3.25⭐
Spice level: 🌶️/5
Oneira is a retired dread sorceress, now that she has bought her freedom and is living out her life in the middle of nowhere. She's hit a point of boredom (literally building herself a bier) and decides to visit the most extensive library in existence, that happens to be owned by her rival, Stearanos. Stearanos is a sorcerer still under the command of a king, the rival of Oneira's previous queen. Oneira recklessly steals a book from Stearanos, initiating a taunting correspondence that turns to flirtation.

With excellent dual narration from the two narrators, this is a sweet and slow cozy fantasy. It left me wanting more for Oneira and Stearanos (please, tell me there is more!) Give this a read if you like:
- forbidden love/starcrossed lovers
- rivals to lovers
- slow burn
- past trauma/dark past
- lands on the brink of war

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for an ALC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This book will be published on 7/8/25.

💥💥💥. Book Review 💥💥💥

Never The Roses
By Jennifer K. Lambert
⭐️⭐️ Stars

Never the Roses presented a fascinating premise but was just lifeless and dual with slow pacing. I am sorry. I just couldn’t get into this extremely slow burn book. I have the audio arc and I have tried twice to get into it and like it, but I can’t. I am sorry. I guess I didn’t like the narrator. Plus I just found it boring and fell flat for me.

I want to thank NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

I didn't love this one... I really wanted to, but I just couldn't get into it. It has a great premise and I love the idea behind it, but the story moves at a glacial pace and it was too slow for me. I found myself getting drowsy every time I tried to listen to it.

Perfect for those who love a slower paced, beautifully written book that I would compare to An Enchantment of Ravens

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.

I started Never the Roses audiobook expecting a grim, high-stakes epic story, blame that moody, storm-lit cover, but Jennifer Lambert surprised me with something closer to a cozy armchair fantasy. Oneira, the battle-weary sorceress who’d rather raid a rival’s library than another throne room, is the perfect narrator for late-night listening: sardonic, tired of politics, secretly craving connection.

The enemies-to-lovers arc with Stearanos delivers. Their stolen book correspondence turns into razor sharp banter and slow burn tension that had me grinning in traffic. Both narrators elevate it even further: Oneira’s dry humor lands, Stearanos oozes reluctant charm, and the mythical sidekicks feel wonderfully alive. I can’t imagine reading this in print and missing those vocal cues.

Where it wobbled for me was tone. The plot hints at looming wars and divine meddling, yet the story mostly stays in gentle, low stakes territory. I understood the thematic point, finding rest in twilight years and peace after unforgivable acts, but the promised darkness never quite materialized, leaving the climax a touch underpowered. While the ending isn't a cliffhanger but more of a set up for a follow up book, it left we wanting more. Maybe it was exactly the point....

Still, for listeners craving witty letters, magical libraries, and tender romance, Never the Roses is a warm mug of cocoa disguised in a gothic teacup. Cozy fantasy fans: queue it up, just adjust your expectations from doom to delight.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ALC!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Ugh I had a hard time with this one. I wanted so much to love it as I really enjoy cozy stories that show what happens to main characters after the major battle/event is over. But this one just missed the mark on so many levels.

The cover is very dark and intense while the book itself is light and humorous at times. That was a bit jarring and started things in a weird tone. The scene with the queen in her chambers talking to her man space really just gave me the ick and felt gross and unnecessary. The bit where the FMC gets her period and then thinks about having a baby out of boredom also just felt weird and completely unnecessary.

Then we get to the end of the book that just felt so unsatisfying. The book was not built up enough to justify the final act of the FMC so the entire thing just felt forced and silly with a whole lot of “well that was ridiculous” at the end.

Such a shame too as I loved the ton and the feel and the imagery and it had so much potential…

The narrator’s were great though so at least there’s that.

