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Cover of Never the Roses

Never the Roses

by Jennifer K. Lambert

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️steamy·spoiler
Available on Kindle Unlimited

Why Read This?

A deeply emotional exploration of redemption and forgiveness that leaves you contemplating the beauty of love born from darkness.

Synopsis

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 existence: 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.

At a Glance

3.67 ★ Goodreads
Spice Level🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️steamy
Endingspoiler
PairingM/F
Romance Pacingslow burn

Top Tropes

hidden identitysecret relationshipblood feud romance

Mood

darketherealseductivedreamysecretive

Book Details

Goodreads Rating

3.67 ★

Page Count

368 pages

Published

2025

Primary Genre

Romantasy

Pairing

M/F

POV

First Person

Romance Pacing

Slow Burn

Audiobook

Available

Yes

Format

Standard

Narrator

Chloe Campbell|Shane East

Narrator Count

Dual

Tropes

RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

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Mood & Vibe

Mood

sign in to see writing style, pacing & more

Characters

FMC: witch/mage sign in to unlock

Spice Details 🌶️

emotional / loving sign in to unlock

deathemotional abusetraumaviolencecaptivitydark pastgriefimprisonmentwar

World & Setting

high fantasy sign in to unlock

Reading Context

the angst delivered sign in to unlock

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