Wow. Just wow. This story is so good! The magic system is interesting, the characters are all so different, and the storyline is *chef’s kiss.* Reading this was so nostalgic, in many ways (if you know, you know), but there were some definite surprises in there. The slow burn is so good! I can’t wait to immerse myself in this work again when the next book comes out! No rush, of course! I’ll just be here, impatiently waiting.

I was blessed to be able to listen to the ALC of this story, and can say, I do recommend it! Though it took me a minute to get used to the voice, Ella Lynch does a great job at voicing Briony, as well as giving the other characters different voices! There is one specific character that is so slimy, and she does a wonderful job of making that character sound that way through the voice she gives him. The MMC voice is not cringy, and very tolerable (always hard to do when a female is voicing). I will say, it was sometimes hard to differentiate if a character was male or female by the voice they were given. The slimy character voice sounded a bit feminine, when it should have been male. Overall, I would listen to this audio again…..which I will probably do when the next one comes out!

Don’t sit on this book! You will regret not reading it sooner, if you do.
5/5 on the story.
4/5 on the audio.

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever Publishing for the ALC!

This was one of my most highly anticipated reads for the year and I am not disappointed. This story has a unique and inventive magic system and world to be immersed in. The audiobook narration is great and I would definitely recommend for the audio girlies. The story is DARK and while I knew that going in, this is not a story for everyone and you need to make sure you check those triggers before diving in. Throughout the story we switch between present day and the aftermath of a war where Briony and others from her kingdom are auctioned off to the winning side. Then we get flashbacks throughout of the lead up to the war and relationships between characters prior to the fallout. The ending is fantastic and slightly unexpected and now I'm eager to pick up book 2...too bad I have to wait on it.

Most people know that this book was once a Dramione fanfiction and I wish that I didn't know that going in to the book since I believe it took away from some of the great richness of this world. I haven't read the original fanfic, but my mind couldn't help but think about the characters that inspired this book which at times made it harder for me to be immersed which is why I gave 4 vs 5 stars. I wish it had been marketed as it's own unique story instead of been a part of the fanfic to published pipeline craze since this book can definitely stand on its own without the fanfic lift.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ALC of this book.

I first want to start by saying that the narrator, Ella Lynch, was really good. She made the characters come to life. Her voice was perfect for main character.
I REALLY wanted to love this book considering its original origins. But I was sadly disappointed, I feel like it should have stayed a fanfic. As a fanfic, I am already invested in these characters. They have history and emotional attachment. However, this story on its own lacked this very thing. There wasn't enough to make me feel invested in these characters or the plot. It just fell flat.

The cover art is beautiful, and the narration was really well done.

A Dark, Gripping Fantasy You Won’t Be Able to Pause

Omg, the ending KILLED ME. I need the sequel yesterday.

What can I say? Julie Soto is a chameleon. From contemporary romance to YA mystery and now dark adult fantasy, she continues to prove she can conquer any genre she sets her sights on. Rose in Chains, the first in The Evermore Trilogy, is a compelling and emotionally charged start to what promises to be an unforgettable series.

Like all of Soto’s work, this book is impossible to put down. I listened to the advanced audiobook copy and let’s just say: chores, sleep, functioning like a human? Not happening. Just one more chapter turned into full spiralling once I realised I hit the last one. And now I have to wait for book two?? Send help.

The worldbuilding here is rich and intriguing, though I did find myself wanting more detail and depth in certain areas. The pacing, too, felt uneven at times—perhaps due to the main character’s confined setting, which naturally limits interactions and scene shifts. But even with that, Soto maintains a strong emotional throughline that kept me hooked.

The audiobook narration was phenomenal. It took me a moment to adjust my expectations (I had imagined an English accent thanks to my memories of The Auction, the fanfic this is based on), but once I did, I was fully immersed. The narrator’s voice is crisp, expressive, and professionally recorded, and she added thoughtful touches that elevated the experience—like adjusting the sound to match when a character’s voice was described as muffled. She also differentiated the characters well, making them easy to follow in audio format. A huge kudos to both the voice actor and the director.

As a dark fantasy, Rose in Chains doesn’t stray into the extreme end of the dark romance spectrum, but it definitely includes mature themes and situations. If you’re new to the genre, I recommend checking content warnings beforehand.

