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What in the Handmaid’s Tale, Stockholm syndrome, sexist crap is this?! This is so tone deaf with current events. Today women all around the world are at a higher risk for sexual abuse along with having their human rights taken away. The amount of blatant sexual harassment, disgusting and repulsive behavior towards women in this book is astounding. I had to quit at 60% for my own sanity. I’m all for reading whatever you want but I cannot believe this is being published, especially targeting a younger demographic. Glorifying incel ideas about women as property/slaves and dressing it up as enemies to lovers is low.
The world building was underdeveloped and magic system not explained clearly. There were a lot of characters and an attempt at creating political intrigue, but it was too difficult to keep track of - all tell, no show. So much fluff, using a lot of words to say a whole lot of nothing. Name inspirations courtesy of r/tradgedeigh and characters were killed off early on and no one grieved anyone or showed any emotion. The FMC was flat and robotic, there was no chemistry between her and the MMC, it was an abusive master/slave situation. I’m just so confused about the plot and how a woman came to be in power, yet all the men abuse women they see as inferior like it’s the norm.
A lot of questionable writing used to fly back in the day with fanfiction, it’s 2025 and time to retire these ideas for good. Also it’s weird that at some point these characters were modeled after children’s books…
The audiobook production was good, the narrator has a British accent but has a very juvenile sounding voice, it just made the whole book feel YA but the themes were dark and violent.
Disappointing - I cannot, in good conscience, recommend this book to anyone.
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. I’m just so confused about the plot and how a woman came to be in power, yet all the men abuse women they see as inferior like it’s the norm.
A lot of questionable writing used to fly back in the day with fanfiction, it’s 2025 and time to retire these ideas for good. Also it’s weird that at some point these characters were modeled after children’s books…
The audiobook production was good, the narrator has a British accent but has a very juvenile sounding voice, it just made the whole book feel YA but the themes were dark and violent.
Disappointing - I cannot, in good conscience, recommend this book to anyone.
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
4.5⭐️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
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
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, War
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I have a very simple rule: If Julie Soto writes it, I’m going to read it.
Perhaps it’s because this is a rework of a previous story she wrote, but it reads far clunkier than her more recent novels and lacks the heart and depth I’ve grown used to from her. This is by far her darkest novel, but the plot armor is so thick on our FMC I never felt the tension like I should have. There were moments that grabbed my attention, but it never quite held me.
I think I would have benefitted from reading the physical novel. The narration was far too delicate and failed to convey the horror, urgency and despair throughout the novel.
I will read the next in the series because in Julie I trust. Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette for the ALC in exchange for a honest review!
Perhaps it’s because this is a rework of a previous story she wrote, but it reads far clunkier than her more recent novels and lacks the heart and depth I’ve grown used to from her. This is by far her darkest novel, but the plot armor is so thick on our FMC I never felt the tension like I should have. There were moments that grabbed my attention, but it never quite held me.
I think I would have benefitted from reading the physical novel. The narration was far too delicate and failed to convey the horror, urgency and despair throughout the novel.
I will read the next in the series because in Julie I trust. Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette for the ALC in exchange for a honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Torture
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really enjoyed the start of this book. The middle really killed the momentum. There needed to be more action, higher stakes, and better character development. The main character, Briony, acted so much younger than someone in her mid-twenties. She didn't seem to grasp the danger of her situation and acted like a love struck teenager instead.
I had the audiobook and thought the narration was well done.
Thank You @HachetteAudio and @Netgalley for the advance audio copy of this book!
Opinions of the book are my own.
I had the audiobook and thought the narration was well done.
Thank You @HachetteAudio and @Netgalley for the advance audio copy of this book!
Opinions of the book are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Abortion, Sexual harassment
dark
mysterious
medium-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:
Yes
First off, I have not read The Auction, but I really enjoyed the magic system in this book. It felt really unique to me. I also really enjoyed the opening and the ending of the book (it does end in a cliffhanger...). I also really loved the flashback scenes, along with the progression of Briony and Toven's relationship.
I did feel a little lull in the middle of the book, but the beginning was fantastic and the ending made it worth it. With the audiobook, I felt the narration was wonderfully done.
*Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
I did feel a little lull in the middle of the book, but the beginning was fantastic and the ending made it worth it. With the audiobook, I felt the narration was wonderfully done.
*Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Slavery
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
📚 24yr old Briony has spent her life having to dim herself while also shining her light on her twin, Rory - heir to the throne because only males can inherit in her country. She and Rory attended magic school with their neighboring country - a country they have a tenuous peace treaty with. Then, their tenuous peace is shattered by war with Briony's side losing. Her castle is captured and she's taken prisoner, to be sold along with the other captured prisoners. Unable to access her magic, she's trapped and lost. And then who buys her at auction but her magic school nemesis, that she always felt attracted to - Toven, who hails from a family known for their cruelty and close connection to their country's extra cruel ruler. Briony has to figure out how to survive, even if that means playing along, even when it feels like all is lost as she feels more alone than ever.
💭 Overall, I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading the next book. I didn't love everything about the book, and until the last 25% wasn't sure I would continue the series. I wish more of the book was as exciting for me and evoked more emotion from like the last quarter did. But the last quarter gave me enough excitement and feels to feel invested in learning more.
📓 Told in a somewhat then now style, you get to experience some of 24yr old Briony's childhood and time at magic school.
Overall, I really enjoyed the plot. I found it interesting and easy to fall into. I can't say I found the twists and turns to be unexpected, but I still enjoyed them. There was one twist that I didn't see occurring in the way it did though, that was fun and interesting.
✍🏼 The writing is solidly good. It reads easily and smoothly. The dialogue feels natural and fits the characters.
This is the first Julie Soto book I've actually finished (I've struggled to finish any book for months, no fault of the book/author, just my brain/MH). Anyway, I can't say how it stacks up to her other works since I haven't read enough of any of them to say.
There were a couple instances of repetition that I feel were unnecessary. With the current state of my brain, I'm surprised I noticed them. They're short, but the repetition is there.
⏳ It started off strong. I feel like it bogs down just a bit in the middle, but then it picks up and that's when it really shined for me.
That last +/- 25% truly sold me on picking up the second book, immediately once it's available.
🗺️ The world building is ok, imo. I think if you're primarily a romance reader, it probably wouldn't be an issue for you. But if you're primarily a fantasy reader, I think you're likely to feel similarly to me - that world building was a bit lacking. I don't have a grasp of the layout, geography, religion (even though Godparent is mentioned once), or government structure of the world, etc beyond vague generalities anyway.
🔮 The magic system is ok, it's good, but I wouldn't say great or well developed. It's an interesting take on heart vs mind - I actually love that as a concept. How they can be both different and also the same. But I feel it's lacking in depth and explanation.
I'm going through some stuff currently, including short term memory issues, so maybe that's why this next part stuck out for me, but maybe not idk. The magic system confused me a bit - as in I couldn't keep straight which side was supposed to have
which type (heart vs mind magic). Especially since I couldn't really tell or understand the difference in their usage. We're told they're different, one is "superior," etc. But I still don't have a firm grasp on the magic system. Or why is one superior? etc
- Why are they thanking the waters? It reads as maybe something to do with religion, but idk.
- How (and why) does water come into play with strengthening magic?
👥 There are a lot of characters, and I feel like the development of the main cast is ok, it's good. I wanted more. Their histories, their motivations, etc. I didn't feel their connections the way I like to. We're told Briony and Rory are super close, but I didn't feel it (or really see it). I didn't feel an emotional connection to anyone, and as a character focused reader I didn't love that. I want to feel what they feel.
Characters are all cishetero - except maybe one, but he is angry about it. I currently don't have enough info to even say if this character is, in fact, queer, I'm going to leave it as if they are, I hope that's explored in future books.
Anyway, it's not necessarily an issue, per say, for me that they're all cishetero, but I always appreciate a diverse cast (and inclusion). There are non-white characters.
💜 This is a SLOW burn. If the romance in Daughter of No Worlds was too slow for you, you may not like that aspect of Rose in Chains. I love slow burn, the slower the better, personally, so this was a W aspect for me. You get yearning, longing, and angst. I enjoyed the will they/won't they.
I would have loved to really get inside Toven's head. I think that would've elevated the longing, yearning, and angst a ton.
I can't say they're true (imo) enemies to lovers, or even really rivals. Enemies vibes, maybe, more along the lines of being unsure where they stand with one another since they're from opposing worlds who have a tenuous peace treaty.
🌶️ 0.5 or maybe 1 when someone tells another character what he would do to her. other than that, we get make out session. the build up is there, so I expect the subsequent books to have more spice. If you like a lot of spice, this book may not be as enjoyable for you. Personally, I'm a take it or leave it. As long as it fits the plot and characters, I'm down for whatever.
