I don't know where to start with this. It was the most frustratingly perfect enemies-to-friends (to lovers?), tension filled start to the Evermore Trilogy. I loved this story when it was on AO3 but it delivers so well being adapted for publication! I'm a big fan of Julie Soto's other books, she crafts stories so well and really has you present in the story of the book. Rose in Chains is no different (she writes the best MMCs!!!)

The setting and context are done so well, the world building doesn't feel forced or unnatural. The history of the conflict is woven into the story in a way that helps hook you from the beginning. It has been cleverly crafted!

I really love Briony and her determination throughout the story. The character is so well written and you are really rooting for her as the protagonist. I love how Toven is introduced first then slowly revealed to the reader through the flashbacks and present story. I went through so many mixed feelings at first - like do I like him? Do I hate him? It made for the perfect enemies to friends (to lovers?) I will say there was a lot of characters to track at first, but as the story developed it wasn't hard to follow.

The reveals (I wouldn't necessarily call them twists) throughout the plot had me hooked, you can see the AO3 plotline in parts but it is like reading a whole new book (if you were worried about it being the same!). But the ending!!!

I cannot wait for the sequel!

This review is for Rose In Chains by Julie Soto which releases in the UK on the 3rd July! Thanks so much to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for giving me an eArc copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I love Julie Soto’s writing style, both from her traditionally published books and her fan fiction works. So as soon as I knew this was getting a reworked and being trad published???? And of course the BEAUTIFUL cover???? Duh, I’m in.

So **spoilers** if you weren’t already aware, this was originally Dramione fan fiction called ‘The Auction’ - if you haven’t read it before I would highly recommend that you do, it’s honestly one of the best things I have read in a long time (doesn’t hurt that I was also a massive Dramione fan, support fanfiction writers but fuck JK Rowling).
Soto has done such an amazing job of turning it from fanfiction into its own romantasy story, she’s taken the things I loved about The Auction and made it something original, while also keeping the main plot points of the story and the characters I know and love. You can see a lot of hints and links to the old story, but added some twists and turns that you don’t expect and keeps you on your toes!!

The characters and storyline are brilliantly written. You follow Briony Rosewood a princess of her kingdom, who has her world overturned when a political rival kills her father, then her brother (the heir) and begins to kill and enslave her people. You see her try to escape, get caught and then prepared to be sold at auction. And of course she’s bought by her school crush… and the man who’s she supposed to hate. Toven is of course the tall, pale haired dreamboat who is part of the rival nation trying to enslave hers, who she used to school with and could never stop thinking about. And then of course you find out there’s actually a lot more than meets the eye about him and his family 👀👀

The book is filled with political intrigue, has a sizzling slow-burn romance (the TENSION and YEARNING!!) and is filled with action. It is a brilliant introduction to what I know will be a fantastic new trilogy. The cliffhanger has left me in a tizzy and I need the next book pronto. Read it as soon as possible if you are craving a good romantasy, you won't be disappointed!

Undeniably, this is very commercial. With fan fiction on a rise an offering a new reading experience this definitely stands out. You’re in for the long wrong with the slow burn, and I really like that. Knowing it was a HP fanfic, it was very obvious, but to a new reader who isn’t aware it’ll be a great experience.

Read if you like: dark romantasy, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, past and present timeline, secrets, slow burn, bully MMC, captive fmc, strong female friendship

I ATE THIS UP!! I LOVED IT SO MUCH
An anticipated release that lives up to the hype 🗣️

My gosh was my heart pounding throughout this book. The world building, politics, suspense and writing was fantastic. This was exactly what I needed from a romantasy!
The past and present chapters threw me off a little so it does take a bit to get into the book but it’s worth it. Be aware that this is a much darker book than the blurb lets on, I would definitely check TW before reading. Some things made my stomach turn in horror 😭

Briony and Toven are so complex. I started off absolutely hating him, then I was getting emotional whiplash with my feelings for him going hate love hate love hate love. No idea how Julie Soto managed to convince me to like Toven, BUT SHE DID!! The YEARNING (!!), tension, push and pull, secrets, their memories of each other, him referring to her as family, how he’s protective, how he refuses to be touched by her ahhhh I AM SCREAMING AND BLUSHING
Man their chemistry I freakin eat up Julie’s writing and her romances, THIS IS HOW YOU DO A SLOWBURN 😩❤️

I need book 2 IMMEDIATELY 😭🫨 so many unanswered qs I’m going to go nuts!!

