I know that this is #2 but I need to go get #1. Thank you to Netgalley, for allowing me to read this ARC and introducing me to Renee Dugan. I downloaded it and its now 3:20 AM and here I am, writing this review because I had to stay up and finish it. I could not put it down. I had to see what happened. I was not prepared for the utter rollercoaster that this novel was. The characters are terrific, the story was not something that I expected, and the twists and turns? This is a new favorite. Hands down. Everyone needs to read it.

"A Tale Told By Traitors" by Renee Dugan is a gripping exploration of political intrigue and betrayal. Set in a world where loyalty is as volatile as shifting sand, Dugan masterfully weaves a narrative that delves deep into the complexities of trust and ambition. The book is distinguished by its nuanced characters, each embodying the moral ambiguities of their roles, and its richly constructed world that feels both immediate and historically textured.

Dugan’s prose is sharp and evocative, pulling readers into a labyrinth of plots and counterplots where the line between friend and foe blurs. The narrative’s strength lies in its ability to keep readers on edge, questioning the true motivations of each character while unraveling a plot filled with unexpected twists. Overall, "A Tale Told By Traitors" is a thought-provoking and engaging read that offers a fresh take on the themes of power and betrayal.

A beautiful written story! A beautiful fantasy world! Beautiful written characters!
You will be going on an adventure and you will like it ;)

Thank you NetGalley and the author for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

A Tale Told By Traitors, the second story in the Tales of Wonder and Woe universe, is nearly everything I could have hoped for in a book. With its dynamic characters, swashbuckling adventures, political intrigue, and heart-wrenching moments between found family, I found myself picking up to read more in every spare moment I had.

We're first introduced to our protagonist in A Story Spun in Scarlet, the first in the series. Lio is owner of The Secret Ingredient, a bakery in the town of Krylan near the border of her home country. We know she immigrated, but it isn't until she's captured by city guards for her hand in a disruption in town that we discover she is someone of great importance to the regime currently ruling in Amere-Del, a responsibility she had been running from most of her life. With her past finally catching up to her, she's dragged back against her will aboard a merchant vessel, starting her off on an adventure I could hardly predict from one moment to the next.

Every character is unique, and you find a reason to love almost every single one. I had a hard time deciding who was my favorite, but I do think Gydeon won out in the end. His kindhearted countenance and his proficiency at healing compared with what he was willing to do for Siu, gave him a level of complexity I loved. There were so many times I feared for the two of them because I was praying they'd get their deserved ending.

Everyone has experienced hardship of some kind, and as we learn of the trials and tribulations they've experienced, we come to understand how it is these people deal with trauma and loss in their own ways. The stark contrast between how Lio and Tristah's lives diverged is the perfect illustration of this. Although raised under the same tactics at the hands of Lucretzia, the complexity of their stories, of how they chose to move forward with one running and the other staying to fix the country they loved, was a great reminder that there is no single way to process or respond to trauma. You felt for them both, and understood why they made the choices they did, and neither one is really painted in a bad light for doing so (at least not for long).

The world is rich with culture and every place we stop along the way is distinctly different from each other. I'm excited to see what other stories are told within this universe and fully intend to go back to read the first in the series!

The writing was beautiful. The story was interesting and well written. I loved the characters and the concept of the pirates and the baker who comes into her own. I'll definitely be on the lookout for more from this author.

Thank you Wave Walker Press and NetGalley for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. My review is my own and not influenced by others.

A tale told by traitors is about a female Liondra Vara who isn’t what she seems to be. She disguise herself as a humble immigrant baker so no one finds out she is the true inheritor of the ruling regime in the neigboring country. We follow her in a quest when she has to go back to the land which she fears. On her journey a pirate will help her, Ryker, who’s only change to fix everything will be in his hands, to save his crem from slaughter.

I’ve read the first book of this installment and was suprises how much I liked that so I was exited to read this earc as well. For me this book didn’t work, where I didn’t mind the chaotic writing style in the first book, it didn’t get me in this book. There was happening too much and it overwhelmed me while reading it.

The A Tale told by traitors is an absolutely captivating read that left me spellbound from beginning to end. The author masterfully creates a rich, immersive world where magic and adventure leap off the page, and the depth of detail in the world-building is truly remarkable.

The protagonist, is a beautifully complex character whose journey of self-discovery and courage resonates deeply. Her growth throughout the story is both believable and inspiring, making her a heroine you can’t help but root for. The supporting characters are just as well-crafted, each bringing their own unique charm and depth to the narrative.

The plot is filled with twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. Just when I thought I had figured out what would happen next, the author skillfully surprised me. The themes of friendship, sacrifice, and the fight between good and evil are woven seamlessly into the narrative, adding layers of meaning that will leave readers pondering long after they turn the last page.

Overall, is a must-read for fantasy lovers. I can’t wait for the next installment!

This is one of those books that can be intimidating by sheer size alone. If that were the case, I would have missed out. The characters were very real and draw you in, making you care about them, their interactions and their fates. We need more!
The plot was well developed and engaging enough to keep me guessing.

Thank you to Net Galley, Renee Dugan and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for a review.

I absolutely loved this book! The plot line was amazing and I loved the main characters so much! The story was so good and I could not put it down!

This book is really good. It kept me on my toes the whole time from the beginning of the book till the end of the book. It was fantastic. Well developed characters, meaningful relationships so much tension and gripping Plot twists here and there. I just loved it.

