The Lost Girls Series
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I found McElrath’s story of “Three Lost Girls” an imaginative and captivating read. The author’s portrayal of Dorothy did not mesh with the way I’ve always pictured her, particularly in her perpetual use of improper grammar. But I was intrigued by the book’s underlying premise that Dorothy, Wendy, and Alice could help each other deal with the aftermath of their unusual and somewhat troubling adventures. And all of us, at one time or another, may find ourselves asking: “How can I differentiate between reality and illusion? Can I trust my experiences to tell me the truth?” I especially enjoyed the ongoing intrigue of Dorothy’s slippers and would have enjoyed learning more about Wendy’s brothers. I wanted to learn more about Alice, too. (Wendy and Dorothy seemed more accessible to me than Alice did.)
The book contained surprises and adventures of its own and kept me engaged to the very end.
I found McElrath’s story of “Three Lost Girls” an imaginative and captivating read. The author’s portrayal of Dorothy did not mesh with the way I’ve always pictured her, particularly in her perpetual use of improper grammar. But I was intrigued by the book’s underlying premise that Dorothy, Wendy, and Alice could help each other deal with the aftermath of their unusual and somewhat troubling adventures. And all of us, at one time or another, may find ourselves asking: “How can I differentiate between reality and illusion? Can I trust my experiences to tell me the truth?” I especially enjoyed the ongoing intrigue of Dorothy’s slippers and would have enjoyed learning more about Wendy’s brothers. I wanted to learn more about Alice, too. (Wendy and Dorothy seemed more accessible to me than Alice did.)
The book contained surprises and adventures of its own and kept me engaged to the very end.
Three Lost Girls is a fun and interesting romp through the early years of the 20th Century as seen through the eyes of three favorite characters from classic children's literature. K.J. McElrath skillfully blends history and fantasy while breathing new life into Dorothy Gale, Wendy Darling and Lewis Carroll's Alice. The author also does a masterful job of fleshing out supporting characters such as Uncle Henry and Aunt Em, the three farm hands and George and Mary Darling, making them more real than ever before.
In addition, this story is packed with "Easter eggs" and humorous references, making it a highly enjoyable must-read. Fans of authors like Harry Turtledove, Neil Gaiman and Gregory Maguire will not want to miss Three Lost Girls.
Three Lost Girls is a fun and interesting romp through the early years of the 20th Century as seen through the eyes of three favorite characters from classic children's literature. K.J. McElrath skillfully blends history and fantasy while breathing new life into Dorothy Gale, Wendy Darling and Lewis Carroll's Alice. The author also does a masterful job of fleshing out supporting characters such as Uncle Henry and Aunt Em, the three farm hands and George and Mary Darling, making them more real than ever before.
In addition, this story is packed with "Easter eggs" and humorous references, making it a highly enjoyable must-read. Fans of authors like Harry Turtledove, Neil Gaiman and Gregory Maguire will not want to miss Three Lost Girls.
Turn of the century literary fantasy mash-up
An entertaining and compelling mash up of early 20th century history and fantasy, this book has Dorothy, Wendy and Alice (yes, those girls) carving out their places in a changing world while haunted by memories of their fantastic childhood adventures that they're told can't be real. This is the beginning of a series you'll want to continue.
Turn of the century literary fantasy mash-up
An entertaining and compelling mash up of early 20th century history and fantasy, this book has Dorothy, Wendy and Alice (yes, those girls) carving out their places in a changing world while haunted by memories of their fantastic childhood adventures that they're told can't be real. This is the beginning of a series you'll want to continue.
There have been many stories that put together the adventures and heroines of Dorothy's Oz, Alice's "Curioser" Wonderland and Wendy's Peter Pan. I have never read any of them (aside from the webcomic "Namesake") until this one, which was my first . . . and I could not have asked for a better turn out!
McElrath takes into account their stories' published setting years (difference being the books don't exist) and makes it a historically accurate "What-If..?" scenario of these three ladies meeting and conversing, the main factor being that Alice has become an older learned Doctor who recruits the two young girls to her residence after hearing about their similarly-sounding "fantasies" and helps them to rethink their experiences; to realize that they are not helpless nor that they can be harmed by these delusions and to figure out where these radical fantastical other-worldly ideas may have manifested.
Interestingly, Dorothy Gale and Wendy Darling do not get along, not at all, their personalities clashing and repelling each other so that "Dottie" and "Prissypants" are constantly bickering or competing.
How does a Kansas farm girl and a London aristocrat put up with each other day to day? How does Dr Alice Liddell encourage and interact with the girls so patiently during their sessions?
The story is engaging, thrilling, enticing and approaches the possibility of the two young leading females growing up and (especially in the case of Dorothy) learning to actually become their own person as they mature in their years with the onset of World War 1, but most of all it is respectful and respectable; he does not go hardcore into romance or adult themes, far from it. he makes them real girls with real feelings and thoughts with their own skills that surprises the other.
Best of all he stays true to the original books of their settings, especially with Oz, by staying away from the often-too-referenced classic film and focusing more on the original book authors' writings, without being specific but yet always alluding to the original Silver Shoes in an exquisite description and fascinating inclusion for most of the first half, however, he does combine two opposing aspects in portraying a Wicked West Witch for a bit. I was also surprised at how, when the girls are now teenagers becoming young adults, he alludes to a later Oz book with a strange and beautifully ornate belt . . .
McElrath does include Kansas farmhands, but he makes them unique and originally distinguishable, as well as historically accurate to what would be appropriate at that time, several decades ago, including fresh new interesting names.
Being "old times", there may be some racial reference that was used back then, so caution for younger readers may be recommended.
Do not expect full chapters where we re-read their fantasy adventures, as the intention is to focus on the real world aftermath and "consequences" of their dreamy recollections to their families. He also delves into the adults who raise them, developing the dynamic - and characters - between Wendy's parents Mr and Mrs Darling (in particular, her) as well as her brothers John and Michael, even creating depth and backstory to Dorothy's Aunt Em and Uncle Henry.
How would Dorothy and Wendy grow up in their time periods? How do they handle the "attraction" that is happening between them, emotionally and physically, as well as their male counterparts during maturity?
How do they get past their childhood traumas? How do their families coexist, interact with each other across the waters, and what happens when business is involved and exchanged between the two, in different classes and countries?
And what if their dreams are MORE than delusions? What if they are more real and lifelike than they realized?
