The Losting Fountain

by Lora Senf

“The Losting Fountain is sweet and terrible in the gloriously gutting tradition of Diana Wynne Jones and Richard Adams. A modern fable, this journey through a new, beautifully recognizable landscape of the heart is a quick, compelling read. Highly recommended.”
—Seanan McGuire, award-winning author of the Wayward Children series

Ember, Miles, and Sam have been called home—only home is a place none of them have ever been before. The choices they make will not only determine their own futures but will also have vast and permanent consequences—they will either restore a cosmic balance or destroy the dams that separate two worlds, ending them both. Ember was called because she belonged, Miles because his mother belonged, and Sam . . . well, Sam arranged his own invitation. 
 
The Fountain itself is beautiful and alluring—yet so is the light of an anglerfish. Hidden below the surface, the world of the Fountain is unexplored and unmapped and full of wild things—leviathan and tiny, scuttling things and all manner of creature in between. There are other entities as well, entities that haunt and hunt in the Fountain, because it rewards nearly as often as it punishes, and it has been punishing the greedy and merciless and cruel for a very long time. For those, the Fountain becomes a prison.
 
The borders between our world and the world of the Fountain are already porous. If the balance between them is upset and control of the Fountain is lost, the consequences will be rapid, merciless, and world-ending. In every timeline that has been or will be, everywhere that water stands in our world will become a passageway for the violent damned to enter ours from the Fountain. For Ember, Miles, and Sam, all from different times, what starts as a journey to take control of their lives quickly becomes a quest to save—or destroy—both worlds, depending on whom you ask.

Rising star and author of multiple-award-nominee The Clackity , Lora Senf has created a gorgeously written, pitch-black fantasy that will transport readers to a world that is as beautiful as it is horrifying and will keep readers on their toes as they devour it page by page.
 

Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Young Adult, Monsters, Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy

320 pages, Hardcover

Published December 31, 2024

About the author

Hi, I'm Lora Senf!

I'm a reader and writer of dark and twisty stories for all ages. I owe my love of words to my parents and to the public library that was walking distance from my childhood home.

I find inspiration for my writing all over the place - from my kids' retellings of their dreams to road trips through Montana, and often in lonely buildings.

I love the reading and writing communities. I'm a member of Authors Guild and Horror Writers Association.

PENNIES - a Blight Harbor prequel - is coming September 23, 2025. I have a YA horror novel, UNNAMED BONES, coming out summer 2026 and more on the way.

I no longer review books, but I do yell about the books I love on social media - mostly Instagram.

I live in Washington State with my husband, our twins, and two cats who think they're people.

I'd love to hear from you! 🖤

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

It's a really unfortunate "no" from me here. And it's kind of a hard no to write, too. Because there were a lot of things about this book that I could have liked. The worldbuilding is intricate and fascinating; the world, the setting, the whole premise and particularly unique. Lora Senf definitely deserves the kudos for that. And on a sentence level, this book is very well crafted. There wasn't a flaw with the writing itself, at least down on that level. But on a larger level, well, it just didn't come together for me. The pieces didn't mesh. I think they could have. I saw the vision. But they didn't come together well enough for me to get invested in the characters and their stories, let alone the larger, over-arching plot. And that was disappointing. I wanted a new fantasy world to sink into. I wanted characters to really fall in love with. And I saw the potential, but it just didn't work for me.

A hard rating, and one that deserves more time. I'll dig into where this one didn't quite come together for me (but also all of the pieces of it that really were wonderful) in my full review, publishing at Gateway Reviews on December 13, 2024.

Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world-building and “when” manipulation in this book is fabulous! Three human teens, from 1913, 1989 and today, are brought together by a lake containing an island that seems to move around geographically as some magic deems it to be appropriate. Significant items lost find their way through a fountain to be stored in the island library until worthy seekers come looking. But unworthy seekers find something darker and that darkness is now spreading. Vicious and gruesome creatures are coming out of the lake and entering different whens and three young teens may be key to setting things to right again. Ember, a victim of abuse and neglect, is led to the land of the losting fountain by Selah, a youngish winged resident of the island. Sam has been basically imprisoned in his home and is drawn to the lake and finds his way across and two additional winged islanders guide Miles over the lake in the hopes of reconnecting with his birth mom while also saving his adoptive mother.

Like Senf’s Blight Harbor series, this is not a book for readers looking for light and fluffy. Thinking is required in order to keep the arcs of three lynchpin characters straight and to piece together all the bits of island lore and the physical descriptions to create the world of the losting fountain in their minds. But what a world! Ember, Sam and Miles search to find their purposes while the body count rises and mysteries and possible conclusions will begin to swirl in the minds of readers. Highly unlikely that most will see the twists and turns coming. Some story arcs do not seem entirely finished…maybe a sequel coming or is it just to leave us with a bit of mystery???

