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Never the Roses
UNSTOPPABLE WAR. UNSPEAKABLE SINS. IMPOSSIBLE LOVE.
Genevieve Gornichec’s The Witch’s Heart meets Madeline Miller’s Circe in this epic and deeply emotional romantic fantasy debut by Jennifer K. Lambert. The hardcover edition features beautiful stenciled edges.
The Dread Sorceress Oneira has retired. She’s exhausted from fighting the endless wars of kings and queens, and has long accepted that her death is near. Alone at last but for a few uninvited companions―a near-mythical wolf, a goddess’s avatar, and a feline that embodies magic itself―Oneira realizes that she’s bored. On a whim, or perhaps at the behest of fate, she makes an unlikely trip to the most extensive library in the home of her most powerful rival, the sorcerer Stearanos.
By recklessly stealing a book from him, Oneira inadvertently initiates a forbidden correspondence. Taunting notes and clever retorts reveal a connection neither has found―nor could ever find―in any other.
But Oneira soon learns that Stearanos, bound to a vile king, is tasked with waging war on the queen she once served. A relationship with him is far too dangerous to pursue despite their mutual desire―and yet, Oneira can’t seem to stay away.
A bond with Stearanos could alight the long-extinct flame of life within her… or it could destroy her entirely.
Genevieve Gornichec’s The Witch’s Heart meets Madeline Miller’s Circe in this epic and deeply emotional romantic fantasy debut by Jennifer K. Lambert. The hardcover edition features beautiful stenciled edges.
The Dread Sorceress Oneira has retired. She’s exhausted from fighting the endless wars of kings and queens, and has long accepted that her death is near. Alone at last but for a few uninvited companions―a near-mythical wolf, a goddess’s avatar, and a feline that embodies magic itself―Oneira realizes that she’s bored. On a whim, or perhaps at the behest of fate, she makes an unlikely trip to the most extensive library in the home of her most powerful rival, the sorcerer Stearanos.
By recklessly stealing a book from him, Oneira inadvertently initiates a forbidden correspondence. Taunting notes and clever retorts reveal a connection neither has found―nor could ever find―in any other.
But Oneira soon learns that Stearanos, bound to a vile king, is tasked with waging war on the queen she once served. A relationship with him is far too dangerous to pursue despite their mutual desire―and yet, Oneira can’t seem to stay away.
A bond with Stearanos could alight the long-extinct flame of life within her… or it could destroy her entirely.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published July 8, 2025
849 people are currently reading
19182 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 802 reviews
July 26, 2025
“She could have turned him into dust. Instead, she let him borrow her favorite book. Same thing, really.”
If you’ve ever wanted your fantasy with a side of swoon, sass, and sentient magical pets, Never the Roses is your jam.
This book is like if Circe had a pen pal romance with her worst enemy and fell for him through sarcastic notes slipped between the pages of stolen books. Oneira is a badass sorceress in magical retirement, living her forest witch life with a wolf, a cat, and a literal avatar of a goddess. She’s got enemies, grudges, and an unhealthy obsession with her rival’s library. And honestly? Same.
Enter Stearanos: tall, morally ambiguous, and tragically committed to the wrong side of a war. Their banter is hot, their longing is slow burn perfection, and their mutual respect simmers under all the snark like a cursed potion ready to boil over.
The plot is deliciously character driven. The magic is soft and mysterious. And the romance? A slow dance through enemy lines with just enough yearning to keep you clutching the book like a love letter.
Is it fast paced? No. But it is a gentle, gorgeously written unraveling of two damaged people learning to trust again, even when their duty says otherwise. Lambert knows how to build tension with a featherlight touch and then gut you with a sentence.
I Highly Recommend.
Available Now!
Thank you Pan Macmillan for my early readers copy.
If you’ve ever wanted your fantasy with a side of swoon, sass, and sentient magical pets, Never the Roses is your jam.
This book is like if Circe had a pen pal romance with her worst enemy and fell for him through sarcastic notes slipped between the pages of stolen books. Oneira is a badass sorceress in magical retirement, living her forest witch life with a wolf, a cat, and a literal avatar of a goddess. She’s got enemies, grudges, and an unhealthy obsession with her rival’s library. And honestly? Same.
Enter Stearanos: tall, morally ambiguous, and tragically committed to the wrong side of a war. Their banter is hot, their longing is slow burn perfection, and their mutual respect simmers under all the snark like a cursed potion ready to boil over.
The plot is deliciously character driven. The magic is soft and mysterious. And the romance? A slow dance through enemy lines with just enough yearning to keep you clutching the book like a love letter.
Is it fast paced? No. But it is a gentle, gorgeously written unraveling of two damaged people learning to trust again, even when their duty says otherwise. Lambert knows how to build tension with a featherlight touch and then gut you with a sentence.
I Highly Recommend.
Available Now!
Thank you Pan Macmillan for my early readers copy.
July 20, 2025
4.5 stars
Never the Roses is such a wonderful standalone high fantasy. I was expecting to enjoy the cosy fantasy vibes, the whimsical nature of the Dream, the imagination of the world, but I did not know that it would then shred my heart to pieces and make me want to sob! Staying with me long afterwards.
💜 High fantasy
💜 Fairy tale
💜 Rivals to lovers
💜 Sorcerers
💜 Cosy vibes
💜 Warring kingdoms
Sorceress Oneira is finally free, after a lifetime of indentured servitude forced to fight wars for a queen. She seeks to retire; it seemed completely reasonable to me that she seeks quiet, peace, solitude...only to draw animal companions to her like a magnet. And who can blame her for magically breaking into her arch-rival's extensive library once she's read all of her own books? What’s a booklover to do? The taunting notes this sparks between her and Stearanos were fun. But it was the depth of Never the Roses, the handling of desolation, guilt, healing and impossibility of redemption, that stole my heart. The impact of being seen and understood by one other person. And that ending 😭.
The fact that this heart-felt, thought-provoking story comes wrapped in this beautiful book design is just the icing on the dark fairy tale cake. All of the first print run features this amazing sprayed edge.
Never the Roses is such a wonderful standalone high fantasy. I was expecting to enjoy the cosy fantasy vibes, the whimsical nature of the Dream, the imagination of the world, but I did not know that it would then shred my heart to pieces and make me want to sob! Staying with me long afterwards.
💜 High fantasy
💜 Fairy tale
💜 Rivals to lovers
💜 Sorcerers
💜 Cosy vibes
💜 Warring kingdoms
Sorceress Oneira is finally free, after a lifetime of indentured servitude forced to fight wars for a queen. She seeks to retire; it seemed completely reasonable to me that she seeks quiet, peace, solitude...only to draw animal companions to her like a magnet. And who can blame her for magically breaking into her arch-rival's extensive library once she's read all of her own books? What’s a booklover to do? The taunting notes this sparks between her and Stearanos were fun. But it was the depth of Never the Roses, the handling of desolation, guilt, healing and impossibility of redemption, that stole my heart. The impact of being seen and understood by one other person. And that ending 😭.
The fact that this heart-felt, thought-provoking story comes wrapped in this beautiful book design is just the icing on the dark fairy tale cake. All of the first print run features this amazing sprayed edge.