These questions and many others are addressed and answered in this book (with a few loose ends to be revisited), which is planned to be the first of three (the magical number) . . . and I am very interested to find out what happens next and how!
There have been many stories that put together the adventures and heroines of Dorothy's Oz, Alice's "Curioser" Wonderland and Wendy's Peter Pan. I have never read any of them (aside from the webcomic "Namesake") until this one, which was my first . . . and I could not have asked for a better turn out!
McElrath takes into account their stories' published setting years (difference being the books don't exist) and makes it a historically accurate "What-If..?" scenario of these three ladies meeting and conversing, the main factor being that Alice has become an older learned Doctor who recruits the two young girls to her residence after hearing about their similarly-sounding "fantasies" and helps them to rethink their experiences; to realize that they are not helpless nor that they can be harmed by these delusions and to figure out where these radical fantastical other-worldly ideas may have manifested.
Interestingly, Dorothy Gale and Wendy Darling do not get along, not at all, their personalities clashing and repelling each other so that "Dottie" and "Prissypants" are constantly bickering or competing.
How does a Kansas farm girl and a London aristocrat put up with each other day to day? How does Dr Alice Liddell encourage and interact with the girls so patiently during their sessions?
The story is engaging, thrilling, enticing and approaches the possibility of the two young leading females growing up and (especially in the case of Dorothy) learning to actually become their own person as they mature in their years with the onset of World War 1, but most of all it is respectful and respectable; he does not go hardcore into romance or adult themes, far from it. he makes them real girls with real feelings and thoughts with their own skills that surprises the other.
Best of all he stays true to the original books of their settings, especially with Oz, by staying away from the often-too-referenced classic film and focusing more on the original book authors' writings, without being specific but yet always alluding to the original Silver Shoes in an exquisite description and fascinating inclusion for most of the first half, however, he does combine two opposing aspects in portraying a Wicked West Witch for a bit. I was also surprised at how, when the girls are now teenagers becoming young adults, he alludes to a later Oz book with a strange and beautifully ornate belt . . .
McElrath does include Kansas farmhands, but he makes them unique and originally distinguishable, as well as historically accurate to what would be appropriate at that time, several decades ago, including fresh new interesting names.
Being "old times", there may be some racial reference that was used back then, so caution for younger readers may be recommended.
Do not expect full chapters where we re-read their fantasy adventures, as the intention is to focus on the real world aftermath and "consequences" of their dreamy recollections to their families. He also delves into the adults who raise them, developing the dynamic - and characters - between Wendy's parents Mr and Mrs Darling (in particular, her) as well as her brothers John and Michael, even creating depth and backstory to Dorothy's Aunt Em and Uncle Henry.
How would Dorothy and Wendy grow up in their time periods? How do they handle the "attraction" that is happening between them, emotionally and physically, as well as their male counterparts during maturity?
How do they get past their childhood traumas? How do their families coexist, interact with each other across the waters, and what happens when business is involved and exchanged between the two, in different classes and countries?
And what if their dreams are MORE than delusions? What if they are more real and lifelike than they realized?
These questions and many others are addressed and answered in this book (with a few loose ends to be revisited), which is planned to be the first of three (the magical number) . . . and I am very interested to find out what happens next and how!
"McElrath’s whimsically imaginative novel brings together three famous female protagonists from late-19th- and early-20th-century popular fiction and challenges the line between reality and fantasy.
"The story opens in the spring of 1904, in a small, hardscrabble Kansas farmhouse, as 8-year-old Dorothy Gale (familiar to readers from L. Frank Baum’s Oz novels) is regaining consciousness after suffering a blow to her head—an injury that occurred after a tornado ripped through the area. She finds herself surrounded by her Aunt Em, Uncle Henry, and three farmhands—known as Hawk, Chicory, and Zach—who are as close to her as family. On her feet she wears a pair of maroon-colored slippers. She tells her aunt about a place beyond the rainbow that she’s just visited, but this revelation is met with confusion and fear. Doc Sorensen, a local physician, declares that she has hallucinated her visit to Oz; she is, perhaps, suffering from “prairie fever,” he surmises. But this diagnosis doesn’t take at least one mystery into account: Where did she acquire those strange slippers?
"Later that year, across the Atlantic Ocean, three missing children—John, Michael, and Wendy Darling of Peter Pan fame—have returned to their London home after a two-week disappearance; they report an extraordinary adventure in a strange place called Neverland. In 1905, both Dorothy and Wendy begin a year in the care of Dr. Alice Liddell-Dodgson, a British psychiatrist who is uniquely equipped to treat young delusional patients: As a child, she mistakenly ate a psychedelic mushroom, after which she found herself in a place called Wonderland.
"Over the course of this novel, McElrath presents readers with a lively narrative that draws on elements of familiar classic tales while also featuring an ample supply of humorous dialogue, with Wendy speaking in the voice of a well-educated member of London’s upper-middle class (“Dorothy Gale is a complete peasant!” she writes at one point), and Dorothy (who initially calls Wendy a “prissypants”) speaking in the rough dialect of the Kansas plains.
"Overall, the narrative reveals itself as a tale of friendship and love set against a backdrop of scientific research that’s frequently belied by unexplained, apparently magical occurrences. Indeed, as the story goes on and readers watch Dorothy and Wendy grow to young adulthood, it becomes apparent that there is more to their supposed delusions than meets the scientific eye. McElrath draws upon Native American snake-based legends and Scottish mysticism (“tales of Tir-Nan-Og and the sidhe and boucca spirits”), which, in the story, is consciously and unconsciously passed down through the generations.
"The cannabis-smoking Alice plays a relatively small albeit pivotal role in the novel compared to the other two literary figures, but she effectively helps the girls to distinguish fantasy from reality during her interactions with them. Added to the mix are adult discussions of sexual orientation (“A love that dares not speak its name?” “A love...that hasn’t any name”) as well as nods to feminism.
"An entertaining coming-of-age tale with a final amusing twist."
"McElrath’s whimsically imaginative novel brings together three famous female protagonists from late-19th- and early-20th-century popular fiction and challenges the line between reality and fantasy.
