Book Review! 💜

I absolutely loved The Auction when I first read it, so of course I loved this new version of the story just as much! The world building, the magic system, and the unique characters made this an enjoyable read. Infinite rounds of applause for how good this story turned out even with the new changes! I devoured the story in a few days and I truly did not want it to end! I can’t wait to read the rest of the series when it’s eventually released.

The stakes were high and the chemistry between the two main characters was off the charts. The story is addicting and will captivate you right from the start. I cannot recommend this one enough to all of my romantasy girlies.

Fair warning though, especially if you haven’t read the prior fanfiction version, the story is dark and definitely tackles some tough themes. Please proceed with caution and read the trigger warnings before diving in!

If you love enemies to lovers, a slow burn romance, and a unique magic system, then be sure to check this one out! Rose in Chains releases on July 8!

Thank you so much to Forever Publishing/Grand Central Publishing for an advanced copy! 💗

HOLY SHIT. One MILLION stars. This book is tension incarnate. Every moment is wrought with danger, restraint, and something sharp lurking just beneath the surface. It’s not romantic. It’s feral. It’s claustrophobic. It’s obsession dressed like control.

The slow burn doesn’t tease. It torments. Every interaction builds with unbearable pressure and I’m literally feral for it. And the epilogue wrecked me. It came out of nowhere and shattered everything I thought I understood, but I won’t say any more about it. I had to sit in silence.

This book isn’t even out yet, and I already feel deranged knowing I have to wait for the next one. I am unwell.

THANK YOUUUU to Net Galley and Julie Soto for this advanced copy.

This book was so good. Like: ignore-your-family-and-all-your-responsibilities-until-you-finish good.

There is such power in Julie’s writing. In a way that as soon as I finish I simultaneously feel like:
1. I need to immediately reread this and
2. I don’t want to read anything else ever again.
And to know that Rose in Chains is the first of a trilogy?! HOW FORTUNATE ARE WE. This amazing woman has shot up the list of my favorite authors.

I loved so many of the characters from the get-go (especially Briony and Toven) and the depth they carry within them. I feel like Julie Soto is so talented when it comes to writing ambiguous, multi-dimensional characters and I love that about her writing. It keeps you guessing! I also really enjoyed the imagery throughout the book. And the slow burn within these pages?!? Incendiary. You will combust. In the best way. I felt like the magical system in this story was really unique and fascinating and the more we learned about it the more I enjoyed it and wished to explore it even more.

**THANK YOU Julie Soto for this masterpiece and to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC copy!**

Another gem of a book that I would give more than 5 stars to if I could!

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book, but it was so good!! Strong 4 stars from me.

I knew this was originally a Hermione and Draco fanfic but if I had not know this, I wouldn’t have been able to tell.

Definitely look up trigger warnings going into it as it does have some darker themes and some of it is definitely traumatic.

It follows Princess Briony Rosewood as her father and brother are killed, and their castle overtaken by the Bomardi. The women are captured and each are sold as heartsprings in an auction to the highest bidder. As a heartspring the men are able to pull and use the women’s magic as their own.

Briony has both mind and heart magic and is sold to Toven, but all is not as it seems with this paring. There is more going on behind the scenes as Briony realizes all hope is not lost.

The story was easy to get into and it kept me entertained the entire time. If you enjoy tension and a good slow burn, this one is S…L…O…W! I’m ready for book 2, as I feel like the romance will likely pickup in the next book and I am ready for it.

I enjoyed the flashbacks that took us back in time to see different scenes as they help you understand the character dynamics a bit better, especially with Toven and Larissa.

I loved the politics, the world, the tension between Briony and Toven, and how Toven looks out for Briony. Some of the stuff that happened between them early on I am not a fan of, but he is doing it to try to keep her safe. I LOVED that Toven considered Briony part of his family and how his mom treats her. So sweet. I am SO ready for the next book as I am loving this story so far and can’t wait to find out what happens next, especially with that plot twist at the end!



Thank you to Netgalley and Forever(Grand Central Publishing) for this ARC. All opinions are my own.


You will love this story if you like
✨Slow burn
✨Tension
✨Lots of political intrigue
✨Magic
✨Rebellion
✨Morally Grey love interests and characters
✨Harry Potter but you wanted Hermione with Draco instead

This is my first Dramione inspired story, so I went into it with no expectations, other than I knew the original characters on whom these are based.

There are plenty of trigger warnings for this book, and the reader should be well aware of them before starting, as it's like the Tron ride at Disney - you get catapulted right into the story, and you won't have a chance to breathe for a while. There is graphic violence, death, sexual assault, and slavery/submission. General cruelty abounds throughout the whole book.