July 6, 2025
“By recklessly stealing a book from him, Oneira inadvertently initiates a forbidden correspondence. Taunting notes and clever retorts reveal a connection neither has found— nor could ever find— in any other.”
this book was not at all what i expected and it took me a bit to get into the story. Oneira is a powerful sorceress who’s decided she no longer wants a hand in all the war and destruction, so she retires and lives a life of reclusion in her cottage. her magic allows her to walk through dreams in the dream world and one day, she steals a book from a rival sorcerer named Stearanos— and thus starts a sort of cat and mouse game between them. i really grew to love the romance and the gradual connection built between Oneira and Stearanos, it was emotionally charged and ran deeper than either of them could’ve imagined. the lengths she went to in order to help him and the way he felt pained to even ask anything of her was killing me. the ending was a punch right in the gut and i cannot forgive the author for that cliffhanger.. what am i supposed to do now?! my feelings about this were all over the place, but i honestly find myself randomly thinking about it since i read it.
⇢ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Macmillan Audio for the alc, all opinions are my own.
this book was not at all what i expected and it took me a bit to get into the story. Oneira is a powerful sorceress who’s decided she no longer wants a hand in all the war and destruction, so she retires and lives a life of reclusion in her cottage. her magic allows her to walk through dreams in the dream world and one day, she steals a book from a rival sorcerer named Stearanos— and thus starts a sort of cat and mouse game between them. i really grew to love the romance and the gradual connection built between Oneira and Stearanos, it was emotionally charged and ran deeper than either of them could’ve imagined. the lengths she went to in order to help him and the way he felt pained to even ask anything of her was killing me. the ending was a punch right in the gut and i cannot forgive the author for that cliffhanger.. what am i supposed to do now?! my feelings about this were all over the place, but i honestly find myself randomly thinking about it since i read it.
⇢ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Macmillan Audio for the alc, all opinions are my own.
July 11, 2025
« Suffering isn’t quantifiable. It cannot be counted and weighed and totaled up to be compared to another’s. Suffering is personal and we all suffer in our own ways, struggling under the burden of it. »
I don’t understand how this wasn’t advertised as a Cozy Fantasy. This is an exempt from the blurb : « Epic and deeply emotional romantic fantasy. » was I in the bathroom when the epic was in the room with us? I feel betrayed.
I wonder what purpose it served to spend 35% of this book on Oneira’s isolation and inner monologue. I have never been this bored and I have lived through times where we had no cellphones.
My thoughts are extremely chaotic but here it goes… Oneira was… something? She loved her solitude (or did she?) but then lets a random stranger inside the house and he kisses her and brushes her breasts… and she doesn’t even know him? She has this intense fixation on purity and the white walls were repeated a few times throughout the novel. She was obsessed with death, kinda bordered on suicidal ideation. She mentioned a few times that she wouldn’t mind dying and I wish this would’ve been explored because it’s kind of just dropped a few times in the book here and there and we’re just supposed to accept that?
The romance was… silly at best. Tristan was the most annoying character I’ve ever read about. And for someone who loved her solitude that much, I’m surprised she just accepted that whole thing? We then spring immediately to Stearanos, in the same time span - who takes to her immediately. It was too fast to my liking. I also wonder why kisses were a currency exchange?
I will not be pursuing this series. I was misled into thinking this was going to be Epic. And as a Cozy Fantasy LOVER - I still found too many problems with this.
I don’t understand how this wasn’t advertised as a Cozy Fantasy. This is an exempt from the blurb : « Epic and deeply emotional romantic fantasy. » was I in the bathroom when the epic was in the room with us? I feel betrayed.
I wonder what purpose it served to spend 35% of this book on Oneira’s isolation and inner monologue. I have never been this bored and I have lived through times where we had no cellphones.
My thoughts are extremely chaotic but here it goes… Oneira was… something? She loved her solitude (or did she?) but then lets a random stranger inside the house and he kisses her and brushes her breasts… and she doesn’t even know him? She has this intense fixation on purity and the white walls were repeated a few times throughout the novel. She was obsessed with death, kinda bordered on suicidal ideation. She mentioned a few times that she wouldn’t mind dying and I wish this would’ve been explored because it’s kind of just dropped a few times in the book here and there and we’re just supposed to accept that?
The romance was… silly at best. Tristan was the most annoying character I’ve ever read about. And for someone who loved her solitude that much, I’m surprised she just accepted that whole thing? We then spring immediately to Stearanos, in the same time span - who takes to her immediately. It was too fast to my liking. I also wonder why kisses were a currency exchange?
I will not be pursuing this series. I was misled into thinking this was going to be Epic. And as a Cozy Fantasy LOVER - I still found too many problems with this.
September 1, 2025
2025 reads: 198/300
i received a complimentary audio copy from the publisher as part of their influencer program. this did not affect my rating.
exhausted from fighting endless wars, the dread sorceress oneira decides to retire. when she’s (mostly) alone at last, she quickly grows bored. this drives her to make a trip to the most extensive library in existence…which also happens to be the home of her most powerful rival, the sorcerer stearanos. she accidentally initiates a forbidden correspondence when she steals a book from him, and she soon learns that he is tasked with waging war on the queen she once served. all signs are telling her to stay away from him, but she can’t deny the growing attraction between them.
i would like to start this review by saying that, for some reason, i went into this thinking it was a beauty and the beast retelling. i have no idea what gave me this idea, but i could see a few similarities between this book and that story, though that definitely could have just been due to confirmation bias. either way, i agree with the ACTUAL comps, the witch’s heart and circe, much more, though this book was far more romantic than either of those (it is a romantasy, after all). i really enjoyed how we followed a retired, but bored, sorceress who wasn’t afraid to go after what she wanted. her relationship with stearanos was very interesting since they had such a strong rivalry. we got both viewpoints, reflected in the audiobook as having two narrators (yay!), and i really enjoyed getting to know both of them this way. i would recommend this audiobook to romantasy readers.
i received a complimentary audio copy from the publisher as part of their influencer program. this did not affect my rating.
exhausted from fighting endless wars, the dread sorceress oneira decides to retire. when she’s (mostly) alone at last, she quickly grows bored. this drives her to make a trip to the most extensive library in existence…which also happens to be the home of her most powerful rival, the sorcerer stearanos. she accidentally initiates a forbidden correspondence when she steals a book from him, and she soon learns that he is tasked with waging war on the queen she once served. all signs are telling her to stay away from him, but she can’t deny the growing attraction between them.
i would like to start this review by saying that, for some reason, i went into this thinking it was a beauty and the beast retelling. i have no idea what gave me this idea, but i could see a few similarities between this book and that story, though that definitely could have just been due to confirmation bias. either way, i agree with the ACTUAL comps, the witch’s heart and circe, much more, though this book was far more romantic than either of those (it is a romantasy, after all). i really enjoyed how we followed a retired, but bored, sorceress who wasn’t afraid to go after what she wanted. her relationship with stearanos was very interesting since they had such a strong rivalry. we got both viewpoints, reflected in the audiobook as having two narrators (yay!), and i really enjoyed getting to know both of them this way. i would recommend this audiobook to romantasy readers.
