Netgalley eArc review - Please check the trigger warnings before starting this book.
4.75 ⭐

OH MY GOODNESS ME!!!! My heart is still racing from all the tension the book has put me through the past 24 hours, especially after that cliffhanger after the epilogue.
Wow.
My mind is reeling from all the possibilities of where this book will go into the series, while also trying to wrap up my feelings and thoughts.

I must say that this book blew anything I thought this book would be out of the park. I have loved Julie Soto's previous romance books with a burning passion, so I thought I might know what I would be getting with her first fantasy, but I was wrong. This was everything and more.
There were times when certain scenes unnerved me (so please check trigger warnings), but the general story plot was super gripping and I was putty in this narrative's hands.

The dynamics between Briony and Toven throughout this book are constantly changing. They were enemies to barely peers, to family and the slow burn of something potentially more. I found their dynamics interesting, they are both complete opposites but at their core, there are so many things that make them similar (no spoilers from me).

If you like these tropes, then you should read this book:
- Slow burn
- Dark Romantasy
- Adult
- A deal of convenience
- Dragons (or should I say one dragon 👀)
- Familiars
- Enemies to lovers
- Mind vs Heart Magic

I have mixed feelings that I can’t quite seem to sort through.

I’d never read the Auction before so I didn’t know anything about the plot (read content warnings if needed) but struggled a little to separate it from the source material that I have read previously. Cough cough. It was hard to follow the world/politics/magic system, but I think it was because of that. I also kept misnaming the characters (whoops.) I almost wish I didn’t know what it was based on first so it was a totally fresh experience and maybe it would’ve been different(?).

What I did like:
- Palpable tension between characters that wasn’t immediately solved or confessed!!!
- Reading from one characters’ POV so the feelings from the other aren’t completely obvious right away (yay!).
- Oh my god the villains are straight up evil and so easy to hate.
- Felt super quick to read, the way the story flowed with the flashbacks cut the plot up nicely.

It’s taken me a while to write this after reading because despite my waffling I don’t feel particularly strongly about it. It was good, I think? Just one of those times where it didn’t completely click for me! But I’m sure that people who previously loved the fic will really enjoy it!!!

May reread in future and edit review? I don’t know (I’ve been thinking about it for so long I am confusing myself.)

I had the pleasure of reading "The Auction" on AO3 a year or so ago. "Rose in Chains" is such an evocative and gorgeously written piece. If I could leave kudos here as well, I would! Thank you for giving us these stories and characters <3

Rose in Chains by Julie Soto

I had certain expectations going into this and they were surpassed. If you’re looking for a Dramione-esque fantasy romance filled with longing, tension, adventure and a courageous lead, this is the book for you. And with that ending,I can only imagine what’s to come!

Infinity stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I devoured this. What a masterpiece! Such a brilliant story filled with tension, intrigue, magic and simmering romance. I need the next book immediately but I’ll have to wait very patiently 😅. I cannot recommend this enough - the best romantasy I’ve read in a very long time.

I absolutely loved The Auction, the AO3 fic that this story was born from. To say I was hyped for Rose in Chains is an understatement.

Was I slightly worried going in that it couldn’t impact me in the same way as The Auction? Yes. But I didn’t need to be. Soto is a genius and what she’s achieved here is seriously impressive.

I’m confident that both fans of The Auction and new readers will be blown away by this story. The original fantasy world that’s been created, the complex and intricate magic systems that have been designed and the characters that feel familiar but new and exciting.

From the first page I was completely drawn in and I could not have stopped if I wanted. Soto’s writing is like a drug, keeping you addicted with tension, horror and hope.

This is a dark story so please do keep that in mind and be sure to check any trigger warnings, certain scenes were extremely uncomfortable to read, a testament to how well written they were.

Serena, much like the character that inspired her in The Auction, was my favourite 🥺 praying for even more of her in the next instalment.

I was devastated when I finished and remembered that it had been split into a trilogy. It will be a long wait for book two!