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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
This book is heavy with dark themes, specially revolving around trafficking a specific type of magician and selling them at auctions. Please be mindful of triggers before reading this if you are sensitive to darker elements!
Okay, now that that is out of the way.
I’m actually really upset that I read this book now, before book two is released. This is a book series that I will binge again when book two comes out, and again when book three comes out. The magic system is wonderful and I really enjoyed being able to look in the past at the dynamics of Briony and Toven leading up to the start of book one. There is so much that happened before the book even started that once the series is complete, I would love if the author did a deep dive into the past and showed more of the schooling of all the students.
Okay, now that that is out of the way.
I’m actually really upset that I read this book now, before book two is released. This is a book series that I will binge again when book two comes out, and again when book three comes out. The magic system is wonderful and I really enjoyed being able to look in the past at the dynamics of Briony and Toven leading up to the start of book one. There is so much that happened before the book even started that once the series is complete, I would love if the author did a deep dive into the past and showed more of the schooling of all the students.
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book gripped me, I couldn’t put it down. I really enjoyed how the story was played out with present point of view and then the flash backs to help fill in some blanks..or perhaps I have even more questions now? I wasn’t aware this this book was based on another, maybe not knowing allowed me to enjoy it with an open mind. There were parts that were hard to read and would recommend checking the warnings before reading. A week later after finishing and I still think about the characters, ready for B2!
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
If I didn’t know this was a fanfic I might have liked it more.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you Hachette audio for my ALC!
I had no expectations going in whatsoever but I was totally blown away by this insanely captivating story. While I gotta know that this was considered a Dramione fanfic, I honestly did not feel like I was reading a story from a world I knew, Julie Soto completely transformed it with intense characterizations and complex world with layered plot and a dark ambiance. I really could not put it down as I had absolutely no clue what was going to happen next.
The super slow burn romance is just chef's kiss for me personally. Briony's quite strength and Toven's enigmatic nature were so well written that when all that angsty tension finally melts between the MC's it was a pure delight to read the chapters. While I really enjoyed the book, please do keep in mind that it is a dark fantasy with several triggering themes and I appreciate the author for including the TW in the beginning. The ending was of course nerve wracking but I can't complain! I really cannot wait for the next book and my only wish would be that we will have Toven's POV in the next one. It would totally take the story to a next level if we get to witness what's going on in Toven's complex, broody mind ;)
Audio Notes- Omigosh the audiobook experience is a pure delight!!! Ella Lynch legitimately brought this story alive with her narration, it was intense, it was powerful and also packs punch into emotionally heavy scenes when needed and made sure to impeccably translate Soto's lyrical prose into an enjoyable audio experience. While I am sure I might have enjoyed the book either way regardless of the format I chose, I still think I loved the audio route a tad bit more.
I had no expectations going in whatsoever but I was totally blown away by this insanely captivating story. While I gotta know that this was considered a Dramione fanfic, I honestly did not feel like I was reading a story from a world I knew, Julie Soto completely transformed it with intense characterizations and complex world with layered plot and a dark ambiance. I really could not put it down as I had absolutely no clue what was going to happen next.
The super slow burn romance is just chef's kiss for me personally. Briony's quite strength and Toven's enigmatic nature were so well written that when all that angsty tension finally melts between the MC's it was a pure delight to read the chapters. While I really enjoyed the book, please do keep in mind that it is a dark fantasy with several triggering themes and I appreciate the author for including the TW in the beginning. The ending was of course nerve wracking but I can't complain! I really cannot wait for the next book and my only wish would be that we will have Toven's POV in the next one. It would totally take the story to a next level if we get to witness what's going on in Toven's complex, broody mind ;)
Audio Notes- Omigosh the audiobook experience is a pure delight!!! Ella Lynch legitimately brought this story alive with her narration, it was intense, it was powerful and also packs punch into emotionally heavy scenes when needed and made sure to impeccably translate Soto's lyrical prose into an enjoyable audio experience. While I am sure I might have enjoyed the book either way regardless of the format I chose, I still think I loved the audio route a tad bit more.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
WHEW I loved this one! I love Julie Soto’s contemporary romances, so when I saw this one at the store, I knew I had to pick it up to read it. And I really loved it. there were definite similarities to ACOTAR, or at least that’s what it seemed to me in some respects. But I did really enjoy this book. I liked that you heard about events from the past, then every several chapters you went back to that event and got to see it first hand. It helped tie everything together nicely and helped piece together pieces of the puzzle that you were missing. I wouldn’t say I was necessarily overly surprised about some of the twists, but I will say that I liked that it wasn’t something so out of left field that it didn’t make sense. I’m really eager to see the next book in the series and see this story continue!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
What to expect:
🌹Dark Fantasy
🌹Enemies to Lovers (ish)
🌹Captivity
🌹Mind Magic x Heart Magic
🌹Slavery
🌹Drugging
🌹Flashbacks/Dual Timeline
🌹Mutual Pining
🌹Magical Bonds
🌹He Falls First
🌹Sexual Assault
🌹Dramonie Vibes
🌹Warring Countries
I loved both of Julie Soto’s previous books, and I expected Rose in Chains to be an instant five-star read, but for me, it wasn’t.