Moving on to the actual story line. The arc is a classic enemies-to-lovers romance set in a fantasy universe, where you see the reflections of Hogwarts vs Slytherin, good vs evil, in both thoughts and actions. Briony is a prisoner, held by the people who killed her family and overrun her kingdom. This is a story or surviving, and fighting back, working in secrets, and living from one spark of hope to the next.

There is misogyny and cruelty, feminine rage, sparks of hope, self-doubt, and lots and lots and lots of secrets.
What can you do when even your own thoughts can be used against you? Where do you go when even your own mind isn't private?

World building:
I think there was enough world building to understand everything that was going on, without getting lost in details. The magic system is explained and more information is given when you need it. The descriptions were well done without being flowy, and I felt I melted right into the environment.

Pacing:
The story has a LOT of action, and it rarely slows down. The ride slows down when the pov jumps back in time to help explain older references. This provides a way to learn more about the magic and the history without being in a frantic moment. I liked these breaks from all the action as a chance to catch a breath, regroup thoughts, and/or recover from some of the more graphic moments.

Honestly, at around 40% through, I wasn't sure if I would be able to finish the book because it was so distressing, but I'm glad I powered through, because now it's getting goooood. I can't wait for the next one in the series!

Big thanks to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for the e-arc. All reactions and opinions are my own.

I couldn’t put it down! I wasn’t sure how Dramione fiction would translate to a traditionally published Romantasy, but this was so well done. It’s definitely dark and hard to read, so check your trigger warnings. But I’m very much looking forward to book 2!

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the AC in exchange for an honest review

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f dark romantasy
-forced proximity
-sloooow burn
-childhood crush
-rivals to lovers
-auction

Julie Soto's writing just pulls me in. I was so absorbed in this story, the twists and turns, the incredible chemistry. I went into it mostly blind (I haven't read the fanfiction version I KNOOOWWW). The political drama, the slowest burn that will have you screaming. An incredible book that just has me begging for the next one because I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!!!

Julie Soto can do no wrong.

I tried to draw this out as long as I possible could because I did NOT want it to end. The world building in this is amazing. The magic system and spells were explained in perfect detail but it never felt like info dumping so I never got bored with it, in fact I wanted to learn MORE. I ate up the darker tones woven through this as well. I LOVE a dark fantasy romance.

Briony and toven are two very multilayered characters. They both have so many layers to them. Briony Rosewood is the evermore princess forced to live in the shadow of her brother. She’s fierce, in magic and strategy. But the only future she’s destined for is to be married off for political alliances. Toven Hearst is a member of the bomardi family who are very well known for their strength in magic. He is very cold, closed off but we see him open up layer by layer. (hot layer by hot layer bc wow) Though these two attend school together- they are very much enemies. (even though Briony may have the ✨tiniest✨ crush)

The war is over, and the dark forces have won. Briony along with the other women are taken prisoner & forced into a dungeon. They strip them of their magic and auction them off to the highest bidder. The bidder that wins Briony just so happens to be Mr. Aloof hotness himself- Toven Hearst. The one who she despises but desires all at once.

this has very heavy topics so check your trigger warnings before starting this one. your mental health matters ❤️

Thankyou to netgalley for an early eARC!

This is one of my most anticipated releases of 2025 and DID NOT DISAPPOINT!🔥 'Rose in Chains' is a spin on Julie Soto's fanfic 'The Auction' and will be coming at us in the form of a trilogy.

This isnt your classic romantasy, in this first book we follow the unraveling of the dark forces winning. A magic supremacy is taking over and the 'lesser' magical type are to be auctioned off and leeched power from. Our FMC Briony is set to be sold at the highest bidding coming from the family heir to the throne. And rival former classmate Toven has his sights set on her, cost be damned. But why?

We follow Briony as she is captive in Tovens home, trying to spark a revolution. With dragons, magic, feminine rage, and morally gray characters, Rose in Chains will keep you turning page after page. I absolutely cannot wait for the discourse on this book and will be counting down the days to book 2!

Fans of the original fic - do not fear this book will have you FED, I absolutely devoured this in just two days and it has haunted me since. I can't wait for it to be released!!

The Auction was one of the first fics I ever finished and what introduced me to Julie Soto's writing While alot of the major plot points of the fic still exist in this new original fantasy, she has crafted a whole new world around them that I think enriches character motivations and decisions. If you have never read the Auction but are a romantasy girlie who likes dark romance I think this will be right up your alley. Pleaseee read the TWs though because there are a lot of them. Thanks Netgalley for blessing me with an e-ARC of one of my most anticipated releases of the year🙂‍↕️💕

Imgur link goes to Instagram post scheduled for July 7th (can be possibly moved forward based on posting)
Blog link goes live July 8th.
Amazon and Barnes and Noble reviews will be up when available
Youtube review will be during Friday Reads for 5/2 & covered in July Releases


**TL;DR**: This should have stayed fanfiction.
**Source**: NetGalley - many thank so the publisher!

**Plot**: Our main character is capture after a failed rebellion and sold to a school enemy.
**Characters**: They were very clearly Harry Potter characters with changed names sadly. So I can’t say much to this.
**Setting:** This had promise! But it couldn’t care the rest of the story.
**Fantasy/Romance:** Just me but I’m not going to be into a guy who harassed me for years and then humilates me and allows his friends to sexual harass me. JUST ME MAYBE THOUGH.

