I loved the narrator and thought she did a great job at portraying the characters. She was easy to listen to and had a good cadence. I really loved the book! The storyline was amazing and the cast of characters were great. I’m excited to see where the second book takes us!

My God…this was my first Julie Soto book and now I’m going to have to go on a binge! This was beautifully written. I was truly awed by the masterful way she can tell a story. I love a good mix of politics and romance in a romantasy. And I love a good dark romantasy, and this one was GREAT!

First of all, I’m so grateful for having the opportunity to read this work in advance. Julie Soto is one of my favorite authors and her fantastic style is just what I love, also her fanfics are truly amazing, so this adaptation is nothing but exactly that: TRULY AMAZING.

I had the chance to read an early copy of Rose in Chains and I also listened to the audiobook, and what a ride it was.

This story felt like coming back to something familiar and beloved —it carries the soul of The Auction, Julie Soto’s fan fiction that many of us fell in love with— but Rose in Chains is definitely its own story. I was surprised and deeply moved by the changes, the new layers, and the emotional depth of the characters. It truly felt like reading the story again for the very first time, in the best possible way. One of my favorite things is that the story had more than one details of not just “The Auction” but all the works from that fan fic series (The Rights and Wrongs) and felt like a revisit of a place that I loved before. But, then again, the changes in the story were in another level, in all the good ways.

As I said, I listened to the audiobook, and although I would’ve absolutely loved for it to have dual narration to better reflect both characters’ perspectives, I have to say that the emotion in the single narration was spot on. The performance managed to capture all the intensity, vulnerability, and tension between the protagonist so beautifully that I was completely hooked. The only bad thing of all this was that it ends to quickly and I have to wait so much for the next two books 😭

This book is emotional, intense, and so beautifully written. Julie Soto knows how to create chemistry and longing like few authors can. It broke my heart and healed it at the same time.

🥀 Tropes:
Forced proximity
Enemies to lovers
Dark romance
Secret pining


🌹 1000000 stars for the audio. 1000000 stars for the book. I LOVED this ALC! I’m a huge Dramione, the auction, and Julie Soto fan so I knew I was going to like the story. I didn’t expect to LOVEEE the narration as much as I did

🌹 The narrators voice is beautiful. I quite literally teared up when I heard her voice. I CRIED. Her intonation is perfect. She changes her voice for different characters perfectly. Her male voice is not cringey. She doesn’t talk with excess spit in her mouth (which bugs me in other audiobooks- so this was HUGE for me). I can feel the emotion through her voice. I can tell that she put her SOUL into this audiobook. I listened on 1.25% for a portion of it and it still felt perfect.

🌹 This is hands down one of the best audiobooks I’ve ever listened to. And not just because of the books content, but also because of the narrator. Love her. As far as the story goes, it was everything I’ve ever wanted and more. I do want this review to be more about the audiobook because that’s what I was gifted, but just know it will be one of the best Romantasy books you will EVER read.

🌹 Thank you NetGalley and hatchette audio for the ALC. I will be forever grateful for letting me listen to this book early (it truly was a unicorn book for me), but also for putting it into audio so perfectly.

I'm so torn on how to feel about this book.

First off, I read this in like 48 hours and then I took 24 hours before finally figuring out my feelings. I some how devoured it while questioning a lot of it at the same time. I enjoyed the overall story and I do like the cliffhanger at the end. However, if you were a big fan of The Auction, you might not actually be giving this the five-stars you were hoping for. I think that's why I feel so unsure about it still. Plus, this is supposed to be dark and the fan-fiction felt darker... It has heavy topics still, so be mindful of your content warnings.

Some things were changed a bit to fit into a new world and not fanfiction, but I think the world building could have been a bit better. I'm still kind of questioning why people don't like mind magic wielders to begin with. There were a ton of characters thrown in at the start that you either had to stop and go back to listen about because it was so much at once, or you just moved on. Plus, there was a lot of focus on her having this strong bond with her brother - yet, it felt like it was all one sided.

The romance is a slow burn, like barely in the room. It feels more like heavy tension right now. This is a series so I expect that part. When it got a bit spicy it seemed to pull back quickly.

I also really liked the ending. It's why I'll be continuing but not rushing to read it as soon as it releases. I like dragons and I'm curious to see how that ending plays into the series. THAT felt like it was one of the first things that actually changes from the fanfiction story.

