Guest Post: How Illumicrate’s Platforming of "Rose in Chains" Betrays Their Values

[helloladies]

Di talks about science fiction, fantasy, and nonfiction on her Booktube channel BookishDi and is one of the founders of the SFF book and fandom discussion show Stitch & Bitch. She can be found on BlueSky talking about books, politics, and women's sports.

On Wednesday, April 16, the UK Supreme Court issued a ruling on the legal definition of “woman” that excluded trans women. This case challenging the Equality Act was funded in large part by JK Rowling, and she celebrated the ruling with a series of disgusting, transphobic tweets. This is just her latest action to stigmatize trans women and destroy their ability to exist in public life in the UK. Coincidentally, the same day, UK based subscription box Illumicrate announced a special edition of the upcoming book, Rose in Chains by Julie Soto. This novel is based off of her hit Draco/Hermione fanfic, "The Auction", the premise of which is Voldermort winning the war and Hermione being sold into sexual slavery to Draco Malfoy. But don’t worry, he’s a good fascist and treats her well enough that she’s willing to defend the nice Nazis (I mean Death Eaters) when their actions come to trial. Plot points and names that directly identify it as HP have been changed for the trad pub release, but at its core it is still Harry Potter fanfiction.

On its own, Illumicrate’s choice to create a special edition of this repackaged fanfic and announce it on the day of the UK Supreme Court ruling is troubling. But when taken with the announcement from 2020 that Illumicrate would no longer include HP related items in their boxes and a rule against discussing HP in their discord server (Rule #13), it’s a stunning display of hypocrisy. While other book boxes are doing their own editions of Rose in Chains, none of them made not including or platforming HP part of their values. For a number of subscribers, Illumicrate’s actions are a betrayal to the community that Illumicrate claimed to value. This came after multiple people expressed their discomfort with the hint that The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy as July’s subscription pick. While the book itself is not propubbed fic, it is by a well-known Draco/Hermione author and uses visual cues and tropes associated with that pairing. At the time, a friend referred to it as testing the waters for a future Draco/Hermione pick, and unfortunately she was right.

When bringing up this hypocrisy, a common argument has been, "but even though this started out as HP fanfiction, it’s not any more and it’s not like royalties are going to JKR so why are you mad?". I have two responses to this. First, at this point, there is no ethical way to consume anything related to Harry Potter, even a step or two removed. The Bree half of the author Kit Rocha, has discussed several times that JKR is unique in the death grip she has on her IP. Everything benefits her. Even if you’re just consuming fic or buying fanmade merch, you are keeping this franchise in the spotlight. Your nostalgia or kinks does not trump the real life harm that JKR is causing to trans folks around the world.

Secondly, Rose in Chains, Alchemised, and The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy are commonly spoken about in conjunction with Draco/Hermione. It is either referencing the original fics (as is the case with the first two) or talking about tropes and the author’s other popular Draco/Hermione fic (in the case of the later). Despite the author of The Irresistible Urge saying that the book is not based on fic, she still talks about it being inspired by the pairing when marketing the book. The artwork for these books relies on popular fanartists for the pairing and uses visual cues from fanart. Even though there are people who do not know the connection, they are deeply intertwined. This may lead to people trying to track down the original fics that have been taken down through interacting with the fandom via Reddit, Tumblr, or other platforms, as well as trying other fics. It’s also impossible to avoid Draco/Hermione recommendations when asking for suggestions on fantasy romance subreddits. This leads to more engagement in the fandom, not less. The engagement and people buying these books will show publishers and agents that there is a market for repurposed fics, and the cycle will continue.

Probably the most damning aspect to this whole debacle is the silence of the Illumicrate team. The discussion started Wednesday, and while there was a volunteer mod who joined the chat when pinged, no Illumicrate employee stepped into the chat until Thursday. This was when their Chief Operating Officer/Head of Communications came in to close the channel so the team could have a "restful Easter weekend break". There was no statement about why they made this choice, no message from the team that they were "listening and learning" or "taking things into consideration" like they said when the Cait Corrain debacle happened. There was simply nothing.

This lack of response is bad. Given the pushback months earlier, either the Illumicrate team didn’t see how announcing this particular book, given their previous actions or the base they’ve cultivated, would be an issue or they simply didn’t care. If they didn’t see how it would be a problem, then it points to a significant lack of awareness among their leadership team. If they didn’t care or they overruled someone who brought these concerns about this pick, then it’s clear how little they value their existing subscriber base or what should make them unique among a sea of similar boxes. People talk about how diverse Illumicrate’s picks are, but it’s undercut by the fact that in 2025 they will have featured more books inspired by HP than trans authors. Indeed, for the last book by a trans author they included in the subscription box, Hammajang Luck, there is no guarantee that Illumicrate will do a special edition of the sequel like they normally do. Earlier this month, Illuminate sent out a survey to gauge interest, indicating that they are willing to break their normal procedures when it comes to trans authors.

The absence of communication is what bothers me the most. It reads to me that the Illumicrate team is hoping the fuss dies down over the four day UK Easter holiday. That the majority of their decision-makers think they did nothing wrong. That people are overreacting over a book that other sub boxes are doing. It’s callousness at a time when JKR, funded by the HP franchise, is causing significant harm to vulnerable members of our community. Illumicrate needs to speak up. They need to explain how this decision happened, and they need to clarify once and for all if they actually value the queer community or if they don’t give a shit and are willing to abandon them for a publishing trend.

Comments

[dragoness_e]

So we're now at the point where you're implying we should blacklist authors who were inspired by Harry Potter to write fanfiction, and then made the jump to professional writing? Given the tremendous influence that HP had on the reading of an entire generation, you'd better not read or buy any books that come out over the next 50 years.

