This one wasn't quite for me, but I can see why it would be for others. The concept was interesting, but I had a hard time connecting with the pacing and characters and story as a whole.

I really enjoyed both the story and the narrator for the audiobook. Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the opportunity to listen to this.

The narrator does a lovely job with the story, her pacing and tone makes for easy listening. I didn't love some of the male voices she did, but for the majority of the story it was great.

The non-linear timeline makes for an interesting way to slowly reveal plot points and build tension. While I did enjoy the story and want to know how the series ends, I wasn't completely enthralled and would rate it 3.5 stars (rounded up for NetGalley review). I am hopeful the next instalment will pick up to 4+ stars

Overall, I enjoyed this story! I loved the relationships Briony had with others and her ability to represent her kingdom (even with the heir restrictions). Please check the content warnings before diving in because it's darker than standard romantasy.

I was a little turned around by heart vs mind magic and if everyone can use them with enough study. Some of the world building could have been more detailed as well. There was still plenty to enjoy!

As someone who isn't a huge fan of dark romance, I was nervous for this one. I've loved Julie Soto's other books, so I wanted to give this one a try and I ended up really enjoying it. As the first book in a fantasy series, it did take me a bit to get into it and understand the magic system and world. The plot is interesting, and the romance is a SLOW burn which kept me wanting to listen for whatever crumbs we got. The audiobook narrator was great, and I'd highly recommend it, especially if you're on the fence about whether you'll like this or not.

Thank you NetGalley and Hatchette Audio for the ARC!

I mostly requested this book because my friend was excited about it.

I was disappointed to see that they had based the cover art kind of directly on Emma Watson - setting this up squarely as being related to the HP franchise. It is disappointing to see the publisher push this so hard as a "dramione" fanfic when Julie Soto should be able to pull us all in a new direction on her name alone - her other books seemingly had good reception!

The book itself was fine. Without all the controversy that surrounds it, I could've imagined it as the next craze, ala Fourth Wing. It very much read as a fanfiction, the writing was fine, the world building a little sloppy, but all over it was fine.

I will not be recommending this to anyone.

AAAAAH I LOVED THIS. Now this is a re-work! The story can stand on its own even to a new reader who did not read The Auction. World building was good, the magic system was clear.

The romance? Unmatched. We're bringing back yearning let's goooooo.

Re: the audiobook. The narrator's voice was so soothing. I wish it was actually less soothing as it sometimes feels like a lullaby that I had to listen at 1.75-2x speed so I fully focus.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this amazing audiobook! The narrator did such an amazing job and the way she changed the voices to all the characters specially Toven's voice was incredible. What a talent!
The concept of this book was what grabbed from the start. I've never read anything in which the winner of a war sell for auction the sons and daughters of the losing country. That was a completely unique concept.
I love Briony. She's a main character with so many layers and she I'd willing to expose herself with Toven for the people he loves. As for Toven, I like him and I think he liked Briony cause he protected her several times but he's a mystery. He has many layers as Briony but some of his are to be discovered yet. There's many actions he had towards her thst I don't get. It's clear he likes her but there's something or someone holding him back. Maybe Mallow? There's so much to be answered on the next book.
And the epilogue, oh damn!
This was a great adventure with very unique aspects.
Looking forward for book 2.

Rose in Chains is a haunting, emotionally charged fantasy that sinks its claws into you. Julie Soto weaves a rich, gothic-tinged tale that masterfully blends dark political intrigue, morally gray decisions, slow-burning tension, and searing romance—all wrapped in an immersive fantasy world and dual-timelines that make this alluring and intriguing. I’ve not read Soto’s work before, but this certainly ensnared me.

At the center of it all is our heroine Briony Rosewood—a brilliant, strategic leading lady forced to endure a patriarchal society that crowns her less-capable twin brother, Rory, the “chosen one.” After a truly devastating tragedy and failed prophecy, Briony ends up imprisoned and sold at a twisted auction to the highest bidder—none other than Toven Hearst, her academy nemesis, the boy with a smug smile and silver hair of a notoriously cruel and depraved family. And so we dive into a fantasy world brimming with darkness and tension and heartache.

Briony’s strength is quiet but fierce. Watching her transformation—from a girl shadowed by duty to a woman burning with new found purpose—was the most satisfying parts of this story.. She doesn't start off as the firebrand she begins to transform into, and that growth makes her journey even more impactful. She’s the driving force of the story, and so far, what I like most about Rose in Chains. Her story aline would compel me, absent of romance.

