I decided to dnf the audiobook because I personally did not enjoy the narration. For some reason I kept disconnecting from the story and spacing out. I decided to dnf and read the book when it comes out! This is just a person preference and I’m still so excited to read the story when it comes out. If you’re someone who isn’t super picky with narration, then I’m sure you will really enjoy this book.

4 ⭐️

I loved the beginning of this book and the ending of the book, but the middle kind of dragged for me.

The middle of the book dragged for me because the pacing felt kind of off. Sometimes weeks pass so quickly in the middle of the pacing, which makes the timing feel off. It might have been better to add more emotion to the weeks that passed when Briony and Tovin wouldn't see one another. Maybe more description of what Briony did during that time would have helped.

I also found Briony to be an annoyingly passive FMC (especially up to about 70%), she never took charge of her fate and just allowed shit to happen to her never taking charge of her future. We are told she is so powerful but she doesn’t come across as powerful but as meek. Briony is also quite naive at times. As the action picked up at around 70% through the story, Briony also became more active in the story and became more likable to me.

With regards to the audiobook specifically, I think it was well produced and I didn't experience any audio issues. I only found the narrator's Tovin voice to be a bit irritating. It was quite haughty and didn't really make me like Tovin more.

Link to my full Goodreads review will be added to this feedback form soon, as I am still working on it.
Thanks for the reading and listening opportunity!

This one kept me HOOKED. The tension, the banter, the yearning! I absolutely loved it and didn't want it to end.

The audio truly brought the story to life. The narrator is so versatile and added to each character’s personality. I don’t think any of the voices for the main or several minor characters sounded the same!

This was kind of like a fever dream because I just read The Auction a couple weeks ago. The backstory and changes made to the story in order for it to be traditionally published I struggled to vibe with at first. I also felt like there was so much room for improvement with The Auction but this didn’t really achieve that for me. The stakes felt much lower. The characters and banter were still quite fun and enjoyable

Unfortunately, I did not like the audiobook narrator because her voice felt very juvenile and a couple of her male voices did not work for me. She also made Briony sound not as smart as I had hoped she would be. I do feel like if I read this one physically I would have enjoyed it more.

Making this one a trilogy is an interesting choice given we all know how the original played out but I have a feeling the next two books will get further away from the fanfic which I think could be a good thing!


Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC!

Huge thanks to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for an early Audio copy of Rose in Chains by Julie Soto.


As someone who’s read the entire Rights & Wrongs series; including The Auction; I went into Rose in Chains with high expectations. While it wasn’t perfect, it still delivered so much of what I love about this world. There were moments of brilliance, even if a few structural and character related issues held it back from being a full five star read.

Let’s start with the strengths. The magic system here is fascinating. There’s a fresh twist that feels both inventive and seamlessly woven into the original world. I won’t spoil anything, but the way certain magical things play out had me genuinely surprised. The familiars were another highlight, they added so much charm and depth, and I found myself wishing we got even more of them (seriously, give me more).

Briony, our 25 year old FMC, is undeniably sheltered and naive, which made her frustrating at times, but she has moments of quiet strength that really shine as the story progresses. Toven, on the other hand, is exactly what you’d expect: scheming, often cowardly, and constantly trying (and failing) to stay three steps ahead while hiding his true motives. While his personality occasionally felt predictable, there’s an intriguing tension in his character that kept me hooked.

That said, my biggest struggles were with the flashbacks and the romance. The frequent jumps to the past disrupted the flow of the present narrative, and many of the school scenes didn’t feel necessary. Instead of deepening Toven and Briony’s connection, these flashbacks made their early "relationship" feel forced; like the story was telling me they had history rather than making me feel it. Their dynamic works much better later on, but the foundation wasn’t as convincing as it wanted to be.

Still, the core of story and magic system were strong enough to keep me invested. That last 20% had me on edge, and I loved some of the twists we got! Now I’m just impatient for Book 2.

•Please make sure you check the trigger warnings before picking up a copy of this book as they are 100% needed.

I enjoyed this soooo very much!! It's gripping and compelling and had me wanting more. It is similar to some other stories but it gets fleshed out into its own. I can not wait for the next one!

Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Audio for this gifted ALC.

Rose in Chains by Julie Soto is a beautiful new addition to the romantasy genre. The world-building kept me entertained. I enjoyed the dual timelines because they added so much depth to the characters. This book is definitely on the darker side, so be warned. I recommend checking out the content warning before starting this book. It's also good to know this is the beginning of a trilogy. I need to have the next book so I can see what happens next with Briony and Toven. I enjoyed the audiobook, and I feel Ella Lynch did a good job narrating.

Read this book if you enjoy:
-Dark romantasy
-Unique world building
-Briony is a princess of the fallen kingdom of Evermore.
-Toven is from the powerful and wealthy Bomard family.
-Dual timelines
-Rival kingdoms
-Mind magic x heart magic.
-Briony is purchased at an auction by Toven.
-Morally gray MMC
-Enemies-to-lovers
-SLOW BURN
-Forced proximity
-Touch him/her and die.
-3rd person POV.
-Cliffhanger

No surprise: I loved this!! The moment I found out Julie Soto was THE LovesBitca8 I was frothing at the mouth to read this and I'm so happy to report that it did not disappoint! I thought this was really well re-worked into a traditionally published book and I am already dying for the next book.

