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dark
emotional
sad
tense
I'm conflicted about this one. To start with, if you don't know - this is a rewrite of a Dramione fic (The Auction). I never read the Auction, but you can still sometimes see the scaffolding of the stories and characters that this used to lean on.
please check all trigger warnings before reading this - there are a lot of horrible things that happen to women in this world.
So yes, this originally was based on a story based on characters by JKR. Just want to make it clear that I do not support her in any way, and intend, to the best of my abilities, to treat this as a work separate from its source material.
To start, I love Julie Soto's writing, and this book solidly confirms my opinion on that - I just love how she builds relationships and layers tension so perfectly so that when romance eventually happens (at the 97% mark!!!!! talk about a freaking slow burn), it feels earned. Her characters feel real and solid in their world. I really just enjoyed the relationship between Briony and Toven - their shared history, the tension and slow burn between them, their whip-quick banter and interactions. (Toven had me yelling and shaking my fists at him for how slowwwwwww he's making things go)
However, the world building is a bit rough. Don't think too much about it, and it won't bother you (I got over it quickly). If you're a stickler for strong world building, maybe stay away from this one. But there are dragons, and I have a feeling that they're going to be a larger part of future stories. So there is that. I'm also intruiged by the greater things going on in the rest of the world that we haven't gotten much of a peek at yet.
That being said, this is a rough book. I like fantasy for how much it can remove me from what's going on in the real world. This is not a great book for that. the men in power are horrendous and abusive to women. there are talks of racial purity and racially motivated hatred and violence. lots of talk of sterilization and the value of virginity (among many many other things). it is a captive/captor/slave romance.
But it is, still, a romance. As someone who believes that we can still continue to have good things while the world burns around us, I am a huge fan of the romance against a bleak, horrendous backdrop.
I listened to the audio, and I would say that the narration is fine. not the most spectacular thing I've ever heard, and there were a lot of moments that I wished I had a physical copy in front of me. The narrator did a solid job.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio/Forever for the ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
please check all trigger warnings before reading this - there are a lot of horrible things that happen to women in this world.
So yes, this originally was based on a story based on characters by JKR. Just want to make it clear that I do not support her in any way, and intend, to the best of my abilities, to treat this as a work separate from its source material.
To start, I love Julie Soto's writing, and this book solidly confirms my opinion on that - I just love how she builds relationships and layers tension so perfectly so that when romance eventually happens (at the 97% mark!!!!! talk about a freaking slow burn), it feels earned. Her characters feel real and solid in their world. I really just enjoyed the relationship between Briony and Toven - their shared history, the tension and slow burn between them, their whip-quick banter and interactions. (Toven had me yelling and shaking my fists at him for how slowwwwwww he's making things go)
However, the world building is a bit rough. Don't think too much about it, and it won't bother you (I got over it quickly). If you're a stickler for strong world building, maybe stay away from this one. But there are dragons, and I have a feeling that they're going to be a larger part of future stories. So there is that. I'm also intruiged by the greater things going on in the rest of the world that we haven't gotten much of a peek at yet.
That being said, this is a rough book. I like fantasy for how much it can remove me from what's going on in the real world. This is not a great book for that. the men in power are horrendous and abusive to women. there are talks of racial purity and racially motivated hatred and violence. lots of talk of sterilization and the value of virginity (among many many other things). it is a captive/captor/slave romance.
But it is, still, a romance. As someone who believes that we can still continue to have good things while the world burns around us, I am a huge fan of the romance against a bleak, horrendous backdrop.
I listened to the audio, and I would say that the narration is fine. not the most spectacular thing I've ever heard, and there were a lot of moments that I wished I had a physical copy in front of me. The narrator did a solid job.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio/Forever for the ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Sexual harassment, War
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
š§ Title: Rose in Chains- The Evermore Trilogy #1-3
āš¾ Author: Julie Soto- an auto-buy author for me
š Publication date: 7-8-25 | Read: 6-27-25
š£ļøNarrator: Ella Lynch voices all the characters with standouts from Briony and Toven. The reading style brought the text to life, and the author and narrator worked together perfectly. The pacing and flow allowed me to get lost in the story. The narrator paused and announced new chapters and there was a table of contents which helped me follow along.
