Rating: ⭐⭐ (2/5)

Well... this was certainly something.

I went into Rose in Chains expecting a dark, slow-burn romantasy with political intrigue and complex magic. What I got instead was a confusing mash-up of way too many places and palaces, way too many characters, and a romance so uncomfortable that it honestly disturbed me.

Let’s start with the FMC, Briony. She’s no Hermione Granger—despite the Dramione fanfic whispers floating around this book. Briony spends most of her time helping her brother achieve laurels while growing up or later getting emotionally tangled with her captor. Yes, the "romance" here feels more like Stockholm Syndrome than enemies-to-lovers. It made me uneasy, not swoony.

Toven, the MMC, is… well, permanently grumpy and has the personality of a rock. Zero charm. Zero development. I kept hoping he’d surprise me. He didn’t.

Add to that human trafficking, magical tattoos that electrocute prisoners if they try to escape (yikes), and a female villain Mallow who weirdly lets all the gross sleazy men in power run free. The book felt like a chaotic blend of magic systems from Harry Potter, ACOTAR, Twilight, and Grishaverse—but none of the ingredients really came together.

The world-building? Overwhelming. Too many places, names, titles—I gave up trying to keep track by chapter five.

To be fair, the prose has its lush moments, and the premise could have worked. But the disturbing power dynamics and heavy themes were handled in a way that made me deeply uncomfortable.

That said... credit where it’s due: the audiobook narrator did a fantastic job. Her performance kept me engaged even when the story itself lost me.

Final thought:
If you enjoy super dark, morally messy fantasy with heavy themes and don’t mind questionable romance dynamics, maybe this will work for you. But for me? This was not the vibe.

⚠️ Content warnings: human trafficking, slavery, sexual violence, captivity, abuse, extreme misogyny.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette audio for the Advanced listener copy!

First of all the narration was amazing. I loved this narrator so much. I kind of wished it was a duet narration because I’ve been loving those recently but this narration was truly amazing.

Now onto the book. All I knew going into this was it’s based off of a certain FF. I never read it or knew anything about it. So I went into this with a blank slate not knowing anything. I really enjoyed this. I usually don’t like when books jump around between past and present but I loved the chapters in the past. The mind and heart magic was so interesting. I really like Briony and she does go through some difficult things. With saying that this book does have dark themes and elements so I’d definitely check the trigger warnings. But like I said again I really enjoyed this. I cannot wait for the sequel. I need to know what’s going to happen!!!

What a ride. I super enjoyed the start to this new series, even the wicked cliffhanger. I was treated to the audiobook and while it was very well done, I would have loved it to be multi-cast. Also this is one of those stories with a lot of rules, connections, and preliminary world building, so I think I would have benefited from reading along with the physical book to keep everything straight (didn’t affect rating. Just advice if you’re like me and need extra help processing). But well done, Julie Soto, well done !!

First of all, I am a fanfic reader and absolutely love The Auction.

Narration/listening experience:
I did not love the narrator. Ella Lynch has a very breathy, airy voice, that almost made me dnf early on. I was able to push through it though and finish the book, though I was pulled out of the story multiple times by some of the male voices she did. There were a lot of characters, and Ella was able to make distinctive voices for them, so that’s a positive even if I didn’t connect well with the performance.

Story:
I love Julie’s writing, I think I would’ve been able to connect to the story with a written form better, so I’m excited for a reread with my preordered copy.
There are a lot of flash backs. Though I think they add important information, I think it gets a little repetitive and could do with less. I can’t help comparing the book to The Auction: you can definitely tell who the character were “inspired by” (directly are). I thought the magic systems were an interesting addition. The book pretty much followed the fic, though it felt a bit clunkier.

I am excited to keep reading the rest of the trilogy, and hope it is able to pick up a bit more since the groundwork has been laid.

I'm unwell! Rose in Chains is a DARK (definitely read trigger warnings) Dramione fanfic. The romance is painfully slow burn. We get SO MUCH TENSION and SO MUCH lack of communication between the main characters that I felt like I wanted to shake them. The villains are written so well, I can't help but hate them and fear them as viscerally as the Briony does. I wanted more of an explanation of the magic system and maybe a more concrete timeline of things (the story jumps around) because parts felt underdeveloped, but as a whole this book flowed really nicely and was a wild ride. Definitely wasn't expecting the dragon! I can't wait to see where the series goes from here, thanks Netgalley and Hachette Audio for the audiobook!

What in the Handmaid’s Tale, Stockholm syndrome, sexist crap is this?! This is so tone deaf with current events. Today women all around the world are at a higher risk for sexual abuse along with having their human rights taken away. The amount of blatant sexual harassment, disgusting and repulsive behavior towards women in this book is astounding. I had to quit at 60% for my own sanity. I’m all for reading whatever you want but I cannot believe this is being published, especially targeting a younger demographic. Glorifying incel ideas about women as property/slaves and dressing it up as enemies to lovers is low.

The world building was underdeveloped and magic system not explained clearly. There were a lot of characters and an attempt at creating political intrigue, but it was too difficult to keep track of - all tell, no show. So much fluff, using a lot of words to say a whole lot of nothing. Name inspirations courtesy of r/tradgedeigh and characters were killed off early on and no one grieved anyone or showed any emotion. The FMC was flat and robotic, there was no chemistry between her and the MMC, it was an abusive master/slave situation. I’m just so confused about the plot and how a woman came to be in power, yet all the men abuse women they see as inferior like it’s the norm.

A lot of questionable writing used to fly back in the day with fanfiction, it’s 2025 and time to retire these ideas for good. Also it’s weird that at some point these characters were modeled after children’s books…

The audiobook production was good, the narrator has a British accent but has a very juvenile sounding voice, it just made the whole book feel YA but the themes were dark and violent.

Disappointing - I cannot, in good conscience, recommend this book to anyone.

4.5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for providing me with an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This was exactly the kind of dark, slow-burn fantasy romance I love. I went in blind—knowing only that the story was based on a Dramione fanfic called The Auction—but even without reading the original work, the influence is clear and compelling. And let me just say: don’t let the cover deceive you. This book is darker and more intense than it looks, and it never shies away from the grittier aspects of the world it builds. I’d definitely recommend checking content warnings beforehand.

The world-building swept me away from the very first chapter. The fictional universe Julie Soto has created is layered and immersive, filled with rich history, an intriguing magic system, and powerful atmosphere. I particularly loved the past chapters—they weren’t just informative, they deepened the emotional stakes and brought the characters’ histories into sharper focus.

Briony Rosewood is a phenomenal heroine. Fierce, flawed, resilient, and intelligent—she’s had to live in her twin’s shadow for so long, and it’s deeply rewarding to watch her find her own voice and power. I truly admired her strength throughout the story.

Toven Hearst is equally compelling. Once a school bully, he’s now a complex, layered character whose cold exterior hides deep emotional nuance. Watching his façade crack and his motivations emerge was one of the story’s highlights.

The interactions Briony has with the Bomardis family are harrowing and powerful—I genuinely loathed them, which speaks volumes to Soto’s ability to evoke strong emotions through her writing.

The romance is a true slow burn and absolutely brimming with tension. Soto makes you work for it, and the payoff will be worth it in the end. Every flashback gave me a better understanding of Briony and Toven’s complicated relationship, and I was constantly desperate for the next emotional breadcrumb. Their chemistry was off the charts, and the protective moments had me swooning.

The audiobook narrator was phenomenal. Her voice acting made the characters come alive, and I think her performance played a huge part in how emotionally connected I felt to the story.

This book had everything I want in a fantasy romance: dark themes that are explored with care, unforgettable characters, immersive world-building, high stakes, and romantic tension that makes you want to throw the book across the room (in the best way).

Julie Soto has definitely won me over with this one. It was my first book of hers—but it won’t be the last. I’m already counting down the days until the sequel!

For fans of Gild by Raven Kennedy (think powerful female lead, toxic beginnings, and eventual empowerment) and On Wings of Blood by Briar Boleyn (hello, enemies-to-lovers with a morally questionable MMC). This is absolutely one for your list. Rose in Chains is for those who want to ache a little, yearn a lot, and root for a heroine who refuses to stay powerless.

First, a huge thank you to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review an advance copy of Rose in Chains by Julie Soto.

To say I've been waiting for this release with bated breath would be a gross understatement. Ever since I learned The Auction would be reimagined and published as an original work, I've been counting down the days to hold it in my hands. And I'm so excited to say: this book still feels just as special and maybe even more so.

