The bummer about advanced copies-having to wait even longer for the sequels! I LOVED this book, and am so grateful to Hachette Audio and the great people over at Forever/Grand Central Publishing for letting me listen to this early! The magic system in this is unique, and you definitely need to be paying close attention to keep everything straight as there are so many moving pieces. However, that effort is totally worth it! This is book 1 in a trilogy, which means it is a slooooooow burn in book 1, but there was a lot of depth to the MCs. I think it would be so interesting to hear from multiple POVs in future installments, although I loved Briony’s perspective and the narration was top notch. I am keeping all my fingers and toes crossed that I can get an advanced copy of the sequel, and in the interim will be checking out some of Julie Soto’s other works (even from different genres!).

Rose in Chains is Julie Soto’s romantasy debut. This first book on The Evermore Trilogy follows Briony on a world where the “bad guy” has won and she is facing the consequences that come with that.

I really enjoyed this story. I’m a huge fan of this author so I was highly anticipating this novel. I listened to the audiobook and I thought Ella Lynch did a fantastic job with the narration. Her voice really fit well for Briony.

I feel like this is one of the few romantasy books that I have read where it advertised itself as a slowburn and actually felt that way. The tension was perfect!

I think the fantasy elements got a little convoluted. I didn’t fully grasp the magic system and it definitely felt info dumpy at the beginning. I know that was to get everything set up but it made it hard to get invested in the story initially. That being said, I’m super excited to read the next book now that the framework has been laid out!

SPECTACULAR!!!!! If I could give this book 6 stars I would!!! Rose In Chains is absolute perfection!!!! Phenomenal world building, amazing characters, intricate and intriguing plot, perfect pacing! This is storytelling at its finest!!! The audio, even though it’s not duel narrated was so so good!!! The narrator was fantastic!!! Her voice was made for this book! I’m giddy with excitement! No notes!

This was not for me. There is too much info dumping and I was thoroughly confused half the time I was listening to the narrator. Ella Lynch did do a good job reading the book though.

5/5⭐️ 1/5🌶️ 0.5/5😢

I am so incredibly impressed by Julie Soto’s fantasy debut—I was completely captivated from the first chapter and devoured the book in less than 48 hours!

And let me be honest, there was nothing I didn’t love about this book: a determined and courageous FMC; dark and brooding morally grey MMC; disturbing and intense world building/setting (reminiscent of A Handmaid’s Tale); unique power structure and system; strong and well developed side characters; and a tantalizing “will-they-won’t-they” romance between the main characters that leaves you desperate and begging for crumbs 🫠💔

tropes & themes:
🌹 dark romantasy
🌹 non-linear timeline
🌹 unique power system
🌹 enemies-to-lovers(?)
🌹 forced proximity
🌹 SLOWEST BURN OF THE CENTURY
🥀 please check your CW/TW! There are very dark themes including crude depictions of sexual assault, rape, and slavery/human trafficking, among others.

favorite quote:
“Come on, Toven,” she continued, goading him. “Tell me how often I’m on my knees for you, and how often you’re on your knees for me.”

I will note that though this novel is based on “Dramione” fan fiction originally written by the author on AO3, I found there to be very few, mostly tenuous connections between this and the Harry Potter world. In fact, if I hadn’t known about the book’s fanfic origin, I would have never connected this book to HP.

I am grateful to have also listened to a copy of the audiobook, which had excellent narration and would highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever/Grand Central Publishing, and Hachette Audio for an ARC and ALC of Rose in Chains.

This was a really unique magic system and I enjoyed the world building. I finished this book in one sitting!

I did struggle in the beginning with all the new characters being introduced and I personally didn’t love the story switching back and forth between past and present.

However, the ending pulled me back in and I really enjoyed listening to this on audio! Excited for book 2!

I flew through this book in less than 3 days and I am UNWELL.