"The story opens in the spring of 1904, in a small, hardscrabble Kansas farmhouse, as 8-year-old Dorothy Gale (familiar to readers from L. Frank Baum’s Oz novels) is regaining consciousness after suffering a blow to her head—an injury that occurred after a tornado ripped through the area. She finds herself surrounded by her Aunt Em, Uncle Henry, and three farmhands—known as Hawk, Chicory, and Zach—who are as close to her as family. On her feet she wears a pair of maroon-colored slippers. She tells her aunt about a place beyond the rainbow that she’s just visited, but this revelation is met with confusion and fear. Doc Sorensen, a local physician, declares that she has hallucinated her visit to Oz; she is, perhaps, suffering from “prairie fever,” he surmises. But this diagnosis doesn’t take at least one mystery into account: Where did she acquire those strange slippers?
"Later that year, across the Atlantic Ocean, three missing children—John, Michael, and Wendy Darling of Peter Pan fame—have returned to their London home after a two-week disappearance; they report an extraordinary adventure in a strange place called Neverland. In 1905, both Dorothy and Wendy begin a year in the care of Dr. Alice Liddell-Dodgson, a British psychiatrist who is uniquely equipped to treat young delusional patients: As a child, she mistakenly ate a psychedelic mushroom, after which she found herself in a place called Wonderland.
"Over the course of this novel, McElrath presents readers with a lively narrative that draws on elements of familiar classic tales while also featuring an ample supply of humorous dialogue, with Wendy speaking in the voice of a well-educated member of London’s upper-middle class (“Dorothy Gale is a complete peasant!” she writes at one point), and Dorothy (who initially calls Wendy a “prissypants”) speaking in the rough dialect of the Kansas plains.
"Overall, the narrative reveals itself as a tale of friendship and love set against a backdrop of scientific research that’s frequently belied by unexplained, apparently magical occurrences. Indeed, as the story goes on and readers watch Dorothy and Wendy grow to young adulthood, it becomes apparent that there is more to their supposed delusions than meets the scientific eye. McElrath draws upon Native American snake-based legends and Scottish mysticism (“tales of Tir-Nan-Og and the sidhe and boucca spirits”), which, in the story, is consciously and unconsciously passed down through the generations.
"The cannabis-smoking Alice plays a relatively small albeit pivotal role in the novel compared to the other two literary figures, but she effectively helps the girls to distinguish fantasy from reality during her interactions with them. Added to the mix are adult discussions of sexual orientation (“A love that dares not speak its name?” “A love...that hasn’t any name”) as well as nods to feminism.
"An entertaining coming-of-age tale with a final amusing twist."
K. J. McElrath's imaginative storytelling shines in vivid detail with his ingenious historical coming-of-age fantasy novel.
In the Three Lost Girls, the first volume in The Lost Girls series, author K. J. McElrath cleverly combines the characters of Dorothy Gale from L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz, Wendy Darling from J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan, and Alice from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland and sets this enigmatic trio together in the early 1900s. A time of not only political and social turbulence in the pre-World War I years, the girls also face coming to terms with their disturbing recent experiences in Oz and Neverland. Alice, portrayed in this telling as a grown woman who has become a respected psychiatrist, serves as a role model, mentor and confidant when the young girls arrive at her facility in England for help untangling the disturbing events of previous times that continue to haunt their present-day lives.
In this surprising and captivating tale, the girls begin their relationship with mistrust and downright dislike. However, their friendship grows as they progress in treatment with Dr. Alice Liddell-Dodgson. In this coming-of-age story, the girls also explore their feelings for each other, forming an unbreakable bond as they eventually depart Dr. Liddell-Dodgson's care and seek new lives and adventures in America for Dorothy and England for Wendy.
The vivid descriptions of everyday life in Progressive Era America and Edwardian Era England make the story believable and compelling. McElrath spins depictive writing about historical events, terminology and ordinary products into a web of delight for the reader. His use of imagery, diction and tone helps transport the reader directly to the dusty corrals of Dorothy's cattle ranch or the urban hustle and gentility of Wendy's London with precision and ease.
Not only a master of illuminating the vibrancy of the time, McElrath also handles the two young women's journey to maturity with sensitivity. Aided with believable dialogue, the reader senses the tumult, sexual exploration, confusion, humor, sadness and hope that often comprises the teen years for many as the girls come to accept and move forward with not only their responsibilities but also dreams for their futures.
Readers who enjoyed the original telling of the Oz, Neverland and Wonderland stories will be pleasantly surprised by the bold new directions that the characters take in this fresh look at these classic characters as inspired by their book and not movie versions and historical periods. I enthusiastically recommend this book in The Lost Girls series!
K. J. McElrath's imaginative storytelling shines in vivid detail with his ingenious historical coming-of-age fantasy novel.
In the Three Lost Girls, the first volume in The Lost Girls series, author K. J. McElrath cleverly combines the characters of Dorothy Gale from L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz, Wendy Darling from J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan, and Alice from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland and sets this enigmatic trio together in the early 1900s. A time of not only political and social turbulence in the pre-World War I years, the girls also face coming to terms with their disturbing recent experiences in Oz and Neverland. Alice, portrayed in this telling as a grown woman who has become a respected psychiatrist, serves as a role model, mentor and confidant when the young girls arrive at her facility in England for help untangling the disturbing events of previous times that continue to haunt their present-day lives.
In this surprising and captivating tale, the girls begin their relationship with mistrust and downright dislike. However, their friendship grows as they progress in treatment with Dr. Alice Liddell-Dodgson. In this coming-of-age story, the girls also explore their feelings for each other, forming an unbreakable bond as they eventually depart Dr. Liddell-Dodgson's care and seek new lives and adventures in America for Dorothy and England for Wendy.
The vivid descriptions of everyday life in Progressive Era America and Edwardian Era England make the story believable and compelling. McElrath spins depictive writing about historical events, terminology and ordinary products into a web of delight for the reader. His use of imagery, diction and tone helps transport the reader directly to the dusty corrals of Dorothy's cattle ranch or the urban hustle and gentility of Wendy's London with precision and ease.
Not only a master of illuminating the vibrancy of the time, McElrath also handles the two young women's journey to maturity with sensitivity. Aided with believable dialogue, the reader senses the tumult, sexual exploration, confusion, humor, sadness and hope that often comprises the teen years for many as the girls come to accept and move forward with not only their responsibilities but also dreams for their futures.
Readers who enjoyed the original telling of the Oz, Neverland and Wonderland stories will be pleasantly surprised by the bold new directions that the characters take in this fresh look at these classic characters as inspired by their book and not movie versions and historical periods. I enthusiastically recommend this book in The Lost Girls series!
