⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Not being part of the fandom, I was stunned to have loved this book as much as I did!
Rose in Chains follows Briony, the princess of Evermore as she and the other Eversun women are captured when war breaks out. After the women are sold, the story follows Briony in both the past and current time; slowly laying breadcrumbs to cleverly build out the world, magic system and lore.
The initial chapters of the book were challenging to grasp, with a wide cast of characters introduced early on. However, after this I found the pacing to be absolute perfection, and the story well crafted.
The ARC I was provided was for the audiobook, which I think only enhanced my experience and enjoyment of this book. The narrator’s style perfectly fit with the character of Briony, and for the most part the voices for each character fit nicely. There were a couple of male characters (Raven being one) that I found didn’t gel with the character - but not enough for it to really influence my enjoyment of the book!
I appreciate the thoroughness of the trigger warnings included in the book, and encourage anyone reading it to ensure they check them!
The only part I really dislike.. I have to wait for the next book!
Thank you to Hachette Audio for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

✨ All the stars. Every single one. Julie Soto has done it again — and yes, the hype is entirely deserved.

This romantasy has it all: magic, action, tension that could power a city, and banter so electric I felt personally attacked (in the best way). The timeline jumps around, but don’t worry — it’s smooth, intentional, and honestly makes the emotional payoff hit harder.

The chemistry between the FMC and MMC? Off. The. Charts. I was yelling at my audiobook like it was a reality show finale.

Speaking of which — I got the ALC from NetGalley (thank you, blessed ARC gods), and the narrator crushed it. Her character voices were seamless and full of emotion — she didn’t just read the story, she performed it. I laughed, I swooned, I considered writing fanfiction.

If you love your fantasy with a heavy dose of swoon, sass, and a sprinkle of heartbreak — add this to your TBR immediately. Audiobook or print — either way, you're in for a magical ride. 💫

Ok so we all know this is based on Dramione fic and I fully read it with that lens on. I was skeptical at the beginning having just read Manacled this year as they are so so similar with the collars and the handmaiden vibes, but this book did branch off from that eventually and became its own story and world. I really liked the magic systems and the Hearsts and Briony, but I think all of the side characters weren’t as strong as I would have liked. They all just seemed to be used as examples of different parts of Briony and didn’t really stand on their own even though we do see them on page plenty because of the flashbacks. I also think it was maybe a little longer than it needed to be and could have been edited down a bit.

The slow burn was insaaaaaane I can’t wait to read book two.

I am pretty picky about my audio book narrators but I think this one did it pretty well, there were just some moments where Briony got pretty whiny.

To me the FMC feels like a brainwashed tradwife

Everything about her character revolves are her attraction to the MMC and how she is servituding men in her life.

I couldn't get past 59% because at this point the FMC had been humiliated multiple times and I was incredibly bored of the story.

I think it's time to stop publishing books where a man buys/enslaves a woman and treats her with the bare minimum of respect and we're all okay with them falling in love.

Thank you to the publisher for an early copy of the audiobook.

Julie Soto writing fantasy tickles my brain. I have never read the fanfic that Rose in Chains was based on so my opinion is looking at this as a completely original work.
I loved the story, magic, and characters in this story. It was beautifully written and immersive. The audio was well done, expressive and easy to listen to. I finished it in less than two days because I just could not stop.
I absolutely cannot wait for the next part of the trilogy.
Thank you to Netgalley and the published for the audiobook ARC of this book! My review and opinions are entirely my own.

I’m obsessed with Julie Soto, so obviously I needed this book. Rose in Chains (a dark, twisty fantasy where magic is forbidden and rebellion brews inside an oppressive regime) had me hooked from page one. I was soooo happy I got the advance listening copy—finished it in under 24 hours because the narrator is chef’s kiss.

This book, tho… UGH. When’s the next drop?! I feel like this might be my Dramamine fanfic origin story.

Excuse me while I reread this one immediately.


Thanksa million Hachette audio and netgalley!!!

I really enjoyed this audiobook. The narrator has a good cadence and was expressive and kept the story flowing.