The fact that this book started out as a Dramione fanfic and Julie Soto was able to turn in into a completely different book and have it stand on its own, as its own story, has absolutely BLOWN me away. This was my 78th read of the year and the first one to make me cry. I will be thinking about Briony and Toven from here on out and they will consume my every thought for the next foreseeable future.

Also the title is so fricken clever and it makes me even more obsessed with this story. I will be impatiently waiting for word on book 2, because how are we supposed to go on after that ending?!

Also, a woman villain?! Like hello, women in STEM 👏 (no jk I hate her, but slay for women in men’s fields).

The narrator was perfection for this audiobook and I felt like I was actually listening to Briony herself read me the story. The male voices weren’t cringey or overdone and I felt every emotion that she put in her words come through my speakers. It made it hurt even more when it came to an end 🥲

Big thank you to NetGalley, Hatchette Audio, Forever Publishing and Julie Soto for this ARC! I feel so incredibly lucky to have been able to experience this story a little sooner 🫶🏼

I listen to the audiobook for Rose in Chains and this is instantly on my top audiobook recommendations now.

Before diving in, thank you NetGalley, Julie Soto and Hachette Audio for the ALC of this book! It was a top anticipated read of the year and the audiobook format was perfect!

I am a pretty avid audiobook listener and I can tell you right now, with complete certainty that this audiobook was so well done. The narrator, Ella Lynch, was the PERFECT voice for Briony and did an amazing job on the fully-voiced reading of this book. The emotion that was brought forward allowed for a fully immersed listening experience and I became lost in this tragic world and story. In regard to other area of production for the audiobook, the sound quality was great.

And now the story. Oh my goodness I am so invested. I love that this will be a trilogy because I need so much more. I need more Briony and Toven and their messy love story. I need more of the strong woman that refuses to be oppressed. I need more of this magical world that is so unique and different.

This was my first Julie Soto book and my goodness, if all her writing is this amazing then I’m a convert. Send me them all. Her way with words and storytelling just hooks you in from the start! We have two timelines that are being explored here and it is done so well. The character development is interesting and keeps you wanting to really know more and more. I honestly just could not get enough.

I am so attached to Briony and Toven. They have a messy history and even messier current relationship. The banter and tension between them is just *chefs kiss.* I love Toven’s grumpy attitude and his possessive nature. That coupled with Briony’s wit and fast thinking. These two are going to be unstoppable.

This is a dark, tragic fantasy romance that needs to be on your list. I highly recommend the audiobook but if you love eyeball reading, you really can’t go wrong!

Thank you, Julie Soto, Hatchette Audio and NetGalley for the ARC audiobook!


So I IMMEDIATELY requested this audiobook when I saw it was available because I couldn't wait to read/listen to this book!!!! I read the Auction and couldn't wait to compare the two and see the similarities and differences in the books. If you are a fan of dark romance/fantasy books this is a must read! Julie Soto's story telling is unbelievable and I loved the heart magic vs mind magic and how she was able to create such and interesting story that was similar but had unique story points compared to her original book. The narrator did a great job of portraying the Briony's feelings and I couldn't wait to keep listening!

I can't wait to read the rest of the trilogy!

Julie Soto's Rose in Chains is a beautifully dark, slow-burn romance that doesn't just toe the line between pain and passion—it dances on it. With intense emotional tension, richly atmospheric settings, and characters that feel bruised but burning, this book grips you like a secret you're not supposed to want, but can't help needing.

What makes Rose in Chains particularly remarkable is its origin story. Originally a fanfiction, Soto has accomplished something rare: she’s transformed a familiar framework into a wholly original and emotionally layered world. From the very beginning, the world-building is confident and immersive. Soto doesn’t rely on reader nostalgia—she breathes new life into these characters, anchoring them in a haunting, gothic-feeling universe that stands firmly on its own.