Rose in Chains is a masterclass in tension — both emotional and romantic. Julie Soto delivers a story that’s sharp-edged and beautifully raw, blending angst, longing, and vulnerability into a narrative that refuses to let you go.

From the very first page, Soto establishes stakes that feel real and heavy, yet never overwhelming. The chemistry between the characters is electric — simmering, slow-building, and utterly worth the wait. But this book isn’t just about romance; it’s about resilience, power, and what it means to truly break free.

Soto’s prose is as impactful as ever — emotional without being overwrought, precise without losing beauty. There’s grit here, but also softness, and she balances those tones with incredible finesse. It’s rare to find a story that feels this intense yet still leaves room for hope, warmth, and connection.

By the end, I was breathless — heart full, slightly wrecked, and already ready to read it again. If you love emotional depth, fiercely drawn characters, and stories that make you feel, Rose in Chains is an absolute must-read.

Rose in Chains was a dark fantasy romance, with a fast-paced plot and complicated characters—it was fantastic. I was truly gripped from start to finish and cannot wait for book two. This book deals with a lot of heavier themes and it was really great to see them handled with such care. The ending had me shocked and it has gotten me so excited to read the next book when it’s out!

In Rose in Chains we follow Briony who is captured by the enemy and auctioned off to the highest bidder as a source of magic to be drained as and when they see fit.

This book was much darker than I had originally anticipated and I would strongly recommend you check the trigger warnings before picking up.

Even with the dark subject matter I was drawn into the story and while the pacing in the first half was slow I didnt want to put it down once I'd gotten past halfway (even if I did want to knock the main characters heads together). I would recommend to fans of darker Romantasy and am looking forwards to the next instalment.

I really enjoyed Julie Soto’s contemporary romances, hence giving this one a try. While there’s plenty of good writing here, particularly in the interactions between the two main characters, the slightly chaotic world-building and some of the themes explored on page (check your trigger warnings, people) meant I found it difficult to get through. Many will love it, I’m sure, but it’s not really for me.

Although this was a lot darker than I expected it to be, I did enjoy it! The stakes were so high, and the magic system so interesting! I read this in about 48 hours because I just couldn't put it down! The pacing is immaculate. I loved the flashbacks dotted throughout to the time before this terrible new world order took over, and the hints to what was going on in the future. And I'm a sucker for a college setting in fantasy.

Briony was a really great character to read. She clearly has a lot of untapped power and potential, and I can't wait for that to come out in future books. There's so much establishment going on in this first instalment, I'm curious to see how it'll develop.

The slow burn in this was delicious. Every tiny moment between Briony and Toven just built up so much tension, but never rushed through. The yearning is torturous and delicious. Perfectly done.

This definitely falls into the DARK romantasy genre, and there were some elements that made me feel icky and maybe unnecessary, but they did serve the plot and characters to show quiet resilience rather than submission, and I think they'll be better used in future instalments. I can't wait for these women to kick some ass.

I didn't realise going into it that it was originally a fanfiction, but it really did remind me of being like 14 and staying up really late to binge read a story. Its reminiscent of tropey, slightly stereotypical fanfic, but its executed really well.

Definitely recommend if you love your slow-burn, feet-kicking, high stakes romantasy, but I definitely advise double checking the trigger warnings!

I was really interested in reading this, having not read this particular fic, but having read hundreds of others over 25 years, specially HP ones.

