Reviews with content warning for Gore - Rose in Chains

Reviews tagging 'Gore'

Rose in Chains by Julie Soto

19 reviews

lawwenlouis's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

bellebookcorner's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Rose in Chains was my first read from this author—and wow, it definitely won’t be my last. I’m obsessed! I went in with high hopes, and this book totally delivered.

Heads up: the story dives into some dark and graphic territory, so I’d recommend checking the trigger warnings before diving in.

From the very first page, I was hooked. The world-building is unique, the magic system is fascinating, and the short chapters + dual timelines ? Chef’s kiss.
I was flipping pages past midnight—putting this book down was not an option.

The writing is smooth and easy to follow, which really helped me get into the flow of the story, especially with so many characters and layers to the world. It made everything click in such a satisfying way.

Now let’s talk characters—Briony and Toven completely stole my heart. Briony’s strength, resilience, and sheer willpower during the auction scenes? Absolutely inspiring. She didn’t just survive—she came out stronger, and I was rooting for her every step of the way.

And then there’s Toven. My mysterious, morally grey guy. I have so many questions about him—what’s his and his family real agenda? What’s going on behind that cold, savage exterior? I need his POV in the next book!!!

As for the romance… the slow burn is everything. Every little interaction had me grinning and blushing. I was fully invested in Briony and Toven’s dynamic, and those almost-confession moments ? Torture in the best way.
After that ending, I’m dying to see where their story goes next!

Overall, Rose in Chains is a total page-turner—dark, addictive, and full of everything I love in a romantasy.
With such a strong start, I’ve got a feeling this series is going to become one of my favorites.

If you’re into enemies-to-lovers, morally grey love interests, court intrigue, prophecies, “touch her and die” vibes, and a unique magic system, this one’s a must read!

I received a review copy through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher!

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: explicit sexual content, mentions of non-consensual sex, sexual assault, sexual assault of a POV character, buying and selling of humans into captivity, forced sterilization, forced termination of a pregnancy, minor character deaths, suspense and violence, torture and gore

Content Warnings

chemistryreads's review

3.75

adventurous dark hopeful tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I love Julie Soto as an author and have read all of her books (non fanfiction). I’m not much of a fantasy reader, but I wanted to give it a try since she was writing it. Overall, I did enjoy this book and I certainly will be reading more in the series. The cover is gorgeous and I love how well it represents the content of the novel. When I started reading this novel, I knew it had been adapted from Julie Soto’s fanfiction story based on a relationship between Draco and Hermione from the Harry Potter series. This novel certainly was changed from that world as the explanation of magic is very different along with the overall time and location being otherworldly. Getting into this novel was hard - there was so much going on very early on with so many names and new concepts being thrown at the reader. I was overwhelmed and kinda lost at first. Once I picked up what was happening, it started to make more sense. To help it make sense, I did Google the major plot points from when this was a fanfiction and the timeline of it in the Harry Potter world helped me get on pace for the land of Evermore (and the surrounding areas? Not sure if they were ever given a real name?). Briony is an interesting main character- at times she is terribly naïve but also incredibly headstrong. She is also incredibly intelligent, but has to appear not as smart for the sake of her twin brother, the prince. Toven comes off as a snob, but really develops more complexity as the story goes on. The flashbacks of Briony and Toven were my favorite part of the story because it really led their character development and allowed more explanations to the fantasy world. The content of the book can be dark - while it says the “dark forces” have won, what they do with the losing side is “dark” but I don’t understand what really made them “dark” to begin. It didn’t seem fully explained to me. The losing side is sold to the highest bidder, primarily for magic use, but non-consensual sex is mentioned as occuring to some characters, as well as sexual violence, sexual harassment, forced sterilization, torture, abuse, death, gore, and war violence. While those dark themes do take place and are a huge motivation to Toven and Briony throughout the novel, their story and relationship of being on opposite sides really is front and center. The novel did run long for my taste and I felt really found its pacing much more in the last third of the novel. However, that cliffhanger ending?! I did not see that coming (and from my understanding, is a complete departure from her original fanfiction)! I am being picky in saying I also didn’t love all the naming, from new locations, various magic things, and people’s actual names - they were too complicated, too many named characters, and just difficult to keep track of. I fear I will have to reread this novel before the second comes out or I will forget who all the characters are! I did listen to the audiobook for this novel and I actually wish I hadn’t. I have no idea what accent the narrator was using (I know it’s fantasy and made up!) but I didn’t like it. It also really didn’t make me like Briony (narration in her presumed voice) because it was too formal and also snobbish and whiny at the same time. Overall, this is a dark fantasy read, where most dark moments happen to side characters, but is a war-time fiction. Read with caution, but also enjoyable for a fantasy debut. 3.75⭐️, 1.5🌶, ⚠️

