*Thank you to NetGalley and Wave Walker Press, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles
for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review*

This was such a good premise and it didn't disappoint. The story is beautifully written and I really loved the world building. Audra was an interesting character but sometimes was a little forgettable. Overall it was a lovely story.

The book has a great plot and character building! I was intrigued by the way characters lose their endings. I despise books with no endings so it made stick to it until the end and I don’t regret it! The plot prevails against the romance or spice but none the less it’s still a great book!

“What a terribly beautiful thing it was, to be cared for… knowing so many things could change that forever.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Renee Dugan for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Wowwww what a lovely story 😭 Even though this is only my second ARC, I feel so lucky AGAIN to have had the chance to read such a wonderful book. The magic system in this story is so unique and intriguing, I’ve never read anything like it before. The idea that a story could never be finished…. Terrifying. But also the idea of a story being woven into reality as it’s spoken… also terrifying! My mind goes straight to Pennywise being spoken into existence - no thanks 😂 And honestly, the way the misspoken creatures at the Illusionarium were described sounded just as terrifying as Pennywise lol (specifically thinking about the children crawling with spiderlike speed). For someone with aphantasia I was very impressed and enjoyed the attention to detail throughout the book.

The therapist in me loved that the author had her characters practicing 54321 grounding skills throughout the book 🥹 The one-bed-at-the-inn scene was so perfect and it wasn’t even smutty!! It so beautifully captured the playfulness of two people learning to be vulnerable with eachother - I could feel their giddiness, it was so sweet. The romance between the characters was beautiful and gave me butterflies throughout the book 😭🥹

Overall, I thoroughly loved this story. I hope you choose to add it to your TBR, it deserves a lot of love 🖤 go support an indie author!! 🫶🏻

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a review.

This book is very much about stories, and their power and purpose. This is perfect for fans of Stephanie Garber's writing, and at times it felt very familiar to that. I liked the writing style and characters, but the main plot felt a little out of sorts for me. Stories without endings are upsetting and that was hard for me to grasp a hold of.

AUDRA JASHOWIN is a storyteller without a purpose.
When all the tales in the land of Mithra-Sha lost their endings, Audra fled from her family’s rejection and the only home she ever knew. Now, with a sense of veiled danger haunting her heels and her life as devoid of direction as her stories, she arrives at long last in a city of fresh starts and second chances.
There, she finds an adventure greater than she ever dreamed.
JAIK GRISSOM might be the key to bringing back the power of all stories.
A simple farmhand with a way around weapons, Jaik possesses more than a sharp wit that sets Audra’s soul aflame. He’s a natural amplifier with the talent to breathe life into her tales…into all the tales in Mithra-Sha.
Chased from their comfortable lives by a stroke of ill luck on a fateful night, Audra and Jaik embark on a journey for answers—through the wilderness and over the raging sea, to the heart of storytelling itself. Along the way, the strange bond between them deepens as they begin to uncover a mystery that lurks beneath all the broken tales, written in the shroud of their own unlikely pasts.
To mend the fractured stories in Mithra-Sha, Audra and Jaik must learn to embrace what lives at the core of their own stories: the bravery and brilliance, the loyalty and love, and the purpose and power they both harness—together and apart.
And they must face a terrible truth penned between the pages of their quest…a tragedy that will change the course of history and rewrite the ending of their tale forever.

*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review*

The story starts with Audra who tries to tell a story to a crowd of children, hoping to make it to the end, only to not be able to finish it. And this is exactly what this book is about: a world with stories that have no endings, Audra, as a storyteller, is incapable of ending a story, as are all others in this world. This is a unique concept and I was drawn to this premise.
Audra starts working at a bar and when ordinary farmhand Jaik walks in, it is suddenly possible for her to finish the story she was telling. And that's where our story begins. The two of them set out on an adventure to reveal the mystery behind the broken stories.
The writing style in this book is very flowery and lyrical, but it is also like taking a very very long breath, so it seems longer than it actually is. It was difficult for me in the beginning to really get into it. But once you get used to the writing style it flows better. The romance is not as prevalent in here and its not spicy at all, which is alright since I prefer a good plot anyway.

