Reviews with content warning for Kidnapping - Rose in Chains

Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

Rose in Chains by Julie Soto

55 reviews

booksalacarte's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

4.5⭐️2.5🌶️

Dark Romantasy

Non-linear timeline

Flashbacks

Magical schools

Rival kingdoms

War

Political intrigue

Dragons

Failed prophecy

Enemies to lovers

Secrets

Rebellion

Slow burn

Forced proximity

High stakes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Content Warnings

jomerl's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Rose in Chains by Julie Soto

🎧 ALC Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5!!!

I think it’s important to acknowledge that I never read the original fanfic - this was totally new for me.

It’s been a few months since I read and enjoyed a Romantasy, but this totally pulled me out of my slump. The story is original and so is the magic system.

After the overthrow of the government, Briony, the Princess of Evermore, along with her peers and friends are sold off at an auction and she ends up belonging to her childhood crush and familiar enemy, Toven Hearst.

Please read your trigger warnings because this book is dark, but it was all important to the story and character growth. And the characters’ growth is beautifully done - both independently and their relationship with one another. This story has the slowest of slowburns but it was so enjoyable to find a Romantasy where the enemies don’t immediately become lovers.

The narrator made the book even better. Her inflection and accents were perfection and even though it’s a long book - it constantly held my attention.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this ALC and for Julie Soto to write this phenomenal story - you have a new fan!

Content Warnings

spellbindingtomes's review against another edition

4.25

dark emotional tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Content Warnings

hxlleann's review against another edition

3.5

dark tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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

3.5 stars.

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

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

Some complaints…

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

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

Content Warnings

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

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

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

thecanadianbookworm's review against another edition

3.75

dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review early.

So, first off: this book was enjoyable... But it was *not* like the hype I had seen online at all.

I kept getting the ick while reading, the marketing on this was really off imo. No one in their right mind would market The Handmaid's Tale as a romance... we all know it's dystopian and horrifying. This is like a fantasy based Handmaid's Tale, yet we are here for the romance? Ehhh.

For a book who's romance storyline is entirely build up, longing and arguing.. I did not *feel* that from them very often.

I honestly found the romance to be the weakest bit in this book. I was far more interested in Briony and the budding rebellion, and I look forward to seeing where that goes.

Also, this book felt like nothing but set up for the next book. I was really interested for the first 40% or so, and after that I was just waiting for the big reveal and fairly bored.

I am sure there will be loads of people who really enjoy this book. I would recommend ignoring most of the hype around it and going in with an open mind for the best experience.

Content Warnings

bluelibrarians's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: N/A

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I did recieve an e-arc from netgalley and the publisher.

There are a few things that caught me off guard that make me a little upset and sad but there are triggers in this book. Please read the triggers first before you decide to read it. It is DARK. I got through the darkness because I wanted to know what was going to happen to the main character in the way if she was going to survive. Other than the dark bits happening, the magic system was interesting and I kept trying to figure out what the plan was. I am super curious what will happen next. The book had me hooked. There is a bit of flashback from the past to the present. I will say the ending caught me off guard.

Content Warnings

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