This was a charming and magical story for fans of Narnia and Oz. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars

This book was (literally) magical! The nods to C. S. Lewis were amazing, and I really enjoyed the whole story arc. This book felt whimsical, heartbreaking, and beautiful all at the same time.

Thank you to Random House for the ARC!

I will ALWAYS sign up for stories that are fundamentally Narnia fanfiction, double points if I'm fed with my favorite tropes (in this case amnesia romance). Meg Shaffer's version intersects the lives of three people - an adopted young woman named Emilie seeking her missing birth sister, and two men who disappeared for months in a West Virginia forest and haven't spoken since their return 15 years ago. (Obvious) spoilers ahead --- but of course this forest contains a Secret Mythical Kingdom which the trio must navigate/return to in order to solve the mystery of Emilie's sister and Rafe's missing memories.

I liked this surface concept, but the execution was severely underbaked. I vaguely knew I wasn't a fan of Shaffer's writing style since picking up and quickly putting down the Wishing Game, but was kneecapped a second time by the cringey millennial humor, blunt themes, and lack of atmospheric descriptions of characters or places. The narrative was kind of a mess - POV chapters interspersed with summaries by a nameless storyteller which may have been intended as charming but came off as tiring and kind of lazy writing given the amount of times the storyteller interjected to summarize/skip large portions of the plot the author clearly just didn't want to write. Give me travel scenes or give me death!!! Especially in a fantasy novel!!! Also, I genuinely think the novel could have done without Emile's character entirely, giving the world more room to breathe and focusing on the dynamics between Rafe & Jeremy and Rafe, Jeremy, & Skya.

It's been a while since I read a book that so fundamentally felt like mid=2000s fanfiction meets fantasy story I wrote in 5th grade and showed only to my mom and my teacher. Still, if you are looking for a simple fantasy beach-read, this will probably fit the bill.

It didn’t take long for my heart to ache with how much I loved these characters. I was desperate to know what happened in the past and what was going to happen next.

The Storyteller’s asides made me giggle.

Jeremy and Rafe’s relationship made me kick my feet.

While I thought the overall tone of the book was joyful, do be prepared for some homophobia, child abuse, and mentions of suicide. There were definitely some tears mixed in with the laughter.

Meg Schaffer is 2 for 2 so far. I’m definitely excited to see what she does next.

Thanks to Ballentine for providing an advanced digital copy for me to review!

I love the premise of this book and was so excited to be an ARC reader for it. Some parts had everything I was hoping for - fun, fantasy, and mystery. Other parts seemed to fall short. There is a story teller/narrarator within the book that I found to be distracting to the story. Additionally some details I felt lost on and I think the author thought she had world built and character built enough to make it understandable but I didn't follow. Not a page turner, but nothing bad.

It's a sweet story. Moved a little slow for me at times but definitely had the nostalgic feel of magical worlds like Narnia and Oz.

THE LOST STORY was a magical experience. It is the story of two boys lost in a forest in West Virginia on an end-of-the-year field trip who come walking out six months after they disappeared. Rafe becomes an artist who doesn't remember what happened while he was lost in the woods. Jeremy becomes a man filled with secrets who has a talent for finding girls who are lost in the woods.

Fifteen years after their reappearance, Emilie Wendell comes to find Jeremy to ask him to look for the sister she didn't know she had until after her mother's death and who disappeared in the same forest where Rafe and Jeremy disappeared. Jeremy hasn't seen Rafe since they walked out of the forest, but now he needs him if the search for Emilie's sister is to be successful.

This story tells what happened when they all return to the Red Crow forest. It is filled with magic and romance and all the elements of a good fairy tale: heroes and villains, a lost princess, a magician and a storyteller to provide insights.

I thought this story was amazing. It will certainly go on my keeper shelf when it was released. The characters were well-drawn and interesting people. The language was both down to earth and lyrical.

Fast paced, page turner thriller. Starts off with a sprint that keeps you going till the end. Mysterious situations lead you wondering through the entire book. Liked this book as much as Wishing Game, her first book.

I was so excited to get to read Meg Shaffer’s new book The Lost Story. I devoured The Wishing Game and knew her next novel would be incredible, and I have to say she did not let us down! The Lost Story is inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia (I also felt some House By The Cerulean Sea vibes- such as the LGBT aspect, the hopefulness and joy you feel reading it). It tells of Emilie, who is searching for her long missing half sister, and Jeremy and Rafe, two best friends who went missing 15 years ago in a forest for six months, and went there separate ways once returning.
I absolutely loved this book. The way the story is told, the light and joyful feeling I had while reading it (even during the hard parts), and I am so hopeful we get a sequel!

What a beautiful story! I don’t think I was prepared for how much I’d love this one!

We first enter the story hearing of the two lost boys, Rafe and Jeremy. They have been missing 6 months now, and they miraculously appear one day in the forest. Rafe forgets everything that happened, and Jeremy is tight lipped. There is something that brings them back 15 years later…

Cue the fantasy realm and this whimsical story between. I don’t want to give too much away. This story had me laughing, crying, and wishing to be in Shanandoah! I really loved this story. There is an LGBTQ element. I loved it especially reading it during pride. Love is love. This was a great representation of that. I was so thrilled for their story as well. This story also had deep rooted family trauma as well.

