Rose In Chains
Julie Soto

This was my first Dramione coded book and likely won’t be the last!

The war is over, the dark forces have won and the hero who was supposed to save them is dead. Captured by the enemy, Briony Rosewood has her life irrevocably changed. With the dark forces of Bomard winning, her people, the Eversuns face imminent servitude, imprisonment or death.

Stripped of her mind magic and freedom, Briony and other survivors are auctioned off, set for unspeakable hardships. Yet despite the horrors of her new world and the role she must learn to play within it, all is not lost. Help- and hope - may yet arise in the most unlikely of places.

‘And irritation flashed in her briefly before she realised she was feeling jealous of a fox.’

This was amazing! Unbeknownst to me this wasn’t a standalone novel, and to say I’m hanging by a thread here waiting for book two is accurate. I devoured this book and its world and oh my god the tension between Toven and Briony was unreal. I want more!!!

I was so lucky to receive both the arc and audio arc for Rose In Chains. The narration for the audiobook was on point and I found myself swept away with the storytelling and applaud Ella Lynch as narrator. She did a brilliant job! This just added to the incredible written story, so both formats were wonderful, however you prefer to digest your books, you’re all set.

‘There was a saying in Evermore; the demon who has shaken your hand is better than the one who hasn’t.’

(Review posted 4th July 2025)

First off, I think the narrator did a great job with bringing the story to life. I was easily able to differentiate between the various characters in both genders and her male voice wasn’t cringe.

Story wise I’m excited to see where this series goes! The first part of the book felt very slow and nothing really started happening until the last 25% or so.

For those that not may not know, this is the traditionally published version of the fanfic The Auction. Dark themes, especially for the women so make sure to check triggers before listening/reading.

I haven’t read the original fanfic yet, but it felt like this book could have expanded a tad more on the world building, politics, etc since readers weren’t already in the know/invested in the world like with the fanfic.

Book Deets 📖
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
Emotional Damage:💧
Genre: Dark, Fantasy Romance
Format Read: 🎧

I originally read this work of art when it was published to AO3 and let me tell you that it is even better now as a traditionally published book. First off the narrator did a beautiful job portraying all the characters, but especially our girl Briony. She was relatable and easy to root for, even though she is a Princess of Evermore.

I loved the way the magic system was changed to be traditionally published. The most sophisticated version of magic is Mind magic and results from pulling from your mind (obviously). The Heart Magic is easier to master, but has some limitations since you’re pulling from your own heart. Thus, giving magicians a reason to use familiars and Heartsprings to fuel their magic. This is how our girl Briony finds herself and her allies at an Auction to be bought by the highest bidder like cattle.

If you have a sensitive soul, this may not be the book for you because it deals with some dark topics. So please check your trigger warnings. If you can get past the heavy parts, it is worth it. I’m excited that we are getting a trilogy from Julie Soto!

Rose in Chains soared its way to the top of my favorites list. The plot, character development, and romance were all so well done, and I am distraught that I have to wait for Book 2.

I received an ALC from Hachette Audio | Forever via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Narration performed by Ella Lynch was outstanding.

Rose in chains
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

Ok, I GET THE HYPE!!!!
🎧 Firstly, a big shotout to Ella Lynch, the narrator of this audiobook, for the amazing job she did bringing to life the story. Her performance made me experiment perfectly every aspect of emotion and depth, and her voice was everything.

As for the plot and the book itself, I was so in right from the start. I've never read The Auction (the fanfic in which this book is inspired) and, even tho I'm gonna rectify that error this weekend 🤭, I didn't felt like it was necessary for me to do so in order to connect with the story. I mean, I could totally feel the inspo at times, specially when it came to the characters, but as for the magic system, the storyline, the setting, they were all new and fresh to me.

Now, even tho I was invested, Rose in chains is the slowest of slow burns, which in terms of romance, I did not care, give me all the tension and yearning glances; however, in terms of plot, I needed it something more. I get is the first part in a trilogy and I can appreciate the author taking the time to set the vibes, the dual timeline, the characters relationships and the politics but at times, it felt a little to info dump and names dump and almost nothing of action.

That been said, my favorite things of this book were:
🌹 the past and present interactions of Briony and Toven (specially the ones from the past), I'm here for every tiny crumb.
🌹 the magic system, I'm curious and I want to see more.
🌹 the political games, each side is not as good or as bad as it seems, and I want that aspect to be explore even more over the next 2 books.

