I love Julie Soto. Let me just start by saying that. I have enjoyed her Contemporary Romance books, and would be excited to read more romance from her. I don’t think this book was for me unfortunately. I got easily confused as to what was going on, and who was on her side and who was supposed to be the bad guy. There were points were my mind wandered as I was listening so I would have to go back and listen again. I wanted to love this book. Unfortunately I just didn’t have the best time while reading it. Ella Lynch was a great narrator for most of the book. The only thing was that sometimes I would forget who was speaking at times. So it would get a little confusing as to what exactly was happening and what was going on within the story.

I AM EATING THIS AUDIO UP!!! the book is sso good and the narrators are amazing. Julie Soto can do no wrong in my eyes

I really enjoyed the narration of this book! It was a journey for Briony and Toven to be with each other. There were lots of dark yet interesting moments and it was still enjoyable to read/listen to. I also enjoyed Julie’s writing and character development. “Rose in Chains” was an anticipated hit that did not disappoint!

DNF- I couldn't fall in love with the characters but the story is pretty solid. I wish I could say I finished! Might get back into it another day.

I am typically not a romantasy reader. In fact, I might not have ever read a romantasy before? I have read romances, I have read fantasy, but none that really combine the two. This book has absolutely opened my eyes to this genre--it is excellent!

Briony is an Evermore princess and mind magician whose twin, Rory, is fated to reign? succeed in battle? Something or other? due to a prophecy as the heir twice over (my only complaint about this book is that the prophecy is oft mentioned but scarcely explained). She loses him in a battle early in the book, and their enemies, the Bomardi, storm her castle and seize her and her allies as political prisoners. These prisoners are auctioned off to be used as "heartsprings" for the Bomardi heart magicians--a different type of magic than the mind magic Briony practices. Briony ends up a prisoner of Toven Hearst, a Bomardi on whom she had a school crush years earlier and whose motives with her are unclear if somehow respectful despite their enmity. The crux of the plot focuses on Briony's efforts to free herself and her friends, her investigation into what Bomardi leader Veronika Mallow is up to, and her growing feelings for Toven.

This book starts in a jumble of plot, names, and places, but hang in there. It took me a bit to be swept up in the story but once it happened, I was all in. There are a number of context-providing flashbacks to Briony and Toven's time in school, which I appreciated as a way to provide depth for Briony and Toven's relationship (and Briony's own history) without bogging the whole story down time-wise. Note that this is a VERY SLOW BURN romance, but it is done well. The whole magical world is well constructed and rich with detail, and I am thrilled that there are two more books in this series because this ending is far from tidy. I also enjoyed the audio performance; the narrator did an excellent job with character voices and accents. Very easy to determine who was speaking even before that person's name was said, and the drama and pathos in the more tragic portions of the book was touching and not overly sentimental. Eagerly awaiting the next installment in this series!

Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the advance review copy. All opinions are my own.

I kept going back and forth whether to review this book, and I will only be reviewing it directly on NetGalley and won't be sharing this review on any other platform. I will also not be continuing the series.

Having read Julie Soto before, I knew Rose in Chain also originated as fanfiction, but I wanted to see if like her other work it was different enough it could stand on it's own. Unfortunately, this book was not helped by the aggressive campaign linking it to it's original source material. By linking to such a harmful author taints this book as well, especially since Julie Soto has not tried to distance herself from HP. JK has a history of not accepting fanfiction, so I find it hard to believe she didn't ok this marketing without getting paid.

The worldbuilding didn't stand on it's own, and the book was written in a way that just through the reader into the deep end, expecting you to already know how the world works, like in fanfiction. Julie Soto needed to develop her own work further and differentiate it from it's source.

This may have been since I only listened to the ALC, I found the jumping back in forth in time confusing. As this will be a series, she could have perhaps separated the flashbacks into it's own book to better establish the world for the reader.

The narrator did a fair job narrating this story, however during dialogue she had a lilting that made so many statements sound like a question, which I found to be an odd choice.

I was very excited to read this, as I did not read in its original form. I did enjoy the narration, but the rest of the book fell flat for me. I honestly do not think original fan fiction translates well to traditional fantasy novels with the use of violence, SA, and other triggers. The world building also felt forced at times, and all the background characters blended into one.