The protagonist, Rose, is a portrait of vulnerability wrapped in quiet strength, and the tension between her and Toven is absolutely magnetic. Soto doesn't rush their relationship—instead, she allows it to smolder, setting up a payoff that feels earned and deliciously satisfying.

Adding to the experience is the exceptional audiobook narration by Ella Lynch. Her performance brings an added layer of intimacy and emotional weight to the story. She captures Rose’s inner turmoil with remarkable nuance and gives voice to the tension and vulnerability of every moment. Lynch doesn’t just read Soto’s words—she inhabits them, making the audio version a standout experience in its own right. Ella Lynch also takes the tension between Rose and Toven and magnifies it tenfold. Her narration is nothing short of stunning. She brings an incredible emotional range to every scene, but it’s in voicing Toven’s yearning for Rose that she truly shines. The restraint, the ache, the moments of vulnerability that slip through—Lynch captures them all with remarkable sensitivity. You can hear the desperation in his silence, the way his every word seems to carry the weight of everything he won’t say. It's mesmerizing.

There’s a lyrical quality to Soto's prose that carries the emotional depth of the story. Her way of writing with the deep character introspection, the slow unfolding of emotional stakes, and the attention to relationship dynamics are all pitch-perfect.

Rose in Chains is a triumph—not just for fans of dark romance, but for anyone who appreciates a story that’s carefully built, emotionally raw, and unafraid to take its time. Julie Soto has more than proved she can take something rooted in fandom and elevate it into a fully-formed novel with its own heartbeat—and Ella Lynch gives that heartbeat a stunning voice. Thank you for giving me a chance to listen to this stellar Audiobook!!!!!

3.75! I love Julie Soto so I was immediately intrigued. I will be upfront with the fact I have next to no knowledge about the series that will not be name nor the ship this book was originally surrounding. Unfortunately I do feel that affected some of my understanding of this book. Given the fact it was flashback style where it alternated from the present in the past, I was mildly confused for a good chunk of this book. I definitely understood that there was feelings there from the past but it didn't feel warranted at first given the lack of information. Once these hurdles were overcome I was really hooked into what was going on. So all in all a good read and I will definitely continue reading when the next two books come out but just wished it was tweaked a bit in terms of pacing in structure since the writing is so strong.

I knew pretty early on that I was going to become obsessed and that waiting for book two was going to be a nightmare. I wasn’t really sure what I was getting myself into at first but I loved this book. The need to see these women fight back and win, the tension between the two main characters, the political aspects, everything was so well-done. The pacing, right from the start, made it so I was immediately engrossed by the story and rooting for Briony and the others, the urgency keeping me on the edge of my seat.

And the narrator was absolutely fantastic. Ella Lynch was the perfect cast for Briony, I can’t recommend the audiobook enough. I wasn’t a big fan of the way she was doing Toven’s voice at first, but it really grew on me and she’s so expressive that emotions were obvious even at high speed.

I’m not really sure what to do with my life now that I have to wait for the sequel, but I can already tell this is a book that I’ll re-read at some point.

They say that comparison is the thief of joy and I have to agree with that statement after reading Rose in Chains. I think had I read this book on it's own and didn't compare it to its original work, I would have really enjoyed it. However, since that is not the case I was underwhelmed by this book because for me it lacks the same "umph" that the original work does. It's a safer, toned down version that left me wanting and wishing for more. Even saying that I do want to note that this is still a darker book and that trigger warnings should be heeded.

That being said, I did like the characters and the flow of the book and found it to be overall enjoyable. I really wanted this to be a 5 star read but I ended up at 3.5 stars, rounding down to 3.

I also enjoyed the narration by Ella Lynch.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio | Forever for access to the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I knew immediately that this book wouldn’t be for me. I should have stopped but wanted to continue for the sake of sending the review.

I didn’t realize this was based on Dramione when I picked it up, if I knew I probably would have been more prepared. I acknowledge that many of my issues could have come from me basing a lot of things on the schema of Harry Potter and getting confused by a lot of the story and magic system. It felt like it didn’t make sense to me.