This starts off so fast with us being thrown into the end of the war with the villain winning. I loved that we got right into the action and I was immediately sucked in and didn't want to put it down. I think the flashbacks really helped us to understand the past and why we should care about the characters right now, given we don't have all this background like in the fic. I was fully invested. I also thought the magic system was easy to understand.

And then we have Briony & Toven and I loved them!! Gosh you could just feel the tension between them. All the little things Toven says that give us glimpses into his motivations and what he is feeling! This is slow burn. Like slowwww burrrnnnnn. But given that this is a trilogy makes sense and I would personally rather have this than our characters getting together and then the author having to find some way to break them apart in the next book to keep things interesting. So we love a good build up and they had me so giddy and smiling at times!

I also loved a lot of our side characters and thought the atmosphere and vibes were perfect for a dark romantasy! I do have to say that while we do have a whole new world, magic system, and characters, I couldn't help myself more often than not picturing the OG characters and drawing all the parallels. It was so fun. A lot of the story was the same, but I was happy to see some changes and surprises to keep things interesting too!

I listened to a few portions of the audio alongside reading and the audio was great! I love listening to fantasies to get the pronunciations down and thought the narrator was great and the audio is a nice touch with this being told in 3rd person.

So overall I loved this book and am so excited to see what is to come! Now can I just go reread The Auction!? haha

Thank you so so much to Julie Soto, Forever Pub, and Hachette Audio for the advanced review copies!

I felt extremely lucky to get an audio ARC of Rose in Chains by Julia Soto. If you know about this book, you know it’s adapted from Dramione fan fiction. I was interested to see how effectively Soto reoriented the world and whether you could sense its origin story. Overall, by the end, I really enjoyed it.

The first 10 to 20 percent was hard to follow because the timeline kept shifting back and forth. This is a particular weakness of the audio format compared to physical reading. Additionally, there are so many characters and names to learn, and when you’re listening, it’s hard to remember and keep them straight. When you read fan fiction, you already have a history with 25 or more characters, so juggling those names is no problem. But being introduced to 10 or more completely new names over audio was overwhelming, especially with the jumps in time.

However, by the 20 percent mark, I was invested in the story and am excited to read book two.

I think the audiobook narrator did a great job. I have no notes there. Julie Soto did a good job creating a new world and making it different enough from the source material. For example, I loved that the leader of the enemy group is a woman, which was an inspired change. The magic system was a little hard to understand, but it’s difficult to know whether that was an issue with listening versus reading or with the writing itself. I love Julie Soto and will continue to read everything she writes.


Thanks to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the ARC

Rose in Chains by Julie Soto has been one of my standout reads of the year. I went in blind, unfamiliar with its publication history or premise, and was quickly captivated by the unique plot and immersive worldbuilding. Fans of reimagined Dramione dynamics will find a lot to love here.

This novel is an atmospheric blend of dark academia, magical conflict, and slow-burn tension. It features several of my personal favorite tropes:

✨enemies-to-lovers
✨fake dating
✨slow burn romance

Possible Spoilers ahead?

The romance unfolds at a glacial pace—an intentional and rewarding choice. Hints of connection and emotional depth are shrouded in mystery, adding to the tension. Toven, the MMC, is calculated and fiercely protective—the kind of character who silently promises, “touch her and die.” Briony, our FMC, is intelligent, strategic, and powerful, yet she conceals her abilities to allow her brother to thrive. When war errupts, then tragedy strikes and all seems lost, Briony finds herself enslaved along with others of her magical order, the Evermore. Toven, from the rival Bomardi faction, buys her at auction—and with that, their complicated history and chemistry begin to resurface.

The dual timeline weaves together past and present with expert precision, revealing moments that deepen both character and story. The dialogue is sharp and compelling, and I particularly appreciated Briony’s wit and resourcefulness. She’s a heroine who truly thinks, and her strategic mind makes her both relatable and admirable.

Toven is already solidifying his place as a top-tier book boyfriend, and I eagerly await more from this world. The cliffhanger at the end will leave me thinking about this book for a very long time. It leaves off with the very thing with which the book starts.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Fantasy book genre is not typically my fave, but Romantasy as in Julie Soto's new book #RoseinChains is a fantastic story & I'm already excited for book #2 in the Evermore trilogy.
Briony & Toven are from two different countries, but met at school & had instant chemistry. Years later as well as a war between their two countries they were brought back together as Toven purchased Briony from an auction for her power, beauty, & magic.
Thank you, #NetGalley! I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book with all thoughts and opinions being my own. If you enjoy romance, magic, fantasy, & a sprinkling of passion, then you'll enjoy Rose in Chains by Julie Soto.