Toven, on the other hand, is a mercurial and unreliable yet somehow alluring leading anti-hero. He’s part charming enigma, part infuriating man-child. Both fascinating and frustrating. He can be an entitled brat full of volatile energy (most of the time in fact), but we see glimmers of something deeper, someone who might be capable of love—and change. I’m not quite sold on him yet, but that’s okay- I feel like we’ve only scratched the surface of what’s going on there. We’re meant to not be truly clear on if we can trust him.

This is peak enemies to lovers tension. From old rivalries to forced proximity, the chemistry between them simmers and then explodes. Every encounter pulses with tension—whether it’s resentment, their rivalry, or something hotter bubbling beneath the surface. Their complicated pasts and unequal power dynamic) add grit and a dangerous edge to the romance. And the dual timelines give a lot of substance to their complicated and tense dynamic.

The supporting cast is just as interesting. Some characters you’ll love, others you’ll constantly question if you should—and that moral ambiguity only enriches and adds more tension the world. I’m not a huge fantasy reader, and for me the world building both left me with some questions, but the lighter touch I guess also made it feel less focal and thus more light handed, which worked for someone like me. It did feel a little heavy, content-dumpy to start which made the pace feel slow at first, but once over that hump, I was pretty sucked into this. The world itself is brutal and unforgiving—but also really intriguing. But if you’re here for super high fantasy, I’m not sure this feels that way. Which again, worked for someone like me who prefers my fantasy on the looser side.

I did really enjoy Soto’s writing- it’s lush, lyrical in places, with a great gothic atmospheric quality that makes the imagery vivid and the emotional range sharp. And the darkness felt provocative and compelling (vs. salacious/for shock)- there’s thought themes and point of view here.
The audio is also absolutely the way to consume this. Ella Lynch was fantastic. She brings so much to the performance, and makes this an even more immersive read.

Rose in Chains is an alluring dark fantasy- emotionally intelligent, powerfully penned, and absolutely addictive. The cliffhanger definitely leaves you thirsty, so excited to see where this goes next.

For all fantasy and romance fans... this one is a must. The characters are interesting and definitely get you hooked right from the beginning. I will be interested to see if this becomes a series because I could definitely see myself rooting for the main characters throughout a few more novels.

This book will live rent free in my mind forever, it's one of my top ten reads ever. While I understand that the original premise was built around fanfic written by the author based on a popular YA series. Julie Soto completely divorces that fanfic in her rewrite and story development. The storyline draws you in from the beginning and keeps you locked in. There are many details and main character history woven into the story. There's your dark and broody MMC that the FMC is drawn to even though she's supposed to light and frilly. We see that the both of them have a yearning for each other but are keeping it secret. Rose in Chains gives life to Forbidden Love and Enemies to Lovers tropes. But Julie weaves threads of is it really forbidden or are they really enemies? Could they perchance be Fated mates? I can't wait to find out in what is sure to be a thrilling and sexy trilogy,
Themes:
Villain to lover
Forced proximity
Political Themes

I don’t even know where to start with processing my feelings on this book.

The story is DARK. You have the princess, Briony, who early on becomes essentially a prisoner of war the entire royal family is killed or captured, and she’s sold at auction as basically a human familiar.

There are super dark elements in this book (trafficking, sexual assault, forced sterilization, etc). However I felt Julie Soto was able to write these super traumatic parts in a way that was not overly graphic and cringy, but simply heartbreaking.

The alternating narration between present day and prior to the war gives so much insight into the characters, and the magic system is fascinating.

The end of the book has me desperate for the second book - I can’t wait!

The narration of the audiobook was also so well done. I felt like Ella Lynch did a wonderful job of bringing Briony to life.

Thank you to NetGallery and the publisher for the ALC.

DNF the audiobook at 16%.
Really disappointed over the hype of this one, and now even more over the controversy surrounding it. The audiobook was painful to get through, between the production/sound quality and the narration.

Glad some people liked it, but that won’t be me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Julie Soto, and Hachette Audio for the ALC of the audio. I am sorry to report I am leaving disappointed

So tired of supposed "enemies to lovers" when it's really some twisted turn of Stockholm and depiction of sexual desperation of "strong and powerful" female characters. It really paints a terrible picture.

I *almost* DNF'ed this because I was so bored. I saw so many parallels with today's society, but it fell flat. Though, some people shouldn't write fantasy.