For some reason, I didn't realize this would be a series, and now I'm so sad I have to wait for the next installment. Briony and Toven's slow burn is pretty epic, and gives big "Cruel Prince" vibes.

I'm so grateful for the chance to listen to this ALC and definitely recommend this to all romantasy readers!

This is a dark Romantasy with dark romance with some hard topics covered on page, so check trigger warnings before reading. The writing is fantastic, as is the audio. I hung in every word and couldn’t out this book down. I got feels of a darker ACOMAF. This is a tension-filled slow burn with lots of mystery and intrigue. I absolutely LOVED the FMC with her big heart and determination and bravery. I thoroughly enjoyed the dynamic between the FMC and MMC with all the tension and almost a grumpy x sunshine, or broody x hopeful.

Enemies to lovers
Captive x captor
Dark Romantasy
Slowwwwww burn
Mine 🫠
Protective and Possessive MMC
Strong and Sassy FMC

4 🌶️ (medium spice open door, spice topics are part of the main plot, but while they are descriptive, the actual open door scenes don’t happen often) **and make sure to check trigger warnings: SA happening in side characters among many other TWs

I loved this. A bit too much of a slow burn, but I’m so excited to continue on with this. This was so Dramione coded that my heart SANG. Ive loved everything I’ve read by Julie Soto and this is no exception.

OKAYY!!!

I have not read The Auction so at the beginning of the book, I kept getting distracted trying to connect Harry Potter characters to the ones in this book. But once I just ignored that this was a fanfiction, it became way easier to focus on the story. Overall, the beginning was kinda hard to get immersed in, the world was a bit confusing for me, but once Toven showed up, I slapped on my detective hat, pulled out my magnifying glass, and started playing investigator. I love fictional men with white hair. Best believe I was suddenly very invested.

I loved the flashback parts with Briony and Toven. I am such a sucker for long relationships where the characters have known each other for a big chunk of their lives and we get to see it progress. The slow burn in this was awesome. I loved watching the relationship form from when they were younger to the present.

This book was definitely dark, but it never made me too uncomfortable to read. I see lots of reviews saying they don’t like how the women are treated in this book, but the whole point is that the evil people won. Evil shit is going to be done to the side that lost. That’s kind of the whole point.

And that cliffhanger? Absolutely feral. When’s the next book coming out? I think I might read The Auction next to see what happens and how the two compare

4.5 stars

Unlike other stories, we begin at the end when the evil side has already "won." Briony and others from her kingdom are sold off in auction to provide magic to the victors. It was a very tough read at times, as women were disempowered and kept as property. I powered through and I'm glad I did as I'm hooked on the storyline and eager to see how the captives rise up.

I loved Briony's nerdy character. "Pages and words and information. Her favorite things." Briony is smart and courageous and ready to find the solution to every problem inside a book.

I'm intrigued by the cunning ways of all the Hearsts and look forward to finding out what their plans and allegiances really are. "Sometimes I have to act without your approval, to do what's best for my family. Not just you, all four of us." Four. All four of us.

While this is definitely a dark romantasy, with themes I might usually avoid, I was sucked into the story and will continue the series. The narrator did a fantastic job capturing Briony's anger and sadness, Toven's haughtiness, and the lecherousness of some side characters.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC.

🎧 Title: Rose in Chains- The Evermore Trilogy #1-3

✍🏾 Author: Julie Soto- an auto-buy author for me

📅Publication date: 7-8-25 | Read: 6-27-25

🗣️Narrator: Ella Lynch voices all the characters with standouts from Briony and Toven. The reading style brought the text to life, and the author and narrator worked together perfectly. The pacing and flow allowed me to get lost in the story. The narrator paused and announced new chapters and there was a table of contents which helped me follow along.