Thank you to Forever and Hachette Audio for the Netgalley ALC.

Also, a HUGE shoutout to Ella Lynch. Her narration of the audio was seriously a 10/10.

Wow---Stunned what an addictive world and fantastic novel! I love Julie Sotto as a romance author and was excited to dive into her first Romantasy novel! Was captivated from the very first chapter! I appreciated the easy world building, morally grey characters and twists and turns. The tension and yearning in this book was top tier and pays off! Never before have I read any dramione but I am addicted, I couldn't put the audio book down and made excuses to listen at every moment. While the subject matter was dark, I think the world leans more Fantasy than dark romance. loved it so much!

The audio narration & production was amazing quality, the narrator did a great job with all the different characters and the production was incredible on audio! Really amazing job!

Thank you Hatchette audio for the arc of this audiobook! comes out July 8th

4.25 stars!!

I think Ella Lynch was the perfect narrator for this book! Just when I was starting to fear that I was getting burnt out on romantacy novels, this came along and saved me. I need the second book immediately. Briony doesn’t understand how strong she is because she’s been taught her whole life to not outshine her twin brother. She’ll put herself in harm’s way to protect the ones she cares about. Toven is a very layered MMC and I can’t wait for more of his backstory to be revealed in the coming books. I really enjoy the growing friendship between Briony and Toven’s mother and how she protects Briony as her own.

Thank you to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this ALC!

First of all thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an audio copy of this book. I am so very honored!

How to review this book… I will preface by saying that I am not usually a fantasy girlie and DEFINITELY not a dark romance girlie. I am a huge HP fan and I also read Manacled and adored it so I can’t help but compare this.

I do feel like this book kind of copied Manacled and then released before Alchemised came out in attempts to try to get more clout/sales/casual readers attention and that puts a sour taste in my mouth.

All of that being said the book did keep me interested the whole time and I always wanted to know how it was going to end. I was definitely always rooting for the main character So there are a couple of points in my eyes going toward this book. The magic and world were easy enough to follow (although I know that this is in part due to being based on HP). The narrator was also phenomenal. I think a poor narrator would’ve made me hate this book so I am thankful for such a great one.

I really really really did not like the enslavement parts of the book being wrapped up in the sexual parts of the book, but I know that is a common theme in these dark romance books and that is is just not my jam. I really don’t really know if we need that in today’s society. It never felt like the over-sexualization of the slave women was really very necessary for the plot. That’s one thing that I appreciate where manacled did not lean in to. I think there were parts that were supposed to be sexy but were just gross and made me angry instead. I never shipped the main characters or wanted them together and I think that’s a huge misstep for the book considered its a romance.

I also feel like Briony (Hermione’s) character that I know and love so much was so very diluted. I wanted her to do more to save herself but every time she just kept getting saved by Toven and it just made it not very interesting. I just wanted a little more from her. I know this is a trilogy so I’m sure we will get that in the future books.

All in all I know this is not the genre for me. I enjoyed everything but the smut parts and the slavery parts because they were just too tied together that it was really cringey and uncomfortable to read. I think maybe these kinks should stay in the porn world.. but I did enjoy the magic and the world building and that part of the story a lot! I think the author should’ve stuck more to those parts.

I read the e-ARC and was so fortunate to receive an ALC as well!
I fell in love with this story with text, but Ella Lynch’s narration took this story to a whole new level. She has the perfect voice for Briony, and she does a really good job at creating distinguishable voices for the large cast of characters. Her emotion was strong and I felt so immersed in the story.
I also still am obsessed with the world that Julie Soto has created and I’m so excited for the world to get Rose in Chains!

This is definitely one of my favorites reads of this year. Right away I was intrigued and the world building/magic system was easy to understand. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator Ella Lynch did a really great job. I got immersed into the book quickly because of her and I enjoyed it. My only issue was the way she narrated the male characters it wasn't my favorite but it was something I could overlook. I did have a lot of anxiety because of the darker themes in this book so definitely check out the trigger warnings. I'm a sucker for a slow burn and yearning!!!!! The tension between Briony and Toven was intense. Julie Soto you ate and left no crumbs!! Thank you to Hachette Audio for the opportunity to listen to this arc!

