4.5 stars!

I have not read the original work but I have heard of it. I like that this story has some darker elements and it's something that I don't usually see or read about, but I surprisingly enjoyed. I love that we get flashback chapters before the main events of the story happened as it gives the reader more background and information about what life was like and what "normal" was like.
I'm always a sucker for the male mc to be white pale haired (I always fall in love with them in anime and manga) and Toven is right on the money in terms of looks and personality, though I'm not sure if I can ever really like his name.

I am definitely invested in this story now as we get a reveal at the end that will make you want to pick up the next chapter of the story right away. I think this also makes me want to read the original work as well!

A well thought out reinvention of the original fanfiction. I do think fans will be disappointed that it is in three parts and has no satisfying "spice" in this first book.

Rose in Chains is a dark romantasy that hooked me from the very beginning. Julie Soto weaves a beautiful story filled with magic, intrigue, and the slowest of slow burn romances. The then and now storyline is so good!

Briony and Toven are the main characters. They are from opposing countries, their timeline goes from their shared past to present. The push and pull between these two characters is everything.

There are so many twists and turns in this book it will enthrall you. Readers should be aware that there are dark themes in this book, but Soto sprinkled in elements of hope that will tug at your heartstrings.

It’s an enemies to lovers romantasy worth devouring. I personally cannot wait for the next book in this series!

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

Thank you to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for the gifted arc!! Oh my god I ate this up. This was one of those books that I genuinely could not put down. Let me first start by saying: I have not read the original fan fiction version of this, so my enjoyment of the book doesn’t have any comparisons to the original.
Firstly, this book is DARK. Please check trigger warnings before reading. I was completely sucked in from the very first page. Things were happening nonstop and I was constantly on the edge of my seat. The politics in this world go crazy. I still have so many questions and I will be gnawing at the bars of my enclosure until the next book is released.
Briony has been through so much throughout this book. My heart genuinely hurts so much for her, but I love how resilient and strong-willed she is. She’s intelligent and cunning, and is very different from the typical badass warrior FMC I’m so used to seeing. Toven is so mysterious and I can’t wait to get to know him more. He definitely keeps his secrets close. I love that there were flashback scenes of them from years ago (and a smidge of a magical academy setting). This is the SLOWEST burn, and the tension is delicious.
I have so many theories and questions racing around my brain right now. You really don’t know anyone’s true motivations while you’re reading this. This whole book is so wonderfully written, and I’m fully invested in the story. The ending isn’t really a cliffhanger, so I suppose it’ll make waiting for book 2 a LITTLE easier.

“𝑻𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒔𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒐𝒕 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏.”
“𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒔?” 𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔. “𝑰’𝒎 𝒏𝒐 𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒍𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒏, 𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒐𝒍𝒅.”

I know the title is Rose in Chains but the person who was chained to this book was ME because I couldn't stop reading, okay. Period. 😭🔗

THIS BOOK MAMMAAAA I WANT MOREEEE 😩🔥 I knew I was gonna love it just because Julie Soto wrote it, but then people told me that she originally wrote this as a Draco and Hermione fanfiction and I WAS SOOLDD. The enemies-to-lovers & the we are from two different sides of thewar energy?? YES YES AND YES 🙂‍↕️💜

The story is about a world where you have the Eversuns and the Bormardi, where tensions are always high but they try to live in peace. All children switch schools every year for neutrality… well, outside the school, there's still tension, and boom the Bormardi decide to start a war. Time moves forward… the war ends… and the Bormardi won. And what do they do to the Eversuns? Well… the women are to be auctioned 🫢

IF THAT DOESN’T CONVINCE YOU?! GOD. WHAT ELSE CAN I SAY!!! 😭✨

Briony ➵ the princess of the Eversuns, always seen as the spare or the background, but the war changes everything. Her character development in this entire book is freaking amazing from “my brother needs me” to “I can do this myself” AGH WHAT A BADASSSSS 🔥👑

Toven ➵ this MAN!!!!!! He is an onion with a lot of layers and you get to see him bit by bit and I’m here for it 🥹 and the way he unravels himself upon Briony?? Goddammit this is making me want to do a reread 🫠 Even if he’s part of an “evil” family, you start to notice how there’s so much more than meets the eye, and Briony slowly realizes who Toven really is 😭💔

