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carolibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mnesgoda's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review.
Y’all. I knew as soon as I was approved for this book that it was going to take me on such an adventure, that I was going to be a different person at the end of it…and I was right.
Renee has a way with words that is untouched by any (most) in this day and age. Her writing is intricate and purposeful, and her characters are full of depth and life.
I fell hard and fast for Lionyra when I first met her in A Story Spun in Scarlet. An immigrant woman who made a name for herself as a prominent bakery owner, Lio was a kind soul to Addie-Cat (if you haven’t met Addie yet, I beg of you to) when she needed a friend. In A Tale Told by Traitors, we finally learn of the secrets Lio has been keeping, of who she was and is to her core.
This story is for folks who love adventures, titillating quests, pirates and love - both the family and romantic kinds. In A Tale Told by Traitors, we come to learn that there is beauty in our strengths forged by our own stubbornness…as well as strength in being soft.
Y’all. I knew as soon as I was approved for this book that it was going to take me on such an adventure, that I was going to be a different person at the end of it…and I was right.
Renee has a way with words that is untouched by any (most) in this day and age. Her writing is intricate and purposeful, and her characters are full of depth and life.
I fell hard and fast for Lionyra when I first met her in A Story Spun in Scarlet. An immigrant woman who made a name for herself as a prominent bakery owner, Lio was a kind soul to Addie-Cat (if you haven’t met Addie yet, I beg of you to) when she needed a friend. In A Tale Told by Traitors, we finally learn of the secrets Lio has been keeping, of who she was and is to her core.
This story is for folks who love adventures, titillating quests, pirates and love - both the family and romantic kinds. In A Tale Told by Traitors, we come to learn that there is beauty in our strengths forged by our own stubbornness…as well as strength in being soft.
beccaannekent's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’ve never read anything from this author before, but I absolutely love, love, love pirate themed books and I just KNEW I had to pick this up.
At first, it really took me a while to get into the story. It’s clear this author knows how to weave a world. But the complex history, lengthy number of characters (and their name pronunciation) threw me for the first 150 pages or so.
However, the author intricately combines each character story, development and a vivid world and I was sucked in. It’s not often I enjoy a book with romance as a main plot point without it venturing into the adult target audience, however this firmly remained in YA and yet still had me absolutely swooning. Found family is an absolute favourite trope of mine, and this had it in abundance. I could not get enough of these fantastic characters at all. Imagine my delight realising that although this is a standalone, there is an another released before this!
I want to thank NetGalley, Wave Walker Press, and Renee Dugan for the opportunity to read this as an ARC. The review is my own opinion and I have given this freely.
squids_can_read's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Lionyra has finally found her home. A bakery that she runs away from everything that she is running from. But when Lio helps a friend flee from the guard she is captured and handed over to her worst enemy, the head guard of the kingdom that she fled. Now she is on an adventure to escape the head guard, find her decoy, and leave the kingdom she fled far behind.
The characters in this book were really interesting. I thought that they were fully fleshed out and made sense on the page. They all had trauma but it didn’t seem to be their whole character. The interactions between the characters were really interesting and well-written. I thought that the romance was developed really well.
The world-building was where I had a problem. There was magic in the world but the way that the magic worked wasn’t explained at all. There wasn’t a description of how the kingdoms work or any of the history of the world that I thought would be important to my overall understanding of the book. I just wasn’t impressed with the world-building.
The actual writing of the book was pretty good.
Overall, I liked the romance of the book was really good but the world-building left much to be desired for me. But if you like romance with a bit of fantasy this would be right up your alley.
The characters in this book were really interesting. I thought that they were fully fleshed out and made sense on the page. They all had trauma but it didn’t seem to be their whole character. The interactions between the characters were really interesting and well-written. I thought that the romance was developed really well.
The world-building was where I had a problem. There was magic in the world but the way that the magic worked wasn’t explained at all. There wasn’t a description of how the kingdoms work or any of the history of the world that I thought would be important to my overall understanding of the book. I just wasn’t impressed with the world-building.
The actual writing of the book was pretty good.
