Devastated this is book #1 and not a complete story — but wow, what an interesting magic system and character study! Can’t wait for book #2.

Though I can feel the essence of the original fan fiction and inspiring work in the characters, this new world and plot has eons of creativity. Highly recommend!

big thank you to forever publishing and julie soto for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

julie soto absolutely smashed this one out of the ball park. having not read “the auction”, i was going in pretty blind. i felt a whirl-wind of emotions from the get go—mostly anger and fear—but what was written was so raw and powerful i could not put this book down. this one was DARK. i read a lot of dark romance, and this one hit a place so deep in my chest that my heart hurt. the world building, the politics and control, the characters dripping with evil—it all felt so real. i felt like i was living alongside these characters, experiencing what they felt. her writing style was so rich with vivid imagery, i could see all the scenes so clearly in my head (for the good and unfortunately for the bad). i love when authors weave relevant points in the past to give context on the present, and it was sooo well done in this book perfectly revealing at the right time. it was such a complex and deeply emotional journey unlocking true motivations behind character actions and political maneuvering and i cannot wait until everything is properly developed and true interests are revealed. there is so much we don’t know at this point! and with her meticulous writing style, i am sure we are in for some crazy long-play twists and turns.

first of all, let me just say briony rosewood is a badass. she is resilient and strong, knows what she stands for, and will put everything on the line to show up for the other heartspring women and her family/friends. she is so brave, and i look up to her for her tenacity and clever nature. toven is a broody yet kind-hearted creature, and i absolutely ate up his character. he is suave, cool, and commands respect, yet has sooo much more depth behind the facade.

you know i need to mention: that SCENE!!!!!! where he told her what he “likes to do to her” (iykyk) it had me kicking my little feet and giggling! i almost threw my kindle across the room. this man can TALK. he owns briony, and he does not share what is his (swoon). the slow burn tension in this one is killing me, but in the best way. i loved exploring their relationship in school prior to the attack and unearthing small details of their past little bit by little bit and i can’t wait to find out more hopefully from his perspective in the next book.

i am left with so many thoughts and concerns, my mind wandering on how this is going on play out. i have a looot of theories i cannot wait to discuss with friends upon release!

this was a six star to infinity read for me!! highly highly recommend picking this one up!!

This one is tricky!

I read Forget Me Not (also by Julie Soto) last year and loved it, but this is my first time reading a fantasy work by this author. Rose In Chains is also my first read of the new wave of "Dramione-to-tradpub" releases coming this year.

Reading this (having not read HP in nearly a decade), I was struck by how easy it was to trace a one-to-one line between characters, places, and plot points back to the original source material. Soto and the editing team have done a good enough job reworking the world to create an original story, but the resemblance is clear. Did that detract from my enjoyment? No, I don't think so. The experience of reading this was pretty much just the experience of reading a good fanfiction. I am curious to see how people unfamiliar with HP like this one.

The central relationship was well done; a slow burn, which I never mind. The cliffhanger at the end did frustrate me. It's hard, because in romance the cardinal rule of the genre is that you MUST have a Happily Ever After or at least a Happily For Now; but in romantasy series that rule is a bit looser because, yk, series. Can't kill all the tension by having the couple too happy at the end of book one. It's just something I wish I'd considered more before going into this one, because it felt to me very much as though the plot was going and then the book just—ended.

Definitely heed the trigger warnings for this one, as well. I had to take a few breaks because the discussions around SA (particularly how the non-Briony women are treated) were a bit much for me.

Overall, I think this is a 3.75 star read for me. Enjoyed it overall, but I don't know how well the worldbuilding would have held up for me if I hadn't known the source material, and the tone/handling of the more serious subject matter felt uneven at times.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC!

Hands down my new favorite fantasy book of all time. Julie Soto can do no wrong in my eyes and this book proves that she can write any genre. This book follows Briony, who was an Evermore princess. Her whole family and kind are either killed or taken under control by the dark forces. She goes to auction at a very high price to someone who would use her. Except she wakes up and instead is under Tovens rule. Token is a high ranking bombardsun but also her rival from school. This book kept me on the edge of my seat and I could not put it down. I cannot wait for the next book in the series.