I think the premise of the books was very interesting. I also enjoyed the stories that Audra, the main character, wove. But I had a hard time investing myself in the world of the book. I don't understand why the story crafters were so ostracized and why would someone want to continue being a storyteller if they couldn't finish their stories anymore. Additionally, the author's writing style is very descriptive and flowery. Which isn't my personal style because I feel like it made the story drag on a little bit. But I think others might enjoy the flowery prose!

A Story Spun in Scarlet by Renee Dugan deserves every bit of its thrilling 4,5-star rating—it's a literary adventure that whisked me away into a world of enchantment and wonder. Imagine a realm where storytellers struggle to wrap up their tales, and magic teeters on the brink of extinction. Enter Audra Jashowin, a storyteller on a quest for purpose, and Jaik Grissom, a farmhand with a gift for amplifying stories. Their unexpected meeting sets the stage for a rollercoaster of excitement, danger, and revelations that had my heart pounding with anticipation.
What made this book an absolute gem? Well, everything! The banter, humor, mystery, and action were like a symphony of storytelling brilliance that kept me utterly captivated. Audra and Jaik, the dynamic duo, burrowed deep into my heart with their charm and charisma. Their palpable chemistry turned the pages into a whirlwind adventure, carrying me through the wilderness and stormy seas as they unraveled the mystery behind the fractured tales. Dugan expertly peeled back layers of bravery, brilliance, loyalty, and love, making Audra and Jaik characters I rooted for with every fiber of my being.
The magic system, intricately woven into the narrative, added an extra layer of fascination. Audra's storytelling prowess, blended with Jaik's unique abilities, breathed life into the enchanting tales within Mithra-Sha.
Yet, what truly elevated this book for me was the authentic and relatable chemistry between Audra and Jaik. The banter and humor injected throughout made it not just a read but an experience that left me grinning and gasping in turn. Their romance, swinging between heartwarming and heart-wrenching moments, had me emotionally invested to the core. And that ending! The epilogue expertly pulled at my heartstrings, leaving me with a mix of emotions that lingered long after I closed the book.
A Story Spun in Scarlet isn't just a story; it's an immersive journey that ignited my imagination, stirred my emotions, and left me yearning for more. Dugan's storytelling prowess is nothing short of magical, making this adventure an unforgettable and exhilarating ride.

I appreciate the uniqueness of this book. It provides a fresh reading experience that I haven't encountered before. The enchantment lies in its skillful storytelling, creating a book-within-a-book ambiance that I find particularly enjoyable. The writing style captivates me with its beauty, showcasing a mastery of a distinct style. Audra, as the main character, captivates with her journey through trials to unravel past mysteries. The highlight is the nuanced and believable connection between Audra and Jaik, unfolding as a delightful slow-burn romantic tale. The style of the book is perfect for cozy fall or winter days, and I eagerly anticipate discovering how the story concludes.

In 'A Story Spun in Scalet,' author R. Dugan weaves an enchanting narrative that explores the power of storytelling, destiny, and the profound connections that shape our lives. Audra Jashowin, a storyteller without a purpose, embarks on a journey in search of meaning when the tales in the land of Mithra-Sha lose their endings. Fleeing rejection and seeking solace in a city of fresh starts, Audra's life takes an unexpected turn when she encounters Jaik Grissom, a simple farmhand with a unique gift— the ability to breathe life into stories.

As Audra and Jaik navigate a quest for answers, their connection deepens, and they uncover a mystery that lies beneath the broken tales, intertwined with their pasts. The narrative beautifully delves into themes of bravery, brilliance, loyalty, and love, highlighting the inherent power within each character's story. The duo must confront a tragic truth that could reshape history and alter the course of their tale forever.

This book is a captivating blend of adventure, fantasy, and emotion, offering readers a rich exploration of the human experience and the transformative nature of storytelling. With its compelling characters and intricately woven plot, this book is a must-read for those seeking a journey through a world where stories come to life and destinies are written anew.

