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.

UGH, why is Toven so hot 😮‍💨 no notes, still love it! the narrators were great and I just know I’ll be rereading it again and again 😌

you could feel the emotions, the tension, Briony’s sas in the voices of the narrators. I enjoyed it so much!

thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this early copy!

4.5 ⭐️

MY GOD, THE TENSION IN THIS BOOK 😮‍💨

I was not familiar with Julie Soto’s game but I apologize and watch me catch up with all of her other books because oof.

I’ve never read a Dramione fanfic, they’ve been on my tbr forever but I never got to them so when I saw this available to request on NetGalley I was like, why not! so here I am now, absolutely in love.

Toven what are you doing to me!!!!! The slow burns of all slow burns, the hot and cold, the enemies to lovers but not fully because THE SLOW BURN. and this entire book you’re like… WILL THEY?? WONT THEY???

and my girl Briony is BOLD. some of the choices she was making and words coming out of her mouth, some of the actions??? she was TESTING this man 😮‍💨

this was delicious and everything I wanted and didn’t really expected from this book. I can’t wait to continue with this story because up until today I wasn’t aware this is not a standalone (yes, I clearly can’t read, mind your business) and now I’m suffering because what do you mean I won’t know what happens next for whoever knows how long?!

I didn’t care much about the ending but we all know I’m here for the romance so don’t listen to me 😌

First off, a huge thank you to Nita @ Hachette Audio for approving my NetGalley ARC of this audiobook,it honestly felt like I won the lottery with this one!! Firstly the voice narration was brilliant and the accents were perfect. The tender raw emotion coming from the v.a was truly amazing even while switching characters.

Okay, so I have to admit, I was super anxious going into this book. I'm a BIG Dramione stan and had already read Julie’s The Auction, so I kept wondering if this story would hit the same or feel too similar. I took my time with it because I was nervous about how I would feel, would it stir up the same emotions, or would it fall short? But wow, I was completely wrong to worry.

Even though there are some shared themes between the two stories, this one had me feeling even more. Briony and Toven’s journey pulled at my heart in such a unique way. The emotional depth, the tension, the tenderness it all hit so hard. It carved out its own space in my heart, and I’m still not over it. I can’t wait for the next book I had a feeling about the epilogue and screamed and shouted when I knew I was right! JULIE YOU WONDERFUL PERSON THANK YOU FOR YOUR MAGICAL WORDS AND WORLD. 🫀

I am so sorry to do this, but I have to stop this book for a while. I got to the 30% mark and while I hope most of the sexual violence is past, I just can’t force myself to keep going anymore.

I usually check triggers for each book before I request it, but missed git mark on this one, completely my fault because of my own triggers. I might pick it up at a later date if I think I’m in a place to finish the story.

Again, a thousand apologies.

Yep, this cements it, Julie Soto is one of my favorite writers and this book is nothing short of a masterpiece. The all consuming YEARNING, I could not get enough. Every chapter I was patiently picking the crumbs of pinging.

Ashamed to admit I’ve had The Auction on my TBR for years. When I found out this got picked up for trad publishing, I decided to not read it so that I could walk into Rose in Chains blind as possible. Such a unique story, epic world building and spectacular twists and turns. Imma need book 2 STAT.

A million thanks to Net Galley and Hachette audio for the ALC!

I love when audiobooks make the reading experience of one of my favorite books even better. Everything I could have wished for and more!

So… I requested this book with absolutely no expectations, mostly because I haven’t posted in forever and my socials are not exactly bursting with engagement lately (hello, algorithm darkness, my old friend). But apparently someone up there decided to throw me a bone, because not only did I get the ARC… I also got the ALC. A dual read. A gift. A blessing. A reason to live. Thank you, universe.

When I say this was one of my most anticipated romantasy reads of the year, I truly mean it. Now that I've finished it, I’m not sure what to do with my life. If Harry Potter and The Handmaid’s Tale had a deeply angsty magical baby, it would be The Rose in Chains. The fact that this book has strong Dramione fanfiction vibes made me absolutely feral. Now, I’m on a mission to find out if it was inspired by a fanfic so I can hunt it down and devour it immediately. Thank you for the emotional damage, Julie!

The war is over, the dark forces have won, and the hero who was supposed to save them is dead.

Captured as her castle is overrun by the enemy, Briony Rosewood knows that the world as she knows it is changed forever. The dark forces of Bomard have won and her people, the Eversuns, face imminent servitude, imprisonment or death. Her brother, fated to be heir twice over and unite the warring kingdoms, is dead.

Stripped of her Mind Magic and her freedom, Briony and the other survivors are quickly auctioned off to the highest bidders in an auction – and as the heir-apparent’s sister, she fetches the highest price.

After a fierce bidding war, she’s sold to none other than Toven, a high-ranking Bomardsun – and her long-time and ill-fated infatuation. Scion of a family known for their cruel control of Heart Magic, the Hearsts are ruthlessly ambitious, and Briony knows they will use her however they can to further their own interests.

Yet despite the horrors of her new world and the role she must learn to play within it, all is not lost. Help – and hope – may yet arise in the most unlikely of places…

I was nervous going in, because the trigger warnings had me sweating, but while the world is dark and harsh, the author strikes a good balance. Yes, the trauma and oppression are real, especially for women, but it never felt overwhelming or gratuitous. Instead, it added depth to the stakes and tension of the worldbuilding. Still check your TW before starting this book.

Now let’s talk about the slow burn, because WOW, this was one of the slowest I’ve read in a while. That said, I am a sucker for romances where the feelings unfold in subtle moments, quiet sacrifices, and those tiny flashes of softness that make you scream internally. I’m still waiting for my <spoiler> it’s always been you moment, the longing is there. The gestures are there. I just needed one confession, one bone thrown my way. </spoiler> And I didn’t know this was a series, so now I’m spiraling because I need book two, and it does. not. exist. yet.

Thank you to Hachette Audio, HarperCollins UK, NetGalley, and especially to Julie Soto for giving me all the feels and then casually handing me detachment anxiety once I finished the book. I forgive you… sort of.