I’m very surprised I’m giving this a lower rating, but it just wasn’t for me. Mostly, it felt like everything was just underdeveloped. Even though all of the characters are processing some complex traumas, they somehow felt superficial. I didn’t connect to anybody or get invested in any of their relationships. Also, to me, there wasn’t much world building when it came to Shanandoah. I know the story was inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia, but it kind of felt like that’s as far as the development went. It read more like a YA novel, sometimes even more like a middle grade book. It’s not bad by any means, I just went in expecting to love it and it ended up being just OK. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an eARC of this book for review from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

This novel is a contemporary re-imagining of portal fantasy genre following children who slip through to a fairy tale land, and the adults they become. It is sweet and funny, yet tackles the horrors of the modern world. Delving too much into the plot would involve spoilers, so I'll just say that there are fascinating characters, consistent and imaginative world building, and beautiful prose. The ending left me a little unsatisfied, which may have been by design. Still, it was a lovely adventure.

4.5 stars, rounding up

"Fair warning: if you've never believed any impossible things before, now is a good time to start." In The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer, Jeremy and Rafe went missing in the woods of West Virginia as teenagers, only to mysteriously reappear six months later with no explanation for where they were or how they had survived. Fifteen years pass and the two men are estranged, and must come together to help Emilie find her sister who vanished in the very same forest.

In this adult fairy tale inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia and Lord of the Flies, Shaffer has crafted a fast paced adventure that begins in West Virginia and ends up in a fantastical land called Shannandoah (not to be confused with Shenandoah). The dialogue is sharp and funny, and the descriptions of the magical land are vivid and enchanting. In addition, I enjoyed the yearning and romance between Jeremy and Rafe (we love a queer fairytale). Each of the characters feel fully developed with unique and distinct personalities and drives. Overall, this is a very easy and quick read.

I struggled a bit with the Storyteller chapters that are interspersed in between the story. I felt like it broke up the action for me and felt jarring to hop in and out of the plot, provide background and character introductions without weaving them into the story, and were a bit heavy handed in directing the reader's attention to where the author wanted it to be. I understood why they were included by the end, but it still took me out of the reading experience.

Another thing I would note is the need for a content or trigger warning page at the start of the book. While this is clearly described as an adult fairy tale, there are intense adult themes as well that are not clear before reading, including homophobia, child abuse, physical abuse, institutionalization, death of a parent, kidnapping, and suicide. Readers should be aware of these before starting.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was interesting. It has really great potential, but I think it fell a little short. I did like all of the characters, but they seemed a bit too immature. Also I really did not enjoy the interruptions from the storyteller. They totally killed the flow.

I really liked the premise and how the characters meet and the mystery of it all. I also really enjoyed the world and the magic of it all, but it just needed to be more fleshed out.

I feel like this needed to be longer and this felt way too YA. I would honestly probably not recommend it, but I wouldn’t steer someone away from it either

“All books are magic. An object that can take you to another world without even leaving your room? A story written by a stranger and yet it seems they wrote it just for you or to you? Loving and hating people made out of ink and paper, not flesh and blood? Yes, books are magic. Maybe even the strongest magic there is.” One of the best quotes I’ve taken out a book maybe EVER 🥹

I cannot even express to you how much I loved The Wishing Game. So I went into this one with hopes of a possible book of the year for me. Maybe I set the bar a bit too high.

This was an enjoyable read for sure. But it just didn’t grab me as j the same way and was a tad too fantasy-ish for me. I loved it in the beginning. The lost boys. The missing girls found. The friendships. But it ended up being just ok for me. Still an enjoyable read that I would recommend!

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House Publishing, and the author for the complimentary copy.

Thank you Random House Publishing & NetGalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The beginning of this book had me so excited. I was expecting an epic fantasy world with whimsical and magical fairytale vibes. Once you actually get to the fairytale part, the story falls flat. Others described it as more telling than showing, and I agree with that completely. It didn’t feel like there was much world building, you’re just kind of thrown into the world and told random bits of info. The romance also felt super random, and the climax of the story felt pretty anticlimactic. It wasn’t a terrible book by any means, but I probably won’t think about it again.