Overall, consider me intrigued 👀, I'm looking forward the sequel!!!! And yes, you can find me reading The Auction as from this moment, cause I'm way to curious.

OH MY GOD!!!!! I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!

Obsessed is the correct word for how i feel. I was hooked from the beginning with this dark, magical world with a super high-stakes plot. This book is dark, addictive and makes me want the second book yesterday. I'm always hesitant when i see hype about books but this hype was sooooooo well placed. This book has enemies to lovers, forced proximity, slow burn and some good tension. I loved the magic system of this book as it was unique with some well-known aspects as well. I consumed this book so quickly and wanted to go back for seconds. Easy 5 star!!!!


This audiobook was narrated by Ella Lynch and she just was amazing! She grabbed my attention from the get-go and held it until the last words were said. She was able to bring the emotions and tension to the forefront. I absolutely loved how she narrated this book. Well done.

Thank you NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately I DNFed this quite early on.. maybe 5-6% in? I just didn’t like how the fmc was describing the mmc in a tense opening scene

Such a fantastic narration of a book I already loved so much as a fanfiction. Julie Soto’s storytelling is unmatched, she’s already one of my favourite authors ever and Ella Lynch brought it to life perfectly. Her performance added so much depth; every emotion was delivered with such care and nuance. She made the characters feel even more real.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the opportunity to listen to Rose in Chains in advance. I’m so excited for the book’s release so I can do an immersion read with the physical copy, I already know it’s going to hit even harder the second time around.

One of the best romantasy reads of the year, and honestly, maybe one of my favourites ever.

Ohh and I can’t wait for the next book, already so excited!!

…… 👀🤭

YALL.
This was one of my 3 most anticipated reads of this year and it did NOT disappoint! Julieeee. She has the magic touch for real.

I went into this not having read the OG, the Auction, but I was still familiar with this world, the events that take place, and obvs this pairing. I know these characters are supposed to be original.. but Briony kept sounding like ‘Mione to me.🤣 And how can I not be picturing Draco the entire time.

Anyways, this book was addicting and I had to pick it up immediately after I received the audio-arc and physical copy. This is def a dark and slightly disturbing read and was very intense at times. I think readers need to be aware of that before diving in (especially given it’s a FL monthly edition). I think the beauty of this story is how Toven treats and protects Briony against the cruelty and disgust that has taken over their society. I loved seeing flashbacks of their paths crossing when they were in school, getting to know Briony’s backstory and what drives her as she’s locked away in the present time, and what’s going on in Toven’s head is still a mystery…

I am eating every crumb that Julie drops tho 🤣 This man is THEEEE definition of morally gray. He will pay any price to protect his woman.😭🫶🏼 jk, obvs he cares little for her 🙄😉

🔥 I loved how the last few chapters unfolded and cannot wait for any sort of announcement for the next book.

Thanks NetGalley for the audiobook! I really enjoyed reading along with it.

I enjoyed the lively narration of Ella Lynch for this romantasy. What a treat! A clear and unique voice. The audiobook was crisp and flawless.

The story at the heart of it left a little more to be desired. We have rather standard fantasy fare with an almost-romance and creeping dread. This is the start of a trilogy, and we can predict where it goes, which means we're only here for the ride, if it's interesting enough. I'm afraid it wasn't for me. I found the Mind and Heart magic and gender roles rather oblique and tired. I needed more about the world to really understand what was going on and what was at stake. Also, this is a brutal tale; this rubbed against me in the wrong way during the sexy parts. If I understood it rightly, Briony, our protagonist, has her body "borrowed" and used by others, and can simply decide not to "read the book" in her mind ... until she starts falling for one of them. Er. Toven was intriguing but his intentions were still too vague to really get behind him.

The pacing was off ... the story dragged ... even Lynch's ever-sprightly dialogue couldn't lift the burden there.

I think romantasy fans searching for a longer, twistier tale will enjoy this one.

After Princess Briony's brother, King Rory Rosewood is killed in battle, her life transforms overnight when she is captured by the enemy and sold to the highest bidder; her childhood rival, Toven Hearst.

This is a traditional adaptation of a fanfic by Julie Soto and although I have not read the FF, I really enjoyed Rose in Chains. The audiobook brought the characters to life.