šš¾āāļøāā”ļøRun Time: 15:35
Genre:
*Fantasy
*Dark Romance
*Adult Fic
Tropes:
*Dramione fanfic-The Auction
*enemies to lovers/rivals
*slow burn romance
*flashbacks
*forced proximity
*magic school-mind magic and heart magic/golden heartsprings
*mutual pining
*royal romance
*a dragon
*the chosen one
šš¾POV: 3rd person
ā ļøTW: slavery/human auction, virgin h, SA/SH, war, abortion, forced sterilization, mind attacks, death of loved ones
š Setting: Evermore-Claremore Castle and Bomard
Summary: Rory is set to become King of the Eversuns but must first defeat Bomard led by Queen Mallow. When his castle is attacked, his twin sister Princess Briony and several others are taken prisoner-the women forced to become slaves to Bomard. Briony is given to her archenemy Toven as a heartspring. She is tattooed and chained to stop her magic and let everyone know she belonged to him.
š©š¾ Heroine: Briony Rosewood-25, Princess of Evermore turned prisoner
šØš¾ Hero: Toven Hearst-25, his family controls Heart Magic in Bomard, Vespa-his fox familiar
š Other Characters:
* Rory Rosewood-Briony's twin, heir-apparent to King Evermore per a "chosen one" prophecy
* Cordelia-Briony's BFF/ in love w/ Rory
* Veronika Mallow-Queen of the Bomardi, bonded to a dragon. A mind reader who wants to end the Rosewood line.
* Lag Reighven+ Gaines- evil handlers
* Serena + Orion Hearst-Toven's parents
* Liam + Finn + Colin-Toven's friends
* Larissa Gaines-from Bomard/Briony's rival who becomes enslaved because of her father's cruelty
š¤ My Thoughts: This was a great beginning of a new romantasy series. The mutual pining, the betrayal, and war politics all combine for a Dramione/Handmaid's Tale/Fourth Wing dark romance. It ended in a surprise and cliffhanger that I can't wait to devour.
Rating: 5/5 āØ
Spice level 1/5 š¶ļø most unwanted encounters, kiss/make out between H/h
šš¾Thanks to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Julie Soto for this ALC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.
āš¾ Author: Julie Soto- an auto-buy author for me
š Publication date: 7-8-25 | Read: 6-27-25
š£ļøNarrator: Ella Lynch voices all the characters with standouts from Briony and Toven. The reading style brought the text to life, and the author and narrator worked together perfectly. The pacing and flow allowed me to get lost in the story. The narrator paused and announced new chapters and there was a table of contents which helped me follow along.
šš¾āāļøāā”ļøRun Time: 15:35
Genre:
*Fantasy
*Dark Romance
*Adult Fic
Tropes:
*Dramione fanfic-The Auction
*enemies to lovers/rivals
*slow burn romance
*flashbacks
*forced proximity
*magic school-mind magic and heart magic/golden heartsprings
*mutual pining
*royal romance
*a dragon
*the chosen one
šš¾POV: 3rd person
ā ļøTW: slavery/human auction, virgin h, SA/SH, war, abortion, forced sterilization, mind attacks, death of loved ones
š Setting: Evermore-Claremore Castle and Bomard
Summary: Rory is set to become King of the Eversuns but must first defeat Bomard led by Queen Mallow. When his castle is attacked, his twin sister Princess Briony and several others are taken prisoner-the women forced to become slaves to Bomard. Briony is given to her archenemy Toven as a heartspring. She is tattooed and chained to stop her magic and let everyone know she belonged to him.
š©š¾ Heroine: Briony Rosewood-25, Princess of Evermore turned prisoner
šØš¾ Hero: Toven Hearst-25, his family controls Heart Magic in Bomard, Vespa-his fox familiar
š Other Characters:
* Rory Rosewood-Briony's twin, heir-apparent to King Evermore per a "chosen one" prophecy
* Cordelia-Briony's BFF/ in love w/ Rory
* Veronika Mallow-Queen of the Bomardi, bonded to a dragon. A mind reader who wants to end the Rosewood line.
* Lag Reighven+ Gaines- evil handlers
* Serena + Orion Hearst-Toven's parents
* Liam + Finn + Colin-Toven's friends
* Larissa Gaines-from Bomard/Briony's rival who becomes enslaved because of her father's cruelty
š¤ My Thoughts: This was a great beginning of a new romantasy series. The mutual pining, the betrayal, and war politics all combine for a Dramione/Handmaid's Tale/Fourth Wing dark romance. It ended in a surprise and cliffhanger that I can't wait to devour.
Rating: 5/5 āØ
Spice level 1/5 š¶ļø most unwanted encounters, kiss/make out between H/h
šš¾Thanks to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Julie Soto for this ALC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Trafficking, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, War
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 ā 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 ā the King ā 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 ā 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 naĆÆve - 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 ā 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 āfirst book in a trilogyā, with Soto holding back plenty of material for the books that are to follow. I reckon the plot ā 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)
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
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.