Death and violence are key to the dark side of the Losting Fountain and the lake that surrounds the island and blood and gore is spilled. The curse word “hell” is used approximately 7 times (primarily by one of the “bad guys”) but there is no sexual content in this story. The publisher categorizes this book as YA, but many librarians would find this highly appealing and appropriate for their 6th or 7th graders. I would probably place this in the hands of 7th-9th grade readers who love dark fantasy, especially the kind that avoids wand-waving, magic schools or mythology. Possible trigger: Ember’s brother committed suicide (mentioned, not described) and due to abuse/neglect, Ember contemplates it but then meets Selah.)

(Note: Use of the word “abattoir” towards the end of the book took me straight back to the three books of Bright Harbor. Fun little Easter egg.)

Thanks for the arc, Union Square Kids & Lora Senf.

[CarlysGrowingTBR · Rating 3 out of 5]

The losting fountain is a YA fiction that was pitched as being so dark that it was "pitch black". It didn't quite live up to that for me.

Disclaimer: I read this as a NetGalley audiobook as well as a physical book from the publisher. Thank you union Square for the free physical book in NetGalley for the audiobook. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Unfortunately, this book really didn't do it for me in a lot of ways. There are about 6 POV's, (I am guesstimating here) and you spend only a few pages with each one at a time. The short stint that I spent in sporadic jolts with each character really made it hard for me to learn to love, root for, or care about any of these characters as a whole. There were also characters that I felt had way more interesting storyline than others so when certain POV's came up I really just wanted to skip them and had to fight myself not to.

I feel like the world building was also really lacking. Granted this was a YA Novel, but it was a whole lot of tell and not a lot of show. And it wasn't even done in an overly interesting way. We had one sideline character, which was not a main POV basically explaining the world and telling us all about it versus showing us the world and how it was interesting. Open to the point of telling us back stories on several of the main POV's through stories and not showing us their storyline. It just didn't do it for me.

The writing was well done. I did find it to be easy to read and engaging as far as the actual prose. But overall, this book was just fine for me and just missed too many marks for me to read it any higher.

[Clover · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5

CW from author // "This book depicts animal death, gore, and themes related to suicide."

Ember is from 1913, Sam from 1989, and Miles from present day. Each of these whens are connected to the Losting Fountain, a place of lost things and seekers. The boundary has been breached and creatures from the depths of the Fountain are harming people. Each of the three are called to the Fountain for their own reasons that they must uncover and help restore the balance.

- - - -

This book held me at a distance, and in the end it didn't benefit the book. At first I felt the eeriness of the creatures and the balance the Fountain and it's caretakers fought to keep. The short chapters, however; ended up making me feel unattached to the characters and their journey. I respected the way Senf built the tension and horror in this way, wonderful way to use the craft. Most of the chapters are only a few pages long, it didn't feel choppy but it did create distance from the characters.

There are deaths, violence, and dark themes. The worldbuilding was interesting, and I felt like I was starting to get it at first, but in the end I felt like I never truly understood. The ending was eerie but also satisfying. I did get frustrated near the end because of my feelings towards the characters. I ended up being angry at what was happening and I don't think that was the intended emotional response?

I loved the formatting. I loved the illustrations that they included and the extra information about the Fountain and it's history. I just wish there was a bit more clarity and depth, it's hard to pinpoint what was missing other than the detachment from the characters and short chapters.

Super glad to have found this book at my local library! I still think it would worth checking it out if you're interested in a dark world that is bizarre and dangerous.

[Rebecca Morrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is been a very long while since I read a finished a single day book. I was hooked and brought into this universe. Lora Senf is an amazing talent. It was scary and I have never met its equal in a book even though I devour fantasy fiction. The stories of three different young people, Ember, who lives in her family, either abused or invisible, is guided to another world by a winged creature. Meanwhile, Mark is being led to the same place by what he calls the sounds. This island world is in danger, and it's bleeding slowly into our time. What will happen when the whens converge? Why does it seem to center on an orphaned boy named Miles? This was a capitivating story that cannot be compared.

[rachel x]

obsessed with this cover!

[Crowinator · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I fear I was just very bored. I felt a great deal of apathy and a slight amount of disdain towards this book, and that is all.

Some thoughts:
Nothing really happened, somehow?

The voices of the characters felt oddly juvenile. Yes, some were young (it surprised me that Ember is only 13, and it’s been a while since I read a book with a character that young), but I think you can have young characters still feel their age without the writing itself sounding juvenile.