Without giving anything away, I'd say this book tweaks your imagination and gives you a unique perspective on your favorite characters. If you have ever wondered how your storybook friends might meet up one day, this book is for you.
Without giving anything away, I'd say this book tweaks your imagination and gives you a unique perspective on your favorite characters. If you have ever wondered how your storybook friends might meet up one day, this book is for you.
KJ McElrath is releasing another novel, and this one is a mash-up of Through the Looking Glass, The Wizard of Oz, and Peter Pan. McElrath uses his prodigious knowledge of history and historical events to infuse this mash-up with influences of the early 20th century, and it works."
McElrath fans will revel in identifying the “Easter Eggs” he plants as the story unfolds. There is always a subtext to twist what our heroes know and understand, and there is always an exploration of economy, class, and gender roles and identity as the story progresses, so even though this could be considered a historical novel and retelling of these classics, it is also very current in its discussions.
New readers to McElrath might get lost in the long windup in chapters one and three, but hang with the story because once McElrath pitches the ball, the game is on, and this book becomes a fast paced and very enjoyable read.
So let me back up a bit. Have you’ve ever wondered what happened to Alice to make her follow that white rabbit, or if Wendy’s flight with the fairies and Pan captured your imagination? Have you wondered how Wendy or Dorothy fared after their return from Neverland or Oz? Did you ever wonder how they resolved what happened to them?
McElrath grapples with those questions and more and brings in a much older Alice as the guide and therapist to counsel Wendy and Dorothy. We meet psychiatrist Dr. Alice Liddell Dodgson in her practice at The Liddell-Dodgson Asylum for Juveniles in 1905. Wendy is her patient and Dorothy’s case has come to her attention. Dr. Liddell-Dodgson is well poised to help the girls deal with all of their issues, and the good doctor, as a trained scientist, will use her experiences and knowledge to bring both girls back from the trauma of their fantastic experiences, Alice begins in 1905 shortly after the inception of the talking cure in 1895, and continues her work with the girls into the 1940s.
The book moves between three points of view, Alice, Wendy, and Dorothy, and we see the experiences and the retelling of these favorite children’s tales retold through the eyes of Alice, a scientist, and Wendy and Dorothy as prepubescent children. By the end of the book, two young women have come to terms with their supernatural experiences in an interesting and unexpected way.
To say that this book is entertaining is an understatement. Readers won’t be able to put the book down, and the wonderful references to each of these time-honored tales raises the reading pleasure. I highly recommend this novel but be prepared to wade through the first several chapters. I promise, it’s worth the wait! This is a well-crafted and highly entertaining book, and I give it four stars.
KJ McElrath is releasing another novel, and this one is a mash-up of Through the Looking Glass, The Wizard of Oz, and Peter Pan. McElrath uses his prodigious knowledge of history and historical events to infuse this mash-up with influences of the early 20th century, and it works."
McElrath fans will revel in identifying the “Easter Eggs” he plants as the story unfolds. There is always a subtext to twist what our heroes know and understand, and there is always an exploration of economy, class, and gender roles and identity as the story progresses, so even though this could be considered a historical novel and retelling of these classics, it is also very current in its discussions.
New readers to McElrath might get lost in the long windup in chapters one and three, but hang with the story because once McElrath pitches the ball, the game is on, and this book becomes a fast paced and very enjoyable read.
So let me back up a bit. Have you’ve ever wondered what happened to Alice to make her follow that white rabbit, or if Wendy’s flight with the fairies and Pan captured your imagination? Have you wondered how Wendy or Dorothy fared after their return from Neverland or Oz? Did you ever wonder how they resolved what happened to them?
McElrath grapples with those questions and more and brings in a much older Alice as the guide and therapist to counsel Wendy and Dorothy. We meet psychiatrist Dr. Alice Liddell Dodgson in her practice at The Liddell-Dodgson Asylum for Juveniles in 1905. Wendy is her patient and Dorothy’s case has come to her attention. Dr. Liddell-Dodgson is well poised to help the girls deal with all of their issues, and the good doctor, as a trained scientist, will use her experiences and knowledge to bring both girls back from the trauma of their fantastic experiences, Alice begins in 1905 shortly after the inception of the talking cure in 1895, and continues her work with the girls into the 1940s.
The book moves between three points of view, Alice, Wendy, and Dorothy, and we see the experiences and the retelling of these favorite children’s tales retold through the eyes of Alice, a scientist, and Wendy and Dorothy as prepubescent children. By the end of the book, two young women have come to terms with their supernatural experiences in an interesting and unexpected way.
To say that this book is entertaining is an understatement. Readers won’t be able to put the book down, and the wonderful references to each of these time-honored tales raises the reading pleasure. I highly recommend this novel but be prepared to wade through the first several chapters. I promise, it’s worth the wait! This is a well-crafted and highly entertaining book, and I give it four stars.
I found McElrath’s story of “Three Lost Girls” an imaginative and captivating read. The author’s portrayal of Dorothy did not mesh with the way I’ve always pictured her, particularly in her perpetual use of improper grammar. But I was intrigued by the book’s underlying premise that Dorothy, Wendy, and Alice could help each other deal with the aftermath of their unusual and somewhat troubling adventures. And all of us, at one time or another, may find ourselves asking: “How can I differentiate between reality and illusion? Can I trust my experiences to tell me the truth?” I especially enjoyed the ongoing intrigue of Dorothy’s slippers and would have enjoyed learning more about Wendy’s brothers. I wanted to learn more about Alice, too. (Wendy and Dorothy seemed more accessible to me than Alice did.)
The book contained surprises and adventures of its own and kept me engaged to the very end.
I found McElrath’s story of “Three Lost Girls” an imaginative and captivating read. The author’s portrayal of Dorothy did not mesh with the way I’ve always pictured her, particularly in her perpetual use of improper grammar. But I was intrigued by the book’s underlying premise that Dorothy, Wendy, and Alice could help each other deal with the aftermath of their unusual and somewhat troubling adventures. And all of us, at one time or another, may find ourselves asking: “How can I differentiate between reality and illusion? Can I trust my experiences to tell me the truth?” I especially enjoyed the ongoing intrigue of Dorothy’s slippers and would have enjoyed learning more about Wendy’s brothers. I wanted to learn more about Alice, too. (Wendy and Dorothy seemed more accessible to me than Alice did.)