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 ā 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 ā the King ā 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 ā 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 naĆÆve - 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 ā 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 āfirst book in a trilogyā, with Soto holding back plenty of material for the books that are to follow. I reckon the plot ā 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)
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
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
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Trafficking, Murder, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Gore, Rape, War
challenging
dark
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:
Complicated
A Dark, Gripping Fantasy You Wonāt Be Able to Pause
Omg, the ending KILLED ME. I need the sequel yesterday.
Omg, the ending KILLED ME. I need the sequel yesterday.
What can I say? Julie Soto is a chameleon. From contemporary romance to YA mystery and now dark adult fantasy, she continues to prove she can conquer any genre she sets her sights on. Rose in Chains, the first in The Evermore Trilogy, is a compelling and emotionally charged start to what promises to be an unforgettable series.
Like all of Sotoās work, this book is impossible to put down. I listened to the advanced audiobook copy and letās just say: chores, sleep, functioning like a human? Not happening. Just one more chapter turned into full spiralling once I realised I hit the last one. And now I have to wait for book two?? Send help.
The worldbuilding here is rich and intriguing, though I did find myself wanting more detail and depth in certain areas. The pacing, too, felt uneven at timesāperhaps due to the main characterās confined setting, which naturally limits interactions and scene shifts. But even with that, Soto maintains a strong emotional throughline that kept me hooked.
The audiobook narration was phenomenal. It took me a moment to adjust my expectations (I had imagined an English accent thanks to my memories of The Auction, the fanfic this is based on), but once I did, I was fully immersed. The narratorās voice is crisp, expressive, and professionally recorded, and she added thoughtful touches that elevated the experienceālike adjusting the sound to match when a characterās voice was described as muffled. She also differentiated the characters well, making them easy to follow in audio format. A huge kudos to both the voice actor and the director.
As a dark fantasy, Rose in Chains doesnāt stray into the extreme end of the dark romance spectrum, but it definitely includes mature themes and situations. If youāre new to the genre, I recommend checking content warnings beforehand.
Speaking as someone who read The Auction, I think Julie did a solid job adapting it into this new format. Some characters have changed, and a few scenes and roles have been streamlined or removed. There were moments I missed the original dynamics, particularly where the FMC couldāve had more meaningful interactions, but overall the essence of the story still hits hard. I will say: I had really hoped one particular scene wouldnāt make the cutāand unfortunately, it did. I feel obliged to interrupt this review with a quick PSA: virginity is a social construct. You cannot detect virginity. The hymen is not a reliable marker of anything, and I wish that myth would disappear from the world. I know this is fiction, but I had to say it.
All in all, Rose in Chains is a strong series opener. Dark, captivating, and emotionally intense, it will definitely appeal to fans of The Auction and dark fantasy lovers alike. Iām already counting down the days to book two.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, War
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Death of parent, Murder, War, Classism
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
HOLY SPELLS AND SLOW-BURNS!!! This book was pure magic. Julie Soto didnāt just knock it out of the parkāshe lit the whole damn stadium on fire. Rose in Chains is easily a top read of the year for me. The storytelling? Immaculate. The worldbuilding? Like stepping into a dream stitched together with ink and thunder. And the way she wove together the layered the feuding magical systems? Intricate, dazzling, and utterly addictive.
Briony and Tovenās tension could strangle a godāitās this taut, sizzling thread stretched to its limit, and I swear I could hear it hum between the lines. I need more of them immediately. That boy is one heartbreak away from combusting, and Briony? My girl needs to pull her nose out of her books and realize sheās walking emotional circles around a man who would burn down kingdoms for her. Like, bestieāconnect the dots before Toven bursts into stardust.
And yes, I read the original AO3 version back in the Dramione days, but this? This feels reborn. Like Soto took the bones of that story and wrapped them in fire, grief, and glittering originality. Every twist carved into me, every moment pulled me deeper.
Honestly, my brain is still short-circuiting because I just finished it and Iām reeling. But if you love fantasy with gut-punch stakes, masterfully slow-building romance (seriouslyāit simmers like a charm waiting to be cast), and characters that ache with complexityāRose in Chains is your next obsession.
Only bad thing about this read is that I now have to wait for next book to come outš
Thank you so much to Forever Publishing and Julio Soto for granting me this e-ARC on Netgalley! Review is my honest opinion!
Briony and Tovenās tension could strangle a godāitās this taut, sizzling thread stretched to its limit, and I swear I could hear it hum between the lines. I need more of them immediately. That boy is one heartbreak away from combusting, and Briony? My girl needs to pull her nose out of her books and realize sheās walking emotional circles around a man who would burn down kingdoms for her. Like, bestieāconnect the dots before Toven bursts into stardust.
