Rose in Chains by Julie Soto — Genre’d Podcast Episode 6
- genredpodcast
- Sep 11
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 22
About the episode:
This week on Genre’d Podcast, Katy leads us into Rose in Chains by Julie Soto—a dark romantasy born from the fan-fiction world (Dramione) and overflowing with mutual pining, forced proximity, political intrigue, and dragons. If you love slow-burn yearning, morally gray love interests, and big twist epilogues, this one has your name on it.
💥 Content warning: The book (and our discussion) includes sex trafficking/sexual slavery, violence, and coercion. Check the in-book trigger warnings before reading.
What we cover in this episode:
From fanfic to bookshelf: why Rose in Chains stands on its own, and how fanfiction became a writing incubator for romantasy
Dark romantasy 101: forced proximity, morally gray MMC, mutual pining, slow burn, enemies-to-lovers…with serious stakes
Worldbuilding we loved: heart magic vs. head magic, familiars (hello, dragon POV), and the politics of Evermore vs. Bomard
Yearning > smut: why the kiss (and mind-magic tension) hit harder than explicit scenes
The twist: end-chapter revelations 👀
Audiobook notes: strong performances, but the timeline/flashbacks may read clearer on the page
Why listen?
If you’re searching for a Rose in Chains review, curious about dark romantasy with mutual pining and political stakes, or want a crash course on fan-fic to trad-pub pipelines, this episode blends craft talk with our trademark sisterly chaos.
Mentions & shoutouts:
Indie bookstore crawl: The Ripped Bodice (Brooklyn), The Strand (Union Square), West Side Books (UWS), Browser Books (SF), Bethany Beach Books (Bethany Beach, DE)
Trailer chat: Wuthering Heights (new film), soundtrack by Charli XCX
Fan-fic context: Dramione lineage and the broader trend of fanfiction → trad publishing
Our ratings:
Katy: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — “Best book I’ve read this year. I can’t stop thinking about it.”
Elyse: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (and 👍👍) — “Deeply satisfying slow burn; the world-building and twist landed.”
Join the conversation:
What did you think of Rose in Chains? Team “yearning forever,” or do you want more on-page spice? Drop your thoughts, theories, and fave lines below.
Fast facts: Rose in Chains
Is it part of a series? Reading order?
Book 1 of The Evermore Trilogy; start here.
What tropes are in it?
Enemies to lovers, captor/captive, political court intrigue, rebellion, slow burn, forbidden attraction, power imbalance.
Spice level (0–5 chilis)?
3/5: a few open‑door scenes within a dark romantasy; check content notes before reading.
If I loved it, what should I read next?
Serpent & the Wings of Night (trial‑by‑blood, dangerous romance), Gild (cursed captivity), Lady of Darkness (dark fey bargains), The Bridge Kingdom (marriage‑of‑state, enemies to lovers).
Audiobook narrator?
Ella Lynch brings an intense, cinematic tone to the world and its politics.
Comments