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adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
Call me Cocaine Bear because I gobbled this up and left no crumbs. How am I going to be able to wait a year for the next book and 2 years for the final book? đŤ
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Slavery, Torture, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, War
dark
emotional
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Omg this book was FANTASTIC! I ate it up. The enemies-to-lovers slowburn is killing me. The way Briony is such an unreliable narrator because of how events are colored by misconceptions. You kind of want to scream at her that she canât see whatâs right in front of her, meanwhile, you also want to scream at Toven because he just needs to tell her the truth! Like, UGH! I canât WAIT for book 2.
PLEASE NOTE: the TW are not there to add word count. This book is DARK with lots of sexual violence and trauma. MC is 25, but trauma is trauma, even though she *spoiler* is actually sheltered from the majority of it.
PLEASE NOTE: the TW are not there to add word count. This book is DARK with lots of sexual violence and trauma. MC is 25, but trauma is trauma, even though she *spoiler* is actually sheltered from the majority of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Grief, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Rose in Chains, the first book in the Evermore Trilogy by Julie Soto, is a solid fantasy offering that presents a worth your read story. Some might be drawn to the book because they know about its pre-publication path, but you absolutely can pick up this book blind with just a love for fantasy.
Rose in Chains explores the story of Briony, a 20-something princess with magic who is sold into magical slavery after her kingdom falls. Over the course of the story, Ms. Soto invites the reader to discover Brionyâs strengths and secrets alongside the character herself. As a reader, you get to watch Brionyâs character growth and explore a rich new fantasy world.
Rose in Chains strongly stands on its own apart from its origins. The fantasy world that is created has its own lore and mysteries which exploring tropes that are familiar to most readers.
I explore this book in audio form and found the narrator be solid and the pace reasonable. I would recommend it in either written word or audio form.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hackett Audio for the chance to explore this ARC in exchange for my review. All opinions are 100% my own.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
After reading the original story by the author I think i set my hopes a little high for this book. I can definitely see some aspects of inspiration but some world building and relationship complexities fell quite flat for me. The ending was a fun twist but I feel like it was quite sudden and not hinted at nearly enough in the book to feel right. More so like it was an after thought. Overall, I would still reccomend this book (aslong as trigger warnings are THOROUGHLY read through) but it just didn't hit as much as I wanted it to.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Slavery
Minor: Violence, Abortion, War
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Sexism, Slavery, Trafficking, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexual violence
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
A darkly romantic fantasy filled with longing, power, and slow-burning tension. Rose In Chains follows Briony Rosewood, a captive with quiet fire, and Toven Hearst, her enigmatic Buyer and past schoolmate. Their connection simmers beneath every word, brought vividly to life by a stunning voice performance that feels like magic. Haunting, lyrical, and unforgettable. đšâď¸â¨
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Trafficking, Sexual harassment
forced sterilization
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Happy release day to Rose in Chains by Julie Soto! A dark romantasy following Rose, a political prisoner enslaved in the home of a powerful man from a rival kingdom. It is not a light read, but it is gripping if you are a dark romance fan.
As a fan of the original Dramione fanfiction, it was hard not to compare the two. The story is romance centric and carries the ruinous, morally grey energy of the original well but, ultimately, I have the same complaint with the traditionally published novel that I did with the original fan work. It's too long. Easily forgiven with the creation of a whole new world but the world-building felt pretty thin, and unfortunately, the book dragged in the middle for me. Soto nails the tension and messy, complicated dynamic between the characters though and it is absolutely worth the ride if you're into dark romance with lots of angst. Thank you NetGalley, Julie Soto, and Hachette Audio for the ALC.
As a fan of the original Dramione fanfiction, it was hard not to compare the two. The story is romance centric and carries the ruinous, morally grey energy of the original well but, ultimately, I have the same complaint with the traditionally published novel that I did with the original fan work. It's too long. Easily forgiven with the creation of a whole new world but the world-building felt pretty thin, and unfortunately, the book dragged in the middle for me. Soto nails the tension and messy, complicated dynamic between the characters though and it is absolutely worth the ride if you're into dark romance with lots of angst. Thank you NetGalley, Julie Soto, and Hachette Audio for the ALC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, War
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I ate this up, thoroughly enjoyed every page. There were times you could tell what the fanfiction this was based on was, but it didn't impede my enjoyment. I loved the characters so much, especially Serena. I loved the family dynamic of Toven's house. I really can't wait to read the next one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Rape
forced sterilisation
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Itâs pretty clearly Dramonie, which it was never hidden that it was, but itâs even more obvious than I expected. A different review mentioned that you literally need to know the HP lore to get this story and I genuinely think thatâs true. Without that, it feels like such a flat world. At times it felt like the author just did ctrl-R to replace names and places, versus actually writing up the world from the ground up to make this a logical story.
