I was a bit disappointed in this one and struggled to get through it. I liked the magic system, but it wasn't really explained at all especially in the beginning so I was confused as to what Oneira's abilities were in the first place. I also liked the idea of her being in retired and living out her days secluded; it was giving a bit of cozy fantasy vibes but it caused the book to be quite boring as nothing was happening for the most part. The whole excuse that "kickstarts" the plot of Oneira stealing from Stearanos is so random and a bit childish. While the three animal companions where fun and probably the best part of the book, they also seemed random and had little explanation as to why they came to Oneira in the first place.

I can appreciate a slowburn, but the pacing on this one was agonizing and what little romance we got was not worth the effort. It was sweet how affectionate Stearanos was, but it came more out of instalove rather than actually getting to know Oneira, and then Oneira was super annoying and contradictory about her feelings even though she was still pursuing him. Like at the beginning of the book she talks about how she never really felt sexual attraction, and then Tristan and Stearanos enters the pictures and she's suddenly all horny. And don't even get me started on Tristan. While I wanted more characters in this book, he was a complete waste of space in the book and added absolutely nothing to the story.

Oneira had zero character growth and I did not care enough about her to support her relationship with Stearanos or the decision she ultimately makes at the end of the book. Is this meant to be a series? I didn't particularly liked the ending as it just... ended. It was supposed to be emotional but I felt nothing because once again I did not grow any attachment to these characters.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

This book started out slow but it built as more characters where introduced. The romance is so sweet and flirty. The writing style is visually,flowery in a good way and the ending more the last chapter has me hoping there will be another book otherwise this book is heartbreakingly beautiful

Jennifer K Lambert is such a poetic and beautiful writer!

Oneira, a fearsome sorceress now in self imposed exile, is ready to disappear from the world she helped scorch. A stolen book about roses from her enemy’s sparks an unexpected correspondence with her greatest rival, Stearanos.

I loved watching Oneira wrestle with her past and grow. I especially loved her relationship with Stearanos, they had SUCH good banter!

The writing truly was absolutely gorgeous in this one!

If you’re into character driven fantasy with, read this one!

Thank you bramble and NetGalley for the ARC!

I really tried to get into this one, but after reading five chapters I had to sit this one aside because I wasn’t vibing at all. This was a difficult one for me because it felt like it just kind of dived in without a lot of context, and I found myself trying to catch up but being unable to. Since there also weren’t many characters besides Oneira at first, the story also really drags. I think this is the kind of fantasy story that just isn’t for me but will probably find its audience.

This book starts out like a dream and as it goes it grows into the sweetest love story. I love good character growth and a fully realized redemption arc. (And I hate Tristan and so will you.)

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an eARC of this book!

Never the Roses by Jennifer K. Lambert is a romantasy that, unfortunately, fell flat for me. The FMC, Oneira, is a secluded woman who seems to want nothing more than peace or honestly, for death to take her away from her pain. It felt like a character struggling with PTSD and suicidal thoughts, trying to escape the weight of her past.

Oneira has magic and the ability to dream walk. Basically, she ends up in another magician’s home and "borrows" a book on how to grow roses.

This is an extremely slow burn, and there’s barely any action or fighting scenes. Instead, it’s mostly about banter, mind games, and threats with a bit of pen-pal-style communication thrown in. The romance doesn’t really appear until the very end of the book, and honestly, it didn’t grab me enough to make me want to pick up the next one.

The pacing was painfully slow for me, with a lot of whining and overthinking from a retired magician. This was definitely one of the most boring books I’ve read.

Thank you NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, and Bramble for the eARC.
5 likes

The synopsis of this book had me intrigued and the cover is stunning.

The pace is not for me. It's glacial at best. It made it difficult for me to want to connect to any characters or the world itself.

It is a cozier read with an extremely slow burn. Maybe cozy reads just aren't for me.

3.75/5

Firstly, thank you to Tor Publishing via NetGalley and MacMillian Audio for gifting me with this ARC.

