I will start by stating I have no base knowledge of the fanfic this is based off, and very little HP background. However, I am here to say it is not absolutely NOT necessary. I am actually glad I am bale to go in without trying to compare to anything it's 'based' and could form my opinion on this work alone.
Rose In Chains was way more than I expected going in. I was enthralled by the story and the characters. There is a lot of darkness throughout the plot, but it didn't not detract of my enjoyment, it only made feel for the characters and their struggles that much more.
Both the FMC and the MMC were great. The FMC is smart, capable, and highly overlooked by everyone. The MMC is mysterious, broody, and valiant. The romance was angsty, and beautifully slow-burning.
The only thing holding back the 5 stars from is the narration and I suspect had I read instead it would have been 5. I adore her portrayal of the FMC, but the male parts ('voice') were not it for me.

I cannot wait to follow up on the bombshell cliffhanger in book 2!

This was a highly anticipated read for me and I am so grateful to NetGalley for allowing me to experience the ARC audio from Hachette Audio!

First off, I AM a fanfic FAN! I finished the Auction earlier this year and it was a masterpiece. I was so curious (and even a little nervous) to see how Julie Soto would revamp this work of art for publishing, and she did not disappoint!! My only disappointment is that I now have to wait for the next book because she does leave you with a hell of a twist in that cliffhanger 🤯.

This whole book was such a pleasant surprise and so well done! And the audio was fantastic! Highly recommend! Official release date July 7, 2025.

I know Mallow is the root of all evil in this book, a dictator through and through who is trying to hold onto her reign through fear and terror, but, come on, MALLOW? goofy ass name (and i loved it)

I really really really want to go into this review writing down my every little thought about this book, and i want to point to particular moments in the story too, but i'm not gonna be one of those people that spoil something AMAZING for everyone else, so i'm sorry but this review is gonna be vague as heck.
But i do have 2 things to say, first is that this has become one of my ✨ Top 5 Books Of The Year ✨ so far, and i don't think i will be able to stop thinking about just how amazing it was for a really long time!
Second is that it was criminal (in the best way) to make us wait until about 98% in for something to happen between Bryony and Toven, but my god did i scream when it did happen. Truly slow burn in the most beautiful and perfect sense of the word.

I did absolutely adore just how insane the plot was here, there wasn't a single second where i thought i knew what was going to happen next, and i couldn't have loved it more. I never read the original version of this, but my god do i now want to go back and try and find it!!
The plot was insane, the characters were so complex and different to each other, the action started right from the first page, and i genuinely struggled to stop myself from spiraling everytime something bad happened.

There were so many moments throughout this book that had me panicking and freaking the heck out that everything was going to go wrong and that the author was going to kill characters off and make this an INCREDIBLY DARK AND SAD STORY, but that wasn't entirely the case. Julie Soto did such a good job of keeping me on my toes the whole way through this, and throwing so many things out there that i took at face value, only to have the carpet ripped out from underneath me (yes, i'm talking about the auction scene with Raven, and the moments when Toven was acting horrible in front of Mallow). After these moments i knew that i wasn't going to be able to predict anything and i just sat back and enjoyed the emotional rollercoaster that was this book.

I also really liked that we kept going back and forth between the present and the past with a bunch of flashbacks at different points in the story where it was necessary to learn a little bit more about all of the characters. It helped to keep things really interesting and has meant that there wasn't a single slow or boring moment, because it felt like there was something always happening (for the better or the worse)

Another huge part of this book that i loved was all of the interactions taking place between the characters. I know this sounds like such a weird thing to point out exclusively, but all of the interactions, especially at the start of the book, made it super obvious that something bad was going to happen without giving away any of the details in one go.
All of the information was slowly released at different points, and i found it so interesting that all of the children of these two empires were schooled together at each region on alternating years. It just seems so mad to me that the old rulers of these regions agreed to this as a way to keep the piece and make sure that all of the children had connections to both sides, without thinking that anything would go wrong at some point in the future? It was such a freaking cool plot device to use, and so much time is spent inside of the school settings that i don't think the story would have had such a big emotional impact if it hadn't been carried out this way.