I'm sorry, this is some really nonsensical pearl-clutching. Also, fanfiction is the one thing JKR doesn't have an "iron grip on the IP" for. It is, in fact, infringing on her copyrights. I would think you'd celebrate that--people who are not JKR turning her stories around and doing what they want with them, and she has no power or control.

Are you really going to let JKR dictate what is "acceptable" to read or write for the next generation or so? Because that is what you are doing here. You are letting that deluded billionaire dictate what you're allowed to think and write about. Don't do that.

[lizbee]

Yes, this feels like massive overreach -- especially for a genre which long, LONG predates JKR's ascendance or even birth. Sex slavery romance is not my jam, but it is not unique to Harry Potter fandom.

[kerrykhat]

I'm talking about the these specific books because JKR has done immeasurable harm to trans folks, particularly trans women, and is currently targeting other queer identities. As long as these books are marketed in conjunction with the fandom, then I think we as queer folks and allies have a responsibility to speak out against it. There is no ethical way to consume the fandom any more. Anything that keeps it relevant keeps the spotlight on JKR and gives her the spotlight and money to continue trying to force trans women out of public life.

I am truly sorry that you lack the empathy to see that and value your nostalgia more than the real people she is harming.

[lizbee]

I beg your pardon. I had left Harry Potter and its fandom behind even before JKR turned to full-time bigotry. I am simply not convinced by the argument that these specific books should be singled out, or even that the marketing for Rose in Chains is based in Harry Potter.

[kerrykhat]

Literally the top review for Rose in Chains on Goodreads says, "
HOLY SH*T! The Auction is being turned into an original story!!!!!!

SCREAMING! CRYING! THROWING UP!

Release date is 07/08/25!!! I cannot wait!

Who else is a Dramione fan?!"

Another top review says, "… i realized too late that this was a published dramione fanfic, but IVE NEVER READ HARRY POTTER-

im currently binge watching the movies right now (ik the books are supposed to be better, but fuck it 😩😩)"

For the Illumicrate edition, the artists that they're using are "two of the big artists from the Dramione fandom". It's very much drawing on the fandom and the pairing, as well as directing new people to the fandom (like how Kierra Lewis, a big booktoker) started reading and platforming HP after reading Manacled. That is why I'm so disappointed in a copy that had previously taken a very strict anti-HP and JKR stance doing this

[lizbee]

Are GoodReads reviews part of marketing? That's an interesting question, and I can see arguments both ways, but I don't think a publisher can control the top review or its content.

The choice of artists is more damning, although the art itself is incredibly generic. If you were not aware of the HP connection, it just looks like your standard romantasy fare.

Either way, you've presented stronger evidence for the argument than the original essay.

[dragoness_e]

the artists that they're using are "two of the big artists from the Dramione fandom". It's very much drawing on the fandom and the pairing, as well as directing new people to the fandom

And this is bad because? It sounds uncomfortably like you are saying that HP fan artists should be boycotted or shunned, and Illumicrate is bad because they are not shunning them. Please tell me that's not what you're saying.

[dragoness_e]

There is no ethical way to consume anything any more. Reading and writing fanfic does not give JKR a cent more money than she had before. It does not give her a spotlight; do you really think that entertainment media is reporting that x1000 people read Random Indy!Harry fic #3003?

However, policing what other people are reading and writing? That harms real people far more than an imagined connection between fandom and a delusional rich author's obsessions. Playing thought police is Fascism 101, and everyone has a responsibility to speak out against it. Do you "lack the empathy" to give a damn about creeping puritanism and fascism?

[kerrykhat]

I don’t understand the point you’re trying to make, when anti trans activism like what JKR supports is explicitly tied to fascism, and trans activists have asked that we boycott + disinvest from HP as a whole. You’re not engaging in this in good faith, and I’m done arguing when it’s clear you don’t see anything wrong with prioritizing fandom over the legitimate harm JKR has done + will continue to do when people keep engaging with her works

[dragoness_e]

I am engaging in good faith, I just don't agree with you, and I fear you are missing my point entirely. Creative fanworks (such as fanfiction and fanart), do not support JKR the way consumptive fandom (i.e., purchasing HP media and merchandise) does. Demonizing people for creating works of fiction that do not profit JKR one red cent is... not good. It is in fact, harmful. I prioritize creativity over thought policing.

Also, there are trans authors who write trans HP fanfics. (Spite can be a wonderful incentive to creativity). Are you going to tell them they are wrong for doing so?

[anehan]

Also, there are trans authors who write trans HP fanfics.

Indeed. Which is why I find it somewhat disingenious to argue for boycotting the HP franchise by relying on the wishes of (at least some) trans activists as a kind of ultimate authority.

This is not to say that the activists have been wrong to express those wishes nor that there aren't very good reasons for boycotting HP, especially the consumptive side of it, as you aptly called it. However, I'd be very surprised if there weren't differing opinions among trans people regarding this topic, and cherry-picking one set as the authoritative one feels disingenious.

To be fair, I do actually think that engagement with transformative fandom may help keep the franchise in its powerful position. However, I'd expect it to be a rather marginal effect in the grand scheme of things. Most people, HP fans or not, simply don't spend time in transformative fandom. I would also expect that the effect on HP from potential fans engaging with fiction that is vaguely HP-adjacent would be even more marginal.

I think disengaging completely from HP is a perfectly valid choice. Disengaging from things adjacent to HP is also a valid choice, even though I personally find that odd. It's the refusal to respect other people's differing choices and the refusal to acknowledge that it's a complicated issue that bothers me.