This book kept its claws in me since I started reading it. Typical of this genre, there's quite a bit of world-specific lingo that I had to catch up on. And maybe that's my fault since I did not read the first book. Overall, I eventually understood what each term meant, and I agree that this book can be a standalone for anyone. I was convinced, though, while I read this that I needed to read the first book since it sounds like the first book's character has occasional big events that happen throughout this one (I'm not sure what the timelines are for each). I like the way this author writes and the pacing of it all.

The characters were great, although given the description I could barely remember, I was a little on edge most of the beginning of the book waiting for the other shoe to drop. I liked the twists, expected some of them and others I did not. The character development felt mostly natural.

The main character was written so well that I was stressed with her most of the time as the plot advanced. I could feel her struggles. I do think her balance of anger and hotheadedness may have been a little off, but I can't figure out how to put it into words. And maybe that's just where I differ with characters on a personal level, so it could be a personal problem that other readers could disregard lol.

The romance... idk it didn't do a ton for me. Like, it's nice but lacking something. But that's ok because I feel like this book stands out more for its fantasy/adventure aspects.

I feel like how an author ties up loose ends (or doesn't) at the end of the story really matters to how I feel about a book, and I was satisfied with how it ended.

PIRATES! ADVENTURE! A RANSOM! A PAST THAT FINDS YOU!
Do I need to say more?!

"A Tale Told by Traitors" by R. Dugan, the second installment in the Tales of Wonder series, is a captivating read that had me hooked from the very first sentence. Though the beginning unfolds at a slower pace, it serves to build a rich atmosphere, setting the stage for a plot full of twists and turns. These twist and turns kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next . This is my first book by R. Dugan, and I’m thoroughly impressed.

The story started off with some excitement and kept going. The characters were compelling and the MC was written wonderfully with a sharp edge and a gooey center. The writer's main strength is their characters. Each one had me falling in love or hating them (depending on the storyline) and their relationships were beautiful and felt real. Overall, great book and would recommend.

A Tale Told by Traitors is exactly what it sounds like, a perfect blend of adventure with high stakes on the high seas. The story takes you right in the thick of it. A great beginning that gave action movie vibes, reading this made me feel like I was beside the characters living through the challenges and laughs. You have 1. Found family 2. Taking back your life and 3. Facing the past and living with it.
It made me anxious at times but I enjoyed how realistic the characters were. Yes a fictional world but with real life feelings, not everything can be fixed with charisma alone

What a wild adventure! It had a slow pace to begin with, but I'm glad I did not walk away. Once I was roped into the enthralling adventure of the voyage to Amere-Del I was hooked and wanted to see what was going to happen. Then, the twists and turns that followed kept me on the edge of my seat. Renee Dugan has a definite way with words. I thought this was a well crafted story. I especially loved the romance and redemption element.

Renee Dugan’s A Tale Told by Traitors is a captivating adventure filled with intrigue, piracy, and unexpected twists. From the opening page, the reader is swept away into a world of high stakes and perilous journeys. The relentless pacing ensures that the story maintains a constant sense of urgency, making it difficult to put down.

While the main characters are intriguing, it is the supporting cast that truly shines. Their complex relationships and personal growth arcs elevate the narrative, creating a sense of camaraderie and investment in their fates. Dugan’s world-building is exceptional, with intricate details that bring the story to life.

The seamless integration of elements from the previous book enriches the overall narrative, creating a cohesive and satisfying reading experience. The novel explores profound themes of power, resilience, and the complexities of the past with depth and nuance.

A Tale Told by Traitors is a masterful blend of action, character development, and storytelling. It is a truly immersive experience that leaves the reader eagerly anticipating the next installment.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a digital review copy.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

I somehow missed this was a connected standalone when I requested it lol. Either way, this moved at a pace that was hard to put down and I really enjoyed this.

There are pirates, an adventure, a baker that has to deal with pirates, pirate cities, a ransom and so much more - the makings for such a fun time.

Personally, I found these characters to be so flat. I couldn't get as invested in them as I wanted to be. I did feel as if there was character growth and development, a couple characters are definitely a different people by the end of the book, but I just could not get invested in that transition.

The plot was definitely twisting and kept me reading (at a very quick pace). You're constantly on the edge of your seat, waiting to see what's going to happen next and what each twist is going to mean for the next part of this adventure.

And if you love a found family, a wonderful mixture of misfits, you will love these characters. I would highly recommend this if you're one of those people that loves the fun and fascinating side characters. This is full of them! And I was definitely more invested in them (but I really am a sucker for a good side character, as I think we all are).

Overall, I had a fun time reading this book, but I just wished the main characters could've hooked me more. This had amazing side characters, a cool environment, and a twist and captivating plot. And it's an interconnected fantasy standalone (I don't think I've ever seen that before)!

Thanks to NetGalley for the digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! My review on Goodreads is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) will be up at the end of the month with my monthly wrap-up.

A Tale Told by Traitors is such a good book. It's story is immaculate and super well written. I rated this book 4 stars because I loved the characters. Renee Dugan really knew how to put all their personalities together and create a beautiful story.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

Pirate adventures, found family, political intrigue, and super sweet love story! This book checked all the boxes and was a fun, fast paced story. The timing was perfect, the writing was enjoyable, and the plot/world/characters was original. Looking forward to future stories in this series as well as going to read the first book, I’ve gotta know Audra’s story!