4.25⭐ (review post to come in the future in my bookstagram)

Thank you to Hachette Audio for an ALC of this book 💖

HOLY CLIFFHANGERS OMG. EXCUSE ME?? I think I am going to be perpetually sick until I know what happens for the rest of this trilogy. I don't think I've ever been able to read a romantasy like this before in my life, and we all have Ms. Julie Soto to thank for this piece of literature existing.

This book puts the burn in slow-burn and I ate up every moment of it. Toven, too, can slap me in the face, and I would tell him I'm sorry. You can tell that he would do anything for Briony and ensure her safety. I loved how there were chapters that went back in time so we can learn more about how they grew up together (AKA how much he yearned for her from afar 🤭). And the banter? Oh my god, I was kicking and screaming listening to this man hehehehe. His mom was also a person who showed her kindness in a time where she didn't think it was possible. I even ended up liking Larissa??? Her boldness was awe-inspiring, and highkey, she's a badass.

In regard to the listening arc, I enjoyed the narrator's efforts in alternating between characters. When she switched between Briony and Toven, it was easy to tell by the expression of her voice. I also liked the nuances she included in her voice, because it helped you imagine the emotion behind the scene. For example, you can truly hear the heartbreak and sadness in her voice when she was in the dungeon, and my heart broke with hers. I do wish it were easier to follow in the beginning. I was confused about the structure of the book and didn't realize that it was going back and forth in timelines. This may be one of those books where the experience may have been better if I had the e-ARC or a physical.

I've never read any Dramione fanfic, and I've been told that this is based on the Auction. I'm unable to verify how close this is to the original, but I do advise people to heed the warnings of the front page, as there are some dark aspects in this book. Regardless, this ALC was unstoppable and I can't wait for the rest of the trilogy to be released!

Ugh!! I am obsessed! Is it too early to say that I already know I will be rereading once I get my physical copy next month?! I already know this will be my favorite read of the year!
I am and will always be Julie’s biggest fan forever and the fic this book is based on has been my favorite for years! I was already thrilled going into this book, but wow. For her previous fanfic readers this had the perfect mix of new, shocking, gripping plot points, flashbacks, and details with the new world while still having nudges to the original work and keeping the main characters developments and journeys similar to the original. The things changed only served to make this story better than it already was! I love the way she decided to end this first part of the story for book 1! I need book two like now!. 😅😂 Julie Soto just knows how to write longing, characters connections, and banter SO WELL while still dealing with darker topics and building a new word in this story. I will be recommending this story to every fantasy reader (and even not fantasy readers) I know! I personally prefer more romance than fantasy in my stories in general and though this story is for sure more a Romantasy than just fantasy, she did have to do a good deal of world building but it did not take away from the story at all, 5 stars, no notes, obsessed!!
Also, The audio book narrator was wonderful!

I honestly have no words, it was absolutely amazing, surpassed my expectations.
The banter, the enemies to lovers, the magic system, the characters were so beautifully written.
Shes the daughter of the king. He will do anything to have/protect her.
I tried to separate the names from the original fanfics and tried to go with a clear mind and it was absolutely amazing!
This was obsessively satisfying to listen. I honestly can’t wait for a re-read as write this.
Enemies to lovers, forced proximity, magic systems, political intrigue, torture/violence.
Cannot wait for the next one👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼💜💜💜💜💜

Thank you @netgalley and @hachetteaus for this ALC 🫶🏻

Do not tread lightly into this one and please make sure you are aware of the trigger warnings!

I jumped headfirst into this one without any idea of what it was about except a pretty cover 🫣
This one is a dark Romantasy and i devoured it whole. I loved the writing and how we start straight in the middle of the story and learn the beginnings through flashbacks which had me hooked because I needed all the details. The world building was well thought out and felt organic as information was delivered and didn’t feel forced.
The slow burn and tension between Briony and Troven was delicious. The complications surrounding their relationship, secret keeping and hidden agendas really had me invested.
The dark parts of this story I felt weren’t glossed over or thrown in for dramatic effect but an integral part of the narrative.

That cliffhanger also?! I need book two asap!

