4.25 Stars! Rose in Chains was wild — a complexly layered story that I’m almost certain I’m still missing pieces of. Either way, it was incredibly engaging and entertaining; I finished it in one sitting. 😂 It delivers a fresh and different take on dystopian fiction that immediately drew me in with its originality.

I loved the found family dynamic — it felt healing and warm, and Momma might just be my favorite side character. 😉💕 The contrast between soft care and fierce protection in Toven was so well done and easily one of my favorite aspects of the book. 🤌🏽✨

There’s a lot to appreciate here: the political intrigue, layered world-building, dystopian narrative, and emotional undercurrents all gave the story depth and momentum. That said, while it was pitched as dark, I didn’t really feel it landed that way — which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, just not what I was expecting. It was complex, yes, but not overly intense or uncomfortable in its delivery. Similarly, the spice level felt more in line with an upper YA novel, even though it’s categorized as NA — I wouldn’t have minded a more mature lens from the main characters, who did come across as a bit immature at times.

And I know it’s book one, but this line, “..her eyes burning with the fire of a revolution”, was fucking amazing and I want desperately to feel more of that feminine rage in subsequent books. 💪🏽✨💕🔥

Still, this was a really enjoyable read. I wasn’t familiar with its fanfiction roots or nods to HP going in, but even with that knowledge, it stands solidly on its own. Then that ending and that little taste of what to expect in the next book? It absolutely had me thinking. 👏🏽

Bonus points for the narrator — a solid performance that helped distinguish the characters and added to the experience.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Julie Soto for this ALC.

Thank you NetGalley & Hachette Audio for providing me with an ARC in exchange for this honest review.

This book shouldn't have worked for me - I'm no longer the target demographic - but I was approved for the audiobook so in I went with trepidation and low expectations. I had moved on from the romantasy genre because I found most - particularly those that are hyped - to be cut from the same cloth and unique stories were few and far between. It's ironic then, given the books origin as FanFiction, that the book managed to be something different.

Don't get me wrong - there are absolutely still the classic romantasy tropes. Forbidden romance. Enemies to lovers. Touch her and die. But it wasn't insta-love (my beloathed) - Briony and Toven have a history (albeit possibly unrequited from Briony's POV) and we get to explore that past and how it complicates their current situation through carefully placed flashbacks.

I think it takes a lot of care to execute a book that contains the content this one does the way Julie Soto did. I don't want to say tasteful, because I don't think there should be anything tasteful about themes of sexual assault / sexual slavery - but it isn't done for shock value and we don't linger on it. We're aware it's happening - and of course we, the audience are appalled so we want to see how the story is going to unfold to fix everything.

And the story is unfolding, but slowly like a rose trying to bloom in winter. I think the pacing of the book struggles - I understand it's a trilogy and this is certainly a set up for the rest of the series but I would've liked a little less pining and a little more world and story building. We're given glimpses - Orion's parents and their roles in everything, who is loyal and who isn't, I think more interactions with Mallow - or at least a bigger exploration of how *she* specifically took power - would have benefited the story. We're shown too much of these aspects for them to be teasers, it just seems like the author doesn't know how to leave hints leading to a big reveal.

I appreciate that a content warning list was provided at the start of the audiobook as I went into this pretty blind. The audiobook narrator Ella Lynch was enjoyable, but I disliked the voices that were put on for masculine characters. They were a bit distracting at times and kind of pulled me out of the story, Easy to understand, even at 2x speed.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and will likely continue the series via audio and I look forward to seeing how the story progresses and how Julie Soto progresses as an author of her own merit.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars!

Overall I really enjoyed this book, I did struggle a lot with the first 25% which introduced a lot of characters rapidly and had some flashbacks to Briony’s time at school that really dragged for me. I did wonder if that section didn’t resonate as much as I haven’t read the fanfic that inspired this book.

I was so glad I kept listening though as the world gets much more interesting, I finished up invested in the romance but more particularly in the storyline about the prophecy and I love a sassy dragon. While this book was a 4 star for me, I can see the next in the series being 5 star.

Ella Lynch’s narration was perfect for Briony, her voice is sweet, proper and proud in equal measure which perfectly suited a sheltered princess. She struggled a bit with the male voices, particularly the villains, but this did not affect my enjoyment of her performance. This is one that I will re-listen to.

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

🎧 Audiobook, narrated by Ella Lynch

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – New adult sci-fi fantasy romance

I’ve been hanging for this book. The second I saw it on NetGalley, I hit request so fast I think I sprained a finger — and bless Hachette Audio, they approved me a couple of weeks ahead of release. Worth. Every. Second.