I've seen plenty of fanfic authors repurposing their work, and some of them have done an amazing job, but unfortunately this is not the case here. The book reads as a fanfic to me, not as original work, and it relays too heavily on dynamics stablished not only in the source text, but even in fandom spaces. I've read plenty of post-war fics, and this one is just... another one. Soto does try to create her own world and magic system, but as I said, it's still too close to the fanfic spaces for my taste. Also, the tension in the plot is broken constantly with the flashbacks needed to explain the world to people not familiar with fanfics.

I think it might be best enjoyed by people who are not familiar with fanfic, or at least not with HP ones.

ARC and ALC review

4,25 stars

"Rose in Chains" by Julie Soto is the first book in "The Evermore Trilogy".

Thank you Harper Collins UK, Harper Fiction for the ARC and Hachette Audio for the ALC (via Netgalley).
Opinions from this review are completely my own.

Before starting the book I did not know much about it and I have to admit that the cover caught my attention.
Also, I did not read "The Auction".
But I love Julie's contemporary romances and I plan to read all the books she writes.

This is a dark romantic fantasy and I am glad that I read the content warnings first because I was prepared for it to be even darker.
Please check these warnings on the author's website before you start reading.

The story is told from Briony's POV in 3rd person and there is a dual timeline.
Briony is the Eversun princess and she is captured by the enemies, the Bomards.
She is later sold to Toven, a high ranking Bomardsun that is also her long time infatuation (even if she tried to get over it).

From the beginning I liked the writing and the world building.
The book starts in the present and then there are chapters from the past that give more context about how the war started.
But since we only have one POV, there are still many things that remain a mystery until the end of the book (hopefully we get more details in the next book).

The audiobook is narrated by Ella Lynch, that did an amazing job.
She used multiple accents for different people and her male voice is very good.
As Briony she managed to make me feel her emotions and I ended up finishing the book in 2 days.
I recommend an immersive read for this book if possible (listening to the audio while reading the physical/e-book).

The romance part of the story is very slow burn with tension and forced proximity.
They start as enemies and are (almost) lovers.

But what I liked the most is the strength of the women. I cannot say more to avoid spoilers.

There is a twist at the end that I suspected during the book but the epilogue made me what to read the next book as soon as possible.

DNF at 40%.

I think these Dramione fanfic rewrites are not for me, which is a shame because it's a dynamic I like in original characters. This book was so slow-paced, with what seemed like a lot of worldbuilding from the pace and detail, but the actual information given was actually very thin and vague. I couldn't get on with the writing style or the obviously re-skinned characters - a lot of names, with again, not much substance - and I think for me, this isn't going to get better with the addition of a romance (which has yet to start at all at the 40% mark; the characters have maybe spoken ten lines to each other.).

This one has the potential to be a really big one. At first I thought it would be too 'romance' for me but I guess I was wrong. It is a slow burn yet the tension and yearning are really enjoyable. I like the fantastic universe and the plot. It is a nice mix of romance and fantasy for once.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5)

I would like to begin this review by mentioning that, as a huge fan of the original FanFiction, my perspective on Rose in Chains may be somewhat biased—after all, the original work, The Auction, ranks among my all-time favourite fics!

Trigger Warnings: Sexual Trafficking, Threats of Sexual Assault and Abuse, Sexual Assault and Rape of Secondary Characters, Physical Abuse to Main Characters, Death, Violence, Sterilization.

Plot: Briony Rosewood, the daughter of the Rosewood King, is captured and stripped of her magical abilities, only to be barbarically auctioned off to the highest bidder in a room filled with individuals who despise her for her Mind magic. She is sold to Toven Hearst, the heir of the Hearst family, notorious for their cruel and precise control of Heart Magic—who also happens to be her long-standing, unresolved infatuation from school. Amidst the grim realities of her new surroundings, Briony quickly discovers that she must adopt a role, as all hope is not yet lost. The resistance is gaining strength, and assistance or hope may emerge from the most unexpected sources.

At its core, Rose in Chains is a Dark Fantasy Romance that, for me, has truly met the expectations and excitement of both old and new fans. The central narrative follows Briony as she faces capture, threats, and abuse while gradually acclimating to her new reality. The story unfolds the Civil War among various forms of magic through a Then vs. Now perspective, contrasting Briony’s life in school with her captivity following her family’s tragic demise.