**Thoughts**:

My initial interest in this was purely due to Julie Soto’s name. I have read some of her contemporary work and liked it! I heard whispers it was based on fanfiction she’d written I felt it was strong enough that the work stood on it’s own. This one I had no idea was fanfiction till close to receiving an arc and even then I hoped. But I was sadly and deeply disappointed.

The way in which this is so obviously Draco & Hermione fanfiction is a bit insulting. Names have been changed, friends are now sisters and brothers, and the setting is different but it’s very much using the cast of the franchise and I fear if you take out the elements that can be similar you have nothing there. Fanfiction often relies on you the reader to be familiar with established relationships and politics, and without that understanding this I do not think would stand well.

The romance, the driving point of this plot, is also one I simply cannot stand behind. I’m not a Dark Romance reader most days so this could simply not be to my taste. However, I struggle to find the appeal of a hero like this. Allowing his friends to touch and harass you? Forcing nudity in front of others and locking you in a room for days? It’s not for me my friends. I would be looking for a way to commit murder, not finding him appealing. No matter our history.

So this is a hard no. And a rare one star for me. These special single stars I reserve for my most disliked, offensive, or upsetting books and we’ve found my first for 2025. I felt gross and sick reading this and I truly wish I could have those hours back. Additionally this needs a LOT of triggers for enslavement, sexual assault (on page to the PoV character), violence, the list goes on. Flashbacks attempt, poorly, to establish history but just serve to reinforce that this is Harry Potter reskinned. I don’t recommend, and I am sorry if this is your cup of tea. It’s just not mine.

Not for me. I have read the original fanfic and the overarching story was interesting enough for me to see how the traditionally published version played out.

I am shocked that something with such heavy themes has such juvenile writing. Truly read like the writing style of a middle grades or young YA book. It feels so much more obvious now that the story doesn't have familiar characters/places attached to it.

And the names, my goodness, the NAMES. Toven...HEARST? Like the wealthy family? And a building called the Biltmore? Reighven? JELLICA, like the Jellical Cats from the musical? Velicity? I could go on and on.

This also did not need to be split into 3 separate books. At most, a duology. But it easily could've been a chunky standalone. Publishers pushing for an idea to be stretched out for money is exhausting and frustrating for readers.

Oh WOW. I loved this, absolutely devoured it. I haven’t read the fanfic version, but the characters and worldbuilding really stand on their own. The magic system in particular was very well-done. The slow burn is simmering. My one wish is that the MC was a bit more intelligent--there were quite a few times when I wanted to reach in and shake Briony and ask her why her mind went one direction when clearly it should have gone the other. But I suppose that just ups the tension. What can you do.

I didn’t realize until 3/4 of the way through this that it was gonna be a TRILOGY so I’ll just be here waiting, twiddling my thumbs and recommending everyone read this first book until book two releases.

Also: definitely be mindful of the warnings found at the start of the book. Things get very intense. Take care of yourselves etc.!

SLOW burn and beautiful setup for the next book. I’ll never shut up about getting to read this one early so apologies in advance for being insufferable about it.

10/10 vibes and if you were a fan of the dramione version you will definitely ✨feel✨ the elements of that in this but obviously with a different magic system, characters and original spin on it.

The only thing that pains me is how long I have to wait for the next book

This was one of my most highly anticipated reads of the year and it didn't disappoint! I have read the fanfic which this book has been adapted from and loved it, so reading Rose in Chains is like getting to read your favourite book all over again for the first time and getting a nice big hug.

While some of the fanfic plot points are used in this book, the use of flashbacks in the book really adds something fresh for the character exploration and allows the reader to better understand the characters and motivations. I love the dialogue between Briony and Toven. I love the new direction the book takes and can't wait to read the next book.

Thank you to NetGally and Forever(Grand Central Publishing) for an eARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I feel like I’ve said a lot this year “this is one of my most anticipated releases”, but this one legitimately is my most anticipated read of 2025: Julie Soto’s romantasy Rose in Chains! After being captured by the enemy, Briony Rosewood knows the world has changed—her brother is dead and now her and the survivors are about to be sold in an auction and she’s lost access to her mind magic. She is sold to none other than Toven Hearst, her long-time infatuation with a reputation for ruthless heart magic, and in this new life, Briony is determined to find a way to rescue herself and her friends. I was not expecting a trilogy with this. Don’t get me wrong, I am so excited for more, but I am SO ready already for the rest of this story I would’ve kept reading for another thousand pages. I loved it. I loved knowing it started as a Draco/Hermione fanfic. It’s a slow burn that I definitely wanted a little more romance from, but it had an almost early Rhysand/Feyre from ACOTAR vibe to Tovan and Briony, and all the tension was there. The magic felt unique and understandable, and I loved the world built in this romantasy. Briony is so brave and has such a big heart, I want all the things for her. And Tovan! He is such a good morally gray hero, and I want to know so much more about him and what his plans are! Rose in Chains is dark and it’s perfectly Julie Soto. The writing, the angst, the story! It’s amazing and I need more of Briony and Tovan immediately!

I physically could not put this book down. I am a very straightforward girly, I read after work and go to bed at 8:30PM. I was up until midnight reading this and ended up reading this in 24 hours because I just couldn’t COULD. NOT. put it down. I have read tons of romantasy in my short life and this quickly became a top 5 for me. It was sexy, it was dark, it was EVERYTHING.

When I finished, I was on my knees trying to contemplate how I would go another year or so until the next book. I YEARN for them. I did not want it to be over.

It was devastatingly perfect.

I really like Julie Soto’s realistic fiction but I loved this. I can’t wait for the next book. She does such a good job with characters. I also really liked how the flashbacks were structured to give us more of the characters’ story.
Spoilers: If I could make changes, I’d like to see a little more progress/admission in the romantic relationship — will no one admit a single thing at any point in the whole book? And the reader can obviously tell some things Briony is misinterpreting and I wish she could clue in or they could have a conversation about at least one thing. But still I want Toven and Briony together so badly and I was enthralled. I’m definitely reading book two as soon as I can, a little bit to see what happens with the kingdoms and all that but mostly to see Briony and Toven fully together and what their Sacral bond and magic looks like. Also really hoping/looking forward to them being in each other’s minds more for their relationship and also to thwart their enemies.
I’ve already started telling everyone I know who likes this genre that they have to read this book.

So, this book made me realize several things. First, I love Julie Soto's writing style. From her contemporary romances to this debut dark romantasy, Soto's storytelling fully immerses me in her books. The descriptions, use of dialogue, imagery, and nuanced characters and relationships make her an auto-buy author (or, in this case, an auto-request on NetGalley).

Second, Dramione-based relationships are not for me. I've never read Draco/Hermione fan fiction, and I didn't read the piece this is based on. And I really dislike bully romances, so the main romantic (kind of?) relationship did not work for me at all. I didn't understand Briony's feelings toward Toven when he was so cruel to her at times. How do you get past the verbal and physical abuses? I guess he does right by her in some regards, and he saved her from a terrible fate at the auction, but for me, that doesn't make up for all the harm he's caused over the course of YEARS. I feel like Toven is the best of the worst, and Briony could do (and deserves) so much better.

Third, I love fantasy worlds and experiences. In this story, the world was interesting with nods to the original HP series and fresh and compelling additions. However, it was way too dark for me. With threats of sexual assault, sexual harassment, violence, and debasing auctions where they sell people for anything their owner desires, including siphoning their magic and other personally violating activities, there were too many disturbing elements for me. I would definitely recommend reading the content warnings before starting.

Finally, I think this was a well-written and immersive dark fantasy. It wasn't a bad read. It just wasn't the right fit for me. But if you've ever wondered what would have happened if the Dark Lord had won and defeated Harry and the rest, you might want to check this one out.

Thanks to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

4.5 stars rounded up. I officially have a book hangover after reading this. Do not start reading late at night -- not only because it's extremely addictive and hard to put down, but honestly the first third of this book is non-stop action, trauma and seemingly impossible situations for the heroine to get out of. This is definitely a darker romantasy than I'm used to reading, but the dynamic between Briony and Toven was really compelling. Despite both thinking their love for the other has been unrequited for years (and really, they've hidden their true feelings so well, it's understandable), their chemistry is undeniable as they navigate the deadly dynamics of the new world order after Briony's family and kingdom are conquered and she and her people become enslaved for their magic under Toven's kingdom's ruler. The stakes are incredibly high throughout as Briony fights to survive and eventually plots how to find the other surviving Eversun rebels, at the same time that she is trying to figure out whether Toven and his family want to help or kill her. It's been a long time since I felt this absorbed in a series, and I can't believe we have to wait until next year for book 2!

Thank you to Forever and Netgalley for providing an ARC for review!