Renee Dugan‘s novel, A Story Spun in Scarlet, is full of ambition, charm, and a touch of enchantment. The premise is unquestionably intriguing: a world in which stories have lost their endings, and two unlikely heroes must solve the secret underlying these phenomena. The plot revolves around Audra, a storyteller dealing with rejection and self-doubt, and Jaik, a farmhand who has a special skill that enhances the power of stories. They start on a quest of adventure, peril, and self-discovery.

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.

One of the book’s finest qualities is its narrative, which contains some truly compelling scenes. The enigma surrounding the broken storylines and underlying stakes in Mithra-Sha is intriguing. Dugan‘s world building is inventive and thorough, transporting readers to a country of broken stories and rich tradition. Certain story twists and moments of tension kept me interested, anxious to see how Audra and Jaik‘s journey would play out. The story also has emotional depth, as it explores topics such as purpose, connection, and the power of storytelling.

However, while the plot has some merit, the writing style detracts from the entire experience. The text is definitely rich, featuring vivid details and beautiful uses of phrase. Unfortunately, this excessive flourish frequently made the text difficult to read. The quantity of one-sentence paragraphs disrupted the flow, making it difficult to remain engaged with the story. While these short paragraphs may have been intended to generate drama or contemplation, they often came off as disconnected and overused, disrupting the story’s pace and alienating me from the characters.

In terms of characters, the relationship between Audra and Jaik is one of the book’s highlights. Their developing bond feels palpable and genuine, with moments of vulnerability and connection that add warmth to the plot. Despite this well-crafted interplay, I couldn’t fully identify with either character. Audra‘s psychological troubles and Jaik‘s unshakable nature are intriguing on paper, but they did not elicit a strong emotional response. Perhaps this was a result of the fragmented literary style, which made it difficult to immerse myself in their inner lives.

To summarize, A Story Spun in Scarlet is a mixed bag. It excels in its innovative premise and intriguing relationship dynamics, but falls short in execution. The extravagant writing style, while rich, sacrifices readability and emotional connection in favor of beauty. This book may appeal to those who like sumptuous prose and the elegance of one-sentence paragraphs. Others may consider it a squandered opportunity to tell a truly unique story. It’s a fascinating read, but it left me wanting more clarity and emotional depth.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

About Renee Dugan

Renee Dugan is an Indiana-based fantasy author who grew up reading fantasy books, chasing stray cats, and writing stories full of dashing heroes and evil masterminds.

Now with over a decade of professional editing, administrative work, and writing every spare second under her belt, she has authored THE CHAOS CIRCUS, a portal fantasy novel, and THE STARCHASER SAGA, an epic high fantasy series.

Living with her husband, son, and not-so-stray cats in the magical Midwest, she continues to explore new worlds and spends her time in this one encouraging and helping other writers on their journey to fulfilling their dreams.

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