The book contained surprises and adventures of its own and kept me engaged to the very end.
Three Lost Girls is a fun and interesting romp through the early years of the 20th Century as seen through the eyes of three favorite characters from classic children's literature. K.J. McElrath skillfully blends history and fantasy while breathing new life into Dorothy Gale, Wendy Darling and Lewis Carroll's Alice. The author also does a masterful job of fleshing out supporting characters such as Uncle Henry and Aunt Em, the three farm hands and George and Mary Darling, making them more real than ever before.
In addition, this story is packed with "Easter eggs" and humorous references, making it a highly enjoyable must-read. Fans of authors like Harry Turtledove, Neil Gaiman and Gregory Maguire will not want to miss Three Lost Girls.
Three Lost Girls is a fun and interesting romp through the early years of the 20th Century as seen through the eyes of three favorite characters from classic children's literature. K.J. McElrath skillfully blends history and fantasy while breathing new life into Dorothy Gale, Wendy Darling and Lewis Carroll's Alice. The author also does a masterful job of fleshing out supporting characters such as Uncle Henry and Aunt Em, the three farm hands and George and Mary Darling, making them more real than ever before.
In addition, this story is packed with "Easter eggs" and humorous references, making it a highly enjoyable must-read. Fans of authors like Harry Turtledove, Neil Gaiman and Gregory Maguire will not want to miss Three Lost Girls.
Turn of the century literary fantasy mash-up
An entertaining and compelling mash up of early 20th century history and fantasy, this book has Dorothy, Wendy and Alice (yes, those girls) carving out their places in a changing world while haunted by memories of their fantastic childhood adventures that they're told can't be real. This is the beginning of a series you'll want to continue.
Turn of the century literary fantasy mash-up
An entertaining and compelling mash up of early 20th century history and fantasy, this book has Dorothy, Wendy and Alice (yes, those girls) carving out their places in a changing world while haunted by memories of their fantastic childhood adventures that they're told can't be real. This is the beginning of a series you'll want to continue.
There have been many stories that put together the adventures and heroines of Dorothy's Oz, Alice's "Curioser" Wonderland and Wendy's Peter Pan. I have never read any of them (aside from the webcomic "Namesake") until this one, which was my first . . . and I could not have asked for a better turn out!
McElrath takes into account their stories' published setting years (difference being the books don't exist) and makes it a historically accurate "What-If..?" scenario of these three ladies meeting and conversing, the main factor being that Alice has become an older learned Doctor who recruits the two young girls to her residence after hearing about their similarly-sounding "fantasies" and helps them to rethink their experiences; to realize that they are not helpless nor that they can be harmed by these delusions and to figure out where these radical fantastical other-worldly ideas may have manifested.
Interestingly, Dorothy Gale and Wendy Darling do not get along, not at all, their personalities clashing and repelling each other so that "Dottie" and "Prissypants" are constantly bickering or competing.
How does a Kansas farm girl and a London aristocrat put up with each other day to day? How does Dr Alice Liddell encourage and interact with the girls so patiently during their sessions?
The story is engaging, thrilling, enticing and approaches the possibility of the two young leading females growing up and (especially in the case of Dorothy) learning to actually become their own person as they mature in their years with the onset of World War 1, but most of all it is respectful and respectable; he does not go hardcore into romance or adult themes, far from it. he makes them real girls with real feelings and thoughts with their own skills that surprises the other.
Best of all he stays true to the original books of their settings, especially with Oz, by staying away from the often-too-referenced classic film and focusing more on the original book authors' writings, without being specific but yet always alluding to the original Silver Shoes in an exquisite description and fascinating inclusion for most of the first half, however, he does combine two opposing aspects in portraying a Wicked West Witch for a bit. I was also surprised at how, when the girls are now teenagers becoming young adults, he alludes to a later Oz book with a strange and beautifully ornate belt . . .
McElrath does include Kansas farmhands, but he makes them unique and originally distinguishable, as well as historically accurate to what would be appropriate at that time, several decades ago, including fresh new interesting names.
Being "old times", there may be some racial reference that was used back then, so caution for younger readers may be recommended.
Do not expect full chapters where we re-read their fantasy adventures, as the intention is to focus on the real world aftermath and "consequences" of their dreamy recollections to their families. He also delves into the adults who raise them, developing the dynamic - and characters - between Wendy's parents Mr and Mrs Darling (in particular, her) as well as her brothers John and Michael, even creating depth and backstory to Dorothy's Aunt Em and Uncle Henry.
How would Dorothy and Wendy grow up in their time periods? How do they handle the "attraction" that is happening between them, emotionally and physically, as well as their male counterparts during maturity?
How do they get past their childhood traumas? How do their families coexist, interact with each other across the waters, and what happens when business is involved and exchanged between the two, in different classes and countries?
And what if their dreams are MORE than delusions? What if they are more real and lifelike than they realized?
These questions and many others are addressed and answered in this book (with a few loose ends to be revisited), which is planned to be the first of three (the magical number) . . . and I am very interested to find out what happens next and how!
There have been many stories that put together the adventures and heroines of Dorothy's Oz, Alice's "Curioser" Wonderland and Wendy's Peter Pan. I have never read any of them (aside from the webcomic "Namesake") until this one, which was my first . . . and I could not have asked for a better turn out!
McElrath takes into account their stories' published setting years (difference being the books don't exist) and makes it a historically accurate "What-If..?" scenario of these three ladies meeting and conversing, the main factor being that Alice has become an older learned Doctor who recruits the two young girls to her residence after hearing about their similarly-sounding "fantasies" and helps them to rethink their experiences; to realize that they are not helpless nor that they can be harmed by these delusions and to figure out where these radical fantastical other-worldly ideas may have manifested.
Interestingly, Dorothy Gale and Wendy Darling do not get along, not at all, their personalities clashing and repelling each other so that "Dottie" and "Prissypants" are constantly bickering or competing.
How does a Kansas farm girl and a London aristocrat put up with each other day to day? How does Dr Alice Liddell encourage and interact with the girls so patiently during their sessions?
The story is engaging, thrilling, enticing and approaches the possibility of the two young leading females growing up and (especially in the case of Dorothy) learning to actually become their own person as they mature in their years with the onset of World War 1, but most of all it is respectful and respectable; he does not go hardcore into romance or adult themes, far from it. he makes them real girls with real feelings and thoughts with their own skills that surprises the other.