What to expect:

- Dark Romantasy
-touch her and die
-enemies to lovers
-slowburn romance
-morally grey MMC

The world building is immense and easy to follow, with a new magic system which is not overly complex, mind magic versus heart magic and the strengths of both and how they influence the practitioner. Although Dragon influence is mentioned it is not central to the plot (yet).

Briony is a fierce FMC. The underdog in the story who is worth so much more than what she gets, constantly sidelined or estimated by her loved ones, she however leads with empathy and compassion for others and readers will root for her from the very beginning.

Toven is our true morally grey MMC to the point of *chefs kss*. Working within enemy lines, Julie Soto is skilled in her writing ability in that although Briony remains unawares and feels the pull between them is one-sided, readers will be observing and reading all that is unsaid between the protagonists and how it really isn't until the very end that Toven's mask starts to fall and we find out how he really feels. Eep!

Every single moment in this book felt like living on a knife-edge; this is a dark romantasy so please check out trigger warnings (sexual assault/harassment/r*pe/violence) but also the plot was unpredictable, suspenseful and chemistry between the protagonists was charged so I was really holding my breath alot during this read. This is a *very* slow-burn romance but I still loved reading how the relationship changes over time - again, its those nuanced moments where smaller gestures have greater meaning and I loved Toven and Briony together.

Special mention also to Selina Hearst (given what Rose in Chains is based on it was nice to see parallels were not consistent the whole way through and Julie Soto has formed her own world here where we had an anti-villain/supportive and kind maternal presence in Briony's life).

Some of the content did make for an uncomfortable listening experience (and I'm a sucker for multiple narrators where there are male and female characters) else Ella Lynch was phenomenal in narrating the different parts and I could not put this book down. Please be sure to check trigger warnings. I flew through this read and already can't wait for the next book to be published! In the meantime, I'll have to re-read all of Julie Soto's other works!

Thank you @HachetteAudio @Forever and Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest unedited review.

These are my personal thoughts and opinions.

Rose in Chains is a beautifully crafted romantic fantasy about a young woman whose life is turned upside down when everything she knows is taken from her. Thrown into a dangerous new world, she has to figure out who she can trust and how to survive, all while grappling with an unexpected connection that could change everything. Full of intrigue, tension, and heart, this is a story about resilience, hope, and finding your own strength when the odds are stacked against you..

Rose in Chains isn’t just a romantic fantasy it’s a brilliant, unforgettable story. While it did feel slightly on the YA/ New Adult side, and i did think it started a bit on the slower side, it was still a fantastic story.

From the first page, I was hooked. Julie's worldbuilding feels so vivid and real without ever slowing down the story. You can practically see the shadows creeping over Evermore’s walls, taste the fear in the air, feel the heartbreak as Briony’s world falls apart. It doesn’t just read like a fantasy, it feels like you’re living inside it.

And Briony herself? She’s vulnerable but never weak, strong but still achingly human. Even when she’s stripped of her power, she holds on to this fierce, quiet dignity that had me rooting for her the entire time. Her thoughts, full of grief, anger, and hope felt so honest they sometimes made me tear up.

Then there’s Toven Hearst, the man whose name alone sends chills through everyone around him. He arrives like a blade sharp, cold, impossible to ignore and somehow Julie shows us all the cracks underneath that polished surface. The tension between him and Briony is unreal. This isn’t some convenient enemies-to-lovers setup. It’s a slow, intense build of reluctant trust and undeniable chemistry. Every glance and half-spoken sentence feels electric, and when the walls finally come down…let’s just say I needed a moment to breathe.

But what really makes this book stand out is how it balances big, sweeping stakes with small, intimate moments. Even as it tackles war and loss and the cruelty of power, it never forgets about the simple, human details a shared drink in the dark, a gentle touch on a bruised hand, a reminder that hope is almost impossible to kill.

Julie's writing is gorgeous without being overwrought. She can make a ruined castle feel beautiful and turn a single whispered apology into something that feels bigger than an entire kingdom. This is the kind of story that doesn’t just entertain it wrecks you and puts you back together again.

While I may be slightly biased due to having read the popular Fanfiction this story was originally based on. Julie Soto has absolutely outdone herself. Can't wait for the next book!

This isn’t just a book it’s a spell you’ll never want to break.

NOTE: Please check the trigger warnings associated with this story.

Thank you so much to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy.

