A reimagined Dramione fanfic? I left no crumbs, this had me hooked from the jump.

THE YEARNING!!! And Briony is utterly clueless how down bad Toven is for her, which makes the tension even better.

I loved the magic system & the world building was really well done. I’m salivating for more of these characters immediately!

•slow burn
•animal familiars
•jumps back in time
•dark romantasy
•magical school
•he falls first

Honestly the only thing I missed was having some Torven POV because I would love to see what's going on inside his head.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately, I ended up DNFing this book. I couldn't get into it. I didn't feel like the plot or characters were developing enough, and I wasn't able to connect to the story.
I didn't have any issues with the narrators or the audiobook; that was well done.

nstantly drawing you in amid a war, Rose in Chains is a captivating romantasy debut from Julie Soto.

Raised to be a demure, dutiful princess, Briony finds herself alone after the fall of her kingdom. She ends up trapped in the home of her school enemy, Toven Hearst. In this world, her court is being siphoned of its magic and forced to help their captor. Many captors are abusive. This is a dark book.

However, Briony and Toven have a history that threatens the power dynamics they are both expected to play.

During her book tour, Julie Soto mentioned she was inspired by Beauty and the Beast, and I definitely felt that was an appropriate comparison. This first book felt like less romance, more build-up and I cannot wait to see how their relationship develops as the trilogy continues.

Similar to her contemporary romances, Soto’s writing is full of exquisite anticipation, layered relationships, and multiple but easy to follow timelines.

I enjoyed how Soto used flashbacks to help develop character relationships and also give context to the world-building. Her magic system was very unique, and I enjoyed that so much of the book related back to how magic was used, taught, and stolen.

The narration by Ella Lynch was spectacular. She makes the dark atmosphere come to life with her gripping performance. I felt I was able to distinguish each character and follow the world-building. I know she elevated my experience, and I would definitely recommend the audio to those who enjoy books in this format.

This book builds slowly and ends, unfortunately for us all, with a shocking cliffhanger. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Note: This is a dark romance, and I recommend checking for potential triggers. If you are familiar with the original influence, this is IMO a strict departure.

Overall 4.5 ⭐️

Talk about a dark turn right from the beginning! We have a prophecy that’s supposed to be fulfilled. However, it’s not because Rory the person that’s supposed to fulfill it dies. After that everything turns to chaos. Briony and her friends are captured and sold off at an auction. We get all these little clues as to what’s happening but never enough to know what’s going on. I loved all the mystery and magic throughout. I also liked the flashbacks that really helped us understand why Toven is so important to Briony. I mean the man bought her at an auction we aren’t not supposed to like him. But gosh did I love that he was only soft to her 😩 I can’t wait for the next book because that plot twist has me double guessing everything.

I also listened to the audiobook that’s narrated by Ella Lynch. She did such a good job! The accents were perfect and I really liked how she differentiated between Toven and Briony.

I really enjoyed this. The world building and mystery that was happening throughout the book. I honestly didn't know this is a dramonie thing or vibes of it. The narrator kept me engaged in the story. This is my first Julie Soto book that I have read or listened to and I can't wait to see where this story goes.

Absolutely! Here's a detailed and emotional 5-star review of *Rose in Chains* by Julie Soto for Goodreads:

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🌹⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
**Powerful, brutal, and beautifully written—*Rose in Chains* is a dark fantasy romance that sinks its claws into your heart and doesn’t let go.**

Julie Soto delivers an unflinching tale of what happens *after* the fairytale ends—when evil wins and the “hero” doesn’t save the day. In this hauntingly imagined world, *Rose in Chains* gives us a heroine who has lost everything, yet finds a way to endure, evolve, and challenge the very chains meant to break her.

Princess Briony Rosewood is not your typical chosen one. She's a prisoner of war, stripped of her magic and sold like property to the enemy. And yet, her strength lies not in battle or spells, but in how she survives—with her mind, her dignity, and the embers of hope that refuse to go out. Watching Briony navigate the suffocating confines of her new life while clinging to her sense of self is devastating and inspiring.

Toven Hearst, the man who buys her, is mysterious, cruel, and unreadable. But beneath the surface, Soto crafts a slow, simmering dynamic that never veers into romanticizing brutality. Instead, their relationship is laced with questions of power, trust, and reluctant understanding. It’s a slow burn with razor edges—fraught, intimate, and deeply emotional.

