Lost Lore Readalong! discussion

I'm posting this one a bit early as I'll be away from my computer this weekend, and Goodreads Groups hates mobiles.

As before, spoilers are welcome, feel free to post your thoughts on the tale after 4th Feb if you come to the Readalong late, feel free to ask any questions :)

Interesting idea,gonna try to do my best to keep up (apologies to Ben for finding this late and missing his story on the allotted day)

Hi Benedict,
I really enjoyed They Mostly Come out at Night, so it was nice to read a story based in the same place. I know this is irrelevant to the short story, but when does this story take place in relation to the book? I'm wondering which Magpie King it is.
I thought the story flowed well and I enjoyed the characters. It left me wondering how Felton will survive each night outside in order to spread the new tale.
Looking forward to reading more of your work :)

I think the setting of They Mostly Come Out at Night is probably my favorite of the Yarnsworld settings so far. It was a treat to have another story written in the forest after Benedict has grown so much as a writer. The only short stories I've read by Benedict have been in-world folktales, and I enjoyed this chance to see him stray into new territory.

A lot of times, short stories have trouble conveying a strong sense of character. It's just hard to get emotionally invested in someone you only spend a few thousand words with. This was an exception. Felton and Tad were full of character. I wanted to smack Felton around for most of the story, since he blundered from bad decision to bad decision, but he never lost my sympathy.

I think my favorite part about this story was the tone of optimistic horror. The sense of fear is almost palpable once the sun sets, and the monsters are straight out of nightmares. From giant cave-dwelling spiders and a thorn creature that spreads its roots inside you, these monsters were downright scary. However, the story ends with a sense of hope.

I'm also excited to see how the revelation in this story—that stories can actually manifest themselves in reality—carries forward into the upcoming Yarnsworld novels.

I was huge fan of They Mostly Came Out at Night (good grief is there really a second and third novel in this series now). I loved the whole creepy dark fairytale/moral to the story kind of vibe to it and that we see that in this little short. Though the ending felt a little sudden it does leave us to decide for ourselves if little Tad recovers (and of course I choose to believe he does). Good story and good reminder that I really need to get back to this series.

We are back in the Magpie King's Forest! Yay! Benedict had become one of my favorite authors last year so I was pretty much looking forward to his short story. I wasn't disappointed at all.

I think there are only a few writers out there who can put together a short story which leaves you with the feeling if completeness. I mean we've got an interesting story, fully fleshed out characters and some things to think about. A story about how stories are made. Nice one. I think this is how most of humanity's mithological tales came around with time.

I also wondered which Magpie King was the story about. I would rule out the last one we read about though. Also, it was a nice touch to add Mother Web too.

It was one of my four favorite stories in the anthology. I really liked this one as it managed to transport me into the world and dangerous forest :) I guiess I would give it 5* stars if the author didn't use Deus-ex-machina (Magpie King) to help boys. I think that readers without previous knowledge of Magpie King may not appreciate it fully.

So, Benedict, will the story be untold?

So this is the first thing I have read by Benedict and I really liked it. The setting was interesting and the characters really well fleshed out. I agree with Travis that I wanted to smack Felton around due to his decisions. I thought I would just end up annoyed by him, but there was more to him and the story than that. I thought the idea of the stories people tell coming real in the forest was very interesting and I also choose to believe Felton saves Tad. This definitely made me bump They Mostly Come Out at Night up on my to read list.

It's bedtime over here in Scotland, but thought I'd chime in to answer the question that has popped up a few times already.

This tale takes place a few generations before the events of They Mostly Come Out At Night. Without giving spoilers, because of the events of the novel (as Timy has realised), this Magpie King isn't any of the people claiming the title in that book. However, this isn't the first Magpie King either, as the folktales from back then tend to be the weirder ones (giant squirrels eating the sun, etc.).

So, the short version: this story is a few generations before Mostly, but not too far back :)

As a consequence, however, Felton and Tad's tale ends here.

I'll jump back into the thread in the morning if there are any other questions. Glad people are enjoying it so far!

A very interesting story. Felton was well portrayed as a young man with his first crush. Tad as his younger brother was so trusting and cute. I liked the whole premise of stories becoming reality but have to admit not being familiar with the Magpie King it might not have had the impact it could have.

I did find it very well written. I wonder if GR has limits on the TBR list...

Nice little tale

"A story is a dangerous thing, Felton Herder. We must value them, we must be careful with them. Set one loose on the world, and you lose all control over your own creation."

My first taste of Benedict Patrick's work and I'm hooked.

Engaging from the start. Felton and Tad were a compelling duo, with a brother dynamic that rang true. Also felt for Felton and his dashed dreams of a relationship and rash decisions of youth. A well crafted world, a forest I wouldn't want to get caught in at night and a mysterious King I look forward to getting to know more.

This readalong could get expensive, if the stories stay this good.

After reading this, I felt like the menace of Benedict's They Mostly Come Out At Night was definitely there. I really do not like Felton after what happened to Tad, though. You gotta take care of your little brother and this was an epic fail.

More thoughts later...

Agree with J.M. that 'menace' is definitely the watchword of this story, as it was with 'They Mostly Come Out at Night' (which I loved). There's a creeping sense of dread throughout, a masterful undercurrent of horror that keeps one reading despite the conviction that OH GOD THIS ISN'T GOING TO END WELL IS IT.

Brilliant story. :)

I loved the quote Bryan mentioned, and it is a good story.
But it isn't something I would pick in a bookstore.

Lieke, what were your thoughts about the figure of The Magpie King? Depending on what you thought about that character, that might shape your interest in getting Benedict's first book. He delves much further into the mythos of the "protector" character of The Magpie King.

This was a breakneck pace story, it seemed to fit a lot of storyline into a short page count (sort of like Benedict's books in that way).

Because I had already read TMCOAN, this was a familiar setting to me and maybe that helped me feel up to speed. I thought the characterization came through really clearly. For me, Felton was pretty obnoxious and unsympathetic early on (clearly intended to be), but then when Hafwen gives him the brushoff you start gaining a little sympathy for him and for me he redeemed himself at the end of the story. I do like that he comes up with a potential way to save his brother so there is a bit of hope at the end.

I also had the exact same line highlighted as above about stories being dangerous when set loose in the world.

Definitely looking forward to the next Yarnsworld book, which Benedict has indicated will be set back in the Magpie King's forest!

Question for Benedict: Is the village being named Gallowglass a nod to M. Todd Gallowglass the author who posts over on r/fantasy or just coincidence?

Sorry I'm Late. This was a great story. Great characters. I loved the part about a story being a dangerous thing. Absolutely fantastic!

HOLY GUACAMOLE this story blew me away! I can't remember the last time I read a short story and felt a real sense of dread twisting my gut in knots. I had goosebumps! That scene with the spider monster in the cave...major shuddering going on there. I think I was holding my breath for a good deal of it!

It's been what feels like ages since I read They Mostly Come Out at Night, and although I thought it was unique and imaginative and it held my interest, I didn't feel compelled to continue with the rest of the series (so many books, so little time). But I can see such an amazing jump in writing improvement from that book to this story, that I'm definitely going to read the other books in the series. I give this story 10 stars!

This was a great story. The menace of the forest at night was perfect, and features some really creepy monsters. Leading up to that, Benedict did a nice job of slowly building up the tension by dribbling out bits of information about the setting (the kids need to be back before dark, we find out they sleep in cellars, they're late and they're going to be locked out, folklore has no advice on how to survive at night because nobody does it). And then the ending was a nice twist - it implies a good ending is possible, but it will take a lot of effort and risk from Felton. But he'll do it, because he loves his brother (aww).