The World Made Us Enemies, Not We, Ourselves

I recently finished reading Never the Roses by Jennifer. K. Lambert. This is OwlCrate's July adult book.

This exclusive edition features an exclusive redesigned dust jacket by @piu_q8, with a reversible dust jacket by  @toyo.illustration, with stenciled edges by  @julie.reinhart_, printed hardcover case design by @julie.reinhart_⁠, and end pages by @tropicoolaas⁠⁠. The book is also signed by the author, Jennifer K. Lambert, on an author page with an author's letter bound into the book, as well as bonus content.

~POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT~

  Rating: 3.25/5 stars

"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."

I’m still not sure about what to think about Never the Roses. First, this isn’t a Romance, and that was quite disappointing –no matter the book’s other qualities– as it’s marketed as such (as far as I know).

The story takes its time to start, plunges into introspection, then, in an epistolary sparring match kindled by some books’ steals (or exchange, depending on the POV). Honestly, that part was strange and cozy, but I enjoyed it. But after that, the story takes a turn and turns into a love triangle (which isn’t my cup of tea), propelled in the middle of a looming war, each character being the puppet of a most powerful one. Every connection, even between the MCs, feels transactional, and it lacked, IMO, a true bond between them, even if I loved the banter (and the first part with the letters). However, this part too had its moments, and I loved the deepest themes like redemption and sacrifice (which makes me super bittersweet about the ending)..

In the end, it felt a bit like several books had been condensed into one, and it made it difficult for me to connect with the characters or completely care about what would happen to them. What I’ve loved, however, was the writing, especially in the first part of the book. It was magical in itself and was what made me turn page after page.

Check out Never the Roses and discover what happens when the world makes you enemies.