Not only is the romance freaking amazing, but the fantasy is spot-on for us wizard lovers 💫 and the plot is SO GOOD. Like, take away the romance and I swear I’d still buy this book just for the world-building and plot alone ✨

🌟 5 STARS ALL AROUND 🌟 now gimme the next one, thanks 😌📚💜

tropes
💜 enemies to lovers
💜 forced proximity
💜 3rd POV
💜 past and present timeline
💜 hate to love
💜 cliffhanger (duh)

Thank you Forever Publishing for my eARC

Rose in Chains, book 1 of the Evermore Trilogy, is an excellent example of a novel adapted from a popular fanfiction - author Julie Soto deftly retains the magic of the original, beloved work, while also creating something new and compelling.

Briony, our POV character, is excellently crafted, though - small quibble - maybe a bit too naive when it comes to love interest Toven. I loved the supporting characters, wishing we had more time with them, but the plot was propulsive, the story compelling. It was hard to put this book aside, and when I wasn't reading, I was anticipating my next chance to dive back into the world of Evermore. I loved the magic system - it's hard to create something that hasn't been done before, but I think Soto has done a great job with the heart and mind magic systems.

My one criticism is that I needed slightly more world-building. It wasn't until halfway through the novel that I realized this world included non-magical humans - either I missed that, or it wasn't mentioned. I think sometimes this is flaw of writers who come from fic, where the world they're writing in is often well-established. So, Bombard cold, Evermore warm. Okay, and? The costumes? The food? Give me all the details!

Again, the story was wonderful, very compelling, with enough romance and suspense to satisfy old fans and new readers. I thought the book concluded at a very satisfying place, even if the cliffhanger will have me waiting anxiously for book 2! Overall, an excellent book, and one I will be recommending to readers of romance, fantasy, and (ugh, this stupid portmanteau), romantasy as wekk.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the digital arc!

I am OBSESSED! This book was so good! From the very first page, I was hooked by the dark, magical world and high-stakes plot. It’s the kind of book that grabs you and doesn’t let go, it's got fallen kingdoms, stolen magic, and a fierce heroine fighting to reclaim her power!
Briony is everything I want in a romantasy lead: bold, resilient, and deeply layered. And then there’s Toven—mysterious, morally gray, and the definition of slow-burn tension. Their enemies-to-lovers dynamic is so well done, full of angst, banter, and complicated history. Tbh i think obsessed might be an understatement, I was living for the tension between them!
The world-building is rich and immersive, with a strong undercurrent of political intrigue and emotional depth. There’s also a really powerful thread of female friendships and inner strength that made me love Briony even more! And let’s talk about that ending—I need book two yesterday.
This was soooo good! It’s dark, it’s addictive, and makes me want more of this genre! If you’re craving something with magic, longing, and heartbreakingly good tension, Rose in Chains is a must-read!

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐫𝐞:
🌹 Enemies to Lovers
🌹 Slow Burn Romance
🌹 Forced Proximity
🌹 Dark Fantasy Setting
🌹 Political Intrigue
🌹 Morally Gray Love Interest

The kingdom has fallen, her family is dead, and Briony Rosewood is taken captive to be sold at auction to the highest bidder. Stripped of her magic, taunted, and abused, Briony awaits her fate with the other captured women of Evermore. The Bomard forces, and their all powerful Seat, Veronika Mallow, have ruthless plans and are hungry for magic. Briony is sold to none other than Tolden Hearst, former classmate and crush, and forced to live with his influential and ambitious family at Hearst Hall. Fearing for her friends, Briony tries to glean whatever information she can, but tensions run high between her and Toven as they navigate feelings from the past that may not have faded away. As Briony discovers more truths and uncovers secrets, she finds that all hope may not be lost, and help may be closer than she originally thought.

Julie Soto can do it all, apparently! This romantasy was gripping from start to end. I loved the flashbacks to the school days, giving glimpses into the way Briony and Toven's relationship started - teasing and taunting, flirting, constant rivalry, and truly enemies on the opposite side of a war - yet always that glimmer of wanting to protect one another. There was so much tension post-auction, rightfully so. I mean, he bought a human... But was it better than letting her go to someone else? She's his prisoner, but is there more to it? The scheming, the and the mixed feelings and the "she's mine" were gold. The world building and magic systems were simple and so effective. Briony was brave and clever and resilient. And the nerve of that ending!! If you're a romantasy fan, this is not to be missed!