As much as it kills me to say, I just didn't connect with this book and it ended up being a DNF. I adore Julie Soto, and will continue to read everything she writes - this one just missed the mark for me. I found the world-building lacking, and I could not follow all of the characters. It felt like so much was happening and I was completely lost because the framework felt thin. I made it about a third of the way through and realized it just wasn't for me. I haven't read the original fanfic that this is based on (The Auction), so maybe that changes my opinion? I know people are raving about this, so I think it just wasn't for me.

Content Warning: mentions of rape, sexual assault, people being sold, sex slaves, being drugged, death, violence, bullying, misogyny, forced magical tubal ligation

+ I don’t know what I expected from Julie Soto’s debut into dark romance fantasy but I should have expected it to be addicting. This is the second book I’ve read this year from this author, her YA debut and now romantasy so she is working over time! She’s my new must-read author. I had some issues with this one but I also found I couldn’t put it down.

+ Briony is caught in a war. The Eversuns have been defeated despite the prophecy of them winning it all, and now Mallow and the Bomardi’s are the new rulers. The Eversun women are subjugated to rape, sexual assault, violations of their ovaries, sold at auction, drugged, made to perform sexual acts in front of others – this is a dark story and I wasn’t expecting that.

+ I can’t say there is “romance” in this story even if it is a romantasy. Briony and her new “owner” and ex-classmate, Toven, is powerful, rich and acts like a jerk in front of his friends. But while she’s in his house, she’s learning he isn’t all that he seems but maybe more will happen in book two. It’s a very slow burn, but there is lots of tension between them, and for sure some secret pining. There is still some spice in this one, but again, no romance – yet. I was expecting a little more romance because of this author’s contemporary romance books but like I said this one is a slow burn and dark so at times I was hating Toven a lot. I know it’s an act but still, he is playing his part really well.

+ World building was interesting and I liked the magic system. There is heart magic (mostly used by Bomards) and mind magic, which is used by Eversuns and then those who can use both. Mallow is a very evil villain and then there is also a dragon that doesn’t get mentioned much until the end so I can’t wait to see what happens there. Also, I enjoyed the political intrigue and can’t wait to see what happens next.

~ I wasn’t expecting the story to be this dark, so I was thrown off by that! There are a lot of things that happen to the women in this book and at times I wanted Briony to burn harder for revenge. I understand Briony is a softer character and naive at times but obviously she is smart and powerful, so I hope that side of her comes out in book two.

~ This story is told with flashbacks and for me it made the story feel choppy but I did like seeing how Briony and Toven’s relationship began. But because of the flashbacks, all the character names felt challenging to learn – there are a lot of hateful, disgusting male characters who felt like the same person with nothing to tell them apart except for their names. Also when Briony is at Hearst Hall as a captive, not much happens because there is no one in this house except for her, sometimes Toven and his mom. She’s reading and meditating a lot which is building her knowledge and powers but it does slow the story down a little.


Final Thoughts:

I didn’t feel like this flowed as good as her contemporary books mostly because of the flashbacks but I couldn’t stop thinking of this story after I read it. It actually made me want to devour another romantasy, so it definitely has that quality I love about the genre – it’s addicting. I need to know what happens in book two. I think for a first book in a trilogy this was pretty good despite the issues I had. The tension is strong between Briony and Toven, the secrets are slowly unraveling by the end, Mallow and the Bomardi men are evil, the romance hasn’t even taken off yet and there is a dragon who we dont’ know much about. I can’t wait to see what book two brings!

Rose in Chains is a deliciously dark magical read that sunk its hooks into me and did not let go until the very end.

I was immersed in Briony Rosewood’s captivating world of magic and darkness with warring countries and their differing dynamics playing dangerously in the background. Briony's x Toven's enemies-to-lovers relationship is electrifying, with a slow burn that’s both agonizing and exhilarating. Their banter had me rooting for them so hard it hurt.

Soto’s writing is sharp and vivid, making it easy to visualize the setting and feel the characters’ emotions. The cliffhanger ending! I need the next book in my hands TODAY. If you enjoy dark, magical romances, this book is a must-read!