I listened to all of this book as an audio version, and i wasn't too sure about the narration at first, but it actually seems like a perfect fit for Bryony's character! I don't think there is anyone better suited to voicing her character like Ella Lynch was, but i just wish it had been a duet. Some of the male voices were a bit cringy (but it felt like it was on purpose for the more disgusting and horrible guys), and i just think it could have been 10000 times better and more immersive that way.

Again, without giving anything away about the plot, there isn't a great deal that i can say other than THIS WAS SO FREAKING GOOD!!! A MILLION TIMES BETTER THAN I COULD HAVE EVER HOPED!!! i will be (im)patiently waiting for any news about book 2, and already know that when details about it are released i will end up going feral out of sheer joy and suspense

4.5🌟

Audiobook review: 4🌟 Ella lynch did an amazing job with the two main characters. Her accent is very pleasant to listen to. The pacing is well done and she is easy to understand. I loooooved Toven’s low sultry voice 🫠 I didn’t love that she made the “bad people” sound kinda… witchy?? But overall loved and she brought a lot of the story!

This book is AMAZING! I will preface this by saying I have not read The Auction and I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything reading this. I devoured this book. The stakes are high, there is a lot of political maneuvering, and a lot of emotional depth to the characters.

The beginning of the book is very heavy on world building/politics and there sooooo many characters to keep track of which made me feel a bit lost in the beginning especially when listening to this on audio. In a physical book I could flip back and try to figure things out but not really the case with the audiobook. I had to eventually get over the fact that I couldn’t keep them all straight. A separate character list somewhere would be helpful. 😅

Despite that, I had a great time with this book, it’s addicting, sexy, mysterious, and dark.

I was immediately drawn to Briony and her logic, intelligence, and her power. Julie Soto has done an amazing job of developing these characters so that I was fully invested in them pretty early in the book.

The magic system is unlike anything I have ever read. There are some aspects of it that don’t quite compute in my head but overall I love that this is different and has limits.

Please check the content and trigger warnings for this book. There are dark themes in this book that made some parts difficult for me to read. I do think this is the perfect balance as I don’t typically read dark romance.

It’s been so long since I read something that felt this addicting. Can’t wait to continue this series!

The dark lush magical world of Rose in Chains really did come alive with this narrator. She WAS Briony to me. I truly did enjoy her and listening to this highly anticipated read through her.

My only complaint is wishing that I had physically read the book first, as the names and political map really was difficult to keep track of at the beginning, so so many that I’m sure I would not spell right if asked to write them down 😅

Still, it’s a slow burn dark Romantasy to really hook you in, set in a magical world with two opposing kingdoms, a magical system that follows mind and heart magic, and navigating a political climate in a changed world.

The tension building between Toven and Briony, the flashbacks to their past, and the dark themes of the book really helps with the slow burn and the suspense. It touched on a lot of subjects and had plenty of dark themes so definitely check your TW before diving in.

This book was just a little under five stars for me, but definitely deserves a thorough reread with one my many physical copies that are arriving! 🖤

Thank you for the ALC!!

🌹 Rose in Chains by Julie Soto
🎧 Narrated by Ella Lynch
📅 Release Date: July 8, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the opportunity to review this advance audiobook copy.

Rose in Chains is a powerful and poetic dark romantasy that blends emotional intensity with a deeply immersive world. Julie Soto crafts a narrative that is both brutal and beautiful, where themes like captivity, resistance, grief, and longing are explored with rare nuance.

The romance between Briony and Toven is an exquisite slow burn – painful, restrained, and incredibly rewarding. Their dynamic is layered, tense, and emotionally charged, unfolding at a pace that allows the depth of each moment to fully resonate.

🎙 Ella Lynch’s narration is truly exceptional. Her voice carries every emotional beat of the story with precision and warmth. She embodies the characters so fully that it feels less like listening and more like living inside their world. The production quality from Hachette Audio is seamless and immersive.