While I did enjoy some aspects of this story, I will not be continuing in the series. I will continue reading books read by this narrator.

After careful consideration of the ongoing discourse surrounding this book—as well as other works rooted in fan fiction from this IP—I’ve decided not to read or review this title. I truly appreciate the opportunity to recieve this ALC and I remain a big fan of Julie Soto, Hachette, and Forever. I look forward to reading future titles. That said, I want to do my best to listen to and honor the perspectives of trans voices in the community, and this choice reflects that commitment.

𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊／𝘈𝘓𝘊

I desperately wanted to get my hands on 𝗥𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀, especially due to the hype it was getting. Unfortunately, the novel ended up being a DNF after several attempts at reading both as an eARC and an ALC. I really enjoy Julie Soto’s storytelling and was really disappointed that I could not connect with the novel and its characters. I also wasn’t aware this was a HP fanfic when I requested it, which definitely had an impact on my experience with the novel.

The ALC narration, which was done by Ella Lynch, was lovely, and I look forward to listening to more of her work!

I love anything Julie Soto has written so I was vvvv excited about this book. I LOVED it! I loved the moving around of flashbacks to present day, to the complex relationships between the characters. It was very well paced and now I am even more excited for the next book! Love you Julie!

I have to admit that I DNF'd this book. Whilst what I read was well written, I found the exploitation of the female characters in this story too graphic and traumatic to read about. I would have appreciated a list of trigger warnings along with the blurb of this book.

Trigger Warnings (for the part that I did read):
- Sexual harassment (FMC)
- Rape (primary character)
- Sterilisation (FMC)
- Death of a loved one (FMC)
- Torture
- Imprisonment

3/5 ★

This book is hard for me to rate. I don't love it, but I also do not dislike it! I feel a little conflicted about where I stand with my rating. I will say I did not love the start, I felt it moved a little slow but after about 30-40% in, it picked up and I was so excited to read from there! I enjoyed it for sure though (:

Beautifully written. Great story line. Can’t wait for more from this author. First book read by Julie Soto.

It's Dramione Summer! Was super excited to get receive an early copy of this for review.

No I know that The Auction is pretty big in the fanfic world, however I went into this blind. I knew it was being adapted from fanfiction and that was about it. So only knowing who some of the major players correspond with made it much easier to immerse myself in this new world that Julie Soto has created. And she did such a good job with the new magic system!

So what we know: Briony Rosewood is a princess of a fallen country. Her country, led by her twin brother, has been at war for the last several years. Now she and many of her countrymen have been captured. The POWs are auctioned off as basically siphons of magic. Briony is bought by an old school rival. Real enemies to lovers tale here. Part one of a trilogy, so also slow-burn romance.

Audio book narration. Loved the voice used for Briony and the general narrative. Lovely English accent. The male voices though, took some getting used to. All thee Bad Guys had these horrible nasally voices, which fair. A bit grating, but they are bad. There was one described with a gravelly voice who also had a nasally voice which was a choice. Toven's voice, the MMC, wish I loved it more. Annoying in the beginning, which he was supposed to be, but I just never came to love it.

I am sorry to say once I realized the book is a rewritten HP fanfic my brain could not unsee it. I was making connections and I’d eggy my characters and I just could not do it. DNF’d around 30%. What I did read of the book was interesting enough, I’m sure it will be well liked if you don’t act hung up like I did.

ALC provided by NetGalley. Fantastic book with spot on imagery, constant twists and turns, and a magic system that is complicated without doing too much!

Oh, this was the best Romantasy I've read this year!!!
I will start by saying the writing definitely feels a bit clunky at times but it didn't assuage me from enjoying the story once it really hits it's stride, which is after the first 20% imo.

I have to give Julie Soto her 10s for how tension filled she made some of those scenes!!!! I was really giggling and kicking my feet 😶‍🌫️
I WILL be picking up book 2 on the week of it's release. 🙂‍↕️

If youre partial to a gritty story with a slowww burn + LOTS of angst then I highly recommend

This story will trap you from the first page until the last word. It is a dark fantasy and people should read the trigger warnings before engaging with the book but there is nothing too explicit or scenes that felt like they were added for pure shock.

