This was absolutely freaking incredible! I can’t believe this is similar to the Auction FF but made in a way that was still so unique and interesting, the flash backs were a great addition in a way that it wasn’t boring but added to the story! The way that this book still was completely its own entity, and the endings plot twist was not something I saw coming and felt my heart heal in a way! I was so shocked to have seen the dragon being a good friend in a way and having a good relationship that this will be something truly important in the future of the trilogies!

There were small graphic sexual moments but nothing actual sexual and the romance was very slow burn and I can tell that it will be growing more and more in the next two books!

Thank you NetGalley and Hackett audio for honoring me with the audiobook for this, the voice actor was amazing! I loved how she was able to make literally every single character different; via dialects, tones, attitudes, draws, etc each and every single person was different! She truly put me in the book, details were just right, and I didn’t want to leave the world!

I didn’t hate it but I certainly didn’t love it. I really don’t even know what to say about this one other than I’m underwhelmed and a bit disappointed. It’s no secret that I absolutely love Julie’s writing. Two of her books were top reads for me last year and The Thrashers will be a top this year.

This didn’t work for me. Now, I didn’t read the fanfic this book was based off of. Maybe had I read it, I could have grasped the concept better but also I have my doubts considering a couple of friends read the fanfic and had similar issues that I did.

Bottom line, I was bored. I felt every bit of that 16 hour audio. I thought the world building was executed poorly. It felt clunky. All these names of people and places were thrown at me and nothing about them was very distinguishable. I also think writing past and present timelines can be tricky and I struggled differentiating between the two. Could have been because I did the audio, but I don’t know. I’m a pretty avid audio listener and I feel like I should have had an easier time with this. The romance aspect is really the only thing that kept me going but even that felt weak. I think I’ll give the second book a chance but I will lower my expectations going forward.

The narrator, Ella Lynch, has a beautiful, princess like voice and while I think she was a lovely narrator, I did have to bump my listening speed lower to understand better.

Thank you to Hachette audio for the gifted copy.

I'll admit that since realizing this used to be a Harry Potter fanfic, I've had a difficult time not comparing the two worlds. That said, I really liked this book. It was dark (which is my favorite) and kept me entertained the entire time. Though there were similarities that made the Harry Potter world really stand out in my head, I think it's different enough to stand on its own. The magic system itself was pretty cool and I liked seeing how it was different from other fantasy books.

The narrator was fantastic. She was easy to listen to and spoke clearly. Her character voices were all different enough that I wasn't confused about who was meant to be speaking.

I did form an emotional connection to these characters and book two can't get here soon enough!

Rose in Chains was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025. I have to say that I am a huge fan of the original, but I knew that Julie Soto was an incredible author, and I was very interested to see what she would do with the world-building. I have to say that she did not disappoint.

Briony Rosewood is a princess in a kingdom that was has just lost the war. Her brother, the supposed hero of prophecy, was slain, and she was sold into slavery to the highest bidder. Her new master, none other than her old classmate Toven Hearst, member of one of the most powerful families in the winning side.

Written in dual POV, we explore the horrors Briony is facing, while catching a glimpse of what her life was like as royalty. We get to see her interactions with her classmates, while they deal with the petty squabbles and issues of being teenagers, while seeing how they changed just a few years later, in the positions as soldiers, heirs, prisoners, slaves.

While the story deals with extremely dark themes such as violence, slavery, sexual assault, and quite a bit of death, the writing is not graphic. Although obviously not recommended to a younger audience, the tone is set with a careful balance in which it properly explains the tragic situation without horrifying the reader.

Ella Lynch does a phenomenal job narrating, clearly injecting the emotion each character is feeling. As it is such a dark tale, her narration allowed me to immerse myself even more in the story, feeling at times as if I were with them in the cells.

