Reading like a true fairytale, this novel weaved whimsy into every page. Its unexpected wit and the incorporation of heavier topics grounded it in reality, but it never lost its sense of magic and hope.

I loved the writing style. The brief interludes from the fairytale narrator made the story even more immersive. The plot had a strong sense of adventure and found family, which made it a joy to read. It was surprisingly funny, but could also be quite dark (yet never dour).

I liked all three main characters, but particularly Jeremy and Rafe. Jeremy was unflinchingly loyal and supportive, and Rafe was innately noble and brave. I loved peeling back the layers of their past, learning about their shared history, and coming to understand their vulnerabilities. I couldn’t guess why Jeremy never told Rafe the truth about their experience in the magical forest, but when his reason was revealed, it all made complete sense.

I knew there was going to be a romance between at least two people in the core trio. The love story that eventually played out was achingly romantic!

Some elements did feel a bit too childish, and others felt too drawn out, but this didn't diminish the novel's ability to enchant and delight. I would definitely recommend. It was the best kind of fantasy... one which you will secretly hope is real.

Finishing The Lost Story left me with such a happy heart, satisfied by strong and intriguing characters, a fantastical land, and heartwarming relationships.

I’m hesitant to share much beyond this as one of the best things about books like this is the journey of discovery between the pages. As a lifelong reader I have such precious memories of entering the world of Narnia as a child. It’s a hard world to return to as an adult. The Lost Story captures a lot of Narnia’s charm, whimsy, trials and adventure. But the story also feels fresh, nostalgic, and relatable, beautifully capturing in metaphor and tales themes of loss, acceptance, difference and love.

I would highly recommend to anyone looking for an escape from reality, a creative and gentle read. 4.5⭐️

Thank you Quercus Books and NetGalley for this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ - 4.5/5

West - By God! Virginia!

I don’t know what I was expecting from this book but it wasn’t what I got…it was so much better!

A gorgeously designed word with the most loveable characters - this book is like a big warm hug.

Jeremy and Rafe are the lost boys - they disappeared for six months and were presumed dead before they suddenly appeared again, without a credible explanation for where they’ve been. Jeremy has since become an expert at finding those who are lost, and one day he meets Emilie who is searching for her sister.

This is a story for adults who never got tired of fairy tales, for those who still dream of disappearing to a fantasy land.

"It actually wasn't a fairy-tale ending.It was, in fact, only the beginning."✨


🔮 As our storyteller told us , to create a perfect fairy tale you have to follow a recipe with heroes , villains, a lost princess and many other ingredients... and well, "the Lost Story" has them all!

🦄Jeremy and Rafe when they were boys disappeared and were never found. Fifteen years later they reappeared healthy and fit. I l loved Jeremy : after his return he specialized in finding missing girls , he is rough ,charming and good-hearted.
Emilie always says what is on her mind and loves Stevie Nicks.
Rafe, on the other hand, does not remember what happened during the time when he and Jeremy disappeared and the fact that the latter has the answers to all the questions and he disappeared from his life has made him a hurt, grumpy and withdrawn person.
And let's not forget that between chapters we will have the storyteller’s interventions that give more depth to the characters and give us more information about the story!

🦄Jeremy and Rafe were found but never felt more lost , Emile on the other hand after her mother's recent m!rte never felt more alone. The three find themselves together after Emilie hires Jamie to find her missing sister and Jamie in turn recruits Rafe to help them, so their search leads them to Shanandoah, the magical place that served as home to the two boys during their disappearance. It is a magical ,vivid and exactly real place made of unicorns and valkyries in which our protagonists reach their true potential and find their place.

🦄 The Lost story is inspired by the "Chronicles of Narnia" and you can see it from its references and similarities. However, it manages to classify itself as a fairy tale for adults by dealing with strong themes such as loss , grief and abuseO and to the struggle to earn one's happy ending while maintaining a fairy-tale, flowing and magical style. In a nutshell, I would call it a fairy tale "without erá" a solid read from 5⭐️!