While I have read the original work, I can already see significant differences in character development and plot that will evolve into the next two books. From the outset, Briony’s fascination with Toven adds depth to her capture, revealing that there is much more complexity to him, as well as to his mother and father. Toven’s parents quickly became some of my favourite characters alongside the main protagonists, and I am captivated by the suspense and mystery surrounding their intentions.

Once again, Rose in Chains presents an incredibly dark narrative—the threats of sexual and physical abuse, along with the conditions faced by the women in captivity, are extremely sensitive subjects. The author does not shy away from these themes, offering graphic details about secondary characters. However, amidst this darkness, the resilience of women in the story shines brightly. The novel concludes with a cliffhanger leading into the sequel, promising much more to uncover!

Characters & Relationships: In this narrative, we meet Briony, a strong-willed and intelligent character—truly a princess in every sense—who finds herself stripped of her powers and rights as a woman. She exhibits unwavering loyalty to her family, to the point that it often frustrates me how her twin brother and father treat her as an afterthought. This recurring theme in her region highlights a society dominated by male heirs, with women being married off for political alliances. I found this aspect particularly engaging, especially as the heart-based magic system and social hierarchy—often the antagonists of the tale—are more contemporary, allowing women to be considered heirs in their families.
Then we have Toven, who is equally intelligent but comes across as stoic and cold. However, there is much more beneath the surface. Through Briony’s perspective, we uncover the hidden tenderness within him, alongside the harsh treatment she receives from his family during her captivity. It’s evident that the desire and infatuation are mutual.

This story is a slow-burn romance at its finest, and Soto has executed it brilliantly! While there are a few spicy scenes, I wouldn’t categorize it as overly intense in that regard. However, I can foresee this changing in future installments! The years of yearning between Briony and Toven, dating back to their school days, create an incredibly compelling narrative in Rose in Chains.

I must admit, if you weren’t aware that this was FanFiction, you might find some characters lacking in depth. It's easier for me, having read the original and knowing the characters they are inspired by, but without that context, there could have certainly been more development.

World Building & Magic System: One of my favourite elements of the book was the time-jump narrative, which provided an incredible insight into the distinct magic system and the contrasts between Mind and Heart magic. I believe this is a challenging feat for FanFiction writers, as transitioning from a predetermined system to creating an original one can be tricky. At its essence, we have two magic systems utilized by different types of Magi Users, each holding strong opinions on which is superior, and which is inferior. This foundational conflict sets the stage for the Civil War our characters face.

Although our characters are primarily situated in a few key locations—namely both magic schools, Briony’s home, and Toven’s home—there isn't much exploration of the world itself. However, there are several mentions of distant countries across the sea. I would have adored having a map of this world to enhance my understanding! I hope the world-building is further developed in the second book, as this is one of the few areas I found lacking.

Final Thought: Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I consumed it in just a few days (which came as no surprise to me) – but I want to emphasize the significance of reading and understanding trigger warnings. I cannot WAIT to see what comes next!

4.5 rounded to 5! Ok as someone who is still so new to Romantasy I really enjoyed this! I would say it’s more fantasy than romance though and a proper slow burn. The beginning is quite slow and some parts are a little repetitive so it did feel like the book wasn’t really getting anywhere but at the same time I felt like it was needed to build tension and hook readers in. Please note there are incredibly dark themes in this book so read the content and trigger warnings beforehand. Overall I think this was an interesting start to this series and I hope to see more romance in the coming books! Full thoughts will be posted closer to release

The war is over. The world is forever changed. The dark forces of Bomard prevailed. Briony and the other survivors were auctioned off to the highest bidder and she’s sold to none other than Toven. A scion of a family known for their cruel control of Heart Magic and selfish objectives. The future may look dark but she’s not willing to give up the fight yet.

I enjoyed the main characters and tropes. You can’t go wrong with enemies to lovers and the slow burn makes it that much sweeter.