This is an “unconventional” way to tell a fantasy love story. I understand what the intent was, but I do not think the execution worked as intended.
First off, I must say I appreciate the return of 3rd person. I personally get tired of everything being in first person.
That being said, however, I did not see the purpose of 3rd person in this book. 3rd person works best, im my opinion, for multiple POVs. And with the exception of one small portion of the story, the entire book alternates between the FMC and MMC, as per usual these days.
Further, the book begins very strangely. There is no hook, IMO. The author just starts telling about the FMC. It feels very distant and detached and I wondered “why should I care about this person?” The author tells about a magical sorceress who retired to become a hermit. Some magical animals happen to find her so she takes them in, but on the whole they do not play any significant role in the plot of this story, they are just side characters with little purpose.
Then one day, it seemed out of nothing but boredom, the FMC decided to go spy on some random sorcerer that “she was told” was her enemy, and was powerful, but she’d never met.
That was a big problem for me. The FMC was just bored, so that’s the motivation behind the initiating action? Further, she also just randomly decides to take a book the MMC was reading just for kicks.
So, then the MMC DOES have motivation, because he wonders who took his book, who snuck into his library, but none of this more interesting action happens until 25% into the book. I’m sorry but that’s a long time to just hope readers hang on to a boring FMC who is also bored and just doing random stuff before there is any driving want or motivation for the plot to begin.
Then there is the tone of this book. It takes itself far too seriously, as much of the plot points actually come across as funny, but the tone remains serious. Seems to me that was an opportunity lost. I would have enjoyed a book that took a comic turn on this common, run of the mill enemies to lovers/romantasy trope. A comic romantasy? I would buy that and recommend it to all my friends, but that’s just my opinion.
As such, moving forward, I did feel there was a silly and pointless forced “love triangle” that went exactly the way any reader would have predicted. There was never a threat or fear that she would make the wrong choice.
But even still, with all that I felt was lacking here the romance also was lacking. The MMC just went from thinking of her as a threat to propositioning her in the same chapter. Huh? How about some build up? How about making me believe there was an attraction? Not just saying it and therefore it is so.
I liked the intent of this story, but I felt mistakes were made in the composition of the story and storytelling. My taste is my own, of course, and I am sure many readers will adore this unconventional fantasy love story. I am not interested in reading any kind of sequel or next book myself, but with the painted edges and the publicity afforded this tome I’m sure it will be some kind of success.

Cue the tears!
My first thought when I began this book was that it had very Sword Catcher (by Cassandra Clare) vibes. The world building and character development is grand. The enemies to lovers felt natural and I loved the banter between the two. The narrators were perfectly cast for that affect as well. But then the ending...so emotional! Not a cliffhanger but boy there better be a second book in the works Ms. Lambert!

This book comes off as dark from the cover but it's not. It has heavy themes yes. In this world those with magic are taken and forced into magic school that in turn makes them indebted to the school. Oneira is tired of death and avoids it and basically has self reflection about what she has been forced to do and has trouble with it so lives in isolation after she retires.
The subplot of borrowing books from her rivals library and gardening makes the book lighter. This brings in the 2nd Pov.
The magic is unique with Oneria dream magic and her rivals with more wards and whatnot.
There is no crazy action or drama within the story line. The world is pretty straightforward and easy to follow. This story is for those who love more character driven stories than a heavy plot.
The dual POV and with the narration makes the story more in-depth and absolutely a treat to read.

I absolutely loved the banter that went back and forth between the two main characters! I felt it ended a bit off where the author might be writing a sequel but, it technically could end as a standalone

Unfortunately I had to DNF at 40%. I made it so far to give it a fighting chance.

I absolutely loved the comparable titles to this book, however, this book adds in some parts to the plot that just didn’t work for me. The Queen with the slave for one felt quite icky to me. The questionable consent was glaring because the man seems to be ensorcelled to fall over himself for her and I don’t like to think that female rulers would act that way. Also, I hated the insta lust that happened at about 35% when the man shows up to the witch’s cottage. It was obvious who he was (unlike in the other tales when men come to the cottages, it was well done in terms of plot and character).

The main comment that made me DNF was that the witch gets her period and thinks about having children. She proceeds to think that a child would help with boredom as she lives alone in the forest. UH WHAT? A horrible reason to have a child. I would have accepted if the author used the reason of loneliness but boredom? Not a good reason to have a child.

This attempts to be something beyond its scope. I enjoyed the audio minus the sound mixing of it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

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.

I just finished listening to Never the Roses by Jennifer K. Lambert… It’s a slow build, cozy fantasy and the narrators, Chloe Campbell & Shane East, really brought it to life. (I will listen to anything they narrate!)

Oneira and Stearanos’ relationship is all banter and tension at first, but then you start to feel the shift…and once it hits, it hits. Their bond felt both inevitable and impossible, which made the ending absolutely wreck me… like dang it Jennifer I was not prepared to be emotionally damaged before work 💔 I’ll be suffering in silence until book 2 comes out 😂😭

If you’re into cozy fantasy with a tragic edge and soft, powerful characters, this one’s worth picking up!