Was able to listen to this and just want to say I loved the narrator! Great job with the voices.
The fmc is a princess on the losing side of a war. Sold into slavery and bought by the mmc whom she is battling feelings for.
Yearning, touch her and die, sloooooooow burn, magic.
Looking forward to the next book! Ends on a small cliffhanger!
Thank you to the author, publisher, and netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this book!

This book is such a great series opener, and I can’t wait to see the journey Julie Soto takes us on!

The audiobook was great. The Narrators voices for each character are clear and easy to follow. Her narration is gripping and emotional, and I loved her British accent.

The story its self has complex political intrigue, dialing courts, magic and forced proximity romance. But it is dark. Be sure to read the trigger warnings and decide if this is for you.

There is so much tension between Briony and Toven. So many people are keeping secrets.

I'm feeling a little hoodwinked here. First, I thought this book was smutty. I'm okay without smut but this was green pepper level of spice and that threw me.

I also didn't realize this was "The Auction" reworked. I have not (knowingly) read Dramione fanfic but I have heard the hype. I didn't think this lived up to all that. It's fine and it got better but there was a lot missing for me. I wanted to like Toven but he gave me NOTHING to go on here. I think this could be a super solid series but it's just not a strong start. I do want to continue the series but right now I remain sceptical.

Thank you to Julie Soto, Hachette Audio and Netgalley for this AlC. I attest that I am leaving my review voluntarily and honestly.

Julie Soto knows how to write, but unfortunately this novel didn’t capture me as her others have in the past. The stakes felt off in a way that left me wanting more. I do think the series has incredible potential to grow and I will be in line to read the next installment.

I have a very simple rule: If Julie Soto writes it, I’m going to read it.

Perhaps it’s because this is a rework of a previous story she wrote, but it reads far clunkier than her more recent novels and lacks the heart and depth I’ve grown used to from her. This is by far her darkest novel, but the plot armor is so thick on our FMC I never felt the tension like I should have. There are moments of banter that grabbed my attention, but it never quite held me.

I think I would have benefitted from reading the physical novel. The narration was far too delicate and failed to convey the horror, urgency and despair through the novel.

I will read the next in the series because in Julie I trust. Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette for the ALC in exchange for a honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for an ALC! Julie did her big one for this. Such an immersive world with gorgeous magic systems. This is a slow burn, enemies-to-lovers romance, so if you love those tropes give this a try immediately. The narrator was amazing and captured the Hermione inspo for Briony!

Thank you Netgalley and Hachette Audio for the arc!!

Ugh this was so good. The tension, the yearning, the magic.

Briony was one of those FMCs that don’t follow the mold of being small and weak. I really enjoyed being in her head during the story.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest review.

I had no idea going into this it was based off a Dramione fan-fic. I will say I found it to be very slow going and not a lot happened. I admit I was hoping there would be more steam? There was a kiss. But it felt like a lot of build up for that? I'm sure others will enjoy this one.

Thank you Netgalley, Julie Soto, and Hachette Audio for the ALC!

I went into this story blind, and I loved it! The narrator did wonderfully and I enjoyed the variety of voices she was able to accomplish. I will say the beginning was difficult to follow along with because of the amount of characters and information being given.
I won't exactly classify this book as a romance but the yearning and potential for the next books has been set up.
The author did a fantastic job of making you feel the pain and dread that comes with losing everything including your own identity from being a princess to a war prisoner.
I cannot wait to see how this series continues!

The bummer about advanced copies-having to wait even longer for the sequels! I LOVED this book, and am so grateful to Hachette Audio and the great people over at Forever/Grand Central Publishing for letting me listen to this early! The magic system in this is unique, and you definitely need to be paying close attention to keep everything straight as there are so many moving pieces. However, that effort is totally worth it! This is book 1 in a trilogy, which means it is a slooooooow burn in book 1, but there was a lot of depth to the MCs. I think it would be so interesting to hear from multiple POVs in future installments, although I loved Briony’s perspective and the narration was top notch. I am keeping all my fingers and toes crossed that I can get an advanced copy of the sequel, and in the interim will be checking out some of Julie Soto’s other works (even from different genres!).