I adore Julie Soto and I’m so glad other readers will have a chance to discover her work. That said I’m a romance girlie and this one’s a bit to high fantasy for my taste.

That said I’m positive that more avid fantasy readers will enjoy this one.

Read this if you like
💜Romantasy
🫶🏼Forced proximity
✨Enemies to lovers
🔥Slow burn

Rose in Chains by Julie Soto is a dark, emotionally layered romantasy that puts plot and character development at the forefront—far beyond just the romance. It follows Briony, a former princess turned captive, and Toven Hearst, the enigmatic heir of a brutal magical dynasty. While their relationship forms the emotional core, what really stands out is how Soto prioritizes Briony’s inner journey and the story’s larger political and magical stakes.

What I loved most is that the book never leaned too heavily into the romance. The tension is there, but it’s the worldbuilding, the trauma, and the questions of power and agency that drive the narrative. Even knowing it began as fanfiction, I would never have guessed without being told—it completely separates itself from its Dramione roots. Soto transforms the source inspiration into something fully original, accessible, and resonant for a much broader audience.

Rose in Chains is perfect for readers who want a dark, slow-burn story that balances emotional intensity with strong storytelling.

First of all thank you so much to Harper Voyager & Netgalley for the eARC.

After loving Not Another Love Song and primarily being a fantasy reader I was so excited for this, but unfortunately it didn't quite meet my expectations. I think a large part of this is that in my opinion, this book needs some heavy editing before being ready for publication - this felt so unfinished.

I did read this in about 48 hours so it had an addictive quality, but ultimately I had too many issues with it to rate it any higher than 3 stars.

The writing felt a bit clunky, which is not something I experienced with Forget Me Not and Not Another Love Song, and there was a lot of repetition of certain words and phrases (enter *clicking throats*) which is something that can really throw me out of a story. The world-building and magic system was okay, I didn't have any problems with that but the characters needed some major work. I've seen others say the issue with rewriting fanfiction for publication is that with fanfiction the world and character building is already done, and that's definitely an issue here. The characters didn't stand up on their own without the context of the original work, feeling bland and immature. The author had aged them up from Hogwarts age in a very lazy way - making the school start at a later age with no reason given, but then the characters still acted like they were 12 years old.

I was conflicted on the flashbacks as while they gave the characters and their relationship some history and depth they felt ill-timed and really slowed down the pace. It didn't help that we were told what was going to happen in each flashback before it happened so they really just felt like going through the motions, and I was itching to get back to the present.

The romance is an extreme slow-burn with some good tension and I personally didn't have an issue with the dark content but obviously do check out trigger warnings for this. The dynamic and tension between the characters is what really kept me going but I can't say that I felt particularly satisfied at the end, I think I needed a bit more where the romance is concerned to keep me invested in continuing this series.

Ultimately a very mixed bag that had some good qualities but in my opinion needed much more work to achieve its potential.

"𝓘 𝓪𝓶 𝓪𝓬𝓬𝓾𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓸 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓯𝓲𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓻𝓸𝓸𝓶 𝓪𝓯𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓪𝓵𝓵 "



I will admit that I was a little confused in the beginning and I wasn't overly sold on the writing style, however once I became invested in the story, that didn't seem to be as apparent anymore.
I never read that fanfic that this is based on, and honestly don't really see the dramoine reference but I enjoyed this story as it's own entity.
This is quite a dark fantasy, with some pretty heavy topics but it does feel entirely immersive.

🌹Forced Proximity
⛓️Different types of magic
🌹Familiars
⛓️Politics
🌹A dragon
⛓️Slooooow burn & angst

I don’t have enough stars for the book. Dark and twisty, it’s broken me and left me aching for more.

The war is lost the prophecy unfulfilled, her brother gone and now Bryony is held captive by her enemy.

The dynamic and chemistry between Bryony and Toven was perfect blend of will they won’t they angst and passion. Political intrigue and twists and turns. I need book 2 now.

The magic systems is a unique take that I loved.