Up until the last +/- 25%, I thought this was gonna be somewhere in the 3s for me. But then it got rolling and I was thoroughly invested and need the next book ASAP, so I was going to give it a 4. But writing the review reminded me of all the stuff I didn't love and so I'm at a 3.5 or 3.75.
⚠️ Please check CW/TW for this one - I was caught off guard by a few things. www.juliesotowrites.com for details on CW/TW
➖ some other things I didn't love, didn't fully grasp, etc:
- what caused this war to start? like, what was the catalyst?
- how did they just take over? or was there more to it than we weren't told/shown?
- why the mind magic hate? and did people fight back when one country outlawed it? I need more info, especially after the last 25% of the book
- I wish Toven had either been more morally grey, or less. He fell in the middle for me
- the recurring importance of her virginity. I know it's not exclusive to this book, but this book really went hard for her purity. I just... I greatly appreciate that Toven wanted her to have a choice and for her to not feel pressured.
- what happened with a certain female character?? I need more info. or is she exclusively a plot device? cause I'm more invested in her character than I feel like I should be. I want a thorough backstory.
** I wasn't aware this started off as a Dramionie fanfic (that's been rewritten, or something like that) until after I read it. Having said that, I didn't pick up on the MCs being similar to Hermione/Draco. Looking back, other than their looks being kinda, sorta, similar-ish, in a vague way - I still don't really see it. I've only knowingly read 1 Dramionie fanfic (Manacled), and that was years ago. So maybe it's just that I'm too far removed from Dramionie, or something, idk.
Thank you to Netgalley and Forever Publishing for the opportunity to read this eARC.
💭 Overall, I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading the next book. I didn't love everything about the book, and until the last 25% wasn't sure I would continue the series. I wish more of the book was as exciting for me and evoked more emotion from like the last quarter did. But the last quarter gave me enough excitement and feels to feel invested in learning more.
📓 Told in a somewhat then now style, you get to experience some of 24yr old Briony's childhood and time at magic school.
Overall, I really enjoyed the plot. I found it interesting and easy to fall into. I can't say I found the twists and turns to be unexpected, but I still enjoyed them. There was one twist that I didn't see occurring in the way it did though, that was fun and interesting.
✍🏼 The writing is solidly good. It reads easily and smoothly. The dialogue feels natural and fits the characters.
This is the first Julie Soto book I've actually finished (I've struggled to finish any book for months, no fault of the book/author, just my brain/MH). Anyway, I can't say how it stacks up to her other works since I haven't read enough of any of them to say.
There were a couple instances of repetition that I feel were unnecessary. With the current state of my brain, I'm surprised I noticed them. They're short, but the repetition is there.
⏳ It started off strong. I feel like it bogs down just a bit in the middle, but then it picks up and that's when it really shined for me.
That last +/- 25% truly sold me on picking up the second book, immediately once it's available.
🗺️ The world building is ok, imo. I think if you're primarily a romance reader, it probably wouldn't be an issue for you. But if you're primarily a fantasy reader, I think you're likely to feel similarly to me - that world building was a bit lacking. I don't have a grasp of the layout, geography, religion (even though Godparent is mentioned once), or government structure of the world, etc beyond vague generalities anyway.
🔮 The magic system is ok, it's good, but I wouldn't say great or well developed. It's an interesting take on heart vs mind - I actually love that as a concept. How they can be both different and also the same. But I feel it's lacking in depth and explanation.
I'm going through some stuff currently, including short term memory issues, so maybe that's why this next part stuck out for me, but maybe not idk. The magic system confused me a bit - as in I couldn't keep straight which side was supposed to have
which type (heart vs mind magic). Especially since I couldn't really tell or understand the difference in their usage. We're told they're different, one is "superior," etc. But I still don't have a firm grasp on the magic system. Or why is one superior? etc
- Why are they thanking the waters? It reads as maybe something to do with religion, but idk.
- How (and why) does water come into play with strengthening magic?
👥 There are a lot of characters, and I feel like the development of the main cast is ok, it's good. I wanted more. Their histories, their motivations, etc. I didn't feel their connections the way I like to. We're told Briony and Rory are super close, but I didn't feel it (or really see it). I didn't feel an emotional connection to anyone, and as a character focused reader I didn't love that. I want to feel what they feel.
Characters are all cishetero - except maybe one, but he is angry about it. I currently don't have enough info to even say if this character is, in fact, queer, I'm going to leave it as if they are, I hope that's explored in future books.
