Reviews with content warning for Slavery - Rose in Chains

Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

Rose in Chains by Julie Soto

160 reviews

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

autumnsreadingadventure's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Did I finish this book or did it finish me????

I love knowing the lore behind this book but I am not a dark dramoine reader so I’ve never read the fanfic version of this and I am so glad. I had a general idea of one part of the plot but this was so much more than I anticipated.

This world felt fresh and unique in its own way. I found the characters interesting and the magic system was unique and I enjoyed learning more about the world. I felt like this FMC was intelligent but also naive due to the circumstances of her position. I found the MMC and his family so interesting and layered in their motivations.

Due to the ending which was AMAZING AND HAD MY JAW ON THE FLOOR. I believe this is going to be a series since it was originally a fanfic and those are generally way longer than a traditional book I’m sure it was best to break the plot up. I also found that a lot of the darkness that was most likely included in the OG fic was mostly like edited down, as someone who usually avoids dark romances I appreciate that it had the dark elements that let you know DARK things are happening but it didn’t give you every dark thing in graphic detail.

I know Julia Sotto is already a published author but I am so happy to see an OG plot idea that was a one off in one of her fanfics be transformed into its own universe.

I was given this book as an e-arc by Netgalley for free in exchange of my honest opinion.

Content Warnings

itsjxssica's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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: Yes

While reading, I felt every emotion from grief, hate, to fangirling over Toven Hearst. Without spoilers, this book follows a bright princess named Briony Rosewood, who has a strong affinity for mind magic. Her kingdom is invaded, and Briony and many other women are kidnapped and auctioned into slavery. The mysterious Toven Hearst, her former crush at school, purchases her at the auction. As the people from her kingdom continue to rebel, Briony has to find out where her friends are, and if there is any hope in escaping her new "home," Hearst Hall. The book switches between present day and flashbacks, and slowly unravels the characters' backstories and their relationships with each other.

For those who don't know, Rose in Chains is based off of Julie Soto's fanfiction, The Auction, which is one of the holy grails of the Draco x Hermione fandom community. The Auction was one of the first fanfictions I read when I was first getting introduced to Dramione, and it is one of my favorite fanfictions of all time. I feel like those who read The Auction will also love Rose in Chains. I wonder what inspired her new naming conventions as well (i.e. Hearst Hall vs. Malfoy Manor), and I'd honestly like to see a behind the scenes on how she went through editing this book. Getting to see this story given new life and new fans makes me so happy, and I'm so happy for Julie Soto. I already know this book is going to be a huge hit and I'm excited to see where it leads next.

I thought it might be weird seeing this story rewritten with a new cast of characters --- I felt the Harry Potter characters and universe was so crucial to the original story --- but I enjoyed meeting Toven Hearst and Briony Rosewood and seeing a new magic system take place. I loved seeing flashbacks of their academic rivalry and the scenes under the willow tree at the lake. The slow burn tension between them is SO good, and I love their dialogue banter. Toven Hearst is definitely being added to the list of book boyfriends (I have a soft spot for misunderstood, morally grey characters; bonus points if they're Draco Malfoy-coded haha).

Just a note: This book is not for the faint of heart. It deals with very dark themes, and essentially human trafficking/slavery. Trigger warnings for this book include: death, murder, bullying, confinement, drug use, misogyny, physical abuse, racism, sexism, sexual assault/violence, slavery, xenophobia/bigotry, trafficking, kidnapping, grief, sexual harassment, war, drug use, rape, torture, abortion, etc. Be warned!

There isn't spice in this book; however, I have a feeling there will likely be spice in the sequel. Julie Soto, you are amazing and I cannot wait for the next book in the Evermore Series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the advanced copy!

Content Warnings

bookswith_han's review against another edition

2.0

dark sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

tiffy_m_reads's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This is a dark romantasy. Emphasis on dark. Please be mindful of that. I am interested to see where this story goes!

Content Warnings

reading_with_manders's review against another edition

3.0

dark medium-paced

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The first few chapters of Rose in Chains were agonizingly clunky to the point that I almost DNFed multiple times. The only reason I pushed through is because some of my friends who’d also gotten an advance copy assured me that it did get better. But those first chapters? The writing was stiff and stilted and the characters were flat and monotone. I did not believe for even a second that any of these people liked each other, which is rough given that two of them were twins.

There are also just so many names being used in the beginning and it is overwhelming because there isn’t much context for who these people are and why I should keep track of them (spoiler, I’ve given up on trying).

The book finally found its footing after the auction, when there was time to focus on Briony, Toven, and a few supporting characters rather than spend every other paragraph full-naming every single named character.

If you’re wondering does this read like a fanfiction? The answer is yes and no. Yes, because it felt like more of a serial polishing than a serial filing. No, because the first 20% of the book could really have used some fanfic magic of already caring about the characters to make it palatable.

I wish that the marketing was less focused on the IP that the fic was originally based on, especially given how much of a shitshow that author is, and that the book had done a better job of distancing itself from that original IP.