This was beautifully tragic. I loved the slow burn. It was such an interesting story and something I haven’t seen before. The audio performance was great although I did wish that it would have been duet style versus dual narration. However both the narrators did a fantastic job. The concept of the dream magic was so cool! It was a little slow in the beginning for me but overall it was a very well written.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

I DNF’ed this at 15%. The book was slow at the beginning for me and it didn’t grab my attention.

I had high hopes for this book I even preordered the book because it is gorgeous but it fell a little flat for me. I didn't connect with the characters or the storyline and by the time it did I lost interest. If this book were longer with better world building it would have worked but it didn't work for me.

𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 4/5⭐️
𝓢𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮 2/5🌶️

Never the Roses by Jennifer K. Lambert is a cozy fantasy about the powerful Sorceress Oneira after she has retired. On a whim she takes a visit to the most extensive library which happens to be in the home of her most powerful rival Stearanos.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book!

Tropes:
Rivals to lovers
Slow burn
Cozy Fantasy
Dark past
Tragic romance
Redemption

I really wasn’t sure what to expect with this book but I really ended up loving it. It almost had a gothic fantasy vibe while also being cozy! This is definitely more character driven than plot but it is such great story telling which such interesting magic.

Oneira is such a powerful sorceress who is just trying to atone for the destruction she’s caused and live a quiet life. Stearanos is still under contract but wanting to slow down and be free. Their quiet yet powerful friendship and then romance is really quite beautiful. The banter between them was funny but also heart warming as they are both such wanting to connect with someone.

I loved the magical animal companions! A wolf, a bird, and a cat! Yes, please so cute! I really hope there is a second book!

I had the wonderful opportunity to receive both the eARC and ALC of Never the Roses, and I was completely transported. This is a quiet, emotionally layered romantasy that pairs lyrical prose with a gorgeously slow-burn rivals-to-lovers romance.

Oneira’s journey gave me major Yennefer from The Witcher vibes. She goes from being unwanted and overlooked to exploited for the power she holds. Her arc is one of survival and quiet strength, as she slowly reclaims her agency, learns to forgive herself, and lets someone unexpected into the carefully built solitude around her heart.

The romance builds slowly through a series of flirty and witty exchanges with her supposed enemy, a rival sorcerer with charm, secrets, and surprising softness. It’s tense, intimate, and beautifully earned.

The audiobook narration was excellent. Chloe Campbell and Shane East brought so much life and chemistry to the story. Their performances during the back-and-forth correspondence were some of my favorite parts, it’s equal parts flirtation, challenge, and growing vulnerability. Rabid bunny anyone?

This isn’t a fast-paced fantasy, but it’s rich with emotion, quiet magic, and character-driven storytelling. Perfect for anyone who loves introspective fantasy with heart and healing. The ending leaves just enough to hint at more to come for Oneira and Em. I’ll be waiting (somewhat patiently) for what comes next🤞

Tropes:

⚔️❤️ Rivals-to-Lovers
🔥⏳ Slow burn
💌📜 Secret identity
🫶🏽🏠 Found Family
💔➡️💖 Emotional healing & forgiveness
👑📚 Court politics
🐈‍⬛🐺🦜 Adorable magical animal companions

Thank you @brambleromance #partner for the gifted copy of this ebook!

Just finished Never the Roses by Jennifer K. Lambert and what a dreamy little cozy fantasy this was! ✨ This one’s a slow burn and felt a little like curling up with a cup of tea while rain taps on the windows. The imagery was very atmospheric, and can we take a moment to appreciate how absolutely STUNNING the physical copy is?! Purple sprayed edges for days! 💜 Swipe 👉 to see them!

The writing felt almost like poetry at times, with this hazy quality that made the whole book feel like a dream. I especially loved the letter writing element — it’s such an underrated storytelling device and Jennifer nailed it.

At its heart, this felt like a character study of two total opposites: Oneira, a dread sorceress finally living life on her own terms with her deadly (but adorable) magical pets, and Stearanos, a rival kingdom’s sorcerer who catches on quick when one of his books goes missing. Their back-and-forth letters spark this unexpected, tentative connection and watching it slowly bloom was so sweet.

I loved how Stearanos just got Oneira — no weird power plays, no dramatic nonsense, just mutual understanding and a shared love for books and magic. Ultimately this is a story about love, freedom, redemption, and the magic of finding someone who sees you.