August 4, 2025
⋆.˚✮ 5 stars ✮˚.⋆
⤿ Thank you to Bramble and Tor Books for the arc through netgalley and physical advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
this cover is so gorgeous, but it really gives the vibes of extremely dark romantasy, especially because of those gorgeous sprayed edges on the finished copy. but i really came out of this book with such a different story, and one that i definitely needed right at this moment. this story centers around Oneira the sorceress as she retires and has finally paid of her indenture, she wants to live in solitude but magical creatures seem to keep finding her and she feels drawn inexplicably towards the library of her long-time rival sorcerer, Stearanos. they've never actually met, as the kingdoms they served deemed it too dangerous (as they were weapons for enemy kingdoms), but something might just continue to tug each other towards a shared future.
a cozy fantasy is not what i was expecting, but this definitely reads this way for most of the book. while in the latter half of the book, a few political things start to swing into the story, it's still i would say more of a cozy romantic fantasy. and! for fans of slow burn and major yearning (which i am and desperately needed at this moment) this is such a wonderful example of that. Oneira and Stearanos obviously feel curiosity and something pulling them together, but the emotional connection that is prioritized in the writing between them was so important. these are two people who are the only people in the world who could understand each other, and it was so interesting to see them start to unfold some of their wards to connect with each other. even Oneira's little magical animal companions that found her were so fun to read about- i love this trope in books so it was perfection.
i have to be so honest, there wasn't a lot that happened in terms of actual plot until the end. but as someone who really enjoys getting to know characters and prefers character-driven stories, this was perfect. it gave me so much time to connect with Oneira and Stearanos, especially as this is dual perspective, and it helped me be able to see both sides of their worlds. but this story, especially with the emphasis on the specific roses that Oniera chooses to grow (trust me the title will make sense), is really about emotional growth and healing. there was a lot of emphasis on this in the story through those roses but also about how the two sorcerers connected, that set the stage for the heartbreaking ending.
i did enjoy how it picked up at the end though, adding a bit more tension and leaving me feeling so torn up over the ending. i really hope that this is going to be a series because i cannot tell if it's meant to stay open-ended or there's meant to be more books. i am desperately hoping for a second book though because i need more of these characters!!
↬ trigger warnings: death and murder, brief sexual scenes, indentured people, war themes, animal cruelty and injury
⤿ Thank you to Bramble and Tor Books for the arc through netgalley and physical advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
this cover is so gorgeous, but it really gives the vibes of extremely dark romantasy, especially because of those gorgeous sprayed edges on the finished copy. but i really came out of this book with such a different story, and one that i definitely needed right at this moment. this story centers around Oneira the sorceress as she retires and has finally paid of her indenture, she wants to live in solitude but magical creatures seem to keep finding her and she feels drawn inexplicably towards the library of her long-time rival sorcerer, Stearanos. they've never actually met, as the kingdoms they served deemed it too dangerous (as they were weapons for enemy kingdoms), but something might just continue to tug each other towards a shared future.
a cozy fantasy is not what i was expecting, but this definitely reads this way for most of the book. while in the latter half of the book, a few political things start to swing into the story, it's still i would say more of a cozy romantic fantasy. and! for fans of slow burn and major yearning (which i am and desperately needed at this moment) this is such a wonderful example of that. Oneira and Stearanos obviously feel curiosity and something pulling them together, but the emotional connection that is prioritized in the writing between them was so important. these are two people who are the only people in the world who could understand each other, and it was so interesting to see them start to unfold some of their wards to connect with each other. even Oneira's little magical animal companions that found her were so fun to read about- i love this trope in books so it was perfection.
i have to be so honest, there wasn't a lot that happened in terms of actual plot until the end. but as someone who really enjoys getting to know characters and prefers character-driven stories, this was perfect. it gave me so much time to connect with Oneira and Stearanos, especially as this is dual perspective, and it helped me be able to see both sides of their worlds. but this story, especially with the emphasis on the specific roses that Oniera chooses to grow (trust me the title will make sense), is really about emotional growth and healing. there was a lot of emphasis on this in the story through those roses but also about how the two sorcerers connected, that set the stage for the heartbreaking ending.
i did enjoy how it picked up at the end though, adding a bit more tension and leaving me feeling so torn up over the ending. i really hope that this is going to be a series because i cannot tell if it's meant to stay open-ended or there's meant to be more books. i am desperately hoping for a second book though because i need more of these characters!!
↬ trigger warnings: death and murder, brief sexual scenes, indentured people, war themes, animal cruelty and injury
February 15, 2025
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!
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!
May 14, 2025
Never the Roses by Jennifer K. Lambert is easily one of my top reads of the year. What an absolute delight—this book had me chuckling, crying, and completely swept away. The romance is tender, sweet, and unfolds at the perfect pace. I read and listened to the audiobook, and let me tell you—the narrators brought these characters to life.
The story builds beautifully to an ending that left me in tears—in the best, most bittersweet way. It’s more than a 5-star read; it’s a heart read. I loved every single minute.
Huge thanks to Bramble Romance and Macmillan Audio for the gifted ARC and ALC. This one is a must-preorder—you won’t regret it!
The story builds beautifully to an ending that left me in tears—in the best, most bittersweet way. It’s more than a 5-star read; it’s a heart read. I loved every single minute.
Huge thanks to Bramble Romance and Macmillan Audio for the gifted ARC and ALC. This one is a must-preorder—you won’t regret it!
July 11, 2025
Don’t let people tell you this book is good.
A whole lot of nothing happened. Her pet collection didn’t add anything to the plot.
What we were promised? an epic adventure with animal friends and an enemies to lovers romance plot.
What we got? A depressed girl gardening and a guy scratching his balls.
A whole lot of nothing happened. Her pet collection didn’t add anything to the plot.
What we were promised? an epic adventure with animal friends and an enemies to lovers romance plot.
What we got? A depressed girl gardening and a guy scratching his balls.
June 13, 2025
I have mixed feelings about this book. It was good, yes, but there were parts I didn't like. For instance, Tristan. I did not like Tristan. Another example would be Tristan. Hated his guts. For my third example, I would like to mention Leskai, also known as Tristan, whom I wished had died. The book was a slow paced book, which I did not mind but would be a good thing to keep in mind if that is considered a con. Also, the book has a sad ending. I was actually quite upset that there was no happy ending, especially when I could think of multiple different ways a happy ending could have occurred. However, I thought it was a very good, very calming book, and I enjoyed it quite thoroughly. I also loved Bunny. A lot. All in all, I'm giving the book 4.5 stars.
June 7, 2025
I think my heart just broke into a million pieces???
First, thank you TOR publishing for the early copy in exchange for an honest review!
This was a cozy fantasy with such a sweet vibe, about a forbidden love between the most powerful sorcerer and sorceress in this world, and where harmless teasing starts to lead to a deep love and devotion that could also end in destruction.
There is a Pride and Prejudice quote in this that had me GIGGLING, as well. I think this was a lovely read, and while this is definitely a beautifully written book, I do believe that this book is DEFINITELY more for cozy fantasy lovers, the high stakes (though they were high) didn’t feel that high.
The end brutally gutted me though. So this gets 4.25 stars. A tragic love story, indeed.
First, thank you TOR publishing for the early copy in exchange for an honest review!
This was a cozy fantasy with such a sweet vibe, about a forbidden love between the most powerful sorcerer and sorceress in this world, and where harmless teasing starts to lead to a deep love and devotion that could also end in destruction.
There is a Pride and Prejudice quote in this that had me GIGGLING, as well. I think this was a lovely read, and while this is definitely a beautifully written book, I do believe that this book is DEFINITELY more for cozy fantasy lovers, the high stakes (though they were high) didn’t feel that high.
The end brutally gutted me though. So this gets 4.25 stars. A tragic love story, indeed.
June 3, 2025
DNF @ 48% i got an arc of this from work and literally nothing is happening. we garden, we steal books, we garden, we steal books… can something happen
January 30, 2025
I tried so hard to like this book but I just couldn’t.
The FMC is so distrusting and disheartened with her fellow humans in the beginning. She self isolates and you can tell she’s lonely so she dream walks. Makes perfect sense. Finds her enemy fools with his home and mind a bit. I’m still with you.
Then bam a random stranger walks into her wards with a horse feeds her some dumb story immediately tries to get under her skirt and she’s all like yeah let’s wait till tomorrow but we’ll shack up. And you lost me.