The Lost Story is the feel good fantasy you need to pick up now! If you’re looking for the nostalgia of Narnia or the romance of The Princess Bride, then this is where it’s at. Absolutely five stars. I really hope the author comes out with a sequel. It’s going to be very hard to let these characters go. Even Fritz.

I went into The Lost Story with sky high expectations based on the premise and how much I adored The Wishing Game. These expectations likely played into what was ultimately a disappointing experience for me. The Lost Story isn't bad, it just fell flat in almost every aspect. It felt like the outline of a story that just needed to dig deeper to be something amazing.

First off, I didn't like the framing device of using the storyteller to interject explanations and foreshadowing. It was intended to make it feel like you're being told a fairy tale, but it just took me out of the story, and I found the character annoying rather than whimsical.

The worldbuilding is also quite lacking. There is an in-world explanation for this that comes at the end, but unfortunately, by then it was too late. If I'd been able to read with that explanation in mind, I don't think the world would have bothered me as much. I also found it hard to believe that the events of Jeremy and Rafe's first visit took place over only six months. I kept expecting it to be revealed that time passed differently there, but that wasn't the case.

I could have overlooked all of this if I had felt any connection to the characters, but they just felt like cardboard cutouts with a couple random personality traits. Beyond Emily liking Fleetwood Mac and having a pet rat, I knew nothing about her as a person. The dialogue felt stilted and not how real people interact. I know Shaffer doesn't lack the talent to create very real characters and relationships, because everyone in The Wishing Game leapt off the page.

Again, I want to reiterate that The Lost Story wasn't bad, it just fine across the board. All in all, I was left feeling like I read a draft that Shaffer needed more time to expand.

3/5 stars

For you if you like:
-Portal fantasy
-Friends to lovers
-Soft magic

The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer was unfortunately not for me. I loved The Wishing Game by this same author, and so I am disappointed that The Lost Story fell short.

The beginning of the book started fairly strong for me. I liked the premise, that Emilie recruits Jeremy, a man who has a talent for finding lost people, to find her missing half sister who she has never met. I was intrigued that Jeremy himself was once lost in the woods with another boy (Rafe) who could not remember anything from that time. Jeremy must get Rafe on board in order to find Emilie and once he does they all set off.

The two boys find their way back to Shanandoah where Emilie can reunite with her sister. It was at this point of the book that I was turned off. Shenandoah (down to the name) was such an immature world for what had been set up as fairly mature characters. The description of the world felt like something I would read out of a fifth grader's journal listing every mythical creature imaginable and even in Lisa Frank type colors. Instead of feeling enchanted by the magic of the world I felt like it was a bit too sweet.

On top of that the relationships felt shallow especially between the sisters meeting for the first time. There are some very adult themes within this book that get washed out by this juvenile fantasy. If I hadn't had the e-ARC through Netgalley I would not have finished this book.

The Wishing Game was one of my very favorite books of 2023, so when I saw that Meg Shaffer had another book coming out, I was thrilled to be able to read it. The Lost Story is a fairy tale for grown ups, and while it did not hold the thrill that Shaffer's first novel did for me, I enjoyed it for a fun, unique read.

The story started very strong, and while Emilie, Rafe and Jeremy were in the real world the book had me tightly in its grip, and I was anticipating a strong 5-star read. The narrator's voice, which occasionally speaks directly to the reader, lends itself to a book that is set partly in a fairy tale world, and felt somewhat tongue-in-cheek at times, too.

I was less enthralled with the fairy tale section of the novel, which was actually the majority. Some of the dialogue was silly, with characters saying things that did not sit right with me. Later in the book, with Skya's explanation for the whole story, the style made more sense, but for me it was difficult to read the immature writing style for the majority of the book. I see what was done, in hindsight, but did not love it.