I went into this blind of knowledge from supposed relation to Dramione fanfic. Even without knowing I was like wow, Briony? Curly headed brunette with knowledge and suppressed power? A rich, powerful, pale family with silver hair? I enjoy fanfic, but how was this published? And not even good.

I have also decided that I will not willingly listen to this narrator anymore.

I do appreciate the opportunity to listen to this from NetGalley and publisher, but I will not be continuing this series.

I had the privilege of being and early eyeball reader and listener for this work of fucking art and let me first just say thank you for that. This book is easily my top read of the year.
It's dark...it's emotional....it's intense....and it's everything I hoped it would be and then some! The world building, magic system and political intrigue are all absolutely superb

As a fic reader who read The Auction a s absolutely loved it, reading this trad pub adaptation gave me so much joy

Rose in Chains has been one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it was wonderfully narrated. I enjoyed it so much that I listened to it over the course of just a couple of days! Everything about the audiobook felt very immersive, even from the introductory chapter, where the music sets the tone for the story so perfectly. Special thanks to Ella Lynch, who did a fantastic job with pacing. I tend to speed up at times, and also slow down as background information gets conveyed, and in either scenario, the narration was clear and easy to follow. I would personally love if she remained the narrator for the next two books, especially since she did the voices of different characters so well.

As for the story, I loved the riveting world-building. Truly enjoyed the slow burn as well! I hope it continues and builds seamlessly in the next two books, which I absolutely can not wait to read! Thank you ever so much for the audiobook ARC!

Julie Soto does it again!

This DARK romantasy gives us so many vibes that it is hard to summarize! (Adaption of The Auction fanfic so it is Dramione based)

Briony and Toven are on opposite sides of a magical war. Briony's kingdom has been overthrown. Toven's family helped make that happen. She’s then sold at auction and Toven buys her. The rest of the story is told via two timelines and it is gripping all the way through!

Thank you NetGalley for this ALC!

First, I want to express how perfectly the narrator was chosen for the audiobook. Briony's voice was exactly what I wanted it to be (I can be really picky). Now, for the book itself. I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I was worried my expectations were too high, but I am very happy with this first book. There were some changes from the OG work, and I preferred the changes. I can't wait to see where the next book takes us.

The British narrator was absolutely captivating, their voice was smooth, expressive, and added so much depth to the story. The pacing was perfect; it never dragged, and every chapter kept me hooked and wanting more. I found myself fully immersed, almost like I was watching a movie in my head. It was one of those listens where you keep thinking about the characters and plot long after it ends. Highly recommend if you're looking for something engaging, well-performed, and just overall really well done.

Dark. Addictive. Utterly unhinged in the best way. Rose in Chains is the romantasy I’ve been dying for—and it delivered everything.

Julie Soto dives headfirst into a brutal world of rival kingdoms, twisted magic, and enemies who burn for each other with the kind of rage that could level empires. This isn’t just enemies to lovers—it’s captive x captor, war-torn obsession, and a man so deliciously down bad, he might just set the world on fire for one girl!!!!

Briony is a princess stripped of her throne and her freedom. When she’s sold at auction like a prize of war, it’s Toven—the enemy and one of the very people who destroyed her kingdom—who buys her. And that’s where things get intense. The tension? Palpable. The power dynamics? So sharp they could cut glass. Their chemistry? Utterly feral.

Toven is everything I love in a dark romance hero—dangerous, possessive, morally gray with a bleeding heart buried deep beneath all the armor. And the way he claims Briony? Let’s just say it lives rent-free in my head. Especially this quote:

"I'm not sure how many more times I need to say it. That heartspring is mine. Her mouth is mine, her magic is mine, her skin is mine. You will not touch her, under any circumstances. I purchased her. I do what I please with her."

Yeah. I had to sit down after that.

But what makes Rose in Chains shine isn’t just the steamy, knife’s-edge romance—it’s the layered worldbuilding, the crumbling loyalties, and the slow, agonizing unraveling of both Briony and Toven as they try (and fail) to hate each other.

My new favorite romantasy, hands down. The audiobook was exceptional and truly brought the story to life!

Rose in Chains is a strikingly dark, emotionally charged romantasy with a compelling lead couple and a richly shadowed setting—but it can feel padded and incomplete. If you're drawn to atmospheric, tension-filled narratives and are okay with slow pacing and open endings, it's worth a read.

Please keep in mind that if you want to read this book and have specific triggers, look up the warnings!!