This is a fantasy book about pirates, romance, and treachery. These are all fantastic elements to a story, in my opinion.
Overall, this book just wasn't paced in a way that engaged me, personally, and felt some elements could have been developed better. Regardless, many parts of this book were enjoyable to read.

I will start with the parts I enjoyed. Even though the female main character was definitely 'badass' during many moments in the book, it was nice to see a female protagonist that embraces a path other than that of the warrior, with her love of baking and denounciation of violence. Additionally, I did not predict the plot twist 20% in, and the other developments at 50% were also well thought out.

However, it gets 3 stars from me for a few reasons. It seems to forget that it is a standalone book at times, assuming other readers have read the previous standalone and must therefore be familiar with Addie, who is aluded to randomly in a way that makes little sense for a first time reader. I also think this is why the magic system was not fleshed out in this book or even explained at all.
The world building isn't my favourite, and I had to rely heavily on the map at times. I think that could have been done better. Also, many moments aren't developed enough to have any impact, mainly the deaths of characters who had little relevance other than to show how much of a bad time the FMC was having. The FMC's alias was also revealed before I really knew her actual name, so I spent a lot of the book confused when they kept calling her different names.

Overall, an enjoyable read that I personally am too cynical for. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this ARC.

If you have read A Story Spun In Scarlet you will be delighted to recognise characters here but boy does this quickly become a true adventure story.
Lio has escaped her previous role only to find herself literally being dragged back but along the way she meets Bash, a pirate with a twinkle in his eye when he looks her way. Yet Lio knows he cannot help her escape from her vicious captor or can he ? Bash has his own secrets and they are ones that will see Lio on yet another pirate ship and this time she's about to turn the tables and take back control one step at a time !
Absolutely fabulous and very surprising as past meets present to give the reader a meandering and very engrossing story. The characters are fun to read about, their antics are truly a hoot and yet there's depth and emotions here that just grab the reader and don't let go. I thoroughly recommend this book and heartily look forward to reading whatever the author comes up with next.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

I devoured Renee Dugan's first book in this series, "A Story Spun in Scarlet", so I really took my time with this one. I savored it. I let it settle into my bones and my soul. Like the way good bread has to be evenly cooked in the oven, I let this story envelop me in it's warmth, its aches, its pain, and its triumphs. And I walked away better for it.

Set in the same world as "A Story Spun in Scarlet", we now follow Lio's story - and it's a rocky one. But my gosh, isn't she beautiful? Her strength, her kindness, her passion -- for life, for her loved ones, for her hobbies. Lio is an inspiration.

I could gush about this story for hours and hours, but I could never full encapsulate the sheer rainbow of emotions one feels reading it for the first time themselves, so what are you waiting for? Grab this now and sink into your coziest armchair with some home cocoa and a strudel - it's going to be a lifechanging voyage.

I really did enjoy this book. There are a few things that kept it from being a 5/5 for me, but honestly, they are nitpicky and don’t change how much I enjoyed the book. I didn’t read the first book, so some of the things that bothered me may have been addressed in the first.

The beginning was a bit slow for me, but once it got going, it didn’t stop from there. Mostly, I think the slowness wasn’t a pacing issue but the beginning being very descriptive and wordy. I don’t think this was necessarily a bad thing, it just took a bit for me to get going with the story.

Lio as a character was very intriguing to me. She sometimes would do things that would make me scratch my head, but as I got to know her better, it made sense as there is a character that serves as a foil to her. She definitely has a large amount of growth in some ways, but honestly, to me she just seems like a good person. The life she ran away from was horrifying in its abuse, and you get to see some of that in the present day. Her foil in the book also experienced this same abuse, and I loved seeing how they reacted differently to essentially what was the same life experience.

I absolutely loved Ryker. I loved the few chapters we got from his point of view. He is doing what he thinks is best for his crew/family and is a pirate with a conscience. His family of pirates were also wonderful, and flawed. They felt like real people, living in a real, broken world. Their found family experience was as wonderful as it was heartbreaking.

