i have to give it to the narrator, ella lynch did an amazing job narrating this story; she made it as engaging as it possibly could be, with distinct character voices AND most of all, with a clear and easy to understand voice.

i think the story itself needed several more rounds of editing to remove the… former editions's *coughs* *coughs* characteristics such as the repetition. my god, the repetition drove me up the wall, sometimes i wondered if i'd already read this section somewhere else. the main characters didn't interest me, toven was as boring as they come and brioney (?) could have passed for a ya novel heroine. the rest didn't stand out enough for me to say anything about them.

---> insert apologetic and very sad face here <---
This book was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 - I truly loved this author's first two books and her writing style. I fully understand that this is a different genre from her other reads; however, I made some assumptions that her steamy writing and great book boyfriends were going to make this romantasy an absolute SMASHER.
Unfortunately, I found myself really struggling with this book. I know there are trigger warnings at the beginning - I thought that it would be ok because there would be the morally good characters fighting the good fight to overcome this. But I didn't realize that the entirety of the book would have all these triggers without that feeling of real hope. Yes, there are nods to resistance and sure the morally grey mmc isn't as bad as he might seem... but I found myself really struggling to enjoy a book so full of r@pe and all the handmaids tale vibes. For a nearly 460 page book, I feel our character development took too long - I still don't get the two main characters enough to find them loveable.
For me the ending and epilogue were a bit like huh.... I had to reread and wonder why we go the entire book without knowing much about a certain thing and then all of a sudden its a pivotal moment.
That said, I'm still rating this book in the middle, because I can certainly imagine avid dark romance readers eating this one up. The writing itself is solid, and there's a part of me that thinks I'd read the rest of the series with fingers crossed for moral redemption and vindication.
Note: until attempting to write my review I was very much unaware that this essentially grew from a dramione fan fic.
I also listened to this on audio (thanks Netgalley) and while I initially didn't view Briony having the accent the narrator did - it quickly grew on me and I thought it was a good narration overall.
This one made me sad to review - I wanted to shout from the rooftops about this one.
3⭐ - if you remove that noncon type stuff there is basically no spice 🌶️

3.75 stars

thank you to hachette audio and netgalley for the ALC

rose in chains follows briony rosewood, a deposed princess who’s stripped of her magic and sold at auction to the cruel prince, toven hearst, in the aftermath of her kingdom’s fall. it’s dark, political, and built on a fascinating magic system; complete with forbidden mind‑magic and familiars.

this is reverse pining to another degree. briony is down catastrophically and toven barely gives her the time of day. him still not opening up by 79% shocked. when she’s internally begging for even a sliver of emotional connection, it quickly becomes more frustrating than romantic.

the timeline shifts didn’t help either. the constant back and forth disrupted the pacing and made it hard to stay grounded in the characters’ growth. i realized i’m just not a fan of non-linear storytelling unless it really earns it.

and honestly, no dual pov? criminal. i would’ve paid money….actual dollars to hear toven say this one line, “there is a lake with deep waters…” in his own voice.

that said, i loved the depth in orion and serena’s parenting. i felt their fierce, protective love for toven (and briony) through their actions, especially serena’s brave choices. and the prophecy (“when the sun shines at night…”) gave me actual chills.

overall it’s beautifully written with a rich magic system and political intrigue, but the imbalanced emotional pull kept me from fully sinking in. hoping book 2 delivers that world‑shattering grovel and more emotional reciprocity… toven owes us (and briony) badly.

At about 75% into the book not much is happening. It’s very slow and the only thing keeping me going are the narrators and their superb way of keeping me immersed in the story. It started out really well with immediately being thrust into the action. However, after the auction, it becomes a very slow slog and I’m trying to keep my attention steady.
The last 20% of the book has gotten so much better but it’s difficult to reconcile having to go through most of the book with little in the way of plot or character development. The world-building here is also lacking and in need of refinement.
I also didn’t love the relationship between Briony and Toven. I felt there was a lack of chemistry and really wasn’t feeling their attraction to each other.
Some books need to stay a standalone and I feel like this series (it’s supposed to be a trilogy) should be a standalone. There’s not enough substance in this first installment to stand well enough on its own and I’m hoping it’ll get better in the next installment but, in my opinion, this should’ve stayed a standalone.

One of my most anticipated reads and I’m so sad I didn't feel connected to this world or these characters. The pieces that fell flat for me were the world building and the lack of introduction to many characters. I had to go back multiple times on my kindle to search the name and try and remember who they were, when doing this, there wasn’t a good introduction to the relationships with our main characters.

Although the FMC and her brother are described as being close, I never felt that connection. We were told how close they were, but never shown.

