I requested this book because I sense many of my students will be attracted by its HP-origins. While I can confirm it’s not meant for YA readers, even upper-YA, it’s otherwise hard to assess this book. The world-building is odd because you can tell where certain HP-specific elements had to be adjusted. But they are replaced with vague stand-ins, and I can’t imagine how someone reading this without the HP context will make sense of it at all. It also feels like our Hermione-esque FMC is the wrong POV. She knows the least of any character and that slows the pacing and causes a great deal of frustration with the plot. In addition, every now and then we get flashbacks to the characters at school (i.e. Hogwarts), which also slows the pacing. The action and stakes of the flashbacks should have been in the main plot.

There are dark romance themes, but they aren’t detailed enough to make this fully a dark romance. Then again, there’s really no romance in here either. Again, a really hard book to assess.

That said, the narrator did a great job keeping me engaged. My only note is I felt she read the FMC a bit young (like a blushing schoolgirl) while everyone else read like grown adults.

5 stars…. FIVE STARS!!! Part of me wishes I hadn’t read this yet because it’s going to be absolute torture waiting for the next book. This series is going to be the next big thing. Im fully expecting this to blow up and be at the top of the charts. It’s got everything… enemies to lovers, slow burn, touch her and die, morally grey, magic elements…. EVERYTHING YOU COULD WANT! This was the easiest 5 stars I’ve given in a very long time. The narrator isn’t my favorite but we were vibing! Julie Soto needs to be fully prepared to be the next big thing with this book.

The audiobook was great! I finished it in 2 days!I throughly enjoyed the narration by Ella and she really gave life to all the different characters! The production of the audiobook was also great! I’ll probably be listening to the next book in the series as well so having a soothing and enjoyable voice is actually really relieving lol

As for the storyline, I wouldn’t really consider them “enemies to lovers” bc it seems to me they always had feelings for each other, they just never had the guts to tell each other🙄 now I will say… the yearning😍 *chefs kiss* I lived for it and that’s saying something because to me personally having TOO much yearning just feels like stalling the plot. I do wish they would’ve acknowledged their feelings by the end of the book, but it’s a trilogy so I guess we’ll see with the next one.
I appreciated the ending, and I literally LOL’d at realizing that the dragon actually basically kidnapped homeboy and just kept him the whole time😂😂😂 it was just a very funny visual in my head, I kept imagining him in like a birds nest lmao. I can’t wait for the next book!

This was a refreshing Romantasy book. I feel like many of the new releases this year have followed the same type of magic systems and political problems and this was very different. I really enjoyed the narration and would absolutely listen to other audiobooks that feature this narrator in the future.

Eh, it was good, but not amazing. I could definitely tell it was Harry Potter coded. I didn’t understand why we needed the flashbacks as they didn’t advance the plot too much, but it was necessary to show they went to a magical school. I did not read the fan fiction that this book was based on, so maybe my rating would be better if I did. Don’t get me wrong, it was still bingeable and I enjoyed a lot of it, hence my 4 star rating. I will definitely read book 2. The Magic system was intriguing and the cliffhanger definitely left me wanting more. The audio was great and felt like Hermione’s voice!

🌹 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌: Rose in Chains by Julie Soto
⭐️ 3.5/5
🔥 Spice: 1/5 – Virtually no spice, but so much yearning, banter, slow burn, and tension.

Quick Take:
Set in a war-torn kingdom where magic and politics collide, this dark fantasy follows Briony, who is sold and held captive by her enemies—including her former classmate, Toven. As she fights to survive and unravel what went wrong, past and present collide in a tense, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers arc wrapped in rebellion, trauma, and reluctant alliances.

TW: This book contains extremely dark themes, including human trafficking, sexual assault/non-consensual acts, forced sterilization, violence, and more. Please check trigger warnings carefully before reading.

Top Tropes:
• Enemies to Lovers
• Forced Proximity
• Morally Gray MMC
• Captive/Captor
• Dual Timeline
• Slow Burn
• Found Family (subtle hints)
• Political Intrigue
• Magical Academy (in the past timeline)

Thoughts:
I had no idea going in that this was originally a HP fanfic—and honestly, if I had known, I might’ve skipped it (not a big HP person). But Julie Soto’s talent still shines through in her original worldbuilding and emotionally complex characters.

The beginning dragged a bit for me—the worldbuilding felt heavy and stretched deep into the back half of the book. But once the plot kicked in? It took off and finally delivered.

The dual timeline was a strong storytelling choice—it helped illuminate Briony’s motivations, trauma, and the political unraveling of the kingdoms. I also loved the will-they-won’t-they tension between Briony and Toven. Their banter and flirtation were sharp and angsty in all the right ways.

My biggest gripe was the pacing and lack of plot momentum early on, but I understand it’s setting the stage for future books.

