I have previously read “The Auction,” the Harry Potter Dramione-centered fanfiction that this book is based upon, and I enjoyed it.

So what’s good about this new version?
-I liked the flashbacks we got of the main characters, and I would have loved even more to show the background of their tense relationship as we still don’t really get enough; there isn’t a Harry Potter book series here to build up the past.
-I also appreciated that the Harry Potter-like character here was the main character’s brother, and the dynamic between brother and sister was interesting. I look forward to seeing how that plays out.

On the flip side…
-I don’t care for Harry Potter, so the removal of those aspects from the story was a positive… but the names of characters, places, etc. and the magic system that replaced those of the Harry Potter universe felt silly.
-The story definitely was toned down. Several favorite scenes were missing or altered from the original fanfic, leaving the story distinctively less dark, arguably for broader commercial appeal to romantasy readers.
-The pacing was strange. The book ended right as it seemed to begin. While the plotline was true to the fic, it didn’t hit the typical beats you’d find in a book.

All of that being said, I’m eagerly anticipating the next in the series (hopefully it arrives sooner than later!). The dark concept is just so intriguing.

I absolutely loved Rose in Chains. This was a book that had me awake for at least an hour after closing it to go to bed, wondering about what would happen next, turning over what had just happened, and wishing that I was still reading it rather than just thinking about reading it!

The world and the magic system was really interesting, and the worldbuilding was done really naturally, through both flashbacks and in-context information rather than big info-drops. The ever-changing political manouvering was exciting and will probably only intensify as the series progresses, with allegiances shifting and the plot twists twisting!

But it was the romance between Briony and Toven that had me racing through the book, chasing every little moment between them! I was really into their connection both before the attack on Briony's father and after it. The slow burn was perfection for a trilogy and I'm just so excited to see more in the next book. The plot and the romance were perfectly balanced here, and it feels like there is so much more world to see, breadcrumbs to follow and romance to devour so I'll be on edge waiting for the rest of the trilogy now!

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley, but this is my voluntary and honest review.

I feel like I need to start by saying that I am a fan of the fanfiction this was based off of, and therefore that influences my overall opinion and review, somewhat. I have been eagerly awaiting Rose in Chains and am so grateful to NetGalley/the publisher for sending me this ARC as well as Ali Hazelwood (and Julie Soto) who gifted me a physical ARC at a panel I attended.

Rose in Chains is a story about a princess and her twin brother who is prophesied to save the Kingdom. But then he dies, and Briony Rosewood is forced into an auction to be sold to the highest bidder along with all the other Eversuns who were caught. She's sold to her childhood enemy (and crush) Toven Hearst who sacrificed something to buy her. Briony moves into Toven's home and tries to figure out her new place in life and how to save her kingdom.

Julie weaves past and present together in this book to build a world and background for what is going on. The flashbacks are interesting and all serve the story/plot well while providing insight into. the world building that is necessary for a fantasy. I never feel like I'm being told things that could be shown. The magic system and how it works was really interesting and different. There are people who use heart magic and those who use mind magic which serves as one of the foundational problems that cause war to break out. I thought this was a unique way to create the tension between peoples.

I found myself kicking my feet a lot. As this is billed as romantasy, it's not a spoiler or difficult to see where this story is going in terms of the romance, and I couldn't be more invested in Briony and Toven's relationship and character development.

Rose in Chains was everything that I wanted it to be. The core parts of the fanfiction it started as remain and so many of my favorite moments are there. It fully gives the same feelings, energy, and vibes that we fell in love with that made this book possible. The new parts and changes are necessary and well done. At no point was I disappointed in this book. Except maybe when it ended and I wanted more.

Soto came out swinging with this one! Incredible storytelling that keeps you coming back for more.

This isn't going to be for everyone. But for those who like their books dark and gritty, it's going to be a hit. With heavy bullying themes, on-page sexual assault, and graphic violence, if you find these themes tough to read, you will want to check the trigger warnings.

Obvious shock factors aside, let's get into the details.

Much like her contemporary romance Forget Me Not, Soto plays with timelines, hopping through past and present chapters again. The present-day chapters are fast-paced, with the past chapters interspersed to give the reader some 'respite' from the frankly awful things happening to our FMC, Briony. Those past chapters also give much-needed plot, world, and character context without simply 'telling' or speaking at the reader. I personally love this format; I appreciate the space to piece the puzzle together. Across a series as well, it has my inner Swifty combing the 'past' chapters for Easter eggs and coming up with unhinged theories.

