Welcome to Litsy!

After a gripping start I ended up finishing the book feeling a little let down. The stories mature themes felt at odds with the characters juvenile emotional development and dialogue. I really loved the concept, I only wish that it had either softened the heavy topics and leaned into YA or matured the characters up a bit.

This was a soft pick. On the surface, it checks lots of boxes for me: a secret enchanted world, the aftermath of returning from (and to) that enchanted world, found family vibes, and a gorgeous cover! I enjoyed it overall, but it was missing something for me. Some of the mechanics of the world felt clumsy, and the ending felt hopeful but unsatisfying. I did enjoy the characters & I wonder if a sequel might resolve some of my unsatisfied feelings.

This was an easy listen and an entertaining story. The mystery of two lost boys hooked me from the beginning. Despite that, the story felt weak in moments. The world wasn‘t fleshed out, & we were at the conclusion before I had the chance to appreciate the world. The final battle was fast & anti-climatic. I rooted for the romance in the second half, but it felt like it came out of nowhere. But I liked the dynamic between Rafe, Jeremy, and Emilie.

I love when you start a book and right away you know you‘re going to love it. Such a great opening hook and the “storyteller corner” sections are so fun. Can‘t wait to keep reading.

Loved this one! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

(Saving the recipe at the end, I think it would be a fun tradition to start making this Christmas cake on Christmas each year)

As predicated, this is my choice for September #12BooksOf2024 -- though Welcome to St. Hell was some tough competition.

I‘m always a sucker for any story asking what happens to the children of portal fantasy stories when they return home, and this book I read in July did a fabulous job!

#12BooksOf2024 @Andrew65

This came highly recommended so I‘m excited to read it but fear I‘ll be up all night to finish it.

“A magical realm beckons two friends to confront their traumatic past and rescue a missing sister, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy.”

Such a great fantasy world, with interesting characters, sisterly love, and a sweet romance. Highly recommended for people who love the idea of falling into an alternate world of magic.

When @monalyisha paired me with @xicanti for #AuldLangSpine I was excited because I love seeing Memory's posts and reviews, we seem to have the same taste in books. This list proves it! I've already read and loved #'s 2, 3, 5, 6, 11, & 12. I've had 7, 9, 13, & 15 on my TBR so those will definitely be priority, but I'm also stoked about the rest which are new to me!
#AuldLangSpine2025 #ALSpine

In October my favorite book was So Witches We Became but The Lost Story is still ahead 💜
##TopRead2024 #ReadingBracket2024

2024 Reads Continued

TLS - Charming Narnia-esque story

TCBM - it's Prequel and first DS Marco novel are an OK start to a 5 book series based on Cardiff. Places I'm very familiar with.

COHF - I quickly got bored with this conclusion to the series. Will not be reading any subsequent series.

This just hit right the characters, storyline, and setting were all extremely interesting and different. Loved that the “storyteller” added just the right touch. I‘m a huge Narnia fan and with the added alternative dimension, good vs. evil, and complex plot this is another book I will reread and enjoy as I have Narnia

Earlier this week I fell fast and hard for a painting, and also for THE LOST STORY. While I find some bits a touch unsatisfying to look back on, this book gave me exactly what I needed in the moment. It‘s a somewhat quieter portal fantasy, full of friendship and wonder and families who find one another when their need is greatest. I couldn‘t tear myself away from its glorious warmth, and I love the note it ends on.

I so want to visit the magical world that is portrayed in this book! Magical is a perfect word to describe this story. Unicorns, mermaids, palaces, queens, etc. As with the real world, there is also evil. This magical book is also a love story. I‘ll admit that parts of it seemed slow to me, but I‘m still rounding up my rating. Such a good story.

This is an awesome tale of lost and found family, loyalty, and bravery. Some have said it's a spin on Narnia, but I believe it stands on its own merits. I hope the story continues in another volume. 5 stars.
#ReadAway2024 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
#LitsyLoveReads @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Read4life @TieDyeDude

Currently reading.

“ 'I hit it! Horribly, but still!' She lifted her hand for a high five.

'No high-fiving,' Jeremy said. 'When you make a good shot, you say, “West-by-God!-Virginia!“'

'West, by God, Virginia?'

“No, it's West! By Gawd! Virginia!' He put ludicrous emphasis on the God in a mock West Virginian accent that was not flattering to West Virginians or any other people on planet Earth. “

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

Thanks for the tag @Texreader 😺
1- My pets 🐕🐈🐕
2- Music 🎶
3- The Lost Story 📚
Want to play @Kappadeemom @mom_of_4 @Coleen_Nieto
#WondrousWednesday @Eggs

For August my favorite was The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer 🩵
#TopRead2024 #ReadingBracket2024

I have never wanted a duology so bad. I have no idea if one is planned but it is needed 🤞🏻
Emilie, recently found that she had a sister who disappeared when she was a teen, so Emilie hires Jeremy to find her. Jeremy when he was a teen him and his best friend Rafe were lost in the woods. Now Rafe isn't speaking to him, and Jeremy spends time finding the lost. Now the two of them are forced to work together and to confront their past 💙
#BOTM

I was nervous going in to this one, afraid that it wouldn't live up to The Wishing Game (and based on mixed reviews among my bookish friends). I shouldn't have worried. [Full review to come . . . hopefully.]