Best of all he stays true to the original books of their settings, especially with Oz, by staying away from the often-too-referenced classic film and focusing more on the original book authors' writings, without being specific but yet always alluding to the original Silver Shoes in an exquisite description and fascinating inclusion for most of the first half, however, he does combine two opposing aspects in portraying a Wicked West Witch for a bit. I was also surprised at how, when the girls are now teenagers becoming young adults, he alludes to a later Oz book with a strange and beautifully ornate belt . . .
McElrath does include Kansas farmhands, but he makes them unique and originally distinguishable, as well as historically accurate to what would be appropriate at that time, several decades ago, including fresh new interesting names.
Being "old times", there may be some racial reference that was used back then, so caution for younger readers may be recommended.
Do not expect full chapters where we re-read their fantasy adventures, as the intention is to focus on the real world aftermath and "consequences" of their dreamy recollections to their families. He also delves into the adults who raise them, developing the dynamic - and characters - between Wendy's parents Mr and Mrs Darling (in particular, her) as well as her brothers John and Michael, even creating depth and backstory to Dorothy's Aunt Em and Uncle Henry.
How would Dorothy and Wendy grow up in their time periods? How do they handle the "attraction" that is happening between them, emotionally and physically, as well as their male counterparts during maturity?
How do they get past their childhood traumas? How do their families coexist, interact with each other across the waters, and what happens when business is involved and exchanged between the two, in different classes and countries?
And what if their dreams are MORE than delusions? What if they are more real and lifelike than they realized?
These questions and many others are addressed and answered in this book (with a few loose ends to be revisited), which is planned to be the first of three (the magical number) . . . and I am very interested to find out what happens next and how!
"McElrath’s whimsically imaginative novel brings together three famous female protagonists from late-19th- and early-20th-century popular fiction and challenges the line between reality and fantasy.
"The story opens in the spring of 1904, in a small, hardscrabble Kansas farmhouse, as 8-year-old Dorothy Gale (familiar to readers from L. Frank Baum’s Oz novels) is regaining consciousness after suffering a blow to her head—an injury that occurred after a tornado ripped through the area. She finds herself surrounded by her Aunt Em, Uncle Henry, and three farmhands—known as Hawk, Chicory, and Zach—who are as close to her as family. On her feet she wears a pair of maroon-colored slippers. She tells her aunt about a place beyond the rainbow that she’s just visited, but this revelation is met with confusion and fear. Doc Sorensen, a local physician, declares that she has hallucinated her visit to Oz; she is, perhaps, suffering from “prairie fever,” he surmises. But this diagnosis doesn’t take at least one mystery into account: Where did she acquire those strange slippers?
"Later that year, across the Atlantic Ocean, three missing children—John, Michael, and Wendy Darling of Peter Pan fame—have returned to their London home after a two-week disappearance; they report an extraordinary adventure in a strange place called Neverland. In 1905, both Dorothy and Wendy begin a year in the care of Dr. Alice Liddell-Dodgson, a British psychiatrist who is uniquely equipped to treat young delusional patients: As a child, she mistakenly ate a psychedelic mushroom, after which she found herself in a place called Wonderland.
"Over the course of this novel, McElrath presents readers with a lively narrative that draws on elements of familiar classic tales while also featuring an ample supply of humorous dialogue, with Wendy speaking in the voice of a well-educated member of London’s upper-middle class (“Dorothy Gale is a complete peasant!” she writes at one point), and Dorothy (who initially calls Wendy a “prissypants”) speaking in the rough dialect of the Kansas plains.
"Overall, the narrative reveals itself as a tale of friendship and love set against a backdrop of scientific research that’s frequently belied by unexplained, apparently magical occurrences. Indeed, as the story goes on and readers watch Dorothy and Wendy grow to young adulthood, it becomes apparent that there is more to their supposed delusions than meets the scientific eye. McElrath draws upon Native American snake-based legends and Scottish mysticism (“tales of Tir-Nan-Og and the sidhe and boucca spirits”), which, in the story, is consciously and unconsciously passed down through the generations.
"The cannabis-smoking Alice plays a relatively small albeit pivotal role in the novel compared to the other two literary figures, but she effectively helps the girls to distinguish fantasy from reality during her interactions with them. Added to the mix are adult discussions of sexual orientation (“A love that dares not speak its name?” “A love...that hasn’t any name”) as well as nods to feminism.
"An entertaining coming-of-age tale with a final amusing twist."
"McElrath’s whimsically imaginative novel brings together three famous female protagonists from late-19th- and early-20th-century popular fiction and challenges the line between reality and fantasy.
"The story opens in the spring of 1904, in a small, hardscrabble Kansas farmhouse, as 8-year-old Dorothy Gale (familiar to readers from L. Frank Baum’s Oz novels) is regaining consciousness after suffering a blow to her head—an injury that occurred after a tornado ripped through the area. She finds herself surrounded by her Aunt Em, Uncle Henry, and three farmhands—known as Hawk, Chicory, and Zach—who are as close to her as family. On her feet she wears a pair of maroon-colored slippers. She tells her aunt about a place beyond the rainbow that she’s just visited, but this revelation is met with confusion and fear. Doc Sorensen, a local physician, declares that she has hallucinated her visit to Oz; she is, perhaps, suffering from “prairie fever,” he surmises. But this diagnosis doesn’t take at least one mystery into account: Where did she acquire those strange slippers?
"Later that year, across the Atlantic Ocean, three missing children—John, Michael, and Wendy Darling of Peter Pan fame—have returned to their London home after a two-week disappearance; they report an extraordinary adventure in a strange place called Neverland. In 1905, both Dorothy and Wendy begin a year in the care of Dr. Alice Liddell-Dodgson, a British psychiatrist who is uniquely equipped to treat young delusional patients: As a child, she mistakenly ate a psychedelic mushroom, after which she found herself in a place called Wonderland.
"Over the course of this novel, McElrath presents readers with a lively narrative that draws on elements of familiar classic tales while also featuring an ample supply of humorous dialogue, with Wendy speaking in the voice of a well-educated member of London’s upper-middle class (“Dorothy Gale is a complete peasant!” she writes at one point), and Dorothy (who initially calls Wendy a “prissypants”) speaking in the rough dialect of the Kansas plains.