*Slight disclaimer: I read this from the perspective of having read the original fic. That being said I’m not sure how I would have perceived this had I not read the original fic. There were times when I wondered if things weren’t properly explained but it didn’t bother me too much because I had, in a sense, already read this and had the context. I would be curious to see how someone not attached viewed this story.*

This was everything I expected and more 😭

In the oversaturated romantasy genre, Rose in Chains is truly refreshing. Combining elements of the original fic with brand new lore, a new world, and new characters, it is both addictive and immersive!

The “mind” and “heart” magic was super interesting and creative. It weaves into the plot so seamlessly.

Julie Soto gets us to care deeply about side characters we only briefly meet. This is done really well because in the original fic the side characters are ones we know and love already so to create entirely new ones and have the same connections and emotions evoked from their presence… that speaks to Julie Soto’s writing talent.

And let’s take a second for TOVEN!

I’m so excited to see where the series goes. The ending?? I can’t wait for the next one!!

Wow, this is what the romantasy genre was missing. If you loved fan fiction, Rose in Chains by Juloe Soto will be your newest obsession. If you want a Draco and Hermione retelling where Hogwarts has fallen this will fill the void. It's suspenfully written with romantic elements weaved throughout the story. I could not get enough. It's a slow burn everyone should put on their tbr. Highly recommend. 5 stars.

A MILLION STARS I could not put this book down!!!

Obviously perfect for Dramione + The Auction fans, but also any romantasy fan. I am so impressed and cannot wait for the next book. The flashbacks were all sprinkled throughout at the right moments and the banter was top tier.

Definitely check the list of TWs.

Okay so I'm reviewing this as both a Dramione lover and fan and also a fantasy/romantasy book lover and fan.

First up, as a Dramione girly, if you've read the Auction, you will love it and BE FED.

It follows the original plot enough for you to love all the nods to the fanfiction, but is also new enough that it keeps you guessing what's going to happen next. It was also fun trying to figure out who all the characters were as you met them. And the tension/romance? UGH, could not put it down!


As a fantasy/romantasy girly, I think that Julie Soto did a great job for her debut fantasy. I really loved her magic system, I thought what she came up with was simple and unique and I really enjoyed the gestures along with heart/mind magics.

That being said, there were a few very minor things that I thought could use some extra tweaking, but weren't serious enough to effect how much I enjoyed the book, which was VERY MUCH.

--The switching back and forth between flowery writing and more straightforward writing (with modern slang) was sometimes jarring. I don't know if she was trying something new or trying to appeal to the romantasy gals, but I kind of wish she had picked one and stuck with it. Phrases like "full stop," also took me out of the world.

--I also wished there had been a little bit more world building. As different places or people were mentioned, there was very little explained about them and I wanted more context. (i.e. where and who are in the Southern Camly?! lol)

Overall, great fantasy romance debut, and I can't wait for book 2!!

4.5 ⭐️

MY GOD, THE TENSION IN THIS BOOK 😮‍💨

I was not familiar with Julie Soto’s game but I apologize and watch me catch up with all of her other books because oof.

I’ve never read a Dramione fanfic, they’ve been on my tbr forever but I never got to them so when I saw this available to request on NetGalley I was like, why not! so here I am now, absolutely in love.

Toven what are you doing to me!!!!! The slow burns of all slow burns, the hot and cold, the enemies to lovers but not fully because THE SLOW BURN. and this entire book you’re like… WILL THEY?? WONT THEY???

and my girl Briony is BOLD. some of the choices she was making and words coming out of her mouth, some of the actions??? she was TESTING this man 😮‍💨

this was delicious and everything I wanted and didn’t really expected from this book. I can’t wait to continue with this story because up until today I wasn’t aware this is not a standalone (yes, I clearly can’t read, mind your business) and now I’m suffering because what do you mean I won’t know what happens next for whoever knows how long?!

I didn’t care much about the ending but we all know I’m here for the romance so don’t listen to me 😌

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever publishing for this ARC 🥰

An excellent read! Get ready for the long hall slowest of slow burns. Excited for Soto's first romantacy and it's sequels.

I devoured Rose in Chains—it pulled me in from the start and never let go. While there’s a lot to take in initially with world-building, that’s expected for a new fantasy series. Julie Soto did an excellent job adapting her popular Dramione fanfic The Auction into this novel, staying very faithful to the original while making it fresh and exciting.