None of the characters had any agency. Everything happened to them and they took about 200 pages to take control of the story themselves. (Ugh.)

I feel like people aren’t usually aware that they’re losing their mind?? Or at the very least I think it would have been more interesting to the reader for it to be presented in a ‘this character is becoming an increasingly unreliable narrator’ way rather than a ‘this character is losing their mind and you both are painfully aware of it’ way.

I just feel absolutely nothing towards all of the characters.

Maybe others will enjoy this book more than I did.

[Gaby · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF. It wasn't bad, just wasn't into it enough to continue. A younger reader would prob appreciate this more than I did.

[Bridget · Rating 2 out of 5]

world building was good but I think my favorite character was that coyote that died on page 60

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the audioARC.

Somewhere out of time and out of space there is a fountain where lost things gather. Until the day their owner comes to seek them they are carefully put away in a library, looked after by moth winged angels. How can you get to this place, you ask? Well, you'll need to be invited by the Island.

So, this book certainly didn't go in the direction I expected it to at the beginning. Good job!
I found the start a bit slow and was really glad when at least some point of view characters merged into one team. With the whole story behind me now, I understand why all of them couldn't meet sooner.

I loved the focus on various iterations of motherhood and how they can each influence children. Considering this, though, I'm a little disheartened that so many of the mother figures became lost to the main characters. I was hoping for some miracle for at least a few of them, since the early on the story read like a book on the younger end of young adult novels. By the middle it became far too dark for that, but we need stories like this, too.

I think the main strength of The Losting Fountain is the character development. It gradually shows both descent into madness and finding our confidence and inner powers. Depicting different paths with similar starting points (abuse, little freedom) is really important in confirming that what kind of people we become is a choice.

The dynamics among the MC group were also great, with each of them developing unique connections towards the others. Kudos for there being very little hint of romance, that's quite rare in most stories. (Make no mistake, I like shipping characters, but it's nice to switch things up a bit on occasion.)

What I missed is a proper explanation for how the villains became the way they were, but the ending hints at a possible sequel, so I'm going to wait and see.

[Michelle Lawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The story follows a group of teens from different timelines coming together in a different world - the Fountain. A quest of finding themselves, a sense of going to be a place to be their home when home has not been kind to them, yet the Fountain is filled with dangerous things and starting to seep into the world they came from. Who can find themselves and save (or destroy) both worlds and all timelines?

I listened to this book on audio as opposed to reading and think it would be easier to read it.

The writing in this book was delightful - it made a beautiful listen, painted vibrant images in my imagination and could not fault that for one second. I would have liked to have less POVs as it got confusing at times but with a physical book I don’t think that would have been the case? The world building, variety of creatures, locations and monsters described came together excellently with the writing.

The main character ARCs were all well plotted. Each having hardship, each having inner turmoils that have led to them feeling lost and I know that resonated with me on a lot of levels and suspect it will with other readers too. I adored the whole concept of the losting fountain and think there is a lot of my own stuff there for me to find!

The plot is quite intricate, it moved quickly and at times felt like a puzzle you were putting together which is very engaging.

All in all it’s an excellent story, great plot, fab world building and very well written. I found myself having to replay sections of the book as I was struggling to piece things together and jumbling characters but do not feel that’s the author, or the narrator - was much more me not being able to multi task when listening.

[Jamie Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are three main characters in this book - Ember from 1913, Sam from 1989, and Miles from the present day. There are chapters in each of their perspectives and chapters from side characters and the sentient setting, the Fountain, as well. Ember, Sam, and Miles all find themselves on the island of the Losting Fountain, a place where those seeking lost things, ideas, or purpuse find themselves if the island allows. There, they are judged to receive what they are looking for or to be trapped forever, either to become a monster that now helps defend the island or to be exiled to what could be Hell. The island and Fountain are protected by moth-winged fairy type creatures that work in various jobs that all follow the Jury, a human who decides the fate of all the seekers. The pacing is very slow and disjointed with the world-building left with far too many unanswered questions to cement readers into the world. Though it does sound like there might be another book, as one character answers one of Ember's last question with 'later', the character and plot arcs, though they rise toward the end when the pace and action pick up, never come to a true furition. Miles is only on the island because his mother died there. Sam only connects with other characters briefly and his confrontatin with Ember, the light to his dark, was fast and left wanting. I wanted to love this book because the Blight Harbor serious is one of my favorite middle-grade horror series, but this book just didn't connect with me. The pacing was too slow. The characters not fully fleshed out. The world building barely scraping the surface of what it is supposed to be.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

*ARC

I almost didn't want to pick up this book because the word "Losting" was off-putting to me.