🌸 The Lost story - Meg Shaffer

🌲 🐦‍⬛ 🪶 🍎 🏰 🏹 🕷 💌  📖

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ 4.5/5

Thank you netgally for the arc in exchange for my honest review. ♡

Pub date - 18th July 2024

West - by God! - Virginia!

Rafe and Jeremy are west Virginia's lost boys. They dissapred in the woods and became lost for six months. One remembers what happens when they returned, one does not. Fifteen years later, with no contact with eachother, Jeremy uses his 'gift' for finding lost things to good use, and helps others find their missing family members. He meets Emilie. Her sister is missing and Jeremy is her last hope. He agrees to help her but can only help if rafe agrees to come. They start on a journey where only one of them knows what the destination will be like. Where they are all away to beleive in the unbelievable. Where they all learn a lot about eachother and themselves.

This just got more and more wild! And the imagination put into this was insane.

I can't decide if I want a second book though 😂 the ending was left wide open but I kind of like that. Makes you make up your own "happily ever after" which is what I took the point to be.

Each of the four mc's entire stories are so well layed out and planned. They are each so lovable, relatable and hilarious. I love that some things was like, yeah I see 'x' coming a mile away but then something else happens that makes you realise that 'x' was nothing in the grand scheme of things. Sneaky red herrings 😏

I also love the whole guess the story teller part to it (they are hilarious by the way)

🤍

"I want to be courageous, I swear. I just would prefer to be courageous inside my house."

"But scared is a feeling, not an excuse."

"I'm not brave. I want to be brave like her. I want to look death in the face and boop his nose."

"And it turns out you can't have a fairy tale without anything bad happening in it. Fairy tales need heroes. Heroes need dragons. Princes and knights need enemies. Life needs death. That's the price of magic."

Are you a fan of Chronicles of Narnia? This is the book for you! This was a fun reimagining of The Chronicles of Narnia. The Lost Story is a cozy feel-good fairytale and my heart was singing all the way!

Thanks to Netgalley, Quercus Books and Meg Shaffer for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Lost Story was a uniquely beautiful and magical story. I was hooked immediately, and I couldn't put it down.

I loved the gorgeous atmosphere, the charismatic characters and the superb writing. It was simply stunning storytelling.
Meg has a fantastic writing style that draws you right in straight away.
I thought I had it figured out part way through, but I was completely wrong. It didn't go as I thought it would at all.

I highly recommend, and I look forward to seeing what Meg comes up with next.

4 stars from me. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

The Lost Story is a magical fantasy that blends childhood wonder with grown-up themes. The book takes you into the enchanting world of Shanandoah, reminiscent of classics like "The Chronicles of Narnia."

The story follows Jeremy Cox, a finder of lost girls, and his best friend Rafe Howell, as they embark on a journey to find Emilie Wendell's missing sister. This adventure takes them to a land filled with unicorns and secrets hidden within trees.

The tale is both magical and superbly told, mixing fantasy with everyday life The characters—Jeremy, Rafe, and Emilie—are well-developed and easy to connect with. This book is perfect for fans of modern fairy tales and is great for all ages - it a must-read for anyone who loves a good story!

When I found out one of my absolute favourite authors had a new pen name, I was surprised because she’s such a great writer I didn’t understand why she would want to publish in another name.

Now I get it. This book made me think of the kind of book I would lose myself in as in eager and enthusiastic nine year old bookworm. It was the years of discovering things like Stig of the Dump and The Chronicles of Narnia.

This book is magic. The story telling is superb. I’m not sure if it’s a book for adults or a book for children, it’s not ageist. It’s a book for all ages.

Jeremy Cox is the finder of lost girls. He was lost, once himself with his best, best friend Rafe Howell. They had endless adventures in a mystical world, until, well, it ended.

Fifteen years have passed and Jeremy and Rafe take on a new adventure to find the lost sister of Emilie Wendell. They will journey to a far away land where unicorns wander and the trees hold secrets.

Loved it.

**Contains Slight Spoilers** - I try not to include spoilers in my review but I found it difficult to give the book a proper review without doing do.

