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.
Review:
I was sent an early copy of Never the Roses by Tor Bramble.
Never the Roses is a romantasy which is light on the overarching plot, and instead spends it’s time building up the relationship. The fantasy world is there, but as Oneira has shut herself away from it you only see glimpses and pieces of the world. This really worked for me. It felt like an easy-going read because of this and I think that really worked for this specific romantasy.
Oneira and Stearanos are set up well as enemies, with good context and reasoning as to why they would fall for each other. It all starts because Oneira gets bored and wants to borrow a book from Stearanos’ famed library. A plot line I can very much understand. Oneira can move through dreams and this allows her to get into the library while everyone dreams, and Stearanos is a master ward maker, so can’t figure out how this is happening. It’s a good way of introducing their powers and why they were always pitted against each other.
Counterbalancing this romance is Leskai, sent to seduce Oneira and convince her to return to court. He’s an awful character where you just want to shout at Oneira as she naively falls for his tricks, and comes so dangerously close to doing things you don’t want her to do. He balances out the otherwise kind and understanding characters. Oneira is also accompanied by a trio of magical animals, who all find their way to her, but who haven’t quite found their potential in the story yet. I’m very intrigued to see what parts they may play in the rest of the series.
This ends of quite the cliff-hanger and I cannot wait for the sequel!! Give me more romance, more magic and please let certain characters get what the deserves (Leskai I’m looking at you…)
The overarching story was there but not the main focus. The romance had me desperately waiting for each new encounter. This was a refreshing read in a very popular genre. I need the sequel.
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