Speaking as someone who read The Auction, I think Julie did a solid job adapting it into this new format. Some characters have changed, and a few scenes and roles have been streamlined or removed. There were moments I missed the original dynamics, particularly where the FMC could’ve had more meaningful interactions, but overall the essence of the story still hits hard. I will say: I had really hoped one particular scene wouldn’t make the cut—and unfortunately, it did. I feel obliged to interrupt this review with a quick PSA: virginity is a social construct. You cannot detect virginity. The hymen is not a reliable marker of anything, and I wish that myth would disappear from the world. I know this is fiction, but I had to say it.

All in all, Rose in Chains is a strong series opener. Dark, captivating, and emotionally intense, it will definitely appeal to fans of The Auction and dark fantasy lovers alike. I’m already counting down the days to book two.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Narration was spectacular. Absolutely loved it. The narrator was able to voice so many people distinctly it felt like a full cast narration. No mispronounced words that I noticed which is great, the pacing was awesome.

The slow burn I liked. I liked the dual timeline/flashbacks. The relationships I really liked, both between the girls, briony and Cordelia, briony and Larissa, and then ofc briony and toven. My favourite was the relationship between briony and Serena

The book didn’t feel as dark to me as I probably was imagining, mainly because Briony felt very safe even from the start as soon as the Auction happened/was over. Didn’t feel like the stakes were that high once she was bought. The magic was a bit hard for me to understand, but cool to read about, especially as it changed/developed throughout the book. Altogether an intriguing book, I’m excited for the cliffhanger and book 2!

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.

This book was a really fun start to a romantic trilogy and I’m looking forward to the next books. Can’t wait to see what happens!

Romance, fantasy, some mystery - it’s really got a lot going for it.

So what I've gathered is: you either are the target audience for this book, or you are going to dislike it.
I am aware it was originally a fanfiction and I generally have no problem with that. I don't think I would be able to tell if I didn't already know.
I wish there was more time dedicated to discussing limitations and abilities of the different types of powers. I feel like I have heard so much about it, yet know so little. Also, I was really frustrated at times because so much information was kept from us as readers.
I predicted the ending ahead of time, and that's not a bad thing; it felt like a natural pogression of the story.
The audio production was well done. There were no issues within it and I have no complains about the narrator.

Rose in Chains is the forbidden love story I needed! I was captivated, entranced and absorbed! I did not want to stop reading!
Proceed with caution though, do check trigger warnings, this is definitely dark and twisty, but done well. The political intrigue and rebellion gave glimmers of hope in the cruel post war world. Our main characters are full of angst and longing, the chemistry and frustration is highly entertaining. I loved the flashbacks, this gave context and background always adding to the plot rather than taking us off course. I also enjoyed a lot of the side characters, although the main focus is on two people there are plenty of other people in the story that add to the narrative. It’s very well written and you could tell from the narration that it just flowed beautifully. The narrator gave these characters a voice, brought them to life and made my experience so much more. As this series progresses I’m sure there will be plenty of mind magic tricks and trauma awaiting. I absolutely cannot wait for more. If you like your romantasy brimming with tension and lust this is a must read! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)

I absolutely LOVED this book! Rose in Chains grabbed me from the first page and didn’t let go. The world-building? Incredible. The pacing? Perfectly addictive. The emotions? A full-body experience. This will hands-down be one of my top reads of the YEAR.

As someone who read the Dramione fanfic this was based on, The Auction, I thought I was ready for the emotional gut-punch... but nope, it still knocked the wind out of me. Julie Soto delivers drama, heartbreak, and longing in a way that feels both epic and deeply personal. The plot moves at a great clip, with some truly gasp-worthy twists that had me yelling at my audiobook like a maniac.

And the romance… oh wow. This is slow-burn yearning at its absolute finest. The tension between Briony and Toven is electric. I don’t know that I’d personally call this an enemies to lovers—there’s way too much underlying affection simmering from the start for that label to fit. But honestly? Who cares. Whatever you call it, it’s fantastic.

That said—this book does require a serious content warning. It is EXTREMELY dark. Themes like slavery and sexual violence (including rape) are present, both in what characters endure and in the world they live in. I honestly don’t think this would be comfortable or appropriate for younger readers, and parents of teenagers might want to give it a read themselves before letting their children read this. I'd put this exactly on level with The Handmaid's Tale (TV show) in terms of violence presented on page. Please go in with that awareness.

Despite that, if you’re looking for a romantasy that’s emotional, dramatic, intense, and completely unforgettable, this is the one. It’s a book that will absolutely reignite your love for the genre and stand out in a sea of fantasy romances.

Huge thanks to NetGalley, Julie Soto, and Hachette Audio for the advanced audiobook copy. I’ll be screaming about this book all year!

