This was such a fun romantasy with a super unique magic system including dream walking. I’m always down for a rivals/enemies to lovers and their banter/little pranks were so entertaining.

I loved how they were rivals based on reputation alone. They didn't know one another personally, but their powers and who they worked for put them in that position.

There were so many unique concepts within this story and it was quite different than anything I feel like I have read before.

The playfulness and banter between the MCs was fun especially when the FMC knew what was going on and the MMC was in the dark.

I loved that this wasn't a super long romantasy. So many of them are 500+ pages, but this one stayed under 400!

The narrators really brought these characters to life.

Thank you to netgalley and macmillan audio for the ALC!

This book was a bit of a slow starter for me but I’m glad I stuck with it as it improved as more characters where introduced.

Lambert has a really visual and descriptive writing style. The romance is so sweet and flirty I loved the correspondence between the two.

It was super relatable reading Oneira’s desire for peace and calm after never end wars and I really enjoyed her as a character.

It was fantastical, humorous and heartbreakingly beautiful.

This was such a beautiful and unexpected journey. Oneira is a retired sorceress carrying years of grief and guilt, and watching her learn to live, and even hope again, is deeply moving. Her self-imposed isolation, surrounded by nature and a wolf, a kestrel, and a cat, felt like solace… until she made a risky choice that changed everything.

Her stolen book to Stearanos leads to a forbidden exchange of letters that spark something neither of them anticipated. The slow‑burn enemies‑to‑lovers connection is delicate, heartbreaking, and utterly magnetic. Their correspondence had me smiling, and occasionally tearing up.

The prose is lyrical and atmospheric, with a dreamlike quality that suits the magic and emotional wounds in the story. It’s not action-packed, but instead it embraces the quiet ache of healing, forgiveness, and finding love again. While the pacing may feel gentle or meandering at times, the emotional payoff is worth every page.

If you’re looking for a romance that’s haunting, introspective, and full of longings that linger, this one is definitely worth the read. I came away completely enchanted and can’t wait for the next installment.

Completely not what I was expecting at all… I felt lost.
Oneira a powerful retired sorceress…self exiled who loves her peace and solitude… well except for her cat, wolf, and krestel.
However, the funny thing about solitude… you get lonely and confused! You make questionable choices where you can’t see past your lust.
So in comes Tristan… sent by the queen to entice her… Tristan… was a hotdog and desperate for her … lies. The robust raw feelings that she was lost in…when her walls were being rocked…literally!! All because of a curious moment in a library…dream away!!
Ohh Stearanos the rival sorcerer and forbidden love conquest… she’s his weakness but only he can break her walls and help her through her questionable near choice… a nice start to a tragic love…

The obstacle: kingdoms at war.
A case of forbidden love with a very telling of slow burn…

At least I have hope for the follow up considering the tragedy of it all… beautiful purple roses and long crimson beautiful hair…

2.5 ⭐️ ARC review of the audiobook.

It took me a while to get into this book. It starts out with the FMC alone and it was very boring, but then I did start to enjoy the story. I just don’t feel like the story ever really got going before it ended.

This book feels unfinished. It feels like the middle is missing. It feels like the “beginning” of the book was drug out to be about 90% of the book and then the end was just wrapped up real quick in the last 10%. I feel a little misled by the cover and the description. I expected this to be a fantasy book with some action and it wasn’t. It’s much more of a cozy fantasy. So, I am disappointed because it wasn’t what I expected it to be. I think if the cover was different and it didn’t say, “Unstoppable War. Unspeakable Sins.” I wouldn’t have had those expectations and maybe I would have enjoyed it. I kept seeing the percentage increase and being confused that nothing had really happened yet. Also it was described as “epic”….. there was nothing “epic” about it. I think if I wasn’t misled with what to expect, I may have liked the book. I think if you like Divine Rivals, but want less action, you’ll like this book.

I think the premise is great and had a ton of potential. Maybe if it was a series/ duology. The FMC and MMC with their backgrounds could be really good characters in an actual epic fantasy.

With regard to the audiobook specifically, I enjoyed it. Both VAs were good and the quality was good.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC. 🖤

*2.5 stars rounded up*

I picked up Never the Roses after seeing that Jennifer K. Lambert would be attending a local book festival I was planning to attend. As a debut, this book shows a lot of promise. Lambert’s writing is solid, and there were several elements that I genuinely enjoyed. The magic system was creative, the cozy fantasy vibes were charming, the animal companions were delightful, and I especially appreciated the epistolary exchanges between the two love interests. I listened to the audiobook and the narration was excellent by both narrators.