Never the Roses is a beautifully written romantic fantasy full of rich magic, razor-sharp banter, and impossible longing. Oneira is a fierce, weary sorceress you can’t help but root for, and her dangerous, slow-burn connection with Stearanos is pure tension and heartbreak. The morally grey magic, witty letters, and world-weary tone wrapped me up completely. A haunting debut that lingers long after the final page.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#NeverTheRoses #NetGalley #Romantasy #DarkFantasyRomance

4.5 stars -> This was such a beautiful story about life & love, and brought out all of the feels for me. Many cozy fantasies are set in modern times, but this one was set in more of a high fantasy world. Oneira is hiding out in retirement after contractually serving a queen, and growing tired of living (the story never actually shares her age, but very old is implied). She is able to visit the dreams of others, and starts somewhat of a magical prank war with Stearanos, her supposed nemesis she has never met.

Oneira & Stearanos engage in the most witty, fun, and intellectual banter. Through her journey, Oneira discovers more about who she is and what it means to love and sacrifice for those you love. I adored Oneira's animal companions (who have their own magical identities). Many reviews say that not much happens in this story, but this is more of an emotional exploration and character study than a fantasy with high stakes.

This ending absolutely GUTTED me. I hardly ever cry when reading books, but this one did it to me. I am praying and begging that there be a sequel to this book, because the ending leaves so much interpretation up to the reader (which might be the point, but I want more!).

Audiobook length: 11h 47m
Narrators: Chloe Campbell & Shane East

I loved the dual narration. Both narrators did an amazing job, but Chloe Campbell really knocked it out of the park - her accent and tone perfectly matched how I would imagine Oneira. I felt immersed in the world, and both narrators imbued so much emotion to their reading.

Thank you to Bramble & Macmillan Audio for providing me with copies of this book. This review is voluntary, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Retired, and tired of fighting endless wars, Oneira, a powerful sorceress, has prepared herself for her imminent death. but she realizes something more must be meant for her when she begins receiving uninvited companions at her isolated fortress. Seeking the right question to ask, Oneira steals a book from the library of rival sorcerer Stearanos, and unintentionally forges a bond between them.

I think this one had a lot of potential, but the pacing made it difficult to get invested in the story and the characters. I initially liked that this one had a unique take on the enemies to lovers trope. In theory, Oneira and Stearanos should be enemies - they've both worked for rival nations, but have avoided being pitted against each other in battle. It isn't until Oneira's retirement, when she begins to steal from Stearanos' library, that they truly become enemies. Although, at this point, Oneira isn't doing it to spite Stearanos but simply because he has the best library, and Stearanos doesn't know who she is. However, Stearanos' proposition of her felt awkward and out of place, and I wish the author had given the two more time to develop real feelings once they met in person before trying to push them into a relationship.

I listened to this one on audio, narrated by Chloe Campbell as Oneira and Shane East as Stearanos. Shane did such a good job, especially in some of the more emotionally charged scenes. My only complaint was that Shane spoke faster than Chloe, just enough so that I felt I needed to slow down Stearanos' chapters just a bit.

Read if you like:
Romantasy
Multi-POV
Enemies to lovers
Magical animal companions
Redemption
Dream magic
Forbidden romance

This is a slowburn, forbidden romance. Given the cover, I was expecting a darker high fantasy this novel. But this one is more cozy fantasy. Low stakes and lots of romance.

Never the Roses snuck up on me. The story started slowly, in part because I expected something closer to an epic fantasy than a cozy fantasy. Once I recognized the tone of the book, the story was beautiful and bittersweet. I would recommend Never the Roses to anyone who enjoys stories about redemption and finding love, in many forms, later in life.

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan publishers and Jennifer Lambert for allowing me to listen to this as an AUDIO ARC. I absolutely loved the narrators! They did an excellent job! This was such a unique story! I loved Oneira! Her background, who she currently was and who she grew into - was perfect. This is a slow burn type of story. The beginning was very much story building, background building and allowing the reader to understand the magic that exists. I loved the representation of the deities. I thought this was playful - with a mix of seriousness. Spice was minimal and didnt really come into play until about 65%ish of the book. So if youre looking for spice, this is like a red bell pepper. I was a complete sucker for the incorporation of the library, and loved how it was intertwined in the story line. Stearanos the MMC, I felt was an equal love interest, I do wish we received more 1:1 interactions between them though because they were both very fascinating characters! However, that epilogue was pure perfection and hoping that it was done as such that there will be a book 2! I finished this book in 2 days! I loved this book, and have a special edition ordered through July Owlcrate!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ARC!

I'm really enjoying this book so far. The mischief is entertaining and the book flows well. I'm only about 30% through so far. I'll report back!
But the narrators are great! They do a good job of bringing the characters personalities out in a tone that I find believable.