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.

I had the chance to listen to an advanced listening copy 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
🐈‍⬛🐺🦜 Magical/Cute Animal Companions

A million thanks to the McMillan audio and NetGalley for the ALC this was such a beautiful, memorable listen. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What an absolutely mesmerizing read! Never the Roses is a lush and emotional blend of Beauty and the Beast and Sleeping Beauty, wrapped in the grit of war and the ache of forbidden love. Jennifer K. Lambert delivers a beautifully written fantasy that grabbed my heart and refused to let go.

At its core, this is an enemies-to-lovers tale with high emotional stakes. An oneramancer—someone who manipulates and travels through dreams—and a powerful sorcerer are brought together by duty and divided by past wounds, magic, and war. Their slow-burn connection is rich with tension, distrust, yearning, and moments of vulnerability that hit hard. The chemistry between them was electric.

The dreamscapes were some of the most vivid and creative I’ve ever read. Lambert’s writing shines in these sequences—ethereal, strange, and emotionally charged. It felt like stepping into another world within the already magical world she built. There’s something almost poetic about the way dreams are used to reveal truths, heal wounds, and deepen the bond between characters.

But this isn’t just a romance—it’s also a story of sacrifice, power, identity, and war. The worldbuilding is compelling, with high stakes and a sense of urgency that builds as secrets unravel and the characters’ loyalties are tested. The emotional weight is real, and I found myself feeling alongside the characters every step of the way.

And then...that cliffhanger. My heart shattered. I turned the last page and immediately wished I had the sequel in my hands. I’m feening for more—more answers, more dream-magic, and more of this broken, beautiful couple who have stolen my heart.

The narrators for this book were absolutely perfect and helped me visualize everything so clearly and really brought the story to life. Their voices fit the characters so well.

If you love emotionally charged fantasy romance, high-stakes magic, and stories that balance heartache with hope, Never the Roses is an absolute must-read.

Thank you Netgalley for the ALC for my honest opinion. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

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.
The audio version of the book was well made and the narration was excellent.

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.

This was a okay read just didn’t connect too much with the characters and was a little disappointed in the ending. But overall it does seem like there’s an opportunity to continue the story. I would read a continuation of it just to get some answers to the cliff hangers.

This book was just not for me. :( Though I think there are plenty of people out there who will love this book.

The prose is good and I like the dynamic between the main characters, especially once they meet, but it was too cozy for my taste. I'm not a big fan of cozy fantasy, which I didn't realize this could be compared to. Oneira's magic was cool and I enjoyed reading about it. The book does have darker elements, but the stakes weren't high enough for me. It felt like the big conflict of the story wasn't anything that directly impacted them. I found it to be a bit slow, seeing as Oneira and Stearanos don't have a real conversation face-to-face until about 50% through.

Unfortunately, I lowered what I was initially going to rate this as because of the ending. Iykyk.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the gifted ALC!

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. I really enjoyed the dual narration in this one to bring the perspectives to life!

Never the Roses is a standalone romantasy by Jennifer K. Lambert.

This slow burn romance was a little slow to start, but worth the listen or read. Oneira was living in isolation, so the beginning of the book felt lonely and mundane. But that was just a tease. The author masterfully crafted this so you could feel Oneira’s emotions as they evolved throughout the book.

The characters were so well developed that they actually felt tangible. I loved that the main characters were mature adults and their decisions are made based on life experiences. Their friendship (courtship? relationship?) developed so naturally; it was beautiful to witness.

I loved the magic of this story. Dream walking and dream theft was such a unique, ingenious magic.

I absolutely loved the narration by Chloe Campbell & Shane East. Their voices, intonation, and pacing were brilliant! They embodied the characters! (The recording’s volume was a little low, so earbuds are recommended.)

This book was so unlike what I expected, and I enjoyed it more because of it! The focus on characters (instead of intense action) was what made this fantasy the beautiful work of art that it is!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Never the Roses by Jennifer K. Lambert
Narrated by Chloe Campbell & Shane East
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Romance, Sci Fi & Fantasy
Expected Publication Date: July 8, 2025

I was drawn to this title because of it’s comparisons to Circe and The Witch’s Heart, both of which I loved when I read them. While these books are good comparisons, Never the Roses is also its own thing.

There is a reclusive woman who has powers that others fear, who has self exiled herself away. But for Oniera (narrated by Chloe Campbell)this is because she is reeling from the guilt of the destruction she wrought to buy her own freedom. Because of this, this story is very self contained and character driven, this may drive some readers away. In fact I was quite frustrated with the first 20% of the book has we were stuck with only Oniera’s point of view, and she had literally no discussion or dialogue with any other being. Though once the character of Stearanos (narrated by Shane East)is introduced I was drawn in. The flirty messages back and forth and tension between the two sorcerers from rival kingdoms was tantalizing. I love that these main characters were older and the juxtaposition of Tristan’s youth and Stearanos’s experience made me feel seen as a thirty something reader who is over the immaturity of most male main characters in enemies to lovers stories that saturate the market today.

Despite my early misgivings and slow pace, this story grew on me. And I found by the end I wanted to know more than the epilogue provided, more than the open ending that isn’t quite happily ever after.