I had a digital copy and so it wasn't 100% clear, but I can say with certainty that there IS A MAP! I love a book with a map, especially a fantasy book with a map. And so immediately it felt very Narnia, this secret fantasy world. In fact, people online have compared it to C.S Lewis' Narnia series, which is a very bold statement and I was a bit wary.

I do love fantasy books with fantasy worlds and whatnot, don't get me wrong. But where I think Narnia excelled, and by extension, where this book excels, is that there is this fantasy world, there's magic in it, but it's set in a normal world. And it's this magic amongst normality that, for me, makes it even more magical. If you're in Narnia and you see a blue penguin doing a handstand then that's fine. But in rural Yorkshire? Might stop traffic.

The characters are great. The heroes are brilliant, the villains brilliant. It's everything you want from a fairy tale. We have Jeremy and Raph, two ordinary men who once got lost as children but seem to have fallen out. And we have Emilie, a grieving, lonely woman who is desperate to find answers of her family. There isn't a bum note among the characters. The heroes are heroic, the villains villainous. It is perfectly pitched. It's not an exaggeration to say I think this could match up with the fairy tales we love so much; I could definitely find a place for it next to my set of Narnia books, it's that good.

It is in the third person, predominately following Emilie's story, but we also do hear from Jeremy and Rafe. We also have "the storyteller", in first person, which adds a bit of a whimsical nature to it, as it's not clear who that is. Bar those sections, it's all in the third person which I think worked with this. I prefer third person if I'm honest. First person works in some stories where you need immediacy, like a thriller or whodunnit. But this is as much about the magic as it is the reality, so I felt it needed to step back from one individual voice.

I mean, it's not a spoiler to say there's a magical world in it - Shanandoah - and what a magical world! It still feels very real but there's some things that make it different: the trees are too tall, the rivers too clean, the birds unnaturally sized. It's beautifully created and beautifully told, and I want to find the entrance to this magical place too. The way Meg's described this new land, it's breath-taking. I think it's harder than it sounds to create a new place. You might think it's easy as there's no rules, but there are rules, just fantasy rules. And it's hard to make it completely original, but with the elements we expect from a fantasy land. But the clear icy waters, the magical trees, the song of the breeze, it's so beautiful and so easy to imagine.

I can see it being perfect for a TV series or film. But I don't think anyone could create a world on screen that did it justice. I think the magic comes from the reader, as each reader will imagine something different and it'll mean something different to everyone.

This is a delightful book. It's not all rainbows and sunshine and happiness, but overall it is really lovely. It's about love, friendship, family, magic, hope, fear, trust, forgiveness, joy, and beauty. It's about the power of creativity, of storytelling, of music, of art; how they can change your life and save your life.

We need more fairy tales as adults. Who made the rules that say fairy tales are only for children, and adults should only read serious literature? I love a good fairy tale and frankly, the world would be a better place if more adults were to lose themselves in them.

I say this with absolute love, but I was so annoyed that it ended on a cliff-hanger! I mean, the main crux of the story is wrapped up, but there's a teaser at the end, it suggests there's more, and I desperately need it! There needs to be a sequel, or a threequel, or an entire seven-book series. I can't live with this suspense. I am bereft that I have finished it. This book is a fairy tale in itself.

I don't do star ratings generally unless I have to (i.e. for NetGalley and Goodreads), but for this book, I would pluck every star out of the sky and give them to it.

It's my first book by Meg Shaffer. I have had The Wishing Game on my wishlist for ages but haven't got round to buying it, but you can bet I will be now! It is definitely a contender for my favourite book of the year.

This was a truly unexpected, fantastical fairytale! I love stories within stories and getting to explore another realm. I was completely swept away by the magic and felt the author tackled some very challenging topics in a caring manner.

I really enjoyed the storyteller sections throughout and the different povs allowed such incredible insight into each character. I felt so connected to Emilie, Rafe and Jeremy! Rafe and Jeremy had me in tears - “There was no bond that bound hearts that did not bind theirs.” I can’t explain how much I loved them together without a whole load of spoilers, but just trust me on how special this was.