This one’s perfect for readers who love their fantasy with heart and beautiful prose.

In a world weary from endless conflict, Oneira, a formidable sorceress, seeks solace in solitude during her twilight years. Amidst the tranquility of her garden and the comforting aroma of freshly baked bread, she finds companionship in a mischievous magical cat and a legendary wolf who manage to slip past her formidable wards. Yet, beneath this serene exterior lies a gnawing loneliness and an insatiable boredom.
Enter a daring act of mischief: a spontaneous theft of a book about cultivating a rare rose from the esteemed library of her long-time rival, Stearanos. What begins as a lighthearted prank spirals into a riveting intellectual duel, igniting an unexpected connection through cheeky correspondence that dances between rivalry and longing. Their sharp exchanges crackle with tension, revealing a bond forged in shared isolation and the haunting specters of past.
It’s a fantasy narrative that masterfully mixes cozy romance with epic tales. This enchanting story reveals the beauty of love blossoming in unexpected places, offering hope and the chance to heal from a lifetime of heartache.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the opportunity with this advanced copy in exchange to review and share my honest thoughts. This book releases 7/8/2025

I liked this book, but I'll never read it again. It was unique, new, and different - which is refreshing, in its own way - but it wasn't a story that I absolutely loved. I wish the ending had been less ambiguous.

I enjoyed this book a lot, but was a little disappointed with the ending. The ending wasn't bad, I just wish it had been different. In all it was good, I liked the banter between Oneira and Stearanos. I loved how it developed from rivalry to friendship. My favorite part of the book were Oneiras animal companions. I loved the fantasy elements and the yearning between Oneira and Stearanos. This book is well worth a read.

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio, Bramble, and NetGalley for the preview. All opinions are my own.

I’m kind of kicking myself for not paying attention to the comps more closely. Because while I love The Witch’s Heart, I think I would have been more prepared for the heartbreak if I’d paid attention.

For most of the book, this seems whimsical and cozy. Yes these 2 sorcerers have done horrific things, but they’re in retirement or on sabbatical, paying more attention to gardening than war. I got swept up in the light back and forth as Oneira and Stearanos traded notes and banter. The dream magic that Oneria uses was so cool too.

But war does finally intrude on their solitude and the peace they’ve found. And they’re both tormented by what they’re asked to do.

Some other notes:
This was definitely insta-lust
Tristan was THE most annoying character
I actually expected this to be spicier
OMG THAT ENDING!! It killed me. If you’re someone who needs a definitive and happy ending, you might look elsewhere.

Overall, I did enjoy this and would recommend. Especially because Shane East makes anything sound good on audio. But you should definitely know what kind of book you’re getting into.

I wasn’t ready for how much this one would feel. I thought I was settling in for something light and whimsical, but it turned into this quiet, cozy story about loss, love, and finding your way back to yourself.

It’s not flashy. It’s not fast. But it’s real in a way that snuck up on me. The kind of book that makes you pause and sit with your feelings a bit. Definitely slow burn, definitely worth it.

Thanks to Bramble for the ARC—I didn’t know I needed this until I read it.

4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Never the Roses is a warm, witchy novel, equal parts flirty, magical, and heartfelt! Oneira’s journey from battlefield legend to bored retiree turned library thief had me hooked! Especially as her rivalry with Stearanos evolves into something deeper through clever, forbidden letters..

The world is rich with magic, quirky creatures, and just enough tension to keep the slow burn romance sizzling. Think Divine Rivals meets The Spellshop with a dash of enemies-to-lovers charm. A perfect late summer read for fans of cozy fantasy with a little spice.

Thank you to Bramble for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thanks to Bramble for the gifted ARC!

A perfectly witchy read, this is a slowburn, forbidden romance between a powerful sorcerer and sorceress you’ll want on your TBR this late summer / fall! This book is much cozier than I expected, especially with the darker cover, and was also a bit spicier than expected given the level of coziness. It reminded me of a cross between Divine Rivals, The Spellshop, and Wooing the Witch Queen. It was low stakes and had such a fun enemies-to-lovers storyline with magic, books, and flirty & forbidden correspondence.