Briony's people have lost the war. Her brother, the king, is dead. And she has been captured and auctioned off to Toven Hearst, her schoolyard crush and political enemy. As she loses all she has known, and must quickly adjust to this new world order, she finds hope in the darkest of places and in the most unlikely people.

Julie Soto has created an immersive and compelling story in The Evermore Trilogy, with this first installment drawing readers in to a war torn and ever-darkening reality for the characters. Briony's resilience in the face of the worst of circumstances is inspiring, and her vulnerability as she processes her grief is relatable. And her seemingly senseless crush on her childhood bully, now adulthood adversary and captor, leads her to push through and find light in the darkest of places alongside her friends and family sold off as magical power banks for dark forces. Toven Hearst is a nuanced character that is slowly unraveled as the story progresses, and the question marks left at the end of this book about the motivations behind his actions and words will leave readers reeling, dare I say aching, for book two in the trilogy.

In an incredibly dark and haunting reality for the characters, Julie Soto encourages readers to look beyond the horrible circumstances and find hope, unity, and strength in Briony's story, and the role Toven's family is playing in it as well.

Thanks NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and Forever for this arc!

4.5 stars rounded down

This was a really riveting dark fantasy! It took me a bit to get into as the start was a lot heavier than the rest of the book, but I really enjoyed the political intrigue and mysteries that are unfolding in the later sections of the book. Briony and Toven are both complex characters, and even though I know this is a Dramione fic turned novel, they have their own personalities that make them unique. I am SO INVESTED NOW the way this ends on on quite a cliffhanger but with so much HAPPENING I can't wait for book two!

4.5 - This book was truly addictive. I had the best time reading it, Julie Soto is truly a magnetic writing. I went being 60 pages in and was completely confused and unsure to being completely locked in. I can't wait to see what comes next.

Whoa—this is incredible! The magic system, the lore, the character depth—everything is so well done. While it may have roots in a familiar fandom, it’s absolutely its own story, and that’s what makes it so special. I’m honestly devastated there wasn’t any spice—ugh! The slow burn is deliciously painful. I’m already dying for the next one, and this one hasn’t even hit shelves yet! This is a guaranteed bestseller.

You can feel the original dramione fanfic roots/manacled inspiration but the characters and plot stand on its own. I stayed up all night to finish this- could not put it down, I was so invested and addicted and now need book 2 ASAP.

The misogyny is infuriating, the characters are layered and believable, and the romance is a deliciously slow burn- what more could I ask for??

*uncorrected ARC from NetGalley/Forever Publishing

5 /5 ★

Date Finished ~ 04.13.2025
★ 𝖕𝖑𝖊𝖆𝖘𝖊 𝖓𝖔𝖙𝖊 - 𝖒𝖞 𝖗𝖊𝖛𝖎𝖊𝖜 𝖒𝖆𝖞 𝖈𝖔𝖓𝖙𝖆𝖎𝖓 𝖘𝖕𝖔𝖎𝖑𝖊𝖗𝖘 ★

"𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚏𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝙱𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚢."

"𝚂𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚌𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚟𝚊𝚕 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚘 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚢 𝚏𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢! 𝙽𝚘𝚝 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚏𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚘𝚏 𝚞𝚜!"

"𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏."
"𝚃𝚘 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞."

𝑻𝑹𝑶𝑷𝑬𝑺 + 𝑺𝑷𝑰𝑪𝑬 ~
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ Enemies to Lovers
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ Captive Heroine
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ Dark Fantasy
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ 🌶️
↳ This book is a SLOW burn, and there is only one main intimate scene between the MCs. That being said *PLEASE CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS* before reading this book. This is a DARK fantasy and themes mentioned multiple times throughout the book are: SA, Gore and Violence, Slavery and Captivity, etc.