Briony is one of the most quietly powerful heroines I’ve encountered in a long time – vulnerable, determined, and hauntingly real. And Toven… magnetic, unreadable, and devastating in the best way.

This audiobook is a must for fans of slow burn enemies-to-lovers, rich emotional arcs, and dark, lyrical fantasy. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time.

Highly recommended.

📚✨ ARC Rose and Chains ✨🌹⛓️

💔 “The war is over, the hero is dead, and the darkness has won.” If that line doesn’t grab you, nothing will!

In Rose and Chains, we’re plunged into a world where hope has already lost the battle. Briony Rosewood, a fallen princess stripped of her magic and freedom, is sold like property to the cruel Toven Hearst after her kingdom collapses. 🏰🔥

What follows is a tense, haunting, and surprisingly tender story about surviving in the ashes of defeat. Briony’s spirit is fierce even when chained, and the slow burn of unexpected alliances kept me hooked. 🗝️💫

The world-building is dark yet lush, the stakes are brutal, and the flickers of hope and rebellion are like tiny candles in a pitch-black dungeon. 🕯️🌙

If you love stories of ruined kingdoms, enemies forced into uneasy trust, and heroines who refuse to break—this is for you. Prepare for heartbreak, intrigue, and the sweetest crumbs of defiance. 👑🖤

"rose in chains" was my first read (or, rather, listen) of julie soto's, and it certainly won't be my last! this novel feels like senlinyu's "manacled" and atwood's "the handmaid's tale". i could definitely sense that this was originally a dramione fanfic, but that didn't impact my reading experience whatsoever. the worldbuilding was excellent- i loved the concept of the "mind magic" and the "heart magic". the ending was set up perfectly for a sequel; i don't want to wait for the second and third books!! i'm dying to know what happens next.

what also shines in soto's latest novel is her main character. briony rosewood is a character you can't help but root for. she isn't so fearless that it feels unbelievable, and isn't so meek and mild that it's irritating. to put it more simply, briony feels REAL. i'm really looking forward to getting to see her full character arc as we progress through the rest of the trilogy.

the only thing i noted about the book that lowered my rating was briony's feelings toward toven. they were supposedly enemies/rivals, but she later repeatedly says she had a crush on him in school, so that was a bit confusing. i wish it was a TRUE enemies-to-lovers dynamic, kind of like jude and cardan in the "folk of the air" series. if we're in a romantasy setting, i need y'all to HATE each other's guts before you're a couple. because of that, i didn't get that "five star feeling". it was SO close to being the perfect read, though.

something readers should keep in mind is that this is definitely a heavier read. i advise checking trigger warnings, which soto mentions in the very beginning of the book. SA is an extremely prevalent and recurring element of "rose in chains". a lot of the male characters are truly slimy and despicable, but given the plot, that is to be expected. i have provided the list of content warnings below!

TWs (straight off julie soto's website):
* explicit sexual content
* mentions of non-consensual sex
* sexual assault
* sexual assault of a POV character
* buying and selling of humans into captivity
* forced sterilization
* forced termination of a pregnancy
* minor character deaths
* suspense and violence
* torture and gore

10000/5 ⭐️

Screaming, crying, throwing up. I need the next book immediately! This was the first audiobook that I was able to get through and enjoy immensely.

The build up was everything. Every character had an important role to play. The tension was off the charts. Only down side…. Rory. Can’t stand him. He doesn’t deserve to have a sister like Briony.

The narrator for this audiobook needs to just narrate every book. Absolutely loved that I could tell which character was talking without being told their name every five seconds. She embodied every character.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and Julie Soto for letting me review this book early!

Simply put, perfection.
Fans of Fourth Wing will love this romantasy.
The world building is fantastic. Obsessed with the characters and cant wait to see whats next for each of them. I will read anything Julie Soto writes.

Please be aware of the trigger warnings.

One of my most anticipated reads of the year and it did not disappoint! Love the callbacks and easter eggs to the original text and how Julie managed to spin this and make a world of her own. The narrator, Ella Lynch, was so pleasing to listen to. I usually read my audio books at 1.25-1.50 speed because I think the normal speed is too slow but for some reason I had no need to do it. Her narration was clear and expressive, and I felt immersed in Briony's world and thoughts. I can't wait to reread / relisten when it officially comes out!

