**Thanks to Hachette Audio for the ALC!**

I stayed up way too late devouring this one. I’m not even a huge audiobook listener, but Ella Lynch’s narration paired with Julie Soto’s writing was *chef’s kiss*.

This is a dark romantasy, and the trigger warnings listed upfront are absolutely warranted. But wow… I ate 👏 it 👏 up 👏.

Julie Soto nails the world-building, and the flashbacks are executed so smoothly. I was especially impressed with how naturally she wove in past plot points without making it feel forced.

Briony is one of the strongest, most loyal FMCs I’ve read in a while. Her love for her country, family, and friends really shines. The romance is a *slowww burn* (normally not my jam), but the payoff and emotional tension made it worth every second.

There’s a bit of a taboo edge to the pairing, but it’s handled thoughtfully — the emotional groundwork was laid so well that the relationship felt earned and layered.

Final thoughts: I’m obsessed. Book two, I’m ready.
Please send help (and snacks) while I wait.

I absolutely devoured this book. I'm not normally a huge audiobook person because I tend to get distracted really easily but this narrator and the production done to this book kept me hooked the entire time! The narrator did a fantastic job keeping me engaged and helping me to feel what the characters were feeling in moments of stress, turmoil and happiness. As for the actual book content itself this book has the perfect amount of political intrigue, plotting, scheming, and world building in order to follow along while also not being bored with lulls in the pacing. The tension between our main characters was palpable and I love the slow burn that we got. The romance did not overshadow the actual plot of the book and very much felt like a subplot. There are definitely some heavier topics in this book so definitely check your trigger warnings before reading. I am already anticipating book 2.

WOW. The narrator of this book was PHENOMENAL. I knew that Julie Soto was a phenomenal writer but having read all of her books in the last 6 months I don’t believe there is a single genre that she can’t write. I absolutely devoured this book.

Thank you so munch to Hatchette Audio and Netgalley for the ALC of this book. I absolutely loved it.

LISTEN….. if you’re a dramione fan, you’ll love this. It is the same yearning vibes of dramione fanfic (obvi), and I was sat for it all

I really enjoyed the magical elements added to this like how there is heart and mind magic as well as familiars. I’m really excited to learn more about the magic system in the next few books as well. I also really like the different areas/people and how they go to war/interact with one another. I felt like the world building wasn’t too complex but was complex enough to feel like a complete world.

I’m sure no one is surprised, but I LOVED Briony and Toven. I love their banter, I love the yearning, I love the touch her and die. I love it all. But again, we’re not surprised, because I love dramione.

Okay, dramione aside, I do think this book still stands on its own. I admit there are parts of it in the middle that may be more fan service than not, but I do still think that this book, with its dramione origins aside, is still a great first installment to a romantasy series about a princess who gets essentially kidnapped and given to the enemy.

The ending, in my opinion, was excellent. I found myself truly caring about all the characters in the book and not wanting anything bad to happen to them. The ending was exciting/leaving me wanting more without being too cliffhanger-y. Needless to say, I am very excited about the second book.

Now, I did listen to this instead of reading it physically, and I have to say I really enjoyed the narrator. I don’t think I could read the book now without imagining Briony sounding like Ella Lynch. Her ability to put emotion into her storytelling immersed me into the story, and I found myself not wanting to stop (evident as I listened to it in 2 days!).

All in all, I definitely recommend this book if you enjoy dramione fan fiction but also still recommend it for those that are just looking for a fun new romantasy series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy of the audiobook.

This dark romantasy begins at the end of a war in which the enemy has won and killed the young king who had been prophesied to save his kingdom. His sister and other important figures of this conquered land are captured, stripped of their magic, and either killed or sold as slaves to the highest bidder. The princess sells for the highest price but is surprised to find her prison to be more of a refuge wherein she must learn new ways to keep fighting for her people and their freedom. Soto does a pretty good job at introducing her world, though some aspects are still confusing to me, especially about the magic system, but it wasn’t so confusing that I couldn’t still follow the story. This first book is clearly meant to set up the rest of the trilogy and ends in a cliffhanger, but I’ll definitely be reading the rest of the series. The main characters are likable and there’s a lot of yearning between the romantic leads as well for those that enjoy a slow burn. The plot is very dark though, so check the trigger warnings at the front of the book before reading.

I did receive the audiobook arc, and it was well done for the most part. There were a couple choices with voices for other characters that I personally did not like, but that may have just been me.

I already knew Rose in Chains was going to be amazing—I devoured the e-ARC and have been obsessed with this story ever since—but the audiobook? It blew me away. I’m talking full-body chills, heart racing, completely-ignored-my-to-do-list levels of captivated. I consumed the entire thing in one day because I simply couldn’t stop listening.

Julie Soto's haunting post-war fantasy world comes alive in this format. The audiobook does such a phenomenal job amplifying the emotion, the tension, and the desperate hope that threads through every chapter. The narrator (or narrators, if it was a full cast) brought Briony’s pain, strength, and slow-burning resilience to life so vividly it felt like I was right there in the wreckage of Evermore, chained at the mercy of fate alongside her.

