✨Heads up! Some links in this post are Amazon affiliate links. That means if you click and buy, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for helping me keep this blog running and my TBR endless! 📚
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Loved it! A must-own book.
Do you want a dark, emotionally gutting fantasy that takes the bones of a beloved fanfic and turns it into its own haunting, unforgettable masterpiece? Rose in Chains by Julie Soto is it.
Summary:
The war is over, the dark forces have won, and the hero who was supposed to save them is dead.
Captured as her castle is overrun by the enemy, the world as Briony Rosewood knows it is changed forever. Evil has won, and her people face imminent servitude, imprisonment, or death.
Stripped of her Magic and her freedom, Briony and the other survivors are quickly sold off to the highest bidders in an auction—and as Evermore’s princess, she fetches the highest price. After a fierce bidding war, she’s sold to none other than Toven Hearst, scion of a family known for their cruelty.
Yet despite the horrors of her new world and the role she must learn to play within it, all is not lost. Help—and hope—may yet arise in the most unlikely of places…
📖 What’s Inside:
- 🏠 Sentient house
- Dual timeline ⏳
- Single-POV
- 🎓 Magic school
- Royal intrigue
- On-page intimacy 🔴
- 🌈 Inclusive
- Unique magic system
- Explicit language
- Found family 🫂
✨ Vibes:
Rain of Shadows and Endings with the power sources concept
💭 My Thoughts:
I was gripped right from page one and pulled into the conflict, the magic, and the aching, tragic undercurrent running through every chapter. Now, there were a few minor places where the worldbuilding got a bit repetitive, but honestly, it was good to have the reminder. The magic system was what I call ‘soft magic’. Like I can’t tell you how elixers are made or the extent of magical objects, but it works. It’s clever, different, and easy to follow without knowing the nitty-gritty details.
And yes, let’s talk about the adaptation. This isn’t a copy/paste of The Auction. Sure, there are familiar beats, but Rose in Chains is its own world entirely. I recognized the characters’ roots (you know who they are 😉), but it never distracted from the story, it enhanced it. This is how you do a fanfic adaptation right!
The emotional damage though? Oof. I was wrecked. Real tears. Actual chills. It’s dark, but never gratuitous. Basically, everything serves the story. And that romance… the yearn is real! The dual timelines were executed perfectly, revealing emotional depth and context that made the enemies-to-lovers arc absolutely sing.
And the ending?! Even as someone who vividly remembers The Auction, I didn’t see that twist coming. This book stands apart. It proves that well-done fanfic adaptations don’t just work, they soar.
Honestly? Rose in Chains is better than Alchemised. (Sorry, not sorry.)
Should you add Rose in Chains to your TBR?
Absolutely. If you love Dramione, or if you just want a dark, emotional fantasy that leaves your soul bruised in the best way, Rose in Chains delivers.
Petition to make emotional damage a reading requirement
Because wow, this one wrecked me in the best way. Have you read Rose in Chains yet? Or were you an Auction fan first? Drop your thoughts (and emotional support) in the comments before I spiral again. 🫠
Want to remember my Rose in Chains book review for your next reading binge? Save this review on Pinterest so you’ll have it handy when you’re ready to dive in! 📚
Leave a Reply