The worldbuilding is immersive and chilling. This isn’t a fantasy full of flashy magic or daring quests—it’s about trauma, captivity, and resilience in a world turned upside down. Soto’s prose is gorgeous and lyrical, contrasting brutal events with aching beauty. Every chapter pulses with dread, but also with quiet defiance.

*Rose in Chains* is a dark, character-driven fantasy for readers who crave emotional intensity, morally gray dynamics, and slow-burning tension. It’s not an easy story—but it’s unforgettable. Briony’s story is about survival, the complicated nature of power, and the flickers of hope that live even in the darkest places.

If you like your fantasy romantic, twisted, and unafraid to hurt before it heals, this book is a must-read.

Amazing storytelling and narration, I can't wait for the next book! The author built a deeply compelling story and world full of complicated and captivating characters. In a world filled with darkness, love begins to bloom in the most unlikely place, leaving clamoring for the next glimmer of it.
Loved the narrator. The flow was smooth, well-timed, and easy to follow. There were clear chapter distinctions. Loved the voice differentiation to distinguish between characters. I can't think about the book without also hearing it, which is a great compliment.

Could not put this down! Highly recommend the audio that really brought this to life 🔥

This is the first book in a new trilogy and I can’t wait to continue the series! Ella Lynch and Hachette Audio did an amazing job. Thank you to Julie Soto, and NetGalley for the ALC.

🌹 Enemies-to-lovers
⛓️ Slow-burn romance
🌹 Forbidden love
⛓️ Political intrigue
🌹 Unique magic system
⛓️ Forced proximity
🌹 Captive/captor dynamics
⛓️ Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️
🌹 Dual timelines

This book drew me in right from the start and felt like a gothic dark romantasy movie while listening to it. The audio production and narrator did a great job bringing this to story to life. It was very engaging to listen to and the pacing was perfect.

Surprisingly I loved the dual timelines and it really gave so much to the plot and worldbuilding without overwhelm me or making it drag. I could absolutely see the Dramiome inspiration in it, but it stands on it own as a very well done romantasy. I can’t wait for book 2!

I was surprised at how traumatic and raw it was so definitely check trigger warnings. I personally love it if fantasy books dwells in dark romance and it felt really fitting for the world and made all the feelings and secrets believable as imthe stakes really is high for everyone.

Thank you to Hachette Audio & NetGalley for the Advanced Listening Copy of Rose in Chains

Roses in Chain throws you into a world where the war is lost, the chosen hero is dead, and Briony Rosewood is imprisoned and stripped of her magic. Briony must navigate a brutal new reality.

The magic system was unique, and the theme of resilience, especially when the women find small ways to come together in the midst of horrific oppression, was powerful.

As the story progressed, the stakes got higher, the plot picked up speed, and the last quarter had me on the edge of my seat.

If you like dark romance, forbidden romance, and forced proximity — You will likely enjoy this!

However, there were some points that made this a little difficult to read.

The pacing was slow for the first half. By the time things really got moving, the book was over.
(I went in thinking this was a standalone. Spoiler: it's not. Expect a trilogy!)

While I love a good enemies-to-lovers slow burn...this didn't quite hit the mark. The romance here leans more toward insta-lust than emotional connection. Again, if that's what you look for in a story, then this could be for you! But when it's marketed as a romance, l except some sort of love story.

The author tells us they've had feelings for each other for years, but I never fully understood why. I would've loved to see more of that in the flashbacks or internal development that showed what made these characters fall for each other beyond just physical attraction.

Also, and this might just be me, it was hard to root for a steamy, forbidden romance when other women in the story were experiencing serious violence and SA. It created a weird tension for me as a reader, and while I understand that's part of the dark in dark romance, it made me feel uneasy at times. If you're sensitive to this kind of content, definitely check trigger warnings.

With that being said, this book is just the beginning of a larger story, not a full arc on its own, so I'm curious to see where the next one takes us. I'll definitely be finishing the trilogy!

I went into Rose in Chains with sky-high expectations because I genuinely love Julie Soto’s writing. Her stories usually hit that perfect balance of angst and tension, and I was so ready to be obsessed. And while I loved the audiobook,the narrators absolutely delivered and made the experience enjoyable, the story itself just didn’t land for me.