I really loved this audiobook! I’ve read Julie Soto’s previous books and this is my favorite so far. I went into this knowing book was originally based off of Dramonie fanfic. It isn’t your typically romantasy book.

I loved Ella Lynch‘s voice and loved how she changed the voices between female and male characters without it being cringy. Ella Lynch spoke clearly and did amazing job showing Briony‘s emotions without spoken words. You could tell how Briony was feeling scared by how Ella Lynch relayed that in how she was speaking.

When the audiobook ended, I was desperate for more. The story telling was amazing. I’m already for the next book.

Thank you NetGalley, Julie Soto, and HachetteAudio for allowing me to hear the audiobook early!

Phenomenal audiobook and a great story!

I was told about this book on multiple occasions by friends who had access to the ARC of Rose in Chains so when I saw that the Audio version was available for request, I had to jump straight in. I really enjoy listening to audiobooks, especially at the moment while decorating my new house, audiobooks are an amazing way to still read while doing not all the fun house things like painting.

Since finishing this book, I've been torn on how to rate it overall. The narration was absolutely outstanding—I'd give the narrator a solid 5 stars. However, a few issues with the characters and some missing details in the plot held me back from giving it a perfect score. Taking everything into account, I'd say it's a strong 4-star read. That said, I'm definitely looking forward to picking up book 2 when it's released to see how the story unfolds.

Briony Rosewood, once destined to save her people, is captured and stripped of her magic after her twin brother's death and the fall of their kingdom. Held prisoner by the enemy commander Toven Hearst, she must navigate a world of power, politics, and unexpected emotions. As tensions rise, a slow-burning connection forms between captor and captive. This is a definite slow-burn which left me expecting more, for an Adult book I expected the characters to be a lot more developed and the story to flow better than it did. There were quite a few too many lose threads, something I did not expect from Julie Soto's writing. - Hopefully, since this is her first book with a large fantasy world, her books will just get better and better!

I will recommend this book to all my friends!

4.5 stars rounded up.

Okay but I really loved this book! This was my first Julie Soto read and I’m so impressed!

Now this was a real, true SLOW BURN. The tension between Briony and Toven is smoldering and so so good. I went through the audiobook in no time at all and when I got to the epilogue I had to rewind because I truly thought I had missed something because how could it be over already??? I cannot wait for the next one.

I went in knowing that this was based off of a Harry Potter fanfiction. I have not read the Auction, but I love HP and the whole time I spent comparing the character and the world to the HP world. Not necessarily a bad thing, I kind of enjoyed trying to find the crossovers but I feel like some spark was lost in the world while translating the original fanfiction into something original. Probably because I spent the whole time comparing to HP, but I can’t really knock it much because had I not known the origins I don’t think I would have made a connection.

Thank you NetGalley and Hatchette Audio for the arc!

𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙 ★★★★½
𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠: compelling but complicated feelings

𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨:
✻ Dark romantasy that doesn’t shy away from brutalities
✻ Enemies-to-lovers with secret schoolmate crush backstory
✻ Captive/captor dynamics with slow burn tension
✻ Political intrigue wrapped in magical warfare

𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑒: steady with explosive moments of action and revelation
𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑡𝑦𝑙𝑒: engaging, doesn’t shy away from dark content
𝑚𝑜𝑜𝑑/𝑎𝑡𝑚𝑜𝑠𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒: political tension meets slow burn
𝑝𝑙𝑜𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒: dual timelines revealing entangled past and present

𝒔𝒐, 𝒍𝒆𝒕’𝒔 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒊𝒕…
Full transparency: as someone who binds and consumes copious amounts of fanfiction and is deeply embedded in fandom culture, reviewing published fan fic puts me in an uncomfortable position. The unspoken rule is that you don’t rate or review fanfic, and parts of this book stick so closely to the original that it feels like crossing a line. But here we are, and the story deserves an honest assessment.