Our morally grey MMC had a lot of potential, but I needed more of that morally grey aspect. He seemed like he was nice, through all the flashbacks. The romance was very slow-burning, which I did appreciate.

Overall, I would recommend giving this a try for yourself. Thank you Hachette Book Group and Audio for the ARC/ALC.

Happy reading 💜

This is from someone’s who never read the fanfic. But knowing that, I couldn’t help but picture the HP world in this book.

First, the gifted audiobook was superb. The narrator did an amazing job really bringing these characters to life. I would even go so far as saying that she sounded like Emma Watson 100%. Which may have only added more to me visualizing HP as I read.

I will say that the world building is a little bit lacking, but I didn’t mind as much as its sister fanfic book that’s coming out. I think we knew just enough to progress in the story, but not enough to really form a connection to truly care what is going on.

The deaths that happened in this book are actually kind of brutal and I haven’t read death like these in any other fantasy book, so that was refreshing to read. That poor, redheaded woman, RIP.

The romance here is all just tension and probably the slowest romance I have read. But I wasn’t mad at it until maybe the last 10%. I wanted something to happen and not as much tension. But I won’t lie that I was giggling and kicking and screaming during the first half.

Overall, I enjoyed the story, but wish there was a little bit more romance. Not even necessarily spice as I don’t need that to enjoy my romance books, but just a little bit more yearning instead of tension. Would love to see POV from Toven. My wanting to be bad boy, but not really.

So thankful for the opportunity to read this early. I’m actually seeing Julie Soto next month in my town and I can’t wait to hear her speak more about the process of turning a fanfic into a trad book. Can’t wait for book 2.!

Julie Soto's "Rose in Chains" is an enthralling dark romantic fantasy. Princess Briony's resilience and her intense, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance with Toven are absolutely captivating. With rich world-building, unique magic, and gripping political intrigue, this book is a powerful, emotional journey. Highly recommend for fans of high-stakes romantasy!

In rose in chains we follow Briony, a princess who’s kingdom has just lost a war and its rightful heir (her twin brother) as she navigates being sold to and owned by her school nemesis and rival Toven.

This was a book I was anticipating, I’ve previously really enjoyed Soto’s other books and I was hoping this would be even better yet. While I did enjoy the book it dragged pretty hard at certain points for me and could have probably benefitted from some trimming in the beginning. I will say The ending teas excellent and has me hooked for future books.

The narrator does a wonderful job, her voicing of Briony makes her come across as smart but also scared at point which is super important for a story like this.

The war is lost. The hero is dead. And Princess Briony Rosewood has been captured by the enemy.
Stripped of her magic and auctioned off, she's sold to Toven Hearst cruel brutal enemy heir. As Briony fights to survive in a world built to break her, an alliance begins to form... and nothing is as it seems.
Rose in Chains is everything I needed and more.
As a big The Auction girlie, I had sky-high expectations and somehow, Julie Soto didn't just meet them, she exceeded them.
Since reading The Auction, I've been chasing that same vibe. I kept saying I wanted something with that exact intensity, that specific kind of dark, obsessive tension and Julie really delivered. This book gave me exactly what I was hoping for and then some.
I flew through it in two days and was completely obsessed the entire time. It's The Auction at its core, but richer. The world-building, the lore, the magic system, everything felt more layered and expansive. It felt like coming home to something familiar, but finding it somehow better.
The changes were brilliant I was genuinely obsessed.
The tension was sharp and addictive. With emotion that hit hard in all the right ways.
I never felt pulled out of the story just fully immersed in Briony and Toven's world from start to finish.
And the romance? Let's just say I was surviving on crumbs and loving it. The slow burn was torturously perfect, and the dual timeline made it all the more intense. The tension between Briony and Toven was magnetic so many looks, so much unsaid, and the kind of emotional build-up that has you kicking your feet.

genuinely have nothing bad to say. My only complaint?
It was too short. I need book two immediately. Words can't explain how happy this book made me feel - my heart is so full. I fear nothing can top this book this year.
P.S this is my application to be in the running for an arc of book

I loved the narrators o felt like they really fit the vibe of the characters it really did immerse me into the experience

Thank you to Hachette Audio for the gifted ALC!

Rose In Chains by Julie Soto is an intriguing listen that surprised me. I’ve never read any fanfic before, so I came into this story without any background or expectations and ended up enjoying it. While the beginning felt a bit slow, it quickly found its footing and picked up at a great pace. Once it got going, I was completely pulled into the world Soto created.

The story has such a cinematic quality that I kept thinking, this needs to be adapted for HBO. The tension, the world building, the high stakes, it all unfolded smoothly that I could practically see it on screen. The audiobook narration was strong and added real dimension to the characters, making the experience more immersive.