I wish it hadn’t jumped forward as much, because it led to the pacing being off towards the end and the story feeling a little rushed in some sections. I feel this could easily have been a longer book or ended earlier to create more of a cliffhanger since it hinted at possible sequels. Overall, this was highly entertaining and I would definitely recommend it to lovers of fairytales with a modern twist!

So so good. Loved every single second of this book. Meg Shaffer is such a great author because she could capture every sentiment in the characters. Every single one. So so good.

Once upon a time, fifteen years ago in a forest in West Virginia, two boys went missing for six months. Several years prior, a young girl was kidnapped not far from that very forest and was never found. Now it's time for these secrets to slowly unravel...

The Lost Story is lighthearted and warm, with a hint of darkness - a perfect fairytale setup! I was hooked right away, and I'm already crossing my fingers for a sequel because this was just such a delightful book.

It follows so many traditional features of fantasy, with the coming together of a fellowship, mysterious circumstances and forgotten memories, a journey to the unknown, and fight against monsters. However, it reworks these classic tropes and mixes it with the real in a way that keeps you guessing. The baddie isn't an evil sorcerer, the solutions are a bit messy, and the consequences for failure are steep. This truly is a fairytale for adults, and I loved it.

The main characters are in their mid and late twenties (not counting fancy rat Fritz!) and have lived through their share of tragedies. Emilie has no filter and loves Stevie Nicks, Rafe is initially gruff and seeking answers, and Jeremy is a bit rude but kind hearted. Together, they set off to find a girl who went missing nearly twenty years ago.

This book deals with love and loss, abuse, and making your own happy endings. The world of Shanandoah is wondrous - mermaids, unicorns, eerie shadow boys, witches, and more inhabit this magical land. I really hope we get another book so it can be experienced further.

If you enjoyed the realm of Narnia or Oz and want a way back to the magic, this is a fantastic read that you need to check out. It has romance, adventure, villains and heroes, humour, found family, and so so much heart.

I loved this story. Well written, excellent world building and complex characters… fantasy world with a nod to Chronicles of Narnia with great modern twists. Really enjoyed it. Can’t wait for more from this author. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Absolutely brilliant. I could not put this book down.
I liked the Wishing Game but the Lost Story blew me away. I'm already compiling a list of people to buy it for.

At the outset, this book captivated me with its intriguing characters—Emile, Jeremy, and Rafe. The intertwining threads of lost individuals, a missing sister, and a mysterious red crow drew me in, inviting me deeper into the forest. However, my enthusiasm waned after the halfway point. The plot became overly complex, lacking sufficient explanation, and the story lost its cohesion. Despite these issues, I can envision a successful movie adaptation. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my personal review.

I would like to thank Quercus Books for providing me with an ARC for The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer.

The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer is addictive. Once you start reading you want to keep going. You’ll fall in love with Jeremy and Rafe – the boys they were and the men they’ve become. And with Skya and Emilie, and the magical realm of Shanandoah.
This is a heart-warming story, dreamy, exciting and a page-turner.

The Lost Story has made it onto my want-to-read-again list, and Meg Shaffer has been added to my want-to-read-everything-by-this-author list.

I loved this! I was hooked from the first to the last page. I could read so much more of this world and these characters. I do hope we get a sequel at some point, it needs its happy ending. It does cover some dark themes, personally I think they are well done. But I can see how one thing at the end of the book might not be for everybody the kind of redemption of the father.

This book started so well and I quickly became immersed in the story as we met Emile, Jeremy and Rafe. Tales of lost people being found, of a missing sister and of a red crow all blended together with a mix of intrigue and an invitation to follow the author deeper in to the forest. Unfortunately for me, things started to fall apart shortly after the half way mark and what had been a rich and rewarding read became disconnected and difficult to continue. Some of the main issues is that it felt like too much was trying to happen, the plot became over complicated and took off in a rush with little explanation. Even with these issues I can still imagine a movie adaptation of this being successful.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read an advanced copy in exchange for a personal review.

Two boys have been missing in the woods for six months. When they are finally found the have no memory of where they have been or what happened during that time.
A fairytale about magic and mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.