🏃🏾‍♀️‍➡️Run Time: 15:35

Genre:
*Fantasy
*Dark Romance
*Adult Fic

Tropes:
*Dramione fanfic-The Auction
*enemies to lovers/rivals
*slow burn romance
*flashbacks
*forced proximity
*magic school-mind magic and heart magic/golden heartsprings
*mutual pining
*royal romance
*a dragon
*the chosen one

👆🏾POV: 3rd person

⚠️TW: slavery/human auction, virgin h, SA/SH, war, abortion, forced sterilization, mind attacks, death of loved ones


🌎 Setting: Evermore-Claremore Castle and Bomard

Summary: Rory is set to become King of the Eversuns but must first defeat Bomard led by Queen Mallow. When his castle is attacked, his twin sister Princess Briony and several others are taken prisoner-the women forced to become slaves to Bomard. Briony is given to her archenemy Toven as a heartspring. She is tattooed and chained to stop her magic and let everyone know she belonged to him.

👩🏾 Heroine: Briony Rosewood-25, Princess of Evermore turned prisoner

👨🏾 Hero: Toven Hearst-25, his family controls Heart Magic in Bomard, Vespa-his fox familiar

🎭 Other Characters:

* Rory Rosewood-Briony's twin, heir-apparent to King Evermore per a "chosen one" prophecy
* Cordelia-Briony's BFF/ in love w/ Rory
* Veronika Mallow-Queen of the Bomardi, bonded to a dragon. A mind reader who wants to end the Rosewood line.
* Lag Reighven+ Gaines- evil handlers
* Serena + Orion Hearst-Toven's parents
* Liam + Finn + Colin-Toven's friends
* Larissa Gaines-from Bomard/Briony's rival who becomes enslaved because of her father's cruelty

🤔 My Thoughts: This was a great beginning of a new romantasy series. The mutual pining, the betrayal, and war politics all combine for a Dramione/Handmaid's Tale/Fourth Wing dark romance. It ended in a surprise and cliffhanger that I can't wait to devour.

Rating: 5/5 ✨
Spice level 1/5 🌶️ most unwanted encounters, kiss/make out between H/h

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Julie Soto for this ALC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

Wow. When my friends and I would send each other live reactions every other Sunday while reading the new The Auction update, we never thought this is where we’d be a few years later. This is such a full circle moment.

This book absolutely blew me away. The magic system, the yearning, the GRIEF. Walking with Briony as she not only had to to come to terms with the death of her brother and the life she’s always known, but also being thrust into a new cruel, terrifying, dark world full of hate and monsters disguising as men. All while living alongside her school rival that she’s never been able to shield her heart from caring for.

I’m so excited to continue on the journey of this story and I can’t WAIT until the next book!! Thank you so so much to Hachette Audio for the opportunity to listen to an ARC version of this audiobook.

There is a lake with still waters….

This book was PERFECT!!! I quite literally couldn’t put it down. The world building is so unique and fits perfectly into the storyline! I loved the flashbacks integrated into the main story to show the relationship all our main characters had prior to the war. And the sloooooow burn literally had be dying on the inside. Julie Soto is one of my fav authors and this definitely did not disappoint! If you like…

🖤 Dark romance
📖 Politics and scheming
🔥 The slowest of slow burns
💪🏼 Strong FMC
🪄 Magic and spells
🩶 Morally gray MMC
🧗 Cliffhangers

Then you will love this book!

I didn’t realize how lucky I was to have received an early copy of this audiobook. I had just DNF Julie Soto’s other book (Not Another Love Song) and was scared her writing style was just not for me. I had heard such good things about her other books I knew I wanted to give her another chance. I’m so happy I did!
I read this via audiobook. I didn’t read the whole description just knew that it was a dark romantasy. Early on in the audiobook I kept thinking “I’ve heard this all before” but just could not remember from where exactly. Then it finally hit me…The Auction. A03. Yup the early works was a dramione fanfic, and I’m here for it.
Im not going to lie the world building was pretty much just thrown at you in the beginning, it was getting a little fuzzy. I was having to go back in the audiobook a few times to make sure I hadn’t missed anything. It slowly started to click towards the last half of the book.
The 2 different type of magics. Mind Magic and Heart Magic.
Briony oh Briony. Girl, you can not be that dense. Especially because you’ve technically had a crush on Toven since forever. I’d be dissecting every interaction we had together.
The flashbacks were timed just right. It gave us more on how their relationship has developed throughout the years.
The romance was just right for me. This is definitely a slow burn. The tension between them. It wasn’t so overbearing. I loved the touch him/her and die vibes. Also that one kiss scene…toe curling.
Definitely some dark moments. They are literally sold off as sex/magic slaves. The manor scenes did make me a bit uncomfortable but nothing I couldn’t listen to.
I can’t wait to continue with the series and follow along with how this world develops .
Check trigger warnings.