The story?

Briony Rosewood is the exiled princess of a conquered kingdom, now sold at auction to the supposed enemy. That “enemy” is Toven Hearst — heir to a powerful family closely tied to the regime responsible for her downfall, and the son of the man tasked with wiping out the rebel support that still fights for her. But things aren’t exactly black and white.

Briony and Toven have a HISTORY: they went to school together and shared a rivalry that was part snark, part spark. Reading between the lines, it’s clear Toven’s been into her for a long time — not that Briony realises it. So when she’s sold to him, and expected to be a political pawn for his family’s gain, she’s caught in a mess of guilt, defiance… and inconvenient desire.

The vibe?

It’s part political intrigue, part forbidden slow-burn, part “oh no, he’s hot” energy. Briony is strong, smart, and trying to navigate a world where everyone has an angle. The tension between her and Toven simmers from the start and gradually turns 🔥.

Also: cliffhanger alert — turns out this is book one of a series. Cue internal screaming.

Real talk?

There were definitely moments where I wanted to shake these two. Toven could have shared a little more without giving away everything, and Briony should’ve picked up on a few things a bit quicker. I found myself mentally yelling, “Just talk to each other, guys!” But honestly? It didn’t detract from how much I enjoyed the story — if anything, it made me more invested.

The narration?

Ella Lynch does a brilliant job. She brings Briony to life with the right blend of vulnerability and determination, and gives each character a distinct voice — including Toven. The audio production was clean and immersive, making it super easy to binge-listen.

Final thoughts?

Five stars. Sharp character work, compelling world-building, and romantic tension that hurts. I loved every minute of it and cannot wait for the next instalment.

I loved the concept of this book. The royals, rival families, and magic system. I wanted to love this so bad. The cover is absolutely stunning but I was fooled into thinking this was going to be a sweet romantasy. This was a dark fantasy that introduced so many characters I couldnt keep up with. The speakeasy moments were reminiscent of mafia romance but I felt like I didnt gleam as much from it than what I think was intended. I felt like the world building was lacking. After finishing the novel, Im left wondering what was the point? The world felt young but it was introducing adult content. I cant wait to see how their relationship develops, I wish there was more tension.

The audiobook captured how naive briony seemed to be. The tone of the narrator matched what I thought briony would sound like. She was dense but open hearted and sweet. I felt for her.

Overall, this series has alot of potential. I hope the world building continues into the next book and it becomes clearer. I will definitely be continuing this series.
Thank you netgalley and hachette for providing me this arc.

INFINITY STARS.

This was the enemies to lovers book I needed in my life!! This is my second book of Julie’s - the first being The Thrashers - and I am a huge fan now. The writing was amazing, the story was insanely intriguing, and the narration was perfect.

I can’t wait for this to come out so I can have a physical copy of this masterpiece!

Honestly I really really enjoyed this book!! I listened to it on audio and it was a great book to listen to. There were enough details where I needed to focus at times but not too many where it was overwhelming to figure out on audio. It was a fun romantasy! Kind of refreshing in a way that it’s not like a lot of these other fantasy romance books that are popular!
Spice: one scene, open door with explicit language
Language: few uses of the f word as well as some other words
Check trigger warnings

I so excited to read this when I got the audio. I knew by the content warnings that it was going to be dark so I was prepared for it. This is a new adult fantasy romance, but it is very YA which makes it feel off for the subject matters of this book. I kept forgetting that the FMC was 25 because she acted 16 which made her situation even worse and awkward.

This book starts off by going back and forth on the timeline through the years and introduces quite a few characters which made it sort of difficult to get into at first. But it does finally even out on the timeline and you stay in the present for longer.

This is very dark, seeing as she is sold into slavery but there is a clear line of consent between the two main characters for the most part. I did finally feel fully invested by the epilogue and I will be reading the next book.

The narrator was not good and made all the males sound nasally and whiny so I won’t be listening to the audio for the next book.

Listened to the audio and wow! The narrator did a beautiful and brilliant job. I love duel narration and even dramatized audio books but I love a tallented narrator that can do multiple voices, male and female with success and I will say Ella Lynch is a top narrator for me!

Now on to the story….FABULOUS IN EVERY WAY! My only complaint is that I can’t devour the trilogy in one go. The characters in this book and their journey to freedom has me entranced especially Rose. She is one kick butt heroine and I need to know what’s going to happen as discovered in the end that not all is as it seems.