Morally grey MMC lovers, this is your book. But you will be made to work for it. This is a true enemies-to-lovers trope, and you're going to have to do some serious stretches for all the mental gymnastics you'll be doing for this man.

The world politics are well set up, the cast is rather large, but all players on the board are relevant. If you're likely to struggle keeping up with who is who, grab those tabs or make Kindle notes. Having said that, around the 40% mark, it became clear who the key players were in this installment.

Magic systems felt like a happy medium, varied and deep enough for people who like a defined system in place, but well described and easy to understand. Personally, I like a romantasy to be 50/50 fantasy romance, and this book straddled that fence. I put this down to the magic systems and fantasy world elements being constructed well.

I honestly can't really pick out any negatives. This is a solid romantasy, and I'm only sad I have to wait a while for the next installment! Thankfully, I have so many intriguing theories about where this story could go next that I will be rereading it a number of times until then.

Firstly, I approached this book with no prior knowledge or expectations. It reportedly began as a fanfiction, but I was unfamiliar with the backstory.

The only reason this book is not receiving five stars is due to some initial confusion caused by the time jumps. However, the book presents a fascinating magical narrative, featuring a formidable female main character in the making and a promising potential couple.

It is a slow burn, with much of the book dedicated to world-building and laying the foundation for the trilogy.

By the end, I was disheartened that it was over and eager to have the sequel in my hands as soon as possible.

My gratitude to Julie and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Please note: I am extremely biased because not only did I read the original story this book originated from on AO3 years ago, but I am also obsessed with the ship it's inspired in.

That, however, does not take away from the fact that I binge-read this book for the past 2 days. I was curious to see how Julie would adapt such a lore-heavy fanfiction into a work of its own but she did it and I am begging for the next two books immediately.

I do have to say that this felt a lot like an introduction to the world, which means you spend a lot of time understanding how the characters got to the point where they are and how their relationships worked before and after the drastic changes that happened in their world. I do feel it was necessary, even if sometimes it felt a bit repetitive in a way that made me believe the author was a bit scared the reader wouldn't understand the book without being reminded constantly of certain bits of the lore.

However, and as I previously said, I devoured this book and loved every single minute of it. There's just something about creators & artists like Julie Soto that just make my heart beat with excitement because the stories they create are just so interesting and have a way of sucking you in until you can't think of anything else beyond those characters.

I loved Toven and I really can't wait to start seeing the man behind the mask - as well as his entire family - and I really want to see Briarny reach her full potential and that last line really cemented my excitement for the next book (I can't believe I have to wait so long).

A dark fantasy romance book with a lot of secrets yet to be revealed, a delicious slow-burn with a side of pining (from both sides, mind you) and high stakes at every turn.

A spoilery request: PLEASE SOMEONE MAKE THEM TALK! LET THEM KISS!

Rose in Chains is the first book in a Dark Fantasy Romance trilogy and OMG what a wild ride this book was, I absolutely loved this story and can’t wait for more!

When the war finally ends with her brother, the heir, dead, and everyone she knows being sold to the highest bidder at an auction in enemy kingdom, Briony knows the life as she knew it is no more. Sold to Toven, the man she hates but was crushing on in school, she quickly realizes not everything is as it seems and with them both forced to play a role to stay alive, they are drawn closer to each other with every day.

This book had me captivated since the first page, the plot was perfectly paced and I loved the world building with the fascinating mind and heart magic and enjoyed learning about it, it was clear how well thought out everything was and I can’t wait to see what the author has planned next. I really liked Briony, our FMC, she went through a lot in this book and my heart was breaking for her at times, but I loved how strong she was and how, despite wanting to at times, she never gave up and grew a lot in this book, I’m excited to see who she becomes in the next two books. Toven was the kind of mysterious MMC where we keep guessing his intentions and is capable of anything, but I came to love him, I don’t want to spoil anything but let’s just say he and Briony made an interesting couple and their romance is a slow burn but I could always feel the tension between them, I loved seeing them together and can’t wait to see them again in book 2. I also really liked the chapters from their past, it was interesting to see their relationship through the years.

Rosę in Chains is an incredible dark romantic book, I really loved it and recommend it to everyone. The next book can’t come soon enough.

This book feels nostalgic whilst introducing something so refreshing to fantasy.

I never read the original fanfiction, so I cannot compare the two, but fanfiction always has so much soul (be this good or bad), and this really comes through. Extremely well written and balanced, this magic system has both whimsy and rules of use.

