Rose in Chains by Julie Soto

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, Briony Rosewood knows that the world as she knows it is changed forever. The dark forces of Bomard have won and her people, the Eversuns, face imminent servitude, imprisonment or death. Her brother, fated to be heir twice over and unite the warring kingdoms, is dead. Stripped of her Mind Magic and her freedom, Briony and the other survivors are quickly auctioned off to the highest bidders in an auction - and as the heir apparent's sister, she fetches the highest price. After a fierce bidding war, she's sold to none other than Toven - a high ranking Bomardsun - and her long-time and ill-fated infatuation. Scion of a family known for their cruel control of Heart Magic, the Hearstare ruthlessly ambitious,and Briony knows they will use her however they can to further their own interests. 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...

“Promises are only words after all. They can be broken.”

Themes & Tropes:

Enemies to lovers
Slow burn romance
Political intrigue
Magic
Dual timeline
She’s mine
Tension. So MUCH tension.
Survival
Secrets
Unequal social status

“And inside of her, there was only darkness and death.”

Review:

I finished Rose in Chains by Julie Soto shortly after it came out. I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this book. I am not an HP Stan. I haven’t even finished the books. I do know my house and I have the books and some items related to my house but I didn’t grow up with HP.

When I discovered Rose in Chains, I didn’t know it was coming from an HP fanfic. The synopsis gripped my attention right away. I was excited for this book to come in the mail.

As we were waiting for it to come out, I found out about all the HP related information. Personally, I wanted to still read it. I think this book stands pretty well on its own. If I hadn’t know it was originally from an HP fanfic, I don’t think I would have picked up on it. With me knowing, I could see where things could have been different in a fanfic. I did really enjoy this book.

There was no burn with this slow burn. IT builds and scrolls and we get pretty much nothing. It as very disappointed on this front. I really hope we get more in the next book. This book is on the darker side. Be prepared. I had an idea going in but it was a bit different than I was expecting. I really loved Briony. (I do not lover her name. I wish it was something else.) Briony has such a fire in her. She is trying to find a way to save herself and her friends and family. I enjoyed the dynamic between Briony and Toven.

Dark, sexual, and emotionally devastating in the best way, this book grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. Think: a tortured romance wrapped in secrets and a heroine who refuses to be broken. Of course, we have a morally grey love interest. If you love stories about redemption, undergoing, and love that hurts, you need this book on your shelf.

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