I’m genuinely hoping this isn’t the end of the story. I would absolutely read (or listen to) a sequel. There’s so much more potential to explore in this world. If you’re looking for something with a slow burn build, rich atmosphere, and a touch of drama, this is a great pick.

Thank you, Julie Soto, for the content warnings. Those were greatly appreciated.

If you were expecting a Romantasy, you would be wrong. This book was DARK and not at all what I thought it would be. This book covers topics of rape, forced sterilization, abuse, death, and a whole slew of other horrific things.

I had to come back and edit this review after taking some time to think on it. Here is the issue with this book: it is a SLAVE romance that is trying very hard to not be like the others. But at the end of the day, this is a book about a woman in a society where her rights have been stripped away, her body has been sold, she has been forcibly sterilized and her virginity makes her more valuable. And let’s be honest, that’s icky. There is a whole scene towards the end of the book where they magically have to take her virginity so no one suspects the “good slave owner” is actually good.

Slave romances are a tough sell and I have a problem, mainly, with how these books are promoted. It’s a gorgeous book with purples and roses and pretty sprayed edges. But when you get into the crux of this book, it feels a bit like being blindsided. I’m not saying this is a bad book (like some other slave romances that have come out this year. Yeah, I’m looking at you Firebird) but I wish there was some care in how these books are packaged and sold to readers. Thank goodness for the content warnings at the beginning of this book, otherwise I would have been mortified.

5 BILLION STARS.

Spoiler Free Thoughts:

This was one of my most anticipated reads this year and it did not disappoint. This is definitely my favorite read of 2025. Usually, I understand that reading is subjective. But, if you don't like this, you're wrong!

If there is a God, it's Julie Soto. Blasphemy aside, I enjoyed every minute of this book. I read her fan fiction series "Rights and Wrongs" earlier this year and it is definitely my favorite. So I knew I would love this. However, I do think she did a great job building a world separate from the Harry Potter series. When I first started listening to "Rose in Chains" I was trying to figure out which character was Luna or Ginny, but soon realized this is it's own book and I just need to enjoy. There is a lot of world building in this book considering it is the first book in a trilogy, but I found it interesting and well written. The sexual tension between Briony and Toven is top notch.

Thank you to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the ALC. The narrator did an amazing job. I think duet narration would have been really cool, but the female narrator didn't do a bad job with the male voices. I AM SO READY FOR BOOK 2!

Absolute perfection! After hearing my fellow ARC reviewers rave about this book I was worried it wouldn't live up to the hype, but the hype is 100% deserved! Julie's way of writing and world building was beautiful to read/listen to and I cannot wait for everyone to have this in their hands!

We are dropped into conflict from the jump with the 2 different magical kingdoms at war, one is led by a tyrannical leader who desires to oppress the FMC's (Briony) country and her people. There are 2 different types of magic, heart magic and mind magic which creates the divide between these magical peoples despite them being educated together. Briony is twin sister to the king and we get flashback chapters of their teenage years at school (very Dramione-coded 🥵) where she met/grew up with the MMC (Toven). Things go tits up and Briony finds herself stripped of her magic and in the care of Toven, her natural enemy -- a Draco/Blake like hottie who is powerful, broody, and not what he seems. As we continue to learn more about this world and the new regime, the dynamics between the two of them grow. All I'm gonna say is holy angst and yearning 🔥!

My favourite parts of this book:
✨ Unique magic system
🧱 World building
🐲🦊 Animal familiars
🤝 Interpersonal dynamics
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 A very f*cked up found family
🌶🌶 Angst/yearning/spice
🌱 Character development
🤯 MASSIVE revelation in the epilogue! Some of that I kinda saw coming but not the POV!

Please read the trigger warnings before diving in. There are some dark themes and events throughout that could be difficult for some. This is an adult book with adult themes. It doesn't end on a wild cliffhanger but I am desperate for the next book nonetheless! I was lucky enough to receive an early audiobook to review and goodness me it was superb! The narrator was perfect as Briony and changed her accent/pitch for other characters which was so well done. I'm an avid audiobook listener and this was one of the best I've listened to in awhile!

"Rose in Chains" is a gripping and emotionally charged read that pulls you into its world from the very first page. This novel excels in crafting a dark, atmospheric setting and populating it with complex, damaged characters, earning it a strong four stars.

Soto has a remarkable talent for building tension. The plot is intricate, with twists and turns that kept me guessing and eagerly turning pages. The stakes feel incredibly high, and the author doesn't shy away from exploring the darker aspects of human nature and difficult circumstances. This isn't a light read, and that's precisely where its strength lies; it delves into the raw, uncomfortable truths of its world with impressive commitment.