Content Warnings

kaatzoetekouw's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

How would it affect a young woman... when the young man she developed a crush on back in school, the boy she thought maybe, just maybe... liked her back, turns out to have become a foot soldier of a ruthless usurper responsible for killing her father and twin brother?
How it would it affect this young Princess... when she is royalty no more, but a woman shackled, muted, confined in a cell with a group of other survivors – to be sold like cattle?
How would it affect this young survivor... to be purchased in a slave auction by that same young man... a young man who once had the key to her heart and now holds the key to her shackles?

Rose in Chains begins by turning Princess Briony Rosewood's world on its axis immediately: there's a war in Evermore, and her twin brother Rory – the King – has just been killed. Briony had been sure, so so so sure, that her brother would emerge the victor. It was prophesied, after all. Outnumbered and overwhelmed, Briony has no choice but to attempt to flee the castle, her home.

The first book in the Evermore trilogy has an instantly dark start, and gets even darker once Briony's captured and put up for human auction. (Take care of yourself and make sure to check the trigger warnings at the bottom of this review – please be advised that they are spoilers.) Julie Soto's writing is vivid and descriptive; reading about Briony's experiences through her point of view is compelling and heart-wrenching. Because we only get her side of the story, we are expected to read between the lines a lot, particularly when it comes to the motivations and actions of her eventual buyer/captor Toven Hearst and his family. Why did he buy her?

Us being kept in the dark along with Briony is a fantastic approach. Briony's fear and anger are tangible, and because we don't have all the information, moments of kindness are met with skepticism by both her and the reader. Because she still IS a captive who isn't told anything, and Toven sometimes treats her rather poorly, though one can hazard a decent guess at his not-so-nefarious reasons why. So at the same time, when these kind moments do happen, you can't help but share in Briony's hope.

Rose in Chains' lead character is complex and layered, at times naïve - complementing the mysterious, morally grey Toven Hearst beautifully. In a book with heavy themes and a decidedly serious tone, levity isn't always appropriate; hope and regard (seen in Briony and Toven, respectfully) are all the more necessary to carry a romance in this setting. There is a stunning slowburn (like, truly slooooow, snail slow, *sloth* slow) love story, its credibility aided by flashbacks focusing on the couple's dynamic over a span of 8 years.

Flashbacks aren't always welcome but THESE are - they give angst, they give yearning - and they give world building. Apart from providing us with that foundation for Briony and Toven's relationship, they give insight into the magic system and a timeline of how the war between Evermore and Bomard unfolded. The magic system allows heart- and mind magic (Toven being heart, Briony being mind) to bond together – another promising dimension to the romance between the leads. And the timeline of the war gives us the basics, including a skin-crawling introduction to a truly abhorrent villain, Veronica Mallow (I do love that she's female). All in all there's enough for it to be a proper set-up to a “first book in a trilogy”, with Soto holding back plenty of material for the books that are to follow. I reckon the plot – which is at a bit of a simmer in Rose in Chains - will be cooking nicely in future books.

I listened to the audiobook edition, narrated by Ella Lynch, a talented and engaging British performer. What impresses me most about her, is that she is able to provide several distinct voices for not only female, but also male characters. I knew whose dialog she was reading based purely on her voice. Furthermore, Ella is pleasant to listen to, with a clear and easy to follow English accent, perfectly suitable for Briony and for the story's setting. The audiobook narration also manages to weave in subtle emotions; I'm not sure these would have translated as well in text only. The audiobook narration, in my opinion, made one scene in particular (a scene which I cannot spoil) all the more impactful on the rest of the story. Ella Lynch's interpretation of Toven added depth to how I perceived his character, as well.

I'm interested in seeing how the rest of this trilogy plays out. Rose in Chains holds me by the throat: it solidly lays the groundwork for some thrilling, sexy, intriguing further story-telling.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio | Forever for generously providing me with a copy of this audiobook; all opinions expressed are honest, voluntary and 100% my own.

