Reading With Tyler

Name: Rose in Chains
Series: The Evermore Trilogy #1
Author: Julie Soto
Publisher: Harper Collins
Format: Hardback
Genres: Adult, Dark Romance, Fantasy
Spice Rating: Behind Closed Doors (sex is off the page, but plenty of suggestive dialogue) 🌶️🌶️.5

Rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Review:

“I suppose I’ve never sought anyone who obeys easily.”

I will warn you, the start of this book is dark. DARK. I’m not a huge dark romance reader, I don’t read a lot of books with what I would say are really hard dark triggers (including human trafficking and sexual slavery)… Rose in Chains essentially begins with very degrading, invasive, disgusting themes. Please read Julie’s warning before you decide to read Rose in Chains – know what you’re getting into, please.

With that being said, my main thought when I started Rose in Chains was, I’m not having a good time, but I can’t stop reading… Somewhere along the way, that turned into I can’t stop reading and I’m starting to have a good time… and finally, I can’t stop reading because I’m having a good time. I went on a journey with Briony – and now I can’t wait for book 2, I need more answers.

Briony finds that she, alongside people she’s known her whole life, went to school with and family were being auctioned off to the highest bidders of heart magic users following their loss at the war between the two kingdoms. They’re to be used as ‘heartsprings’ which essentially means that whoever they bond to can pull magic from their bonded to super charge them. Which was bad enough, but there was a lot of… utter filth that came out of the mouths of the men who bid and won at auction when we meet them as they discuss all the things they do to and with their heartspring… Gross and dark.

Let me start with – if this was a real story of course I would not have condoned it… but it is fictional and it is GOOD! Between the Princess Briony and her willingness to do anything she can to get even the smallest amount of information about her people and those she loves, and Toven’s (plus his families) bizarre situation… I had a good time! I did like the story and I am so damn intrigued as to what is happening behind the scenes (where does Toven’s dad keep going? What is Mallow’s situation? Was Rory actually who the prophecy was about or is there more to come?!).

I also can’t help it – I kind of love Toven. I adored the banter he and Briony had when they were younger and at school. I think the tree racing is what first made me start liking him. And some of the things that come out of his mouth, 😯. I am a bit confused as to who is ‘on his side’ so to speak with all the guys we meet. A lot of the men from the succession line did feel very samey to me to the point where I cannot really figure out who is faking it and who is disgusting… I’m pretty sure some of them are a on team Toven but they’re all just so awful whenever they’re on page together that they blend into one…

Aside from the issue with the side characters kind of blending into one, Rose in Chains had me shake the book and want to scream, WHAT THE FUCK! when I finished it last night – I’m sure this was amusing to my partner as I silently screamed while shaking the book. Throughout, I was picking up what Julie was dropping down about the Hearsts (at least, I’d like to think I was), but by the end of the book I’m still like what is actually happening! I need answers!

Like I said, this begins dark and the dark themes definitely continue throughout, so this is not for everyone. But I did enjoy it and I will absolutely continue the series.

“I’m not sure how many more times I need to say it. That heartspring is mine. Her mouth is mine, her magic is mine, her skin is mine.“