Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an audiobook arc!

This is the third arc of Julie Soto’s that I have been granted, and I’ve definitely been a fan of everything I’ve read by her so far! It’s been interesting to see how she’s ventured into other genres, from romance to young adult thriller to this romantasy!

I see this as being a popular fantasy book this year. Briony’s father is a king, and her brother is next in line for the throne…until everything is overthrown, and Briony and several others are captured, auctioned off and kept like property to be used for their magic. Captured women are given an elixir of sorts that makes them complicit, and collars that restrict them as well. This submissiveness allows the to men siphon magic from the women, and Briony is considered particularly sought after because it is said that her family has gold blood. When Briony is auctioned off to a familiar face, she’s conflicted on how to feel. Relief, knowing it could be much worse, but also rage at the circumstances and the leader that everyone is taking orders from. Things between Briony and Taver have always been complicated and rocky- Briony had a crush on Taver when he was younger, despite him being difficult to her sometimes. The present repeats the past, as the two struggle with conflicting feelings for each other as well as the bleak circumstances.

I give this 3.5 stars!! I do recommend this to those that enjoy fantasy novels, however be sure to read the trigger warnings! Things in this book can get dark

unfortunately I did not enjoy this book as much as I had hoped I would. The world building just didn't feel very well done, and some of the storyline/actions of the characters felt unnecessary.

"Rose in Chains" by Julie Soto features outstanding world-building and captivating character dynamics. This was an incredibly enjoyable read, and I anticipate it becoming the next big Booktalk sensation. The magic system felt fresh and unique. I loved Soto's writing style. The romance was a true slow burn. Romance authors, THIS is how you do a swoon worthy slow-burn!! Fans of dark romantasy should definitely add this to their TBR! I can't wait for book 2! I will say this book has several trigger warnings at the beginning. Read responsibly.
Ella Lynch has a lovely lyrical flow to her narration and made this audiobook thoroughly enjoyable. Her voice for Troven was dreamy.
Thank you to NetGallery and Hachette Audio for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I never thought we could do a book full of words but so empty at the same time. Best book in the category of stretched plot is a winner.

The book is 15 hours long and for around 25%-30% of the book nothing happened no action known anything. I didn’t even know where the book was going for 30% . I was going to DN at the book at this point because 30% of a book is a lot of time with nothing.

You can also feel like they did not do a great job to rework the beginning of the book you’re simply thrown into a story of context that is not even developed. Let me remind you 15 hours of an audiobook and you don’t even know what is happening in the beginning. That’s crazy.

OK, it’s a dark fantasy. OK I get it. But the main point doesn’t know about the FMC is that she is heart magic and she’s a virgin… Also they did put her virginity in a JAR!!! so they can prove that she’s not a virgin anymore. I’m not even joking.

I almost laughed at the scene because this was ridiculous.

The idea of the ocean was enjoyable, even though it wasn’t even developed enough. Yes, it wasn’t developed enough in a 15 hours book but anyway… The sad part is that since it’s not developed enough to make it a trilogy it’s annoying. It’s boring. It’s empty and you lose time for absolutely nothing.

Stop stretching plots and please rework it to make it actually good.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️ - Book 1, I anticipate it getting spicier in the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Let's just get this out of the way, I knew going in that this story was inspired by Julie Soto’s Dramione fanfic The Auction (which I have read), but this review will stay focused on the book itself—and spoiler-free.

Right away, I was pulled in by the unique world-building. The two kingdoms in this story draw their magic from different places—one from the mind, the other from the heart—which sets the stage for some beautifully layered political and emotional tension. It’s a fresh take I wasn’t expecting, and it added so much depth to the plot and characters. I knew Julie was going to need to create a unique and magical wold to set this apart from her original piece, and I truly think she accomplished that.

This is a true slow burn, rivals-to-lovers fantasy romance. (I would accept enemies-to-lovers, but based on some of their interactions in flashbacks, I think rivals better describes these two) Our heroine Briony has suffered tremendous loss—her brother, the king, was killed in a war her side ultimately lost. Now enslaved, she’s purchased at an auction by Toven, her former school rival from the enemy kingdom. The dynamic between them is tense, passionate, and emotionally raw.

