I unfortunately wasn’t able to finish the book in time, but i absolutely loved the chapters I got to read! This book was categorized as a graphic novel somehow, and it’s not. So it unfortunately took longer to read than a graphic novel would. I will be buying the physical copy and editing my review when I finish the book.

Stay tuned for my upcoming #AuthorElevatorSeries Q&A with Meg, where we go behind the book, THE LOST STORY, and this talented author. (July 16th, pub day).

Master storyteller Meg Shaffer, renowned for her debut, The Wishing Game, now captivates us with her latest creation, THE LOST STORY. This enchanting narrative not only serves as a spiritual epilogue to C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia but also pays homage to the transformative power of books and storytelling.

In this enchanting tale, the author cleverly transports you to another world—an escape from all the worldly cares and stresses.

"Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again."
— C.S. Lewis

About...

Once upon a time, best friends Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell mysteriously vanished in the Red Crow State Forest of West Virginia to a faraway enchanted land called Shenandoah.

They reappeared six months later, their return shrouded in a veil of inexplicability. They seemed to be healthy and nourished, but their silence about their whereabouts only deepened the mystery.

Then, fifteen years after their return, Jeremy is a famous investigator for missing persons. Rafe is a reclusive artist who lives in a cabin in the woods. He does not share his work. He had no visible scars or memory of what occurred while they were missing. Jeremy knows the truth behind their time in the woods, in a magical realm filled with beauty and danger. However, he has kept Rafe in the dark since their return.

However, when vet tech Emilie Wendel hires Jeremy to find her long-lost half-sister, Shannon (who disappeared from the safe forest), Jeremy knows she was also in the hidden kingdom during their time in the forest.

Emilie found out she had a sister who grew up in a West Virginia trailer park. She wishes her sister had grown up like her and had it as easy. Was she living in the woods, off the grid?

Jeremy, Rafe, and Emilie must return to the forest, the magical land, to confront their shared past as the three stories connect in this enchanting fairy tale. As they dive into their memories, secrets begin to unravel, as they each piece together their past and embrace their future.

My Thoughts...

THE LOST STORY is inspired by C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia; this wild and wondrous novel is a fairy tale for grown-ups who still knock on the backs of wardrobes.

Mysterious, magical, and memorable. From the lush, vivid descriptions, memories, enchanting lyrical prose, humor, lovely metaphors, illustrations, literary references, music, art, and the magical and clever quotes between the chapters—the author draws you into this wildly imaginative world. Be prepared to be transported. Also included the yummy Golden Apple Christmas Cake Recipe (modified for this world).

Readers will be caught up in the adventures of the three delightful, well-developed main characters and the cast of complex supporting ones. Wildly imaginative, atmospheric, charming, mystical, and endearing! This may be your favorite adult fairytale.

Meg's writing is breathtaking, showcasing her imaginative storytelling talents. Magical, nostalgic, whimsical, and an enchanting tribute to the power of books and storytelling—a captivating love letter to fairytales and shared secrets. A wise lesson: Dreams can come true anytime in our lives if we open our hearts to embrace them.

Fully immersive, a riveting, heart-wrenching story of family. What it is to be lost, forbidden love, and the joy of being yourself and loved for being who you are.

"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."

Recs...

If you loved THE LOST STORY, I highly recommend reading Meg's first book, The Wishing Game, for more magical storytelling. It is also recommended for fans of C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia, Patti Callahan Henry's The Secret Book of Flora Lea, and authors Sarah Addison Allen and Catherine Ryan Hyde.

THE LOST STORY is a creative mix of magical realism, literary, LGBTQ, romance, fantasy, mystery, whimsical, family drama, and an adult fairy tale with important emotionally charged topics such as suicide, adoption, death, and abuse.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group— Ballantine and NetGalley for providing an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: July 16, 2024
My Rating: 5 Stars
July 2024 Must-Read Books

I am writing this review SOBBING after finishing this book. Like happy crying, not sad. It was so lovely, I was excited from the first page. The author managed to create a beautiful world without going into that overly wordy exhausting world-building territory. I loved the storyteller chapters, it really made it read like a fairy tale.

I was so happy to get the chance to read an arc copy of The Lost Story! Thanks to NetGalley and Random House.

As a huge fan of The Chronicles of Narnia, the description of this book captured my attention. And it did not disappoint! I truly enjoyed this book. I also really liked the way it was written. I liked the narratives too! The characters and their background stories were credible and the imagination was transporting. Look for this in bookstores July 16, 2024.
Thank you #NetGalley & #Ballantine books for allowing me to read an ARC. What a delightful story!

I finished this book three days ago but can just now come out of my book hangover fog to write a review. I really really liked Shaffer's first book, The Wishing Game, and had guarded hopes that her second book would deliver that same magical childhood tingle, but ya know, second books are hard. SHE FREAKING NAILED IT. I loved this book so much. And just like The Wishing Game it has this magical aspect that remind you of your childhood and the magic found in books as a child. Shaffer, never stop writing, we will always need to be reminded of the magic and the power of stories!

Jeremy and Rafe disappeared in the Red Crow Forest as teenagers. When they reappeared 6 months later, Rafe remembered nothing about his time lost and Jeremy refused to say anything. Now 15 years later, Emilie is looking for her sister that disappeared in the same forest before Jeremy and Rafe. She has enlisted Jeremy's help in finding out what happened to her. Jeremy knows the only way to help is to reconnect with Rafe and bring him into the secret world they left behind 15 years earlier.

I loved The Wishing Game so I had high expectations for this book and it did not disappoint. The magic of the fantasy world was so beautifully written. I loved the character development. The ending left me wanting so much more. If you have enjoyed magical realism in the past, this takes it a little beyond that but not into the full blown world of fantasy. I loved the balance it struck between real world and magical world.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine for the ARC of The Lost Story.

Ah this is a hard one for me to review. The book was well written, tender at times, beautiful at others. It was full of real problems and people finding hope through difficulties.

I have to admit I’m not much of a fantasy reader & had a difficult time with the more fantastical elements of this book. We spend more than half of this book in the real world and I found my self following the story and enjoying it while still a bit weary of what was to come. At about 60% we enter the fantasy world and I wish I could have enjoyed it more but it was at that point I realized my own interpretation of the title and the whole thing became a “lost story” for me. I feel as though there were plot points that were forgotten as the story switched and it felt like two different ideas without enough follow through.

It was beautifully written and a lovely romance. If you enjoy fantasy, LGBTQ+ representation, and C.S. Lewis you’ll probably enjoy this book. I can understand the appreciation, it just wasn’t totally for me.

The Lost Story has wonderfully charming characters and the plot stars out very enticing. However, the main conflict seem to be solved right wpaway and the ensuing conflict did not interest me. I was prepared for science fiction, as I loved Shaffer’s first novel, which had science fiction elements. This book, however, started out realistic and took a sharp turn deep into the sci-fi realm with no looking back. About halfway through, I begin to lose interest. It strongly reminded me of a TJ Klune novel or Fairy Tale by Stephen King. So, while I applaud Shaffer’s character development (Rafe and Jeremy really are so precious) and her way with words, the plot development was lacking. Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Jeremy is well known for the ability to find missing people. He has an uncanny ability of knowing exactly how to solve even the most difficult of cases. At a speaking engagement he meets Emilie, who needs help finding her sister. Her sister has been missing for years in the exact place Jeremy and his former best friend went missing for 6 months. When she shows Jeremy a picture of her sister he knows he needs to help her.
When he was younger, he and his best friend Rafe (Ralph) went missing in Red Crow Forest, only to be found one day wandering the woods in perfect health. Rafe could never remember what happened and Jeremy refused to speak of it, keeping his distance until the two were no longer friends. Now they must reconnect to help Emilie find her missing sister. Rafe has no idea what Jeremy has kept from him all these years, that the 6 months they were missing were filled with the most magical and fantastical time of their lives.

I fell in love with Meg Shaffer's last book The Wishing Game and was so excited to receive an ARC of her newest book. The Lost Story did not disappoint! This book was the perfect mix of mystery, romance, and fantasy. I can't wait to read more from Shaffer.

Wow. Just wow. I adored Meg Shaffer's first book, and while I thought I would be disappointed that this book is in many ways very different, I think the heart of all the best things I loved in The Wishing Game are shining through to make me love this book too.

This magical story has a bit of everything: a fresh plot full of magic, adventure, and growth, a unique framing of the story with a narrator dropping in with dry wit and omniscient facts , characters with depth and real problems, and sense of humor had me smiling right along. And despite a large main cast (I would argue Jeremy, Rafe, Emiliee, and even Skya) all were my favorites and each felt like they were fully developed with their own faults, humor, plots, and triumphs, and all the side characters were fill of all the vim and vigor I love in fantasy adventure books.

The author's handling of some serious topics like suicide, adoption, personal trauma could have all made this book heartbreaking, but instead they were handled and incorporated so well they added a depth of connection that enhanced my reading of this book. Also the LGBT inclusion was *chef kiss* although maybe a bit more angsty than I prefer although that is 100% a personal preference.
As with Wishing Game I think the setting really shines through in this book and as an Ohio resident with my whole family from West - by God! - Virginia it was such a joy to see both states reflected here - in all their wonderous messy glory.

The story's plot was magical and exciting; it felt new and fresh. Although the plot was interesting, some of the time elements with the relationships between the characters were confusing to me; they knew each other for less than a year but had a connection that lasted the rest of their life. The world felt a bit randomly thrown together, but the lyrical writing describing the sights made up it. A very cute found family fantasy.

Yet another fabulous book from Meg (Tiffany Reisz). The scene building is utterly fabulous and the story like no other. 10/10

I read this lovely fantasy novel in one sitting.

This story begins 15 years earlier, with two lost teen boys in the forests of West Virginia. Thankfully, they are found safe, but part on uncertain terms. Now, Rafe lives alone with no memories of his time spent lost. Jeremy recalls the events but won’t divulge and spends his days as a Missing Person sleuth. Enter Emilie, an Ohio woman who convinces Jeremy to help her locate her missing sister. The catch? She hasn’t met this sister. The sister went missing in the same forest five years prior to Rafe and Jermey’s disappearance. Jeremy agrees and enlists a very reluctant Rafe’s help.


The three of them go on an adventure to find Emilie’s sister Shannon, whom the boys knew in their time away as Skya- a queen. All will be revealed in this journey. The past and secrets will be uncovered, and friendships will solidify.

If you liked the Binding by Bridget Collins, or were a childhood fan of fantasy stories like those by CS Lewis or Never-ending Story, for example, you will love this read. Akin to watching Stranger Things, this book made me feel that wonder as an adult, and that was a joyful break.

The Lost Story reminded me of how much I love fantasy stories. The world building was so incredible, so detailed, it truly felt like I was in the story and could picture everything in the Painted Sea! The characters, Jeremy and Rafe, were so well thought out, I couldn't help but to fall in love with them! Seeing their growth, their friendship, their romances, it was such a treat. I truly could not put this book down even if I tried! This book both felt like a cozy fairytale read yet also explored more serious concepts like suicide, LGBTQ+ orientation, adoption, trauma, and more. I feel so emotionally connected to this story, even more so than I did to the Chronicles of Narnia which this was inspired by. This was my first Meg Shaffer read and is certainly not going to be my last!

From the synopsis, I was expecting something darker. FMC’s sister was kidnapped and she is in a quest to find out what happened to her. MMCs disappear in the woods and appear months later with horrific scars. While it obviously was going to be a portal fantasy, I was expecting dark fairytale vibes. I expected there to be some big mystery and a fight for survival, anbd that was definitely not the direction it went! Yes, there are heavier themes and scenes woven throughout, but it was also whimsical, fun, AND funny.
Meg Schaffer’s writing style wasn’t overly descriptive or try-hard; it struck the perfect balance and was absolutely stunning. I loved Jeremy, Emilie, and Rafe and their dynamic from the start. While it had a slower start, I enjoyed my time with the characters so much I didn’t mind it! As the story moves into Shanandoah, it becomes much more focused on Rafe and Jeremy. While we get multiple POV chapters, I wish there were more from Emilie to fill in some plot gaps and also just spend more time developing her character . With themes of family (both found and biological), forgiveness, belonging, and the unbreakable bond of different types of love, The Lost Story is easily one of my most enjoyed reads of 2024!

I received a complimentary copy of this book "The Lost Story" and all opinions expressed are my own. This book really wasn't for me. I didn't like the whole fantasy in the forest thing. I had to push myself to finish the book. I like unusual and mystical books but this wasn't one of them.

Oh, my gosh, this book. THIS BOOK!

I’m still crying so I’m marking my review as having spoilers and just listing all the things swirling in my brain right now. I may come back later to organize these thoughts a little better.

I used to live in West Virginia, and my grandmother would always refer to it as “West—by golly!—Virginia!” (Not an exact quote from the book, but close enough that it had me smiling), so the moment I read those words, I knew this book would be special to me ❤️

This was a beautiful fairy tale, venturing into the category of cozy fantasy.

I love the notion that the kingdom and its royalty maintained their Appalachian accents. Actually, I love that this whole book was basically a love letter to West Virginia!

And also: The unicorn pencil! The Trapper Keeper! The, “No. Not this time.” The banter. The love. The scenery! Please make this into a series!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance digital copy. I definitely need to add this one to my print library on the “forever books” shelves.

Instead of fitting neatly into one genre category, this story overlaps into many. It’s a fantasy world, a love story, a Narnia-like escape, an adult fairytale. The author does a wonderful job of world building and transporting the reader to her world. I like how it was told by a storyteller.

A worthy successor to The Wishing Game. I didn't like it as much which was a little disappointing since I was really looking forward to the Narnia-type premise. It turns out, for me at least, the first half of the story was more enjoyable - I connected much more to Shaffer's "real" world over her fantasy world.

Shaffer's ability to flesh out the backstory and her characters was much more interesting and compelling and I felt like she didn't spend as much time figuring out the fantasy world; very much black and white Wizard of Oz vs. color Wizard of Oz. I didn't even dislike the fantasy world per se but it was like "shrug" this doesn't make any sense and I don't know why because, you know, "magic." Even the final showdown with the villain was a letdown. I feel like it was very obvious (which is fine) but it was done in a very anticlimactic way. On the other hand, the reveal of the villain in the real world (not who but what he did) is that much more dramatic and horrifying. I do get that Shaffer was perhaps trying to make a point about the difference between a make-believe world vs. reality but, again, the fantasy world was just so simplistic and undeveloped.

The story overall was still really well done. I went into the book thinking I'd get a story about found family (and it was) but what really surprised me was that the male MCs were a more primary focus than the female MC and I wasn't sad about that.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the Advanced Reader Copy of The Lost Story! I definitely recommend this. It's a quick, perfect summer read; fun premise with heartwarming characters.

Did not like much in this book. From the amateurish dialogue to the forced relationships to the shoddy character building, I was never able to fall into this book as I would for most character driven fantasy novels. I think the author was overly ambitious on what she thought she could convey in a medium sized book. Although I liked the character relationships in theory, the execution was simply weak.

<spoiler>
I found it unrealistic that characters who knew each other for only a year and a half when they were 14 had this strong of a bond 15 years later. I also think that just because someone is technically your sister by birth, you are not entitled to a super strong sister bond if you do not know them. "But she is my sister" feels unearned when the character speaking knew her sister for a month when she was a baby and then didn't know her sister even existed for the next 20 years. It diminished any chance of an interesting or realistic familial bond.

The worldbuilding felt childish, which I know is the point, but I found to be boring. Give children more credit, they can come up with more interesting and creative things when building fantasy worlds other than unicorns and vaguely European villages. </spoiler>I also did not care for Storyteller chapters (the attempts at witty writing fell flat), nor did I find the ending to be particularly earned. For a book compared so heavily to the Chronicles of Narnia, this did nothing to evoke the feelings of whimsy and heroism I felt when reading that series.<spoiler> Including the titles of the books and an Aslan quote does not make the two books similar in my opinion. </spoiler>

This was a pretty fast and easy read if that is what you are looking for, just don't expect anything special or unique, especially if you are a fantasy enjoyer.

I read this book early through NetGalley.