Here is my review for A Story Spun in Scarlet by Renee Dugan.
This book is listed as fantasy romance which is what hooked my interest along with the stunning cover art.
The book was quite a long read mind you, but what do you expect when you read a book about stories?
This was such a unique read and the author did such a good job at world building. The premise of the book is our main FMC Audra is a story crafter and in this world power is built off of these stories. Somehow or another everyone with the ability to craft stories have lost the ability to end the story. So Audra is kicked out of her village and starts traveling around to figure out what happened and she ends up running into a mysterious farmer who helps end her story.
The book is a very slow read which is nice because it helps let each of the character shine and to go into detail with all the stories that are woven and come together to end the book.
It was definitely one of my favorite reads of the year and I’ll give it 5 stars. Thank you NetGalley for the copy!

Solid 3.5
This romantasy was really really great!! The world building was well done. Their were some parts where I felt like it dragged on a bit after the point had been made. Some explanations or movements were over explained in some situations in the middle of the book. But not enough that it hurts the story. The FMC is strong and determined. The MMC is calming and secure. I really enjoyed the read

I started this months ago and never got pasted the 10% mark.

It’s just not grabbing my attention I pick it up and find myself drifting from it. Then it’s taking me weeks to pick it back up and it’s a never ending cycle.

At this point I’m calling it a DNF as I can’t remember anything about it despite having read the first 10% multiple times

This book combines two of my favorite things, fantasy and romance, and it does it so well! It's also a story about stories- which is one of my favorite things. The magic system was fascinating, the worldbuilding was well done, and the writing was unique. I greatly enjoyed reading this and regret I didn't get to it sooner. It is heavy on the descriptive language which I loved.

I loved this book! I loved the story line, the characters and the writing style. I am completely addicted to this. I hope that there will be more about these characters! I need more.
I just reviewed A Story Spun in Scarlet by R. Dugan. #AStorySpuninScarlet #NetGalley
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This book was pretty good, the characters were very interesting. The plot was well paced. I enjoyed the stories the main characters would tell. I enjoyed the character developments.

A Story Spun in Scarlet is a unique fantasy book about the power of storytelling. Renee Dugan creates a fantastic world in which stories have the power to change the physical world. Something has made it so the stories no longer finish and those storytellers that do try to finish their tale risk creating abominations with their magic. The main characters embark on a journey to find out how to fix the stories, and end up learning a powerful lesson about friendship, love, trust and perseverance.

The story does move slowly at first, but as it progresses it captivates your attention with exciting plot twists and turns. *content warning- the romance is no-spice, but does include a closed door scene, and descriptive kissing

Thank you Renee Dugan, NetGalley, and Wave Walker Press for the copy of the eARC. All opinions are my own.

I adore everything this author writes, and this book was no exception.

Her ability as a writer to create a magical and totally believable world of fantasy is outstanding. I don't think there is a character that Renee creates who doesnt CB steal my heart.

I loved the characters in this one. Audra and Jaik instantly sweep you into the tale and will have you screaming in their corner.

This one is slow burn EVERYTHING at it's best
A story filled with magic, adventure, romance, danger and teo characters who bring out the best in each other.

This is storytelling at it's best! A must read for all fantasy fans.

I have to admit that I had a hard time getting into this book and I felt that it dragged for the last 30% but once I hit that mark and we discovered more of the plot I was hooked and read the rest of the novel in a matter of hours. The magic system is amazing and really touches the heart of someone like me who loves stories. The romance is so genuine and beautiful without being overbearing and taking away from the main focus. I really enjoyed the characters and how unique each one was. I also love when a book actually surprises me I had absolutely no idea how things were going to play out and the plot twists were shocking. I feel that this book could have been one of my top books of the year but there were two things that I just didn't enjoy. One of those being the slow start and the difficulty I had connecting with the main character for the first fourth of the book and the second being how much inner dialogue we got about Audra's feelings. Although I love knowing what the main character is feeling I felt that it was becoming repetitive and she often disregarded Jaik's feeling because she was too scared to actually deal with her emotions. Despite the small issues I had with the book I really enjoyed it and I loved how beautifully tragic it was.

This story was so breathtaking and amazing! I loved every second of it so much I bought a gorgeous sprayed edge edition! Dugan knows what she's doing when she writes, and I highly suggest anyone read this.

I really enjoyed this book, but i am not sure if it was fully fledged out. It kind of felt a little wordy, and not as refined as it could've been. Some chapters felt really off and weren't super plot heavy which made it a bit distracting. I loved the FMC, she was willful, witty, and had a goal and morals. She was a refreshing FMC, but their romance was not enough for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wave Walker Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. I struggled with the pacing of this story and ultimately did not finish at around 40%. The book could have been edited more to bring its page count down without sacrificing content. Despite not finishing at this time, I am interested in picking it up again and learning more about where Audra and Jaik’s journey leads them.

