This was stunning. Renee Dugan's writing style was stunning and lyrical. This book tugged at my heartstrings and left me wanting more. I really enjoyed the romance and loved as a teacher that it was a story that I felt comfortable sharing with my students if they are at a high enough reading level (aka no spicy scenes that I don't want to promote to high schoolers). I can't wait for the rest of the series!

I really wanted to like this book and it had everything: strong FMC, interesting magic system, mystery, adventure. Even so, I found myself often bored and thinking about DNFing.

A Story Spun in Scarlet takes place in a world where Storycrafters are beings with the power to bring stories to life by materialising elements into the real world. Audra is a Storycrafter but like all others of her kind she has lost her powers when stories could no longer reach their ending, thus becoming an outcast in society and in her family. Determined to find a place to herself, she leaves home and settles in a city that changes everything. From there, she finds new friends but also enemies, and embarks on a journey to bring back the magic that was lost.

Although I did really enjoy the plot, characters, and the story, I did think the book was stretched out too long which made me lose interest. The pacing was also not consistent in my opinion, jumping from slow/medium for most of the book to fast pace in fight/flight scenes.The only reason why I did finish the book was because 1. I am not usually a DNFer and 2. Part of me was still hoping the end would pay off the effort.

All in all, good story but the execution wasn't to my liking. I give this 2.5 starts

Thank you NetGalley and the author for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Story Spun in Scarlet is a fantasy romance novel! The thing I loved most about this book is the writing and storytelling. It is unlike anything else I've ever read. There was also great banter between our main characters and the romance was fantastic. I did find the story a bit slow at the beginning but it picked up over time and had some crazy plot twists! Overall, this was a very enjoyable read!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a review!

4.5/5 stars.

Audra is a Storycrafter who is without a purpose since all the stories in Mithra-Sha lost their endings. Her family has rejected her from the only home she's ever known and Audra is now on the journey for a fresh start. Jaik is a farmhand who knows his way around weapons, he's also a natural amplifier to Audra's stories. On one ill-fated night, Audra and Jaik embark upon a journey for answers, to the heart of storytelling itself.

A STORY SPUN IN SCARLET is a fantastic and beautifully written tale. The writing is rich and almost lyrical, weaving a story you can easily envision in your mind's eye and one that you don't want to put down. It needs to be said that this is not a fast-paced story, but one that slowly comes together. It's worth the wait though. This story and the world within it are well-detailed and contain vivid imagery; this level of details is not something I'm used to and did overwhelm me at a certain point, which is why I deducted 0.5 stars from my rating. The magic system is also really well done and I was so excited to learn more about Storycrafting and how it has changed as the book developed.

The plot is winding and adventurous with several unexpected thrills. I truly enjoyed following along with Audra as she and Jaik continued along their adventure in search of answers to their biggest questions. I really enjoyed all the characters that we meet along the way, particularly the ones that lend a helping hand to Jaik and Audra. I love both Audra and Jaik as the main characters to this story; they're both excellently written and characters that you can't help but root for. There is a romance that develops over the course of the story, but remains very clean with no on-page spice aside from some well placed kisses. It's truly heartwarming to see the connection and fierce love that develops between the two characters.

The ending brought me near to tears, it's so beautifully written... I absolutely need book 2! The author included a character/location guide with pronunciations which I absolutely adored - an excellent added touch!

<i>I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, Wave Walker Press, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions shared are my own.</i>

This is one of the most awesome fantasies I have EVER read. I love the storytelling, I love the adventure, the characters, the banter, the way things keep returning in the story, and everything comes back around. I absolutely enjoyed this entire read and i would recommend this to any and everyone who loves stories. It had the perfect balance between all good things!

Thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review!

This book was quite beautifully written, but a bit too slow for my taste.

The world building is very rich and since the magic system (and what an interesting one it is) is focusing on stories, we get quite some stories within this story. The beginning and the end were quite captivating, but the middle was moving so slow, I actually contemplated putting it down and DNF-ing it. I'm glad I didn't do it, because oh boy, what a turn of events! I have to say, I did not expect that plot twist and it fit so well in the story! Also, the final they was way better delivered than what I feared!

All in all, if you are okay with slow paced, filled with tons of world building books, this one is great!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

I greatly enjoyed how unique the plot was as you follow the adventure of story crafter Audra. What do you do when you can achieve the thing you are told you are? That is the story of Audra, the story teller who can’t complete a tale. This story was not my usual go to style of reads but I found myself so pleasantly surprised!

