Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Hero archetypes
Heroine archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Synopsis
A USA TODAY BESTSELLER! 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. "Just beautiful. It's beautifully written. Academic, intellectual, poetic… it's everything." —Katherine Heigl on #booktok The Dread Sorceress Oneira has retired. She’s fought and won endless wars and has finally exiled herself to a remote forest where the mountains meet the beach. But with one last curiosity to satisfy, Oneira makes a reckless trip to the most extensive library in existence: the collection of her most powerful rival, the sorcerer Stearanos. There, she steals a book on rare roses, inadvertently initiating 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. When Stearanos, bound to a vile king, is called to war against the queen she once served, Oneira knows a relationship with him is far too dangerous to pursue despite their mutual desire. And yet, Stearanos is far too tempting to ignore… 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 At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Never the Roses: content & age rating
Intended for adult readers (18+).
Adult fantasy romance with powerful sorcerers engaged in a forbidden relationship amid war and political conflict. Expect on-page violence, steamy romance scenes, and mature emotional themes of duty versus desire.
What to know going in
This book has moderate violence, steamy sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include war, violence, and tragic romance (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Adult readers will be drawn to the lyrical prose, intellectual rivals-to-lovers dynamic, and forbidden romance between two powerful magical beings.