As an audiobook girlie, I was so excited to receive the ALC for this book. I felt like Ella Lynch did a wonderful job at reading this story. Her dialect fit the characters really well and I had no issues distinguishing which character she was reading at each moment. I felt like her emotion was really heard through the characters, especially Briony, who seemed to bounce around a lot with her feelings. While I do prefer duet and dual narration, I understand that not every book will have more than one narrator. It is so nice finding narrators that can every part well.

I listened to this book in one sitting and already can’t wait for the next one. Rose in Chains is haunting, romantic, and deeply human in the way it explores grief, power, and the fire of rebellion. Highly recommend to fans of slow-burn fantasy romance with big feelings and sharp edges.

As the princess of a conquered kingdom in the wake of a lost war, Briony must learn to navigate her new harsh reality if she is to survive in a world dictated by her enemies. Auctioned off to the highest bidder for her considerable well of magic and relation to the fallen royal family, Briony finds herself living at Hurst Manor aside her school rival, Tovan Hurst.

Not sure if I finished this book in 2 days or it finished me in 2 days. I feel chewed up and spat back out again. This story was shrouded in darkness, mystery and seduction while still handling sensitive topics with consideration — please do check the trigger warnings for this book.

Despite the moments of intense action in the first half, it felt slow and a bit repetitive but I became absolutely engrossed in the story as it progressed. Thank goodness this was an audiobook listen for me as I simply could not put it down and the narrator only added to the experience.

I loved the moral ambiguity of the Hurst family, the tender interactions between Tovan and Briony and the SLOW BURN that was drip fed to us. Perfection. No notes.

With the shock factor, pacing and easily consumable prose, Rose In Chains has become my latest guilty pleasure read and I am frothing at the mouth for book 2…

DNF @6%

Thank you Netgalley and Hachette Audio for ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I had to DNF this one at around the 6% mark. While the premise of the story started off promising, I just couldn’t connect with the story or the character like I wanted to. The flashbacks are what is throwing me off already.

Flashbacks when not used effectively, can completely pull you out of a story rather than immersing you deeper into it. That's why I choose to dnf this book already because it already had two major flashbacks within just five chapters that instead of pulling me into the story, it was absolutely pulling me out of it.. Instead of enhancing the story, they’re interrupting the pacing and making it feel like the real story is happening in the past, not the present.

The same goes for flash-forwards. When overused or poorly timed, they can make a narrative feel fragmented rather than compelling. A few well-placed time jumps can work, but when it feels like most of the plot is happening outside of the current timeline, it becomes hard to stay engaged.
Sometimes, less is more when it comes to shifting timelines.

Nothing really grabbed my attention, and I found myself losing interest pretty quickly.
Also the narrator wasn't making it engaging for me as well. It was like she was trying to sound proper, posh and almost like a British woman.

This one wasn’t the right fit for me, but if you are a fan of a certain ship from a certain franchise this should be up your alley.

Briony + Toven

-dark mf romantasy
-rivals to lovers
-hidden powers
-forced proximity
-touch her & 💀

it has been literal YEARS since i read the fic this was inspired by & honestly i feel like its a COMPLETELY different story!! it was soooo amazingly juicy tho in all ways!! the mystery, the time jumps, the slow burn!! the magic system i felt was so basic enough it didn’t really need much world building, which always takes me out of the story, so i appreciated that part! it was just exactly as i expected from julie too in terms of the tension & angst, OH MY GOD THE ANGST!! i just can’t wait for more!!

While I have listened to the ALC the whole way through, I can't say I didn't have any moments where I considered DNFing. I'm certainly not the prime target readership for this type of romantasy, I do enjoy a good enemies to lovers and a healthy side of slow burn, so I thought I might give this one a go.