This is a beautifully written book, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves Fantasy and isn't bothered by some stronger topics. The only reason it does not get a perfect score from me is a matter of personal preference. While I deeply enjoyed the plot, I am not a fan of period fantasies. The familial and succession line didn't really capture my attention, and often times I found myself confused on where each character stood in the pecking order. It was by no means a problem with the writing, just with my focus and interest.

Thank you to NetGalley, Julie Soto, Ella Lynch, and Hachette Audio for the advanced copy. This review is left voluntarily and honestly.

I ended up DNF'ing this book at 63%.

I wanted to love this story. I really did. I kept putting it down and coming back to it, but I was exhausted listening to this story.

This book is like a cross over episode between Handmaids Tale and the worst world in the The Cursed Child...and I don't love that. Maybe it is because I am SO not a Hermione/Draco shipper, and this story read like a direct fan fic of Harry Potter. It just wasn't for me.

I also felt that the audio narration was SLOW. I had to listen at 2.5x speed to keep my attention, and even then, I just didn't enjoy it very much.

The writing isn't bad, and the book isn't badly written—I just really didn't enjoy the plot line or the dynamic between the two MCs. It was not at all believable, even 63% in, that the two MCs could have any sort of positive relationship moving forward.

💜Dark Romantasy
💜Enemies to Lovers
💜 Touch her and X
💜Slowburn
💜Forced Proximity
💜Banter

I had the opportunity to listen to the audio of this before it came out and I really loved it! You don't have to read the fanfiction for this to hit all the right beats, but it definitely helped pull me in. This is what romantasy is about in my opinion. That true enemies to lovers slow burn with that build up that has you screaming when they finally give in. That delicoius pining! Loved the character and world building. Julie Soto did such an incredible job! This is the first book in the trilogy and I'm already needing answers. Can't wait for book 2!

Rose in Chains by Julie Soto was an interesting read to say the least. While I didn't not like it, I was just waiting for something to happen the whole time, like something was missing which sort of makes sense when I got to the end of the book. When I started the book I thought it was a stand alone, which was my mistake for not looking into it more. There wasn't really any spice between the 2 main characters and the relationship just felt weird and off to me. The magic system I did find pretty interesting and if I didn't know the history of the book I would have never guess that it was originally a fanfic which is mad props to the author (I also had never read the series the fic was based on). I do plan on reading the next book when it comes out. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I received this ALC from Hachette Audio—thank you so much for sending me a copy! I love listening to audiobooks, and this production was really well done. The narrator did an amazing job, giving both emotion and nuance to the story. If you’re an audiobook lover, I definitely recommend this version!

As for the story itself… well, as always with a new series, there’s a bit of an adjustment: understanding the worldbuilding, meeting the characters, and catching up with the political dynamics. But since this is a romance, I felt like the introduction dragged on a bit too long.

For the first 60%, honestly, I was a little bored. Not much was happening, and the dynamic between the two characters remained distant. But around the 65% mark, when the action finally picked up and their connection became more obvious, I was hooked. I loved how the story developed from that point on, and now I’m left anxiously waiting for the sequel (whenever that may come!).

This is a slow burn romance—like really slow. I usually enjoy that, but here I felt it was maybe a bit too slow. By the end, I wanted at least some clear alliance or understanding between the main characters… but everything stays vague and mysterious, both politically and emotionally. They each have a lot of secrets and even though Briony tries share a little more (maybe because we have her PoV of the story), Toven remains a real mystery, he has a quick slip around the end but we don’t know any of his reasoning for why he does what he does. Of course we can deduce one reason, but I don’t think it’s strong enough for all his family being also involved at that level.

Still, I really enjoyed the intrigue and darker tone, and I’m curious to see how everything unravels in book two.

I am a massive fan of Julie Soto. I was looking forward to this book/series more than I could possibly put into words. The fanfiction that it was inspired by is one of my top favorites ever. I am not sure this has lived up to the expectations in my head. I am holding out hope for the rest of the trilogy, but I am a little underwhelmed as of now.

Rose in Chains is one of the best books I've read this year! As a romantasy fan, I think this has the bones to be one of the best trilogies out there!