🥀This book follows Briony, a princess of fallen Evermore, who finds herself sold at auction to Toven, a wealthy Bomardi who has his own complicated history with her. What unfolds is a dark romantasy that doesn’t pull punches when it comes to the brutal realities of war, captivity, and survival.

🕰️The dual timeline structure absolutely works here, adding depth and context that makes every present-day interaction hit harder. Watching their pre-war dynamic slowly revealed while navigating their current situation creates layers of tension that kept me engaged. Their entangled history spans years, and seeing how long they’ve been circling each other makes the slow burn feel earned rather than manufactured.

✨Julie Soto has created a magic system that genuinely intrigued me, but I am unsure if it will stand on its own to someone who has not read the fic this is a rework of. The political structures and prophecy elements weave together naturally without feeling like info-dumps, creating a world that feels lived-in and complex.

🕸️But let’s address it: this book is DARK. We’re talking human trafficking, sexual slavery, and moments of graphic violence. These themes are something I am used to in fic, but in published works, I am unsure my general feelings. Soto doesn’t shy away from showing the powerlessness of the Eversun women or the visceral brutality of their situation. It’s never gratuitous, but it is unflinching.

🖤The romance burns slow (refreshing in romantasy!) while maintaining constant tension. Toven delivers on the morally grey, broody MMC promise, and watching both characters navigate their complicated feelings while trapped in an impossible situation kept me invested.

✏️The political intrigue balances well with the romantic elements, creating a plot complex enough to keep you guessing while building believable character development.

My conflicted feelings aside, this is a well-crafted dark fantasy that succeeds in creating compelling characters and a brutal world where survival comes at impossible costs. If you can handle the heavy content and want a romantasy that doesn’t sugar-coat its darker elements, this delivers.

*I received an e-copy and audio copy of this book via NetGalley (thank you, Forever/Grand Central Publishing and Hachette Audio). All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Is this my first Julie Soto book? Yes. Will this be my last Julie Soto book? Absolutely not! I was immediately pulled into this story and finished the audiobook in a few days. While I did not read the fan fic this published story was birthed from, I still enjoyed how this story was constructed and how Soto developed her characters. I see this story being labeled as a romantasy, however it really did have a strong dystopian component to it, very much akin to the “Handsmaid’s Tale,” in the structure of how women are utilized for their magic. I really enjoyed seeing how Briony’s defiance grows as the story progresses, and also how her relationship and trust in Toven evolves. The use of flashbacks was really well done and tied into the current story perfectly. Parts of this book will make you uncomfortable, especially in regard to the imprisonment and use of women for their magic, but I wouldn’t discourage you from picking it up. I ate up this story and I’m really looking forward to the next installment!

This was also my first ALC audiobook, and Ella Lynch did a fantastic job narrating this story! In my mind, she is Briony and I will be seeking out her narrations in the future!

As always, thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio/Forever Books for access to this ALC for review; all thoughts are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC!

🌟/5

One day I'll stop requesting and reading romantasy just to 'see how it goes'. Unfortunately, today is not that day. This was neither romance nor fantasy...just pages upon pages of men abusing and treating women like objects.

I usually try to search for positives in any book regardless of how many there are as compared to the negatives, but because I don't have anything nice to say about the book itself (the narrator was fine, more on that later), I'll just enlist everything that didn't work for me.
❌️ 'Rose in Chains' is incredibly boring. This is one of the books I finished only because I was listening to the audiobook at twice the normal speed. I couldn't have read it with my own eyes.
❌️ Nothing happened for 85% of the book, and even then the 'climax' didn't feel like a climax.
❌️ The narrative structure was a huge problem here. The author uses the flashbacks to infodump but the worldbuilding has no relevance in the present timeline, at least in the first book.
❌️ The worldbuilding was vague and the magic system didn't make a whole lot of sense. Having romance as a central focus of a fantasy novel doesn't mean you have to kick nuance out of the door and NOT flesh out the magic system.
❌️ Briony is one of the worst FMCs I've ever encountered in a romantasy novel (yes, much worse than even the 'stabby' ones). This girl did nothing but whine for the whole book. Whydoestovennothurtme? Whydidhekeepmesafehere? SHUT UP. Being in her head was a painful experience.
❌️ There was no real basis for the romance to work upon. Both of them had a secret crush on each other in the past and that's it. There was no meaningful interaction between the MCs at all. This is a trilogy-the author has got three books to develop the story and the romance...she did not have to rush to get to the spicy scenes in this way.
❌️ So much of the book was spent in describing how the men of one kingdom abuse and degrade women. I'm sure the author's a nice person but I did not sign up for at least half of the total content being descriptions of abuse.