Rose in Chains is Julie Soto’s romantasy debut. This first book on The Evermore Trilogy follows Briony on a world where the “bad guy” has won and she is facing the consequences that come with that.

I really enjoyed this story. I’m a huge fan of this author so I was highly anticipating this novel. I listened to the audiobook and I thought Ella Lynch did a fantastic job with the narration. Her voice really fit well for Briony.

I feel like this is one of the few romantasy books that I have read where it advertised itself as a slowburn and actually felt that way. The tension was perfect!

I think the fantasy elements got a little convoluted. I didn’t fully grasp the magic system and it definitely felt info dumpy at the beginning. I know that was to get everything set up but it made it hard to get invested in the story initially. That being said, I’m super excited to read the next book now that the framework has been laid out!

SPECTACULAR!!!!! If I could give this book 6 stars I would!!! Rose In Chains is absolute perfection!!!! Phenomenal world building, amazing characters, intricate and intriguing plot, perfect pacing! This is storytelling at its finest!!! The audio, even though it’s not duel narrated was so so good!!! The narrator was fantastic!!! Her voice was made for this book! I’m giddy with excitement! No notes!

This was not for me. There is too much info dumping and I was thoroughly confused half the time I was listening to the narrator. Ella Lynch did do a good job reading the book though.

5/5⭐️ 1/5🌶️ 0.5/5😢

I am so incredibly impressed by Julie Soto’s fantasy debut—I was completely captivated from the first chapter and devoured the book in less than 48 hours!

And let me be honest, there was nothing I didn’t love about this book: a determined and courageous FMC; dark and brooding morally grey MMC; disturbing and intense world building/setting (reminiscent of A Handmaid’s Tale); unique power structure and system; strong and well developed side characters; and a tantalizing “will-they-won’t-they” romance between the main characters that leaves you desperate and begging for crumbs 🫠💔

tropes & themes:
🌹 dark romantasy
🌹 non-linear timeline
🌹 unique power system
🌹 enemies-to-lovers(?)
🌹 forced proximity
🌹 SLOWEST BURN OF THE CENTURY
🥀 please check your CW/TW! There are very dark themes including crude depictions of sexual assault, rape, and slavery/human trafficking, among others.

favorite quote:
“Come on, Toven,” she continued, goading him. “Tell me how often I’m on my knees for you, and how often you’re on your knees for me.”

I will note that though this novel is based on “Dramione” fan fiction originally written by the author on AO3, I found there to be very few, mostly tenuous connections between this and the Harry Potter world. In fact, if I hadn’t known about the book’s fanfic origin, I would have never connected this book to HP.

I am grateful to have also listened to a copy of the audiobook, which had excellent narration and would highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever/Grand Central Publishing, and Hachette Audio for an ARC and ALC of Rose in Chains.

This was a really unique magic system and I enjoyed the world building. I finished this book in one sitting!

I did struggle in the beginning with all the new characters being introduced and I personally didn’t love the story switching back and forth between past and present.

However, the ending pulled me back in and I really enjoyed listening to this on audio! Excited for book 2!

I flew through this book in less than 3 days and I am UNWELL.

The fact that this book started out as a Dramione fanfic and Julie Soto was able to turn in into a completely different book and have it stand on its own, as its own story, has absolutely BLOWN me away. This was my 78th read of the year and the first one to make me cry. I will be thinking about Briony and Toven from here on out and they will consume my every thought for the next foreseeable future.

Also the title is so fricken clever and it makes me even more obsessed with this story. I will be impatiently waiting for word on book 2, because how are we supposed to go on after that ending?!

Also, a woman villain?! Like hello, women in STEM 👏 (no jk I hate her, but slay for women in men’s fields).

The narrator was perfection for this audiobook and I felt like I was actually listening to Briony herself read me the story. The male voices weren’t cringey or overdone and I felt every emotion that she put in her words come through my speakers. It made it hurt even more when it came to an end 🥲

Big thank you to NetGalley, Hatchette Audio, Forever Publishing and Julie Soto for this ARC! I feel so incredibly lucky to have been able to experience this story a little sooner 🫶🏼