Will I continue on with this series? Probably. Am I going to be getting any of the five bajillion special editions? No.

Even though I did end up enjoying the majority of the book, because of how many times I nearly DNFed and how much the series didn’t even try to pretend that it was an original story instead of a fanfic with renamed characters and magic, I cannot in good conscience give this anything above a 3 star rating.

Thank you to Forever for the arc, I’m sad I didn’t like this more.

Content Warnings

fullybookedjess's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

In this highly anticipated new trilogy, princess Briony Rosewood has been taken captive along with all of her remaining fellow Eversuns. She is to be auctioned off to the highest bidder, and she is highly desirable to her enemies. One of her greatest enemies is now her owner and in charge of everything she does- Toven, the man associated with her enemies, with a dark past, and who she couldn’t help but be intrigued by while they were growing up. In Toven’s home, Briony finds things may not be as they seem and she may have allies in unlikely places.

I am a fan of Julie Soto’s romances but haven’t read her fanfic that this was based off of. However, I was very curious to read it and I’m so glad I did! She has proven to be such a talented writer. I absolutely loved this and devoured it, which I’m now regretting because I can’t read it anymore and I have to wait for book two. This is a dark book with upsetting themes and I’d encourage readers to take care and check content warnings, because it isn’t a light read. It is also quite a slow burn, but it’s well developed and focused on the characters’ pasts with chapters in both flashbacks and the present. I am so eager for the second book and absolutely loved this one!

Thank you so much to Julie Soto and Forever publishing for the arc and opportunity to be an early reader and reviewer.

Content Warnings

abby2207's review against another edition

5.0

Wow! I went into this expecting a straight up romantasy, which it was a little and I think the series for sure will be, but there was so much more to this than just romance. I loved that it didn’t shy away from the heavy topics of the book. Definitely check the trigger warnings because it was heavier than I realized. I really really loved this, and I’m so excited for the next book (and devastated that this book doesn’t even come out until July and THEN I have to wait for the next book in the series to be released). I highly recommend, but do be aware that this is the first book in a trilogy so don’t go into it expecting a resolution.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Content Warnings

bookbounddreams's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I literally couldn’t stop reading!!

I don’t know what Julie Soto put into this book but it was just insanely addictive to read. It definitely has a lot of dark themes which are quite heavy so I totally recommend to read the trigger warnings before diving in.

That said I really enjoyed the storyline, especially finding out new information and guessing together with the fmc Briony really kept me going. This is definitely a slow burn enemies to lovers with a looot of tension but the throwbacks with insights into their relationship over the years was a great addition!!

I literally have so many more questions, about the world, the characters, the relationship and the secrets??? I can’t wait for more!

Thank you so much for Harper Collins/Magie and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this one early.

Content Warnings

sarrie's review against another edition

1.0

dark sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

TL;DR: This should have stayed fanfiction.
Source: NetGalley - many thank so the publisher!

Plot: Our main character is capture after a failed rebellion and sold to a school enemy.
Characters: They were very clearly Harry Potter characters with changed names sadly. So I can’t say much to this.
Setting: This had promise! But it couldn’t care the rest of the story.
Fantasy/Romance: Just me but I’m not going to be into a guy who harassed me for years and then humiliates me and allows his friends to sexual harass me. JUST ME MAYBE THOUGH.

Thoughts:

My initial interest in this was purely due to Julie Soto’s name. I have read some of her contemporary work and liked it! I heard whispers it was based on fanfiction she’d written I felt it was strong enough that the work stood on it’s own. This one I had no idea was fanfiction till close to receiving an arc and even then I hoped. But I was sadly and deeply disappointed.

The way in which this is so obviously Draco & Hermione fanfiction is a bit insulting. Names have been changed, friends are now sisters and brothers, and the setting is different but it’s very much using the cast of the franchise and I fear if you take out the elements that can be similar you have nothing there. Fanfiction often relies on you the reader to be familiar with established relationships and politics, and without that understanding this I do not think would stand well.

The romance, the driving point of this plot, is also one I simply cannot stand behind. I’m not a Dark Romance reader most days so this could simply not be to my taste. However, I struggle to find the appeal of a hero like this. Allowing his friends to touch and harass you? Forcing nudity in front of others and locking you in a room for days? It’s not for me my friends. I would be looking for a way to commit murder, not finding him appealing. No matter our history.

So this is a hard no. And a rare one star for me. These special single stars I reserve for my most disliked, offensive, or upsetting books and we’ve found my first for 2025. I felt gross and sick reading this and I truly wish I could have those hours back. Additionally this needs a LOT of triggers for enslavement, sexual assault (on page to the PoV character), violence, the list goes on. Flashbacks attempt, poorly, to establish history but just serve to reinforce that this is Harry Potter reskinned. I don’t recommend, and I am sorry if this is your cup of tea. It’s just not mine.

Content Warnings

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