Things were also a lot darker than I was prepared for. It felt like there was an aspect of “good slave owner” happening which felt icky and even though it’s supposed to be, the whole auction aspect also felt icky. It was very sexual in lots of uncomfortable ways.

Great emotive narration! Definitely dark and heed the trigger warnings (thanks a million for including). Briony is sold into slavery after the fall of her kingdom. Dark, mysterious and suspenseful - things are definitely not as they seem, even for prior Julie Soto fans.

Rose in Chains by Julie Soto
🎧 ALC Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5!!!

I think it’s important to acknowledge that I never read the original fanfic - this was totally new for me.

It’s been a few months since I read and enjoyed a Romantasy, but this totally pulled me out of my slump. The story is original and so is the magic system.

After the overthrow of the government, Briony, the Princess of Evermore, along with her peers and friends are sold off at an auction and she ends up belonging to her childhood crush and familiar enemy, Toven Hearst.

Please read your trigger warnings because this book is dark, but it was all important to the story and character growth. And the characters’ growth is beautifully done - both independently and their relationship with one another. This story has the slowest of slowburns but it was so enjoyable to find a Romantasy where the enemies don’t immediately become lovers.

The narrator made the book even better. Her inflection and accents were perfection and even though it’s a long book - it constantly held my attention.

I cannot wait for the rest of this trilogy!
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this ALC and for Julie Soto to write this phenomenal story - you have a new fan!

Wowwwwwwwwweee what a ride!! Loved the magic system and the layers to the characters. Can’t wait for the next book!

Rose in Chains has a compelling premise and some beautiful writing, but I found it hard to stay engaged through the first third of the book. There’s a lot of info-dumping early on—pages of backstory, world-building, and character setup that made it tough to connect with the plot or the characters right away. It felt like the story was more focused on telling me how things worked rather than letting me experience it for myself.

The pacing doesn't really pick up until the final third, and by then, the story finally starts to come alive. The emotional beats land better, the character dynamics get more interesting, and the plot starts to feel like it has real momentum.

If you’re a patient reader who doesn’t mind a slow burn and a lot of setup, there’s a solid story here. But personally, I wish it had gotten to the heart of things a bit sooner.

The next great romantasy series! A fantastic start from Julie Soto. Slowwww burn with all the tension and yearning. Enemies to lovers with amazing story telling. Already dreading the wait for book 2!

Thanks to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

Thank you Julie Soto, NetGalley and HachetteAudio for approving this audio-ARC.

Let me start by saying that I’m a HUGE Dramione fan. I’ve obviously read “The Auction” and loved it immensely. That being said, just by having that fan fiction in my mind while reading Rose in Chains, it brought me straight back into the magical world I love to get lost in.

Julie Soto did an amazing job with bringing the story to life by creating a whole new setting, with original characters. The main plot was kept very close to the Auction, which I absolutely loved. Cause that’s what we wanted. While still giving the story an interesting twist with a new character background. It’s the perfect mix of dystopian, dark and romantic fantasy.

The start is a little overwhelming with a lot of names and world building, but it’s necessary to understand the background of the story. But from the moment the auction started I was sat. I couldn’t put this down. The connection between Briony and Toven was beautifully written. Toven being portrayed cold, mysterious, distant but caring at the same time? I am in ave. And the tension between them, even though they were in such a dark and difficult situation! Amazing!

I have to admit, that I truly loved this book, because of the fanfic-background. I think if I had no idea about it, I would have been a little confused.

The last scene was chosen perfectly for the ending and gave a clean cut. Still a cliffhanger though. Now I will just need to wait for book 2, even though this book isn’t even out yet!

✨ magical world
🖤 dark themes! Check TW!
🔥 sloooooow burn
🥀 angst/trauma
👥 forced proximity
🌶️ minimal spice - but the tension!
💔 forbidden love/feelings