Meg Shaffer wrote a beautiful compelling cozy fantasy and I am looking forward to what’s ahead for Jeremy, Rafe, Emily, Skya, Aurora, and of course Fritz! I loved this whimsical world I was whisked to for a few days. I need book 2! Pick this one up in July!

“But you don’t need a magic pencil to write a magic book. All books are magic. An object that can take you to another world without even leaving your room.”

“They searched for a princess. At last, she was found. The loneliest princess, lost and then crowned. So that’s the whole truth and most of the lore of the nobody queen, nobody no more.”

“Brothers. Lovers. Best friends. Partners in crime. Cellmates. Soul mates. There’s was no bond that bound hearts that did not bind theirs.” “You” Rafe whispered in his ear, “are my kingdom”.

What can I say besides the fact that I’m obsessed with Meg’s books - I loved this wishing game and I love this one just as much. What a fabulous read that mixes light fantasy with reality in the best possible way, all making the reader fall further in love with books and stories. 5/5, no notes. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199927030-the-lost-story" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Lost Story" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1699644888l/199927030._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199927030-the-lost-story">The Lost Story</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22371885.Meg_Shaffer">Meg Shaffer</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6586934713">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
What can I say besides the fact that I’m obsessed with Meg’s books - I loved this wishing game and I love this one just as much. What a fabulous read that mixes light fantasy with reality in the best possible way, all making the reader fall further in love with books and stories. 5/5, no notes.
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/15987250-trisha-wolfe">View all my reviews</a>

4.5. This feels a bit like a fairy tale fever dream since I read it all in one sitting on the plane but I loved this! It was a queer Narnia for adults set in West Virginia. Ate it up with a spoon, smiling the whole time. Recommend for fans of Apprentice to the Villain, the tone is similar but the writing in this is much higher quality.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for allowing me to read this early! I absolutely loved Meg Shaffer’s debut and loved this story even more. A magical world, with queer rep and diving deep into trauma? Count me in! This was incredibly well done and hit every mark. The inclusion of a quick witted and sarcastic story teller was the icing on the cake! I can’t wait to pick up a physical copy on release day, and make the recipe that is included in the book!

This had so much potential for me, the strong characters, and unique story; but it feel apart for me due to the sheer amount of dialog. So much of it was just talking, I enjoy a bit more detail and world building.

"Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairytales again." - C.S Lewis ✨🧚‍♀️🦄

Synopsis:
As children, best friends Jeremy and Rafe went missing in a West Virginia forest, mysteriously reappearing 6 months later. How did they survive? Where did they go? And why did these boys seemingly go entirely different life directions after returning home, no longer speaking? While Rafe becomes a reclusive artist and homebody, Jeremy becomes a famous missing persons investigator, seemingly able to locate every missing girl. Due to his abilities, our FMC Emilie has realized that Jeremy is the only person that will be able to help her find her sister, who went missing years prior from the same forest he and Rafe had gone missing from. Knowing the truth about the magical world these missing children had gone to, Jeremy must enlist the help of Rafe to help Emilie find her sister, and find so much more along the way!

My thoughts:
Oh MY GOD, I feel like I was just teleported back to my childhood for this one, in the absolute best way!!! This felt like taking a step into my favorite fairytales as a kid (although still somehow was like nothing I've ever read before). I can't even express to you the childlike wonder, magic, and pure joy that is written in the pages of this novel. Everything was so vivid, I felt like I myself had entered a magical land filled with unicorns, badass heroes and heroines, etc.

This felt weirdly like it was written specifically for me. The start of chapter one even takes place at Bernheim Forest in Kentucky, which is a forest I grew up going to multiple times a week with my grandfather and holds so many fond memories for me. There are Stevie Nicks/Fleetwood Mack references. There are animal companions (need I say more?). There was a funny narrator who popped in and broke the fourth wall multiple times, which was always a joy to read and something I am always a sucker for. The depth to every one of the characters' backstories made me grow extremely attached to all of them. I felt like I really KNEW them by the end and could relate to many of them in so many different ways, both for better and worse. The found family in this was so comforting and fun, and the sisterhood themes are fantastic and so heartwarming as well. And the full-circle moments. There is nothing better than when an author is able to take a random, seemingly meaningless thing, and make that hold all the weight in the world by the end of the story. It makes me cry every time.

Also... THE LOVE STORY. I did not know there was any romance in here going into this, and man was I pleasantly surprised, not only because I'm a sucker for a good romance story, but it was done so well. The LGBTQ+ representation here was a complete and total surprise (especially during pride month 🌈), in the best possible way. The chemistry was palpable. It was so fun to watch these characters find themselves again while falling in love.

Overall, this was just so heart-warming, cozy, and so so magical. Please do yourself a favor and give it a try! I laughed, I cried, I giggled and kicked my feet, and most importantly, I felt like a kid again reading her favorite bedtime fairytale, and that is not something I have felt in a very long time.

TW: abuse, death of a family member, suicide, grief

Thank you so much to Random House/Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Yes! Yes! Yes! I loved this modern, adult fairy tale so much. And for so many reasons. It has deep, diverse, and fully actualized characters. It has a plot that grabbed me hard and held me for the entirety of the adventure. It has witty banter, a tender love story, hard topics, a light tone, and lessons about finding ourselves and finding courage. And, most importantly, this book is a tribute to all the storytellers of the world—without them, how else would we know that magic still exists?

I smiled. I cried. I loved. Between this book and The Wishing Game, Meg Shaffer has a well-earned spot on my favorite author list.

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!