However, despite the strong foundation, the book just didn’t quite work for me overall. While it’s being promoted as a romantasy and an epic fantasy, I think it would have been stronger had it fully embraced its cozy fantasy vibes. The story shined most in the quieter, more cozy moments.
The pacing felt inconsistent, what started as a slow burn suddenly turned into insta-love, and it left me a bit confused. I also wasn’t a fan of Tristian, he grated on me, and the villains (the queen and the prince) felt like flat, stereotypical antagonists than fully developed characters.

That said, I can see how this book might appeal to readers looking for low-stakes fantasy with a magical setting and a dash of romance. I’ll be curious to see what Lambert writes next, especially if she leans more into the cozy side of the genre, which is clearly where her storytelling shines.

*Thank you to the publisher for providing an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review*

“How scandalized her former handlers would be to know she planned to use such a lethal weapon for gardening.”

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It’s a slow-burn romance that also deals with ideas of freedom, choice, and consent. I really like the concept of The Dream as a separate plane that has grown up out of everyone’s dreams over the course of centuries. I also liked how magic works slightly differently for different magic users. Oneira tends to think “big picture” and often acts on impulse, which goes well with the fluid nature of dreams. Meanwhile, Stearanos’s brain is so fixated on order, logic, and numbers, that his magic embodies that mindset and operates accordingly.

I’ll be honest, it took me a while to warm up to this book. The first few chapters depict Oneira at the beginning of her self-imposed exile. She is not in a great headspace in that moment and the narrative reflects that—this section is choppy, flits around in time, and has a dreamlike feel. I found this section confusing and difficult to follow. I believe this was done on purpose to show just how damaged Oneira is at that time. For me, the story picked up when Oneira decided to raid the library (a.k.a. when she finally began to heal). I loved the low-stakes cat-and-mouse nature of Oneira and Stearanos’s early interactions. I also appreciated the way their connection slowly grew into something more.

This is a romantasy that leans a little more toward fantasy than romance. I found the magic system intriguing (though highly cruel and unfair). In this world, nonmagical nobles have found a way to raise people with magic abilities as indentured servants who are forced to spend their lives catering to the whims of their masters. The concept is both horrifying and plausible to me. People are greedy. Rich and powerful people are gonna find ways to stay rich and powerful, no matter the cost. This is just an extension of that.


The audiobook is narrated by Chloe Campbell and Shane East. I enjoyed their performances.

Note: The main romance is completely consensual, but there is a side character who is in a power-imbalanced situationship in which the consent is dubious at best. This character has one POV chapter and my blood boiled on their behalf the entire time I read it. Even if that character isn’t exactly innocent either.

Cozy enemies to lovers fantasy. Older fmc. Very slow start that was a lot of inner monologue of one character, similar to Madeline Miller’s style ( but with out the heartbreak). Also kind of like Divine Rivals with the back and forth notes. If you are a collector of pretty sprayed edges this one is very pretty on the outside.

Never the Roses offers a dreamy, lyrical take on romantic fantasy, with a premise that intrigued me from the start: a battle-weary sorceress seeking solitude and redemption, only to find herself drawn once again into political turmoil—and the complicated pull of connection.

Lambert’s prose is elegant and poetic, and the worldbuilding—particularly the use of dream magic and the mysterious presence of magical familiars—holds real potential. The narration overall is well performed, though I found the introduction of Tristan’s POV confusing. At first, I didn’t realize we had switched perspectives, and the youthful tone of the voice—combined with the character’s oddly childlike behavior—felt jarring and out of step with the rest of the story. It made it difficult to understand the scene’s purpose until much later, and I believe a clearer transition or tonal shift would help anchor listeners more effectively in the narrative.

The plot itself unfolds very slowly, with much of the romantic and emotional payoff arriving quite late in the story. While some readers may enjoy the introspective, atmospheric style, others may find the early pacing a challenge—especially given the minimal direct interaction between the two main characters for most of the book.

The conclusion, while thematically resonant, leaves many threads unresolved: the magical familiars’ purpose is never fully explored, the specifics of Tristan’s manipulation remain unclear, and the story ends on an open, ambiguous note. As a standalone, this lack of resolution may leave some readers feeling unsatisfied.

Overall, Never the Roses is a unique and delicate romantic fantasy with a rich premise and lyrical style, but readers looking for deeper romantic connection, narrative momentum, or clear resolutions may struggle to fully connect with it.

The beginning of the book was a bit confusing, and it took me some time to fully grasp the main female character’s abilities and the type of fantasy world being built. However, once I got past that initial hurdle, it turned into a very good story with a solid romantic arc.