Only reason a star is missing is because not as much happened as I wanted. Don't get me wrong, she is actively trying to work around the situation she is in and we hear about the developments outside the castle, but I feel it is setting up for more, which is exciting. Obsessed with Serena and Briony's relationship.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me this ARC! I really enjoyed it.

My feelings on Rose in Chains are complicated.

The world building was done incredibly well considering how hard it would have been to adapt it from the original fan fiction. The heart vs mind magic made for a great substitution for the Harry Potter blood purity aspect. I was a little surprised by the decision to have Briony be a Princess but in the end I thought it was well done.

Something that bothered me (and honestly, does tend to get to me with most romantasy) is that r*pe is never very far away. I find it impossible to enjoy the sexual tension between the two MCs because at any second Briony was about to be sexually assaulted and a lot of that affection came from Toven trying to stake his claim. It's incredibly unsexy. Otherwise, I loved the slow burn and the flashbacks that show Toven and Briony at school.

Structurally, I don't think splitting this into a trilogy was a good idea. Originally, I thought it would be fine because the original work is long but... not much really happened in Rose in Chains if I'm being honest. Maybe a duology would work better?? But three books is far too drawn out if that pace continues as is. I don't know hoe people are going to react to the events of the novel without having read the original.

Julie Soto I love you. Overall, I did enjoy my experience of reading this, there was just some big things that didn't work for me. I would still recommend to people who enjoy romantasy and slow burn romance. Considering the original fic is so popular, this being traditionally published is so great - Julie Soto deserves her flowers (and the $$$) for her hard work.

Wow!! I devoured this book in just a few short days ( lost lots of sleep over it but so worth it )

Rose in Chains by Julie Soto is an amazing book!! I thought I knew what to expect since this is based off of The Auction - but Julie did such an amazing job with her writing and made this story so original! She did an amazing job keeping what we all loved from The Auction, but scaling back and refining some of the scenes that were redundant or not needed.

I loved that she included flashbacks! This made the chemistry between Briony and Tovan make so much more sense! I loved the romance/tension! Loved that he is so respectful and protective towards her!

I also loved Tovan's parents! I can't wait to read more and will be counting down the days until the next book!

Thank you so much Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for this eARC!

📖 Book Review: Rose in Chains
✍️ Author: Juli Soto
⭐ Rating: 4/5
📅 Release Date: [Insert Date]

Let me start this off by saying I never actually made it through The Auction, so I went into this with a basic understanding of the original story but no real details.

✨ Writing Style

Soto’s writing flows beautifully, making for an engaging read despite the dark themes. She has a way of making emotional moments hit hard, and I really enjoyed the inclusion of time jumps to the past. They were seamlessly integrated and, in my opinion, essential for fleshing out Toven’s character and relationship development.

📖 Plot

I went into this book knowing what to expect, and while the subject matter is undeniably grim, I actually found myself enjoying the storyline (perhaps enjoying isn’t the right word, but you get what I mean). My biggest issue, though, was the emphasis on virginity and “purity.” Its a big pet peeve of mine and while I understand that this was integral to the plot in Rose in Chains, it’s still frustrating to see it perpetuated in fiction without deeper critique.
The idea that a woman’s worth is tied to her virginity is a harmful social construct. Virginity, as we traditionally understand it, is not a biological reality but a concept shaped by societal norms and expectations. But again I do understand that it was integral to the story, I just wish it had Ben critiqued a bit more.

My second issue was the pacing. The first half was gripping, but around the 60% mark, things slowed down, and the plot felt stagnant for a while before picking up again, and despite picking up again in speed I feel like very little actually happened in this book.

Characters

Briony… didn’t quite have the backbone I wanted her to. Given how intelligent she’s supposed to be, I expected her to ask more questions, pay closer attention, and push back more against her circumstances. She accepts things a little too easily, which was frustrating. However, I still liked her overall.

Toven remains a mystery for most of the book since the story is told entirely from Briony’s POV, but what we do see of him makes him an intriguing character. The side characters were decent, though most existed primarily to torment Briony. Sammy, for some reason, stood out to me, and I really liked him.
I also really appreciated the well-developed relationships between the characters and think they were well done.

Now, Rory? I hated him. He doesn’t value his sister nearly as much as he should, and it’s clear he never really stood up for her. I found his character incredibly frustrating.