"Overall, the narrative reveals itself as a tale of friendship and love set against a backdrop of scientific research that’s frequently belied by unexplained, apparently magical occurrences. Indeed, as the story goes on and readers watch Dorothy and Wendy grow to young adulthood, it becomes apparent that there is more to their supposed delusions than meets the scientific eye. McElrath draws upon Native American snake-based legends and Scottish mysticism (“tales of Tir-Nan-Og and the sidhe and boucca spirits”), which, in the story, is consciously and unconsciously passed down through the generations.
"The cannabis-smoking Alice plays a relatively small albeit pivotal role in the novel compared to the other two literary figures, but she effectively helps the girls to distinguish fantasy from reality during her interactions with them. Added to the mix are adult discussions of sexual orientation (“A love that dares not speak its name?” “A love...that hasn’t any name”) as well as nods to feminism.
"An entertaining coming-of-age tale with a final amusing twist."
K. J. McElrath's imaginative storytelling shines in vivid detail with his ingenious historical coming-of-age fantasy novel.
In the Three Lost Girls, the first volume in The Lost Girls series, author K. J. McElrath cleverly combines the characters of Dorothy Gale from L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz, Wendy Darling from J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan, and Alice from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland and sets this enigmatic trio together in the early 1900s. A time of not only political and social turbulence in the pre-World War I years, the girls also face coming to terms with their disturbing recent experiences in Oz and Neverland. Alice, portrayed in this telling as a grown woman who has become a respected psychiatrist, serves as a role model, mentor and confidant when the young girls arrive at her facility in England for help untangling the disturbing events of previous times that continue to haunt their present-day lives.
In this surprising and captivating tale, the girls begin their relationship with mistrust and downright dislike. However, their friendship grows as they progress in treatment with Dr. Alice Liddell-Dodgson. In this coming-of-age story, the girls also explore their feelings for each other, forming an unbreakable bond as they eventually depart Dr. Liddell-Dodgson's care and seek new lives and adventures in America for Dorothy and England for Wendy.
The vivid descriptions of everyday life in Progressive Era America and Edwardian Era England make the story believable and compelling. McElrath spins depictive writing about historical events, terminology and ordinary products into a web of delight for the reader. His use of imagery, diction and tone helps transport the reader directly to the dusty corrals of Dorothy's cattle ranch or the urban hustle and gentility of Wendy's London with precision and ease.
Not only a master of illuminating the vibrancy of the time, McElrath also handles the two young women's journey to maturity with sensitivity. Aided with believable dialogue, the reader senses the tumult, sexual exploration, confusion, humor, sadness and hope that often comprises the teen years for many as the girls come to accept and move forward with not only their responsibilities but also dreams for their futures.
Readers who enjoyed the original telling of the Oz, Neverland and Wonderland stories will be pleasantly surprised by the bold new directions that the characters take in this fresh look at these classic characters as inspired by their book and not movie versions and historical periods. I enthusiastically recommend this book in The Lost Girls series!
K. J. McElrath's imaginative storytelling shines in vivid detail with his ingenious historical coming-of-age fantasy novel.
In the Three Lost Girls, the first volume in The Lost Girls series, author K. J. McElrath cleverly combines the characters of Dorothy Gale from L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz, Wendy Darling from J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan, and Alice from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland and sets this enigmatic trio together in the early 1900s. A time of not only political and social turbulence in the pre-World War I years, the girls also face coming to terms with their disturbing recent experiences in Oz and Neverland. Alice, portrayed in this telling as a grown woman who has become a respected psychiatrist, serves as a role model, mentor and confidant when the young girls arrive at her facility in England for help untangling the disturbing events of previous times that continue to haunt their present-day lives.
In this surprising and captivating tale, the girls begin their relationship with mistrust and downright dislike. However, their friendship grows as they progress in treatment with Dr. Alice Liddell-Dodgson. In this coming-of-age story, the girls also explore their feelings for each other, forming an unbreakable bond as they eventually depart Dr. Liddell-Dodgson's care and seek new lives and adventures in America for Dorothy and England for Wendy.
The vivid descriptions of everyday life in Progressive Era America and Edwardian Era England make the story believable and compelling. McElrath spins depictive writing about historical events, terminology and ordinary products into a web of delight for the reader. His use of imagery, diction and tone helps transport the reader directly to the dusty corrals of Dorothy's cattle ranch or the urban hustle and gentility of Wendy's London with precision and ease.
Not only a master of illuminating the vibrancy of the time, McElrath also handles the two young women's journey to maturity with sensitivity. Aided with believable dialogue, the reader senses the tumult, sexual exploration, confusion, humor, sadness and hope that often comprises the teen years for many as the girls come to accept and move forward with not only their responsibilities but also dreams for their futures.
Readers who enjoyed the original telling of the Oz, Neverland and Wonderland stories will be pleasantly surprised by the bold new directions that the characters take in this fresh look at these classic characters as inspired by their book and not movie versions and historical periods. I enthusiastically recommend this book in The Lost Girls series!
Without giving anything away, I'd say this book tweaks your imagination and gives you a unique perspective on your favorite characters. If you have ever wondered how your storybook friends might meet up one day, this book is for you.
Without giving anything away, I'd say this book tweaks your imagination and gives you a unique perspective on your favorite characters. If you have ever wondered how your storybook friends might meet up one day, this book is for you.
KJ McElrath is releasing another novel, and this one is a mash-up of Through the Looking Glass, The Wizard of Oz, and Peter Pan. McElrath uses his prodigious knowledge of history and historical events to infuse this mash-up with influences of the early 20th century, and it works."
McElrath fans will revel in identifying the “Easter Eggs” he plants as the story unfolds. There is always a subtext to twist what our heroes know and understand, and there is always an exploration of economy, class, and gender roles and identity as the story progresses, so even though this could be considered a historical novel and retelling of these classics, it is also very current in its discussions.
New readers to McElrath might get lost in the long windup in chapters one and three, but hang with the story because once McElrath pitches the ball, the game is on, and this book becomes a fast paced and very enjoyable read.
So let me back up a bit. Have you’ve ever wondered what happened to Alice to make her follow that white rabbit, or if Wendy’s flight with the fairies and Pan captured your imagination? Have you wondered how Wendy or Dorothy fared after their return from Neverland or Oz? Did you ever wonder how they resolved what happened to them?