I really enjoyed the descriptions of dreams and what happens to objects within them. Also, the best parts for me were all the animals—they added so much charm to the story.

Overall, it’s a good read, and the narration was excellent.

This is one of those books that need the 1/2 star option. It’s a true 3.5. The good things about this book is that Oneira and Stearnos can be really interesting, as they are both sorcerers and can have some really clever banter. The unfortunate part is most of the story is not about them being so interesting. The poet/imposter takes up way too much real estate in this novel and is incredibly annoying. Shame on you Oneira for letting him through your wards. There was a very anticlimactic ending. I do wish there was a sequel, so I’m not sure what that says other than I liked the character but wished more actual things transpired.

This book was surprising and lovely on so many counts before I know it I was 60% and didn’t want it to end!

The narrators did an amazing job keeping me engaged and extremely locked in! I think that they both did incredibly well keeping the emotions and the atmosphere very vivid.

I don’t know if it was just me but this was dark, gothic, atmospheric, lush AND cozy all at the same time! Jennifer K. Lambert really GAVE with this one. And the ending was as devastating as you can imagine.

I love how Oneira was as multi-faceted as any woman out there. She exhibited that we aren’t just the one-dimensional carer or assassin or lover or baker or gardener. We can be all of that and be equal parts sad, tired, happy, satisfied, afraid, brave, horny, yet needing to be alone, all at the same time. I really appreciated that about her. And I love that Stearanos understood these about her. Their non-banter (I don’t wanna give too much away) banter was so good that I was squealing at times and really enjoyed how they exhibited their powers.

I will say, this acted more like Greek tragedies (and most Ancient Greek plays) where the action took place backstage and is merely spoken of in the dialogue on stage. I think this served a great purpose in that the author made it less about the action and definitely about the before and after of warfare. Especially for key players such as Oneira and Stearanos.

Thank you Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for granting me an ALC for this book!

Oneira, a sorceress from the Southern Kingdom, can wield dreams and destroy all in her path with a forever sleep. Tired of the destruction, she has freed herself from the debt to her queen and is set to remove herself from the world. The last piece of her plan is to acquire the rare roses that haunt her. To do this she invades the dreams and realms of many including her nemesis Stearanos - - as his collection of books holds the key to the roses. What ensues is a forbidden correspondence that sparks the curiosity of both. Will they be able to save each other from themselves and their warring kingdoms?

First, this was an excellent audiobook. The narrators for both Oneira and Stearanos capture each character perfectly and give them a voice that only creates a more vivid picture of their world and story. I was able to listen easily at 1.5x.

I also really enjoyed this book. The idea of a novel following a couple of sorcerers that are lost to themselves, due to the greedy nature of their royalty and their roles in their respective courts, is unique and well done. The fact that it also is a romance is just icing on the cake. Oneira and Stearanos are tragically perfect. A good read. 4 stars.

This is an honest review based on an Advanced Audiobook provided by Macmillan Audio and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Firstly, let me say that I couldn't really pay attention to this until I heard Shane's voice. I thoroughly enjoyed the different thought processes of the main characters on the events in Stearanos' library. Also, I wholeheartedly hated Tristan but I can understand the need for him in the story. The writing vaguely reminds me of the Emily Wilde series, which I don't mind in the slightest, but this story didn't keep my interest as well. Can we talk about that ending??? I'm not even sure that counts as a cliffhanger or what and I don't know how to process it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ALC.

In this witty and slow burn romantic fantasy, two powerful rival sorcerers (one in self-imposed exile/retirement, the other drowning in debt) find themselves entangled in a series of magical and often mischievous encounters.

I wasn’t expecting this book to be so darn sassy, but oh how I LIVED for the pettiness (and eventual tenderness) between our two main protagonists.

“All you’ve done is bluster and wave your little fireballs about.”
“They’re hardly little, Oneira,” he said, having nothing else.
She actually smirked. “I’m sure they’re much bigger than anyone else’s.”

I mean???????? I COULD READ THIS CHARGED BANTER ALL DAY.

Beneath the snark and magical hijinks, however, is a genuinely heartbreaking exploration of autonomy, power, and loss. Jennifer K. Lambert builds a vivid, corrupt magical society where talent is both a gift and a shackle. Children born with magical abilities are sold by their families, trained at great expense (to them), and eventually bound into service by the highest bidder. No free will. No say in their assignments. Just duty, and the moral injury that comes with it. While Oneira has managed to purchase her freedom from this life, it was not without significant cost.