There were some weird parts of the story, even setting aside the slavery aspectâmainly the FMCâs virginity. Apparently virgin blood is a hot commodity⌠but then later they take the spiritual representation of her virginity and store it in a jar for later (Iâm serious). This is stuff I kind of expect from fanfiction so Iâm not too shocked by but it just felt strange in print. I wish the whole part about her virginity has been irrelevant tbh. It just felt off, and I get it was a way to complicate things with MMC, but it was solved relatively quickly (10 pages, or like 12 hours in the storyâs timeline) when it became an issue. Maybe the weird ball of virginity will become important in book 2??
Was it well written? It was okay. FMC is not overly outspoken most of the time, and seems quite passive in general. A lot of things just happen to her and she just puts up with it. MMC is brooding and dark, and for some reason FMC loves him even though he has consistently been apathetic to her. Both characters are kind of just hot messes honestly. Thereâs no logical explanation for them liking each other beyond that they kind of flirted as teens and have some physical attraction. I would expect it a bit from Dramonie fic adjacent lit, but thatâs because in a fanfic you understand the backgrounds of the characters without needing it all laid out again. Author could have rewritten parts to make the story more cohesive.
One plot moment I thought would be important never shows up again. FMC is kissed by a gross slaver, notes her lips feel weird after, and then someone else who is also enslaved starts kissing her and runs her tongue over her lips as if sheâs trying to wipe something off. Iâm surprised that this didnât end up being addressed further. It was used as a way to pass notes, but Iâm shocked the author didnât use it as a way to discuss a new version of the horny elixir used by that same slaver (yes, it is a thing) or poison or something. Missed opportunity? Or maybe next book?
Will I read the next one? Yeah. This books was a very easy read as someone who has read HP in the past and it held my attention well. Iâm interested in whatâs going on politically with everything and Iâm interested in what is going to happen with the main characters. The few spicy scenes were well written. Is it kind of a weird book? Yeah, but I think you have to guess that going in with the premise. Will you like it without having read HP? Doubtful, because youâll be missing a big chunk of whatâs going on that the author doesnât really touch on.
There were some weird parts of the story, even setting aside the slavery aspectâmainly the FMCâs virginity. Apparently virgin blood is a hot commodity⌠but then later they take the spiritual representation of her virginity and store it in a jar for later (Iâm serious). This is stuff I kind of expect from fanfiction so Iâm not too shocked by but it just felt strange in print. I wish the whole part about her virginity has been irrelevant tbh. It just felt off, and I get it was a way to complicate things with MMC, but it was solved relatively quickly (10 pages, or like 12 hours in the storyâs timeline) when it became an issue. Maybe the weird ball of virginity will become important in book 2??
Was it well written? It was okay. FMC is not overly outspoken most of the time, and seems quite passive in general. A lot of things just happen to her and she just puts up with it. MMC is brooding and dark, and for some reason FMC loves him even though he has consistently been apathetic to her. Both characters are kind of just hot messes honestly. Thereâs no logical explanation for them liking each other beyond that they kind of flirted as teens and have some physical attraction. I would expect it a bit from Dramonie fic adjacent lit, but thatâs because in a fanfic you understand the backgrounds of the characters without needing it all laid out again. Author could have rewritten parts to make the story more cohesive.
One plot moment I thought would be important never shows up again. FMC is kissed by a gross slaver, notes her lips feel weird after, and then someone else who is also enslaved starts kissing her and runs her tongue over her lips as if sheâs trying to wipe something off. Iâm surprised that this didnât end up being addressed further. It was used as a way to pass notes, but Iâm shocked the author didnât use it as a way to discuss a new version of the horny elixir used by that same slaver (yes, it is a thing) or poison or something. Missed opportunity? Or maybe next book?
Will I read the next one? Yeah. This books was a very easy read as someone who has read HP in the past and it held my attention well. Iâm interested in whatâs going on politically with everything and Iâm interested in what is going to happen with the main characters. The few spicy scenes were well written. Is it kind of a weird book? Yeah, but I think you have to guess that going in with the premise. Will you like it without having read HP? Doubtful, because youâll be missing a big chunk of whatâs going on that the author doesnât really touch on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Slavery
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment