After reading The Wishing Game I had to get this book. I love this author’s writing and story telling.

I’m from WV and I loved how well the state is represented it doesn’t include any stereotypes even in a joking manner from a character.

This is a slower pace story, but it’s a story I didn’t want to rush through. Throughout the story we have a narrator commenting on what is happening and there is an option to skip a chapter. I did not skip the chapter and found it helpful in understanding Jeremy better.

The world created in this story is magical and beautiful. I wish I could visit this world myself. I loved the characters and character growth and how the story develops.

The last 50 or so pages does lag, but there is quite if a bit story to still wrap up. It’s worth it. The ending felt fitting for the story.

I saw that nod to The Wishing Game in the story.

If you enjoyed The Wishing Game you’ll love this one. Both stories have some similarities, but not in a formula aspect.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Ok this is definitely not my usual genre, but it was fun to step into the world of adult fairytales. Unique and kept my attention!

[i] And it turns out you can’t have a fairy tale without anything bad happening in it. Fairy tales need heroes. Princes and knights need enemies. Life needs death. That’s the price of magic.” [/i]

After disappearing in the woods as boys, two men help a young woman find her missing sister—and a great magic hiding just beyond the trees.

Meg Shaffer’s greatest skill as an author for me is her dialogue. These characters have a great dynamic, funny and quippy. I loved the main three’s relationships with one another, though a fourth lead appeared later who needed a little more development for me.

I think some of the structure of this novel could have been considered a little more for the sake of pace and how to bring out the revelations in the most exciting way. Though the story begins with Emilie, she ends up being supporting cast for the men (and kidnapped twice!). But I loved the queer romance and could see the author in dialogue with her influences from childhood, which was heart warming. The West Virginia setting was fun too! Overall, a compelling if not always propulsive read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!

‘All books are magic.’ And I really enjoyed this one! I’m a child of the 90s and anything that gives me that nostalgic Never Ending Story or Labyrinth feeling, I’m going to love.
I wasn’t the biggest fan of the romantic relationship.. I wish that, in general, in media, there could be more emphasis on friendships and the kind of love and loyalty between friends instead of there always being a romantic piece.
I really enjoyed the fantasy world. And the story was a very quick read with a lot of dialogue.

I’m into these adult fairy tales.. though the endings never cease to make me cry.
I’ll take more of this genre please!

West - By God! - Virginia! I loved this story!!!

This is a gorgeous fairy tale with Lost Boys, Bright Boys, hidden secret kingdoms, Queens and Princes and Knights and ROMANCE - The greatest gayest romance I've ever read!

My one teeny tiny gripe is the Ghost Town was a little too much like the Upside Down but less scary.
Also: what happened to the werewolf?!

There is heartache and sacrifice and pain and love and beauty and art in this novel. I am not doing this book enough justice in this review. Five stars all day ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kill all the spiders.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for this ARC!!!

Wow. This was a clever, unexpected, endearing, and engrossing story. I love that the inspiration comes from Narnia! The beginning immediately hooked me. I really liked the addition of a storyteller who interrupts the story to explain a plot point or foreshadow something. I also liked that they break the fourth wall and talk to the reader as if they are in the same room.
There were lots of plot twists and surprises! My jaw actually dropped open multiple times. This is a book you won’t be able to put down and when you finish it you will be craving another fantastical story by Meg Shaffer. I highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, Ballantine Books, and Meg Shaffer for an e-ARC of The Lost Story.

I was so excited to see that Meg Shaffer created another book, The Lost Story, with a Narnia-esque re-imagining. I knew from reading The Wishing Game last year that whatever I thought might happen in this book was unlikely to be what actually happened because Meg Shaffer manages to change my mind and throw me off for a final result in a story in a way few authors do. I really enjoyed this book and I loved the individual start to every Chapter that felt like internal author dialogue to set up a scene change or just to give reference, it was so cute and I loved it.

I thought the romance between the two MMC's was perfect and the backstory for their initial disappearance realistic based on the location and community they came from. I felt that there was something special about the found family, magical place of West Virginia that only Meg Shaffer can paint. It was truly a wonderful book and kept me waiting for more. I will absolutely continue to be a Meg Shaffer reader for future books.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this eARC.

Shaffer’s last book was written for the adults who, as kids, disappeared with a middle grade fantasy novel and weren’t seen again for hours. This is another book for bookish kids who grew up into book loving adults. Where Clock Island and middle grade fantasy was the inspiration for The Wishing Game, this was fairy tales and fantasy.

The Lost Story has lost family, found family, trauma, fantasy, and a bit of a love story. It’s accessible, compelling, and beautifully done. I wanted more meat in certain places but that may have impacted how much it would feel like a fairy tale.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one and would recommend it for anyone bookish in your life.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Books and Meg Shaffer for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Lost Story.
This wonderfully descriptive setting of a new adult fairytale reminds me of a combination of Narnia and The Wizard of Oz. I can imagine a children's book with beautifully colored illustrated pages to go along with this story. As well as a blockbuster movie to entice us all. This is a heartfelt story of friendship, family, good vs evil and there's no place like home. The plot moves quickly through enchanted lands and the characters are well developed. I love all the references to books and the arts and the omission of technology and computers.
I especially enjoyed the storyteller corner which adds commentary from an unknown source that encourages us to take a break and think about what has occurred and what may be in the future.
This is a feel good story, somewhat predictable but takes you on an enjoyable journey away from reality and our everyday lives. Can't wait to see what comes next from this author.

First off, thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

OUTLIER ALERT!!! The Wishing Game was one of my favorite books this year and remains one of my ALL-TIME favorites!! Naturally, I was eagerly anticipating this second novel and was overjoyed when I got approved for the ARC. So, believe me, no one is more crestfallen than I am that it didn't work for me this time. The idea of a tribute to cherished fairy tales set in a Narnia-like world sounded incredibly promising. However, the story didn't quite live up to its potential for me. The Lost Story features two main characters, both fourteen year old boys, who develop an intimate relationship and fall in love in their alternate world. The author's choice to reimagine Narnia in a more contemporary way, which doesn't align with my personal beliefs on this topic, was disappointing. While I adored The Wishing Game, unfortunately, I cannot recommend this book. ⭐️⭐️

I enjoyed escaping into this magical world of a fairy tale that I did not want to end! I loved the characters, the plot, the story line, I LOVED everything about this book. Reading this e-book, I felt like I wanted to be in the story with the characters, I wanted to laugh, cry, celebrate with Rafe, Jeremy, Emilie, and Skya, as I grew to enjoy them throughout the story.

I really enjoyed how there weren't a lot of characters to keep track off and remember. Reading this book felt like I was giving the story a hug and I instantly looked forward to what was going to happen next whenever I picked up where I left off.

I would recommend this story to whoever likes fantasy/magical realism. This will be probably my favorite book that I had read in 2024 and I will most likely be buying a physical copy when it is for sale.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me a E-ARC of 'The Lost Story' by Meg Shaffer.

3.5-4 stars

Shaffer has created an interesting world giving us a captivating story with an overall feel good message of love, inclusion, forgiveness, and found family. Very much inspired by C.S Lewis and the Narnia series, 3 people are whisked away to a magical world that feels more like home than anyplace else.

Honestly, I feel like this book is geared a little more toward young adults than adults, just based off the dialogue and banter between the characters. It came off a bit juvenile to me. I enjoyed it, just wasn't quite the story I was expecting. It has to be challenging to create enough world building in a fantasy land for just one book, so bravo to the author for getting it done.

I want to first thank NetGalley and Ballantine Books for sending me an ARC of this novel! All opinions expressed are my own.

This book really refueled my love for fantasy and I just LOVE that it shone so much individually even though it was inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia. The little fairy tale element also made it such an interesting read. The way Shaffer writes is honestly very addicting and easy to get lost in. I thought it got a little slow in some parts, but then I'd get sucked into the world building again.

It was very fun and whimsical, but I was also pleasantly surprised by the LGBTQ+ romance. (Also love that I just accidentally happened to read this during June.) In short, wonderful book, and I'm definitely keeping up with this author from now on since I hear glowing reviews about Shaffer's other works! And thank you, thank you, thank you for the well fleshed-out characters because I adore good characterization 🤍

Whomp Whomp. I was so excited when I got the ARC for this book off of NetGalley. I DEVOURED The Wishing Game just a few months ago and have had several people read it after me recommending it. When I say that this book is the farthest from her previous one is an understatement. Yes, it has elements of magic and whimsy, but that’s where the correlation ends.
Based off of Narnia-like world influences, this book follows two men in their 30s and a 20ish girl going to this land to reclaim Long lost sisters and memories. About 50% of the way in, things took a turn for me.
It basically turned into these two guys falling in love, or back in love, and living happily ever after. This book had so much potential but I could barely stomach to keep reading. This book didn’t have to have that in it and it ruined it. I will NOT be recommending this book due to my views on these topics.
The only reason why it has two stars is because it was a very engaging story and well thought out fantasy land.
But don’t recreate Narnia in a “woke” way. Come on.

I was such a fan of Meg’s first book, The Wishing Game, and was really looking forward to reading her future works. I’m so glad The Lost Story lived up to those expectations!

This novel was magical; Meg’s way of storytelling grabs a hold of you in the best way. I could not put this book down.

I would absolutely recommend this book!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of this novel; all opinions expressed are my own.

This book caught me off guard completely. I went in with no expectations but finished it absolutely delighted. The story started right off and I was intrigued by the characters immediately. This magical little love story had everything you would hope for. I finished this book in just 2 days and I am begging and hopeful that there is a second book coming and this will be a series because I miss these characters already.

I was immediately swept up in this closed-door gay romantasy fairytale from Meg Shaffer. Part Narnian fantasy, part second chance romance, all mystery, magic and adventure, it's a very hard book to put down. I had to know what could possibly happen next! It's about reunions, family drama, forgiveness and finding what's been lost. Chapters narrated by Rafe and Jeremy are broken up by the omniscient narrators' chapters breaking the fourth wall and speaking directly to the reader. It has a really good set up and premise but falls a little short for me in the plot.

Rafe and Jeremy disappear into the West Virginia woods in their teens and are found again six months later by hikers. Rafe has no memory of the last six months and is injured; Jeremy remembers everything but can't tell. Fifteen years later the estranged friends now have special abilities. Jeremy can find lost people and things. Rafe has serious bow and arrow skills and a mysterious connection with animals, (especially birds). When Emilie seeks out Jeremy to help her find her older sister Shannon who was kidnapped and lost in the same West Virginia woods, the adventure begins and the secret of what happened to the boys while they were lost in the woods begins to unravel. Rafe, Jeremy and Emilie team up to search for Shannon and end up getting a second chance at happiness, dealing with childhood trauma, forgiving their pasts and forging new futures.

The fantasy world adventures were kind of underwhelming and existed more to be a safe place for Rafe and Jeremy to be in love than as a world in need of saving. The "big bad" was obvious and wasn't a big enough villain to create a satisfying climax in the storyline. WAS that spider shoot the plot climax? I'm unsure. The descriptions of the ghost town reminded me of the "upside-down" in Stranger Things. Why did nobody want to help these poor souls? I guess it just didn't feel like the stakes were that high for the gay romance. It's 2024 and 3 out of four of their parents are dead. Who's to stop them? Let your freak flag fly, guys!

Shannon/Skya's character was interesting, but I felt like we didn't get enough interaction between her and the other characters to really care about her. It was like when you get together with a bunch of people who have history, and they tell anecdotes about all the fun things they used to get up to instead of talking about where they are in life now. There were so many anecdotal asides about these adventures they had 15 years ago, and I was like, "Who cares? Get back to the chase!" or whatever.

Shaffer leaves it open for a sequel, but I don't think one is needed. I think THIS is the sequel and Shaffer just never wrote the first book because it wouldn't have the happy ending all fairytales need.

Thank you to #Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC!

What a magical journey this was! If you’ve ever dreamed of a different world where magic shimmers in the air, apples are full of sunlight, and your closet is full of clothes that fit just right, this was written for you.

5/5 ⭐️
I don’t know if I have the words to explain how much I loved this story. It was so lovely and magical. It’s my favorite kind of fantasy realism/portal fantasy where I can convince myself I can find this world too. This feeling wasn’t helped when a red bird kept flying past when I was reading.
The first half reminded me of Adrienne Young’s adult stories with her world of magical realism and mystery mixed with Kate Alice Marshall’s thrillers that also has something other sprinkled within. But the second half was Narnia and the Never Ending Story. This was my favorite kind of story where reality and magic blurred and you questioned and believed both. I loved that they brought the real world pain and contextualized it with the fantasy.
I loved all the characters and all the relationships. I loved Emilie. She’s so realistic and relatable in the little moments. I’ve been Emilie. I’ve known Emilies. I loved Rafe. I loved how he was this juxtaposition. I enjoyed watching him face the ghosts still haunting him. I loved Jeremy and the fact he was the only one that knew everything and drove me crazy whenever he gave us just crumbs but was so loving and charming. I loved all their relationships. I especially enjoyed the romance and how sweet it was, even if it made me tear up a handful of times.
I enjoyed this story so much. It was like a siren song for my specific soul. I highlighted so many lines. It was haunting and dark at times but filled with so much love and hope. To me, it was perfect.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.

This book is so whimsical and fun and I can’t wait for everyone to read it! It is inspired by the chronicles of narnia in the best of ways but also is entirely its own story. I loved the queer love story, adventurous storyline, and whimsical world so much. This book did take me a bit longer to get into than I was hoping for. It has a pretty slow start and I struggled with the first half but the second half makes it so worth it! This author’s debut book was one of my favorite reads last year so she is certainly an auto read author for me now!