Oh, what a delightful surprise this book turned out to be! I picked it up thinking, "This will 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 swiping knowledge, but about piecing together the parts of herself she never got the chance to discover. The back-and-forth between these two former foes is 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 book lured me in with its dark, mysterious cover and enticing premise, and I’m so glad I followed that curious little spark. The characters were wonderfully crafted, and the snappy exchanges between the leads had me grinning from ear to ear. I would’ve rated this even higher, but there were a few moments that felt a little stretched out—just a little nip and tuck here and there would’ve made it even sharper. Nonetheless, this book will absolutely find a permanent spot on my shelf once it’s published!

This reminded me of Beauty and the Beast...I think it was the castles and library part. This book was so good, the plot and romance kept me reading until 3am just to finish it.

I preordered a gorgeous physical copy. Those sprayed edges are perfection.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for the ARC.

After finishing an intense fantasy novel, Never the Roses was the perfect slow and gentle read to unwind with. The story takes its time unfolding, immersing the reader in a world where magic is both unique and deeply entwined with duty. The concept of sorcerers possessing distinctive strengths—and being bound by blood contracts to serve the royals, willingly or not—was a unique and key aspect of the book- it helps for the reader to understand that the sorcerers cannot do as they would choose, but what they are commanded. .

That said, this is a very slow-paced novel, and readers should expect a meandering journey rather than a fast-moving plot. The tone is often playful, but also disjointed, as we experience the story through the mind of Oneira—a moody, dreamlike protagonist who embodies the essence of a "lost soul." The author does an incredible job capturing Oneira’s elusive and reclusive nature, though at times, this made her difficult to connect with. The first seven chapters were a challenge to push through, but the introduction of Stormbreaker (Stearnos) brought a welcome shift. His presence, along with the early playful miscommunications between the characters, added much-needed levity and intrigue.

Overall, Never the Roses is a unique and atmospheric read. If you're in the mood for a book that feels like drifting through a dream—sometimes aimless, sometimes profound—this one is worth picking up.

A profoundly poetic novel, where the language on the page brings the vividly magical world to life around you. Oneira is one of the most captivating main character’s I have ever read. The unique ability of her magic is original and well thought out. You do not only read about Oneira’s sorcery—you experience it. Even without any extensive explanations of the magic systems, I never felt lost or left behind, allowing me to move with the story continuously. Stearanos is a sensuous adversary, perfectly matched to Oneira. Between surprising good humor and feet-kicking romance, I could not put it down!

Wow. To be very, very honest, I didn't think I was going to finish this book. The first half I realized that maybe this book wasn't for me. The writing is beautiful and the best way that I can describe it is that it felt like a floating dream. I pushed through and wow. This is the reason I do not DNF books. I ended up loving it. I understand that some readers will think that this book moves too slow (which it does) but the way this is written feels more mature than a YA fantasy book.
When I got to the second half of the book, I fell in love. I loved everything about Oneira and Stearanos. The little notes they leave for each other and their dialogue is so cute and her pets. oh my god. It is so beautiful.

My favourite quotes from the book:

"Farewell," he corrected, stepping back and taking her hand to kiss it, "Thief of my heart."
"It was never about the roses."
"Thank you for healing my heart, for being both the question and the answer"

I enjoyed the world that was presented here, however I personally was not a fan of the FMC. I found the concept to be better than the actual book, as it was different than the run of the mill romantacy these days, the FMC and MMC don't actually meet face to fact until the middle of the book.

It wasn't for me. The beginning of the book didn't grab me and I didn't like the fmc. I'm all for grumpy fmcs, but she was a little to hermitty for me. I'm sure other people will love it though. It was well written

This is a fantastic read, atmospheric and beautifully written with such real-feeling, relatable main characters - who among us wouldn't steal our rival's current read simply to annoy them? The depictions of depression, grief, trauma and despair at being held by a bond you can't break, interspersed with scenes of our main character, Oneira, turning to creating with her hands to try and stave it off will cut perhaps too close to home for a lot of people, but gives a cozy vibe to the reading experience even while Oneira is ruminating over the atrocities she was forced to commit under a geas and how she may never be able to absolve herself. While reading I did notice a number of plot threads left unaddressed, clearly setting up for a sequel, and as I got closer to the end I found myself a little scared that it might end in a cliffhanger, while at the same time excited, because that would mean another book set in this world and with these characters.

The comp to Circe is entirely appropriate, but I'd also add that if you enjoyed Naomi Novik's Uprooted and Spinning Silver, this has a similar feeling. If you like slower, introspective, character-driven fantasy then this is for you. Enemies to lovers, silliness, banter between Oneira and Stearanos, talk of gardening and baking bread and making soup, magical animal companions, and exploration of grief and trauma, this book brings it all. My one caveat is the very last of the acknowledgements - the glowing praise for The Sandman comes across as in very poor taste with all that's recently come to light regarding that author, and I would recommend removing it from final copies if it's still possible.

I knew I was going to enjoy this one simply because of the blurb and I was completely wrong, I absolutely freaking LOVED it. It’s definitely going to go on my shelf as soon as it’s published.

The description of this book drew me in, and I loved reading it all play out. The characters were fantastic, and it was a fun read. I definitely recommend this book, it was a nice change of pace.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bramble for an advanced reader copy of this title and exchange for an honest review. Initially, I decided to read this book because I love a dark and mysterious cover on a book and was really drawn by the premise. Overall, I really enjoyed it – the characters were well thought out, and I loved the dynamic conversation between the main characters. I would have rated this book higher, but I felt like there were some elements of the book where it was super drawn out, and therefore could’ve been a lot shorter.

There’s something irresistibly tender and quietly defiant about this story. Oneira’s nightly visits to Stearanos’ library are less about stealing knowledge and more about reclaiming the pieces of herself she never had time to find. The cat-and-mouse dynamic between these two ex-enemies feels like a perfectly brewed potion—equal parts tension, humor, and reluctant respect. It’s not just a game; it’s a dance, one step removed from their former battles and one step closer to something… softer.

This is a great book! Well worth the read! It reminds me of one my favorite books, fantastic work. Please read this

What is the balm for nothingness? For the pause that comes after you take yourself out of a bloody, brutal game? For Oneira, a recently retired famously brutal sorceress, it’s animals, baking passable bread, and playing a game of cat and mouse with her nemesis, Stearanos that involves his library and a lovely book of cultivating roses.

She visits his stunning library while under the cover of her powers to poke at the titles on his shelf, because after a life of murder and destruction, what else is there to do?

Fans of Rebecca Thorne and T. Kingfisher’s Swordheart will love this one! I would read one hundred books about fantasy characters after their big showdowns. They live in the ‘so what now’ times and it’s such a beautifully ripe phase that we don’t see too often in stories.

Thank you to Bramble for an early copy of this cozy romance showing us what comes after— there is something, and it is glorious:)