As a huge fan of the HP fanfiction version of this book The Auction, I was thrilled to start the journey told in a new world. It took some getting used to for the first few chapters knowing the plot but not the characters or world. But once the world building was done I was fully bought in. I think Soto has done an expert job of maintaining the creativity of her original story and the essence of the characters we know and love, while weaving a new experience with new settings, characters and even plot lines for even the most dedicated Auction fan. I didn’t realize this would break into three parts and the epilogue has me so intrigued about where we’re going next. I think this might be my favorite Soto book I’ve read so far and can’t wait until book 2 of the Rosewood journey plays out.
Note: I am thankful to have received this as an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

There are a lot of things that should not work for me in a book like Rose in Chains. And yet it absolutely does work with this character dynamic. This is dark [slow burn] romantasy with a captive/owner relationship, in which the [anti]hero Tovan purchases POV heroine Briony in an auction, with the public intent to siphon her for her power. There are dark scenes, so check CWs (but seriously, I'm not kidding), and where those aren't things I enjoy or seek out, I found them very effective. With its roots in fanfiction, but a very strong edit, it stands well alone from its origin world and what remains is the best of ff that explores particular character development.

I've seen a number of people talk about the lack of worldbuilding, but it actually works really well for me. The magic system slowly unfurls over the course of the book, and as Briony learns to regain her magic and plunge into unknown magics, we learn alongside her. But really the reason the worldbuilding works is that I'm in it for the relationship building. I am not often a slow burn reader, but I savored this one because they are on opposite sides of a war.

A few things to note:
1) check CW, especially if you are sensitive to SA
2) if you struggle with timeline shifts on audio, make sure you have a tandem read ready
3) the narration by Ella Lynch was enjoyable - the narrator feels a little lighter than the darker tone of the book suggests, but I think it works for Briony's character POV. That said, I don't think the narration is extra special, and I enjoyed the parts I read with my eyes a little more than the parts I listened to.
4) this is the first book of a trilogy.

I have not read the original ff, The Auction, but I have heard that there were significant changes to the story, characters, and setting. I guess I'm going to go read the 1300 pages and report back....

Oh. My . GAWD. This was incredible. From the world building to the characters, I am obsessed. I didn’t want to stop reading, I gobbled this up! I’m ready for the next one immediately. Absolute perfection of a book. And the tension???? Sheesh!

Rose in Chains was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and I was incredibly grateful to have received an ALC.

This was my first time listening to Ella Lynch, and she delivered a stellar performance. Her narration was clear, emotional, and made each character feel distinct and fully realized. She truly brought the story to life.

The world-building is rich and immersive, with a layered magic system that’s described in intriguing detail. The pacing is slow at first, but around the 60% mark, it kicks into gear and really comes alive. The tension and slow-burn romance between Briony and Toven was exceptionally well done. Their dynamic and banter were a highlight of the book and I’m very excited to see how their relationship develops further in the sequel.

One challenge I faced early on was the sheer number of characters and names being introduced. It made the beginning feel a bit overwhelming, and I had a hard time connecting with the story initially. Visual aids like maps or family trees would’ve helped ground me in the world much faster. That said, once I got familiar with the cast and the setting, the story became far easier and truly captivating.

Despite a slow start, once it finds its rhythm, this is a compelling fantasy slow-burn romance that makes the wait worth it. I’m eager for the sequel and to dive even deeper into this intricate world and its characters.

Thank you to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the ALC!

O!M!G!!!! This book is going to be my new personality! Lol I am so thankful that Netgalley let me read an ARC of this. It was my most anticipated read of the year and Soto did not let me down! If you don’t know, this was originally a Hermione/Draco Harry Potter fanfic titled The Auction. Obviously with this now being a published book characters and everything to do with the wizarding world had to be changed and removed. But even with those changes the vibes were definitely still there. I would describe this book as Harry Potter meets Handmaid’s Tale. It was dark with some unsettling and political themes, but it was also sexy and romantic. It featured some of my favorite tropes: slow burn, forced proximity, and of course enemies to lovers! I received this arc today and immediately dropped everything to read it right away. I absolutely loved every single second of it and already want to read it again!!! I cannot wait for the next one! I think this will definitely be my winner for favorite book of the year. 5 stars all the way!!!!

5 stars-no notes. But seriously I already read the arc with my eyeballs and was so excited to be approved for the audio as well! The narration was fantastic and I love this story so so much. Can’t wait to get my beautiful physical copies!

MY ONLY GRIEVANCE WITH THIS BOOK IS THAT IT HAD TO END. HOW DARE YOU, JULIE SOTO.

Dearest readers, do yourselves the favor of reading this book. This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and it. Did. Not. Fucking. Disappoint.