I could not read anymore I picked it up about a hundred times and I just can’t do it. I started in Nov and just can’t.
The FMC is so distrusting and disheartened with her fellow humans in the beginning. She self isolates and you can tell she’s lonely so she dream walks. Makes perfect sense. Finds her enemy fools with his home and mind a bit. I’m still with you.
Then bam a random stranger walks into her wards with a horse feeds her some dumb story immediately tries to get under her skirt and she’s all like yeah let’s wait till tomorrow but we’ll shack up. And you lost me.
I could not read anymore I picked it up about a hundred times and I just can’t do it. I started in Nov and just can’t.
August 19, 2025
⭐⭐💫
2½ stars.
➕ What I liked :
The first 45% of the book/plot was a little interesting.
Tiny bit interesting main characters.
Some of the banter between the main characters.
Experienced heroine.
“Older” main characters.
(Their ages are never really mentioned …. but from what is mentioned about them etc. in the book they seem like they are “older” or/and at least have lived and served their king/queen for many many years.)
The animals.
Some tiny parts of the world-building.
Good voice actors.
➖ What I disliked:
Way too much telling and not enough showing.
The world-building needed more development and depth… but also coherence.
Confusing.
Repetitive.
Jumbled.
Strange.
Verbose.
The pacing is too slow.
After about half way through the book/plot…the plot kind of goes off the rails…. And becomes contradicting and weird…. But almost also like the book is written by 2 different people it feels jumbled and strange.
Other man in the mix… that heroine is attracted to…. Why was he even added to the story?? it just seems nonsensical and superfluous.
The romance and chemistry was lacking/forced and unconvincing… and needed more depth and development…. Among many other things.
The heroines contradicting personality and behavior etc.
(She goes from being a woman that is tired of … and distrustful of all people and their drama etc. and being guarded and more or less cynical … which is understandable with her past and childhood…. But she is also a worldly and knowledgeable woman with a bad (both done to her and by her) checkered/destructive and violent past to say the least…. But she also prefers her solitude (she has strong wards to keep people out)
To being a naive and trusting/welcoming and easily charmed woman … that just seems to care about how handsome the other man is and about having sex.
The other man is so OTT and obvious and extremely flirty and sexually aggressive and annoying/sleazy…. And that the heroine has no problem with his behavior with her past and with how she acted before is just so weird.
And then the hero is introduced into the mix and the heroine and hero just take to each other more or less directly.🤨)
The ending is disappointing.
How the heroines suicidal thoughts are handled in a flippant way.
July 31, 2025
The male lead is introduced when he wakes up in the nude and scratches his nuts. Kind of a slay.
Unfortunately the cover (terrible) foretold of the story within. They're gonna stop giving me ALCs at this rate. I'm going to walk through the entire synopsis as a dedication to my dislike:
The first 10% is spent lightly detailing how Oneira retired from being a dread sorceress for her kingdom and, wishing to atone for all the death she's dealt, has committed to never kill another living being. She grows her own food and never interacts with other people. During this 10%, 3 mythical creatures find Oneira and become her companions. This will not come to affect any element of the story at any point.
Oneira sneaks into the library of her mortal enemy (nothing personal, they were/are in debt slavery to enemy kingdoms), Stearanos, and steals the book he was reading. It's about cultivating a specific rare variety of rose, and she decides to fuck w him a little bit by upsetting his organization. She ends up sneaking in again to exchange another book, as she's now growing those roses and can't return what she took. They write antagonizing notes back and forth while she steals books and he hasn't yet figured out who she is.
We're past 40% and Oneira has not had a single conversation with a human. Literally nothing has happened. Everything beyond this is firmly in spoilers category.
Honestly, what happened could've been hard-hitting, but it was impossible to give a shit about any of the characters. Throughout, there's an underlying theme of trying to escape the apathy of being a debt slave, primarily by working with your hands to create. I think that theme itself is well done, but not enough to carry an entire book.
Oh, and Stearanos is described as having long, thin braids. His skin color is never described, but he does have scars that are said to be silver. This leads me to believe he is a white man with a head full of long braids and -- sorry I'm gonna hurl. Big dawg's out here looking like this:
Unfortunately the cover (terrible) foretold of the story within. They're gonna stop giving me ALCs at this rate. I'm going to walk through the entire synopsis as a dedication to my dislike:
The first 10% is spent lightly detailing how Oneira retired from being a dread sorceress for her kingdom and, wishing to atone for all the death she's dealt, has committed to never kill another living being. She grows her own food and never interacts with other people. During this 10%, 3 mythical creatures find Oneira and become her companions. This will not come to affect any element of the story at any point.
Oneira sneaks into the library of her mortal enemy (nothing personal, they were/are in debt slavery to enemy kingdoms), Stearanos, and steals the book he was reading. It's about cultivating a specific rare variety of rose, and she decides to fuck w him a little bit by upsetting his organization. She ends up sneaking in again to exchange another book, as she's now growing those roses and can't return what she took. They write antagonizing notes back and forth while she steals books and he hasn't yet figured out who she is.
We're past 40% and Oneira has not had a single conversation with a human. Literally nothing has happened. Everything beyond this is firmly in spoilers category.
Honestly, what happened could've been hard-hitting, but it was impossible to give a shit about any of the characters. Throughout, there's an underlying theme of trying to escape the apathy of being a debt slave, primarily by working with your hands to create. I think that theme itself is well done, but not enough to carry an entire book.
Oh, and Stearanos is described as having long, thin braids. His skin color is never described, but he does have scars that are said to be silver. This leads me to believe he is a white man with a head full of long braids and -- sorry I'm gonna hurl. Big dawg's out here looking like this:
November 25, 2025
Never the Roses was honestly nothing like I was expecting, but I really enjoyed it for that! Even though it's tagged as a "cozy fantasy," it didn't feel like any that I'd read before. I really loved the romantic dynamic between the two main characters, there was a lot more character depth than I was expecting, and the setting was lovely. I will say that the pacing was a little strange. I definitely had more fun with the first half of the book, before Tristan was introduced. Still, as a whole I had a lot of fun with this book, and if the author releases anything in the same universe I'll definitely be picking it up.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!
May 16, 2025
This was a quiet and dark romantasy that was pretty well written, even if it didn't quite draw my attention until the last third of the book. The fmc does not trust anyone and is a bit obsessed with death and not being around. She also has magic, dream walks, and is kind of a retired warrior for the cause, which I would actually love to know more about in the next book. The mmc is the fmc rival mage warrior from another place, and they meet after the fmc steals one of his library books.
This is a slow burn, and it's not an epic fantasy because there are no battles or anything, just magic, mind games, and banter. The fmc is isolated, so there are a lot of her thoughts and feelings. Im not sure I even rooted for the romance until the last part of the book when the banter and plot picked up. Overall, an okay read. Thanks to Bramble for the arc.
This is a slow burn, and it's not an epic fantasy because there are no battles or anything, just magic, mind games, and banter. The fmc is isolated, so there are a lot of her thoughts and feelings. Im not sure I even rooted for the romance until the last part of the book when the banter and plot picked up. Overall, an okay read. Thanks to Bramble for the arc.
June 24, 2025
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.
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.
June 24, 2025
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.
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.
August 2, 2025
The book started off a bit slow for me as the FMC has exiled herself & there are no other characters for her to speak with at first, but I was pleasantly surprised with the dual pov! All of a sudden I was someone & somewhere else. The book gives off The Spellshop vibes for me in a sense, but with a little spice. Oh, & the ending? How could you 😭
*bumped up from 3.75 to 4 after being more hyped about it than I thought.