𝑴𝒀 𝑩𝑰𝑮𝑮𝑬𝑺𝑻 𝑻𝑨𝑲𝑬𝑨𝑾𝑨𝒀𝑺 ~
╰┈➤ This was my first Julie Soto book, and something I deeply appreciated was the mature tone to her writing and the narration of this novel. More often than not, books that are marketed for "adults" are only because of the content - but the writing level is still often grade to highschool level. This book on the other hand just felt more fully-flegded and cohesive, and actually made me think (as books should).
╰┈➤ I absolutely loved Briony, and really admired her silent strength rather than everything always working out for her. She was quick witted and used her intelligence, rather than brute strength or pure luck. I feel like in a lot of recent romantasy's the FMC is just naturally good, naturally lucky where everything works out, and I admired that Briony is a prime example of other strengths women can have.
╰┈➤ The chemistry in this book was everything and more. Not only is the slow burn written perfectly, just enough tension throughout the book to keep you satisfied but still waiting for the shoe to drop, but also I LOVE when the LIs have intellectual chemistry - not just physical attraction. When a MMC loves the FMCs mind - nothing can beat it imo!
╰┈➤ Something that I really admired throughout this book was that Julie did not sugarcoat anything and did not hold back. I'm glad that there was no forgiveness for the things that the Bomardi have done, and it is quite clear how despicable their actions are. But also, for her to choose to add slavery and captivity in this book, I am glad that she didn't skirt over it or play light to the severity of things that happened to REAL people historically.
╰┈➤ Although never reading Julie's books before, I did see that Rose in Chains was a Dramione inspired fan fic I think she wrote prior to being published. And yes, if you know where to look - you can see the small inspirations she took from HP. That being said, I think she created something entirely hers, and deserves applause for that. The world building was meticulous, and you couldn't help but feel immersed into this new world of magic that she created.

𝑰𝑵 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑬𝑵𝑫 ~
Without going into too much detail, this book actually healed a broken piece of my heart that I didn't know could be repaired. Forever (GCP), if you're reading this - THANK YOU so very much for gifting me this book, AND if there is ANY way you have a physical copy of this arc still...I will do ANYTHING to show you how much it means to me. I would love to reread this book and annotate it. I am so excited to talk about this book with others, and can't wait to meet Julie in NYC and tell her this in person. This is definitely going to be one of my favourites of *all time*.

Also, the ending of this book was absolutely perfect and lined up to lead into the next book, and I am only sad that I will have to wait for its release.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever GC Publishing for a copy of this arc in exchange for an honest review ~!

This book started with promise but didn’t quite live up to it.

The world-building and magic system felt thin, leaving too many unanswered questions to really get lost in the story. Briony, the main character, is curious—but her constant questioning often slows the pace without pushing the plot forward. Key answers don’t arrive until the very end, only to be followed by a cliffhanger.

Briony’s situation never felt particularly high-stakes. Compared to other women in the story, she’s given relative freedom—her own space, clothes, food, even access to her magic. As a result, it was hard to connect with her struggles or understand why we should be rooting for her. Even she seems to forget, at times, that she’s technically a captive.

The romance didn’t land for me either. Toven’s motivations were murky at best, and the emotional distance between him and Briony made their connection feel flat. Their history, shown through flashbacks, lacked weight and disrupted the flow more than it added depth.

The writing is easy to follow, but it leans more on telling than showing, which made it harder to fully engage with the characters or the world. There was always a sense that something was missing, and by the final chapters, I found myself skimming. Additionally, there were certain modern phrases used that broke the illusion of the world-building. (For example, one character saying, “I can’t with this.”)

While I appreciate the chance to read an early copy, this one didn’t quite come together for me. However, I do think it will incredibly popular among romantasy fans, and fans of the original fanfiction piece.

Briony Rosewood knows two things are certain. First, her twin brother, the heir twice over and prophesied savior to the kingdoms, is dead. Second, being captured by the dark forces of Bombard means she will be sentenced to a fate worse than death - an auction where she will be sold to the highest bidder. Briony is sold to Toven Hearst, son of the wealthiest and high ranking Bomdardson family, and someone she's secretly lusted over for years. Repeatedly she is told Hearst Hall "is the safest place", causing Briony to question exactly why Toven shelled out an exorbitant amount of gold for her. As Briony navigates surviving the war, she quickly realizes help, and love, might found in the most unlikely of places.

This was an absolute honor to receive as an eARC from NetGalley and Forever Publishing as I thoroughly enjoyed The Auction, the Dramione fan fiction that this book has been reworked from. I am also self appointing myself as Draco's number one fan. HOWEVER, I want to make this explicitly clear - Rose in Chains is <b>OUTSTANDING</b> on its own. While the main plot has been preserved, there is incredible world building with unique magic systems and romantic lore that comes in flashbacks that shapes this story to stand on its own. This book took on a life of its own in a way that had me loving this story even more than the original Dramione. While this is the case, I am so happy that my favorite one-liners and epic quips were preserved because the world needs to read them.

If you have not read The Auction, this book is a dark romantasy - please check your triggers before reading as it covers heavy topics. This story touches upon managing grief and loss, depicting how Briony struggles to grasp the loss of her love ones, staying strong after undergoing immense trauma for the sake of others, and grappling with the fact that despite being Toven's property he is shielding her from horrors that her friends are facing with their own masters. Briony dealing with these complex emotions makes for a compelling story and absolutely tugged on my heartstrings.

The slow burn was outstanding with pining, stolen glances, banter, and tension built over each flashback and as the story progresses onward. Toven and Briony's backstory had me hooked immediately. It's clear that while Briony was told to be her brother Rory's shadow, Toven saw her for who she was all along - a strong, smart, capable woman who had more power than she let on. I absolutely loved the flashbacks of them in school and how each one gave slight glimpses into the motivation for Toven saving Briony. Beneath all the brooding and banter, we are shown that Toven's exterior is an act that will ensure their survival. I can't believe I am saying this, but Toven rates higher than The Auction's Draco with all the little scenes captured in their backstory.

This ending took me by surprise with the wild cliffhanger, I cannot wait to see what happens in the coming books. While I technically <i>know</i> how this story unfolds, the insane new world building shows that I truly know nothing at all (I have a few theories already brewing in the back of my mind).

Rose in Chains is perfect for you if you love books with:
✨ dark romantasy
✨ unique magic systems
✨ royalty
✨ possessive MMCs
✨ banter
✨ slow burn
✨ strong FMCs

So, first off: this book was enjoyable... But it was *not* like the hype I had seen online at all.

I kept getting the ick while reading, the marketing on this was really off imo. No one in their right mind would market The Handmaid's Tale as a romance... we all know it's dystopian and horrifying. This is like a fantasy based Handmaid's Tale, yet we are here for the romance? Ehhh.

For a book who's romance storyline is entirely build up, longing and arguing.. I did not *feel* that from them very often.

I honestly found the romance to be the weakest bit in this book. I was far more interested in Briony and the budding rebellion, and I look forward to seeing where that goes.

Also, this book felt like nothing but set up for the next book. I was really interested for the first 40% or so, and after that I was just waiting for the big reveal and fairly bored.

I am sure there will be loads of people who really enjoy this book. I would recommend ignoring most of the hype around it and going in with an open mind for the best experience.

I feel like I’m still processing 🙃. I won’t lie, I was a little nervous going into this one because I loved The Auction SO MUCH, but I’m so pleased to say that I LOVED THIS BOOK!!

I wasn’t sure how it would translate into a whole new world, but it’s so well done. The magic system is fascinating, the gender-bent character is chef’s kiss, and the whole good vs. evil plot line? Everything. And OMGGGG—Briony and Toven! While still keeping the essence of Draco and Hermione, they feel so dynamic and layered, and I cannot stop thinking about them. I love them so much.

This story is also the slowest of the SLOWEST burns, and I AM LIVING FOR IT. 🔥 Please, please check the TWs, though—this one has very dark themes, and some are described in detail.

Thank you endlessly to Julie Soto, Forever Pub, and NetGalley for letting me read this in advance! Words cannot express how grateful I am 😭. Now, if you see me rocking in the corner because I have to wait an undetermined amount of time for book 2… no, you didn’t. I’m running to re-read The Auction as we speak 🤪.

Honestly, I probably should have known this wouldn't be for me once I realized (unfortunately after requesting it) that it's based on a Dramione fanfic, but I tried anyway because I enjoyed the author's other books. The story was too dark and brutal for me, and I also was surprised by how amateur this felt by comparison, with lots of disjointed time jumps and info dumping. This one was a miss for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

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.