Let me tell you a story..... A story of found family, of lost endings, of two strangers who fall in love.
This book was a bit of a struggle to get into, it can be very wordy, but it only adds to the story. The author beautifully spins her own story that leaves the reader guessing at every turn. The mystery of how every new story in the entire land of Mithra-Sha cannot be ended has so many twists and turns that you do not see coming. I am not sure if I would categorize this as having a "happy ending." It almost is like a song sung in canon, A Story Spun in Scarlet could go on forever.

The writing in this is very unique. It took me a bit too long to get into and I ultimately just didn’t feel sucked in like I hoped. I hope to try again down the road and see if maybe it’s just a timing thing but for now I am DNFing this. For what I have read (about 37%) I would say it’s a 3 star book. But I really appreciated the authors unique writing style.

I love this book. The wonder, magic, action and characters all form a beautiful, entrancing story that has stayed with me. I read it in two days because I did not want to put it down.

I love that it is a story about the power of stories - that stories literally comprise the source of magic in this world. The world-building is excellent and the way the magic unfolds is vividly painted.

This is a story about friendship, love, sacrifice, and why we make the choices we make. Do we do the hard thing for the right reasons, or do we do it for ourselves?

The main character, Audra, is determined and kind and deeply flawed. For a good part of the novel, she is wracked by insecurity and self-doubt, but her self-awareness of these issues lend her character strength and keep her from being whiny and unlikable. She knows she needs to be more than her fears want her to be.

Her relationship with Jaik is such a joy to read. Their first interaction is probably one of my favorite 'meet cutes' ever - it is hilariously violent and not at all cute. Jaik's character is so wonderfully written - he is funny, irreverent, sweet and strong. Their relationship provides the rock upon which so much of the story rests and I loved getting to know both of these characters and their development.

There are several twists throughout the story - it begins as a quest and turns into a mystery with a bit of a found family feel. Although several key players join near the end of the book, their characters are well written and seamlessly tied in to the story.

I adore this book and will definitely be reading more from this author!

Many thanks to R. Dugan, Wave Walker Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC and provide and unbiased review.

beautiful enthralling
amazing concept.
4 stars from me and a detailed review and analysis is coming.

Thank you NetGalley and Wave Walker Press for this e-arc--this was the first early access read I was able to get and I am so thankful for that. Now, the review.

This story was a wonderfully whimsical tale about a storyteller who can't tell stories until the day one fateful man walks into her life. The premise of this story was absolutely adorable to me and I can say that what I expected was delivered upon. I read this book in very, very short increments, especially towards the beginning since, if I am being fully honest, the beginning was a bit slow. Now, don't get me wrong, sometimes I love a slow paced book, but this paired with the high page count deterred me from truly continuing on. Truthfully, I wasn't sure if I was going to finish the book simply due to the commitment of a lengthy and slow paced book (this is why I did not update my progress as it was a genuine option), but I'm glad I continued because the latter part of the book was delightful.

As a lover of <i>The Night Circus</i>, whimsical, all vibes no plot, is <b>right</b> down my alley. I thought that this book was definitely a bit more plot heavy than that book which was a pleasant surprise due to its length and I really enjoyed it. This story is sickeningly sweet and had me giggling to myself at points because the relationship between Audra and Jaik is ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE. They are the definition of each other's missing pieces and I ate it up. After I would read my darker and spicier books, this was always a nice and fluffy palette cleanser. Dungan's writing style reminds me of everything I love about Erin Morgenstern's writing in the way it is so descriptive and enchanting--it really wraps you up in the world!

Now, I have to say, if you do not like a story that sometimes borders or maybe even crosses over into over-descriptive territory, this will not be the book for you. In fully fleshing out this fanciful world, the writing sometimes feels a bit too slow--and I am really not one to dislike extra world building. This is mainly problematic due to the fact that it is mostly an issue at the beginning, and it, at least for me, left me wondering if the whole story was going to be so slowly paced. I am here to tell you that if you can get through about 100-150ish pages of slow, the story will absolutely be worth!

In the end, I would recommend this story to anyone looking for a fully fledged out fantasy world with tooth-achingly sweet romance and whimsical adventure!

An absolutely epic tale of journey and stories with amazingly written prose and description.

