3.76k reviews for:

Rose in Chains

Julie Soto

4.18 AVERAGE

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad 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
dark fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

still enjoyable and not terrible in the slightest but why did i still enjoy the first third of the auction more than this published work
dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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: Yes

Amazing book! Everything Rain Of Shadows and Endings wanted to be — but never could be.

No silly fairies, no almighty gods (which are in nearly every fantasy book these days) — just magic that’s actually woven into the world, with people building their lives and politics around it.

Our FL? She’s not some spoiled brat whining and making dumb choices. NO — SHE ACTUALLY tries to improve her situation with brains and effort. I loved that so much: no endless complaining, but planning, risk-taking, and smart moves that have real consequences. Sad times to live in when you have to highlight that.

The political intrigue works. The world feels organic: magic has weight, institutions react to it, and the power dynamics make sense. No random plot twists just for drama — instead, moves that feel earned. The pacing is solid, and the sad parts land well, making the highlights shine even more.

Spice? Very minimal. And I loved that — the book feels complete and balanced, not like it’s chasing shock value. It stays focused on character development and the actual story.

Is it the most original story ever told? No. But is it executed really well? Absolutely. Great character work, consistent world logic, and a protagonist who actually thinks — what more do you want?

Why just 4 stars? Honestly, the fanfiction roots are obvious. Especially the names pulled me out of the immersion now and then, and the inspirations behind the plot were a bit too clear at times. Still, overall it was really well done.
dark emotional mysterious sad 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: No
challenging dark emotional medium-paced
dark emotional fast-paced