I found it really hard to connect with the characters. I never quite felt invested in what was happening, and the plot didn’t pull me in the way I hoped it would. The pacing felt uneven, and just when things would start to get interesting, the momentum would get cut off by another flashback. It made the story feel a little disjointed. There were also quite a few moments where a scene would fully play out, only to be rehashed or summarized again right after, which made the flow feel repetitive.

That said, Julie’s voice as an author is still something I admire, and I know this book will find the right readers. It just wasn’t the right fit for me personally and that’s okay! Still rooting for her and looking forward to whatever she writes next.

A big thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Julie Soto for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook ARC of Rose in Chains. I am grateful for the chance to review this advance copy.

Writing this review was challenging, as Rose in Chains was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. I even purchased two different Special Editions of the book, setting high expectations for this story. While I usually strive to highlight both positives and negatives, I found it difficult to find many aspects I could genuinely enjoy here.

The one standout positive for me was the narration. The narrator does an exceptional job capturing the tone and manner of Bryony’s voice, which made the lengthy 16-hour listening experience more bearable.

Trigger warnings are crucial before reading Rose in Chains. Although I am accustomed to dark romance themes, this book was particularly harrowing. Throughout the narrative, women are depicted as property—subjected to sexual assault, implied non-consensual acts, sterilisation, and even suggested genocide. The story references sterilisation procedures, the enslavement and exploitation of women from Evermore for their magic, and violence against women, often described in graphic detail. These themes are not incidental; they are woven into the story consistently and disturbingly.

Pacing and character development also left much to be desired. The story progresses very slowly—little happens until around the 60% mark. World building is minimal, and some flashbacks seem unnecessary or do little to enhance the current narrative. Bryony, the female protagonist, initially appears to lack agency, resembling a stereotypical princess in need of rescue. It’s only in the final 10% that she begins to show some resilience. Toven, the male lead, displays glimpses of genuine feeling for Bryony, but he is difficult to like—especially considering a scene early in the book where he backhands Bryony while wearing a ring. Such an act makes it hard to root for their relationship. The tension and intimacy are minimal until the later part of the story, but even then, the slow burn feels lacking in heat or genuine connection.

Overall impression: I was extremely disappointed with Rose in Chains. I rarely give a one-star review, but I cannot justify rating this higher. The book seems to romanticise violence against women—depicting sexual assault, forced sterilisations, and magical removal of virginity in a way that felt unpalatable to me. The only redeeming elements were the excellent narration, the well-developed character of Serena (Toven’s mother), and the slight redemption arc in the final chapters.

In summary, Rose in Chains felt more like The Handmaid’s Tale than a traditional romantasy, and its themes were too difficult to overlook, especially given the current climate in which we live. I would advise caution to potential readers due to the intense and graphic content.

Note: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

It hurts to make this review as I saw so many people loving this book, but it just did not do it for me, honestly. At times I found myself dragging my heels to finish reading it. I feel like the book is longer than it really needs to be so that didn’t help. This book has good bones. I like fantasy, dark romance, political undertones, etc. So why did this fall flat for me?

The set-up takes place after a kingdom falling and certain characters, like our FMC being sold off to the highest bidder. Shockingly she gets bought by Toven; a cruel, stoic, demanding character. Somehow romance blossomed there. Enemies-to-lovers style.
Speaking of our main characters; Briony and Toven were… familiar. However, I found Briony to be childish and naïve at times which is not something you want when reading this genre. I also just could not buy their “chemistry” at all. It felt weirdly forced in certain scenes.

The set-up of the plot was fine, but I felt as the book went on, the plot really took a backseat so the characters could be up front and centre. I think there was real potential with the whole Heart VS Mind magic, and it just didn’t meet that potential. Personally, I found the fantasy aspects of this book to be sporadic and

Note #2: I will say that whilst this didn’t affect my review, had I known this was *allegedly* fanfiction of certain characters from another series – I would not have picked the book up in the first place.

The audiobook is the reason this book is so amazing. I loved every single second and I am NOT over how amazing this world is. I cannot wait to dive into book 2 as soon as it releases because I think about this book everyday.

I've tried to separate what I know about Rose in Chains from what it is and I do have to say I think that a piece of the reason it's so good is because she does such an amazing job at creating her own magic system that's explained as you're reading. It doesn't just wholly piggy back off another.

