals. And finally getting engaged with the world again.

Oneira especially is sort of passively suicidal, waiting to die when the novel begins. One thing I did love is that specifically, several times, her libido gets called out; she's never had great luck with lovers and sort of considered herself sexually dead. WELL. WAKE THE HELL UP, ONEIRA.

Oneira and Stearanos's connection and chemistry is both charming and tragic. They're both deeply aware of one another, and are peers, and have been for decades. But they've never seen one another in the flesh, and they're both missing a sense of understanding only they can provide each other. They're both fearsome and awful, they both exist, essentially, as dehumanized threats. They both have unimaginable power, yet can't really truly exhibit it due to these contracts held by people who essentially own them. Or, so was the case before Oneira bought out her own... for what turns out to have been a terrible price.

Based on the premise and the writing quality and Oneira and Stearanos's interactions, there is a world where this would've been a knockout book for me. It's good, but not quite that, in part due to the pacing. When you have characters like these, with the chemistry they have, there's no reason why the reader should wait until the halfway mark for them to physically meet. And while I would've had more patience with a genuinely epistolary romance done through combative notes (a la Cat Sebastian's excellent historical romance, The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes) they actually don't exchange that many?

Which makes sense. Because one Stearanos knows that this incredibly dangerous woman is stealing his books and going HEEHEE in his dreams, obviously he needs to go out there and suss out the issue. So... why so much time spent on Oneira gardening, and Stearanos fuming? There is a plot here, and the plot does need to happen for the tragedy and the culmination, don't get me wrong. There are scenes that could be cut, yeah, but it's less that *a lot* need to be cut and more that *a lot* need to be shortened and could be shortened through less internal monologue. There's a slow build, and there's holding back from what makes the book good. Which is Oneira and Stearanos.

This is a very "you can't outrun your past" book, and it has a lot of subtle things to say about the state of the world at large, to be honest. The people who use Oneira and Stearanos don't have their gifts, their intelligence, their abilities. But they hold them by their metaphorical collars and therefore wield power. Another character is held by a more literal collar, and is so... terribly tragic... in a way that contrasts to Oneira and Stearanos beautifully.

So while the coziness of the setting and the meandering of Oneira's melancholy was a good framework, I think that it was a little too indulged and kept the novel from packing the full tragedy of its punch.

The Sex:

There's a little bit of sex here, and it's not entirely between Oneira and Stearanos, which I didn't mind at all. Like I mentioned above, I really liked the way that Oneira's mindset interacted with her body, and how that changed as she fell for and connected with Stearanos. There's a scene where she contemplates what it would be like if she just accidentally got pregnant, it's this kind of out-of-body-ness to her inner monologue that adds tot he sadness.

I will say! That Oneira getting her period at an inopportune moment is a part of this... And while I loved Stearanos saying "I don't mind a little blood", as any murderous sorcerer should, I must ask? Why not? Just? Do it? I am merely a romance reader asking for authors to write period sex on the page.

The Conclusion:

The Circe comparisons are apt, and I would also throw in the sense of deep melancholy I got from The Last Unicorn. This book has absolutely gorgeous prose and a great concept, and if there is a sequel in the future I would definitely read it. I really can't critique a lot of plot and character stuff. What it needed to tighten up and work a bit better, however, was better pacing and a more streamlined narrative. Because when you have hot, "morally charcoal but trying to be better" tragic villains falling in love, that needs to be the star of the show.

Thanks to Bramble and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was written so beautifully! It put me through all the emotions and left me breathless. The romance is so sweet, I adore slow burns. I love everything about Oneira and Stearanos 🫶🏻 this was definitely a slower book but I enjoyed it overall!

4.5 stars

I had such a fun time with this book. I adored the banter between the 2 main characters.

They just seemed so perfect for each other, even though they are supposed to be enemies.

The ending broke my heart, yet I still loved every second.

3.5⭐️ Is heartbreaking love a thing? It is now that I’ve read Never the Roses. 🥀 What an intriguing love story. While this is being heavily marketed as an epic fantasy there really isn’t a plot to the world outside Oniera’s wards. Her exploration of herself outside the war is what this story is. It has a very slow start and it wasn’t until around 75% that I settled in to accepting what this book was not. The epilogue made me round up. It was a heartbreaking ending.

Thank you to Bramble Romance and NetGalley for this ARC!

I at first was not sure about it but then it finally began to grasp my interest. No, I don’t mind a slow burn built up but this one was nothing much to me since they didn’t add anything to help my attention into the story. Until the last bit of it, it had a few of mixed emotions.

I felt it was well written otherwise and it would be a book well worth reading.

A delightful read! It is always a treat to find a title with "older" characters and this one was perfect. I enjoyed the play between the two with the letters and constant matching of wits. It was a delight!

I think I'm the odd on out here, but Never the Roses was a miss for me. The writing and story itself are wonderful, but the pacing killed.

I received a gifted audiobook copy of NEVER THE ROSES by Jennifer K. Lambert from @BrambleRomance.⁠
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NEVER THE ROSES follows a sorceress and a sorcerer after the battle between kingdoms has ended. Oneira is living in retirement, no longer using her magic for death and destruction. Her focus is on her garden and she is joined by magical creatures in her isolation. She only ventures out through dreams where she is able to collect information and things she needs from those asleep. One of these trips takes her to the home of her biggest rival, Stearanos.⁠
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Oneira takes from Stearanos' library, seeking information on growing an elusive rose, but it doesn't take long for him to realize that someone has been there. They begin a correspondence which seems to bring them some common ground, even as there are still ties and loyalties to opposing sides. ⁠
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This book is comped to CIRCE and THE WITCH'S HEART which I can definitely see. We're mainly focused on a woman with magical abilities who largely lives in isolation. As the book opens, we see what comes after the battle is fought and it reads almost like a cozy fantasy at the start. I did enjoy meeting the magical creatures who join Oneira, especially the wolf named Bunny.⁠
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The connection between Oneira and Stearanos is also one I like. The banter and the exchange of letters and just general ways Oneira does things to let him know someone has been in his library have had me amused. There is a third character who gets introduced and that addition isn't one I have been enjoying so much as it seems that Oneira turns her brain off a bit where he's concerned.⁠
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I do like the writing in this one and the correspondence aspect of the bond forming between the two POV characters, but I would not recommend this one so far to those wanting a plot heavy book or a fast pace.⁠ I don't think this book is turning out to be a perfect fit for me, but I do think it could work better for those more focused on romance in a fantasy setting.

Rating 3.75 rounded up.

A sorceress with magic based on her dreams. An interesting and unique magic system premise. Tired of war and fighting, Oneira is isolating herself away with her animal friends, books and dreams. There are times when the story does get a bit slow but never enough to make me want to stop or loose interest. About 60% in the story picks up. I enjoyed the dark and gloomy atmosphere they story evokes and I understood Oneira want to withdraw from the world.

This is nothing like the Romantasy’s that are popular right now. So if you are looking for fast paced, enemies to lovers or spicy forbidden love tropes, this books will disappoint. For me that is what I enjoyed about this book, the lack of the typical Romantasy tropes. Or should I say the the subdued nature of it. This story has a wealth of potential. I would have loved more info on the dream magic system. Over I enjoyed the story.