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.

Set in a world with opposing factions using differing types of magic, we follow Briony, a Princess from the Evermore line after her father, brother and army have been destroyed in a years long war. She is captured and put up for auction to be used as a 'Heartspring' to bolster her captors magic at the expense of her own mind & body.

She is purchased by Toven, son to one of the most influential men in Bomard and Briony's classmate before the war. (Though the two have never been on good terms) Rather than being made into a Heartspring, Briony is held hostage at Toven's family estate and we are left to wonder why?

Its definitely one for you to check trigger warnings for due to the content. The world is brutal but the seeds of rebellion are present despite everything. Having the story take place after the death of the chosen one is a fantastic decision and really sets this book apart. I look forward to seeing how the story progresses especially after that ending and hope we see more traction of Briony finding allies and fighting against Mallow.

The writing style was great and I flew through this book so fast. I have many questions about what's happening outside the estate where Briony is kept but I hope we get answers quickly in the next installment! The romance is very much slow burn which under the circumstances makes perfect sense and works well. It'll be interesting to see how/if the two end up together after everything that takes place.

Thanks to Netgalley & HarperCollins for this arc, I really enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to the sequel.

Full disclosure for this review, I have read and loved the fanfic that this novel is based on., so my review can only be from that point of view.

It does feel like a bit of a risk, because a reworked fanfiction could totally change the feel of the work. Julie Soto has had to rework the whole magic system, and backstory around the reason for the war, but she has done it incredibly well. While the main plot beats are the same, there has obviously had to be some editing. What I’m not sure about is if I am filling gaps in my head from my knowledge of the fanfic or if it works as smoothly as I think it does.

I was in no way disappointed by this reworking. I feel that Julie Soto has done an amazing job opening up a specific fandom to be accessible to any reader. I plan to recommend this book to various friends who haven’t read the fanfic to see what they make of it.

My main problem is the cliffhanger the book was left on! It represented a significant departure from the fanfic so I am very excited to know where the story is going next given this development!

Absolutely loved it overall and can’t wait to see what comes next.

Well, this is very disappointing. I've enjoyed Julie Soto's work so far, but this just wasn't it for me. I immediately knew from page one this wasn't going to work for me because, by now, I know my taste very well. The writing was immediately a no because it was exposition galore from the jump, and it was clunky as hell and boring, the names of the characters were ridiculous, the worldbuilding was nonexistent, and it was so unimmersive and unengaging that I just couldn't finish it. The way that flashbacks are used here also slows the story down a lot and, worst of all, they're confusing for no reason.

I'm not familiar with the fanfic this is based on, maybe it's great, but I don't think the author did a good job turning it into an independent story. You just can't rely on people knowing the lore of the work you based your fanfic on if you're going to trad publish it.

First of all, Harry Potter is done. No one with a moral compass wants anything to do with it, so relying on people knowing HP when most don't even want to have read it in the first place because the author is such as piece of shit, is a little dumb to me. You're shooting yourself in the foot.

This was the opportunity to separate the story COMPLETELY and build your own world, your own lore, and Julie Soto just didn't. No honest, real attempt was made here IMO. She just throws names and random facts about this random world at the reader, and that's it. The characterization of these characters was also lacking to me. Briony was so immature, and this is supposed to be adult. Plus, they were both so boring. Also, why is this categorized as romantasy? The nature of this "romance" is dark; she's sold as a s*x slave, for God's sake. So much more could've and should've been done with this.

I don't know... This just didn't work for me at all, and I couldn't have cared less about anything in this book. It feels like such a cash-grab to me. So dead, so uninspired. Hard pass.

Rose in Chains is a dark, romantasy that kicks off a compelling trilogy. Set in a kingdom where magic is classified as either mind or heart—and where conquered citizens are auctioned off and drained of their powers—it’s both brutal and deeply emotional.

Former school rivals are forced together, slowly shifting from tension to trust, with a slow-burn romance that feels earned and gripping. The world is harsh, the stakes are high, and whispers of rebellion promise bigger things to come.

Inspired by the popular fanfic "The Auction", this book stands on its own with vivid characters and rich, dark worldbuilding. A strong start to the series that hooks you from page 1.

Loved it! I’m happy I went in blind without knowing much about the fanfic or anything HP shaped (yuck) and I could take this book for what it is. I adored it. It was slow at times but just setting up the series I imagined but I’m ready for book 2!!

I read The Auction and absolutely loved it, so I came into Rose in Chains with very high expectationsand honestly, Julie Soto delivered.

This book is dark, intense, and emotionally gripping, with a richly imagined world and characters that feel layered and real. Briony’s journey from a sheltered princess to a fierce, resilient woman is heartbreaking and empowering, and Toven? Lethal, complex, and the perfect foil for her in every way. Their slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers dynamic had me hooked from the start. The plot is non-linear and keeps you piecing things together in the best way.

That said, some echoes of The Auction were noticeable (not a flaw, but something I clocked as a returning fan), and the subject matter is definitely heavy this is not a lighthearted romantasy. But if you're here for dark magic, emotional stakes, and a romance that smolders with tension and pain, you'll find this unforgettable. I’m already desperate for book two.

Rose in Chains is dark, intense, and completely addictive. The enemies-to-lovers romance is twisted and full of tension—Toven is terrible, but somehow you still root for him. It’s emotionally heavy with some tough scenes, but the story and world pulled me in hard. I’m already desperately awaiting the sequel.