The magic in this world isn’t really explained well, but this may be an issue for me since I haven’t had a chance to read book 1 yet. It also plays a very small role in the book as a whole. Since the magic wasn’t a big part of the story, I didn’t mind that it was only briefly mentioned or seen.

There is a lot of abuse seen by a large number of characters. But you get to see how they navigate it, how they use their found family for support and how they get their power back. The romance that is present does not overshadow the story, and IMO, well done.

While I enjoyed the plot, I loved the characters. There were a large number of them, but they felt individual and I cared, and worried, about what was going to happen to them next. Have fun reading!

Wow! I did not expect to love it as much I did. I think the pacing of the book was great and I wasn't even able to put it down, it really is a page turner. This was my first book from Renee Dugan and didn't know it was a series and would for sure read the books before this. This book is packed of good stuff from thrilling actions with pirate ships, on how the romance was set as a perfect slow-burn, and how detailed the worldbuilding is which makes reading more immersive. Thank you to NetGalley and Wave Walker Press for this ebook, I highly recommend it and couldn't wait for the next one to come!

This is epic fantasy set in a world full of political turmoil, conflicts of loyalty, and personal growth. The main character in the story, Lionyra Vara, also known as Alyona Graven, tries to go through her past life as a lost heir to a royal family while working out a new path for herself in the city of Krylan as a baker. The personal stakes that are so complex, and the interwoven alliances and betrayals underlying this narrative, hint at a deeply layered storytelling in which every choice comes with weighty emotional and political consequences.

A Tale Told by Traitors tells the story of Lionyra Vara, a baker immigrant in Krylan, leading a life as humble as her bread-yet she had been born into tangled intrigue of royal blood, politics, and rebellion. When soldiers and a familiar nemesis, the Pale Viper, come hunting for her, Lionyra-or Alyona Graven-is thrown back into her role as Delina, lost heir to Amere-Del. The story weaves her through struggles with her identity, the looming threat of a royal war, and the hankering for personal freedom. As the political tensions between Amere-Del and Krylan build up, Lionyra has to decide whether to heed the call of her birthright or to run once more.

Lionyra Vara (Alyona Graven): A strong protagonist, who constantly fights between her past and present self. Her turmoil, forged through trauma and the need for serenity, instead adds even more depth to the events at hand. The change from princess to baker was an overt representation of her deep-seated need to be free; still, she retains both acumen and fighting spirit. Her motivations come from a mix of guilt and self-preservation, but it is how she relates to the past-especially her sister Tristah-that remains poised in the balance as an emotional counterweight.

Lucretzia Nore: Pale Viper is a very villainous antagonist who served Lionyra's family. She is the ghost from the past, very hauntingly so. Her brutal methods and loyalty to the Del reveal deep psychological involvement with power and control. She tangles up the plot and forces the hand of Lionyra into the life she ran from.

Tristah: Lionyra's sister, much like a twin, though not seen during the early chapters, looms large in the memory and motivation of the protagonist. She speaks to the familial bond that ties Lionyra to her earlier life.

Audra Jashowin: An elusive, powerful Storycrafter, Audra is responsible for helping push the action forward. Added to this, her living stories and fugitive state mean layers of mystery are thrown on top of an already fragile political situation.

Minor Characters: Supporting characters, such as the redheaded Mithran soldier who captured Lionyra and the sea captain Jularius, give depth and suspense to the impending tale. They function not only in antagonistic roles but also as reflections of the prevailing structures in society.

Perhaps above all, identity is the whirlwind of emotions that wracks her in the throes of attempting to come to terms with herself, and there is Alyona, the lost heir; then there is Lionyra, the free baker. The poignancy that fills the novel speaks to a greater question of fate and free choice.

If the title is anything to go by, it says much about the nature of conflict that follows through the book. It stitches betrayal right into the tenuousness of the relationships-be it Lionyra abandoning her royal duties or the betrayals stuck in her past. These interlink with motifs of loyalty, especially how far one will go for family, duty, and freedom.

Almost, the backdrop of Amere-Del and Mithra-Sha is permeated with political tension. What urges beings like Lucretzia Nore and Sha Lothar-the motivation-continuous, to manipulate or control those beneath them in their rank is a very strong one: power.