✨Like diving into your favorite story ✨

Adapted from the Dramione fanfic, The Auction, Rose in Chains is a wonderful novel able to stand on its own separate from its fic beginnings. I loved being able to see the pieces of The Auction that were able to remain unchanged but I think the story did a good job standing on its own.

You can absolutely read this without having read The Auction, HOWEVER, I think it also helps a bit understanding that is was originally an HP Universe Fic. I did love to see the cliffhanger, I listened to the audio and saw I have 13 minutes left and had no clue where the story was headed, which I like. The narrator sounded great and the audio kept me engaged. I do think this would be top tier if ever adapted into a full cast audio or graphic audio.

All in All, give it a read! Can't wait for the second book.

🌹Dark Romantasy
🌹Draminone Coded (DUH?!)
🌹Rivals
🌹Mutual Pining
🌹Morally Grey MMC
🌹SLOOOOOOOW BURRRRRN
🌹"Touch her and die."
🌹Cliffhanger

Trigger Warning:
Human Trafficking
Sexual Assault
Sexual Violence
Wartime

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for providing me with an audio ARC! All opinions are my own.

I requested this book because I sense many of my students will be attracted by its HP-origins. While I can confirm it’s not meant for YA readers, even upper-YA, it’s otherwise hard to assess this book. The world-building is odd because you can tell where certain HP-specific elements had to be adjusted. But they are replaced with vague stand-ins, and I can’t imagine how someone reading this without the HP context will make sense of it at all. It also feels like our Hermione-esque FMC is the wrong POV. She knows the least of any character and that slows the pacing and causes a great deal of frustration with the plot. In addition, every now and then we get flashbacks to the characters at school (i.e. Hogwarts), which also slows the pacing. The action and stakes of the flashbacks should have been in the main plot.

There are dark romance themes, but they aren’t detailed enough to make this fully a dark romance. Then again, there’s really no romance in here either. Again, a really hard book to assess.

That said, the narrator did a great job keeping me engaged. My only note is I felt she read the FMC a bit young (like a blushing schoolgirl) while everyone else read like grown adults.

5 stars…. FIVE STARS!!! Part of me wishes I hadn’t read this yet because it’s going to be absolute torture waiting for the next book. This series is going to be the next big thing. Im fully expecting this to blow up and be at the top of the charts. It’s got everything… enemies to lovers, slow burn, touch her and die, morally grey, magic elements…. EVERYTHING YOU COULD WANT! This was the easiest 5 stars I’ve given in a very long time. The narrator isn’t my favorite but we were vibing! Julie Soto needs to be fully prepared to be the next big thing with this book.

The audiobook was great! I finished it in 2 days!I throughly enjoyed the narration by Ella and she really gave life to all the different characters! The production of the audiobook was also great! I’ll probably be listening to the next book in the series as well so having a soothing and enjoyable voice is actually really relieving lol

As for the storyline, I wouldn’t really consider them “enemies to lovers” bc it seems to me they always had feelings for each other, they just never had the guts to tell each other🙄 now I will say… the yearning😍 *chefs kiss* I lived for it and that’s saying something because to me personally having TOO much yearning just feels like stalling the plot. I do wish they would’ve acknowledged their feelings by the end of the book, but it’s a trilogy so I guess we’ll see with the next one.
I appreciated the ending, and I literally LOL’d at realizing that the dragon actually basically kidnapped homeboy and just kept him the whole time😂😂😂 it was just a very funny visual in my head, I kept imagining him in like a birds nest lmao. I can’t wait for the next book!

This was a refreshing Romantasy book. I feel like many of the new releases this year have followed the same type of magic systems and political problems and this was very different. I really enjoyed the narration and would absolutely listen to other audiobooks that feature this narrator in the future.