McElrath grapples with those questions and more and brings in a much older Alice as the guide and therapist to counsel Wendy and Dorothy. We meet psychiatrist Dr. Alice Liddell Dodgson in her practice at The Liddell-Dodgson Asylum for Juveniles in 1905. Wendy is her patient and Dorothy’s case has come to her attention. Dr. Liddell-Dodgson is well poised to help the girls deal with all of their issues, and the good doctor, as a trained scientist, will use her experiences and knowledge to bring both girls back from the trauma of their fantastic experiences, Alice begins in 1905 shortly after the inception of the talking cure in 1895, and continues her work with the girls into the 1940s.
The book moves between three points of view, Alice, Wendy, and Dorothy, and we see the experiences and the retelling of these favorite children’s tales retold through the eyes of Alice, a scientist, and Wendy and Dorothy as prepubescent children. By the end of the book, two young women have come to terms with their supernatural experiences in an interesting and unexpected way.
To say that this book is entertaining is an understatement. Readers won’t be able to put the book down, and the wonderful references to each of these time-honored tales raises the reading pleasure. I highly recommend this novel but be prepared to wade through the first several chapters. I promise, it’s worth the wait! This is a well-crafted and highly entertaining book, and I give it four stars.
KJ McElrath is releasing another novel, and this one is a mash-up of Through the Looking Glass, The Wizard of Oz, and Peter Pan. McElrath uses his prodigious knowledge of history and historical events to infuse this mash-up with influences of the early 20th century, and it works."
McElrath fans will revel in identifying the “Easter Eggs” he plants as the story unfolds. There is always a subtext to twist what our heroes know and understand, and there is always an exploration of economy, class, and gender roles and identity as the story progresses, so even though this could be considered a historical novel and retelling of these classics, it is also very current in its discussions.
New readers to McElrath might get lost in the long windup in chapters one and three, but hang with the story because once McElrath pitches the ball, the game is on, and this book becomes a fast paced and very enjoyable read.
So let me back up a bit. Have you’ve ever wondered what happened to Alice to make her follow that white rabbit, or if Wendy’s flight with the fairies and Pan captured your imagination? Have you wondered how Wendy or Dorothy fared after their return from Neverland or Oz? Did you ever wonder how they resolved what happened to them?
McElrath grapples with those questions and more and brings in a much older Alice as the guide and therapist to counsel Wendy and Dorothy. We meet psychiatrist Dr. Alice Liddell Dodgson in her practice at The Liddell-Dodgson Asylum for Juveniles in 1905. Wendy is her patient and Dorothy’s case has come to her attention. Dr. Liddell-Dodgson is well poised to help the girls deal with all of their issues, and the good doctor, as a trained scientist, will use her experiences and knowledge to bring both girls back from the trauma of their fantastic experiences, Alice begins in 1905 shortly after the inception of the talking cure in 1895, and continues her work with the girls into the 1940s.
The book moves between three points of view, Alice, Wendy, and Dorothy, and we see the experiences and the retelling of these favorite children’s tales retold through the eyes of Alice, a scientist, and Wendy and Dorothy as prepubescent children. By the end of the book, two young women have come to terms with their supernatural experiences in an interesting and unexpected way.
To say that this book is entertaining is an understatement. Readers won’t be able to put the book down, and the wonderful references to each of these time-honored tales raises the reading pleasure. I highly recommend this novel but be prepared to wade through the first several chapters. I promise, it’s worth the wait! This is a well-crafted and highly entertaining book, and I give it four stars.
I found McElrath’s story of “Three Lost Girls” an imaginative and captivating read. The author’s portrayal of Dorothy did not mesh with the way I’ve always pictured her, particularly in her perpetual use of improper grammar. But I was intrigued by the book’s underlying premise that Dorothy, Wendy, and Alice could help each other deal with the aftermath of their unusual and somewhat troubling adventures. And all of us, at one time or another, may find ourselves asking: “How can I differentiate between reality and illusion? Can I trust my experiences to tell me the truth?” I especially enjoyed the ongoing intrigue of Dorothy’s slippers and would have enjoyed learning more about Wendy’s brothers. I wanted to learn more about Alice, too. (Wendy and Dorothy seemed more accessible to me than Alice did.)
The book contained surprises and adventures of its own and kept me engaged to the very end.
I found McElrath’s story of “Three Lost Girls” an imaginative and captivating read. The author’s portrayal of Dorothy did not mesh with the way I’ve always pictured her, particularly in her perpetual use of improper grammar. But I was intrigued by the book’s underlying premise that Dorothy, Wendy, and Alice could help each other deal with the aftermath of their unusual and somewhat troubling adventures. And all of us, at one time or another, may find ourselves asking: “How can I differentiate between reality and illusion? Can I trust my experiences to tell me the truth?” I especially enjoyed the ongoing intrigue of Dorothy’s slippers and would have enjoyed learning more about Wendy’s brothers. I wanted to learn more about Alice, too. (Wendy and Dorothy seemed more accessible to me than Alice did.)
The book contained surprises and adventures of its own and kept me engaged to the very end.
Three Lost Girls is a fun and interesting romp through the early years of the 20th Century as seen through the eyes of three favorite characters from classic children's literature. K.J. McElrath skillfully blends history and fantasy while breathing new life into Dorothy Gale, Wendy Darling and Lewis Carroll's Alice. The author also does a masterful job of fleshing out supporting characters such as Uncle Henry and Aunt Em, the three farm hands and George and Mary Darling, making them more real than ever before.
In addition, this story is packed with "Easter eggs" and humorous references, making it a highly enjoyable must-read. Fans of authors like Harry Turtledove, Neil Gaiman and Gregory Maguire will not want to miss Three Lost Girls.
Three Lost Girls is a fun and interesting romp through the early years of the 20th Century as seen through the eyes of three favorite characters from classic children's literature. K.J. McElrath skillfully blends history and fantasy while breathing new life into Dorothy Gale, Wendy Darling and Lewis Carroll's Alice. The author also does a masterful job of fleshing out supporting characters such as Uncle Henry and Aunt Em, the three farm hands and George and Mary Darling, making them more real than ever before.
In addition, this story is packed with "Easter eggs" and humorous references, making it a highly enjoyable must-read. Fans of authors like Harry Turtledove, Neil Gaiman and Gregory Maguire will not want to miss Three Lost Girls.
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