*bumped up from 3.75 to 4 after being more hyped about it than I thought.
July 10, 2025
Did I pre-order this book because it looked insanely pretty? Yes. However, I discovered that the book was also on Netgalley and of course I had to request a digital review copy. Luckily Tor Bramble was so kind to accept my request!
When I started this book I was afraid it was not gonna be for me. There is a lot of information in the first few chapters and it was hard to grasp all of it. However, now I finished the book and the first thing I'm gonna do when I get to hold my physical copy is reading the beginning again. Once the plot of the book started I was sold. Within a few chapters I started caring about the characters and I was not prepared for this book to shatter my heart in a million pieces.
If you're here for an epic plot about a fantasy war between two sorcerers, this is not your book. In a way this is actually more of a cosy fantasy. Those two sorcerers want only one thing: to live the rest of their lives in peace. The book is therefore basically a love story. A love story between two people who understand each other on a level no-one else will ever be able to understand them, connecting in a playful, slightly teasing, way.
Is there a part of me that would have loved to see more of the world and its magic? Yes. And yet there is also a part of me believing this book was perfect. It was heartwarming, it was hopeful, it was lighthearted, it was funny. It was also heartbreaking, therapeutic, dramatic, political and even a little bit sad. Basically, the book made me feel everything there is to feel and now I finished it I only want one thing: More of this!
When I started this book I was afraid it was not gonna be for me. There is a lot of information in the first few chapters and it was hard to grasp all of it. However, now I finished the book and the first thing I'm gonna do when I get to hold my physical copy is reading the beginning again. Once the plot of the book started I was sold. Within a few chapters I started caring about the characters and I was not prepared for this book to shatter my heart in a million pieces.
If you're here for an epic plot about a fantasy war between two sorcerers, this is not your book. In a way this is actually more of a cosy fantasy. Those two sorcerers want only one thing: to live the rest of their lives in peace. The book is therefore basically a love story. A love story between two people who understand each other on a level no-one else will ever be able to understand them, connecting in a playful, slightly teasing, way.
Is there a part of me that would have loved to see more of the world and its magic? Yes. And yet there is also a part of me believing this book was perfect. It was heartwarming, it was hopeful, it was lighthearted, it was funny. It was also heartbreaking, therapeutic, dramatic, political and even a little bit sad. Basically, the book made me feel everything there is to feel and now I finished it I only want one thing: More of this!
October 1, 2025
"She could have turned him into dust. Instead, she let him borrow her favorite book. Same thing, really."
- rivals x lovers
- retired sorceress
- dream magic
- exploitative contracted sorcerers
- cozy vibes
What I liked:
- The magic worldbuilding especially the dream magic. The female protagonist Oneira has the ability to travel through dreams, a realm that connects all beings, both physically and mentally. She can even bring things back with her from the dream world into reality.
- The point in life where Oneira finds herself is quite unique. She has already become the best sorceress, fought great battles, paid off her contract, and lived a gruesome yet adventurous life. Now, though still young, she has decided to retire, tend to her garden, and enjoy her solitary life.
What I didn’t like:
- I would have preferred if the author had either gone fully into cozy romantasy or went the more high fantasy path with an extensive magical worldbuilding, especially focused on the exploitative contracts of the sorcerers. For me, the looming threat of war along with the rivalries between the king and queen wasn’t explored enough to truly matter, yet often enough to annoyingly pull me out of the cozy parts.
Writing style: 3,5/5
Characters: 4,5/5
Story & Plot: 3/5
Vibes: 3/5
- rivals x lovers
- retired sorceress
- dream magic
- exploitative contracted sorcerers
- cozy vibes
What I liked:
- The magic worldbuilding especially the dream magic. The female protagonist Oneira has the ability to travel through dreams, a realm that connects all beings, both physically and mentally. She can even bring things back with her from the dream world into reality.
- The point in life where Oneira finds herself is quite unique. She has already become the best sorceress, fought great battles, paid off her contract, and lived a gruesome yet adventurous life. Now, though still young, she has decided to retire, tend to her garden, and enjoy her solitary life.
What I didn’t like:
- I would have preferred if the author had either gone fully into cozy romantasy or went the more high fantasy path with an extensive magical worldbuilding, especially focused on the exploitative contracts of the sorcerers. For me, the looming threat of war along with the rivalries between the king and queen wasn’t explored enough to truly matter, yet often enough to annoyingly pull me out of the cozy parts.
Writing style: 3,5/5
Characters: 4,5/5
Story & Plot: 3/5
Vibes: 3/5
July 8, 2025
Thank you Macmillian Audio for this advanced listening copy!!!!
Many things happened while reading this. One, I saw someone say there was a cliffhanger, which led me to believe this was gonna be a series. Then my NetGalley percentage marked 100% when I wasn’t even done with the book yet, so leading up to the 100% I was like oh this will be a good end and then new start for the next book. Then it reached 101% and I was confused, and then it seemed like the book wrapped up, but then the epilogue almost left it open? I’m confused. Can someone tell me if this was indeed a standalone or if there are more books. I think that knowledge would help me actually rate the book better.
I found the overall plot to be fun and interesting. I didn’t feel the love between the main characters. I felt like we got the FMC’s pov more than the MMC. Which made it hard to connect with him more. It was fun. But I felt like I was constantly missing something.
Many things happened while reading this. One, I saw someone say there was a cliffhanger, which led me to believe this was gonna be a series. Then my NetGalley percentage marked 100% when I wasn’t even done with the book yet, so leading up to the 100% I was like oh this will be a good end and then new start for the next book. Then it reached 101% and I was confused, and then it seemed like the book wrapped up, but then the epilogue almost left it open? I’m confused. Can someone tell me if this was indeed a standalone or if there are more books. I think that knowledge would help me actually rate the book better.
I found the overall plot to be fun and interesting. I didn’t feel the love between the main characters. I felt like we got the FMC’s pov more than the MMC. Which made it hard to connect with him more. It was fun. But I felt like I was constantly missing something.
July 10, 2025
Jennifer K. Lambert's debut under this pseudonym arrives like a whispered confession in the dark—intimate, devastating, and impossibly beautiful. Never the Roses transcends the conventional boundaries of fantasy romance, offering instead a deeply philosophical exploration of what it means to live with the consequences of one's choices, and whether love can bloom from the scorched earth of a war-weary soul.
The story centers on Oneira, the infamous "Dread Sorceress" who has finally escaped the endless cycle of magical warfare that has defined her existence. Retired to a crystal dome on a remote island, she tends to impossible Veredian roses and contemplates the weight of her past sins—most notably the complete annihilation of Govirinda. When a simple act of literary theft brings her into correspondence with Stearanos "the Stormbreaker," her most powerful rival, their exchange of letters evolves into something neither expected: a connection that threatens to reignite the very flame of life within her.
A Tapestry Woven from Dreams and Thorns
The Architecture of Sorrow
Lambert constructs her narrative with the deliberate precision of someone who understands that the most powerful magic lies not in spectacle, but in restraint. The book unfolds through a series of carefully orchestrated encounters—first through stolen books and written correspondence, then through increasingly intimate meetings that feel both inevitable and impossibly fragile.
The author's choice to begin the story after Oneira's retirement proves masterful. Rather than wallowing in the familiar territory of epic battles and world-ending stakes, Lambert focuses on the aftermath: what happens when the destroyer seeks to create, when the weapon tries to become human again. This decision elevates the work beyond typical fantasy fare into something approaching literary fiction with magical elements.