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well fleshed out, including side characters and Audra and Jaik’s friendship and banter was great to read and the way their relationship developed felt so genuine. The prose was a little more flowery than I usually like but given who the POV character was it made sense and really fitted well. The plot was engaging although a little confusing at times and a lot happens in the last 20-30% of the book so I was kind of scrambling to keep up. The plot twist was hinted at but I’ll be honest did not see the full extent of that coming whatsoever and in some ways it may have dulled some of the events from earlier briefly although it was well foreshadowed. I will say the ending absolutely gut punched me and was absolutely beautifully done.

Renee Dugan takes us to the incredible kingdom of Mithra-Sha. A place where Storycrafters bring stories to life, creating abundance in the land, helping crops flourish, and helping the people. However, one day, the stories lose their endings, and with that, the power to come to life. That's where our story begins, a few years after the power of StoryCraft disappears Audra has been making her way to the Tailbone City where she hopes to start a life doing honest work trying to forget the disappointment of not being able to finish the story and the rejection of society because of it. One day she's asked her to entretrain the patrons of the tavern where she works with an Undying story, a story that would not end and there she meets Jake. Starting as reluctant allies together they embark on an adventure to find out what happened to the endings of stories and how is it connected to them.
This book feels like a love letter to storytellers, emphasizing the impact of stories on our lives and the importance of hope. Audra embodies the fear of not being able to finish, the fear of chasing an adventure, and the strength of sacrifice. Jake is the help and push needed to choose what is waiting in the unknown. Their relationship is great because they represent both sides of the coin: fear and hope.
This story made me smile, made me cry, angry and sad, hopeful of what is to come, I thought it was very well written and a lesson in every story that Audra shares with us. It makes you wonder, root for the characters, visit the mountains, sail the sea, and fight the monsters. It is truly a work of art.
I am very thankful to Renée Dugan for sharing this amazing story Netgalley for allowing me to read it

"A Story Spun in Scarlet" captivates with its rich storytelling, romance, and inventive magic system. In a world where stories never conclude, Audra must leave her old life behind for an unexpected adventure. What sets this book apart is its unique blend of magic and storytelling, creating a narrative within a narrative. Renee's writing is exquisite, showcasing a distinct style. Audra shines as the protagonist, navigating trials alongside Jaik, whose slow-burning romance feels authentic. With its whimsical atmosphere, this book is ideal for cozy fall or winter days, leaving readers eager to discover its conclusion.

Wow! What a surprising and fascinating story. I absolutely love this one. I’ll admit the size of this one was a little daunting at first, but once the premise was set it moved quickly and fluidly. Such a unique plot, with terrific characters, and a wonderful slow burn. Highly recommend this one for anyone wanting to get lost in pure wonderment of the imagination.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Book Review 📚
A Story Spun in Scarlet by R. Dugan - 4.5/5 ⭐

Loved. LOVED. ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. The concept of this story was beyond superb. Dugan made this everything and more. I will forever love this book. The story is so magical and the writing is so whimsical! Beautiful.

Audra and Jaik are basically the main characters and watching them in their journey alone and together was incredible. It started so beautifully and ended with so much admiration for them.

There is a great amount of "WHAT" moments happening throughout and they happen at times you least expect. You're just enjoying a beautifully crafted story and then, BOOM, you're thrown off course. It's never a dull moment, I'll tell you that.

With that ending, I am absolutely praying for a book 2 and very quickly! I need a new fix please 👌🏻

Thank you to NetGalley and Wave Walker Press for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.

Very interesting premise, dragged a little, but amazing writing otherwise! Loved the relationship between the main characters!

**3.5 stars rounded up to 4

This book is SUCH an interesting concept! I loved the unique fantasy world and all of the worldbuilding that came with it. I love the idea of people literally telling stories and creating magic with them, and it's completely different than anything I've read before.

Without spoiling anything, I loved the journey that the characters go on in this book and how it all ties together in the end. I also adored the epilogue and how it all ended being full circle. This book is a really well written piece of story craft in and of itself.

However, my biggest issues were with the pacing and execution. The start of this book and a lot of random places throughout are very slow. There's a lot of walking, a lot of time jumps over weeks/ a couple months while the characters travel, and it made the book disjointed in a lot of ways. The second half of the book is definitely where things picked up and got better, but then it almost felt TOO rushed once we get to the main couple of plot twists. I wish things had been explained more towards the end instead of wasting all that needless time at the beginning on traveling etc.