A dark romantasy full of chains, childhood enemies, and the kind of slow-burn tension that makes your eye twitch in the best way.

Princess Briony, a mind-magic wielder, gets sold at auction after a coup and ends up in the hands of her former rival, Toven Hearst, a grumpy war-hardened dreamboat with the emotional range of a locked diary. What follows is a beautifully devastating journey through trauma, power, healing, and unexpected love.

Julie Soto delivers a haunting, spicy fantasy that blends deep emotional wounds with political intrigue and just the right amount of “why am I crying in a dungeon right now?”

💔 Come for the enemies-to-lovers.
🔥 Stay for the emotional redemption arc.
⚠️ TWs: war, captivity, PTSD, emotional trauma.

Beauty and the Beast—but darker, hotter, and with more magic-based emotional damage.

From my reading wrap up for June

❤️‍🔥 I got to listen to Rose In Chains thanks to @hachetteaudio for providing me with an ALC. Honestly, I had a hard time at the beginning staying focused because it felt slow. HOWEVER… I ended up so invested and frothing at the mouth for the second book after that ending. if you know… you know 🫠

Thank you very much Hachette Audio for an ALC! 💌

Before picking up Rose in Chains I knew little to nothing about it, only that it used to be a fanfiction centered around a certain popular ship and set in a fantasy world. That’s why I was kind of worried when I heard all of the trigger warnings at the beginning of the book and it turned out to be on a darker side. It wasn’t a problem for me in the end, but definitely be sure to check the warnings out beforehand.

To be completely honest, it pains me to write this review because I kind of had high expectations and really wanted to like the book, partially because of the hype and partially because I fancy the ship. I never read the original fanfic, so my thoughts are exclusively about the reworked version.
Fanfiction (in general) relies on existing worlds, established relationships and past events and when you take them out, the story can’t stand on its own. And I think those gaps and blank spaces in this particular story were not patched up well enough in the rewriting process. This story probably worked better as a fanfic because so much context was left out. Worldbuilding in particular was a hot mess – there were a bunch of names, events, places thrown at us and an interesting magical system was introduced, but none of that really took any concrete shape by the end of the book.

What I did like though were flashbacks and chapters switching timelines, giving an insight into some parts of relationship between Briony and Toven before the current events. Their history and build up were, in my opinion, even better than their "now" version. (now version needs to learn how to communicate and not be BLIND when it comes to how they feel about each other).

Briony wasn't a character I expected her to be. It was generally hard to grasp her character traits as she was also a bit all over the place. She was described as smart and skilled, but then made so many compulsive decisions that led to more trouble. What we were told about her and her actions clashed one too many times.

Toven fell into the category of the brooding, mysterious men with secrets, morally grey, posesssive and jealous but never the one to tell the truth, especially about his feelings or motives - a true romantasy male lead. I actually saw through his intentions from the very beginning, but it was frustrating how Briony didn't.

Beside worldbuilding, my main concern was the way the women were treated throughout the whole story. Slave owner/slave dynamic didn’t help either. Like, why choose misogyny as a plot device?

HOWEVER, I did finish the book fairly quickly, it was quite entertaining, despite my frequent disgust toward male characters. Do I recommend it? Eh, not really, no? It might not have been my cup of tea though, I know a lot of people loved it or are looking forward to it. Will I be reading the sequel? Probably, I'm too curious and need to see this mess through.

What upped a star for this book for me was actually the narrator, Ella Lynch. She did a spectacular job, conveying every emotion convincingly and giving a distinctive voice to each and every character. I actually think that her narration made the flow of the story more natural and made me want to know and listen to more, despite some of the shortcomings the book had.

4.5 stars. I loved it! It’s interesting that it’s in 3 parts when I’m used to one with the fanfic. I liked the story and the pacing and how it flowed with present day and flashbacks. Speaking of flashbacks, I really enjoyed the differences in this story vs the OG fanfic. I like how she changed things here and there with the magic, the characters, the dark elements (much more easy to stomach) and the flashbacks.

The narrator did a good job. I liked how her voice could be soft, or shrill, or upset. I liked how she did male voice as well. Her voice and narration was nice to listen to and the way she differentiates between Toven and his Father was good. There’s definitely some sniveling character voices as well which add to the hatred, but can be annoying.

Because it’s part one it does feel like something is “missing” but other than that I greatly enjoyed and am upset to have to wait for the next book.