The characters, particularly the protagonists, are deeply compelling. They're flawed, carrying heavy burdens, and their journey is one of survival and resilience. Their individual struggles are palpable, and their evolving relationships, whether born of necessity or something more, are fascinating to observe. Soto masterfully portrays the push and pull of their dynamics, creating a palpable sense of longing and conflict.

What truly elevates "Rose in Chains" is the intensity of its emotional landscape. The author doesn't just tell you the characters are suffering; you feel their pain, their desperation, and their flicker of hope. This emotional depth makes the narrative incredibly immersive and ensures you're invested in their fates.

So, why not a perfect five stars? While the intensity is a major strength, at times, it felt almost relentless. A few more moments of respite, even brief ones, might have allowed certain emotional beats to land with even greater impact. Additionally, while the world-building is evocative, there were instances where I wished for a slightly clearer exposition of certain elements, particularly early on, to fully anchor myself in the narrative's unique framework.

Despite these minor points, "Rose in Chains" is a powerful and memorable novel. It's a testament to Jule Soto's skill in weaving a dark, captivating tale that explores the enduring spirit of its characters. If you're looking for an intense, emotionally rich story with a compelling plot and complex individuals, this book is definitely one to pick up.

Oh this was SO good and much better than I had anticipated. Dare I say even better than the original material - I’m such a fan of the magic system and the way heart and mind magic are interpreted in this series (to be, WHERE is book 2!?)

Briony is such a great character and Toven… well you know. 🥵 I found this way more compelling to read than FF so that is saying something as a long-time FF reader - the originality shines. The material is really dark, usually not my cup of tea but I am so glad I stuck with it and finished. I would warn readers about the TW list and pay attention to them prior to cracking the spine.

I loved trying to compare the location/characters to the OG material but the author did an amazing job differentiating both. Truly fantastic read, and cannot wait for the second to come out.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

🎧ALC🎧 review: I fear I’m in the minority with this one. The story was just ok for me. It never really captured my attention. There were so many characters thrown at us, and I had a hard time connecting with any of them. I really wasn’t invested in Briony and Toven’s love story. I requested this once I saw it was HP fanfic, but there were very few connections of the two stories in my opinion. I understand this occurs after a Great War and everything has changed, but it definitely was more of a The Handmaid’s Tale retelling. It was well written and I can see why most people will love this book. I will still recommend this one to others.

I enjoyed the narration. It is a single narration, but Ella Lynch did a great job. Thank you NetGalley for the alc for my review.

As the war ends Briony Rosewood, princess of Evermore, is captured. Stripped of her freedom and her magic, she is sold off to the highest bidder in an auction. Due to her status, she fetches the highest price in a bidding war and is sold to Toven Hearst—her enemy as well as her secret crush in school. Yet Briony soon discovers that in her new world, hope is not lost and she may be able to find it is she learns her new role.

Toven and Briony 😍 I am obsessed with them! THIS is what I want out of a slow burn! The tension. The angst. I LOVED it! I really enjoyed that we got past chapters sprinkled in from their days at school.

I loved the plot of the overall story. The world building was easy for me to understand, the pacing was well done. This is not an action packed story, but I liked that. I felt that we really got to know Briony.

🎧The audiobook was narrated by Ella Lynch. She really brought the story to life for me! She narrated Briony very well as well as the voices of other characters! I would highly recommend listening to the audiobook!

Rose in Chains is book 1 in a trilogy and the ending left me with a ton of questions! Overall I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait to read the next book!

As a Dramoine lover (for those who don't know means Draco + Hermoine fanfiction in the Harry Potter universe), this one is GOLD! Honestly, it was even better than its mother, The Auction, in my opinion.

Amazing world building. A new and refreshing magic system. Epic emotions. Dark villains. Morally grey bad boys. The forever hairline balance between hope and giving up. Excellent prose. Feelings of foreboding and sexual tension, This one is so good. Simply magnificent. I can't wait for more!

As for the narrator, there are moments she sounds like Emma Watson to me, only opening up even more nostalgia of my first read of the mother work. My only sadness is that there wasn't a male Tom Felton voice to pair with it. Great job all around.

First book by Julie soto and what a disappointment that is it was so hard to get through, the narrator's voice is absolutely horrible I am sorry I couldn't even understand what she is saying sometimes too high pitched and she speaks like a child ,too many characters introduced all at once and the themes of this book mmm I think it's on me that I didn't do enough research but this is not just dark it's weird and disgusting and the things the MMC said or his "friends" are absolutely horrible I couldn't stand to listen to it any longer and degradation of women and comparing them to objects sorry no I can't even if it's fictional.

Even if the core idea may sound interesting, it's not well plotted. Everything is more tell than show and so it's simply plain. Didn't enjoy it, but the narrator was good.