Audiobook Notes:
The narrator was solid but not my favorite. Her voice was a bit high-pitched for me, which made it hard to speed up the audio as I usually do. I also think this would’ve been so much stronger with a dual narration—it could’ve added emotional weight, especially from Toven’s perspective. Still, you can tell the narrator is passionate and put real care into the performance.

Final Thoughts:
Would I recommend it? Yes—with caveats. It’s dark, slow-moving at first, and definitely not for everyone. But the emotional tension and ending payoff are worth it.
Would I reread? Possibly—especially when the physical copy is out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this ALC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I had the honor of receiving an ALC (advanced
listening copy) of Rose In Chains. This book kept me
on the edge of my seat the entire time. The world
building being so complex, the slow burn so intense,
and the witty banter between Briony and Toven really kept the story interesting. The tension between them had me laughing but also screaming into my pillow for them to get together already. All I have to say about Toven was holy moly… I can’t wait to see more of his character development. Briony is a fierce and strategic FMC that I am finding is becoming one of my favorite FMCs I have read about. I found that Julie did an amazing job of keeping readers engaged with the relationship between the characters and how it continues to evolve throughout the book. Two of my favorite genres to read are Dark Romance and Fantasy and this did in fact have some dark elements to it that made me love it more. The two work very well together when written the way Julie had. There were definitely parts of the book that had me jaw dropped. I absolutely felt that there was the right amount of world building and character interaction and because of such a balanced combination, it kept the pace of the book fast and steady at the same time. I found myself wanting to continue listening as soon as I had free time and the audiobook for me was the way to go with this particular read. Ella Lynch the narrator for the audiobook truly tells the story in such a way that keeps you pulled in, her voice captivating and I feel really pulls you into the book itself. I will patiently (or not so patiently) waiting for the next book in the Evermore triology.

I am speechless. First thoughts, I could not put this down. I finished this in a day!

The plot was exciting and paced perfectly. I loved the past /present timeline. It really helped understand the characters and events better. Especially the romance . This is the definition of a slow burn. It's angsty and filled with so much tension! The brushes of hands, the banter, the eye contact... all of it was perfect!

The characters were complex and there are depths that I cannot wait to see develop in the next books. I felt empathy, anger, confusion and so much more while reading. I love when a book has nuance and really has you questioning things.

This is a reworking of a fanfic. I have no prior experience with the fanfiction and I was easily able to understand the world and magic system. The author had a breakdown of names and houses for reference at the beginning of the book. There are a lot of characters introduced early on which took me a little while to fully grasp but as I kept reading it came together well.

I also was lucky enough to recieve and audiobook foe this book and it is phenomenal! Ella Lynch does an amazing job portraying emotion. Her accent also adds a level of authenticity to her character. Despite this being third person POV I felt invested and connected to Briony. The way Ella portrayed other characters made it easy to follow without having a physical copy of the book. I absolutely recommend this audiobook for an enhanced and immersive reading experience.

This is a dark fantasy. Check triggers.

-Morally grey MMC
-Rivaled kingdoms
-Unique magic
-Political Intrigue
-Captivity/Forced Proximity
-Dual timeline
-Single POV

I already know this will be one of my top romantasy books of 2025. If I had to give a comparison I would say its giving Bridgerton meets Handmaids Tale but with magic.

Thank you so much Forever Pub and Hatchette Audio for the eARC and ALC.

Ella Lynch absolutely made this book for me!! The emotion in her voice, the haunting layers she brought to the story were fantastic. And the way she delivered the dialogue between Briony and Toven stopped me in my tracks every time!! I will say I don’t think this is a book I would have finished had it not been for the audio, so for the audio alone I give it all five stars.

This book is DARK—hard stop. That being said, it was that darkness that kept me intrigued even when the story fell flat. The plot, while electric, fell clunky in some places with a lot of info-dumping and some extremely repetitive dialogue/internal. It was very well paced but slowed too much about 50-75% of the way through and nearly lost my attention. The end, however, sucked me right back in and I cannot wait to see what is ahead after that epilogue!

At its core, Rose in Chains is a Dark Fantasy Romance that, for me, has truly met the expectations and excitement of both old and new fans. The central narrative follows Briony as she faces capture, threats, and abuse while gradually acclimating to her new reality. The story unfolds the Civil War among various forms of magic through a Then vs. Now perspective, contrasting Briony’s life in school with her captivity following her family’s tragic demise.

While I have read the original work, I can already see significant differences in character development and plot that will evolve into the next two books. From the outset, Briony’s fascination with Toven adds depth to her capture, revealing that there is much more complexity to him, as well as to his mother and father. Toven’s parents quickly became some of my favourite characters alongside the main protagonists, and I am captivated by the suspense and mystery surrounding their intentions.

