The Lost Story

A Novel

By: Meg Shaffer

Narrated by: Jorjeana Marie

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 back of wardrobes—just in case—from the author of The Wishing Game.

“This is the book you’ve been waiting for.”—Richard Russo, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Empire Falls and the North Bath Trilogy

As boys, best friends Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell went missing in a vast West Virginia state forest, only to mysteriously reappear six months later with no explanation for where they’d gone or how they’d survived.

Fifteen years after their miraculous homecoming, Rafe is a reclusive artist who still bears scars inside and out but has no memory of what happened during those months. Meanwhile, Jeremy has become a famed missing persons’ investigator. With his uncanny abilities, he is the one person who can help vet tech Emilie Wendell find her sister, who vanished in the very same forest as Rafe and Jeremy.

Jeremy alone knows the fantastical truth about the disappearances, for while the rest of the world was searching for them, the two missing boys were in a magical realm filled with impossible beauty and terrible danger. He believes it is there that they will find Emilie’s sister. However, Jeremy has kept Rafe in the dark since their return for his own inscrutable reasons. But the time for burying secrets comes to an end as the quest for Emilie’s sister begins. The former lost boys must confront their shared past, no matter how traumatic the memories.

Alongside the headstrong Emilie, Rafe and Jeremy must return to the enchanted world they called home for six months—for only then can they get back everything and everyone they’ve lost.

* This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF that contains a map and recipes from the book.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2024 Meg Shaffer (P)2024 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“If our sad, brutal, cynical, cowardly, unkind, exhausting world is too much for you, if you’d like to dream instead of a parallel world where love and loyalty and friendship are the magic that transforms the least of us into genuine heroes, then Meg Shaffer’s The Lost Story is the book you’ve been waiting for. And here’s the real magic. When you return from that enchanted place to the world you wanted to escape from, you’ll find it’s changed. Why? Because you have.”—Richard Russo, author of Empire Falls and the North Bath Trilogy

“Jeremy, Rafe, and Emilie all embark on a wild and magical adventure that makes for a perfect cozy fantasy read, reminiscent of the childhood books we grew up loving.”—HuffPost

“This wildly imaginative book speaks to every reader who yearns for a more magical world.”—Thao Thai, author of Banyan Moon

Bummed.

I loved The Wishing Game. It will forever be one of my favorite books, paying homage to great works of children’s literature in a heartwarming and original tale with an embedded fictional world in Clock Island. So, I was anxiously awaiting The Lost Story’s arrival, and will fully admit that maybe my expectations were simply too high.

This book seems rushed in multiple ways. The first few chapters lay out an interesting cadence and several worthwhile plots from which to choose. But once in the “world,” it also seemed like it was a narrative descriptions of rules and next steps, rather than a rich experience. The interjections on how fairy tales work was humorous at first, but then it became redundant and compounded upon the idea that most of the book was just navigating the world.

Once the characters made their way to resolve the conflict, it was an absolute rush to the end. If you’re going to take the time to build a complex fantastical world, leave time to explore it. Any subplots or worthwhile twists were left on the table in favor of a fairly straightforward love story.

If you compare this to something like “Fairy Tale” by Stephen King, you’ll feel like you’re reading a poorly executed knock off. My guess is that, following The Wishing Game’s commercial success as a debut, an editor hacked at creative originality in favor of mass appeal page count, etc., and Meg’s concept is therefore diluted.

The contemplated world does have potential. This book just didn’t do enough to support it.

Just a sweet story

So many reviews are upset the knight has a prince instead of a princess. This is just everything you want in a feel-good story. I also couldn't help but notice a few commonalities between these characters and characters from a certain series.

Lovely Writing

First and foremost, the writing in this novel is amazing. The author layered in so many lovely details, and the world building was terrific. I loved the characters and how their stories grew and twisted together. Now, the plot was sort of where I get less enthusiastic. I felt like the narrative leaned into the “Narnia” trope, but most every plot point was predictable. The magic system stared out really cool, but I thought the ultimate explanation for it was very rushed and lacking depth. I found myself being simultaneously excited and frustrated that I figured out who the villain was early on - I was so hoping for a plot twist. And the relationship/romance was okay - but I really wanted multiple relationships to happen. The story ends with a cross between HEA and a cliffhanger - but I’m not sure if it left me that invested. There are TW - child abuse/assault. I will end on a positive note - again, this author has a gift for lovely writing. And with that said I would recommend the novel for light reading.

What could be better for the soul than to enjoy a modern fairy tale?

I feel incredibly blessed to have been present for a personal reading of a passage from this story on its launch day, in the back room of a lovely independent Carmichael's Bookstore in Louisville.

According to the author, this story took many years to write. All I have to say about that Is that every moment it took along the way to craft the perfect story was well worth it. Her investment of time, effort and talent in crafting this story of compassion, love, devotion, healing, growth, imagination, wonder, wander, and hope paid great dividends on each. Sadly, our modern world feels often bereft of these wonderful traits and it is good to be reminded that they are out there for the having, holding, and safe keeping of all who choose to believe in their value and virtue.

Thank you, Meg (Megalodon Shark) Shaffer for pouring yourself into this (and your other works), so we all get to sip.

The only thing this tale is lacking, is a series of sequels. I hope you choose to work on one so we all get to enjoy that as well.

For any who have read and enjoyed this book, I highly recommend you check out The Wishing Game. It is another work of hers which is also extraordinary.

Thank you Meg, it was wonderful to meet you and your husband at the launch event. I really, really enjoyed the book.
~Will~

Exciting listen with phenomenal narration!

Thoroughly enjoyed this Meg Shaffer book and I must say she has never disappointed me. 😊

Felt very young adult but still fun

Great beginning, beautiful ideas, just not very well executed. Too much telling and not showing

The narrator's crispy R's got on my nerves

"c-row" I don't know the linguistic term, but her hard /r/ sounds came from the back of her throat and it's all I could hear.
Missed the mark on Jeremy and Emilie's voices, too. Made Emilie sound immature and Jeremy too nonchalant.

Amazing! Destroying!! Still crying and smiling. More please!!!❤️

I LOVED THIS BOOK! I want more!!
I actually never dreamed I’d even like it much less fall in love!❤️

it was absolutely amazing

I loved this book so much. I'm sure that this is one I will read again. l really hope she writes more like this

Just delightful

I adored this book. What an enjoyable read. I’ll share it with my teenagers immediately.