Every time a new chapter began I wasn't sure what I was in store for, but I loved every single second and would recommend this book 500x over.

Took some time to get into this audiobook but once I got into the story, I was HOOKED! Julie is a favorite author of mine so maybe I'm a little biased but I am excited to continue with this series!

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this story.

Guys!!! This was so good I can’t even believe it. The drama and the story were top notch. I loved our main characters even with their flaws and annoyances.

Lots of trigger warning obviously in this book and if you were expecting any romance really don’t.

the most deliciously dark fantasy i have listened to . Honestly this story just took me out and helped me escape for a while i loved so much .

the characters i would love to live in their world for a while with them , danger around every corner you can feel it .

Julie writing is out of this world i would love to live in her brain for a while she is great at thinking outside the box

i have been writing a review for the book you can go check this out for more

This is a fantastically dangerous 5 stars

And inside of her, there was only darkness and death.

Thank you Netgalley and Ace for this ALC. This is an honest review.
I'll have to admit that I started this as an audiobook, but ended up switching to my physical edition because I unfortunately could not get into the narrator's voices for Toven and Reighven. She did an incredible job with the other voices, but those two voices were a bit grating & did not align with how I pictured these characters.

The book itself was a pretty slow start. However, the pacing really picked up around the 45% mark, and I ended up finishing the second half of the book in one sitting. I really enjoyed how Julie Soto ended up transforming this world into one of her own - especially the system of heart & mind magic, and also the small changes and improvements that she made to the overall story. I'm really excited to see how these changes evolve in a 3 book Trilogy!!

Loves:
- Serena
- A single hair ribbon
- Stolen chopping knives

I found it hard to get into this audio book. I just could not bring myself to care. Decided to DNF at 36%. I really wanted to enjoy this and plan on giving this book another chance. I imagine I might of enjoyed it more if I had read it physically or digitally. Thank you for the opportunity to listen to this!

This was received as an ARC from NetGalley. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, the following is an honest review.

Let's address the elephant in the room: this book is based on a Harry Potter fan fic. This has been a popular move for publishers to pick popular fan fiction and have the authors rewrite it for a wider audience.

It doesn't always work. Once the author scratches off the VIN by rebuilding the world and magic system, the characters can seem like empty shells and what works in the world of fan fiction does not always work in an actual novel.

I am not a fan of Harry Potter although I am familiar with the series and characters. I don't particularly like fan fiction. And my first experience with HP fanfic to published fiction was a disappointment. The author left the best parts of their fan fic work on the floor and struggled with character and pacing.
I tried to read the original work for this novel and it was so awful I could not finish it. So I did not have high hopes going into this book.
I am delighted to admit I was wrong! This book has been completed reconstructed into a compelling tale of a young woman who privileged life has been upended and must learn how to step into her own power and become the leader no one expected her to be.
Briony was raised a princess but not as an heir for as a woman her main duty is to be married off for political expediency. She is educated and gifted in magical arts. She is intelligent but is not allowed to outshine her twin brother and the heir to the throne. She loves her brother and quietly helps him where he struggles
Her life is thrown into disarray when their father is killed, their country overtaken and when her brother is cut down, she is auctioned off to the highest bidder in order to be used for her deep well of magic that can be siphoned off her by the man who owns her.
And this is where the novel begins.
For Briony was never privy to the inner workings and war strategy of her brother and his team of generals and advisors she does not have information to give up. She is ignorant of the political manoeuvring or what faction are at play. She is alone and being asked to trust those she swore were her enemies.
While on the surface this is a enemies to lovers, slow burn romantic fantasy, to me it reads more like a young woman's coming of age where she realizes that her situation post war is no different than what it would have been if their had been no war. But she has been given an opportunity to use her skills and talents to help herself and her country in ways she never would have been able to before. And while she lives in a new world where her life and the lives of her other friends and countrymen are under constant threat she is able to make a difference.
The writing is compelling and the characters have depth. The author uses flashbacks to show us the world they live in rather than tell us, which is a welcome change to many of modern romantasy novels. The pacing never wavers and the ending of this novel (part 1 of a trilogy) is unexpected yet incredibly exciting.
I look forward to the next novel in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hatchette Audio for an ALC.

I had a lot of fun with this one. Not my normal genre at all, but I think Soto built an interesting world with compelling characters!