We have magic.
We have tension and yearning (soooo much tension, soooooo much yearning).
We have political intrigue.
We have a hyper-competent FMC and a complicated, mysterious MMC (with equally complicated, mysterious parents).

Briony Rosewood is the overlooked spare heir to a patriarchal royal line. In her kingdom, women are respected and capable, but never permitted to hold positions of power.

Ironically, this mindset among mind magic practitioners is harshly criticized by followers of heart magic…the very same people who eventually conquer her kingdom and enslave her after a devastating loss.

Briony is sold to Toven Hearst: her secret crush, her rival, her tormentor, and the only person who has ever seemed to notice or appreciate her true potential.

This is a single POV, so there is much that we don't know (view spoiler). But I know he's just as infatuated with her (if not more so) and it is physically painful that I have to wait until book two to find out.

Ella Lynch did a phenomenal job of narrating. I’m usually picky about duet vs. single narrators, but her performance left me with zero complaints. I DEVOURED this audiobook and am already spiraling with anticipation for the sequel.

Trigger Warnings:
Given the premise, it's important to note that this story includes elements of dubious consent, as well as some semi-graphic scenes involving coerced or forced sexual acts. While these experiences primarily affect side characters, they may still be disturbing to some readers.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Julie Soto for the absolute PRIVILEGE of receiving this ALC in exchange for my honest (and fanatical) opinion.

——————————————————

6/19/2025: I’m only 10% in and already shirking all responsibilities except the bare necessities (eating, breathing, occasionally blinking). I am fully prepared to make this book my entire personality.

——————————————————

6/17/2025: I think I may legitimately pass out BECAUSE I GOT THE ALC!!!!!!

Can we Keep the fanfic in the fanfic world please for the love of books 🫩 not for me !


Thank you Hachette Audio!

I was very intrigued by this book and the concept of it. I had heard through the grapevine roughly what it was about but really didn't have much prior knowledge. This audiobook is narrated by one person. I did feel she conveyed emotions well through her reading but at times it was hard to differentiate from the characters. I think that since the audiobook was not full cast it did pose a bit of a challenge with all the world building and characters. It sometimes was hard to feel the full weight of things happening when it was being read but with subtle changes to know it was someone else speaking. I think the pacing, flow and chapter transitions were done well. I did enjoy her reading style and felt she used the right tone and infliction during the variety of conversations and experiences in this book. I am very interested to read a physical copy of this book to compare it to the audiobook. I think because it was a fantasy I would want to read the physical so I can reread and tab to make sure I am following along and understanding the plot. Overall this was a fun experience and I would recommend. Thank you for the ARC!

The summer of Dramionie is officially upon us!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the advanced listener copy and to Edelweiss and Forever Pub for the ARC!
This book was one of my most anticipated books of the year and I was absolutely beside myself with joy for being approved! That being said…..

This book is essentially a shot for shot remake of “The Auction” which is NOT a bad thing at all. I loved all the nods and references to The Auction sprinkled throughout. It is rewritten in a way that you honestly would have no idea there were any HP ties to this book if you hadn’t known “The Auction” already. If you’re concerned with reading a book that is in the sphere of HP because JKR ruining that for us then you need not worry! This is a great original work! (And, please remember, JKR does not profit or benefit from this book or any fan fiction so it is unfair to hold the actions of JKR against an author publishing an original work. 👀👀)

For the story itself it was lacking a bit in the fantasy/world building aspect, but it definitely did pick up around the last half of the book. And the ending left me SHOOKETH!!!!! Like, I cannot wait for the next book! I wish we had more flashbacks that showed Briony and Toven and showed the longing that there was between the two of them. Also, adding some Toven POV chapters would really be awesome to see for future books! I think their relationship was really lacking over all and that was pretty disappointing. I am still really excited to see how this series plays out!

3.5⭐️ rounded up.

I received the ALC of this book and the narrator did a great job.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free audio arc in exchange for an honest review.

I knew this book going in there would be some spice, but I was hopeful that the plot would be interesting enough for me to still enjoy it. While the plot was not terrible, it wasn't necessarily great either, just kind of middle of the road. You are just thrown into this world and left with many unanswered questions providing no strong plot, with the main idea of the story just focusing around the sexual desire caused by a magic system that is not fully fleshed out.

The characters were also quite underdeveloped with there being some flashback scenes before the upheaval that I thought would provide more background for the characters, but they were such small snippets you couldn't really develop any care for the characters.

The only thing that I really did like about the book is that it really wasn't spicy at all, to my surprise. Very slow burn with some talk, but little action. I'm still interested to see what else the author has in store, but this one did not really work for me. If you have enjoyed her work before, give it a try as you may like it.