The pacing feels intentionally meditative, matching Oneira's own careful, deliberate attempts to cultivate beauty in her exile. Lambert understands that healing—both for characters and readers—requires time to breathe, to sit with discomfort, to allow emotions to develop organically rather than through forced dramatic beats.
The Language of Longing
Lambert's prose carries the weight of poetry without sacrificing clarity. Her descriptions of the Dream—the metaphysical realm where all sleeping minds connect—read like fragments of half-remembered visions. When Oneira enters this space, the language itself becomes more fluid, more symbolic, mirroring the logic of actual dreams where meaning exists beyond literal interpretation.
The author demonstrates particular skill in her handling of intimate scenes. The physical relationship between Oneira and Stearanos develops with a rare authenticity, where desire serves character development rather than mere titillation. Their first kiss arrives not as conquest but as mutual recognition—two damaged souls acknowledging their shared wounds and the possibility of healing through connection.
The Magic of Specificity
One of the novel's greatest strengths lies in Lambert's attention to magical detail without drowning readers in exposition. Oneiromancy—dream magic—becomes not merely a plot device but a lens through which to examine consciousness, guilt, and the thin boundaries between sleeping and waking life. Oneira's ability to pull objects from dreams into reality serves as a beautiful metaphor for the creative process itself, while her fear of entering others' dreams speaks to the intimate terror of truly knowing another person.
The titular roses function as more than symbolic decoration. These Veredian roses—difficult to grow, blooming only in winter's darkest days, armed with vicious thorns—become a perfect representation of beauty that can only emerge from harsh conditions. Oneira's obsessive cultivation of them mirrors her own difficult journey toward redemption.
Characters as Complex as Real People
Oneira: The Weight of Godlike Power
Oneira stands as one of the most compelling protagonists in recent fantasy fiction. Lambert refuses to soften her edges or excuse her past. The destruction of Govirinda haunts every page, not as a distant plot point but as a living wound that shapes every decision, every moment of self-doubt, every tentative step toward connection with others.
The author excels at showing rather than telling us about Oneira's power. We see it in the casual way she creates crystal domes from dream-stuff, in how other characters react to her presence, in the careful control she exercises over every magical impulse. Yet Lambert also reveals her vulnerability through small details: her surprise at experiencing physical desire, her awkward attempts at domesticity, her genuine wonder at Stearanos's ability to see past her reputation.
Stearanos: The Burden of Duty
Stearanos could have easily fallen into the trap of being merely the "dark, brooding love interest," but Lambert gives him genuine depth and agency. His initial appearance as "His Majesty's Sorcerer" bound by magical contract parallels Oneira's own past enslavement to war, creating an immediate foundation for understanding between them.
His development throughout the novel feels earned rather than convenient. The transformation from duty-bound weapon to a man capable of choosing love over obligation happens gradually, through conversations about books, shared moments of vulnerability, and the slow recognition that he and Oneira are more alike than different.
Supporting Characters That Matter
Even the minor characters feel fully realized. Bunny, Moriah, and Adsila—Oneira's magical animal companions—serve as more than mere fantasy window dressing. They represent different aspects of her journey toward connection and trust, each relationship reflecting her capacity for nurturing that has survived despite everything she's endured.
Tristan, the young poet who briefly enters Oneira's life, could have been a mere romantic rival, but Lambert uses him to explore themes of appropriate relationships and the difference between infatuation and genuine connection. His presence serves as a foil that helps define what makes Oneira's relationship with Stearanos unique and necessary.
Themes That Resonate Beyond the Genre
Redemption Without Absolution
Perhaps the novel's most powerful achievement lies in its honest exploration of guilt and redemption. Lambert never suggests that Oneira's love for Stearanos, or her attempts to create beauty, somehow erase or balance out her past destruction. The weight of Govirinda remains constant throughout the narrative, a reminder that some actions cannot be undone, only lived with.
This refusal to offer easy answers elevates the novel beyond simple redemption narratives. Instead, Lambert asks more complex questions: How do we continue living with the knowledge of irreversible harm we've caused? Can love exist alongside unforgivable guilt? What does it mean to choose creation over destruction when both impulses live within us?
The Politics of Power
While never heavy-handed, the novel offers subtle commentary on how societies use and dispose of their most powerful individuals. Both Oneira and Stearanos have been shaped by systems that valued their magical abilities while treating them as weapons rather than people. Their relationship develops partly as a rejection of these systems—a choice to value each other as individuals rather than tools.
The magical contracts that bind sorcerers to serve kings and queens function as a fantasy metaphor for real-world systems that exploit talent while offering limited agency. Lambert explores how trauma bonds can form between people who've been similarly used, and how healing requires not just personal growth but systemic change.
Love as Radical Act
In a world built on endless warfare and exploitation, the simple act of two people choosing to care for each other becomes revolutionary. Lambert presents love not as a weakness that makes characters vulnerable, but as a form of resistance against systems designed to prevent human connection.
The roses themselves embody this theme—difficult to grow, requiring specific conditions, blooming against all odds in the darkest season. Like love, they demand patience, skill, and faith that beauty can emerge from harsh circumstances.
Critical Considerations
Pacing Challenges
While the meditative pace serves the story's themes, some readers may find the middle sections slower than expected for a fantasy romance. Lambert prioritizes character development and emotional authenticity over action sequences, which may disappoint readers seeking more traditional fantasy adventure elements.
The book's focus on internal transformation over external conflict requires patience from readers accustomed to faster-paced narratives. However, those willing to engage with the book's contemplative rhythm will find themselves rewarded with genuinely moving character development.
Worldbuilding Gaps
Lambert's decision to focus intensely on character relationships means some aspects of the larger world remain underdeveloped. While we understand the basic political situation and magical systems, details about history, culture, and geography sometimes feel sketched rather than fully realized.
The book works best when read as a character study that happens to include fantasy elements rather than as a comprehensive secondary world fantasy. Readers seeking detailed worldbuilding may find themselves wanting more context about the political systems, magical education, and cultural differences between regions.
Familiar Fantasy Elements
Despite its emotional sophistication, the novel relies on some well-worn fantasy tropes: the retired powerful sorceress, the rival-to-lover relationship, magical contracts binding sorcerers to rulers. While Lambert executes these elements skillfully, they may feel predictable to well-read fantasy fans.
However, the author's psychological depth and literary sensibility generally overcome these familiar elements. The execution proves more important than originality, and Lambert's character work elevates common tropes into something genuinely affecting.
Final Verdict
Never the Roses succeeds as both fantasy and literary fiction, offering readers a mature exploration of love, guilt, and redemption wrapped in beautiful prose and compelling characters. Lambert has created something special here—a book that honors genre conventions while transcending them, that takes fantasy seriously as a vehicle for examining real human emotions and experiences.
The novel will particularly appeal to readers who appreciate character-driven narratives, complex protagonists, and prose that rewards careful attention. While it may not satisfy those seeking action-heavy adventure or comprehensive worldbuilding, it offers something perhaps more valuable: a genuine exploration of what it means to choose love and creation over destruction and despair.
This is fantasy fiction for adults, in the best sense—not because of content warnings, but because it grapples with the kind of complex moral questions that mature readers can appreciate. Lambert has given us a book that lingers long after the final page, like the fragrance of roses blooming against all odds in winter's deepest darkness.
The story centers on Oneira, the infamous "Dread Sorceress" who has finally escaped the endless cycle of magical warfare that has defined her existence. Retired to a crystal dome on a remote island, she tends to impossible Veredian roses and contemplates the weight of her past sins—most notably the complete annihilation of Govirinda. When a simple act of literary theft brings her into correspondence with Stearanos "the Stormbreaker," her most powerful rival, their exchange of letters evolves into something neither expected: a connection that threatens to reignite the very flame of life within her.
