I absolutely loved this book (and this series) when it was coming out. To this day, I still follow it and purchase every new book. Full of plot twists, funny characters, and magical worldbuilding, Keeper of the Lost Cities is a staple in the world of middle grade literature. Even as I get older and reread the series, it continues to remind me why it will always be one of my favorites. Let’s talk about Keeper of the Lost Cities, the first book in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series by Shannon Messenger.
In this riveting series opener, a telepathic girl must figure out why she is the key to her brand-new world before the wrong person finds the answer first.
Twelve-year-old Sophie has never quite fit into her life. She’s skipped multiple grades and doesn’t really connect with the older kids at school, but she’s not comfortable with her family, either. The reason? Sophie’s a Telepath, someone who can read minds. No one knows her secret—at least, that’s what she thinks…
But the day Sophie meets Fitz, a mysterious (and adorable) boy, she learns she’s not alone. He’s a Telepath too, and it turns out the reason she has never felt at home is that, well…she isn’t. Fitz opens Sophie’s eyes to a shocking truth, and she is forced to leave behind her family for a new life in a place that is vastly different from what she has ever known.
But Sophie still has secrets, and they’re buried deep in her memory for good reason: The answers are dangerous and in high-demand. What is her true identity, and why was she hidden among humans? The truth could mean life or death—and time is running out.
World, Characters, and Plot
As always, I’ll start by delving into the world of the Lost Cities. These cities are the secret, hidden places in the human world where the elves reside. Yes, elves! I absolutely love the worldbuilding of the Lost Cities, especially here in the first book. From the descriptions of Atlantis to the class divisions among the elves, everything sets a perfect scene for a fantasy of epic proportions. I can see similarities to books like Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, as well as Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, especially when it comes to the elven school, Foxfire.
My most favorite part of this book, however, are the elven abilities. From telepathy to conjuring to vanishing, the elves have an incredible range of abilities that add such a level of fun to the overall plot and world.
Personally, one of the things I love most about this book is the exploration of all the side characters. Sophie has great character development and is an amazing role model for girls (of course), but it’s the characters like Grady, Edaline, Keefe, and Dex that really make the book so amazing. They each had unique, relatable personalities and stories that are waiting to be explored (and trust me, the series does!). Personally, Keefe is one of my all-time favorite characters.
The story itself surpasses expectations. With themes of found family and self-discovery, Keeper of the Lost Cities kept me hooked on every page. My own copy of the book is falling apart at the seams from the sheer number of times I have read it.
PAGED IN: There is no innuendo or profanity in this book, but there are fights and some middle grade violence. It’s not gratuitous, but the villains in the story could be frightening to young children.
Conclusion
I won’t argue that Keeper of the Lost Cities doesn’t have many similarities to other popular fantasy series (like Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings). It definitely does. However, I will argue that the story does a wonderful job of taking the elements from these classics and creating a fresh, magical story. I will always reread this book, and I will always recommend it to fantasy lovers of all ages.
You can buy Keeper of the Lost Cities here.
Marie