Overall, this is worth a read, especially for fans of The Chronicles of Narnia or The Lord of the Flies, as they are the author's inspiration for this story. Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Ballantine for the digital ARC of The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer. The opinions in this review are my own.

A story, a fairy tale, a fairy tale story within a story. Whichever you call it, The Lost Story is a fabulous book. Two teen boys lost in a forest kingdom-one cannot remember it, the other cannot forget or talk about it. The one who remembers can find lost women and girls, The one who cannot remember paints pictures and creates sculptures depicting the kingdom. When approached by a woman to find her lost sister in the same forest, the boys reunite after fifteen years and the fairy tale begins.
A wonderful, fantastical novel.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Jeremy and Rafe were once lost in a West Virginia forest for 6 months. When they emerged, entirely changed, they never spoke to each other again. Fifteen years on, Jeremy uses his uncanny talent for finding lost people to search for the missing, and Rafe is a woodcarver and artist with a black hole where those 6 months should be and an inability to function happily in "normal" society.

Emilie has made it her mission to track down Jeremy and beg him to find her sister, who went missing in that same forest before Emilie even knew she existed. He reluctantly agrees, but only if she can help convince Rafe to come too.

I really liked Shaffer's first novel, but I liked this one even more. There is a charm and ease to the story, even when it's discussing terrible things. The magical realm is beautiful and fantastical yet nothing seems belong belief. It goes in directions I wasn't expecting, and I was in love with them all by the end.

A search for a missing sister turns to into a fairy tale with a prince, princess, knight, villains, and adventure.

I appreciate what Meg Shaffer was trying to do with this novel. I think she accomplished fun and whimsy and magic so well in The Wishing Game. But here, in The Lost Story, it didn’t work for me. The pacing felt odd at times, I didn’t buy into the characters or the world she tried to create. The writing felt too juvenile, although maybe that was intentional to bring about some nostalgia. I don’t think the strong comparisons to Narnia did this book any favors as it just set it up to fall short.

However, if you are looking for a fun adventure with LGBTQ characters at the forefront and not an afterthought, this may fit the bill. It may also resonate with readers of The House in the Cerulean Sea. Other reviewers enjoyed this one immensely so it appears I’m in the minority. Because her first novel was so lovely, I do look forward to future endeavors from the author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books.

This book is an adult fantasy with fairytale vibes, inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia (which I've never seen). I did have high hopes for this book as the book description (missing children, magical realm) really caught my attention and gave me Peter Pan/Neverland thoughts. In the beginning I was very invested and enjoyed the read and then it fell flat. It was almost like a switch flipped and the book started reading more YA to me, which isn't a genre I gravitate toward. Also, I wanted more into the magical realm! More backstory, more descriptions....just more in general.

I feel like this book will be loved by many, especially if you enjoyed The Chronicles of Narnia or something similar, or perhaps those who do enjoy YA.

I would like to go back and read The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer, just to give this author another chance and figure out if I click with her writing style or not.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing me with an ARC of this book. Reviews and opinions are 100% my own.

I am a huge fan of this author. First her older books (under a different name, which still confuses me), and then I totally loved The Wishing Game last year, one of my favorites of the year. So I was very excited to get the Advanced Copy of this new one from @netgaley and @ballantinebooks in exchange fore my honest thoughts.

I went in fairly blind and didn't really know what the story was about. It is basically a retelling of The Chronicles of Narnia. I admit that I have never read that book either. I'm not always much for magical realism and fairy tale like retellings. So, I don't think I was the correct audience for this one. The writing was really good as always with her, but I just didn't really connect with these characters. I will forever remain a fan of hers and continue to read whatever she writes though. For the right person, I think this would be a great story. Give it a try if you like these type of stories.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the new book by Meg Shaffer the author of the wonderful book, The Wishing Game, All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Jeremy and Rafe met at school and became best friends. They went missing in a West Virginia state forest, only to mysteriously reappear 6 months later with no explanations. Now 15 years later, Rafe lives in the woods by himself, while Jeremy has gained fame as a missing persons' investigator. Emilie approaches him to help find her sister, who disappeared in the same forest as Rafe and Jeremy. Only Jeremy retains memories about the disappearances and the fact that they were in a magical realm. The quest for Emilie's sister begins.