I’ll start with the issues I had with this book. The world building - there wasn’t enough of it, there was hardly any, which can also be said for the magic system too. We know there’s heart magic and mind magic but all magic users have access to both, so why were they separated to begin with?
There wasn’t enough background on either the world building or the magic system here for this book to be high fantasy, and there also wasn’t enough romance for Rose in Chains to be Romance, which left me stumped as to where the book was going.
Other things I didn’t like
🌹the elixirs
🌹sexual assaults
🌹the auction
🌹 Rory
🌹 the dinners
I understand that the auction is pretty integral for the plot and I didn’t hate the auction in and of itself, but the implied and off-page rape that went alongside was so off-putting, especially in a romance book.
Now, the things I did like!
Soto wrote in a dual timeline, which kind of gave me Forget Me Not vibes, and I was here for it. The flashbacks of Briony and Toven were essential in understanding their current relationship, especially concerning Toven. I would have loved to see his POV. The yearning and tension would have been amped up to 10 being in his mind and would have solidified this book as a Romantasy.
Toven’s parents, Serena and Orion needed so much more screen time in my opinion, I loved what I read of them and I really wanted to see more. Maybe in the next book?
Other things I liked
🌹Toven (again)
🌹the grapes
🌹sisterhood
🌹Original purpose of the heartstring
🌹Larissa
Final thoughts
I wanted more from Briony. There were some parts of this book where a fire was lit in her for all she’d suffered and I wanted to stoke that and help her burn everything to the ground. I also wish there was more about Finn and whatever secrecy is going on there, and always more of Toven.
So while I devoured this book pretty quickly, and I did enjoy my time, Rose in Chains needs work to be the five-start story I’ve come to expect when I pick up a Julie Soto book.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publicising for giving me a chance to read this book.
🌹Dark Fantasy
🌹Enemies to Lovers (ish)
🌹Captivity
🌹Mind Magic x Heart Magic
🌹Slavery
🌹Drugging
🌹Flashbacks/Dual Timeline
🌹Mutual Pining
🌹Magical Bonds
🌹He Falls First
🌹Sexual Assault
🌹Dramonie Vibes
🌹Warring Countries
I loved both of Julie Soto’s previous books, and I expected Rose in Chains to be an instant five-star read, but for me, it wasn’t.
I’ll start with the issues I had with this book. The world building - there wasn’t enough of it, there was hardly any, which can also be said for the magic system too. We know there’s heart magic and mind magic but all magic users have access to both, so why were they separated to begin with?
There wasn’t enough background on either the world building or the magic system here for this book to be high fantasy, and there also wasn’t enough romance for Rose in Chains to be Romance, which left me stumped as to where the book was going.
Other things I didn’t like
🌹the elixirs
🌹sexual assaults
🌹the auction
🌹 Rory
🌹 the dinners
I understand that the auction is pretty integral for the plot and I didn’t hate the auction in and of itself, but the implied and off-page rape that went alongside was so off-putting, especially in a romance book.
Now, the things I did like!
Soto wrote in a dual timeline, which kind of gave me Forget Me Not vibes, and I was here for it. The flashbacks of Briony and Toven were essential in understanding their current relationship, especially concerning Toven. I would have loved to see his POV. The yearning and tension would have been amped up to 10 being in his mind and would have solidified this book as a Romantasy.
Toven’s parents, Serena and Orion needed so much more screen time in my opinion, I loved what I read of them and I really wanted to see more. Maybe in the next book?
Other things I liked
🌹Toven (again)
🌹the grapes
🌹sisterhood
🌹Original purpose of the heartstring
🌹Larissa
Final thoughts
I wanted more from Briony. There were some parts of this book where a fire was lit in her for all she’d suffered and I wanted to stoke that and help her burn everything to the ground. I also wish there was more about Finn and whatever secrecy is going on there, and always more of Toven.
So while I devoured this book pretty quickly, and I did enjoy my time, Rose in Chains needs work to be the five-start story I’ve come to expect when I pick up a Julie Soto book.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publicising for giving me a chance to read this book.