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Rose in Chains by Julie Soto
The Evermore Trilogy #1
If you’re a fan of dark, gritty fantasy romance with heavy emotional stakes and especially if you’ve ever dipped a toe into the world of Dramione fanfic The Auction. Rose in Chains is the traditional published version of that fanfic.
And that’s because, at its core, this is a published version of the wildly popular WO3 (Work of 3) Dramione fanfic The Auction, reworked into an original narrative. While the names have changed and the world is new, the essence of that story remains. It absolutely delivers on its emotional weight.
Now, I do wish I read The Auction first before reading this to fairly compare the story. I even printed and binded the massive book myself. But alas, with a never ending TBR, it never happened.
Julie Soto brings a moody, tense atmosphere to the page, and the story explores power dynamics, psychological trauma, and complicated relationships with unflinching intensity. That said, it’s dark. I highly recommend checking the trigger warnings before diving in—this book does not shy away from its themes, and for some readers, that may be too much.
The similarities to the Harry Potter universe are clear—sometimes a little too clear. It’s fun to pick out the character parallels, especially if you’re coming from the fanfic world, but at times it caused a bit of confusion. I occasionally found myself unsure of which character was being referenced or what exactly their motivations were supposed to be.
There were also moments when the prose felt a bit cut and paste, like sections from the fanfic had been dropped into this new story with minimal changes. A bit more editorial polish would’ve gone a long way in creating smoother transitions and stronger scene cohesion.
Still, despite those rough edges, I was drawn in by the characters, the haunting atmosphere, and the slow unraveling of trust and connection. Soto knows how to write emotional tension, and when this book hits—it hits. If you love intense, morally complex fantasy romance and don’t mind a story that leans heavily on its fanfic roots, Rose in Chains is definitely worth the read.
⚠️⚠️SPOILER⚠️⚠️
First off, the magic system immediately gave me Shadow and Bone vibes. Especially with how the Mind and Heart magic is wielded. It’s atmospheric and morally gray, but I do wish it had been expanded on more clearly. There’s so much potential in how it works and who wields it, but at times the rules felt vague or underexplored.
The Hursts, who are supposedly the “good guys,” gave me serious red flag energy. It becomes pretty clear they’re playing both sides, manipulating Briony and others to maintain power and appearances. Honestly, their duplicity adds a great layer of political intrigue. But also makes you question everything Briony is fighting for. Are they any better than the supposed enemies? Of course we are left hanging at the end when Briony confronts
And I have to say… I’m still adjusting to Toven Hurst—our brooding, morally gray complicated love interest who is also being the “good guy.” Anyone who read the fanfic can recognize his Draco Malfoy parallels, and it’s strange seeing a character who feels so villain-coded portrayed with such redemption. Still, he’s written in a way that makes it work, even if it takes a mental shift to fully embrace the morally gray love interest.
Now, the romantic tension? This is where I have mixed feelings. The book is clearly trying to lean hard into the “sexy” factor, but for me, it felt a little too much on the spice level for my taste. I wasn’t thrilled with how overtly sensual some moments were because they often replaced real emotional development. Give me longing looks and slow-burn angst over constant bedroom tension any day.
One of the more compelling threads is Briony sharing her magic to her not so magical twin, doing spells and rituals for her brother, Rory. I kept wondering: How long can she keep this up? What happens if she’s forced into a political marriage or exiled? The implications are massive. Rory wouldn’t be able to keep up the illusion, and it could unravel everything they’ve fought to protect. Still, I’m so glad Rory is alive. His bond with Briony adds much-needed emotional depth and raises the stakes why she needs to survive.
There’s still a lot to explore in this world, and I’m curious to see how long Briony can walk the line between deception and duty. Especially when it could cost her everything she holds dear.
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