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.

*Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Audra is a storyteller, which should be a magical wonderful thing, but since all of the stories have lost their endings it is anything but. When she wishes to start over in a brand new place she hopes to find peace in her new life. Everything changes when the unthinkable happens, she finishes a story.

There was so much of this story that was original and interesting, such as storytellers truly not being able to end their stories, but the beginning was just a little too slow for me. I understand the need for exposition, but it felt like it went on for too long. I think if the story picked up faster this would have been a five star book for me.

A Story Spun In Scarlet by R. Dugan

"Let Me Tell You A Story..."

A World of Assassins & Story crafters

Magick powered by the thrill of stories, the romance of adventure and war and mystery in lengthy tales of brave princesses and knights.

Stories come to life through words, through magic and fate and destiny. A novel of incomplete stories finally coming to close, for the first time in a world of starving people, pitiful scraps, little coin, and bloodthirsty soldiers.

Tales of Rebellion, of pirates scrounging for gold and exploring an ocean whilst ruthlessly slaying opposing ships on a vast, open blue sea.

A running girl, a weaver of stories and whispering make-believe into the living world. A farmhand, amplifying a dying magic. Brought together by a single story in a little tavern where flowers of all colors and sizes sprouted and burst forth from the floor and the ceiling and everywhere in between.

Audra & Jaik, a StoryCrafter and Farmhand, Story and Sword, both with bloodied, mysterious pasts, a past they cannot recall.

A Cage, A Prison of Gilded Scarlet & Gold.

Blood, carrion crows swarming dreams - no, nightmares, and wolves circling the forest they tread. War wolves, stone wolves. Monsters spun up from misspoken stories, bone creatures that are ravenous and hungry, wakeful skeletons.

Sacred trees, nightbirds. Rousing those who dream of more being given the gift of story and magic and Hope.

This is a novel about the human heart finding its match in the world and doing whatever she could to keep it, and I encourage every reader out there to see if the Lady StoryCrafter gets her heart's match by the end.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 Stars!

Let me tell you a story…

A story about a woman who feels abandoned, lost, and as though she’s not enough. Who has traveled for ages to try and find her path, only to get caught up with a man she’s just met, who seems to affect her powers in a way she never expected.

I cannot say enough good things about this book. Audra and Jaik’s tale was incredibly captivating, an adventure full of twists and turns, and I couldn’t get enough. Getting to experience their journey took me through all of the emotions, and all of the stories within the story were so well told. R. Dugan, thank you for sharing this story!

I give this book 4.5 stars. The characters, the storyline, the writing all went together beautifully in my head, and it was so easy to picture the locations, fights, and love between the characters. Can’t wait for book two!

This book was one epic journey. This is a world in which storytellers wield power with their words until one day, the it's just gone. Until one day, when Audra is able to finish a story in the presence of a farmhand named Jaik. And they set out to find why.

It's such a unique way of wielding magic! And the writing style is so beautiful, although it did require some time for me to adjust.

The story itself is intriguing. The plot twists just keep coming. And while it's worth it in end, sometimes it does feel too long to continue reading. I'm just glad I stuck to it and didn't leave it unfinished.

"But it was as if the pages of my life had been torn out and rewritten with a shaky hand that did not quite match the rest of the script."

When stories lost their endings Mithra-Sha fell into turmoil. When Audra meets Jaik she thinks she may have found part of the solution. Their quest for answers is full of adventure and danger, but the truth they find could be more than they can handle.

When I started reading this I was unsure if it was for me. But around a quarter of the way through I knew I had been wrong in my first judgements.
There were a few parts where I felt like it got a bit wordy and I just wanted to know what was going to happen, but that is a me being impatient problem more than a problem with the book.
But the ending...oh man, that was *chef's kiss* perfection.
4 stars because I did love this, but it's not one I'm likely to reread over and over. I will however be looking into other titles by the author.