The slow burn is scorching hot!! I am on the edge of my seat over this the way I need to find out what happens next!! I did somewhat see the cliffhanger coming, but I was still surprised at the resolution! I need Toven to give in to Briony and stop playing the ambivalent MMC because he so clearly has feelings for her and I need to know why he’s holding himself back still!

Some parts were hard to read (tw: forced sterilization, sexual abuse), but it played an important role in the story and in the development of Briony’s character. Also, claps for her because the first life she takes deserves it.

I totally did it to myself, reading the first book in a planned trilogy early, but I cannot wait to keep reading!! This was a fantastic start to a new fantasy series and I look forward to the sequels!

Title: Rose in Chains by Julie Soto (The Evermore Trilogy #1)

Genre: Dark Romantasy

Publish Date: July 8, 2025

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Rose in Chains was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and I was thrilled to receive this ARC. Thank you to @netgalley and @hachetteaudio for this digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

Overall, Rose in Chains was an incredible first book in the Evermore Trilogy. This is the ultimate enemies to lovers tale, featuring Eversun princess Briony Rosewood and high ranking Bomardsun Toven Hearst. The two are on opposing sides of a magical war, and when the dark forces of Bomard win, Briony is stripped of her magic and freedom, and she is sold in an auction to the highest bidder, Toven Hearst.

The book is written across dual timelines, which was really well done in my opinion, and it underscored the tension between Briony and Toven. It also featured a fascinating magic system. I loved the world building, the magical academy, and Hearst manor.

And the ending?! Can we talk about the ending?! I will not give any spoilers, but I was shook! It left me so eager to read the next book.

Rose in Chains was inspired by The Auction, and I was so excited to see how the Dramione fanfic would be adapted. It honestly blew me away and far exceeded my expectations. Julie Soto is incredibly talented, and wow- just WOW. I would highly recommend it!

Content Warnings- this story is extremely dark and includes dark themes and elements, including but not limited to sexual slav3ry, r4pe, assault, forced sterilization, and wartime violence. Be sure to check all the tags before reading.

This doesn't hold up on its own. There's a lot of necessary world building missing. I know this was a Dramione fic at first, so it's steeped in HP lore, but if you're reading this and not knowing any of that or any of HP, then you're left wondering a lot. The explanations presented aren't good enough.

I did read the fanfic this came from and ultimately just pictured the entire HP cast... it's not a bad thing, but it isn't a good thing either.

if anything, this just made me wanna read the fanfic again.

it is likely i will read the second and third book when they do come out. the ending of this book makes it seem like there's an attempt at creating an original story. but i won't be holding my breath for that.

the audiobook was well done though. i enjoyed the narrator and their various voices. at the very least i can revisit the fanfic with my ears instead of my eyes.

thank you to netgalley and Hachette Audio | Forever for the eARC!

I had so much fun with this. The narration was great, but the story line was chefs kiss. I love how she changed Toven and Briony and made them their own people separate from Hermione and Draco. This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it did not disappoint. However the auction will continue to hold a special place in my heart.

DNF—so boring and slow. I could barely pay attention to this and it was not getting any better. The plot sounded really interesting but the writing was not grabbing my attention

I went in with high hopes—this is Julie Soto’s debut fantasy, after all. I didn’t love her contemporary romance Not Another Love Song, but I thought maybe the shift to fantasy would change things. I was wrong. I really struggled to get through this one.

Let me be clear: I’m not judging this book based on its Dramione fanfiction roots (The Auction). I haven’t read it, and frankly, I’m not here to compare. I’m reviewing Rose in Chains as a dark romantasy on its own. And as it stands, I felt completely disconnected from everything about it. If you’re already familiar with the fanfic, maybe this works better for you, but for me, the world-building, the plot, the characters—it all felt like a confusing mess I couldn’t untangle. I kept waiting for something to click, and it never did.

The premise seemed promising: the dark forces have won, the kingdom is in ruins, and Briony Rosewood is captured and sold to Toven Hearst, a high-ranking officer from the conquering Bomardsun faction. The idea of forbidden romance, political intrigue, and magic had me intrigued at first. But honestly, that promise was squandered.

Let’s talk about the world-building. This is where the book completely lost me. It feels like the author just threw out a bunch of names, titles, and magic systems with zero explanation, expecting the reader to just catch up. Information overload doesn’t even begin to describe it. By the time I started trying to make sense of things, I was already too exhausted to care. It’s like the book assumed you knew everything already, which, for someone new to this universe, was a huge turn-off.