Lush and evocative, the writing of R. Dugan is a feast for one's senses. The opening scene, full of sensory input-from blazing fireworks to the smell of singed clothes-drops the reader into Lionyra's world. The prose in Dugan is figurative, full of evolving metaphors and descriptions that give life to both emotional and physical landscapes. Events flutter between points of introspection and action as it balances internal conflict with high-stake tension. The early chapters are slow-moving and well-meaning, dealing with the personal growth of Lionyra in facing her ghosts.

Overall, A Tale Told By Traitors is that sort of sweeping epic for which one reads fantasy epics: identity, power, and betrayal writ large. R. Dugan is strongest at character work, giving Lionyra that psychic depth which defines a new generation of modern protagonists. Richly constructed, Amere-Del boasts layers of mythology, political intrigue, and personal stakes that promise to drag readers into its depths.

Lovers of character and world detail the likes of which comes from a Robin Hobb or a Patrick Rothfuss will find much to love herein from Mr. Dugan.

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆
Writing Style: ★★★★☆
Characters: ★★★★★
World-Building: ★★★★☆

"My life’s tale ended—and began—with fireworks."

“I have no people. Lionyra Vara straddled two worlds and belonged to neither.”

“Everything will be precisely as it was."

“I would not give you Audra Jashowin if it meant I could disappear like a shadow from this city forever.”

The plot behind this book was fantastic. Lots of twists and turns to get to the final result. I loved following Lio's journey and seeing she grew and developed.

That said, there is so much detail on every page that it kind of bogs down the story for me. Reading this was like pulling teeth. And that could very well be a me problem. I am very easily distracted and too much detail sends me spiraling, so then I have to re-read to remember what's going on. However, since that is a personal problem, I'm not counting it against the book. Because, like I said, the story was great.

I loved almost all of the characters. I loved the setting. I loved the pirate-y feel. I loved the found family, the forced proximity, the hidden identities. I even loved all the little tie-ins to the first novel that connected the story without relying on the first too much. I'm just sad it was so hard for me to get through.

What an epic, swashbuckling adventure! There were falls from grace and redemption for just about every main character! And what comes with that is sometimes a slow start, which is what this felt like for me. For about the first 40% of the book I had to really push myself to read more and then when I got super invested (for the remainder of the book), I started to forget some of the finer details because I felt a little bogged down in some of the descriptions.

The characters are well-developed, with each one feeling like they had a real story to share and real life to continue living. The character's choices made sense and I appreciated how well Dugan relayed the reasons (through thoughts, conversations, and interactions) behind those choices. The plot definitely felt like an epic adventure and at some points I wish it was a little bit shorter in spots because I fear some people may decide it's too much, even though the ending of the story is totally worth it. The villains were as unlikeable as the found family was likeable, and for many different reasons (violence, dirty deals, cruelty, inaction, opposing political views, etc.)

I was expecting more magic from the tale, especially with the opening of Addie and her tale. I thought magic would be more involved in the adventure than it actually was. It's okay that it's not, because at the end their is brief mention of her again and additional magic involved, but it felt like magic in this world really only bookended the story, as if it started and ended it and wasn't used or thought of much for the actual adventure.

The writing was well done and engaging. I didn't find myself having to go back and reread something again for clarity. The imagery and descriptive writing was immersive. I appreciated the first person point of views because it allowed me to really feel what the characters were experiencing. I had no problem imagining what was happening, and something was ALWAYS happening.

The plot reads as an epic adventure might. We go through the hero's journey and more! It is packed with action and appropriate pacing. I never felt like I was getting left behind or skipping ahead without gaining what information I needed to continue.

Fun read, definitely reccommend to anyone who is looking for an adventure with a found family and a little bit of romance mixed in!

Have you ever finshed a book and felt sad that it was over?

Yep. I definitely need time after this one.

It. Was. Epic.

A Tale Told by Traitors follows on from the first book, yet the the story reads, and could be, a standalone in its own right.
There's plenty of nods to the first book, and I was absolutely delighted that we saw more of characters that we meet on the first adventure. New readers could pick this up quite easily.