Anyway, it's not necessarily an issue, per say, for me that they're all cishetero, but I always appreciate a diverse cast (and inclusion). There are non-white characters.
💜 This is a SLOW burn. If the romance in Daughter of No Worlds was too slow for you, you may not like that aspect of Rose in Chains. I love slow burn, the slower the better, personally, so this was a W aspect for me. You get yearning, longing, and angst. I enjoyed the will they/won't they.
I would have loved to really get inside Toven's head. I think that would've elevated the longing, yearning, and angst a ton.
I can't say they're true (imo) enemies to lovers, or even really rivals. Enemies vibes, maybe, more along the lines of being unsure where they stand with one another since they're from opposing worlds who have a tenuous peace treaty.
🌶️ 0.5 or maybe 1 when someone tells another character what he would do to her. other than that, we get make out session. the build up is there, so I expect the subsequent books to have more spice. If you like a lot of spice, this book may not be as enjoyable for you. Personally, I'm a take it or leave it. As long as it fits the plot and characters, I'm down for whatever.
Up until the last +/- 25%, I thought this was gonna be somewhere in the 3s for me. But then it got rolling and I was thoroughly invested and need the next book ASAP, so I was going to give it a 4. But writing the review reminded me of all the stuff I didn't love and so I'm at a 3.5 or 3.75.
⚠️ Please check CW/TW for this one - I was caught off guard by a few things. www.juliesotowrites.com for details on CW/TW
➖ some other things I didn't love, didn't fully grasp, etc:
- what caused this war to start? like, what was the catalyst?
- how did they just take over? or was there more to it than we weren't told/shown?
- why the mind magic hate? and did people fight back when one country outlawed it? I need more info, especially after the last 25% of the book
- I wish Toven had either been more morally grey, or less. He fell in the middle for me
- the recurring importance of her virginity. I know it's not exclusive to this book, but this book really went hard for her purity. I just... I greatly appreciate that Toven wanted her to have a choice and for her to not feel pressured.
- what happened with a certain female character?? I need more info. or is she exclusively a plot device? cause I'm more invested in her character than I feel like I should be. I want a thorough backstory.
** I wasn't aware this started off as a Dramionie fanfic (that's been rewritten, or something like that) until after I read it. Having said that, I didn't pick up on the MCs being similar to Hermione/Draco. Looking back, other than their looks being kinda, sorta, similar-ish, in a vague way - I still don't really see it. I've only knowingly read 1 Dramionie fanfic (Manacled), and that was years ago. So maybe it's just that I'm too far removed from Dramionie, or something, idk.
Thank you to Netgalley and Forever Publishing for the opportunity to read this eARC.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Medical trauma
Minor: Blood, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
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
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, War
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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:
Yes
Emotionally charged and hauntingly addictive, Julie Soto’s first foray into Dark Romantasy was as high stakes and tension filled as they come!
The opening scenes (and aftermath of the war) were quite brutal to read through, with protagonist, Briony (and many others) captured and put up for auction. As such, I definitely advise checking the TWs beforehand.
That being said, Soto explores them in as grounded and serious a manner as possible, never glorifying the abuse or trauma our characters face— something I’m very grateful for.
I also really liked protagonist, Briony. As our sole POV character, she’s the only viewpoint we have in exploring this world and I found her perspective such a nuanced and emotionally evocative one. She’s not as outwardly rebellious as other FMCs in this genre. But the internalising of her fears, hopes and secret longings (of survivor’s guilt, shame, grief and even attraction) really made her feel soo real.
And of course, I can’t not mention the slow burn and deliciously intense romance! Love interest, Toven was the ultimate brooding, Byron-esque figure, whose secretive nature intrigued me. And the glimmers of mutual attraction he and Briony share, (long before the war) was really great. It felt almost too delicate to explore, but I held an anticipatory breath through each and every scene!
However, the skill with which Soto navigates the power dynamics (and budding relationship) was what I found the most impressive. I won’t go into any specifics (in case of spoilers) but Briony’s autonomy and growing sense of agency was absolutely divine.
I just wish we’d explored the heart and mind-based magic system in a bit more depth. Overall, this was a gorgeously compelling read with a morally grey romance at its heart, and an ending that’ll be living rent free in my head until the sequel is released.
Also, thanks to Harper Voyager UK for the proof.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, War
Minor: Death, Abortion, Death of parent