What a ride my friends!

In the first installment of this trilogy, we are introduced to our FMC Briony, who is a princess in the Evermore. Her twin brother ascended to the throne after their father was killed in the beginnings of conflict with their rival nation, Bomard. After the new king loses a pivotal battle, Briony along with the other citizens of Evermore are captured and taken to Bomard. Soon enough, she is exposed to the horrors of their situation, as the people of Evermore are to be auctioned to the highest bidder for use of their magic.

I so enjoyed this book! I could not put it down once I started. This Dark Fantasy Romance had everything that I crave in a book. A slow burn romance, a secret savior, and complex political maneuvering. Our MMC Toven is perfect in his role as a man bound to duty and family. I loved how we got the see his and Briony's encounters over the years, untimely leaning into the foundation of trust in each other during a conflict where no one's mind is safe.

The only thing that keeps this from being a 5 star read to me was the magic system. A lot of ideas concerning the magic are brushed over and no real explanation is offered into the use of "older" magic. I am assuming that this will pop up more in the coming installments and i am excited for more clarity. Additionally, i am unsure if the conflict between nations stems for the break in type of magic use (Heart vs Mind magic) or if there is another reason for the war. I hope this is addressed and clarified in the next book.

Overall this was highly enjoyable and a great addition to Julie Soto's collective works.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4⭐️ this was honestly much darker than I expected it to be, but I did enjoy it! I felt super anxious the entire time because I was just waiting for the other shoe to drop… I know this is a reimagining of a different dramione fic, but I’ve not read that one, only Manacled - and I think if you loved Manacled, you’ll be obsessed with this. but like I said, I did feel the need to pop a xanax throughout this whole reading experience and I don’t know that that’s the right vibe for everybody??? I loved where it left off though and am looking forward to the rest of the series! Briony is a great lead, and though she’s unstupid with respect to magic and survival instincts, she is the most stupid when it comes to the romance portion of the program which I can see getting tiring if it continues indefinitely. Toven was fine but I want more from him. All in all, a solid read and I’m excited to get my Fairyloot edition of this one! Out 7/8

“Tell me, Princess…. Do you want a gentleman?”

I really enjoyed this! While the magic system and politics are unique, this totally keeps the Dramione vibes. The tension between Briony and Toven was to die for (but seriously the slow burn was killing ME slowly!! …And I loved it lol)
I found myself a little lost with the world building and magic system at times, so I am hoping to grasp that better as the trilogy continues. However, I loved the complexity of the characters and their relationships. Everyone has secrets and no one is showing their hand unless they have to.
Toven is the elusive, stoic, morally grey MMC that will burn down the world for Briony, but not give her an ounce of what’s going on inside his head. I adored all their small moments and flashbacks together, and they were needed because there’s a lot of dark and PAINFUL elements in this story. Check the trigger warnings, this won’t be for everyone. But lovers of Manacled and the Auction should absolutely pick this up!


Thank you Forever Publishing for this ARC!

I’m thinking a solid 4/5 stars!

This is my first solid “romantasy”, if you can call it that. I really enjoyed this book, the world building wasn’t so complex that I couldn’t follow easily, and I loved the tension and yearning and heartwrenching moments. I loved all the characters and the complexities they brought to the story, but also appreciate that there is an overarching villian. I hope a revolution is in store for the next book — I literally cannot wait. Also since a certain someone is alive — there is still hope 😭🥺.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!!

I was a huge fan of the fanfiction on which this book is based and so I had very high expectations going into this and it did not disappoint! Everything I loved about the original is in this book but with layers with a new, unique magic system and worlds and settings that are so immersive. I hate that this ended on such a cliffhanger but I can't wait to find out what happens next. Definitely one of my top romantasies of the year.

*insert feral screech*

I’m actually sick that I have to wait who knows how long for book 2!!! Julie really dropped this certified banger on us as if it wouldn’t become my whole personality. This was the perfect start to what I know will grow into a high stakes and nuanced fantasy romance. The world building was seamless and complex, but still super accessible. The differences in magic, the history of conflict between factions, the fleshing out of our main characters was all laid out and paced in a way that kept the story moving quickly but still filling gaps of knowledge from the past. The sense of danger and horror at the situation Briony’s forced into is heavy and fascinating in a way that had me hooked so quickly. And the tension between her & Toven?? Insane omg.

Seriously this book is going to be on my mind for AGES.

I received an eARC from Forever and NetGalley.

This was so SO good. Like, top tier good.

I am so ridiculously easy to please when it comes to romantasy, and this hit all the points for me.

Yearning? Check.
Tension? Check.
High stakes and secrets? Check.
Hot and dirty scenes that are too inappropriate to read on your morning commute? CHECK. CHECK. CHECK.

I love Julie’s writing - she always manages to create such dynamic characters and this was no exception.

Briony still felt very close to her character of inspiration, but original enough that I could see a lot of myself in her. Slightly naive but inquisitive and hell-bent on revenge.

Toven. Man. This boy is down bad but he won’t ever admit it.

Was definitely questioning some of the world building and magic uses, but I’m hoping book two will cover it.

Overall, HIGHLY RECOMMEND and will be screaming from the rooftops to get everyone to read it.

This book is incredibly dark. I think for the right reader, it could be enjoyable, but there are too many triggers and sensitive topics for this to have been an enjoyable read for me.

I do appreciate that the author put a blurb on content warnings at the beginning, as no reader should go into a book like this utterly blind. While I struggled with the content itself, I will say I did really enjoy the author’s writing style, and do plan to read some other books from her backlist!

The war is over. The hero is dead. And the darkness has won.

When Briony Rosewood is captured as her kingdom falls, she knows her world is shattered. Her brother, the chosen heir meant to unite the lands, has been killed, and the Eversuns have lost. Stripped of her Mind Magic and sold at auction, Briony finds herself in the hands of Toven Hearst, a high-ranking Bomardsun with a reputation as dangerous as his Heart Magic. Worse still, he’s the object of her long-standing, ill-fated infatuation. But even in the darkest of places, sparks of resistance remain, and Briony must learn to navigate a brutal new world where loyalty, power, and love are more tangled than ever.

Wow. I’m actually struggling to put into words just how much Rose in Chains gutted me in the best way. That ending?? I’m spiraling. Truly, how am I supposed to wait for the next book?

Julie Soto delivers a fresh, gripping take on the romantasy genre, balancing dark political tension and aching emotional nuance with a pace that never lags. I never once felt the story dragged, and while I do wish the worldbuilding had gone a little deeper (especially with the magic system and the history behind the conflict), I’m hopeful that future installments will give us more.

What really hooked me were the characters. Briony is sharp and layered, and Toven? Let’s just say I was giggling and kicking my feet anytime he was on the page. The romance is slow, quiet, and deliciously restrained, exactly the kind of tension that keeps you up at night thinking about it.

Rose in Chains is haunting, seductive, and just the beginning of what promises to be a brutal, beautiful series. I can’t wait to see where Soto takes us next.

I have been looking forward to this book for awhile, as I'm a fan of Julie Soto's other work as well as the fanfic this is based upon. Unfortunately, I was pretty disappointed overall. The story lacks stakes, the pacing is all over the place, and I can't bring myself to care about the characters. Without the weight of the source material, the story is lackluster and bland.
I think the magic system she's come up with has the potential to be interesting, though, and I'd like to see it explained more in book 2. There are a few changes she made from the fic to this trad publication that have me curious how she'll continue the series. But overall this was such a letdown.

Absolutely loved this book. Julie did an amazing job adapting her fanfic to something completely new. The world building was well thought out without feeling like a copy/paste of the HP world. If you've read The Auction already, some plot points were fleshed out more, some cut, and characters combined. But all was the for the betterment of the story for sure. And even though I've read The Auction, this feels like it will be going in a slightly different direction in future books that I am absolutely jazzed to read. Loved the characters, loved Briony especially. Give me book 2 now!

Yes!! Give me ten of these books. This is what I want out of a romantasy book. Trigger warnings for human trafficking and fertility. This was so close to a five star and I LOVED a majority of it. The twists throughout were so good! The tension and the pining was PEAK romantasy. The first 10% was the only part that didn’t make this book a five star. It was a lot of info dumping and very confusing world-building all at once. This is a Draco/Hermione fan fiction so I found myself trying to guess who was who in the book.

3.5 ⭐️ Rounded up | This was one of my most anticipated books of the summer and I did enjoy reading it! Julie is one of my auto read authors and I am so grateful to have read this in advance.

Part one made it so hard to put down (literally could not stop turning the pages once I started)! Everything was very action-packed from the get-go. I really liked the back and forth with the timelines to fill in some of the gaps we were missing in terms of world-building. There were a few areas lacking in background knowledge that I would have liked to see built up more, but I’m hoping that will come with the next book.

Once we got into parts two and three, after so much action in the beginning, I was left wondering when something would happen. The pacing slowed way down and events came in spurts (sometimes seemingly out of the blue for plot’s sake). I had some connection with the characters, but overall didn’t really feel attachment to anyone as the story went on. For the romance side of things, I was all in with the yearning and forbidden love, though it was a super slow burn. The Hearst family was a pleasant surprise and I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book!

This book was so unique. I loved the flashbacks so we got to see how all of the characters interacted, ESPECIALLY Briony and Toven! I loved Briony! She was headstrong and determined, but not an asshole about it which I loved. Tovens parents were also a nice addition to the story, I was unsure of what to think about them at first but definitely changed my opinion by the ending!
I understand Cordelia and Rory’s relationship, however him abandoning Briony was my last straw.
The ending I semi guessed, but only part of it. Overall this was a fantastic romantasy and will be a top read for me this year. If you’re someone who loves academy settings (sometimes), unique magic, a dragon, lots of political dynamics, friendships/relationships you wouldn’t expect, and an interesting twist at the end, then you will love this book as much as I did!
Thank you SO much Forever pub for the arc!

5/5 Stars | The Slow Burn Got Me 🌹🔗🔥

What I liked:
The tension?? Palpable. The flashbacks?? Deliciously painful. The ENDING??? There is something so deeply addictive about Soto’s writing—it’s sharp, emotional, cinematic, and somehow makes you feel like you’re gossiping with your best friend while simultaneously standing at the edge of a cliff screaming. The slow burn is diabolically good (borderline criminal). And if I didn't know this was a reworked fanfic? I would have never guessed. The transformation is that thorough from the plot, the world, the politics, the characters, the EVERYTHING. What remains is Soto’s voice—familiar and magnetic and full of teeth. I already want to reread it. Like, immediately. Someone remind me why I can't?

What I didn’t like:
Okay, so… this is on me, not the book, but I was NOT prepared. I hadn’t read The Auction, so I didn’t clock how dark we were going to get. A friendly reminder to read those trigger warnings, my dears. That said, Julie Soto could publish her to-do list and I would preorder it. I’m even eyeing her thriller next??? Me??? Reading a thriller??? The grip she has on me is honestly concerning.

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever for this advance copy!

A fantasy book that has romance and it’s not the whole plot! The slow burn was to die for because the tension was so so good. This one kept me up way past my bedtime, but that’s kind of a given with Julie Soto. Absolutely unputdownable. Can’t wait for the next one!!

Having been a fan of this author’s The Auction, I was beyond excited to get my hands on this. This author excels at creating a story that is complex and filled with emotions and characters that are well-rounded. I loved stepping into this new world that the author created and curating a story that is completely her own. To me, she had the perfect balance of fantasy elements with a dark storyline that I feel will satisfy readers who love both genres and the readers in between.

My biggest issue with this book was that it was written in third person and for me personally I have a hard time connecting with a book written in that format. In the very beginning, I struggled to get into this book because of how much world building the author had to do. It was hard for me to keep track of everyone’s role in the story, especially since it was told in third person, but once I got it straight in my head, I really enjoyed the ride the author took me on.

Honestly, I cannot wait for more from this universe. You cannot help but love Briony and become protective of this character. Her resilience in a situation that is emotionally draining is empowering because she is just getting started in this book and I cannot wait to see her growth throughout the series.

The slow burn romance had a chokehold on my heart because I just wanted more. I was surprised how well the romance storyline balanced out the pace of the rest of the book. When you start this book you are not gonna stop and when you reach the end you will be craving the rest of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Pub for the ARC

4.5 stars overall. Thank you to Netgalley for providing an advance electronic copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

So I want to start off by saying 2 things: 1. I am not a reader of fan fiction 2. I had no idea this was based on fan fiction until after I started reading it.

That being said, I found this book incredibly hard to put down. I read it in about 2 days, and overall found it to be extremely engaging. I did have a little trouble with separating the story from its inspiration once I found out it was originally fanfic, in that I was trying to place who was who, what locations originally were, etc, which did end up taking me out of the story a little bit. The magic system feels a little murky, and I hope it is explored more as the story progresses, but I will definitely be continuing this as more books come out.

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever Publishing
I enjoyed this book more than I thought. I thought the book was very good and I will be continuing with it when the next book comes out. When I first started the book I was reading it pretty quickly. Once I hit about 50% I thought the book started to slow down and drag on a little bit. I went in not knowing it was a Herminie Draco fan fiction. I've never read Harry Potter so I'm not sure how accurate it is. I also hear it is like Manicled. I've read the first few chapters of Manicled and I did see some connections but I'm not sure about the book in it's entirety. I think some of the twists were a little obvious but that wasn't as big of a deal. Overall I thought it was a good first book in the Trilogy!

4 stars!

*Please read trigger warnings before starting this book, as this book is a darker romantasy*

This was such an interesting and unique book! I love how authors are able to publish their previous fanfiction traditionally, and as a fan of Julie Soto's earlier books, I knew I had to read this one. Although this was a fanfiction originally, Soto did a fantastic job making it a brand new world with new, fresh characters & magic. I love Soto's ability to write yearning, an intense slow burn, and tension!! She truly sticks out in this category of romance, and I love it.

While I had a great time reading this, I did struggle to get into it due to what I may assume is the obstacle of having a fanfiction fantasy world turn into a traditionally published fantasy world. I found myself a bit confused/overwhelmed with the characters and the politics at play, as I just felt like I was missing pieces until around the 70% mark when it started flowing more for me.

Overall, I had a great time following this story and will 100% be reading the next one (especially after that cliffhanger!!!)

Thank you so much Forever and Netgalley for the E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!