What I like most about this book is that it didn't use the popular tropes that a lot of YA or fantasy is now using excessively to draw in young female readers. There is no "spice," no enemies-to-lovers, love triangles, etc., and while I don't mind if my books has those tropes, it's refreshing and welcome when I come across a book that goes against trends and does it's own thing.

The story is told in a few perspectives, the main ones being 3 teenagers who come from different time periods. They are drawn to this other-worldly, time-bending place with a mysterious fountain as its main feature. The fountain my hold the answers to their lives that they are looking for, but the fountain may need them as much as they need it as it and its horrifying, hungry creatures that protect the fountain overflow into the world and beyond.

A lot of my ratings has to do with how connected I feel to the books I'm reading, and while I liked that this book is doing something different than the typical YA or fantasy books nowadays, there was something dreary and unsettling about it that made me not connect with it well. There is a set-up for a sequel in the future since not every plot point was resolved in this book. Not every plot point needs to close, but the events that happened after the main story was finished was a little too specific to be considered open-ended.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really excited to be able to get into this story- a darker, “pitch black” fantasy, and I’m grateful to NetGalley for providing me an audio copy so that I could give an honest review. If this was a book I’d bought? I’d have been more disappointed. This book is getting a 2.5/5 ⭐️ from me.
As it stands, this story just fell flat to me. A very unique backdrop- the “when” concept rather than “where” created so many possibilities. But then, we’re introduced to several narrators/perspectives that switch out every chapter.
For me, having listened to the audiobook, this was extremely difficult as there was only one narrator, and she didn’t do any sort of voice modulating to keep track of who I was listening to. Yes, the chapters were announced by number and by name, so I was able to prepare myself of “oh, we’re changing perspectives now”, but it took me until at least halfway to stop being confused each chapter about who a person was and where we were picking up.
^^I should be clear. The narrator was lovely, with good pacing, a lot of emotion in her reading, using voices and different inflections for dialogue within the story, but she could only do so much with the rapidly changing perspectives. Overall, this is a book that if o ever recommend, is recommend against the audiobook as it’s just too much to keep track of.
Thank you again to NetGalley!

[Hannah (The Curiouser & Curiouser) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fucking superb.

I go back and forth between 4 and 5 stars. So maybe 4.5 stars is more accurate.

I was hesitant going into this. The writing style is different, so as to set the tone for the story. There are also multiple POVs, with each chapter being a different "character."

But I'm so glad I did. After the first 3 chapters, I was hooked. I finished reading this in 3 days. I really felt for each character, and there are many. Even the "villain" is someone the reader can empathize with. His story is heartbreaking, and I think most people will understand--not agree with, but understand--why he makes the choices he does. He felt like a starved, beaten dog backed into a corner, and you can't be all that surprised when he finally lashes out.

I desperately want more side snippets about other, unimportant characters finding their losting item. The few intertwined here were magnificently done and gave the reader an intriguing peak into why the Losting Fountain is so important.

I got misty eyed during multiple parts of this. I really, really hope there's a second book in the works. After that ending, there definitely is room for one.

(I am also not so subtly crossing my fingers for a redemption arc.)

[MizzyRed · Rating 5 out of 5]

The premise of this book drew me in immediately with the idea of a special type of losting fountain that is connected to everywhen and lost things end up in its waters, to be found sometimes by people lead there by guides (the winged islanders that protect the fountain) and change their course because of it. There is a dark side though and that is where the "strangers" that go to Mile's time come in. Plus a twisting, which brings in Sam (it is a tragic story, and I hate what had been done to him to make him the way he is!). Luckily we also have Ember (who also has a heartbreaking history but shines brighter for it) also traveling to the fountain. This is definitely a darker fantasy book, but it well written with well rounded characters (though sadly there is death for some) and it kept me interested in listening because I really wanted to find out what was happening with the fountain and the people who dwell on the island. And with the way it ended, I can see and hopefully look forward to another book in this same world!

I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook as the narrator did a good job bringing the characters and feelings and world to life!

[Aster Greenberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like I'm not smart enough to appreciate this book properly. It flowed very well at the beginning despite the constant POV changes, but as the chapters got shorter & shorter it started to feel more and more like whiplash. I really liked Ember and her relationship with Selah, but I feel like a lot was left unexplained & it made me feel left out. Why do people just mutate & develop powers? Are they just x-men? Sam's motivation also made no sense to me. His introduction was so compelling, I loved the visual of him so casually walking away from his father & a normal life, but once he learned about Beatrice it felt like he had just decided it was time to be evil, like some kind of switch had flipped. I get that it might be because his upbringing hadn't really allowed him the chance to normally process emotions, but I just kind of felt kind of sad for him.