Once again, Rose in Chains presents an incredibly dark narrative—the threats of sexual and physical abuse, along with the conditions faced by the women in captivity, are extremely sensitive subjects. The author does not shy away from these themes, offering graphic details about secondary characters. However, amidst this darkness, the resilience of women in the story shines brightly. The novel concludes with a cliffhanger leading into the sequel, promising much more to uncover!

Characters & Relationships: In this narrative, we meet Briony, a strong-willed and intelligent character—truly a princess in every sense—who finds herself stripped of her powers and rights as a woman. She exhibits unwavering loyalty to her family, to the point that it often frustrates me how her twin brother and father treat her as an afterthought. This recurring theme in her region highlights a society dominated by male heirs, with women being married off for political alliances. I found this aspect particularly engaging, especially as the heart-based magic system and social hierarchy—often the antagonists of the tale—are more contemporary, allowing women to be considered heirs in their families.

Then we have Toven, who is equally intelligent but comes across as stoic and cold. However, there is much more beneath the surface. Through Briony’s perspective, we uncover the hidden tenderness within him, alongside the harsh treatment she receives from his family during her captivity. It’s evident that the desire and infatuation are mutual.

This story is a slow-burn romance at its finest, and Soto has executed it brilliantly! While there are a few spicy scenes, I wouldn’t categorize it as overly intense in that regard. However, I can foresee this changing in future installments! The years of yearning between Briony and Toven, dating back to their school days, create an incredibly compelling narrative in Rose in Chains.

I must admit, if you weren’t aware that this was FanFiction, you might find some characters lacking in depth. It's easier for me, having read the original and knowing the characters they are inspired by, but without that context, there could have certainly been more development.

World Building & Magic System: One of my favourite elements of the book was the time-jump narrative, which provided an incredible insight into the distinct magic system and the contrasts between Mind and Heart magic. I believe this is a challenging feat for FanFiction writers, as transitioning from a predetermined system to creating an original one can be tricky. At its essence, we have two magic systems utilized by different types of Magi Users, each holding strong opinions on which is superior, and which is inferior. This foundational conflict sets the stage for the Civil War our characters face.
Although our characters are primarily situated in a few key locations—namely both magic schools, Briony’s home, and Toven’s home—there isn't much exploration of the world itself. However, there are several mentions of distant countries across the sea. I would have adored having a map of this world to enhance my understanding! I hope the world-building is further developed in the second book, as this is one of the few areas I found lacking.

Final Thought: Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I consumed it in just a few days (which came as no surprise to me) – but I want to emphasize the significance of reading and understanding trigger warnings. I cannot WAIT to see what comes next!

Julie Soto didn’t just write a book - she cast a spell!

My only regret with this book is that I’ll never get to experience it for the first time again. But I will DEFINITELY be re-reading it. Multiple times. Rose in Chains is absolutely phenomenal! It’s equal parts magical, heart-wrenching, and addictive. Soto has officially solidified herself as an auto-buy author for me. I first fell in love with her stories through fanfic, and this book just proves she was destined for shelves worldwide.

I absolutely adored the rich, immersive magical world that Soto has created. The story overflows with heart pounding tension and a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers dynamic packed with angst and gripping emotions. Combine that with the gripping plot and high-stakes suspense, and you’ve easily got a top read of the year!

The audiobook was just as stunning as the story itself. The narrator brought every ounce of emotion, magic, and character depth to life, and the performance kept me captivated from beginning to end!

I don’t think words can express just how much I adored this book. All I can say is read it. Immediately. And then prepare to suffer while waiting for the sequel.

As a longtime fan of THE AUCTION (the harry potter fanfic that this book Rose in Chains is a rewrite of), I went in with high expectations. While The Auction was a little overly long and meandered too much, Rose in Chains moved faster and did a good job of differentiating itself from the original Harry Potter-based IP. It's going to be a trilogy of which this is the first, so altogether maybe it will be equally as long, but at least the pace is a little better worked in this version. I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to where it goes in the next 2 books and hoping we get some surprises that are different from the situation in The Auction.

Thank you to NetGalley for this gifted audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review. I appreciate it!

I need the ebook of this ASAP because I loved the story I heard so far, but had to DNF because I did NOT like the audio narration. (I'm sorry!)

Thank you to Hachette Audio for allowing me to have an ARC of this audio book! The narrator was so lovely and a great performer. Kudos to the audio team!

As for the story, it’s a lot of world building and character building. Meaning that spice is low & details are important. I would say that the romance plot line is a side plot line, regardless of what it’s titled as “Romantasy”. It’s more of a Fantasy with a romance sideline, which I still very much enjoyed!!

I rated 4 out of 5, because this world IS interesting and I am enjoying the story. I will be reading the second book when that releases!

Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette for this ALC!