Julie Soto, the woman that you are! These characters, this world, this romance.. it felt tailor-made for the reader I am. Rose in Chains is a dark fantasy romance that leans heavily into the romance, rather than high-concept worldbuilding. But in this case, that's exactly the point. This is not Game of Thrones. This is a story for readers who want to fall headfirst into a morally grey world where no one is truly good or evil, only shaped by survival, greed, power, obsession, and rebellion.

For those unfamiliar with RIC, we follow Briony Rosewood, captured after the murder of her father, the Eversun king, and her prophesied brother, Rory. With her family slaughtered and her kingdom lost to the Bomards, Briony and her people face imprisonment, servitude, or death. Her magic stripped away, Briony is sold at auction to Toven Hearst, a powerful Bomard son and her long-time, impossible infatuation.

Told through dual timelines, the story explores how Briony and Toven's complicated dynamic unfolded over the years and how it's now being forced into an even more tangled new reality. Their chemistry is intense, layered, and loaded with history, tension, and pain.
As Briony uncovers the brutal truth of this new world, her desire for justice and freedom grows. What follows is a slow-burning revolution, with Eversuns and Bomards alike forced to confront the price of power and the cost of hope.

This first book sets the tone for what promises to be an addictive trilogy. We've been given just enough to fall deeply in love, and now I can't wait to see where the next book takes us. I'm especially excited to see Briony step more fully into her power and what role her magic will play in freeing the Eversuns.

Aside from the story, I really enjoyed this audiobook. The production gave me goosebumps when I first pressed play. The ethereal music used in the intro really set the tone for the story and made me so much more excited to get wrapped up in it for the 15+ hours. I actually listened to the full thing on default speed, which I never do.

The narrator did an incredible job at voicing the characters and making them all sound distinct from one another. I did think that Briony's voice sounded a little young, considering that she is 25 years old, but you get used to it very quickly. The narrator's storytelling kept me engaged overall, and I would definitely listen to the whole series on audio if I wasn't desperate to annotate a physical copy, too!

Quotes I loved:

"Not alone."

"If you insist on forgetting your manners, Rosewood. Then maybe I'll be tempted to forget mine..."

"There is a lake with still waters," Toven whispered.
"A mountain range surrounds it. The waters are deep with hidden secrets, but the water is still."

"They're going to pay for what they did," she vowed, her voice hollow and misshapen.
His grey eyes stared down at her. He moved a curl behind her ear and he nodded."

"It was disgusting really. To want someone who thought so little of you."

"Tell me princess, do you want a gentleman?"

I devoured Rose in Chains on audio and was completely hooked from the very first chapter. Julie Soto delivers a dark, emotional, and fiercely compelling story—but it’s the audiobook that truly brought it to life for me. The narrator nailed the tone, capturing every ounce of tension, vulnerability, and slow-burn intensity that this story thrives on.

The narration was pitch-perfect—smooth, expressive, and immersive without ever feeling overdone. Every character had depth and nuance, and the emotional weight of the story hit even harder because of it. I couldn’t stop listening.

If you’re into morally gray characters, intense emotional stakes, and a bit of spice with your angst, this one will live rent-free in your head. The performance takes an already strong book and turns it into a full-body experience.

Highly recommend the audiobook version—it’s the kind that makes you want to cancel your plans just to keep listening.

Phenomenal, everything I wanted and more.

This was a masterpiece and solidifies in my mind to Julie Soto's genius. The book is that perfect level of differentiation from its inspired work whilst still maintaining that familiar warmth and sense of familiarity. This is not to say the novel doesn't stand on its own, it does. The book is unique and carries itself phenomenally well. The world building is not overly complex making the book easy to come absorbed and entranced in.

The book deals with complex and upsetting topics with grace and respect. The narrator brought the story to life in exceptional ways.
The tone and delivery were perfectly executed at all the right moments. That scene at around 85% between Toven and Briony literally had me shaking it was so impactful. Lynch embodies and captured the personalities of our characters with amazing grace and I would recommend a joint or solely audio read for anyone who wants an immersive experience of this book.

I am already anticipating my reread when my physical preorder arrives.

Huge thankyou to Netgalley and the Publisher for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

*Enemies to Lovers
*Forced Proximity
*Bonded
*Unique Magical System
*Academic Setting

Well, this just might be another infinity star read for me! I could not put this book down and was sucked in for page 1, or I guess within the first 5 minutes of listening to the audiobook! I knew this book was inspired by Harry Potter and a twist on Hermione and Draco and I was soooo here for it! I have been waiting for this book to come out since last year when it was first announced! This was my first time reading a Dramione inspired book and it did not disappoint! I cannot wait for the next book to come out and need it ASAP!!! If you decide to listen to the audiobook (which I highly recommend) the narrator was fantastic! I loved the British accent and it just blew my mind away! Thank you Netgally, Julie Soto, and Hachette Audio for allowing me to listen to this beautiful master piece!