The story follows Lionyra Vara, a Baker who is not all that she seems and is hiding a past that catches up with her.
Taken against her will, she ends up on a ship, bound to face her worst nightmares. She also, somehow, needs to find someone who shares her past and previous escape before her captor finds them.

Things take a turn when Lionyra falls into the clutches of a pirate captain and his crew.
Lio suddenly becomes a ransom to pay the pirates debt and to save them from slaughter.
But as they make the journey together and relationships grow, it wont be that easy.

New plans are made and paths forged through dangerous pirate territories, navigating through cities and towns were revolution threatens. Danger creeps in like the tide and choices need to be made in order to shape a destiny for not only Lio and the crew, but the country they call home.

Honestly, I'm absolutely in love with The Tales of Wonder amd Woe series generally.
It's beautifully written, layered, wonderfully detailed and the characters grow.

There were plenty of on-the-edge-of -your -seat moments; I've gasped out loud, got teary eyed, (the author managed to break my heart on several occasions, and if a reader can care that much about the characters than that is just great writing) laughed and generally just felt so immersed in this world that I can't wait to go back.

It was like watching many threads come together and pieces fall into place. With a happy number of plot twists to add ti the entertainment.

It's fantasy like this that reminds me why I love to read.
My only regret is that I put pressure on myself to read quicker as this was an arc. I would love to read it for the 1st time again. ♡

Don't read if you want a short fantasy. You will need to buckle up, get feet first into this adventure and let it sweep you away.

I miss the characters already...

R. Dugan has once again hit the mark with her swashbuckling second instalment of her Tales Of Wonder And Woe series, “A Tale Told By Traitors”, and I couldn’t be happier to share this with you all!

This book is one for all of us who loved pirates more than princes, who daydream more of Captain Hook than Peter Pan, and especially those of us who love a damsel who instead tends to cause the distress rather than wait to be saved from it. The story read beautifully and created truly stunning visuals in my mind throughout, a mesmerising expansion of the world we were introduced to in the first book of the series.

I don’t think I have ever been more trusting and in love with a cast of characters as I was throughout this tale. A story of found-family right to the core with the perfect tease of romance, I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend read than this. A tangle of secret identities, unstable kingdoms and - did I mention? - the most captivating pirates you could ever meet. The plot was enthralling and the pacing had me racing to get back to the book as soon as I could, with the writing style truly allowing the magic to unfold before your very eyes - I’m almost convinced Renee Dugan may very well be a Storycrafter in the flesh! I really enjoyed the banter and dynamics between all of the characters intertwined amongst the high-stakes action to take you on a beautifully balanced journey, and after finishing this book you will be dreaming of daring high-seas adventures for days.

Thank you to R. Dugan and NetGalley for allowing me advanced access to review this book. I can’t wait for you all to give this one a go, as this gained a 5/5 star rating from me and a pre-order for a physical copy as I enjoyed it so much and I cannot wait to hear your thoughts on it too!

Renee has to be one of the most consistent writers I’ve had the privilege to read! Her stories never fail to draw you in and hug your soul. I’ve said this before but she has a way with words that I’ll always cheer for. This book is amazing, well-paced and full of feelings! As always, looking forward to more stories from one of my favorite authors.

Lovely book and great storytelling. The characters kept you engaged, the plot kept moving, and the character development was on par. I enjoyed reading this book so much and I recommend it for fantasy readers.

This story is the second in the a series of standalones that I have only read this of. This meant that I judged it as a standalone which I found it falling flat.

The MCs are very intresting. Our FMC has a love of baking which is literally thrown into EVERYTHING. Every description is related to food/ baking that slowly became to feel unnecessary and made scenes of action/ tension seem silly.

The MMC was intresting and I enjoyed his POV however it was jarring every time it was introduced because he had approximately 10 of the 80 or so chapters. He had a unique voice and perspective but it added details that weren't generally necessary for the overall plot.

The book opens with a large info dump that was a lot to begin with and weighed down the action sequence. The short chapters make the story paced paced, hooky final lines making you intrested to find what next.