As for the magic system—I don’t mind Heart Magic vs. Mind Magic as a concept, but it wasn’t explored in a way that made it feel central to the story. It was just another element added into an already overloaded world, but without the depth to back it up.

The pacing was agonisingly slow. Not slow in the atmospheric, tension-building way—no, this was painfully slow. The first half dragged on so much that I seriously contemplated dnfing. When something important did happen, it didn’t have any emotional weight because none of the characters had been developed enough for me to care about their struggles.

Briony could’ve been an awesome protagonist. Instead, she was disappointing. Presented as a skilled fighter, a powerful magic user, but you wouldn’t know it by her actions. She reacts to everything—never takes charge of her own fate. I don’t need every heroine to be a warrior, but I do need to see growth. Briony didn’t offer that. She felt like a pawn in someone else’s game, and I spent the entire book waiting for her to show some agency, but that moment never came.

Briony and Toven’s romance was completely forced. I could never understand why Toven was drawn to Briony in the first place. The slow-burn tension between them wasn’t earned, it was just there because the plot demanded it. I love a slow-burn romance when it’s done right, but this one missed the mark entirely. The flashbacks meant to flesh out Toven’s feelings for Briony only felt like filler. It was like the author was trying to force a connection that just wasn’t happening.

So, would I recommend Rose in Chains? Honestly, if you’re into dark romantasy or already a fan of The Auction, this might work better for you. There’s definitely potential in the political intrigue, the romantic conflict, and the dark, forbidden elements. But for me? It was a slog.

This isn’t a bad book, but it didn’t work for me. I’m not sure if I’m just not the right audience for Julie Soto’s style, but as it stands, I’m not sure I’ll continue with the series.

This was *Chefs kiss*
I liked this a lot more then I thought I would.
I can honestly say this read like movie more then a book and it was great.

This was definitely a slow burn and still unknown what is going on. literally everything happened all at once in the last 20%. The heartbreak about this this is now I will have to wait for the next book which is one hell of a heartbreak.

There's definitely a few triggers in this book so make sure you read the warning before hand. Julie has handled all these with the care they deserve and also the real pain and terror that are associated with these triggers.

Julie is definitely a talented author and deserves more then 5 star for this.

Briony is captured after her brother (The king is killed). she know everything has just changed and she is is now the sole Evermore that could produce a heir that will be able to bring her family back from extinction.
But trapped, in servitude, stripped of her magic and sold in a auction to the highest enemy bidder Toven.
Toven and his family are known for their cruelty. Yet despite the rumours she has heard growing up about him and the family, he is not what he seems.
Briony learns to play the role she must to survive and her saviour is right in front of her eyes.

Briony is a great characters she fierce and formidable in a way where she has no choice but to dig deep. She has always been attracted??? curious??? of Torven??
Torven is a complicated character that started boring but then became my favourite. his complicated and so guarded and maintain it all so perfectly until he doesn't and when that wall falls it really falls.

I love Serena Torvens mother she was a great surprise and so proud of her motherly instincts!!

I’m a huge fan of Julie Soto and SHE DID NOT DISAPPOINT.

From start to finish, I was hooked. This book had me on edge, flipping pages (pressing play) like my life depended on it. Even when I had to pause, I couldn't stop thinking about what would happen next.

The romance? I was obsessed with the past timeline—torn between loving it and screaming at it—while also desperate to know what was unfolding in the present.

I NEED BOOK 2 ASAP 😭

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC!

My feelings about this book are a bit of a mess. On the one hand, there were elements I enjoyed so much, on the other hand, I have gripes. Quite a few of them.

The story is told in two timelines, although the focus lies on the here and now. Which is the aftermath of a war between two kingdoms. Briony Rosewood, princess of the Eversuns, and lifelong supporter of her brother (the ruler-to-be), is enslaved after her kingdom is attacked by the kingdom of Bomard. She and many other surviving women are then auctioned off to the highest bidder, to be used as slaves - either magically or sexually. Or both. As dark as this set-up sounds as I type it here, it never really felt that way in the book.
I blame the weak characterization and world building.

We don't get a lot of information on how this world works, although the idea of two competing magic systems - heart magic and mind magic - was intriguing. While the kingdom of Bomard uses heart magic, which is more physically taxing but also powerful, the Eversuns use mind magic, which comes across as a neverending fount of strength. More details aren't given, but I was fine with that, this being, first and foremost, a romantasy novel. I am quite happy to focus on the romance if that is meant to be the heart of the book.
And the romance... worked in parts. Incidentally, the parts I'm talking about are the flashbacks we get of Briony's school years. Not only are those the strongest ones when it comes to world building, because we get to actually see some of it, but also because it fleshes out Briony's character and shows her changing relationship to the Bomard boy Toven Hearst.