"A Story Spun in Scarlet" by R. Dugan is a mesmerizing and intricately woven tale that seamlessly blends elements of mystery, romance, and historical fiction. Set against the backdrop of Victorian London, Dugan's debut novel transports readers to a world of gaslit streets, hidden alleyways, and dark secrets, where nothing is as it seems.

The novel follows the story of Evelyn Abernathy, a spirited young woman with a talent for unraveling mysteries, and William Montague, a brooding detective haunted by his own past. When Evelyn's brother goes missing under mysterious circumstances, she enlists William's help to uncover the truth. As they delve deeper into the seedy underbelly of London's criminal underworld, they soon find themselves embroiled in a web of deception, betrayal, and danger.

One of the novel's greatest strengths is Dugan's richly detailed portrayal of Victorian London. From the opulent ballrooms of the upper class to the squalid slums of the poor, Dugan paints a vivid and immersive picture of a city teetering on the brink of change. Her prose is evocative and atmospheric, transporting readers back in time to a world filled with intrigue and danger.

The characters in "A Story Spun in Scarlet" are equally captivating. Evelyn is a feisty and independent heroine, determined to uncover the truth at any cost. William, meanwhile, is a complex and enigmatic figure, whose stoic exterior hides a deeply wounded soul. Their burgeoning romance adds an extra layer of tension to the story, as they grapple with their growing attraction amidst the chaos of their investigation.

At its heart, "A Story Spun in Scarlet" is a tale of secrets, lies, and the power of love to conquer even the darkest of mysteries. Dugan deftly weaves together multiple plot threads, keeping readers guessing until the very end. The novel is filled with twists and turns that will keep readers on the edge of their seats, eager to uncover the truth alongside Evelyn and William.

Overall, "A Story Spun in Scarlet" is a stunning debut that marks R. Dugan as a talent to watch in the world of historical fiction. With its compelling characters, immersive setting, and gripping plot, this novel is sure to delight fans of mystery and romance alike. I eagerly anticipate whatever Dugan has in store for readers next.

A story spun in scarlet- 2.75⭐️ .5🌶️

High Fantasy
Fantasy Romance
Storytelling magic
Amnesia
Friends to loves
Clean romance


This was a lot of exposition and not enough dialogue to make it compelling for me. The prose wasn’t focused enough to move the story forward. This is a slowly paced book. Beautifully written, but slow.

The premise was interesting and unique, just not fast enough for me to get swept up in.



Thank you NetGalley and Wave Walker Press for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC copy. I loved so much about this book, it's such an original concept (the idea of stories being magical and leading to physical manifestations), the writing is exquisite and the world building is expertly done.

If I have anything that I would change it would be to maybe swap out the descriptions of bile for a bit more passion between the main characters (haha), but it is a minor complaint and the slow burn romance was very well executed. I throughly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy and fairytales. 5 stars!

So this book would've been better had there been an edit where 1/2 the book was cut because it felt drawn out. However, the idea of the book is amazing and very creative.

I have to admit that I had a hard time getting into this book and I felt that it dragged for the last 30% but once I hit that mark and we discovered more of the plot I was hooked and read the rest of the novel in a matter of hours. The magic system is amazing and really touches the heart of someone like me who loves stories. The romance is so genuine and beautiful without being overbearing and taking away from the main focus. I really enjoyed the characters and how unique each one was. I also love when a book actually surprises me I had absolutely no idea how things were going to play out and the plot twists were shocking. I feel that this book could have been one of my top books of the year but there were two things that I just didn't enjoy. One of those being the slow start and the difficulty I had connecting with the main character for the first fourth of the book and the second being how much inner dialogue we got about Audra's feelings. Although I love knowing what the main character is feeling I felt that it was becoming repetitive and she often disregarded Jaik's feeling because she was too scared to actually deal with her emotions. Despite the small issues I had with the book I really enjoyed it and I loved how beautifully tragic it was.

What great storytelling and imagination thrown into this book. I loved the premise of the unfinished writing however, drew out a bit for me as I feel like I could have guessed the romance to come towards the end. Thankyou for this opportunity for an ARC!

Let me tell you a story...

Stories with a story. A high fantasy magical journey of unlocking the secrets from the past.

The final few chapters are devasting & the epilogue makes to want to read next installment. The sign of a true good storyteller.

Beautiful prose but at times felt fluffy and unneeded. The plot was enchanting from the get go, but seemed to be a tad to long for what the author was trying to say. Overall I enjoyed this book and this it was very emotional and enchanting read.