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Hachette Audio for the free advanced audiobook. Before I jump into the book review, I would like to recognize the amazing narration by Ella Lynch. She did an amazing job as Briony (and the other characters). This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it did not disappoint (I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook first). I would strongly recommend reviewing the trigger/content warnings prior to starting this one. Briony has been taken prisoner after her brother, the prophesied hero, falls to the Bromard forces. After being stripped of her magic she is auctioned off to the highest bidder - Toven Hearst, Briony’s former schoolmate who she has always been attracted and drawn to. I loved the slow, slow, slow burn - the pining and yearning was done very well with the flashbacks showing how Briony and Toven’s relationship develops throughout their school years. While captured, Briony longs to gain back her freedom, her magic and find any remaining allies and family that may still be imprisoned or in hiding. I cannot wait to read the next book in the trilogy. 5/5 stars, I highly recommend this one.

THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS??? I need the sequel immediately pls. 🙈
I read The Auction and the twist at the end of this totally threw me off.
I can't wait until the next one comes out now!
The narrator was very good in this.

Thank you Forever and Hachette Audio for the advance copy of the audiobook.

Story: 5 ⭐️
Steam: 3🔥 smut is very low but content is high (see trigger warnings!)
Audio: 5 🎧


This book was really good. I had a little bit of a hard time getting into it at the beginning because the time jumps, but once I settled in, I was hooked from then forward.

This is the slowest slow burn that ever did burn slowly, but I anticipate that it’s going to be absolutely fantastic once it gets to fruition . I’m not sure I’m going to survive waiting for the next book.

The audiobook performance was great and I honestly hope that one day we get this book from Toven‘s perspective because I can imagine what he’s thinking, but I would love to actually read it.

If Julie Soto writes it, I’m absolutely going to read/listen to it! I have loved all of her romance books and I could not wait for this venture into romantasy. I’m always captivated by worlds with magic and when characters have different magical strengths and weaknesses. I ADORE the Dramione trope that this book is derived from. That being said, you don’t have to know anything about it to love this book. It is definitely dark and you’ll want to check your trigger warnings. Briony and others endure some pretty horrific things. Despite that, Briony continues to show her strength and hope for the future. I truly don’t think I could do the same if I were in that situation. Toven keeps you guessing and makes you blush while also making you want to punch him in the junk. Julie Soto does a such a wonderful job describing the thoughts and feelings of the characters, that you can’t help but feel like you’re experiencing everything alongside them. One of the most delicious things about this book is the tension between Briony and Toven. I’m so glad this is going to be a trilogy because I need more of them, and even then, it might not be enough! The cliffhanger at the end, though!! That’s one way to keep us invested. Ella Lynch was PERFECTION for this role. I cannot express enough how much her voice brought even more enjoyment to the story. I’m so glad I got to listen to this audio!

This is my fourth Julie Soto book and unfortunately I am just not a fan of her romance writing. Rose in Chains had a lot of dark themes (check trigger warnings!) that made me deeply uncomfortable and made it hard to read. Which is crazy because this is also supposed to be a romance?? I also did not connect with the FMC or MMC. I don’t think I’ve really liked any MMCs in Julie Soto’s books. I did not enjoy the world building or magic system, most of it felt hopeless, and i did not care about their relationship at all.

I guess I can’t get behind a romance with a slave/master background even if the MMC isn’t technically abusing her. Just having that be the main plot made me feel icky the entire time. Reading this as an audiobook helped me get through it, but if it were a physical book I would have definitely DNFed. I will not be continuing the series.

This is definitely one of the easiest five-star ratings I’ve given this year. I can’t wait for everyone to dive into the fantasy world Julie has created because it is PER. FECT.

First, she did an amazing job recreating this world in her own way while still giving a nod to the original fanfic readers. She’s such a gem for doing that, and I love her even more now.

Second, the story is fantastic, and she made it even better with this traditional publication. The characters, storyline, world-building, and progression of the plot are all gold. I adore Brioney and Toven so much, and I can’t believe I have to wait so long for book two *sobs as I open another Dramione fanfic to soothe my soul*

This audiobook was also great overall I enjoyed it and felt that the narrator did a great job with all the characters!

Book Review: Rose in Chains by Julie Soto

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

Short Summary:

This book follows Briony Rosewood as the world she once knew shatters. She is captured during the fall of her castle and taken to an auction, where she is put up for sale to the highest bidder. As the known princess of Evermore, she has to face the reality of the high price on her head and how much her future is about to change. With evil now in power and the world no longer what it was, Briony is bought by Toven Hearst, whose family is known for their cruelty. She must figure out how to survive in this new world, where nothing feels safe and hope is hard to find.