Unfortunately, it's a no from me and I can't even put my finger on why, because I have enjoyed other steamy romances with dark undertones, for ex, Katee Robert's Neon Gods. This one just felt meh.

That being said, I'm sure it will find its readers among romantasy lovers, probably ones younger than me.

Please please please check trigger warnings before diving into this one.

Thank you Julie Soto and Netgalley for this ALC.

Ok let me start by saying, I love all of Julie Soto's books, so much so that I went into Rose in Chains blind. My fault, but wow, not my cup of tea. I'm also not a Harry Potter fan, and didn't realize RIC was a published adaptation of a Dramione fanfiction, The Auction.
This is a dark romantasy, picture The Handmaid's Tale with magic.

Trigger Warnings:
* Sexual Assault
* Buying and selling of humans in captivity
* Forced sterilization
* Forced termination of a pregnancy

I almost DNF'd so many times, but I kept reading because I committed to a review. While I can see why the violence is in service to the plot, this just crossed too many boundaries for me. I do realize I am the outlier here, and I will still continue to read Julie going forward.

I received an ALC in exchange for an honest review, unfortunately the audio did nothing to enhance the experience.

2.5 Stars

Such a good listen!

There’s no denying how amazing Julie’s books are, but this was just spectacular. From chapter one I was entranced in this story, and by the end I was wishing there was more. The narrator did such a phenomenal job, and I could not stop listening. It can be hard to connect with characters through audiobooks sometimes, but I didn’t have that issue once. There is just something special about these characters that makes you root for them. Briony and Toven have my entire heart, and the way they were brought to life was perfect.

This book is enemies to lovers at its core, but in a way that has you knowing he feels more than he lets on. It got to the point where I’d be side eying him because, we know it… I see you Toven. Everything about him and his actions has me love him even more. Same with her. The banter, chemistry, and romance in this book has me wanting to scream about my love for it from the rooftops. This book is amazing, and I cannot recommend it enough!! If you’re considering getting the audiobook, it’s so good! It’s a must listen!

Also, the cliffhanger… I need more!! I’m so excited for book two! Thank you Forever for the alc!

Rose in Chains was an audio I was HIGHLY looking forward to after much fanfare from friends who have read her fanfiction. While I found the story a little hard to follow, I ended up finishing it and felt that the narrator chosen was not the right fit. Ella Lynch 's narration made me feel like everything was okay in Evermore and life would be fantastic. Her airy tone and casualness with which she read the story did not at all match the darkness spread throughout. While I *may* recommend Rose if I pick it up in another format, I would not recommend on audio and hope the producers choose someone else for the rest of the series.

I had read and loved everything else Julie Soto but I was still not expecting to love this book as much as I did! I really enjoyed the pacing of this book I felt like all the scenes were fully fleshed out and purposeful. I also enjoyed how well done all the flashbacks were.

Also this audiobook was fantastic! The narrator did an excellent job

Excellent audiobook but man, there was barely any romance in this romantasy?!?! Need book 2 and need some more steam/chemistry.

Is there anything this queen cannot write? 💖

Rose in Chains is truly a masterpiece! The plot, the magic system, and the slow burn *swoon* No one does slow burn like Julie does.

As someone who has read The Auction probably a dozen times, I can honestly say Briony and Tovens story felt incredibly unique and definitely stood on its own.

I am obsessed. I cried. I screamed. I laughed. And I want more. This book has lived in my head rent free since I finished it. I cannot wait to get my hands on my physical copies! Also love love loved Ella's narration. She is Briony now ❤️

⚠️ This is a very dark Romantasy so please mind the trigger warnings!!

For my FanFic girlies:
💜 Grapes
💜"Not alone" 😭
💜 Signet ring 🥵
💜 A lake with still waters
💜 Secret childhood crushes
💜 Trinket box
💜 And honestly many many more!

Thank you so incredibly much to @netgalley, @hachetteaudio and @juliesotowrites for the ALC!

ARC Review. 5 stars! I LOVED THIS SO MUCH!