I hate when a hyped book I thought sounded really good turns out to be a bust. (Hate it even more when I was one of the ones hyping it-- oops.) I mean adults reteurning to Narnia? Come on! But juvenile writing elements and what could've been an incredible story not living up to its potential really knocked this one down for me. I was interested to see where it went, but it just wasn't written as well as it could've been.

2/5

I loved this premise, but this book just did not work for me. I didn't like the storyteller interludes, and I felt like the book never focused on the parts of the premise I found most interesting.

Once upon a time in West Virginia, two boys went missing.

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

Jeremy, I don‘t think we‘re in West Virginia anymore. …A new story inspired by the chronicles of Narnia is stepping into big shoes, but I really enjoyed how this story came together. As I was reading I thought some things might go unexplained, but Meg had this!

5am flight essentials

The Lost Story

This is the second book by this author. I loved it. I also loved this one. It's a bit different and was inspired by THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA.

This is a very sweet but very intense story. It's about two boys. Two boys who were lost. For six months they were missing and no one knew where they were or even if they were alive. Then one day they are back....

https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/08/the-lost-story-by-meg-shaffer.html

Besties Jeremy and Rafe went missing in a WV forest when they were kids. They showed back up 6 months later without an explanation.
15 years later, Jeremy is a professional finder and Emilie asked him to help find her sister that disappeared in the same forest as him and Rafe, a few years before they did.
A wonderful combo of Chronicles of Narnia, Where the Wild Things Are, and Peter Pan & The Lost Boys but felt totally new.

I already finished a couple of audiobooks this weekend so I need to figure out what audiobook to start next, but here are the ebook and physical book I've got going on at the moment #WeekendReads

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Meg Shaffer‘s books overflow with the nostalgia and comfort of childhood reads for a grownup audience. Despite its good qualities, this book just didn‘t move me or grip me the way “The Wishing Game” did. (I loved that book!) Alas, the cover is so pretty! #BOTM

So many pretty covers #WeekendReads

This is an ode to fairytales reminding me of The Lion Witch and Wardrobe but instead there‘s a magical forest that leads to an enchanted land. There‘s fantasy, mystery, with a dash of family psychological drama. Because what life doesn‘t have a little of all that!

I loved Shaffer‘s first book THE WISHING GAME! Shaffer is now an automatic author for me.

Y‘all, this book is good!

https://reecaspieces.com/2024/07/26/the-lost-story-by-meg-shaffer-bookreview-ran...

I am so glad I picked this. I was worried that I loved The Wishing Game so much that I could only be disappointed with this book. I was not disappointed. Well done, Meg Shaffer!

Finished this one last week. For some reason I didn‘t really believe the relationships at first. Though I really enjoyed the world once they got to it. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

❤️❤️❤️

Book mail! I read an arc of TAZ The Suffering Game but I've been so excited to read The Lost Story, which sounds very much like a grown up queer Narnia!

I loved Shaffer‘s debut The Wishing Game, but unfortunately this fantasy/romance just didn‘t hit the same note for me. The first half was an OK as the storyline/characters were developed (two boys go missing into a fantasy realm, return 6 months later, return again 15 years later for a missing girl). The second half let me down. There wasn‘t enough depth of detail to the fantasy realm, some of the plotline went off track and felt convoluted, 🔻

15 years after Jeremy & Rafe are found after disappearing in the woods of West Virginia for 6 months, Emilie comes seeking help for her kidnapped sister in those same woods.

This was a love letter to portal fantasies, & I adored it! The world building was really interesting, we get a sweet romance, & I loved every character we met! The pacing was a little wonky with the Storyteller‘s Interludes, but other than that, I loved this story! 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

This one‘s billed as “Chronicles of Narnia” inspired, and Shaffer does not fail to deliver on that promise! It‘s sweet, very West Virginia, and funny. That said, it‘s also a nice offering of closed door romance where the couple just happens to be men with some serious themes (primarily abuse and kidnapping) throughout.

When you‘re reading a reference to Gilmore girls, while watching Gilmore girls 🥰🥰🥰

Okay, I didn't have any expectations for this book going in - but so far I am absolutely LOVING it! 🥰

#BOTM so excited!

I‘m actually super excited for my July #BOTM box!! I can‘t wait to read all of these books.

I loved “The Wishing Game”. I‘m so excited for this one! 😍 #BOTM

July #botm books are up super early this morning. These are my two picks.

I adored Shaffer‘s debut novel, THE WISHING GAME, so I could barely contain my excitement to leap into her sophomore novel! I LOVED it!! It‘s the perfect blend of fantasy, romance, adventure & character growth! Shaffer writes for readers and this was a charming and lovely story that I tried to slow down to savor (impossible!). She creates characters (even rats!) that you can‘t help but fall in love with! I can‘t wait for whatever she writes next!

I loved this. It's freaking adorable. I got about halfway and couldn't stop.

First travel book complete. 🛫 Haven't even made it on the plane yet.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

Pub date is 7/16/24
#ARC #Netgalley