A huge thanks to NetGalley and HarpersCollins for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I hadn’t read The Auction so I came into Rose in Chains completely fresh - I do love a Dramione ship so this has been one of my most anticipated reads of the year!

I tore through this book at lightning speed, it’s really addictive! The characters are compelling, and the world-building is immersive without being overly complex. I loved how Briony’s personality starts to shine more towards the end; early on, she reads a little younger and more reserved, but as the plot unfolds, her development becomes more layered and satisfying.

The pacing overall is steady. There was a section in the middle where things slowed down a bit, and I found myself wondering where it was all heading, but it picks up again and finishes strong. And I did not see that cliffhanger ending coming - the epilogue is everything an epilogue should be!

I went in expecting some darkness, and while the book definitely touches on heavier themes (I'd recommend checking trigger warnings), it's mostly in references and atmosphere than graphic detail.

Briony and Tovan’s relationship is the crux of the narrative - and I was here for it! The slow-burn and emotional depth of its development is well done, and the flashbacks added so much richness to their dynamic. I’m already can’t wait for the next book to see where their story goes and how their relationship continues to evolve!

Rose in Chains is a new romantasy book by Julie Soto and fans of the fan fiction titled The Auction might be familiar with this book. The story follows Briony Rosewood who is captured when her castle falls. She is stripped of her magic and auctioned off. She is sold to Toven Hearst who she has had a long term crush on. She will have to play a role to survive alongside Toven who might not be as bad as she thinks.

This was alright. Firstly to start with the positives I can see many people who are fans of romantasy books enjoying this. To say this story originates from a fan fiction I think the world building was well done in this and whilst I haven’t read the fan fiction, the characters in this do feel fleshed out and real. The book was written well and the situations Briony was in felt real and I could easily emphasise with her. That said romantasy books just don’t seem to work for me. I struggled to stay engaged with this and that’s definitely my problem and not the books fault.

Ugh - so so so good! My book of the year no doubt. Everything I wanted it to be and more, I need the next book like right now. RIGHT NOW.

This book ripped out my heart, stomped on it and then shoved it back in only to go, lol, to be continued…

Julie Soto proves she can write whatever genre she puts her hands to in this first book on a new dark romarancy trilogy.

Following the end of a war, Briony is captured from her home and sent to auction to be a ‘heartsrpring’ for her enemies. Enemies who would pay a lot of money to have the Princess of their rival kingdom for themselves…

The first third of this book took me a while to get used to. There were a lot of similar names, jumps between places and a magic system to understand - but oh boy, once I got to grips with it all I WAS HOOKED!

There are some very dark moments in this book, but there’s so much excitement, drama, romance and just overall twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat.

The slow burn is so slow it’s barely an ember but omg you know it’s going to become explosive. The yearning, oh goodness the yearning!

The ending needs the TikTok sound of ‘that was rude’ to play with it.

I would like the next book now please!!!!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC.

This was the dark and sexy romantasy I didn't know I needed!

Rose In Chains was much darker than what I usually read (please check TW and take care) but I LOVED it! I was immediately sucked into this world of magic and deception, of politics and fallen kingdoms, of war and slavery, and I couldn't get enough!

I loved the world-building and the unique magic system! Especially everything about the "Heartsprings" fascinated me, how one can share their magic with a partner, willingly but also sadly, against their will. I don't want to spoil, so that's all I'm going to say about that!

I loved the MCs, Briony and Toven, and the tension slowly building between them. I was definitely looking forward to every interaction between the two, and I was definitely ready when things start to heat up!

From what I've gathered, this book orignally stems from a Dramione (Draco x Hermione) fanfiction called "The Auction". I'm not a fanfiction reader myself, but I can tell you this book stands on its own as a completely new and special romantasy.

I definitely recommend this book if you love dark romantasy, with a unique magic system and interesting politics! I'm EAGERLY wating for book 2 (this is a trilogy)!

Thank you net galley!

This was a 4.5 for me, I really like Julie Sotos writing and have enjoyed everything of hers I have read so far, this is different though, it’s much darker than I think I was expecting but the story telling is so good! I could not put it down towards the end!

Loved the use of flashbacks to flesh out the story and the world, in the beginning I felt like I needed more information on the magic system but you do eventually get it!

Looking forward to book two

If you are a dark fantasy lover then this one is for you! And if you like sexy scenes and sizzling romance this one is also for you. The story centers Briony, a princess that has to navigate intrigues and many adventures throughout the book. This is an enemies to lovers romantasy and they say it is a Dramione inspired fanfic. It is a pageturner and it ends with a cliffhanger. Can’t wait for the next one ❤️

So glad this has now been traditional published, Julie Soto is becoming one of my auto read authors and this didn't disappoint!

A story that really throws you into the deep end of family hierarchy, two kingdoms waring (lots of political scheming but also magic battles), forbidden feelings and a whole loads of angst.

What I always love about Soto's writing is her characterisation, you get such a good grasp on each of the characters and even side characters (hello Serena Hearst), plus the story jumps from past to present which allows for so much richness in the story and context of the relationships you see unfold.

Briony our FMC is on a journey of finding her feet in a world she was not expecting, now the sole heir to the Eversun kingdom after her twin dies in battle, she is captured and sold at auction by the Bombardi forces, she knows herself but has never been allowed to truly be herself .... will the person who she has always thought was against her, and now owns her, Toven Hearst, remain her enemy?

I can't wait for book 2 & 3, although I'm hoping we get some true Soto spice!

Warning - this book does deal with some darker tropes so check the trigger warnings before reading.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, & Magpie for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.