Briony is clearly and obviously the smartest and best at school, but due to her brother being the heir and women not being worth all that much in her culture, she uses her knowledge and cleverness to support him instead. And she does so gladly. For the most part. But Tovan is onto her, which I assume is what makes him develop feelings, although this is only implied. It was also in those flashback chapters that we see the two interact. There's a little banter, there's a little teasing, and I was here for it!

But cut back to the present and the plot gets slow. Very slow. It runs mostly on the idea of enslaving young women to use them as a magical familiars and/or sex slave that drives the plot. And let's be honest, if nothing really happens, there's very little drive. Briony, surprising nobody but the characters in the book, is won at auction by Toven and then granted a rather cushy version of slavehood. This bothered me for several reasons, most of all because it presents the "good slave owner" narrative I find disgusting in every way. Secondly, it is so obvious that Tovan genuinely likes her and was trying to save her from a terrible fate to the best of his abilities, within the structure of the society he lives in. But their interactions in the present, when they happen at all, are so. Damn. Boring.

It doesn't help that literally all side characters are cardboard cutouts without any personality. The bad guys are ridiculously bad. We learn about some other women's lives and the terrible things they go through but the way these scenes were written kept them at a distance. Again, I get that a romance novel will focus on the two main characters and their, well, romance, but you can't set up a society with magical slavery and then just brush it aside. Or when you do show the horrors of it all, do so through characters I never got the chance to care about.

The other thing that annoyed me was that - because of the slow middle part - this book could have been a lot shorter. It came across like the publishers (or author?) wanted it to be drawn out, just so they could turn this into a trilogy, rather than a standalone novel. Because once I've reached the end, nothing has been resolved, not all that much has happened in the grand scheme of things, and we've learned very little about what the future might hold.
There is one piece of information that will make readers ask "so what happens next" but we could have been given that information after a third of the book and then just gone on the actual adventure.

So what did I like about this, then? The audiobook narration by Ella Lynch was lovely, although I've read some reviews where people bounce off her voice hard. So maybe listen to a sample, before you decide to go that route. Different tastes and all that. :)
I also loved the flashback chapters where we get to see the characters at school, see Briony and her brother Rory interact, Tovan and his crew be mean, and where the tensions between the two kingdoms felt tangible.
I also enjoyed the parts where help arrives from unexpected quarters, when people come together to fight evil, and of course the (sadly very few) moments of sexual tension between Briony and Toven. Honestly, I was a bit surprised at how little these two talk, but that just brings us back to this being just the opening part of a trilogy.

I will read the next book, because this one didn't really deliver what I was hoping for. There was not nearly enough romance for a romantasy, and the plot has barely kicked off at this point. Which kind of sucks, but also gives me hope that the next volume will get things going for real. All of this sounds quite negative, I realize, but the book wasn't bad. I think a (chunky) standalone with a stronger focus on character development and especially the relationship between the two romantic leads would have worked better, but I still enjoyed myself to some degree during the entire listening experience.
I was hoping this would be my newest romantasy crush. It sadly didn't turn out that way, but there was still enough here to make me keep going and see what the story is really all about. Now it's time to play the waiting game.

This was so good!! Dark and deliciously slow (in the best way) while still managing to keep the reader hooked from the get go.

Usually my favourite part of romances is the character development, but surprisingly it was the story that really has me gripped with this book. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Briony and am hooked on Toven (and I am ridiculously excited to see more of them in the next book), but because their relationship is definitely a slow burn, it is really how well paced and interesting the plot is that has me chomping at the bit for more.

Soto’s first attempt at a dark romantasy is an absolute success and I am looking forward to the rest of the series!

I would also recommend checking out the audiobook version, because Ella Lynch does an excellent job keeping the listener engaged!

Hear me out: the concept? Absolutely amazing. But the execution? Unfortunately, really lacking. The worldbuilding was practically nonexistent, and certain parts of the plot just didn’t make sense. The first half of the book made me want to DNF. I couldn’t connect with Briony, our main character, and her relationship with Toven felt shallow and rushed. So many scenes felt confusing from a narrative perspective, and while the book clearly tried to set up a lot for the series, it didn’t deliver in a satisfying or coherent way.

I can see why this book is so hyped, it has all the classic romantasy elements that would definitely hit the mark for readers mainly interested in the romance. But unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me.