Thank you, Hachette Audio, the author and netgalley for an ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I want to start my review by saying that I haven’t read the original fanfiction, The Auction, and I haven’t read any of Julie Soto’s other novels, so I can’t actually compare or evaluate them in relation to each other. This book was… meh. Nothing nothing to love, nothing to hate.

Let’s start with the excellent aspects: the audiobook narration was incredible. Ella Lynch did an amazing job with the accents. The male voices were distinct and deep, and each character had its own rhythm and depth. It felt like a full-cast narration. I was able to follow the story really well, I was never distracted, even while doing chores around the house.

Now for the less excellent parts...

The plot was quite convoluted, unnecessarily so, I think. There’s a dual timeline (past and present), but there didn’t seem to be any real rhyme or reason to how the author structured the plot. The past scenes didn’t add anything important to the story, and only frustrated me more because I just wanted to get back to the main plot. Also, I was bored at times.

I didn’t like the FMC. She had no spine at all. She’s supposed to be skilled in magic and combat, she’s powerful, and yet she gives up so easily. She felt passive the entire time, and I couldn’t really root for her. Toven was ok, I guess, just another morally grey love interest. Nothing new. I did appreciate the slow burn and the lack of smut, though. For some reason, I thought this was going to be super spicy (more spice than plot), and I was honestly relieved that wasn’t the case. Still, there are some heavy topics discussed, including sexual ones, so please check your trigger warnings.

The ending was intriguing, and if the narrator stays the same, I’ll probably continue the series in audio.

Book: 2.5
Audiobook: 4.5
Total: 3.5 stars, rounded down

Book: 5⭐️
Audiobook: 5⭐️

Absolutely OBSESSED.

I was already a huge fan of The Auction, so I went into Rose in Chains with high expectations—and it completely BLEW ME AWAY. From the very first chapter, I was hooked. The writing, the characters, the worldbuilding—everything was so well done I literally couldn’t stop listening. I devoured this book in less than two days because I just had to know what happened next.

Briony is such a strong and complex protagonist, and her journey hit me right in the heart. Watching her navigate the ruins of her world and try to survive in enemy territory—while also dealing with Toven, who is just as infuriating and magnetic as I remember—was everything I wanted and more. The tension, the magic system, the emotional depth, the slow burn—I was living for all of it.

And let’s talk about the audiobook. The narrator was phenomenal! She brought the story to life in such an engaging, emotionally rich way. Her pacing, delivery, and voice acting were perfect—she made every scene feel so vivid and easy to follow. I honestly don’t think I would’ve enjoyed it quite as much without her performance.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC! I nearly screamed when I saw the approval email—I couldn’t believe I got my hands on an early copy of a book I’d been so excited about.

Now I’m just counting down the days until book two. I need more Briony. More Toven. MORE EVERYTHING.

This book means so much to me and I will never be grateful enough for this opportunity 🤍

4.25⭐ (review post to come in the future in my bookstagram)

Thank you to Hachette Audio for an ALC of this book 💖

HOLY CLIFFHANGERS OMG. EXCUSE ME?? I think I am going to be perpetually sick until I know what happens for the rest of this trilogy. I don't think I've ever been able to read a romantasy like this before in my life, and we all have Ms. Julie Soto to thank for this piece of literature existing.

This book puts the burn in slow-burn and I ate up every moment of it. Toven, too, can slap me in the face, and I would tell him I'm sorry. You can tell that he would do anything for Briony and ensure her safety. I loved how there were chapters that went back in time so we can learn more about how they grew up together (AKA how much he yearned for her from afar 🤭). And the banter? Oh my god, I was kicking and screaming listening to this man hehehehe. His mom was also a person who showed her kindness in a time where she didn't think it was possible. I even ended up liking Larissa??? Her boldness was awe-inspiring, and highkey, she's a badass.