Rose in Chains by Julie Soto is a dark and romantic slowburn about people with a certain type of magic being auctioned off to their enemy. Briony is auctioned off to Toven who would use her magic as a wellspring to fuel his own, however he does not force her into doing so. She is also still being the wellspring for her brother's magic, even though he is presumed dead. This book was interesting because I am familiar with the Harry Potter universe and characters, and I knew going into this that this was previously a Draco / Hermoine fanfiction. I think that had I not had that previous knowledge of them in the back of my head, the characters would have fallen flat for me, particularly Toven. But, overall, I enjoyed this and had a good time with it and I look forward to the release of the next book!

Rory Rosewood is dead, killed in a battle he was never meant to fight. His twin sister Briony may have survived, but she would have been better off dead.

Left in the wake of the destruction and take over of the Kingdom of Evermore, those who remain alive are going to be auctioned off to the highest bidder from Bombard, the rival kingdom.

See, their magic, called heartsprings, can serve as a sort of magical battery that enhances another’s power, but in doing so, their magic is drained, their life endangered.

Briony, the girl with the golden blood, is sold to Toven Hearst. YOU know him and love him - he’s broody and mean, the school bully, rich as hell with silver hair and gray eyes, and a bad attitude.

And what’s that? Did he steal one of young Briony’s hair ribbons so long ago? is he secretly in love?

While evil lurks everywhere, we have one person to pin our hatred on, and that would be the Bombardi leader, who killed her way to the top and bonded with the only dragon left, which, while badass, is also frightening. Just remember to bow deeply in her presence.

Told in dual POV, this is a politically charged enemies to lovers romantasy, dark and foreboding with a magical system that feels fresh but easy to understand. Plus, if you’re keeping tabs, there’s excruciating slow burn sexual tension that will make you squeal.

This is the first in a trilogy, so mentally and physically prepare yourself for cliffhangers.

Vibe check: HP fanfic and Fourth Wing

This was okay, but there was a lot of room for improvement. The writing was good, and the premise was intriguing. It started off strong and hooked me immediately. However, it lost momentum rather quickly. The rest of the book was extremely slow and boring; nothing was happening plotwise. The world-building definitely could have been better; there was little to no explanation for so much. While I thought the characters were fine, they felt very immature, and I saw very little development. There was no difference in maturity between their younger selves in the flashbacks and their current older selves in the present. I found the romance lacking, and the tension and chemistry just weren't believable. Not sure if I'll be continuing the series. The narrator was good, but I felt her voice was too young. She was great during the flashbacks, but i wish she would have a more mature sound for the present tense.

I HATE that it’s over, I NEED MOREEEEE! We have just a taste of Toven and Briony. And CLIFFHANGER say what!! That ending makes me need book 2 ASAP!

I'd like to start by thanking NetGalley and Hachette Audio for an advanced listener copy of Rose in Chains. All feedback is my own.

As far as the audio went, I thought the narrator did a phenomenal job with the female voices. A few of the men's voices kind of drew me out of the story and I think this audio would be so good with a full cast but overall I thought it was very well done. The narrator was a perfect fit for Briony (especially based on the original work). Her voice sounded just like I imagined Briony would.

For the story itself, I'd like to say that I was a massive fan of The Auction and I was a bit skeptical that this story could feel fresh or rich enough without the backstory of the world the AO3 work was based off. I was surprisingly blown away with how well the world building was done in such a small space. While the story still had that Dramione feel, I felt like Briony and Toven were characters that stood all on their own, with fresh backstories that added, rather than detracted, from the original work. The specific areas that were elaborated on and added made this so enjoyable. The magic system was interesting and having some issues on both sides pertaining to how certain individuals were treated made the conflict all the more believable. I didn't feel like I needed more than the flashbacks to get a grasp of the new world Julie created and at the end, it left me wanting to know more, especially how all the new aspects were going to unravel.

This hasn't even released yet and I already NEED book 2.

Yes. A thousand times yes. Yes about everything and everyone and just yes. Julie is a queen, and thank you so much Forever for allowing this book to come to fruition, for letting her branch out in genres.

Holy shit!

This book was amazing. I devoured it as fast as I could! The world building was a delight to read, it was so interesting to read all the twists and turns. The FMC was so realistic, trying to just survive and figure out what is actually going on. And the MMC was so perfectly flawed and it makes me want to learn more about him. And that epilogue made my jaw drop!

I absolutely cannot wait for the next book!

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to listen to the audiobook for this book, I am so grateful for this.

5⭐️ BEST BOOK IVE READ THIS YEAR

I am absolutely blown away by this book. Not only was the world and plot so fantastic but the romance and slow burn was absolutely delicious. I am on the edge of my seat for the next book in the series! What did Julie put in this book??

This audiobook was fantastic, the narrator did an incredible job. I could follow everything perfectly while completing simple tasks.

I will probably be listening to this audiobook again in the future. I love this story!!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️

Never in a million years did I ever think a Dramione fanfic that I read a couple years ago would be redone into an official book, yet here we are. It was absolutely surreal rereading a story that was 70% familiar and 30% brand new but I loved it even more! The new characters and situations brought so much wealth into this new world but they still kept the charm and familiarity that I was expecting and wanted to experience again.

Before getting my gorgeous Fairyloot copy, I actually got the audiobook ARC from Hachette which was amazing! The narrator was so soft spoken and easy to listen to and understand and really brought Briony and Toven to life.