Overall, I liked the romance of the book was really good but the world-building left much to be desired for me. But if you like romance with a bit of fantasy this would be right up your alley.
wendeedeedee36's review
4.5
I greatly enjoyed this story! It was a fun mix of Pirates of the Caribbean and The Prince Bride, but with a stronger FMC. Lio has been hiding from here past, running a bakery in Mithra-Sha until her attempts to help a friend escape capture winds up getting her caught instead, and her cover blown. Back in the hands of the woman who tortured her most of her life she unexpectedly finds kindness and camaraderie among the crew of the merchant ship chartering her back to Amere-Del. From there she makes a great escape only to be captured but pirates, finds herself on a epic journey to rescue her best friend who is also no in danger of being captured, and fighting feelings for the pirate captain who tricked her.
Lío has to find her courage again and to learn to stop running away, and her character development is beautifully written. Bash is the perfect cocky yet troubled MMC who very obviously falls first and hard, which I adore. The crews for both ships are incredibly fun and full of interesting stories which makes this an epic cast to follow. I would love to see more of Cam as he grows up, but I also really like the ending we were given.
Lío has to find her courage again and to learn to stop running away, and her character development is beautifully written. Bash is the perfect cocky yet troubled MMC who very obviously falls first and hard, which I adore. The crews for both ships are incredibly fun and full of interesting stories which makes this an epic cast to follow. I would love to see more of Cam as he grows up, but I also really like the ending we were given.
mackenzierm's review
5.0
Lionyra Vara is a humble immigrant baker living in Mithra-Sha, but she is not who she seems. She is the sole inheritor of the ruling regime in the neighbouring country of Amere-Del. She’s been captured and is being forced against her will to return to the land of her worst fears and nightmares. The life of her oldest friend hangs in the balance and their only hope for freedom is to outwit the people who seek to enslave them. Ryker Kassian is a legendary pirate who owes an insurmountable debt and sees the runaway Delina as his chance for ransom to obtain a lofty sum. By helping Lionyra hunt down her missing friend, Ryker seizes this opportunity as his only chance to fix everything he’s broken and protect his crew from death. With a ruthless regime seeking both of their heads, Lionyra and Ryker must choose where they stand as they shape their destinies.
I was surprised when I first began reading this novel that it was 1) not following the same characters as book one and 2) that it was not picking up where book one ended. Once I got over this initial surprise, I was fully invested in what lay before me. It’s an utterly fantastic story.
The writing style in A TALE TOLD BY TRAITORS is beautiful with a descriptive, intricate, and flowing prose. Dugan spins a story that you can’t help but gobble up. I adored that the overarching message, in my opinion, was about taking your own power back.
The characters within this story, both ones we knew from book one and the new ones we encounter here, are well written, filled with depth and unique voices. There are some characters that are less likable than others, but I think that’s the point. I adored the characters Lionyra meets over the course of this story and the relationships she develops with them. The theme of found family is strong here and I couldn’t have been happier for it. I loved Lionyra in A Story Spun in Scarlet (book one), so I adored getting to know her better within her own story. This story is told primarily in Lionyra’s POV but does have a few chapters in Ryker’s which was a nice balance.
The romance is a light touch but so endearing and swoon-worthy with more of an emotional connection than physical.
The plot is a series of adventures that kept me guessing from one moment to the next. It’s evenly paced with a steady level of tension. I adored the ending and will be keeping an eye out for whatever this author will write next!
I would like to thank Netgalley and the author, Renee Dugan, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.
I was surprised when I first began reading this novel that it was 1) not following the same characters as book one and 2) that it was not picking up where book one ended. Once I got over this initial surprise, I was fully invested in what lay before me. It’s an utterly fantastic story.
The writing style in A TALE TOLD BY TRAITORS is beautiful with a descriptive, intricate, and flowing prose. Dugan spins a story that you can’t help but gobble up. I adored that the overarching message, in my opinion, was about taking your own power back.
The characters within this story, both ones we knew from book one and the new ones we encounter here, are well written, filled with depth and unique voices. There are some characters that are less likable than others, but I think that’s the point. I adored the characters Lionyra meets over the course of this story and the relationships she develops with them. The theme of found family is strong here and I couldn’t have been happier for it. I loved Lionyra in A Story Spun in Scarlet (book one), so I adored getting to know her better within her own story. This story is told primarily in Lionyra’s POV but does have a few chapters in Ryker’s which was a nice balance.
The romance is a light touch but so endearing and swoon-worthy with more of an emotional connection than physical.
The plot is a series of adventures that kept me guessing from one moment to the next. It’s evenly paced with a steady level of tension. I adored the ending and will be keeping an eye out for whatever this author will write next!