My biggest issue was the nicknames/ alternate names that every single member of this enormous cast of characters had. We met people in the first section we never saw again and yet learnt their names like they were incredibly important as well as the nickname that was generally unrelated to their actual name and hard to keep track of.

The story takes place over the course of months and includes a lot of travelling that gives some context to the world that is explained little past the map. I felt the story would have benefitted from making the setting smaller.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC

4.5 ⭐️

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to see the ARC for this book as I really enjoyed A Story Spun in Scarlet, the first book in the series. I'm not going to lie though - it took me a second to get back into the world and figure out what's happening. But after the first chapter, I could not put the book down. I also went into this blind, not knowing that it was the story of Lionyra Vara.

What I loved:
- The world building is fantastic. You get such feel of the places the characters travel through.
- The characters were just so likable. I don't think I disliked one character in this entire book and that's saying a lot.
- Found family.
- The banter between the FMC and MMC. I appreciated that there was no third act breakup.

What could be improved:
Honestly, none that I can think of right now.

I highly recommend this book and series. It's fantastic.

Perfect for Halloween coming up. Loved this and all of the plot. The book and characters seem very well thought out and well planned.

This was such a pleasant read! The world building felt rich and vivid. I loved the unraveling of the characters backstories and secrets! This had me so invested through our the entire story.

Every character felt unique in their own way and every character had their own hard backstory that seemed to have a part in who they were and how they reacted to situations which felt so relatable. Also shows how a similar trauma can present in different ways with different people so that was something i liked seeing in a story! My only minus point was that i felt at some points that the characters frlt just a little flat. But it didn't necessarily bother me! It just made it slightly less easy to connect with the characters in certain parts of the story.

If you love pirate adventures, politics, reluctant partnerships, a romance sub plot and in general just amazing fast phased fantasy this book might be perfect for you!

Thank you Netgalley, Renee Dugan & the publisher for this eARC copy in exchange of an honest review

Admittedly, due to life, this book took me a bit longer to read. That being said, I did consume about half of it using the "read along" feature where a computerized voice reads the text. Normally, I'm not able to stand computerized voices but this book was so well written that it didn't hinder how captivated I was by the story itself. Drama, action/violence, heartbreak, loss, and happiness. Found family, pirates, "royalty". Super slow burn but I actually love that it's another book with virtually no spice at all. The plot and character development throws you for a loop sometimes. Such a great story and I hope to get a physical copy when I can!

I recently attempted to read A Tale Told by Traitors, but unfortunately, I was unable to finish it. While the premise intrigued me, I found the writing style to be rather chaotic, which made it hard to follow the plot. As a reader, I found myself constantly re-reading sections just to try and piece together what was happening, which detracted from the overall flow of the story. Ultimately, A Tale Told by Traitors wasn’t the right fit for me, but I think it could still appeal to readers who are more comfortable with unconventional or fragmented storytelling.

Oh!my!gosh! This was amazing!

pirates, an adventure and a baker the surprising marker of a good time.
The plot kept me reading (almost too fast!) You're constantly on the edge of your seat wondering, waiting to see what's going to happen next and what each twist is going to mean for the next part of this adventure.
If you love a found family, misfits type of vibe you will love the characters in this book.

“Some people heal by helping others. Some have to heal themselves first.”

“A Tale Told by Traitors,” by R. Dugan

I loved this book so much! I liked book one of the Tale of Wonder and Woe series a little bit more because of the uniqueness of the story tellers but this book was amazing as well. I love reading about pirates and magic. There were so many tropes that I love in this book like kidnapped, secret identity, enemies to lovers, etc. the characters were absolutely perfect, even all the side characters. The romance was tense and sweet at the same time. This is definitely one of my favorite books of the year, so good. 5 out of 5 stars.

-Pirates
-Magic
-Kidnapped
-Secret Identity
-Enemies To Lovers

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

“…a little kindness makes for a heap of loyalty. A little cruelty makes for fear… and fear goes both ways.”

“You always have to be a little afraid of what’s afraid of you.”