Name: Rose in Chains (The Evermore Trilogy, Book 1)
ISBN: 9780008711696

Julie Soto

THE INSTANT NO. 1 SUNDAY TIMES and NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER HE'S HER GREATEST ENEMY ... AND HER DEEPEST DESIRE

Rose in Chains (The Evermore Trilogy, Book 1)

Steph

4.5 star Let me tell you, Rose in Chains is one of the most bingeable books I’ve read in a long time. I should have known better than to doubt Julie Soto because I’ve loved everything she’s written, but this one had me hooked from the very first page. I finished it in a single sitting because I simply couldn’t put it down. The story follows Briony Rosewood, princess of the Eversuns, who loses her twin brother and sees her kingdom fall into enemy hands. She’s then sold in a brutal bidding war to none other than her rival. I didn’t expect this book to be SO DARK. Themes like human trafficking and sexual assault caught me off guard. I’ve read a fair amount of romantasy and dark romance, but this still managed to surprise me with how intense it got. The pacing was fantastic. Julie Soto throws you right into the action and lets you figure things out as you go. The dual timeline structure worked really well. It gave us just enough context without any info-dumping and helped deepen our connection with the characters. The slow burn romance is very slow. I waited forever for a single kiss, but honestly, it made the payoff so much sweeter. The chemistry between Briony and Toven is intense. Toven is your classic morally grey antihero, and every argument and clash between them only built the tension. I was completely invested in their dynamic. If I had one critique, it’s that the plot was a bit predictable. It didn’t ruin the experience, but I was hoping for a twist that never came. Still, I was too hooked to care much. I also hope the female villain gets more development in the sequel. Right now, she feels evil just for the sake of being evil, but the final chapter hints that more is coming. That POV switch at the end was such a good move, and I’m excited to see how that plays out in Book 2. All in all, this was dark, addictive, and emotional with just the right amount of spice. I already know I’ll be counting down the days until the sequel.

Rose in Chains (The Evermore Trilogy, Book 1)

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