I loved this book. What a ride this was from start to finish. At the beginning, I did find Audra to be a little annoying, too much in her head, but as the book went on, she really grew on me. As the story developed, and we learned more of her story, it became clear as to why Audra was the way she was.

Jaik's storyline was brilliant. I loved him from the start. He was definitely the counterbalance to Audra.

The plot itself was quite intricate. There was so much going on. The worldbuilding was very interesting. I had no idea what to expect going in, where a world is based on telling stories, but it was much better than I had hopes for.

a little bit of a slow start, but the premise was engaging and interesting enough to keep my eyes on the page!

i’m not usually a big fantasy reader but the synopsis and magic system caught my attention, and i’m glad they did. a story spun in scarlet is a rich story told with vivid prose, and once you really get into it, it goes down pretty easily in spite of its length. the characters were also charming and helped to keep me hooked!

my only issue with it was the formatting—the first line of each new chapter looked a little weird to me, but i’ll chalk that up to my kindle or it being an early copy of the book.

3.5/5 stars, rounded up to 4 because it deserves it!

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and opportunity to read this book!

Gosh I tried. I tried so hard to like it. Now take this with a grain of salt because I’ve seen lovely reviews and I have loved other books by this author. But since I received a copy from netgalley I have to put this out there.

What I enjoyed:
The idea was THERE! It was fresh, unique, and interesting.
The romance was also great! Very epic.


What I didn’t:
I was drowning in the descriptions. It felt like every little thing needed to be illustrated in 100 words. While I understand it was in vein of creating this feel of epic storytelling, I struggled.

It kept me from connecting to anything, so I ended up not wanting to keep reading and having no attachment to the story.

And also— the fighting. Through stories… it took the action sequences that usually pull me in and had me skimming these junks of stories outside the actual plot.

The ending!? Nope. Not it.

This is one of the most unique fantasy books I've ever read!

What it's About:

Imagine you're a storyteller in a world where stories have the power to affect the world around you. Now imagine all stories have lost their endings and the world around you is suffering from the loss of their magic. What would you do if you could suddenly finish a story again?

Add in a ton of adventure, twists of fate, and a dashing farmer. Don't forget the one bed and one horse situations!

Mix it all together and you get A Story Spun in Scarlet!

My Thoughts (Spoiler Free):

This is by far the best book I have read is a really long time! It is a high fantasy book with a unique magic system and several twists I didn't see coming! This book caused me to fall in love with characters and get so invested in the plot that I ended up smiling, laughing, and even crying. Definitely the mark of a great book for me!

I adore both of the main characters, Audra and Jaik! The author did an amazing job of developing their characters and showing their growth throughout the book. Audra, specifically, is written in an extremely realistic way and I love how her thought process is depicted!

The author also did a great job with the pacing of the book. I did not want to put it down and for an almost 500 page book this is a rarity for me! There weren't any dull moments and the author's descriptions were beautiful!

I definitely recommend reading this book if you enjoy fantasy, romantasy, unique magic systems, and feeling a huge range of emotions while reading!

Thankyou to Netgalley for an arc of this book! The length of this book can certainly seem daunting and whilst I admit that I struggled for the first 30/40% of the story, once I got to the halfway mark I’d when I really felt like the story took off. I found the connection between our two main characters to be ernest and believable, the world building really felt fleshed out and the mystery of what could happen next really kept me hooked by the end, I would definitely recommend if you are a fan of a hearty whimsical fantasy

A Story Spun in Scarlet follows the story of Audra Jashowin, a storyteller unable to finish her stories just like every other storyteller in her country (Mithra-Sha) , but after a rather weird encounter with a stranger named Jaik Grissom everything in her life is about to change. Audra and Jaik embark on a quest to find out answers that might just change the fate of Mithra-Sha.

I confess that in the begining this book was very hard for me to get into, however the more i understood about this world the more captivated i was. R. Dugan´s writing is just great and i cant even imagine how she managed to create mini stories inside a big one and to make it all work out. Overall this book was amazing, filled with adventure, loveable characters, friendship and romance literally just a wonderful story. It might just be one of the best books i ever read and i cant wait for a possible second book.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.