The chemistry between Briony and Toven crackles, but what really stood out in audio was the nuance—every shift in tone, every quiet defiance, every moment of vulnerability is magnified in a way that makes your heart ache. The sound design and pacing were also on point. Never rushed, never dragging—just pure, immersive storytelling at its best.

If you’ve read the book, the audiobook is a must. And if you haven’t? Start with the audio and prepare to lose yourself completely. This is one of those rare experiences where the story grips you by the soul and doesn’t let go. Julie Soto, I bow to your dark and beautiful mind

First off, I have not read The Auction, but I really enjoyed the magic system in this book. It felt really unique to me. I also really enjoyed the opening and the ending of the book (it does end in a cliffhanger...). I also really loved the flashback scenes, along with the progression of Briony and Toven's relationship.

I did feel a little lull in the middle of the book, but the beginning was fantastic and the ending made it worth it. With the audiobook, I felt the narration was wonderfully done.

*Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I straight up *devoured* this audiobook. I listened to it in 2 days and it was such a wild ride. Julie Soto absolutely knows how to write yearning, and this was the slowest of burns.

The plot went places I did not expect and I'm excited to read the rest of the trilogy. There were multiple spots where I had to pause and take a minute to think about what just happened before being able to move on. The supporting characters really made this story more than just another dark romance. The epilogue especially was such a good little teaser for where the rest of the series can/will go.

The narrator did a fantastic job. She really made it clear through her tone who each character was, especially the sniveling rat ones.

Thank you Hachette Audio and NetGalley for this audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review.

So, this was a DNF for me fairly early on. As someone who grew up on Harry Potter and is familiar with the world of fanfiction, I went into Rose in Chains knowing it originated as a Dramione (Draco + Hermione) fanfic—which is totally fine in itself. However, it was so transparently those characters that it really took me out of the experience. If you’re going to create a new world and new characters, you have to fully commit—not just change the names and settings while leaving the personalities and dynamics basically intact. The similarities were distracting and made it hard for me to immerse myself in the story. The writing itself was okay—serviceable, but at times choppy and uneven. Additionally, the heavier, darker themes in the plot aren’t adequately reflected in the blurb or the cover, which could mislead readers who are expecting something lighter or more traditional in tone. I did appreciate the content warning at the beginning, though.

On the plus side, the audiobook narration was a high point. The narrator has a warm, engaging voice that suited the tone of the book well, and I found her delivery easy to listen to throughout. I’d definitely be open to listening to other books she narrates in the future. Unfortunately, strong narration couldn’t fully save the story for me, but fans of reimagined romance with a dark edge might still find something here to enjoy—especially if they’re not as tied to the original inspiration as I am.

Julie Soto the writer that you are!!! I am absolutely obsessed y'all. I ate this book up. Books where a FMC gets captured can be tricky to pull off so I was very impressed with how Julie Soto balanced the power dynamics in the book. The book has a dark setting and our hero is definitely morally grey but never so much that I felt like she was being taken advantage of. I adore an academic rivals to lovers story and Rose in Chains is no exception. The silly school pranks and the banter was so fun to read about. The chemistry was sizzling all book. Watching Toven navigate the complicated political landscape of this world while still trying to do the right thing was so fun. The slow burn made the relationship development we got in this book so much more satisfying. And that ending???? I am on the edge of my seat waiting for the sequel.

The narrator's British accent was lovely to listen to as I binged this in a day. I quite enjoyed the stiff voice they gave Toven. I could hear the restraint in their delivery and that upped the tension for me. If you also love audios like me, this is one to check out.

Briony and Tovon have the angst down pat. It’s almost suffocating at first! I really enjoyed the world and magic building of this. It’s a nice set up for the trilogy. The ending felt a little muddled for me but maybe in book two or a reread of the last few chapters would clear it up. It does end on a cliffhanger. It’s a well rounded fantasy. I did not read the fanfic prior to reading this.

This. Book. Ate. And. Left. No. Crumbs.

Rose and Chains was everything I wanted and more..darkly romantic, unhinged in the best way, and painfully addictive. I was hanging on every single word like my life depended on it. The plot? Twisty and rich. The romance? Tension-filled and utterly feral. The writing? Poetic but punchy.

Also, let’s talk about the audiobook for a second. The narrator’s British accent?? CHEF’S KISS. I felt like I was being personally seduced by each chapter. Like hello?? That alone deserves a bonus star.

I finished this with heart palpitations and a thousand emotions, and I will absolutely be spiraling until the next book drops.

If you love morally gray characters, slow burns that hurt so good, and high-stakes romance that feels like war and worship all in one, this is your next obsession.

While listening to this audiobook recording of Rose in Chains, I couldn’t believe that this was Julie Soto’s first attempt at a romantic fantasy. The slow- (I’m talking GLACIAL SPEED) burn, enemies-to-lovers romance was phenomenal with appropriately spaced out flashbacks and delicious tension. The magic system is thoroughly developed and doesn’t feel like an after thought; it actually is integral to the plot and character interactions. The voice actor was also fantastic and had great range and variety, immersing me more fully in the story. I will be grabbing the second book at soon as it comes out!

