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A review by wondereads13
The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
This book is obviously heavily inspired by other portal fantasies, particularly The Chronicles of Narnia. Unfortunately, because of it's focus on other stories, Narnia and fairy tales, it makes this story feel too derivative. Not nearly enough attention is given to worldbuilding and plot, making the story feel aimless and the world feel like a 2D backdrop for the characters to move around in front. There are a few things introduced as major plot points, but pretty much everything is resolved around two-thirds of the way through, removing an urgency for the latter parts, which just feels like the characters walking around with no purpose.
I'd say my favorite part of this book was Jeremy, Rafe, and their relationship. They're both fun characters and I loved seeing them come together. I think I would have much rathered to see a character-driven story solely focusing on them instead of the awkward plot and unnecessary characters. This could easily have been a slower, if shorter, story about just them and their complicated feelings surrounding each other and Shannandoah.
Unfortunately, I think the third main character, Emilie, is pretty much useless. While she provides a reason for Jeremy and Rafe to return to Red Crow, that is pretty much the extent of her role in the story. Things just seem to slot into place for her, and I don't see why she was a necessary character. She's also a very basic character, very cheerful and upbeat, and she doesn't really encounter any occasions for development, which makes all the time we spend with her seem pointless. Jeremy could have easily found the cold case file on his own, removing pretty much every reason Emilie needed to be there.
The writing is a bit difficult because I do like the writing style but I don't like the execution. This is a style I enjoy, the kind that speaks directly to the reader, and it made reading this easier and more fun for me. However, there are multiple instances where the perspective is unclear, and I did not like the Storyteller Corners. They were interesting at first, but eventually they are just used to explain things directly to the reader instead of weaving information and hints into the story itself, and it feels lazy.
Overall, I wish this book had given its attention to Jeremy and Rafe, a quest to restore Rafe's memories and figure out their relationship on the way. Instead, there are so many useless plot points and characters shoe-horned into the story. I don't understand why the King of the Bright Boys was introduced in that way; he could have just been an encounter (because their altercation with him definitely does not read as climactic). Emilie, Skya, and the Valkyries sort of just seem there, more as plot devices than characters. They delay opening the book for so long for seemingly no reason. This book would have likely done much better as a novella.
I'd say my favorite part of this book was Jeremy, Rafe, and their relationship. They're both fun characters and I loved seeing them come together. I think I would have much rathered to see a character-driven story solely focusing on them instead of the awkward plot and unnecessary characters. This could easily have been a slower, if shorter, story about just them and their complicated feelings surrounding each other and Shannandoah.
Unfortunately, I think the third main character, Emilie, is pretty much useless. While she provides a reason for Jeremy and Rafe to return to Red Crow, that is pretty much the extent of her role in the story. Things just seem to slot into place for her, and I don't see why she was a necessary character. She's also a very basic character, very cheerful and upbeat, and she doesn't really encounter any occasions for development, which makes all the time we spend with her seem pointless. Jeremy could have easily found the cold case file on his own, removing pretty much every reason Emilie needed to be there.
The writing is a bit difficult because I do like the writing style but I don't like the execution. This is a style I enjoy, the kind that speaks directly to the reader, and it made reading this easier and more fun for me. However, there are multiple instances where the perspective is unclear, and I did not like the Storyteller Corners. They were interesting at first, but eventually they are just used to explain things directly to the reader instead of weaving information and hints into the story itself, and it feels lazy.
Overall, I wish this book had given its attention to Jeremy and Rafe, a quest to restore Rafe's memories and figure out their relationship on the way. Instead, there are so many useless plot points and characters shoe-horned into the story. I don't understand why the King of the Bright Boys was introduced in that way; he could have just been an encounter (because their altercation with him definitely does not read as climactic). Emilie, Skya, and the Valkyries sort of just seem there, more as plot devices than characters. They delay opening the book for so long for seemingly no reason. This book would have likely done much better as a novella.