In regard to the listening arc, I enjoyed the narrator's efforts in alternating between characters. When she switched between Briony and Toven, it was easy to tell by the expression of her voice. I also liked the nuances she included in her voice, because it helped you imagine the emotion behind the scene. For example, you can truly hear the heartbreak and sadness in her voice when she was in the dungeon, and my heart broke with hers. I do wish it were easier to follow in the beginning. I was confused about the structure of the book and didn't realize that it was going back and forth in timelines. This may be one of those books where the experience may have been better if I had the e-ARC or a physical.

I've never read any Dramione fanfic, and I've been told that this is based on the Auction. I'm unable to verify how close this is to the original, but I do advise people to heed the warnings of the front page, as there are some dark aspects in this book. Regardless, this ALC was unstoppable and I can't wait for the rest of the trilogy to be released!

Ugh!! I am obsessed! Is it too early to say that I already know I will be rereading once I get my physical copy next month?! I already know this will be my favorite read of the year!
I am and will always be Julie’s biggest fan forever and the fic this book is based on has been my favorite for years! I was already thrilled going into this book, but wow. For her previous fanfic readers this had the perfect mix of new, shocking, gripping plot points, flashbacks, and details with the new world while still having nudges to the original work and keeping the main characters developments and journeys similar to the original. The things changed only served to make this story better than it already was! I love the way she decided to end this first part of the story for book 1! I need book two like now!. 😅😂 Julie Soto just knows how to write longing, characters connections, and banter SO WELL while still dealing with darker topics and building a new word in this story. I will be recommending this story to every fantasy reader (and even not fantasy readers) I know! I personally prefer more romance than fantasy in my stories in general and though this story is for sure more a Romantasy than just fantasy, she did have to do a good deal of world building but it did not take away from the story at all, 5 stars, no notes, obsessed!!
Also, The audio book narrator was wonderful!

I honestly have no words, it was absolutely amazing, surpassed my expectations.
The banter, the enemies to lovers, the magic system, the characters were so beautifully written.
Shes the daughter of the king. He will do anything to have/protect her.
I tried to separate the names from the original fanfics and tried to go with a clear mind and it was absolutely amazing!
This was obsessively satisfying to listen. I honestly can’t wait for a re-read as write this.
Enemies to lovers, forced proximity, magic systems, political intrigue, torture/violence.
Cannot wait for the next one👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼💜💜💜💜💜

Thank you @netgalley and @hachetteaus for this ALC 🫶🏻

Do not tread lightly into this one and please make sure you are aware of the trigger warnings!

I jumped headfirst into this one without any idea of what it was about except a pretty cover 🫣
This one is a dark Romantasy and i devoured it whole. I loved the writing and how we start straight in the middle of the story and learn the beginnings through flashbacks which had me hooked because I needed all the details. The world building was well thought out and felt organic as information was delivered and didn’t feel forced.
The slow burn and tension between Briony and Troven was delicious. The complications surrounding their relationship, secret keeping and hidden agendas really had me invested.
The dark parts of this story I felt weren’t glossed over or thrown in for dramatic effect but an integral part of the narrative.

That cliffhanger also?! I need book two asap!

Was able to listen to this and just want to say I loved the narrator! Great job with the voices.
The fmc is a princess on the losing side of a war. Sold into slavery and bought by the mmc whom she is battling feelings for.
Yearning, touch her and die, sloooooooow burn, magic.
Looking forward to the next book! Ends on a small cliffhanger!
Thank you to the author, publisher, and netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this book!

This book is such a great series opener, and I can’t wait to see the journey Julie Soto takes us on!

The audiobook was great. The Narrators voices for each character are clear and easy to follow. Her narration is gripping and emotional, and I loved her British accent.

The story its self has complex political intrigue, dialing courts, magic and forced proximity romance. But it is dark. Be sure to read the trigger warnings and decide if this is for you.

There is so much tension between Briony and Toven. So many people are keeping secrets.

I'm feeling a little hoodwinked here. First, I thought this book was smutty. I'm okay without smut but this was green pepper level of spice and that threw me.

I also didn't realize this was "The Auction" reworked. I have not (knowingly) read Dramione fanfic but I have heard the hype. I didn't think this lived up to all that. It's fine and it got better but there was a lot missing for me. I wanted to like Toven but he gave me NOTHING to go on here. I think this could be a super solid series but it's just not a strong start. I do want to continue the series but right now I remain sceptical.

Thank you to Julie Soto, Hachette Audio and Netgalley for this AlC. I attest that I am leaving my review voluntarily and honestly.