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.
"You drive me mad," he says through clenched teeth. "I know you're dangerous. I know you'e trouble. And still----""And still what?" I demand.His hands fist at his sides. "And still I want you."
Themes & Tropes:
- Older Main Characters
- Tragic Romance
- Magical Familiars
- Morally Gray Pasts
- Dark Cottage-core
- Dreaming Magic
- Open-ended ending
- Loneliness
- Regrets
- This is a Tragedy
Review:
Never the Roses by Jennifer K. Lambert is more of a cozy fantasy with some dark elements vs a romantasy. The story didn't capture my attention as I had hoped it would. It was really slow. Like REALLY slow. It had some romance, but personally, I didn't feel like the romance was as prominent as I would expect in a romantasy. The romance itself was also incredibly slow.
I really liked that the story centered around two older main characters. We don't know their exact ages, but we can assume they've had some decent life experience by this point. I found the inner monologue to be annoying. Most of the story focuses on Oneida's self-inflicted suffering because she felt that she deserved it. It made for such a slog of reading. I found myself becoming bored with he story. I didn't like how obsessed Oneida was with death. All I kept thinking was that this book was going to lead to death.
I really wanted to love this book since it was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. It just didn't work out for me. I didn't find that spark with Never the Roses. I did listen to the audiobook for this story, and I have to say that the narration was okay. I don't think it is anything special. It didn't help me get into the story at all. I think you can go either way with how you read this book. You can read or listen to it. I am not sure it would make a difference either way.
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