I would like to thank Netgalley and the author, Renee Dugan, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.
cielosiluminado's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
wow. wow. wow.
i needed a couple days to write this because of how much i felt. i wanted to gather all my thoughts and emotions.
ok so when i first started reading, i did not really know what to expect. i went in completely blind and was caught off guard that it did not immediately pick off from where the first book left off, but as i read more, i was so impressed by this new story and the point of views. the new (and old characters) we meet and grieve, the relationships that flourish and end too soon, all the nerve wracking tension and breathtaking plot twists. it all captivated me from the start.
i needed a couple days to write this because of how much i felt. i wanted to gather all my thoughts and emotions.
ok so when i first started reading, i did not really know what to expect. i went in completely blind and was caught off guard that it did not immediately pick off from where the first book left off, but as i read more, i was so impressed by this new story and the point of views. the new (and old characters) we meet and grieve, the relationships that flourish and end too soon, all the nerve wracking tension and breathtaking plot twists. it all captivated me from the start.
Bastyan, the secret ingredient I had not expected … but one that had made the night among the sweetest I could recall in all my life.
bash and lio were so different. and despite being captor and captive, they were still so endearing. i rooted for them the entire time and fell in love with them, with their strengths and especially their weaknesses, the more i read. i fell in love with their friends, the sailors and pirates. i grieved with them and wanted nothing more than for them to be free and live their lives together.
this was such an amazing adventure. i laughed, swooned, cried, got angry, felt so much of everything. this was yet another phenomenal story and showcases renee dugan’s writing skills and excellence. never once was i bored, leaving me blown away with this great second installment. i cannot wait to see what’s next for this fantastical world and beloved characters.
special thanks to NetGalley and to R. Dugan (author) for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
tmwarner_1994's review
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I will say this everytime I read a pirate or nautical story: I’m a sucker for them. I really enjoyed a view into Lio’s story and background and how the book picks up after the events of her helping Audura escape. I was not expecting her to have the story that she does and I can’t help, but feel for her because she’s being forced to go back to the place she fled from. Then to watch her fall in love with the last person she wanted to is just so beautiful. I like how as we got further into the book we started to see how the story from the previous book is intertwined into this one. I fell in love with so many of these characters that didn’t get happy endings like they were supposed to and it hurt. I absolutely loved this. If I could have devoured this on audio I would have finished it much faster than I did. Absolutely recommend, but be sure to read the first book before reading this one ;)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Death of parent, and War
goodeyreads's review
slow-paced
5.0
Thank you to the author for an eARC.
A NEW FAV.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
This might be my new favorite book by Renee Dugan. I know the page count seems daunting but I love that this wasn’t split up into a duology. Give me those longer page counts and also give me a full story and this delivered on both counts. I enjoyed being back in this world and getting Lio’s story.
I loved the pirating aspects and all of the hidden identities. The slow burn was incredible and there were definitely some good and swoony moments. And the action was dark and intense. There’s a gruesome angle to this book that I thought fit the pirating theme well. I was clutching my pearls and gasping on the treadmill wondering who was actually going to make it to the end of the book.
I had such an enjoyable time reading this book. I love Renee Dugan’s writing style and the craft that goes into each tale. Lio had an amazing character arc and I was absolutely cheering for her when the final change happened. I loved how strong and supportive Ryker was and how stalwart he became about being in her corner. I am in love with this entire book.
Overall audience notes:
- Fantasy Romance
- Language: low
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: moderate – high
- Content Warnings: blood/gore depiction, loss of life, murder
A NEW FAV.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
This might be my new favorite book by Renee Dugan. I know the page count seems daunting but I love that this wasn’t split up into a duology. Give me those longer page counts and also give me a full story and this delivered on both counts. I enjoyed being back in this world and getting Lio’s story.
I loved the pirating aspects and all of the hidden identities. The slow burn was incredible and there were definitely some good and swoony moments. And the action was dark and intense. There’s a gruesome angle to this book that I thought fit the pirating theme well. I was clutching my pearls and gasping on the treadmill wondering who was actually going to make it to the end of the book.
I had such an enjoyable time reading this book. I love Renee Dugan’s writing style and the craft that goes into each tale. Lio had an amazing character arc and I was absolutely cheering for her when the final change happened. I loved how strong and supportive Ryker was and how stalwart he became about being in her corner. I am in love with this entire book.
Overall audience notes:
- Fantasy Romance
- Language: low
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: moderate – high
- Content Warnings: blood/gore depiction, loss of life, murder