Never the Roses

By Jennifer K. Lambert

AN USA TODAY BESTSELLER

DELUXE EDITION―featuring beautiful stenciled edges, stylish endpapers, a foil casestamp and a detailed map.

The most powerful sorceress in all the world comes face to face with her greatest rival in this enchanting and seductive fantasy romance debut from Jennifer K. Lambert.

The Dread Sorceress Oneira has retired. She's fought and won endless wars for her ambitious queen and has finally exiled herself, seeking peace in a remote forest where the mountains meet the beach. There, in the peculiar company of a wolf, a kestrel, and a cat, she comes to accept that her death would be the beginning of a better world.

But she has one last curiosity to satisfy.

Oneira makes a reckless trip from her hidden fortress to the most extensive library in existence: the collection of her most powerful rival, the sorcerer Stearanos.

Perhaps at the behest of fate, a book on rare roses catches her eye. With little to lose, she steals it and returns to her self-imposed exile. As the subject takes root, she initiates a forbidden correspondence with her once-enemy. 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 called to war against 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 the only person who's ever really understood her is too tempting to ignore.

But not all dreams were meant to come true and not all budding romance blooms.

Exquisitely crafted and bewitchingly lyrical, Never the Roses is like Circe by Madeline Miller meets The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent.

" A] fresh take on enemies to lovers that will have readers swooning. A must-add for any romantasy shelf." --Booklist, starred review

Expect:
- Rivals to lovers
- Forbidden love
- Slow burn
- Starcrossed lovers
- Tragic romance
- Dark past
- Redemption
- Unexpected ending

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 125036034X
• ISBN13: 9781250360342
• Release Date: July 2025
• Publisher: Bramble
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 5.7" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Beautiful!

This was a beautiful story! It starts with Oneira paying off her debt to the queen (through one last act of destruction that still haunts her) and disappearing into the wilds for retirement away from everyone. And after that, what is a dream sorcerer supposed to do? It is a quiet start, peaceful, as Oneira figures out what she wants, tries new hobbies, and collects new friend animals (very powerful in their own right). Some people would think this was slow but it is so peaceful to listen to. Things do perk up when, following a dream/whim to find a question, she ends up in the fabulous library of her equal in power, Stearanos. I absolutely loved their notes back and forth! So cheeky and good for lots of laughs! It builds up from there with the two sorcerers figuring out a way to work together, learning that they (broken and damaged from years of fighting for their kings and queens who hold their bonds) can complete each other. I love their relationship! It started with roses and witty banter but ended up so much more! Besides being a love story, which was good in its own right, it was also about finding forgiveness for the destruction Oneira caused in her long career as a sorcerer and Stearanos finding a way out of his own debt. There are sweet times, but also hard decisions by both of them and a beautiful ending with a touch of hope amid the heartbreak that just wrecked me! It was very well done though and I loved this book. The narrators did a wonderful job in bringing Oneira and Stearanos to life in that world of magic, dreams, and roses that changed everything and allowed the two sorcerers to find what was needed to mend a broken heart. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to get lost in this land and I really would not mind seeing more books in this world!