Romance

This might have been my biggest issue with the book. I just didn’t understand what Briony saw in Toven. If the story had leaned more into the true enemies-to-lovers dynamic—with her actively resenting and resisting him—I could have worked with it. But instead, she accepts her situation with little pushback, which made the romance feel unearned.

I get that Toven treats her better than the others treat their “prizes,” but… he still bought her. She is still his property and his prisoner. Without knowing why he did it (which remains frustratingly unclear), it was hard for me to root for their relationship. If we had more insight into his motivations, maybe I could have seen it differently. As it stands, their romance felt underdeveloped, especially given how much of the plot relies on it.

🏁 Final Thoughts

Despite my critiques, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I devoured it in record time and desperately need the sequel in my hands ASAP. This is a fantastic example of how fanfiction—originally set in a complex fantasy world—can be successfully adapted into a standalone novel while maintaining its emotional impact.

Most importantly, I love that this book is bringing well-deserved recognition to fanfiction authors. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on whatever Soto writes next!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for this ARC

4.75⭐️ I don’t know what Julie Soto puts in her books that are so addictive!! I freaking loved this!

An interesting magic system. A kick ass FMC in the making. And a great potential of a couple. THIS is slow burn people. My gosh!

This is also one of the few times I wanted to read more flashbacks to have answers.

I have to say that I got tired of Toven’s attitude by the end. And there were a couple of repetitive thoughts from Briony that could have been edited. But I had a blast!

I need the next book ASAP. I’m crossing fingers and hoping that we can have it this year.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.75-4 / 5 🥀⛓️

I will preface by saying everyone needs to seriously heed the trigger warnings - some of these men are gross and say some of the vilest things. Secondly, I've also never read The Auction which is what this book is based on, however I did enjoy this book for what is was. Briony and Toven's story was such a slow burnnn.

Whilst I did fly through this book and did have a little bit of hard time at the beginning getting into the story. I did thoroughly enjoy this as a darker romantasy. I just a few grievances. I wasn't a huge fan of the flashbacks, I think they took me out of the story. Whilst the tension between Briony and Toven was good, I just didn't feel their connection but maybe that'll change in the subsequent books in the trilogy. What I did love about this book was the unique, intriguing magic system. I also just love when a book has a seer, I find whoever they are as a character to always be 1. vital to the plot and 2. very interesting to read. I also love the political intrigue this book served.

I do recommend reading this if your looking for darker romantasy when it releases, just check TWs (included in the front of the book with an extensive list available on the author's website).


Huge thank you to Netgalley and Magpie for the early copy of Rose in Chains in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Collins for approving me for this ARC. I was ecstatic to receive this as I’ve been eagerly awaiting its publication. I am an OG Dramione fan (used to write fanfic 20 years ago) so have been loving the publication of popular Dramione fanfic authors this year.

I’ve read the whole The Right and Wrongs series, including The Auction (which this book is a re-write of). In the first few chapters, we are immersed instantly into the world with fast moving pace and action as the war between Evermore and Bomard draw to its finale, and the country of Evermore falls. The world building is woven quickly amongst the action and it feels like a completely new world and setting to that in The Auction (so well done Soto for creating her own new world that is different to Harry Potter although the similarities crop up more and more later as the book goes on). The book itself feels different to The Auction until Chapter 6 where the stories merge. A lot of characters are introduced very quickly and it gets confusing trying to remember who is who. Some of the places are confusing too, e.g. Moreland. Is that the continent or another country? I’m hoping the final copy has a map feature to answer these.

The book jumps between dual timelines between the present time and the past when Briony was at school so we get a glimpse of life before and it helps sets up the world and its customs, which is done quite effectively. I have read some people find it slows down the pace but I think it gives us a deeper understanding of what is happening in present day.

I love Toven. He is a quiet, restrained and brooding kind of man. You know deep down he has good intentions but you just don’t know what it is and that’s the fun and intrigue of his mysterious aura. The romance is a slow-burn but I love it. You really feel like you get to see what true enemies-to-lovers is like. It should be slow-burn because there’s years of prejudice to unpack.

When I finished the book, the first thought was: I loved this. But there are two potential flaws. One is that I didn’t realise it was a trilogy. The book features a large part of the key scenes from The Auction and I think has covered about half of the original fanfic. I can see it being a duology but unsure how it will pan out as a trilogy. The latter half of The Auction did struggle with pacing as it tried to find ways to resolve and come to its conclusion but that dragged on at times and then the ending was a bit rushed. Of course that was a fanfic and was still an amazing accomplished feat but I hope this is addressed and edited well by her publisher for her published series. Therefore I am little concerned about it being dragged out for another TWO books.