Rose in Chains is a captivating start to a promising trilogy. The setting is richly detailed, with immersive descriptions that bring every corner of the world to life. It is clear that a great deal of care and thought went into building a world that feels both grounded and magical.

The stakes feel perfectly balanced for the beginning of a larger story. Graphic subjects are handled with restraint and purpose, adding emotional weight without overwhelming the narrative. This is a strong, beautifully written beginning that leaves me eager for the next installment.

Wow, I did not read The Auction so I can’t compare it to the original fan fiction. But that was a great dark Romantasy. I wish maybe a tad more happened before the end of book 1, but there’s still plenty of time to get there in the next two books. As for the narrator she sounds just like Hermione, from my very basic knowledge of seeing all the movies several times. I kind of wish she didn’t because then I could have separated this book from HP. This book is truly its own thing, but I can’t help making references back.

what initially drew my attention to this book was the beautiful cover, after reading it I definitely wasn't dissapointed this book was amazing. this was my first Julie Soto book and I will definitely be reading more from her.

not to mention the narrator did a phenomenal job with the story I was completely captivated and before I knew it it was the end of the book, cannot wait for the next one.

this book had me hooked from the very beginning and had me constantly wanting more

Thanks to netgalley/the publisher for the audiobook (e-arc?) of this book. All thoughts are my own.

The mc, Briony, gets captured with the rest of her people and everyone is auctioned off. Her brother is dead. The one who they thought the prophecy was about.

First off I’ve loved everything Julie Soto has released so far. Some more than others. But honestly I think this one was just so amazing. The narrator was great and I don’t think they could’ve found a better person to tell this story.

I personally thought the storyline and world building was great and flowed nicely. I did shed some tears at one point. I think if you’re into Romantasy with a darkish twist this is the book for you. I seriously can’t wait for the second one to come out.

I wanted to love this book, especially since the audiobook was so flawlessly produced! Seriously, I'm a huge fan of the narrator.

But I guess I'm not sold on this Toven character yet. There are some things even a morally gray love interest can't come back from in my eyes.

Also, the whole emphasis on virginity and sexual assault felt a bit weird. It's not like it's portrayed as acceptable or okay in the book, but I wish the torture of an entire country's women could have involved something else. I like to read books to escape everyday horrors, and I don't know many women who haven't endured some form of SA; as a survivor, even if the content doesn't cause me emotional distress (it didn't; I am healed these days), it's not something I want to *read* about/be reminded of the existence of in the fiction I try to enjoy in my leisure time.

I can see how this book will be amazing for a lot of readers, but it's a pass for me. Except, yes, the cliffhanger hooked me enough that I'll be reading the rest of the trilogy when it's released.

⭐️ 3.5 stars ⭐️
The first book of an unfinished romantasy series is not for the weak hearted. The first chunk of the book is devoted to building a world new to you, often with loads of characters and some sort of complicated magic system/ Kingdom or political stage/ often both. The latter part of the novel then proceeds to rip your heart out, whilst promptly leaving you aghast on a cliff hanger. "Rose in Chains" very much follows this model. I've read Julie Soto's other books and I find her writing engaging. It's probably for this reason I found it easier to stay with the story when it got incredibly bleak midway through. I really wish I had the second book to trip right on to as so much of "Rose in Chains" felt like set up (with constant flash backs throughout). Fingers crossed we won't have to wait too long!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance listening copy in exchange for an honest review.

First Impressions & Expectations
I was genuinely looking forward to Rose in Chains—it would have been my first Julie Soto book, and the premise sounded bold, original, and full of emotional depth. However, I unfortunately didn’t make it past the first chapter of the audiobook. While I still think the story itself has potential, the audio format didn’t work for me at all.

Narration & Listening Experience
The narrator’s delivery felt overly breathy and moany right from the beginning, which immediately pulled me out of the experience. It came across as unnatural and overly performative, making the emotional tone feel forced rather than compelling. I found it difficult to connect with the story because of this, and despite a serious attempt to push through, I couldn’t get past the opening chapter. The narration quite simply gave me the ick—something that’s obviously personal, but worth noting for listeners sensitive to narration style.

Format Considerations
I want to stress that my issue wasn’t with the story itself. In fact, I’m still interested in reading this novel in print or ebook, as I suspect I’d have a very different reaction without the narrator’s voice influencing my perception of the characters and tone. Another personal barrier to connecting with this book was the cover. While that alone doesn’t determine the content, it gave off a young adult/cartoony vibe that doesn’t match the intense trigger warnings. It’s also just not a style I’m drawn to visually, and it would likely prevent me from picking up or purchasing a physical copy, even if I did enjoy the content.

Final Thoughts & Recommendation
This was a rare DNF for me, and while I couldn’t continue with the audiobook version of Rose in Chains, I don’t want to discourage readers who are curious about the story itself. If the premise interests you, I’d suggest trying a different format. Julie Soto’s writing has a strong fan base, and I’m still eager to experience her work—just not through this particular narration.