My other issue with the pacing was--while the notion of stories literally creating magic was cool--having other stories within the story during every single action scene. It's a cool idea that really needed to be trimmed back. I found myself accidentally skimming some of those stories-within-stories because I just wanted to know what our main characters were doing. I didn't really care about the stories Audra was telling in order to create power to help them--I just wanted to skip and see what the result was. These stories within stories were okay here and there (like a particular snow scene later in the book) but doing it for almost every single bit of action got tedious.

All in all, I really liked the unique take on fantasy this book offered, and I LOVED the overarching story. I can't say too much about that without spoiling anything, but I really loved how everything tied together and came full circle in the end. It was really clevery done and is what kept me most invested throughout the book!

Thank you NetGalley and author R. Dugan for the copy in exchange of my honest review.

"LET ME TELL YOU A STORY…

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 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."

This is a story about stories in a world cursed with fantastical beginnings but plagued with no endings. I really love reading this book. I can't wait for the sequel.

This was such an incredible read; I was drawn in and immersed from the start! The magic was unique and writing felt so whimsical, I could not put this down!

A Story Spun in Scarlet by Renee Dugan is a masterfully woven narrative that beckons readers into the enchanting world of Mithra-Sha, where stories have tragically lost their endings, and hope is a rare commodity. Through the eyes of Audra Jashowin, a storyteller bereft of purpose, and Jaik Grissom, a farmhand with the unique power to revive these lost tales, we embark on an unforgettable journey of courage, discovery, and the unbreakable bonds that form in the quest for truth. Dugan's exquisite storytelling breathes life into every page, making the reader feel deeply connected to the characters and their quest.

The relationship between Audra and Jaik is crafted with exceptional care, evolving from companionship to something much deeper, mirroring the growth and challenges they face together. This dynamic serves as the emotional core of the novel, enriching the narrative with themes of loyalty, love, and the quest for identity. The vivid world-building and the depth of the characters' journey through the beautifully dangerous landscapes of Mithra-Sha are testaments to Dugan's skill as a storyteller, making "A Story Spun in Scarlet" a captivating read from start to finish.

Dugan's novel is more than just a tale of adventure; it is a profound exploration of the power of stories and their ability to shape the world. "A Story Spun in Scarlet" challenges its characters—and its readers—to confront the essence of their own stories, weaving a complex tapestry of fate, free will, and the everlasting impact of the stories we tell. With its unexpected twists and deeply satisfying conclusion, this book is a brilliant testament to the transformative power of storytelling, deserving of a place among the most revered tales in the annals of fantasy literature.

I was immediately drawn to the cover for this book. The premise of this story sounded promising. A storycrafter without a story. The journey Audra embarks on is defintely an interesting one, although I did find the the whole layout of the terrain... slightly off-putting (the Spine, Tailbone, etc)

I did unfortunately have to DNF the book as it was a struggle to hold my attention. It felt longer than it is, and I have read books at least 200 pages longer that didn't feel that long. I feel like it is still an interesting world for those who were able to read the whole thing. Maybe one day I'll pick it up and finish it. For now, I'll know that Audra was at least starting to get back that storycrafting power.

3.5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I have mixed feelings about this book. While I enjoyed certain aspects, there were moments when I wanted to DNF it. The beginning and the end of the book are captivating and action-packed, but the middle section completely bored me. I had to push myself to get through it. Nevertheless, I'm glad I persevered because the ending was so worth it!

The premise of the book and its magic system are so unique. The protagonist's ability to bring stories to life was fascinating! I also loved witnessing the character's growth throughout the narrative. I wasn't initially fond of her, but she really grew on me.

My main issue with the book lies in its writing style. While undeniably beautiful, I found it unnecessarily complex, which really made it difficult for me to connect with the story and the characters. There are so many words I didn’t know, I felt like I was reading a classic. I’m sure the author opted for this writing style to mirror the protagonist's craft (she’s a Storycrafter) through her writing, but I believe a more straightforward approach would have been just as effective. Complexity has been prioritized over readability but balancing the two would have made the book so much better in my opinion!

A wholly unique kind of reading, I loved the stories within the main story. It was beautifully crafted and definitely sucked you in! Highly recommend!