My Thoughts:

I received this book as an ARC, specifically an audiobook advanced reader’s copy, and I had been seeing it everywhere before I started. As someone who loves romantasy, this book reignited something in me that I had not felt in a while. I went in with high expectations, and it truly delivered.
This story scratched the exact itch I was hoping for. I was completely pulled into the world from the very beginning. The atmosphere was rich, the plot kept me engaged, and I found myself fully invested in what was happening. I especially loved the main characters and the chemistry between them. It felt natural and intense in the best way.
The book does explore some darker themes, so I definitely recommend checking the list of content warnings before reading. That said, the writing was strong and compelling throughout. The audiobook narration was also incredible. The narrators brought so much energy and emotion to the story and really elevated the entire experience.
I cannot wait for the next book, especially after that ending. If you’re looking for your next romantasy read, I highly recommend giving this one a try. Thank you to Julie Soto and Hachette Audio for providing this copy in exchange for an honest review.

I just started listening to audiobooks probably six months ago. This book is wonderful. I did have to look up what the main characters name was because I couldn’t understand what the narrator was saying. Overall enjoyed the book although I will be getting a physical copy just to read again making sure I didn’t miss anything.

I really enjoyed Not Another Love Song by the author, so I was excited to be able to read another book by her. I had both the alc and earc so I got to immersive listen and I think it really helped my experience because let me tell you that first part of the book was so HARD to get through. I was riddled in ick with all the things that is grossly wrong in this universe. One thing I did notice and it was fun to catch was the differences in the audiobook and the ebook.

The narration aspect of this book was pretty good. I loved how the narrator voiced the females and a majority, not all the male voices were done good as well. Certain males voices made me cringe, but at the end of the day it helped me loathe the characters more so I think it helped.

The Bomardi men who were in her father’s castle—

The men who watched her brother die—

The men who were hunting Eversuns—

They were the men to whom she grew up curtsying, the men she greeted at state affairs, the men who shook her father’s hand just weeks before Mallow took the Seat and struck him down.
She likely knew them all.

This book follows Briony and Toven. They are on opposite sides of a magic war. Her kingdom has been overthrown and his family is partly responsible. Briony gets sold at an auction and Toven is the one to buy her. You get to experience both the past and present. The dual timeline was interesting, it really worked well with the story, helping build a better connection with the reader and the characters.

What to Expect
📖Multiple POV
📖Fantasy
📖Virgin FMC
📖Past/Present Timeline
📖Dramoine Fanfic (Originally)
📖Slow Burn -- errr teasing burn -- cause there's nothing there -- all denial
📖Captive x Captor (Kind of not really, since he's not treating her like a captive. He purchased her to protect her)
📖Intricate Magic System

⚠️Check Content Warnings Prior to Reading

I will be so for real, the first portion of the book I said I am going to finish this book, but I don't think I will continue the series. If this is what most of the book is going to be like then I don't think I can stomach it. I carried on, it got better. Not necessarily the situations the characters were in, but the past and present timeline really helped piece things together.

I was starting to get annoyed with the FMC, especially near the end, because I'm like girl why are you thinking the worst when it's blatantly obvious what's real. Book one has hardly any romance so if you are reading it for that you will be very disappointed. They have one almost real scene but it abruptly ends and then you're left very confused. I want to say that certain actions can be deemed as romantic but it's moreso just very confusing.

I never read The Auction as fanfiction, but I have read manacled and the story is very similar. Similar as in the situations they are put in, but it's both men and women. Instead of used to produce heirs, their bodies are used for power. Similar vibes different story.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Julie Soto is a romantasy QUEEN!. Imagine the slowest of slow burns, the kind that makes your chest ache and your Kindle overheat. Now throw in a tortured, broody love interest, a heroine you want to be best friends with, and writing so sharp it could cut glass. Yep. That’s the vibe.

This book is a delicious mix of dark, emotional, and swoony. It keeps you hooked with the perfect balance of tension, tenderness, and “did-they-just-say-that” moments. The angst? Immaculate. The chemistry? Off the charts. The payoff? Totally worth the emotional rollercoaster.

If you love your romance with edge, depth, and the kind of storytelling that hijacks your whole weekend—Rose in Chains is calling your name. Bring snacks, cancel your plans, and prepare to obsess.