This book is the poster child for everything wrong with romantasy—and I do not say that lightly. 💀 It perfectly embodies all the genre's pitfalls. If you're looking for a romantasy novel to exemplify what *not* to do, Julie Soto's *Rose in Chains* is it. A truly disappointing read.

ABSOLUTELY DYING FOR BOOK 2!!!!!!! This was like Manacled-lite (and I mean that as a HUGE compliment). Dark, twisted, and utterly PERFECT. Seriously, can someone wipe my memory so I can experience 'Rose in Chains' by Julie Soto all over again!? Looking for more dark romance book reviews? This is it!

DNF'd at 40% because, honestly, **this just wasn't good.** On one hand, it doesn't feel like fanfiction with the serial numbers scrubbed off, which is a win for copyright, I guess. On the other hand? The world-building is so clunky and awkward that I couldn't bring myself to care about this world at all. The characters and their relationships were also pretty different from the fanfiction it's based on, which is good in many ways. But it also made it harder to actually *care* about them. I li...

This is the perfect example of why I struggle to take this genre seriously. A kingdom has crumbled, people have died, some are being sold and trafficked, and all the main characters seem to care about is ripping each other's clothes off. Honestly, reading "Rose in Chains" by Julie Soto felt like a slap in the face. If you're looking for a fantasy romance book review that doesn't pull punches, here it is: skip this one.

🌹 2 stars — This book emotionally and spiritually drained me. It put me in such a slump that I forgot how to enjoy fiction.Huge thanks to Hachette Audio & NetGalley for the ALC 💌⛓️ Enemies-to-lovers🌹 Dark romantasy⛓️ Mind vs. heart magic🌹 Forced proximity⛓️ Royal rebellion vibesI wanted blood, betrayal, and a villain to simp for. What I got was 16+ hours of confusion, repetition, and the emotional depth of a soggy tissue.Not gonna lie—Rose in Chains was one of my most anticipated 2025 re...

The cover of this book immediately grabbed my attention – isn't it absolutely stunning?! But don't let that fool you, this is a dark story, though it's exactly the kind of darkness I enjoy. I'm generally not a fan of dark romance; it's often too disturbing for my taste. However, I think Julie Soto has hit the sweet spot here. Rose in Chains will definitely satisfy fans of dark fantasy and romance, as well as anyone who simply enjoys a good fantasy novel. That being said, please check the trigger...

Finding out this was Dramione fic (Draco Malfoy x Hermione Granger fan fiction from the Harry Potter series) *after* getting the ARC wasn't ideal. As a trans person, I've got major issues with HP, and I'll leave it at that to avoid having my review nuked. It's also a bummer to see **Rose in Chains** being marketed as Dramione in 2025 when, honestly, the male lead just *looks* like Draco, they went to a magic school, and that's about where the parallels end, in my opinion. Warning: minor spoiler...

Okay, I'm officially a fangirl with a major crush after reading this electrifying start to what's shaping up to be the perfect enemies-to-lovers romantasy trilogy. And get this—it's by Julie Soto, the absolute genius behind "Not Another Love Song," which I adored so much I read it three times (and you KNOW my TBR pile is never-ending)! So, yeah, picture me doing a super awkward, yet enthusiastic, cheer routine in my living room to celebrate **Rose in Chains**. Hooray!This story delivers on every...

I'm worried I might be *too* obsessed with this book. I actually requested and received an audiobook ARC just so I could reread it! I loved **Rose in Chains** so much! It was everything I hoped for and more. Seriously, I AM OBSESSED! After her kingdom falls and her brother is killed, Briony, along with other survivors of the attack, is captured and sold in an auction to the highest bidder. She ends up sold to Toven, an enemy she knows all too well. Thrown into a new world full of horrors, she so...

4.5 ⭐️ SCREAMING! CRYING! THROWING UP! This is going to be the next big thing in dark fantasy romance!"I'm not sure how many more times I need to say it. That heartspring is mine. Her mouth is mine, her magic is mine, her skin is mine. You will not touch her, under any circumstances. I purchased her. I do what I please with her."WHAT TO EXPECT in Julie Soto's *Rose in Chains*:✨ dark romantasy✨ rival kingdoms ✨ she's a princess of Evermore whose kingdom has fallen✨ he's from a powerful and wealth...