The book follows Briony Rosewood, a princess, who has been stripped of her magic power and sold in slavery to Toven Hearst, a member of the opposition. The story is dark and twisty in the best way, although I would definitely recommend checking triggers! It is a slow burn, enemies to lovers, burn the world down to save you, romance and I want more, more, more!

The magic system and world building are unique and interesting. The characters are deep and show a lot of growth. It's one of the best books I've read this year and I highly recommend it to fans of Fourth Wing, ACOTAR, Game of Thrones, and Harry Potter (IYKYK)!

A huge thanks for Julie Soto & the publisher for the early EARC copy! This was my first dark romantasy and I absolutely loved it! So far I have loved everything Julie Soto writes and this one was no exception. The audio was phenomenal! The slow burn was slow burning. I have no clue how I’m going to hold it together to patiently wait for the next book because I am beyond eager to jump into it. This was chefs kiss.

I will read anything that Julie Soto writes. I was stoked to get an advanced audio copy of Rose In Chains. I went into the book pretty blind, just knowing it's based on Dramione fanfic. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the story. The narrator did a good job doing different voices.

There's an interesting magic system in this world. There are two different timelines going on and lots of different action. I would kill for POV from Toven. I can't figure out what's going on with him. I"m excited to see where this series goes.

Review:
Rose in Chains is dark, romantic, and absolutely spellbinding—my first foray into romantasy and wow, what a way to enter the genre. Julie Soto builds a magical world full of tension, power, and longing, where kingdoms clash and enemies smolder instead of burn.

Briony Rosewood, the last of her bloodline, is a powerful enchantress captured after a brutal war and auctioned off to her former school rival (and current enemy), Toven Hearst. What follows is a tense and emotionally charged enemies-to-lovers story with real stakes, deep scars, and palpable chemistry. The fantasy is rich, the political backdrop is layered, and the slow-burn romance will have you flipping pages long after midnight.

This story has grit, heart, and magic—and I’m officially a romantasy convert. If this is the start of a trilogy, count me in for the long haul.

Read if you like:
🗡️ Enemies to lovers
💫 Magical worlds & forbidden power
👑 Royal intrigue & broken kingdoms
🔥 Tension that crackles off the page
💔 Healing through love (and banter)

The prophecy was wrong. Evermore and its hero have fallen. The princess has been captured.

I've said it once and I'm sure I will say it again but JULIE SOTO!!!!!!!! What a knockout fantasy/romantasy debut. I was on the edge of my seat with this book and I could barely put it down all weekend.

Okay, let's start with the Dramione fanfic inspo and elements in this story. I absolutely ate up the academic rivals/two different worlds to reluctant allies to .... maybe lovers but ????? Yeah the cliffhanger on this one is STEEP. I didn't even realize I was at the end until I turned the page to the epilogue (don't even get me started on that). I can tell that this trilogy is going to be a sloooooooooooow burn. Like the slowest of slow burns.

The world building was fantastic and I loved that pacing of this story. I really enjoyed the singular pov because it makes the dynamic between Briony and Toven that much more interesting without knowing his thoughts. The political intrigue is also something to rave about because this is so much more than star crossed lovers, this is an entire world that has come crashing down.

I listened to this audiobook while following the version on my kindle and let me tell you!!!!!! The narrator was so compelling. Her voice and ability to convey emotions was beyond anything that I expected. She really made the whole book feel so fleshed out. The subtle tone shifts made Briony feel so complex.

I cannot believe that we have to wait now for the second book because this was truly so good. I need my hands on any scrap of the second book NOW.

Thank you so much to Hachette Audio | Forever and Netgalley for this audiobook arc!

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this book as I didn’t look at anything just saw a pretty cover. I was a little worried a couple chapters in how this book was going to go but the plot kept me hooked. I really liked the push and pull between Briony and Toven. Their banter and the tension? Top-tier. I do wish Briony wasn’t so oblivious though—like, the signs were right there, practically yelling at her and I may have been yelling at her as well! But I get it, there were bigger things going on in the background. If not for the audiobook I feel I may have gave up towards the end. Amazing work to the narrator!

