a book review for the “keeper of the lost cities”series, by KB
This article was written for yooou! by our 16-year-old intern, KB.
One of my favorite things to do during my free time is to read a good book. Though, it can be difficult finding a novel that you enjoy.
Today, I’m going to introduce you to one of my favorite book series, Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger. I’ve been reading this series for about two years now, and it is still one of my favorites.
This series has eight books, but a ninth is coming out either by the end of this year or the start of 2022, the details are spotty.
Before I get into the nitty-gritty of what this series is about, I would like to disclaim that these books are long. As in, the shortest one is around 500 pages. Since length tends to drive some potential readers away, I figured it would be best to get that out of the way at the beginning.
The first installment of this series was published in 2012, with the most recent being released in 2020. I will mostly be touching on the first book to avoid potential spoilers.
The main character is a young girl named Sophie, aged around 12 in the first book. She has lived all her life in the human world and is treated as an outcast for her unusual mannerisms.
Unbeknownst to everyone around her, there was a reason for her strange behavior.
One of the most important aspects of a story is worldbuilding, and this series does not fail to impress.
The world of the elves, also known as the Lost Cities, is complex but simple enough to understand.
It is painted as a utopia of sorts, but the faults of their world quickly come to light as soon as Sophie appears. Due to her human upbringing, she sees their world from a different perspective and works to repair the cracks and fissures in the Lost Cities.
Another crucial part of stories, and arguably the most important, is the characters.
Keeper does not fail to introduce very complex characters that have their own strengths and weaknesses. The characters in this series are some of my favorite of all time, and I have read lots of books in my life.
The best part about these characters is their relationship with Sophie.
Sophie has actual interactions with many different characters, and every single one feels organic and believable. Her relationship with her adopted parents is incredibly wholesome and loving, which is something you don’t see too often.
The suspense is always high, and the consequences of their actions are real and dangerous.
You’re always on the edge of your seat, and this series has made me cry on multiple occasions.
I’d give this book an age rating of around 10+, but a strong 10/10 overall. I’ll definitely be re-reading this series while I wait for the ninth book.
Don’t miss our other book recommendation posts! Click here, here, here and here for more.