Inspired by CS Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, this was such an atmospheric fairy tale that will have you dreaming of unicorns and rainbow lakes, princesses and knights, and so much magic. But there's also loss, pain, and abuse because there is no light without darkness. These characters will feel like old friends that you are along with on a journey. It's a journey of found family, moving on, discovering love. There were chapters in between from The Storyteller, which I thought were one of the best parts of the book, providing insight and humor. The ending was perfection. I can't wait to see what magical journey is to come from Meg Shaffer!

Thank you Ballantine and PRH audio for the free review copies!
Overall, an ode to the magic of stories and fairytales, of perhaps the magic many of us seek within books and in the worlds we read about and want to join. There is magic in stories if we let ourselves see it, believe it, and keep telling and wanting the stories.

Two notes: great writing and storytelling from Shaffer, she has a knack of the intricacies of loving books and how some of us really need stories that help us escape. The audiobook was great, I really loved how it was produced and how the voice actors and production team were able to really generate a feeling of being present in Shaffer's intended worlds and styles. Audiobook win!

I am of two minds with this book, liking a lot of the storytelling and mesmerizing imagery, themes, and plot explored but also challenged by some pacing and consistency notes that for me kept me from fully getting into the story. What works here is a genuinely complex story of fairytales and darkness, of trying to understand the story behind missing youth, and realizing that many carry, or have forgotten, their own lost story. As I read and listened I came to understand the title in many ways, the things we lose as we get older, the stories we never hear or get to have when someone goes missing, what happens when we don't know or can't tell our story... There is a lot in here and an openness from Shaffer to let readers explore the darker edges of fairytales. I also happened to love, more on audio, the drop in chapters/commentary from the storyteller, as it shaped my reading in great ways.
At the same time, for me following the timeline and way the story was told was hard to keep up with and even though I suspect some of this was intentional by the author, as alluded to via notes the storyteller would give readers/listeners, at times it made it harder to get immersed in the story. The first half of the story was stronger for me, I found the second part a little harder to stick with as well.

I might be an outlier on this one, but I didn’t *love* this book. I think I went into this with expectations that were a little too high, and so it fell a tiny bit flat for me. The premise sounded so good, and I love magical realism/fantasy. But there were a couple things holding me back from a 5 star review. Partly because it seemed to take so long to get going and figure out what was really going on. (50% to figure things out- which based on the synopsis was obvious, but still, and 70% for the pace to pick up, brief as it was.) I wish there would have been chapters with dual timelines going on, instead of short random flashbacks. I think I would have liked seeing the love story play out from the other timeline better. I also thought it seemed like it was written for / by a young adult. (And a small spoiler- I guess it kind of was, but I won’t say more.) All the characters seemed young in general, when some were supposed to be in their 30s.

The found family trope was so sweet in this book, though. I liked all the characters and getting to see them all happy together was 🥹. I also loved the story teller sections, which added an even more magical element. I think overall, it was a very cute read, but it seemed it should have almost been marketed more towards children (if it had a little less adult-ness) or young adults. And I would have still read it but would have had different expectations.

I absolutely loved The Wishing Game. I was so excited to see that Meg Shaffer had a new book and got it as soon as I could. I loved the story. I thought it was well written, the characters were memorable. I couldn't put it down.

Such a delightful story. This book had me completely immersed and I loved my time in the world of Shanandoah. A perfect blend of romance, friendship, fantasy and self discovery with some heavier themes thrown in. The three main characters in this were all completely lovable and complex in their own ways and had me rooting for them throughout. I was hooked from the first page of this one and would 10/10 recommend!