I loved this book but needed to listen to the audio because I wanted to make sure I was pronoucing the names of things correctly. However relistening to it again after reading it is making me wish I book two would come out soon!

I read The Auction, and I’m glad Rose in Chains has cut some of the darker scenes which I didn’t think really added to the story.

Julie Soto has also reworked the characters, world and magic system, which I found really intriguing. The twist in the epilogue wasn’t a shock to me, but I really want to know what happens next!!

I wasn’t a fan of the narrator - I know she was sounding haughty for the ruling classes / royalty, but it just came across as really whiney and annoying. Her male voices were also super annoying - not the pitch, but the general tone and the intonation was grating.

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

This was actually my first ever audiobook and I thought it was gonna be complicated for me to understand but I actually loved listening to this ! The narrator did an amazing job.

I’ve never read a fantasy this dark before and I must say, even with the tw, it was sometimes too much for me… But the story was really interesting and I really enjoyed the world, the magic,… I just wish we got a bit more of world building. I think book 2 and 3 are gonna be a lot better now that the story is set in motion. (And I’m also hoping that they’ll talk to each other 👀)

I’m excited to see what’s gonna happen next and can’t wait for book 2!

4.25 stars!

This book surprised me in the best way possible. 😳

Before reading this book—or rather, listening to the audiobook—I had only read one other novel by Julie Soto, her debut, and I remember enjoying it very much.

So, when I saw the announcement that she was releasing a romantasy inspired on ship Dramione from Manacled—even though I haven’t read that one yet (the page count still intimidates me)—I knew I had to add Rose in Chains to my TBR as soon as possible. I’ve heard nothing but glowing praise about Manacled, and knowing that this book drew inspiration from it sealed the deal for me.

And wow... it did not disappoint.

Rose in Chains is dark, intense, emotional, and completely addictive. Julie Soto somehow manages to balance morally gray politics, heart-wrenching slow-burn romance, and a gripping fantasy world without missing a beat. I found myself completely immersed in the dual timeline structure—especially the flashbacks, which added such depth to Briony and Toven’s connection. The tension between them is so palpable, you can feel it crackling off the page (or in my case through your headphones).

The worldbuilding is layered and haunting, the emotional stakes are sky-high, and Briony? One of the most resilient and complex heroines I’ve read in a long time. And Toven... don’t even get me started. Love him, hate him, want to shake him—sometimes all at once.

If you love dark romantasy with political intrigue, forbidden longing, and characters who are as broken as they are brave, then this one’s for you.

I was absolutely captivated by Rose in Chains from the very first page. Julie Soto has crafted a haunting, emotionally charged, and beautifully layered story that lingers long after the final chapter. This book is everything I love about dark, romantic thrillers — intense character dynamics, a tense, foreboding atmosphere, and moments of tenderness tucked between razor-sharp plot twists.

Briony is a fascinating, complex protagonist, and Soto does an incredible job of making her feel real — flawed, resilient, and impossible not to root for. The tension between Briony and the other characters crackles throughout, and the psychological edge to the narrative kept me breathless, desperate to see how it would all unravel.

I also had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook, and it was absolutely phenomenal. The narrator brought an extra layer of depth and emotion to the story, capturing every nuance of Briony’s vulnerability and strength. Their performance elevated the already brilliant writing and made the experience even more immersive.

The writing is sharp, lyrical, and evocative, balancing darkness with grace in a way that only Julie Soto can. As a fan of her previous works, I had high expectations, and this book not only met them but exceeded them. And now — I genuinely have no idea how I'm going to be able to wait until next year for the next installment. The ending left me craving more in the best possible way.

I am so grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this stunning novel. Rose in Chains is an unmissable, beautifully twisted story, and I can’t wait to see what Julie Soto delivers next.