And yes, I read the original AO3 version back in the Dramione days, but this? This feels reborn. Like Soto took the bones of that story and wrapped them in fire, grief, and glittering originality. Every twist carved into me, every moment pulled me deeper.
Honestly, my brain is still short-circuiting because I just finished it and Iām reeling. But if you love fantasy with gut-punch stakes, masterfully slow-building romance (seriouslyāit simmers like a charm waiting to be cast), and characters that ache with complexityāRose in Chains is your next obsession.
Only bad thing about this read is that I now have to wait for next book to come outš
Thank you so much to Forever Publishing and Julio Soto for granting me this e-ARC on Netgalley! Review is my honest opinion!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Murder, War
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the ARC!
I'll be honest here I didn't read what this book was about before I requested it. I'm a simple woman, I see new Julie Soto book, I read book.
This was darker than I expected, heavy content warning, if you think you might need the warning read the one provided at the beginning of the book. It also brings up some important themes that we probably should talk about in current society unfortunately.
I think this book did a good job setting up the trilogy and while I do need the next book asap, I found it lagged a little bit in between the auction and the mid point of the book but it was probably necessary because it's the first book and we need Lore.
In general I am very picky about flashback scenes because I think they take away from the present day story, but I didn't hate them here and, again, I think it added to the world building in most cases although a few of them I didn't see much of a point to them.
I'm excited to see shit hit the fan and some bad people die a really terrible death in the next two books.
I'll be honest here I didn't read what this book was about before I requested it. I'm a simple woman, I see new Julie Soto book, I read book.
This was darker than I expected, heavy content warning, if you think you might need the warning read the one provided at the beginning of the book. It also brings up some important themes that we probably should talk about in current society unfortunately.
I think this book did a good job setting up the trilogy and while I do need the next book asap, I found it lagged a little bit in between the auction and the mid point of the book but it was probably necessary because it's the first book and we need Lore.
In general I am very picky about flashback scenes because I think they take away from the present day story, but I didn't hate them here and, again, I think it added to the world building in most cases although a few of them I didn't see much of a point to them.
I'm excited to see shit hit the fan and some bad people die a really terrible death in the next two books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Slavery
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Medical content, Murder
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Iām so grateful that I got to listen to this book before its release date! Thanks to netgalley and the publisher!!
Julie Soto is one of my favorite authors, Iāve loved all her books and Rose in Chains is no exception. This was way darker than I expected it to be, the stakes are freaking high in this, its so sad to see what all these women have to go through just because of some disgusting people. I felt so much all of them because of the shit they have to endure!
The magic is also so interesting and I already can not wait to get my hands on the next book to see how the magic, the world, this story and the characters continue!! Hopefully weāll get to know why some specific people act the way they do! I canāt wait to read more about Briony & Toven, all the others and their world!
Thank you Julie, for dipping your toes into so many different genres and continuing to be one of my favorites!
Julie Soto is one of my favorite authors, Iāve loved all her books and Rose in Chains is no exception. This was way darker than I expected it to be, the stakes are freaking high in this, its so sad to see what all these women have to go through just because of some disgusting people. I felt so much all of them because of the shit they have to endure!
The magic is also so interesting and I already can not wait to get my hands on the next book to see how the magic, the world, this story and the characters continue!! Hopefully weāll get to know why some specific people act the way they do! I canāt wait to read more about Briony & Toven, all the others and their world!
Thank you Julie, for dipping your toes into so many different genres and continuing to be one of my favorites!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Murder
What in the Handmaidās 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. Iām 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. Iām 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 itās the norm.
A lot of questionable writing used to fly back in the day with fanfiction, itās 2025 and time to retire these ideas for good. Also itās weird that at some point these characters were modeled after childrenās booksā¦
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.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copies.
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. Iām 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 itās the norm.
A lot of questionable writing used to fly back in the day with fanfiction, itās 2025 and time to retire these ideas for good. Also itās weird that at some point these characters were modeled after childrenās booksā¦
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.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copies.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Sexual harassment
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
4.5āļø2.5š¶ļø
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 Sotoās 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 sheās 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. Youād never know it was a reimagining unless you were looking for it.
The audiobook was fantastic! The narratorās 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. Thereās just something about a character quietly pining for someone they shouldnāt that always lands. While Iām 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. Itās 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 bookā¦ but the tension was so deliciously drawn out that I didnāt mind one bit.
Briony and Toven are wonderfully developed, and I loved seeing the slow reveal of Tovenās parents. However, most of the other characters felt less fleshed outālikely due to the storyās secluded setting. I especially wished for more development in Brionyās relationship with her twin brother, which felt underexplored.
I really enjoyed this and canāt 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
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism