One of the biggestromantasyreleases of the summer, Julie Soto’sRose in Chainsis getting plenty of attention on the heels of its July 8 release. However, not all of it is positive.Rose in Chainsis the latest in a line of romantasy novels to spark heated debates on TikTok and Threads.
Just a few months ago,Dani Francis’Silver Elitefound itself at the centerof its own controversy. And the questionable marketing surrounding Juliette Cross’Firebird— which did not detail the book’s darker power dynamics — is yet another example.
Rose in Chainsis now facing backlash in book spaces due to its fan-fiction origins, though its background has been a topic of discussion for months now. Conversations have heated up following its debut, with many readers drawing a line in the sand when it comes to supporting the 2025 novel.
Rose In Chains' Fan-Fiction Origins Explained
Julie Soto’s New Book Is Adapted From A “Dramione” Story
Rose in Chainsis one of several 2025 books being adapted fromHarry Potterfan-fiction, and more specifically, fan-fiction centered on the Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger ship. A second novel drawing inspiration from the pairing came out the same day —The Irresistible Urge to Fall in Love With Your Enemyby Brigitte Knightley — and another calledAlchemisedwill be released later this year.
Rose in Chainsis spun out from a fic calledThe Auction, while Alchemisedis reworked from the popular storyManacled.Both found massive followings as fan-fics before being picked up and adapted by publishers. However, the response to this turn of events has been mixed, even among readers who frequent fandom spaces.
As a result, theseromantasy books have been hotly discussedonline, with readers going back and forth about whether fan-fiction should be altered for traditional publication. Of course, it’s not the first time such a thing has happened.Fifty Shades of Greyfamously started asTwilightfan-fiction, and Anna Todd’sAfterstemmed from a story based on One Direction.
Well-known authors, like Cassandra Clare and Marissa Meyer, also started their careers writing fan-fiction before moving onto traditional publishing. While their books aren’t reworked from their earlier stories, readers have pointed out possible crossover in the scenes and characters. Certain books have also started out as Reylo fan-fiction, like Ali Hazelwood’sThe Love Hypothesisand Thea Guanzon’sThe Hurricane Wars.
The rush to publish books based on the “Dramione” ship has raised legitimate questions about whether traditionally published fan-fiction hurts the art form.
However, the rush to publish books based on the “Dramione” ship has raised legitimate questions about whether traditionally published fan-fiction hurts the art form and the community surrounding it. Although the characters and settings are altered enough to avoid copyright issues,the monetization of the hobby creates a complicated gray area, ethically speaking.
At the end of the day, large swathes of these stories are still pulled from previously published works, which could result in authors pushing back against fan-fiction as a whole. Fandom is also a refuge for many, and having corporate entities mine it for content threatens the sanctity of that space.
There’s also the quality to consider. Fan-fiction is popular because readers want to explore established characters and settings in further depth. Removing those familiar elements of a story takes away from the charm of work in the first place, raising questions about whether it’s worthwhile.
These are all debates cropping up thanks to new releases likeRose in Chains,thoughthe July romantasy book is also getting criticism for a more sinister reason. Many are uncomfortable with its indirect ties toHarry Potter,and thus, J.K. Rowling.
Readers Are Also Speaking Out About Rose In Chains' Harry Potter Connection
There Are Concerns About Platforming The Harry Potter Books
Discussions about the overall push to publish and monetize fan-fiction were front and center leading up toRose in Chains' release. However, there’s another topic that has arisen since its publication, and it applies toThe Irresistible Urge to Fall in Love With Your EnemyandAlchemisedas well.Readers are concerned that giving these stories attention is indirectly platformingHarry Potter.
The marketing and conversations surrounding the titles are pushing the “Dramione” angle.
Although J.K. Rowling andHarry Potter’s publishers aren’t making money off of these romantasy books, and the authors have not explicitly expressed support for either, the marketing and conversations surrounding the titles are pushing the “Dramione” angle.This keeps attention onHarry Potter,which may lead to further sales — and certainly helps keep the story alive.
GivenRowling’s anti-trans rhetoric in recent years, there has been a push to de-platform the author and boycott anything that gives money to theHarry Potterfranchise. It’s understandable, then, that many members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies are unhappy about books likeRose in ChainsandAlchemiseddrawing attention back to it.
Julie Soto’s New Book Also Has Controversial Themes
The Dynamic Between The Leads Is Giving Readers Pause
While the monetization of fan-fiction and increased focus onHarry Potterare the main complaints aboutRose in Chains,the novel also features controversial themes.These are adding fuel to the backlash, despite Soto’s content warning at the beginning of the book.
In general, the “Dramione” ship has problematic elements; Draco bullies Hermione throughout the source material and is prejudiced against all Muggleborns.The AuctionandRose in Chainstake the dark undertones of that dynamic further, resulting in what readers andGoodreadsreviewers are dubbing a “master-slave” relationship.
The premise of the novel involves the heroine, Briony, being sold at an auction, so this complaint is hardly unwarranted. Although dark romance is known for exploring controversial subject matter, readers are beginning to question when it crosses the line and becomes harmful.
Rose in Chainsis just one of theromantasybooks to start such a conversation, and itsHarry Potterinspirations and approach to fan-fiction are proving just as divisive. With any luck, all the debates will at least lead to further education on the subject — and perhaps some much-needed change in the recent approach to fandom and fan-fiction.