The other flaw was the cliffhanger ending. I groaned when I read it. I feel like it’s been an overused trope ending lately in fantasy and I am just bored of it. It doesn’t feel exciting or inventive. Funnily it’s happened in two other books I’ve loved (both 5 star reads) so whilst it doesn’t detract from the story itself, I just wish the ending had been different.

Overall, this is a solid 5 star read for me. I haven’t read Soto’s contemporary romances but I loved Rose in Chains and it is a fantastic re-write of her original fanfic.

Oh my gosh. Julie Sotooooo!!!!! This was such an amazing read. She managed to take all the best parts of the auction, and incorporate them in a whole new world with an amazing, kick ass magic system. I am OBSESSED. that cliffhanger though??? no maam. I need book 2 immediately 😭

Great book!

I've read it as it was published on Archive of our own and really enjoyed it.

Now, I see it was really well edited and is even more interesting than I expected

*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Wow! What a fantastic read!
I absolutely devoured Rose in Chains! From the very first page, I was completely captivated by the dark, gripping atmosphere and the intense push-and-pull between Briony and Toven.The story hooked me from the start, and I couldn’t put it down. Briony and Toven’s relationship had so much tension and chemistry, and I loved watching it slowly unfold. The world was fascinating, and the twists kept me on edge. Julie Soto masterfully weaves a romantasy that is both heart-wrenching and exhilarating, balancing angst, slow-burn tension, and high stakes in a way that kept me glued to the pages.

Briony is such a compelling protagonist—strong, defiant, and vulnerable all at once. And Toven? He’s the kind of brooding, morally complex character that makes every interaction crackle with tension. The forced proximity, the undeniable chemistry, and the underlying danger made their relationship so addictive to read.
I loved how the worldbuilding felt rich and immersive without ever slowing down the pacing. Every twist and revelation hit just right, and I found myself emotionally invested in every moment. By the time I reached the last page, I wasn’t ready to let go—I need the second book so bad.

 It was an emotional ride with just the right amount of suspense, and I didn’t want it to end. An absolute must read!

Rose in Chains by Julie Soto delivers an intense and gripping romantic fantasy that kept me hooked from start to finish. With a unique magic system and a brutal post-war world where evil has already won, this book offers a fresh take on the genre.

One of the strongest aspects of the story is its characters. Some are easy to love, while others are just as easy to hate—especially the villains, who were absolutely despicable. Their actions made my blood boil, which is a testament to how well they were written. Toven Hearst is an intriguing character, but the constant miscommunication between him and Briony was frustrating. So many things could have been handled differently if they had just talked! And speaking of Briony… she was <i>so</i> naive at times. It made sense in some ways, given her circumstances, but I still wanted to shake her and tell her to wake up.

What really soured my experience, though, was how women were treated in this world. It was infuriating and hard to read at times, but I’m holding onto hope that Briony will rise from the ashes and make them all pay. The promise of her revenge is what’s keeping me invested, and I cannot wait for the next book to watch all hell break loose. I also hope Toven picks the <i>right</i> side when the time comes—he has potential, but I need him to step up.

Overall, a solid 4-star read. If you love dark fantasy with high stakes, an interesting magic system, SLOW burn, and an enemies-to-lovers romance, this is worth checking out. Just be prepared for some rage-inducing moments!

Wow, I didn't know what to expect with some of the darker bit in here, but what a journey.
This is amazingly written with twists and turns and great character development. Even in some of the darker scenes there is always some bit of hope.
Looking forward to book 2!

This is such a great book!

It took me a little bit of time to get used to all the characters, including who was Eversun and who was Bombardi, but once it got easier I really started to eat this up.

Toven and Briony are such good characters. The flashbacks to them in school and the different incidents between them really helped to build that picture of their connection. Toven was dark and brooding, but so fiercely protective. Briony is strong and resourceful, with such incredible power.

I love the premise of the story, it’s dark and bleak in parts, but really builds a picture of the war at play between these two countries.

The slow burn and tension between Toven and Briony had me grinning so much, it’s very well done. I wanted more of them throughout (in a good way!), and even now I’ve finished the book, I still want more of them. I really can’t wait to see how this develops in the next book. I don’t know how I’m ever going to wait so long for it!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this e-arc