This is my first foray into Dramione based fic. I never read The Auction so I have no comparisons to the original fanfic. However, I am a huge HP fan and was still able to pick up on a lot of the HP vibes.
I know a lot of people were concerned this would not stand alone without connection to the HP world, but I’m so happy to say it does. The world building and story line are absolutely top tier. I cannot wait for the next book!
The romance is such a slow burn you will definitely have blue-lips by the end of it :’). On a spice scale, it’s like a 2/5 for me. On a “dark romance” scale it’s also a 2/5. There are mentions of a lot of dark topics, but very little on page triggers.

I swear Julie Soto never misses when she writes a book! I went in with high hopes for this one and was of course not surprised when I finished and was left wanting more! The world building was written so well & I didn’t feel like it took me long to know what was going on! I am so impatient in fantasy books so this really kept my attention with how she paced this book! I seriously will be waiting on the edge of my seat to see what happens in the next book because this one was just 🤌🏽 chefs kisses.

The slow burn in this book was absolute torture but in the best way if that makes sense? I am an absolute hoe for a Dramonie retelling!

Thanks to netgalley & hacette audio for the alc in exchange for my honest review!

How dare my audiobook cut off mid-story?! I am unwell knowing I have to wait for more of this series!

Briony and Toven's chemistry in this enemies-to-lovers, dark romantasy was fantastic. Hailing from two rival kingdoms, these two also face off as academic rivals in school. When war breaks out, Briony is captured and forced into slavery and bought at auction by Toven's cruel family. Briony loses all of her magic in captivity, and the forced proximity and power dynamics create immense tension. With the flashbacks to their school years, the way these two have been secretly pining for each other brings such a delicious slow burn.

The mind and heart magic system was unique and interesting. I loved this whole magical world! It was easily digestible and not overly complicated. I was overdue for such an immersive read, and this one delivered. I have been living under a rock and have been completely out of the Dramione fan fiction loop. This fanfic adaptation is going to send me down a rabbit hole while I impatiently wait for book two.

The story has many dark elements, so check the trigger warnings. I found that these elements lent to the story and were not just gratuitous additions.

Narrator Ella Lynch brought these characters to life, and I was immersed. Sometimes, new romantasy books can get off to a slow start with world-building, but I was hooked from the beginning. When I heard the words "epilogue" I was seriously taken aback--I needed more. Lynch's accent is lovely. Her voice work made the characters distinguishable and made me truly detest the villains. Usually, I juggle several books at once (physical, ebook, audiobook), and I could not stop thinking about this one every time I had to pause it.

Big thanks to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

If I could rate this book 6 stars I would. This is my favorite fantasy of this year. The writing, the characters, and the story building is chefs kiss. Please read this book.

I don’t typically want to re-read a book, but with this one I will make an exception.

6 stars!!! Thank you NetGalley

This was my first Julie Soto book and I really enjoyed it. I finished this SO fast!

The story was engaging from the start being told through present day and memories. I enjoyed the pacing and the writing style- it felt like the world building wasn’t SO intense that it drowned out the plot. I’d say it was pretty balanced. There was a point where the main characters name was mentioned in every sentence for what felt like multiple pages which I felt was sort of weird.

The actual plot line was interesting. If we ignore the fact this book is based on a fanfiction I do believe the story still holds up on its own and does a good job creating a world separate of its inspiration.

I do feel like this is billed as a dark romance, though I have certainly read darker. There are mentions of things that could trigger readers but it is clearly listed in the description. The cover might be misleading for some readers since it’s so pretty and comes across as a typical romance or romantasy- but don’t let that fool you there are some serious issues that are tackled in this book. I’d definitely check the triggers if you feel like certain things would bother you.

The characters seemed fleshed out well with room for growth across multiple books in the future. That being said I do feel like at a few small points things dragged a little for the sake of having more than one book in the series. And THAT being said I am really looking forward to seeing how this story continues.

I listened to this as an ALC through NetGalley and I need to mention the actual narrator! She did great! I liked her performance. I think there were a few points where her breathing was a little weird, like it sounded like she was taking an extra breath before certain words. But that could be the speed I was listening to. Overall I enjoyed the audiobook version!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me access to this ALC- it’s sincerely appreciated!

I can't express how excited I was to recieve an ARC audiobook copy of this book!!! Yes, it started as HP fanfic (The Auction) but it's become so much more than that! Julie Soto did a great job stepping away from the fanfic and creating a new world, a new magic system and a cast of characters that are reminiscent of her fanfic but entirely unique at the same time.
I do wish there had been more world building and explanation for the mind/heart magic conflict. Maybe more will come in the next two books. 🤷🏻‍♀️
It IS a dark romance with some themes that may be triggering so please read the content warnings!
With that being said, I am definitely looking forward to book 2!! ❤️

My ARC was an audiobook and I thought the narrator, while a bit high pitched for me, did a good job on the voices and pacing.

Thank you to Net Galley and Hachette Audio for an advanced audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review.