Both Briony and Toven are complex and captivating characters, and their relationship is full of tension and steamy chemistry. The slow-burn pining between them is so well done, and I can’t wait to see how their relationship develops in the next installments of this planned trilogy. The dark themes are definitely present, so be sure to check out the trigger warnings.

The flashbacks really helped ground the characters’ motivations, making their actions feel believable. And that epilogue—I’m already counting down the days until the next book. Dramione fans are being fed this year, and I’m here for all of it!

In short, Rose in Chains is a must-read for fans of fantasy, complex characters, and slow-burn romance. I’m hooked!

Thanks to Forever for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review!! What alchemy is Julie Soto putting in her books? I swear, everytime I pick one up, I absolutely can't put it down - I am consumed until the end! Rose in Chains is no exception! The writing is so lyrical, the world is so lush, the hurt and fear are so palpable as you go through Briony's story. The propulsiveness of its source material is not lost in translation, the yearning still lurking just beneath the surface. Briony is such a smart and witty and clever character to be following and the cast of characters around her only serve to give you more to like - even as the book gets into dark and difficult terrain, it's still moving and these characters still have so much heart. This book is setting up a series - my only complaint is that I'll have to wait for the rest! I can't wait for this to be the romantasy of the summer, y'all!

The song ‘Dress’ by Taylor Swift played in my head while reading this book. Well, that and one more song that is just as sexy and delicious as this novel. I heard it’s based on the author’s previous work as a fan fiction writer, but rest assured one does not need to be a fan of that couple or fandom to be utterly obsessed with Toven and Briony. The slow burn is worth it, and their banter was adorable!

I have a feeling Toven will be the book boyfriend of 2025!

While this story does deal with some difficult and heavy topics, the author has kindly provided a content warning on the first page, and I highly advise readers to take care of themselves while reading.
With that said, this lush romantasy will be staying with all of us way after finishing. Julie Soto has now become an instant buy author. 5 out 5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC!

I am shook to my core!

Julie Soto has proved to be a true magician with her words. I was moved by this writing for so many reasons!

1. The way that she added complexity to each character was so refreshing and, I thought, powerful. In a world where there is so much conflict and pain, it was nice to see that reflected in those characters.
2. The plot line had me hooked. From the very beginning, I was locked in and didn’t want to step away from the world before my eyes. I thought the magical elements were easy enough to understand, but complex enough to still be compelling.
3. The detailed setting was breathtaking. It was so easy for me to envision Soto’s world from the detailed, yet concise, descriptions. I was able to follow without getting lost in “world-building,” while still imagining the outline of each setting.
4. The cliffhanger!!! I am on the absolute edge of my seat and I cannot WAIT for what’s in store in the books to come!

All in all, I recommend this book tenfold & probably won’t shut up about it for a very long time!

I understand the hype for the fic that this based off now 1000% but I still have so many questions!

The world building was incredible but my main question the entire time was, where is the romance?!

Briony and Toven have so much history and the way Julie slowly shows us this history, hit JUST right. I’m a sucker for some good flashbacks and I was EATING IT UP 👏🏻

Based off the ending, I’m assuming this is NOT the entire fic and was high key very disappointed that this has been split up….

If you’re a fan of Romantasy at all, this one is going to be a must buy for you!

I LOVED THIS

This book hooked me from the very first page and didn't let me go until the end. I am unwell.

I loved this book so much. I already knew I loved Julie Soto's contemporary romances, but I've never read her fanfiction, so this felt like new territory for me. This story is adapted from her HP fanfiction, The Auction, and while many of the characters will feel very familiar my official opinion is that you don't have to read the fic before diving into this book.

The story revolves around Briony (pronounced Bri-Oh-Knee, I presume)(god that was embarrassing for me realizing that I had been pronouncing Hermione wrong for literal years), and she and her twin are the prince and princess of a kingdom called Evermore. Their kingdom was at war, and they just lost. Her twin dies, and she and the other members of her court are rounded up and auctioned off to be used as essentially magical batteries for the high-up members of the other kingdom. And for what anyone buys another person for.

This setup is DARK, and I wouldn't recommend it to everyone. It is very toxic, and suffocating, and uncomfortable. But also, the yearning. The tension. The pining. I loved it.

Thank you, Forever Publishing, for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.