This is a true slow burn romance. We get a lot of tension and some breadcrumbs at the very end of the book, but it still works out. I wish there had been a confession or a bit more in the end, but I'm hopeful we will get more romance in the next book.

The audiobook narration was incredible. As I was listening, I felt fully immersed in the story. The plot is incredible and I'm very excited to see what happens next after that ending 🤯

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an Audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

## About Rose in Chains

In the intricate world of Julie Soto's "Rose in Chains", the nations of Evermore and Bomard exist in a state of perpetual tension—a delicate political ecosystem balanced on the razor's edge of catastrophe. At the heart of this brewing storm stands Briony Rosewood, a young woman whose fate becomes inexorably entangled with the complex magical and political machinations of her world.

Rory, her brother, was meant to be the "Heir Twice Over"—a prophesied bridge between two warring nations. His tragic death shatters not just her family, but the delicate political balance of their world. In one brutal stroke, the Bomardi seize their opportunity, capturing the Eversuns and reducing them to heartsprings—living magical conduits to be sold to the highest bidder.

As the sister of the fallen heir and one of the last surviving Rosewoods, Briony becomes a commodity of immeasurable value. Her destiny takes an unexpected turn when she is bought by Toven Hearst, a man as mysterious as the ancient halls of Hearst Hall that will become her new home.

Secrets run deeper than blood in this world, and magic is not just a tool of power, but a complex language of survival, connection, and potential redemption. The lines between manipulation and genuine emotion blur, creating a landscape where every interaction becomes a delicate negotiation of trust, survival, and unexpected connection.

Briony's journey is a intricate dance of political intrigue, personal survival, and the potential redemption of two nations teetering on the precipice of total annihilation. Her story becomes a testament to the power of individual agency in the face of systemic oppression, and the unexpected ways love and understanding can emerge from the most unlikely of circumstances.

Tropes in Rose in Chains
🌹Enemies to Lovers
🌹 Captor/Captive
🌹 Dramione
🌹 Slowburn
🌹 Forced Proximity
🌹 Heart/Mind Magic
🌹 Magical Creatures
🌹 Dual Timelines
🌹 Chosen One
🌹 Political/Court Intrigue

My Review
🎧 Audiobook Perfection: Ella Lynch's narration breathed life into Julie Soto's intricate world, transforming "Rose in Chains" from a mere reading experience into an immersive journey.
🔮 Magical Complexity: The intricate interplay between Bomardi Heart Magic—with its haunting use of familiars—and Eversun Mind Magic creates a magical system that is both innovative and deeply layered.
💘 Yearning Incarnate: The tension between Briony and Toven transcends typical romantic dynamics. Their connection becomes a living, breathing entity—so palpable it almost exists as a character unto itself.
⏳ Dual Timeline Brilliance: Soto masterfully navigates between timelines, gradually unveiling the nuanced history of Briony and Toven's relationship. Each revelation feels like a carefully orchestrated dance, building emotional depth with surgical precision.
🕰️ Character Evolution: Watching Briony and Toven's relationship transform from adversaries to something far more complex was a narrative highlight.
🌟 Recommendation: For readers who crave intricate magical systems, morally complex characters, and romance that defies conventional boundaries.
🔥 Sequel Anticipation: Impatiently waiting for the next installment to continue Briony and Toven's extraordinary story.

I was influenced by the hype and I am upset about it. Going in knowing this was based on a fanfic really hurt the story for me. It was utterly exhausting trying to separate the MCs from their inspiration, it was also hard to fully visualize the world. (I had the same issues with TIUTFFYE)

The rework and new content completely stripped Briony of substance. She has no personality, she is not her own character but more an amalgamation of all the characters around her.

I struggled to get through a good chunk of this book and after awhile just moved to listening to the audio because 1.75x speed was the only way I’d be crossing the finish line.

And on that note the one saving grace and purpose of a three star on a book I didn’t wholly enjoy is that the audiobook was fantastic. The narrator absolutely killed it, she put her heart and did her best to make these shallow characters and world feel alive.