Rose in Chains—A Dark Captor & Captive Romantasy

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC. I was really excited for this one—the premise held so much promise: a fallen kingdom, forbidden romance, and a magical system rooted in the contrast between heart and mind. Narrator Ella Lynch did a lovely job bringing the characters to life.

At a Glance

This story begins in a world where the dark forces have won, the kingdom has fallen, and Briony Rosewood is auctioned off to the enemy. From there, we're swept into a dark romantasy with political intrigue, dual timelines, and heavy emotional undercurrents. It had all the right ingredients, but for me, the execution didn’t fully come together.

What Worked

• The Narration: Ella Lynch’s performance was fantastic—emotive, clear, and immersive. She added life to each scene.
• The Premise: The idea of a broken world and a heroine caught between duty and desire had so much potential. I was especially intrigued by the heart vs. mind magic concept—so unique and layered with possibility.
• The Themes: Dark romantasy, enemies-to-lovers, forbidden longing, and questions of loyalty and agency—all strong and compelling ideas at the core.

Favorite Line

"Toven Hearst simply forgot his manners again."
"What manners?" he called after her. "I'm no gentleman, I've been told."

What I Struggled With

• World-Building: I often found myself wishing for more context. There were lots of characters and political factions introduced early on, but I had trouble anchoring myself in the world. Questions about the war, the king’s death, the purpose of the takeover, and how magic actually works kept piling up.

• Magic System: Heart vs. mind magic is a fascinating concept, and I saw glimpses of its potential. But it wasn’t fully developed, and I found myself confused about who could use magic, how it was inherited, or why some forms were forbidden.

• Character Connection: I wanted to feel more emotionally invested in the cast. Characters experienced huge, often tragic moments—but because we didn’t spend much time getting to know them beforehand, those scenes didn’t land as powerfully for me as they could have.

• Protagonist’s Arc: Briony is described as powerful, yet I rarely saw that in action. She felt more reactive than proactive, and I was really hoping for some growth or agency that never quite arrived.

• The Romance: The relationship between Briony and Toven felt more convenient than convincing. Their chemistry seemed rooted in the story’s premise more than any emotional or narrative build-up, and I couldn’t quite understand the basis of their connection.

Final Thoughts

Rose in Chains has a captivating concept, and the last quarter of the book definitely picks up. I can see promise in the overarching story and think this series could build into something really engaging. That said, I personally needed more depth in the world, character development, and a clearer emotional through line.

Readers who enjoy dark romantasy with brooding morally grey heroes, layered trauma, and high-stakes tension might find more to love here—especially if you’re already a fan of the original fanfiction roots.

Tropes & Themes

🗝️ Enemies to lovers

🗝️ Captive x captor

🗝️ Mind magic vs. heart magic

🗝️ Political intrigue

🗝️ Secret school crush

🗝️ Royal rebellion

🗝️ Complex sibling bonds

🗝️ Dual timelines

🗝️ Wartime trauma

🗝️ Forced proximity

CW (content warnings): Death, gore, forced sterilization (on-page), mentions of forced abortion (not involving MC), slavery, drugging, violence, and more.

If you’re intrigued by enemies-to-lovers dynamics, moral complexity, and hidden agendas in a magical war-torn kingdom, this might be your next read.