Trigger warnings (spoilers)
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Forced abortion (not to the FMC, or by the MMC), forced sterilization (not by the MMC), forced prostitution (not by the MMC), gore, gruesome deaths, rape (not by the MMC), sexual assault, sexual harassment, violence, slavery / human trafficking, abuse, confinement. Based on Harry Potter fanfiction. My apologies if I've missed some.

Content Warnings

booksalacarte's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

4.5⭐️2.5🌶️

Dark Romantasy

Non-linear timeline

Flashbacks

Magical schools

Rival kingdoms

War

Political intrigue

Dragons

Failed prophecy

Enemies to lovers

Secrets

Rebellion

Slow burn

Forced proximity

High stakes

Tw: grief, war, SA, human trafficking, murder, enslavement, forced sterility, forced termination of pregnancy (off page), non-consensual relationships, misogyny, gore

*note- trigger warnings are not reflected in spice rating. Read responsibly.

I love Julie Soto’s highly bingeable writing style, and as a fan of her contemporary romances, I was thrilled to be approved for the audiobook galley on NetGalley!

Many readers will recognize her from AO3, where she’s widely respected for her fanfiction. While those familiar with the source material may notice a few parallels, the story here stands firmly on its own. The changes are creative and distinct. You’d never know it was a reimagining unless you were looking for it.

The audiobook was fantastic! The narrator’s pacing, inflection, and melodic tone were spot-on, and each character had a clearly defined voice. Even at 1.75x speed, the narration felt perfectly paced and immersive.

The magical system and historical elements felt fresh and well-developed. Some aspects of the world were repeated a bit more than necessary, but not enough to pull me out of the story.

The plot was compelling and the tension, especially the romantic tension, was absolutely top-tier. There’s just something about a character quietly pining for someone they shouldn’t that always lands. While I’m not usually a fan of flashbacks, the ones to their school days were effective. Scenes occasionally replayed from different POVs or slightly altered timelines, which added depth, though the repetition was noticeable.

This is a dark fantasy romance, and the themes are heavy, particularly around human trafficking. It’s handled with care, but definitely worth noting.

This is a very slow burn. At times I wondered if any spice between the main characters would happen at all in this book… but the tension was so deliciously drawn out that I didn’t mind one bit.

Briony and Toven are wonderfully developed, and I loved seeing the slow reveal of Toven’s parents. However, most of the other characters felt less fleshed out—likely due to the story’s secluded setting. I especially wished for more development in Briony’s relationship with her twin brother, which felt underexplored.

I really enjoyed this and can’t wait to explore more of the characters, world, and magic in future books. A strong start to what promises to be a gripping series!

Content Warnings

spellbindingtomes's review against another edition

4.25

dark emotional tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Content Warnings

hxlleann's review against another edition

3.5

dark tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book!!!

3.5 stars.

This was a highly anticipated read for me and I was so happy to get an early copy…

I feel like I went through multiple phases with this book. The beginning hooked me pretty quickly and I felt like I had an easy time getting pulled into the story. I feel like the world building was relatively easy to understand and I was able to imagine the world pretty well based on the writing. I do think the politics and succession was kind of confusing and there were a lot of characters to remember, but it felt pretty well thought out. I appreciated the tension between the two main characters and felt that the flashbacks really helped to give more context to their relationship and set the scene for a sort of enemies to lovers situation.

Some complaints…

After finishing this book, I just kept thinking that it felt incomplete. I know it is meant to be the start of a series, so I expected it to leave us with a conflict that will need to be completed in the other books, but I just felt like we were lacking when it came to a lot of things. The ending felt rushed, and really lacked any sort of wrapping up of ANY parts of the plot. The relationship between the main characters felt like it reset completely back to where it was at the beginning of the book and we lost all progress. I also feel like, honestly, not that much actually happened in this book. I know sometimes first books in a series can be like that as they are providing a lot of setup… but this book felt like so much filler and borderline repetition that didn’t advance the plot as much as I wanted. Also, if you love a slow-burn then THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU. There was tension, there was like… suggestive dialogue and longing and dreaming of each other……. but they did not even so much as KISS until 95% into the book. I like a slow burn but it was hard to wait that long for any sort of progress.

Overall there were things I enjoyed and things that I did not. I’m honestly unsure at the moment if this will be a series I continue or not.

Content Warnings