Stepping Through the Wardrobe Once More
There’s something irresistible about the idea of a hidden magical world, just out of sight. A place where the impossible becomes possible, where we can escape the mundane and discover our true selves. C.S. Lewis tapped into this yearning with his Chronicles of Narnia, and now Meg Shaffer builds upon that legacy with her enchanting novel “The Lost Story.”
But Shaffer isn’t content to simply rehash familiar territory. She asks the compelling question:
What happens when you come back?
How do you reconcile the memories of a magical realm with the harsh realities of our world?
And what if the price of magic is higher than you ever imagined?
A Tale of Two Worlds
Meg Shaffer’s “The Lost Story” follows three intertwining narratives. At its heart are Rafe Howell and Jeremy Cox, two young men who vanished for six months as teenagers in the forests of West Virginia. While the world searched, they found themselves in Shanandoah, a magical kingdom ruled by Queen Skya. But their return home came at a devastating cost—Rafe’s memories of their time away were locked away, while Jeremy was forced to keep silent about the truth.
Fifteen years later, their lives have diverged. Rafe is a reclusive artist, haunted by scars he can’t remember receiving. Jeremy has channeled his experiences into becoming a renowned missing persons investigator. Their paths converge once more when Emilie Wendell seeks Jeremy’s help in finding her long-lost sister Shannon – who disappeared in the very same forest years before Rafe and Jeremy.
The Quest Begins
What follows is a gripping adventure that spans two worlds. Shaffer masterfully weaves together past and present, reality and fantasy, as our protagonists are drawn back into the realm of Shanandoah. The stakes are higher than ever, as they face not only the dangers of this magical land but also the painful truths they left behind.
A Richly Imagined World
Shaffer’s Shanandoah is a triumph of imagination. It feels both familiar and utterly unique, filled with wonders that will delight fantasy fans:
- The Valkyries: Queen Skya’s fierce all-female guard
- Aurora: A magical red crow who can travel between worlds
- The Bright Boys: Terrifying creatures who feed on fear
- Fantastical creatures: From unicorns to mermaids to firemoths
But it’s not just window dressing. The rules and mythology of Shanandoah are intricate and meaningful, with real consequences for our characters. The magic has a price, and Shaffer isn’t afraid to explore the darker implications of a fantasy realm.
The Ghost Town: A Haunting Reflection
Particularly chilling is the Ghost Town, a nightmarish reflection of our heroes’ hometown. This liminal space between worlds serves as a powerful metaphor for trauma and unfinished business. It’s here that Shaffer’s writing truly shines, blending horror and heartbreak as Rafe confronts the specter of his abusive father.
Characters Who Come Alive
While the worldbuilding is impressive, it’s Meg Shaffer’s characters who truly make “The Lost Story” shine. Shaffer has a gift for creating complex, flawed individuals who feel incredibly real:
Rafe: The Forgotten Prince
Rafe’s journey is one of rediscovery. Watching him piece together his lost memories and confront the trauma of his past is both painful and deeply rewarding. His artistic soul shines through in Shaffer’s lush descriptions of his sculptures and paintings.
Jeremy: The Loyal Knight
Jeremy’s unwavering devotion to Rafe is the emotional core of the novel. His struggle to balance his duty to Shanandoah with his love for Rafe creates genuine tension. The reveal of their romantic history is handled with sensitivity and depth.
Emilie: The Lost Princess
Far from a damsel in distress, Emilie is a force to be reckoned with. Her determination to find her sister drives much of the plot, and her growing bond with Skya is genuinely touching. Plus, her rat companion Fritz provides some much-needed moments of levity.
Queen Skya: The Author of Her Own Destiny
Perhaps the most fascinating character is Queen Skya herself. The revelation that Shanandoah sprung from her childhood writings adds a meta layer to the story. It raises intriguing questions about the nature of creativity and the power of storytelling.
Themes That Resonate
The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer is more than just a fantasy adventure. Shaffer weaves in powerful themes that will linger long after the final page:
The Pain of Coming Home
The novel explores the difficulty of readjusting to the “real world” after experiencing something magical. It’s a poignant metaphor for growing up and leaving childhood behind.
The Weight of Secrets
The burden of keeping Shanandoah a secret tears at Jeremy and Rafe’s relationship. Shaffer deftly examines how even well-intentioned secrets can poison our connections.
Confronting the Past
Both Rafe and Skya must face the traumas of their childhood. The novel doesn’t shy away from difficult topics like abuse, but handles them with sensitivity.
The Power of Creativity
Shanandoah itself is born from Skya’s imagination, highlighting the transformative power of storytelling. It’s a love letter to the fantasy genre and the readers who find solace in other worlds.
A Writing Style That Enchants
Shaffer’s prose is a perfect fit for this tale of two worlds. Her descriptions of Shanandoah are lush and evocative, painting vivid pictures in the reader’s mind. But she’s equally adept at capturing the gritty reality of small-town West Virginia.
The pacing is masterful, alternating between pulse-pounding action and quieter moments of character development. Shaffer knows when to linger in a beautiful moment and when to propel the story forward.
Particularly impressive is her ability to write from multiple perspectives. Each character has a distinct voice, from Rafe’s artistic soul to Jeremy’s determined focus to Emilie’s wide-eyed wonder.
A Few Stumbling Blocks
While The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer is a triumph overall, there are a few minor issues:
- The rules of magic, particularly around memory and world-hopping, can feel a bit inconsistent at times.
- Some readers may find the romance between Rafe and Jeremy develops a bit too quickly once they’re reunited.
- The resolution of the Ghost Town storyline feels slightly rushed compared to the rest of the novel.
These are small quibbles in an otherwise engrossing read.
A Worthy Addition to the Genre
The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer stands proudly alongside other works that explore the intersection of our world and magical realms. Fans of Seanan McGuire’s “Wayward Children” series or Lev Grossman’s “The Magicians” will find much to love here.
Shaffer’s novel feels like a natural evolution of the portal fantasy genre. It acknowledges the debt it owes to classics like Narnia while pushing the concept in new and exciting directions.
The Verdict: A Must-Read Fantasy
“The Lost Story” is a triumph of imagination and heart. Meg Shaffer has crafted a world you’ll long to visit and characters you’ll be sad to leave behind. It’s a powerful exploration of memory, trauma, and the enduring magic of storytelling.
This novel will resonate with anyone who has ever wished for a wardrobe to lead them to another world. But it also speaks to those of us who have had to find our way back home, changed by our experiences.
Shaffer leaves the door open for potential sequels, and I, for one, cannot wait to return to Shanandoah. “The Lost Story” is a book that will stay with you long after you turn the final page, whispering of the magic that might be hiding just around the corner.
For fans of:
- “The Magicians” by Lev Grossman
- The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer
- “Every Heart a Doorway” by Seanan McGuire
- “The Ten Thousand Doors of January” by Alix E. Harrow