● Ella Lynch's narration was...an acquired tatse. I did find her voice to be a bit jarring at first but eventually came around liking it. Her voice modulations and ability to make the characters sound different from each other and bringing them to life were impressive!

Well, here's yet another romantasy that ended up being a miss for me (not because of being trope-heavy for the first time). The worldbuilding and romance might improve in the next installment in the series but a weak series starter like this has made me completely disinclined towards reading it. I'll not be continuing the series.

I listened to this on audio (which was absolutely great by the way) and got completely swept up in the tension, heartbreak, and rich layers of this story.

This is dark romantasy at its best — full of brutal stakes, messy emotions, and a beautifully intricate magic system that feels both fresh and deeply human. I loved the dual timelines and the way Soto slowly revealed Briony and Toven’s tangled history. Watching it all come together was so satisfying, even if it often hurt along the way.

Briony is such a compelling protagonist... vulnerable, determined, painfully naive at times, yet always trying to do right by the people she loves. And Toven… what can I say, the moody, guarded love interest with a tortured sense of care gets me every time. Their slow-burn connection and the push-pull of longing and loyalty was just delicious.

It’s not a fast-paced story, but I didn’t mind, the simmering tension, political intrigue, and quiet moments of tenderness kept me hooked. I also appreciated how Soto navigates dark themes without ever feeling gratuitous, grounding the pain in genuine emotion and resilience.

Can’t wait for book two.



3.5

This book sealed the deal. Julie Soto is NOT for me.

Rose In Chains is a reworked adaptation of a Harry Potter fan fiction originally published as The Auction. However, even with the agonizingly slow narrative pacing and lackluster attempts at exposition and character development, it does not stand on its own. The world described on page is odd. Not quite historical but certainly not modern. Is this a normal convention for “romantasy”? Rose In Chains is still relying on its readers to know the “Dramione” vibe. This book has triggering content, so I hope the print version includes a list. They were not in the audio.

The characters are flat. The world building is lacking. And most importantly, the relationship between Bryony and Tolvin is non existent. There’s no chemistry, no banter, no insight into why they should or do care about each other except that they’re “hot.” And for a story that moves so slowly, this book is LONG. The audiobook is 15+ hours. The narrator does a decent job with the performance, but at times it came across as monotone.

Thank you to Hachette Audio for the ALC.

Wellllllllll I am definitely in the minority here because I did not really like this book 😂 I have seen nothing but rave reviews but this book did not hit for me like at all.

First of all I did not know this was Dramione fanfic HAHA so that is on me - I’ve never been a Dramione girlie so once I got told that this was based on them (I was about halfway through) I kind of got the ick.

Secondly, this book is SO full of triggering content (there were content warnings at the start but I was not expecting things to be as horrific as they were). The way the men acted in this book was completely disgusting and there were parts were I was so horrified???? I just didn’t think it needed to be so graphic in the book - we are talking horrible toxic masculinity, sexual harassment and abuse, mentions of rape, plus sterilization and slavery 😣

I did not feel any chemistry between the main characters, in fact at the halfway point I was like “who even is the love interest because I cannot tell”. I liked the FMC but she spent so much of the book locked away and although I felt awful for her I was also BORED. Girlie just could not catch a break either literally every traumatic thing that could happen to her, did happen.

I listened to the audiobook of this and although I enjoyed the narrator, I wish it had been duet because I really hated when she tried to do the men’s voices.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the advanced listener copy in advance for my honest review.