Keeper of the Lost Cities : An Enchanting Must-Read for Fantasy Lovers

Have you ever wondered what would happen if there was a female Harry Potter? If the series portrayed a young girl with hidden talents? Well, you’re in luck, because Keeper of the Lost Cities is that book.

Keeper of the Lost Cities is speculative fiction written by Shannon Messenger. Published in 2012, it follows Sophie Foster, a twelve-year old girl who has the ability to read other people’s minds. When she meets Fitz Vacker, a boy who reveals they share the same power, she is suddenly thrust into a new world called the Lost Cities. 

Keeper of the Lost Cities (Book 1) is the first in a 9-book middle-grade fantasy series. Reading it has been a challenge, as it does have close to 500 pages. Nonetheless, it has been one of my greatest reads, and I loved it! It is a beautiful example of a fantasy novel.

When I think about it, I realize that it really has incredible characters.

Sophie is the main character, so of course she’s great. That doesn’t mean she’s the only one that marked readers’ hearts. Fitz was the one who brought Sophie to the Lost Cities and he was also her first friend. I loved seeing their friendship flourish and how their trust in each other gradually increased throughout the novel. They both confide in each other, and their telepathic connection gets even stronger. There’s also Dex, a really friendly person. He later becomes Sophie’s best friend, but what I love most about him is how sweet, caring, and positive he always is. One of my favorite characters is Keefe, though, with his effortlessly charming personality and hilariousness. He’s reckless and carefree on the outside, but just as kind and understanding on the inside. Of course, let’s not forget about Marella, the fierce, snarky, and unrelenting girl. She defended Sophie against bullies, and although she’s somewhat rude, it just adds to her funny personality.

The main character Sophie Foster has to abandon everything she’s known. She leaves her family for a new environment completely different from what she’s used to. Sophie feels disoriented, alone, but also excited. When she met Fitz, she had no idea of who she really was. She didn’t expect to be an elf, for one, or to discover a world in which she actually belonged. It’s all a lot to take in and Sophie isn’t sure what to do with all the information, especially after she went to live in the Lost Cities. She has to adjust to the elves’ rules and to the Lost Cities. It’s a world where almost everybody has a magical ability. There are all sorts of abilities. For instance, Empaths can sense the emotions of others usually through physical contact. Chargers can sense and manipulate electricity and electrons. Frosters can manipulate ice particles in the air to freeze and create snowfalls.

There are a few peculiar things about the Lost Cities that I found interesting. For one, elves don’t use money in the same way as humans do, as they don’t give it as much importance as we do. The elves’ technology is much more advanced than human technology. The main inhabitants of the Lost Cities are elves. The other beings are goblins, ogres, gnomes, dwarfs, and trolls. They are all referred to as the “Intelligent Species” (including the elves). Also, they all speak a language called the Enlightened language, which only they can understand.

The beginning of Keeper of the Lost Cities was a bit slow going, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. As I got further into the chapters, however, it got more and more interesting, to the point where I was gripping the book with anticipation.

Shannon Messenger leads the reader into the discovery of an intricate world. The story arc, built at a gradual pace, adds to making the book enticing.  I was immediately drawn to the very first sentence in the preface of the novel: “Blurry, fractured memories swam through Sophie’s mind.” My excitement just kept growing as I read. I was already deeply invested in the novel, devouring every single page. The climax of the novel was so intense and invigorating that my eyes were almost flying over the pages, desperately wanting to know what happens next. Keeper of the Lost Cities kept me guessing until the very last page about what would happen next.

There is honestly only one thing that I didn’t like about Keeper of the Lost Cities, and that was their matchmaking system. In the human world, the only “requirement” needed to marry someone is that you love them. In the Lost Cities, in order to marry someone, you have to apply to the matchmaking system, to which you are eligible once you turn 15. The matchmaking system will send you a list of 100 potential partners that they deem fit for you, and you choose a name on your list. You can ask for up to three lists. My problem with this system is that if you don’t happen to find the one you love on your lists, you are technically forbidden to marry them. If you still do it, though, that’s when people consider you a “bad match.” Those who are victims of that are shamed, ostracized, and bullied just because they married someone who wasn’t “matched” for them. The elves consider themselves superior to humans and think that they do everything better than humans. Although It’s true that elves aren’t materialistic like humans, I still think that in the case of marriage, there is much more freedom with humans.

This book had a lot of great, captivating scenes that Shannon Messenger described wonderfully. One of the saddest scenes in Keeper of the Lost Cities is when Sophie had to abandon her family. Yet it was also the most well-written. While reading that passage, I could really feel Sophie’s sadness and heartbreak, and it was just so melancholic. Her tears, her sobs, they felt so real, it was like I could see it happening right in front of me, like she was a friend that was really hurting and needed support. Shannon Messenger really managed to depict the scene perfectly, with all the sorrow and regret that Sophie was feeling. 

If you haven’t guessed this already, Sophie was my favorite character. She’s like one of the biggest mysteries of the book. She is a more complex character than anyone else, mainly because of her tricky and hidden past. On a basic and general level, Sophie is just like any other hero, whether from a book or a movie. She is fearless, headstrong, capable, tenacious, and selfless (almost altruistic). While being tried at a Council tribunal for transgressing an alarming amount of laws (she broke a record), Sophie says, “I would rather be punished for making the right decision than live with the guilt of making the wrong one for the rest of my life.” This is my favorite quote of Sophie’s in the entire Keeper of the Lost Cities book. She was facing the possibility of exile, something so horrible elves rarely talked about it. Nevertheless, Sophie didn’t back down. She acknowledged her crimes, but made it known that she’d do them again in a heartbeat if it meant doing the right thing. I loved her courage and her honesty. Her fearlessness was inspiring and I think that was also the theme of this book.

I think that the message behind Keeper of the Lost Cities is to always believe in yourself. Never give up, no matter how hard life may be, no matter how many hardships are thrown in your way.

Sophie encompasses steadfastness, bravery, and compassion, and I think that for all readers, this is something they will notice and admire too.

All in all, I loved Keeper of the Lost Cities! There are a crazy amount of almost-deaths in this book, jaw-dropping revelations, suspense that will push you to the edge of your seat, and action that will shock you to your very core. Shannon Messenger did an amazing job of mixing adventure, fantasy, friendship, and humour. She created a marvelous masterpiece! This book is a great recommendation for anyone who’s looking for an intense and captivating read! You’ll be falling under its magnificent spell in no time.