A Tapestry Woven from Dreams and Thorns
The Architecture of Sorrow
Lambert constructs her narrative with the deliberate precision of someone who understands that the most powerful magic lies not in spectacle, but in restraint. The book unfolds through a series of carefully orchestrated encounters—first through stolen books and written correspondence, then through increasingly intimate meetings that feel both inevitable and impossibly fragile.
The author's choice to begin the story after Oneira's retirement proves masterful. Rather than wallowing in the familiar territory of epic battles and world-ending stakes, Lambert focuses on the aftermath: what happens when the destroyer seeks to create, when the weapon tries to become human again. This decision elevates the work beyond typical fantasy fare into something approaching literary fiction with magical elements.
The pacing feels intentionally meditative, matching Oneira's own careful, deliberate attempts to cultivate beauty in her exile. Lambert understands that healing—both for characters and readers—requires time to breathe, to sit with discomfort, to allow emotions to develop organically rather than through forced dramatic beats.
The Language of Longing
Lambert's prose carries the weight of poetry without sacrificing clarity. Her descriptions of the Dream—the metaphysical realm where all sleeping minds connect—read like fragments of half-remembered visions. When Oneira enters this space, the language itself becomes more fluid, more symbolic, mirroring the logic of actual dreams where meaning exists beyond literal interpretation.
The author demonstrates particular skill in her handling of intimate scenes. The physical relationship between Oneira and Stearanos develops with a rare authenticity, where desire serves character development rather than mere titillation. Their first kiss arrives not as conquest but as mutual recognition—two damaged souls acknowledging their shared wounds and the possibility of healing through connection.
The Magic of Specificity
One of the novel's greatest strengths lies in Lambert's attention to magical detail without drowning readers in exposition. Oneiromancy—dream magic—becomes not merely a plot device but a lens through which to examine consciousness, guilt, and the thin boundaries between sleeping and waking life. Oneira's ability to pull objects from dreams into reality serves as a beautiful metaphor for the creative process itself, while her fear of entering others' dreams speaks to the intimate terror of truly knowing another person.
The titular roses function as more than symbolic decoration. These Veredian roses—difficult to grow, blooming only in winter's darkest days, armed with vicious thorns—become a perfect representation of beauty that can only emerge from harsh conditions. Oneira's obsessive cultivation of them mirrors her own difficult journey toward redemption.
Characters as Complex as Real People
Oneira: The Weight of Godlike Power
Oneira stands as one of the most compelling protagonists in recent fantasy fiction. Lambert refuses to soften her edges or excuse her past. The destruction of Govirinda haunts every page, not as a distant plot point but as a living wound that shapes every decision, every moment of self-doubt, every tentative step toward connection with others.
The author excels at showing rather than telling us about Oneira's power. We see it in the casual way she creates crystal domes from dream-stuff, in how other characters react to her presence, in the careful control she exercises over every magical impulse. Yet Lambert also reveals her vulnerability through small details: her surprise at experiencing physical desire, her awkward attempts at domesticity, her genuine wonder at Stearanos's ability to see past her reputation.
Stearanos: The Burden of Duty
Stearanos could have easily fallen into the trap of being merely the "dark, brooding love interest," but Lambert gives him genuine depth and agency. His initial appearance as "His Majesty's Sorcerer" bound by magical contract parallels Oneira's own past enslavement to war, creating an immediate foundation for understanding between them.
His development throughout the novel feels earned rather than convenient. The transformation from duty-bound weapon to a man capable of choosing love over obligation happens gradually, through conversations about books, shared moments of vulnerability, and the slow recognition that he and Oneira are more alike than different.
Supporting Characters That Matter
Even the minor characters feel fully realized. Bunny, Moriah, and Adsila—Oneira's magical animal companions—serve as more than mere fantasy window dressing. They represent different aspects of her journey toward connection and trust, each relationship reflecting her capacity for nurturing that has survived despite everything she's endured.
Tristan, the young poet who briefly enters Oneira's life, could have been a mere romantic rival, but Lambert uses him to explore themes of appropriate relationships and the difference between infatuation and genuine connection. His presence serves as a foil that helps define what makes Oneira's relationship with Stearanos unique and necessary.
Themes That Resonate Beyond the Genre
Redemption Without Absolution
Perhaps the novel's most powerful achievement lies in its honest exploration of guilt and redemption. Lambert never suggests that Oneira's love for Stearanos, or her attempts to create beauty, somehow erase or balance out her past destruction. The weight of Govirinda remains constant throughout the narrative, a reminder that some actions cannot be undone, only lived with.
This refusal to offer easy answers elevates the novel beyond simple redemption narratives. Instead, Lambert asks more complex questions: How do we continue living with the knowledge of irreversible harm we've caused? Can love exist alongside unforgivable guilt? What does it mean to choose creation over destruction when both impulses live within us?
The Politics of Power
While never heavy-handed, the novel offers subtle commentary on how societies use and dispose of their most powerful individuals. Both Oneira and Stearanos have been shaped by systems that valued their magical abilities while treating them as weapons rather than people. Their relationship develops partly as a rejection of these systems—a choice to value each other as individuals rather than tools.
The magical contracts that bind sorcerers to serve kings and queens function as a fantasy metaphor for real-world systems that exploit talent while offering limited agency. Lambert explores how trauma bonds can form between people who've been similarly used, and how healing requires not just personal growth but systemic change.
Love as Radical Act
In a world built on endless warfare and exploitation, the simple act of two people choosing to care for each other becomes revolutionary. Lambert presents love not as a weakness that makes characters vulnerable, but as a form of resistance against systems designed to prevent human connection.
The roses themselves embody this theme—difficult to grow, requiring specific conditions, blooming against all odds in the darkest season. Like love, they demand patience, skill, and faith that beauty can emerge from harsh circumstances.
Critical Considerations
Pacing Challenges
While the meditative pace serves the story's themes, some readers may find the middle sections slower than expected for a fantasy romance. Lambert prioritizes character development and emotional authenticity over action sequences, which may disappoint readers seeking more traditional fantasy adventure elements.
The book's focus on internal transformation over external conflict requires patience from readers accustomed to faster-paced narratives. However, those willing to engage with the book's contemplative rhythm will find themselves rewarded with genuinely moving character development.
Worldbuilding Gaps
Lambert's decision to focus intensely on character relationships means some aspects of the larger world remain underdeveloped. While we understand the basic political situation and magical systems, details about history, culture, and geography sometimes feel sketched rather than fully realized.
The book works best when read as a character study that happens to include fantasy elements rather than as a comprehensive secondary world fantasy. Readers seeking detailed worldbuilding may find themselves wanting more context about the political systems, magical education, and cultural differences between regions.
Familiar Fantasy Elements
Despite its emotional sophistication, the novel relies on some well-worn fantasy tropes: the retired powerful sorceress, the rival-to-lover relationship, magical contracts binding sorcerers to rulers. While Lambert executes these elements skillfully, they may feel predictable to well-read fantasy fans.
However, the author's psychological depth and literary sensibility generally overcome these familiar elements. The execution proves more important than originality, and Lambert's character work elevates common tropes into something genuinely affecting.
Final Verdict
Never the Roses succeeds as both fantasy and literary fiction, offering readers a mature exploration of love, guilt, and redemption wrapped in beautiful prose and compelling characters. Lambert has created something special here—a book that honors genre conventions while transcending them, that takes fantasy seriously as a vehicle for examining real human emotions and experiences.