That being said, I do think the premise was super interesting, and I loved all the snippets of everyone else who discovered the fountain--the lore behind that was very believable as a sort of natural fairy tale of this universe and added a really fun atmosphere to everything as the kids traveled forward

[Paultmurdock · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride. I was a little hesitant at first with the different chapters being set in wildly different times and settings, but it came together rather quickly and drew me in. I read these “YA” books before I give them to my children (or into the free library depending on what’s in the book…but I digress). This is one that I will gladly pass on to my 12 year old. High enough stakes to keep it compelling, mysterious and slight horror vibes, made me want to just read one more chapter. Pleased that this book has zero sexual content and no language issues. (Not that my kids don’t hear it on the bus, but I don’t want to be the one that puts it in their hands). Highly recommended for Light Fantasy and adventure readers. My only down check is it left me wanting more and there were a few threads left hanging.

[Stacey (Bookalorian) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Losting Fountain by Laura Senf

The narration was just ok. I kinda felt like it wasn’t quite right… she didn’t change up her voice and that was a real bummer.

All these kids are being called to this fountain and are being led there… There were 6 POV and it was too many to keep track of. I didn’t feel like the story building was particularly good and none of the characters were very interesting. I did finish but I wasn’t wowed by the book and I really wanted to love it. It was kinda lacklustre and I didn’t feel like it was as good as I had built it up in my mind to be. I might try the hardcover though. Sometimes I need to read to get the story

2.5 stars rounded to 3 (I’m sorry!)

[Nadia Meriouli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for the ARC of this audiobook for my honest review

It was a well thought out plot, and I enjoyed it. However, I never really got close to the characters, and I felt like there was slow portions that took me out of the story. I also feel so tripped out about the different time lines in one universe, but yeah that’s just interesting. The gore was impressive, I felt really grossed out by the monsters. But if anyone died I felt sad someone died but I didn’t feel as sad as I feel I should’ve been, like I knew the character and wanted to cry. So I think it was alright, very unique plot just more could’ve been done.

[Alyssa Merriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lora Senf weaves a remarkable world just beyond our own where lost things go to be found. I absolutely loved the narrative style in this book, the little snippets of different perspectives even if they didn't seem to directly connect to the main story, added to the overall sense of time and danger. The tension expertly led up to the climax and ended with a little bit yet to come which I hope means there will be a sequel in the future. The book also includes beautiful inkblot visuals that add to the feel of this dark fantasy.
I got this book as an ARC.

[Lindsey Hobson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a long time to get into this story, and I considered not finishing early on. However, once we got to the island, I did find the plot interesting and the world unique and wish we could have delved even further into it (maybe book 2?). Unlike some of the other reviews, I didn't mind the short chapters. I felt like it kept the characters fresh in my mind. With multi POV, there's always a character I don't like as much as the others, but I didn't really feel like that with any of these characters, although I Ember was a little more fleshed out than the others, especially Miles.

[Mary Averling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dreamy and nightmarish, surreal and beautiful, creepy and creeping—THE LOSTING FOUNTAIN has everything I've grown to love about Lora Senf's writing, and I can honestly say, I've never read anything quite like it. You'll need all your bravery, friends, but do yourself a favour. Enter the Fountain.

[CR · Rating 1 out of 5]

Overwhelming and disconnected. The six different POVs were just too much to keep track of, especially in a book that’s just over 300 pages long. Every time the POV switched, I felt completely pulled out of the story. It made it difficult to connect with any of the characters or the plot, and the constant shifting only added confusion. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me.

[Paula Gleeson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the absolute pleasure of reading this book early and it is all kinds of fabulous. It has heart, horror, characters I rooted for and who broke my heart equally. This will be like nothing else you have ever read. Get ready because you are NOT READY!

[Brennan LaFaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Senf combines imaginative and brilliantly thought out world building with authentic young characters, ones who bring real-world problems to this fantasy setting. creating a story that is memorable and magical.

[Haney Hayes Promotions · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a captivating read for fans of dark, immersive fantasy and complex moral dilemmas, who will be drawn into a richly detailed world of high stakes and philosophical conundrums that will challenge their perspectives and keep them on the edge of their seats.

[Roxana Rathbun]

DNF

I couldn't figure out what was going on :( The Book has a beautiful cover and I love the artwork and font used however. That was really the only reason I kept turning pages. I may try again someday.

[Amelinda Bérubé · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was up until 1am reading this and then it snuck into my dreams. You guys are NOT READY. More to come!