As someone who has dabbled in Dramione Fanfic, I was so excited going into this release but didnt know what to exepct. I am thrilled that it did not dissapoint! From the first first few chapters I knew this would be a new favorite book. The story, fantasy world, and characters pulled me in so much so that I delayed finishing because I did not want it to end. This is a dark fantasy romance, so I highly reccomend checking the trigger warnings.

I was interested to see how this adaptation would handle fresh world building and magical system while staying true to the original story. Julie Soto did this so successfully in my opinion. The world building, magic system, and politics felt fresh, were fleshed out and easy to follow. I am relieved that the author did not shy away from dark themes. It didnt feel like "too much" for me, but dipicted accurate portrayals of oppression and war while also keeping true to the darkness of the original fanfic.

I usually have mixed feelings about dual timelines, and this one worked so well. I never felt frusterated in one timeline vs. another and I think the flashbacks were integral to the current day story and relationships. I love Briony and Toven. I LOVE the romance dynamics and SLOW (oh so slow!) BURN. I LOVED the dynamics of the rebellion and women supporting women. I appreciated the story containing so many interesting, morally gray characters.

I am so excited to see where this story goes and cannot wait for the sequal! <3

Where do I even begin? I went into Rose in Chains completely blind and I loved it. I do want to preface this by saying it’s a dark story, so definitely check the trigger warnings before diving in.

I listened to an advanced copy of the audiobook, and honestly, I wouldn’t have wanted to experience it any other way. Ella Lynch, the narrator, was phenomenal. Her range made it easy to distinguish between characters, and she captured Briony’s voice with such lyrical grace. It felt like she was the character. I only allowed myself to listen during workouts, and it made them fly by! I’d catch myself stretching those sessions out just to hear more.

If you're expecting swoony romance right away, this first book might surprise you. It’s a mega slow burn, but it’s worth it. The emotional tension builds through flashbacks to Briony and Toven’s earlier connection, layered seamlessly with the present timeline. Their push and pull added so much depth and made me need to know how it would all unfold.

There’s still so much I want to uncover about this world, especially the magic. Heart and Mind magic feel like they’re just starting to show their full potential, and I’m dying to see where it leads next.

There’s still so much I want to uncover about this world, especially the magic. Heart and Mind magic feel like they’re just beginning to show their full potential, and I’m dying to see where it leads. Even with everything Briony has been through, I have a feeling her story and this world are just getting started.

2.5 ?

So I am coming from a place of not reading the fan fic that this was derived from but being familiar with the original work the fan fic was written from. However, I will review this as it stands alone.

The world building is sloppy. It’s hard to get a feel for what’s going on and there are many characters that without prior knowledge of the world it came from seem flat or unimportant or forgettable. I didn’t really feel grounded or connected to the story much at all.

Now I’ve enjoyed books with loose world building before and can get past that if I just turn my brain off and go with it but because of the serious nature of a lot of this content that was not the case with this one.

I was curious so I picked this up as an ALC. If your curious give it a shot but be aware of the trigger warnings as this is set in a world where a kingdom is over thrown and the people are sold to the highest bidder to become magical slaves. There is sexual assault, forced sterilization/abortion.

While the MMC only purchases the FMC with the best of intentions to protect her the dynamic is still troubling. I could get past it if everything else was done well but it wasn’t for me.

Thanks to net galley and the publisher for the ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rose in Chains by Julie Soto is a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers fantasy that centers on Briony, a princess grappling with the aftermath of her empire’s fall. Captured alongside other survivors, she’s sold at auction to serve as a human energy source for wealthy magicians—a dark, unsettling fate that sets the tone for the novel’s high-stakes world.

While the story does include some spicy elements, the intensity is tempered by the slow-burn pacing of the romance. Still, the emotional tension and rich world-building kept me engaged, and I’m genuinely looking forward to the sequel.

Note: Be sure to check trigger warnings before reading, as the subject matter can be heavy.

This booked ended up being not for me. Narrator was great though and that part I enjoyed. I couldn’t connect with the characters