The novel will particularly appeal to readers who appreciate character-driven narratives, complex protagonists, and prose that rewards careful attention. While it may not satisfy those seeking action-heavy adventure or comprehensive worldbuilding, it offers something perhaps more valuable: a genuine exploration of what it means to choose love and creation over destruction and despair.
This is fantasy fiction for adults, in the best sense—not because of content warnings, but because it grapples with the kind of complex moral questions that mature readers can appreciate. Lambert has given us a book that lingers long after the final page, like the fragrance of roses blooming against all odds in winter's deepest darkness.
June 7, 2025
As soon as Owlcrate announced, Never The Roses, was their adult fantasy pick for the month of July. I knew I had to immediately devour this. I mean come on even the standard edition is stunning. However, you should never judge a book by its cover. Because sadly, the synopsis that captivated me wasn’t executed out in the story.
As a small disclaimer I listened to Never The Roses as a ALC. And I wanted to give a big thumbs up to our narrators Chloe Campbell & Shane East. Even though sadly the story wasn’t my favorite. The two of them did a great job of bringing the characters to life. They honestly were the biggest reason I kept listening and didn’t DNF. The banter between them throughout the entire story was definitely my favorite moment of this journey.
Besides that the rest is just a downhill slope. The pacing was ungodly slow. I kept waiting for anything to happen but literally happens the entire book. So if you’re looking for drama, magic, action then this is not the book. The characters are frustrating and un-relatable. The most personality they have is that they are all horny. And no I didn’t mistype that. God I wish I did. But sadly that’s what we had to work with.
Overall, even though the narrators were great it wasn’t enough to redeem the story for me. So sadly I can’t recommend this one. Which breaks my heart because I had such high hopes for this. Lastly Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and Jennifer K. Lambert for the ALC of Never the Rose.
As a small disclaimer I listened to Never The Roses as a ALC. And I wanted to give a big thumbs up to our narrators Chloe Campbell & Shane East. Even though sadly the story wasn’t my favorite. The two of them did a great job of bringing the characters to life. They honestly were the biggest reason I kept listening and didn’t DNF. The banter between them throughout the entire story was definitely my favorite moment of this journey.
Besides that the rest is just a downhill slope. The pacing was ungodly slow. I kept waiting for anything to happen but literally happens the entire book. So if you’re looking for drama, magic, action then this is not the book. The characters are frustrating and un-relatable. The most personality they have is that they are all horny. And no I didn’t mistype that. God I wish I did. But sadly that’s what we had to work with.
Overall, even though the narrators were great it wasn’t enough to redeem the story for me. So sadly I can’t recommend this one. Which breaks my heart because I had such high hopes for this. Lastly Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and Jennifer K. Lambert for the ALC of Never the Rose.
June 9, 2025
I went into this completely blind and was expecting a typical romantasy type book, but boy was I wrong. Never the Roses has a very unique, cozy type story with a rich world and older MCs that I found refreshing. I enjoyed the world building, animal companions, and magic system; however, the plot was too slow paced for me and I wasn't invested until 2/3rds of the way through. Due to it's glacial pace, the ending conflict felt a bit rushed and sudden. I most likely won't pick up the next book in the series, but I definitely appreciate Never the Roses as a fresh take on what is becoming a repetitive genre. If you're looking for a romantasy that feels a little bit like Wooing the Witch Queen but nontraditional characters and a slower plot, this book is for you.
Thank you to Bramble, NetGalley, and the author for sending me an early copy!
Thank you to Bramble, NetGalley, and the author for sending me an early copy!
August 13, 2025
Katherine Heigl was right because this book was everything, even when it didn’t give me the ending I wanted. If you want soft and subtle yearning, this is for you.
This is the book for people who have just been so hurt and let down by the world so many times and you’re not sure how to keep going. The prose is achingly beautiful, to the point that I made myself finish this two days later than I wanted to because I didn’t want it to end.
Absolutely a favorite of the year.
This is the book for people who have just been so hurt and let down by the world so many times and you’re not sure how to keep going. The prose is achingly beautiful, to the point that I made myself finish this two days later than I wanted to because I didn’t want it to end.
Absolutely a favorite of the year.
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December 7, 2025Jane Austen + Circe + Circo da Noite. Sim, eu juro.
Fiquem de olho, mulheres fãs de fantasia, pq vocês vão amar.
Fiquem de olho, mulheres fãs de fantasia, pq vocês vão amar.
January 4, 2026
A beautifully written slow slow burn that really focuses on the (more mature) characters and their inner world and trauma. Very bittersweet.
did-not-finish
May 19, 2025I received a gifted audiobook copy of NEVER THE ROSES by Jennifer K. Lambert from @BrambleRomance.
NEVER THE ROSES follows a sorceress and a sorcerer after the battle between kingdoms has ended. Oneira is living in retirement, no longer using her magic for death and destruction. Her focus is on her garden and she is joined by magical creatures in her isolation. She only ventures out through dreams where she is able to collect information and things she needs from those asleep. One of these trips takes her to the home of her biggest rival, Stearanos.
Oneira takes from Stearanos' library, seeking information on growing an elusive rose, but it doesn't take long for him to realize that someone has been there. They begin a correspondence which seems to bring them some common ground, even as there are still ties and loyalties to opposing sides.
This book is comped to CIRCE and THE WITCH'S HEART which I can definitely see. We're mainly focused on a woman with magical abilities who largely lives in isolation. As the book opens, we see what comes after the battle is fought and it reads almost like a cozy fantasy at the start. I did enjoy meeting the magical creatures who join Oneira, especially the wolf named Bunny.
The connection between Oneira and Stearanos is also one I like. The banter and the exchange of letters and just general ways Oneira does things to let him know someone has been in his library have had me amused. There is a third character who gets introduced and that addition isn't one I have been enjoying so much as it seems that Oneira turns her brain off a bit where he's concerned.
I do like the writing in this one and the correspondence aspect of the bond forming between the two POV characters, but I would not recommend this one so far to those wanting a plot heavy book or a fast pace. I don't think this book is turning out to be a perfect fit for me, but I do think it could work better for those more focused on romance in a fantasy setting.
NEVER THE ROSES follows a sorceress and a sorcerer after the battle between kingdoms has ended. Oneira is living in retirement, no longer using her magic for death and destruction. Her focus is on her garden and she is joined by magical creatures in her isolation. She only ventures out through dreams where she is able to collect information and things she needs from those asleep. One of these trips takes her to the home of her biggest rival, Stearanos.
Oneira takes from Stearanos' library, seeking information on growing an elusive rose, but it doesn't take long for him to realize that someone has been there. They begin a correspondence which seems to bring them some common ground, even as there are still ties and loyalties to opposing sides.
This book is comped to CIRCE and THE WITCH'S HEART which I can definitely see. We're mainly focused on a woman with magical abilities who largely lives in isolation. As the book opens, we see what comes after the battle is fought and it reads almost like a cozy fantasy at the start. I did enjoy meeting the magical creatures who join Oneira, especially the wolf named Bunny.
The connection between Oneira and Stearanos is also one I like. The banter and the exchange of letters and just general ways Oneira does things to let him know someone has been in his library have had me amused. There is a third character who gets introduced and that addition isn't one I have been enjoying so much as it seems that Oneira turns her brain off a bit where he's concerned.
I do like the writing in this one and the correspondence aspect of the bond forming between the two POV characters, but I would not recommend this one so far to those wanting a plot heavy book or a fast pace. I don't think this book is turning out to be a perfect fit for me, but I do think it could work better for those more focused on romance in a fantasy setting.
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