The main story arc involves the protagonist's gradual discovery of his unknown relation to Pangrelor, and his unlikely quest to help save its greatest civilization, which is centered on the mountaintop city of Harwelden.

Antiquitas Lost tells the story of a boy named Elliott, a lonesome kid with deformities on his hands and feet, who is uprooted from his home after his mother falls gravely ill.

When they move to New Orleans so his grandfather can help care for her, Elliott learns that the old man's eighteenth century mansion hides an ancient secret.

While checking out some eerie paintings and strange relics in the basement, Elliott strays through an ancient doorway into a tumultuous parallel world, full of bizarre creatures and warring races.

For he soon learns that his actions in the ancient world will impact the upcoming battle for Harwelden, Pangrelor's greatest civilization, and will also resonate all the way back to New Orleans, perhaps deciding whether his own mother lives or dies.

Kirkus Reviews[3] stated: This is a bildungsroman and quest tale in the tradition of epic high fantasy, and fans of the genre will enjoy the extensive world building and imaginative magical feats.

Though the novel is lengthy, there is never a dull moment, as the characters’ actions drive the plot at a steady pace all the way to the ultimate battle.

More than 70 pen-and-ink illustrations by Geof Isherwood, evocative of a Dungeons and Dragons Monster Manual, add an extra dimension to Smith's vivid descriptions.

Pleasing for readers looking to escape into an expansive world of magic, conflict and racing action.In January 2012, KirkusReviews.com briefly featured Antiquitas Lost on its home page, touting it as a 2011 Critics Pick.

Foreword Reviews also praised Antiquitas Lost, stating: “This debut novel is a far-flung quest through a world of nightmarish creatures and epic conflicts in the spirit of Tolkien's The Hobbit, but what makes the story truly wondrous are the many personal touches that the author provides in creating his multi-faceted characters.

It borrows much from an earlier period of books, comics, and movies and comes off as an original homage to everything loved about youth with enough that is new to avoid parody.” ComicAttack.net criticized the novel for using familiar fantasy plot mechanisms, and suggested simplistic thematic depth, yet offered an overall positive review, stating: "[Antiquitas Lost has] a fresh, easy feel with lots of clear, well versed action.

Pangrelor, the fantasy world depicted in Antiquitas Lost, is envisioned as a habitable mega-planet, or "Super-Earth"[4] orbiting a binary star system.

Morot initially rose to fame through his special effects work on films like 300, Night at the Museum, and The Day After Tomorrow.