Julie Soto is quickly becoming a favorite of mine!

I went into this ALC without knowing much about it. I only knew it was inspired by a popular fanfiction, and I’m so glad I gave it a chance. From the beginning, I was a little concerned I’d struggle to focus on audio without any text to follow, but the story pulled me in quickly. I was completely hooked and couldn’t stop listening.

There were quite a few characters introduced early on, which made it a bit tricky to keep track at first. Thankfully, as the story developed, I was able to connect the dots and keep up more easily. The narrator did a fantastic job bringing everyone to life. Each voice felt distinct and added depth to the experience. My only small critique is that Briony’s voice occasionally came across as a bit childlike, which didn’t quite match how I pictured her. Still, it was a minor detail and didn’t take away from the overall enjoyment.

The plot was rich and engaging, and I loved the concept of mind versus heart magic. The tension between Briony and Toven was so well done, and the chemistry kept me invested throughout. Julie Soto’s writing continues to impress me. This is only my second book from her, and it was another win.

I can’t wait to see what’s in store for book 2!

Thanks so much to Hachette Audio and Julie Soto for the ALC through NetGalley! All opinions are my own!

4.5 ⭐️s. I really enjoyed this novel. It was a bit young adultish with some slow patches but the bare bones of the story was really entertaining.

You love and hate the FMC and MMC because of their personalities, actions (and inaction at times), and the slow burn that was truly just dragged out for context. But the magic system and rivalry between countries were well done.

You don’t get dual POVs, but you do get time jumps from present day to the past. It’s supposed to give depth to the slow burn romance as well as some well rounded view both the main characters and the minor ones.

You have Briony, a “princess” of a magical country that was currently at agreeable peace with the rival country. They use two types of magic, mind & heart, and the rival country overthrows her country. She’s in forces proximity to Toven, a cold high ranking man in the rival country who she used to have a school girl crush on. There’s subservience, war violence, secrets, betrayal, and more. If you give it time, you’ll enjoy it, but it can be a bit… slow at times.

Ella Lynch does a good job with the audio narration of the book that is lighthearted and entertaining. I think she really embodied the FMC and the world around her well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for access to the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #RoseInChains

I haven't read the Dramione fanfic "The Auction" (on which this book is based on), but Julie Soto's world feels fresh and captivating, nonetheless. I listened to the audiobook through NetGalley's ALC, and oh my gosh, the narration was absolutely top notch! Ella Lynch brought all the emotions and intensity to life, making the experience so immersive.

Two kingdoms, two types of magic, mind vs. heart magic, and a forbidden connection between Briony, the fierce Evermore princess, and Toven, the mysterious man she’s bound to. The story bounces beautifully between past and present, and those flashbacks nailed the chemistry building. The slow-burning romance is loaded with tension, pining, and just the right amount of steam, minus the full-on explicit scenes (yet still very swoon worthy).

Some slight downsides, for me personally this isn’t as dark as I expected given the themes and trigger warnings (which might be a win for some readers), i would have liked more world building, and the cast is a little name heavy (I did have to pause to keep track sometimes).

The ending, though, left me hungry for book two, and honestly, I’m very curious to see where Julie takes the story next!

If you love slow burns, magical kingdoms, dark political stakes and that deliciously tangled enemies to lovers trope, definitely add Rose in Chains to your TBR!

{3.75 stars}

Huge thanks to Hachette Audio for the ALC!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this audio ARC.

The beginning of this was a little monotonous to me, but as the story went it got so super good.

I wish there was more world building. I feel like we got about half of what there could have been. From the beginning, there was so many characters thrown at the reader, but then they, for the most part, drop away from the story.

This is only the first of a trilogy, so I am hoping that in the next book we see the relationship between Briony and Toven grow. I want them to trust each other more. I want Toven to be able to show his admiration to Briony. It is obvious, or I am simply inferring, that Toven has always felt connected to Briony - it explains the ribbon, and his desire to protect her in the way he has - but beyond a scatter scene, the reader doesn’t really get to feel the desire alongside him. While there were many questions asked, I wish Briony asked Toven more - he probably wouldn’t answer them, but I wish they were asked!

Love reading about the rebellion but would love to know more about Toven and his family part in it.

With all this being said, I love this book! The characters are great and the storyline is fantastic. I am excited to continue with the trilogy.