So yes, there’s banter. Delicious banter. But also tragedy, loneliness, and an aching kind of yearning. For agency, for connection, for understanding, and for forgiveness.

I was fortunate enough to snag an early copy of this audiobook and applaud the superb narration by Chloe Campbell and Shane Wast. Their inflections elevated this story and beautifully highlighted the wit, warmth, and nuance of these characters. I typically prefer narrators to voice only their own characters, regardless of POV, but they nailed every role so well I didn’t mind it one bit here.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Jennifer K. Lambert for this ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: The narrator did a good job of delivering the story smoothly. The story itself started off slow, doing a lot of setting up of the atmosphere and history. I found this difficult at times to stay engaged, yet necessary. The story vibes are Beauty and the Beast, nature witchery, animal spiritual companions, and female warrior. Overall, I enjoyed the story even though it was slow at times.

Summary: A sorcerist is capable of dream walking and pulling essences of others' dreams into reality. This has caused her to be feared as early as childhood by her own parents, yet coveted as powerful by a school of sorcery. She is trained for battle and learned to be fierce. Later in life, she escapes her warrior life to finally isolate and relax in her own corner of a sleepy forest. When she dream walks into a glorious library, her quiet life begins to detour with the prospect of a new, intriguing stranger in the mix.

I was able to listen to this as an audio. This is a very slow and closed door romance. I enjoyed the library thievery and watching as these two get closer and closer even tho they were kept apart. The ending for tho was not what I thought it would be but it still ends sweetly.

This book blew my mind!

Brief summary: The world of Never the Roses leaves all but royalty in tremendous, lifelong debt...including sorcerers. Oneira (oh-nee-rah), her name assigned when she was bought from her parents and enrolled in the best magical schools, has been serving a queen in defense of her kingdom ever since her debt was purchased from school many decades before. Her role? To attack neighboring kingdoms in their dreams. She has killed countless people, military and innocents during her servitude. But now, she is free; having purchased her freedom with blood money from side jobs.

In her freedom, she seeks to escape from the world of man and die. She finds a serene escape in the forest where even the road is forgotten. She is cozied between the mountains and the sea. Her solitude is healing as she learns to garden, to prepare her own food, and along the way, is joined by magical creatures.

But she becomes bored and seeks out her former rival, Stearanos (stee-rah-nos). In stealing a book on cultivating the rarest rose known to man, she has complicated her life while also starting it anew.

Review:
I love this book! The narrators (Chloe Campbell and Shane East) absolutely made the book better than I could have imagined! In chapter transitions wherein the POV switches across a dream, the transition almost overlaps with one character's thoughts nearly overlaying the thoughts of the other.

I loved the elements of a morality play inherent in this book as well as the question overall of whether one can be redeemed from the evil they have previously done. Other questions asked include how the privilege of choice changes a life and whether everyone is worthy of love.

I would recommend this audiobook to anyone who loves a fantasy with teeth, one that encourages the reader to question their beliefs and assumptions, and those who get lost in the pages.

I thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful enemies to lovers slow burn Romantasy! This book has all the boxes checked off for me 🫶

I loved that Oneira, FMC, & Stearanos, MMC, were older (not 18 or 20) which to me, brought more depth & relatability to the emotions of the characters. The character development & world building was also fantastic! The pacing of the story moved along perfectly for me.
I will say by the end I was moved to tears 😭 which is a mark of great writing.

Jennifer, I hope you have more to come!!

The narrators, Chloe Campbell & Shane East, were outstanding with their performances, Bravo you guys! Highly recommend the audiobook!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen & review the ARC of this wonderful audiobook!

I really wanted to like this book, but unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me. Never the Roses unfolds at a glacial pace, with a plot that often feels like wandering through someone’s magical dream journal: disjointed, overly introspective, and steeped in a fog of passive despair.
While the premise hinted at a romantic or fantastical journey, the actual content is sparse on romance and heavy on melancholy. The narrative leans heavily into themes of isolation and passive suicidal ideation, which could have been powerful if they were better integrated into a compelling story. Instead, it often felt like trudging through page after page of vague metaphor and symbolic prose, with little in the way of emotional payoff or plot progression.

And yes, there are roses. Lots of roses. Symbolic? Probably. Overused? Definitely.
This one might appeal to readers who enjoy meditative, meandering narratives and don’t mind a lack of momentum. But for me, it was too slow, too abstract, and ultimately too disengaging to leave much of an impression, other than boredom.

Oh, and there's no happily ever after, if that's what you're looking for.