I was immediately intrigued when I saw “The Lost Story” being promoted as a fairy tale for adults. Following three main characters, this novel has all the elements you would find in a fairy tale: a queen, knights, a prince, and even unicorns. Meg Shaffer is an incredible storyteller, and it is evident in the sheer beauty of her writing. From the vivid descriptions to the breaking of the fourth wall, all these elements worked perfectly together. Underneath this magical tale is an air of sadness that is somewhat heartbreaking. There are happy endings, but not perfectly happy endings, which makes this magical tale rooted in reality. I also loved that Shaffer created a book that is not intimidating for adults who are not big fantasy readers. The worldbuilding is light yet vivid, with no complicated backstories or insane character lineages to keep track of. She boils fairy tales to their essence, making this an extremely reader-friendly book. There are no huge action sequences or fast-paced scenes in this book. However, the pace was very steady, and there was never a moment when I was bored. Instead, I kept reading because I did not want to leave the magical world that Shaffer created. The Chronicles of Narnia was one of the first series that ignited my love for fantasy as a child, and “The Lost Story” had so many of the same vibes that I couldn’t put it down. I read this in one sitting and found myself energized by the messages of hope, love, and magic. It is a beautifully told story that is quiet in its delivery but holds so much meaning and impact.