keeper of the lost cities everblaze book review

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Everblaze: keeper of the lost cities, book 3, common sense media reviewers.

Exciting fantasy sequel has elf kids in cosmic struggle.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Kids at the Academy study telepathy and alchemy. I

Strong messages about friendship, loyalty, courage

Sophie's brave and has a strong sense of duty.

Much of the violence here is mental, involving min

The central characters in Everblaze are about 13;

Frequent humor involving pee, butts, poop (especia

Sophie's iPod lets her watch what's happen

Characters regularly get doses of various elf medi

Parents need to know that Everblaze , the latest installment in Shannon Messenger's Keeper of the Lost Cities series, is another fast-moving fantasy adventure that will particularly appeal to independent-minded tween girls, thanks to a 13-year-old heroine who, when she's not trying to save her…

Educational Value

Kids at the Academy study telepathy and alchemy. In one scene, kids use astronomy instruments and charts to find local (fictional) stars.

Positive Messages

Strong messages about friendship, loyalty, courage, the importance of everyone's talents in achieving a goal, and how to use extraordinary powers wisely and unselfishly. Think critically and ask questions when the answers don't make sense, and learn to make things right with someone you've wronged, even if you didn't mean to do wrong.

Positive Role Models

Sophie's brave and has a strong sense of duty. She always tries to do the right thing and takes on a lot of responsibility, all while dealing with ordinary middle school-type problems. She and her friends sometimes have misunderstandings, but they also have a powerful loyalty and stick together in times of crisis.

Violence & Scariness

Much of the violence here is mental, involving mind manipulation for both healing and destruction. Characters, including a kind adult, die violently when an experiment goes bad. Various forces are vying for world domination and are willing to harm or eliminate anyone who gets in their way. Characters also disappear mysteriously.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

The central characters in Everblaze are about 13; although there are hints of romantic tension as three cute boys all like Sophie, there's no kissing. In one scene a boy and girl take turns wrapping their arms around each other, but it's for mutual assistance, not romance. The elves' marriage customs have matchmakers drawing up lists of potential partners for each young person, with very strong pressure to marry someone "suitable."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Frequent humor involving pee, butts, poop (especially glittering), farts, and the like. Yeti pee is an ingredient in potions.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Sophie's iPod lets her watch what's happening in the human world.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Characters regularly get doses of various elf medicines. Sophie normally avoids any sedatives but accepts some during a traumatic time.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Everblaze , the latest installment in Shannon Messenger 's Keeper of the Lost Cities series, is another fast-moving fantasy adventure that will particularly appeal to independent-minded tween girls, thanks to a 13-year-old heroine who, when she's not trying to save her world and protect her loved ones (including a winged horse), also is dealing with such familiar issues as mean girls at school. Faint stirrings of romantic competition among three boys. There are scary scenes, some characters die, and others often control people's minds, usually without their consent. Age-typical humor about butts, poop, farts, and pee; a sparkly horse is known as "Glitter Butt."

Where to Read

Community reviews.

• Parents say (2)
• Kids say (18)

Based on 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Now 13, Sophie Foster has found good friends and a few enemies at the Academy as she learns the ways of the elf world. Meanwhile, she's trying to learn more about the mysterious Black Swan organization -- and why it engineered her DNA to create capabilities she's still discovering. Fear and distrust lurk behind the scenes of the outwardly harmonious elf world, and it's hard to tell people's true intentions. As Sophie tries to come to terms with her new life and learn more about her origins, the Council calls on her to perform increasingly dangerous telepathic tasks. Some characters die, others live in a state of permanent insanity, and an unknown villain's pyrotechnic powers threaten to engulf the whole world in EVERBLAZE.

Is It Any Good?

Author Shannon Messenger creates appealing, relatable characters and then keeps the plot twists, intrigues, dangers, and ethical challenges coming. Readers who've been following the Keepers of the Lost Cities series may find themselves confused about its underlying cosmology and where the truth lies on many fronts -- even more than 13-year-old Sophie. But, as with that other series about a mysterious kid at a magical boarding school, this turns out not to matter very much.

With her independent spirit, strong principles, and longing to belong, Sophie will strike a chord with many tween girls. So will the recurring humor about how magical sparkly horses poop. A lot. But other kids also will find a lot to like in this exciting installment, which concludes with a strong sense that the adventure's just beginning.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about why stories of school kids with superpowers are so popular. Does it make you feel better about your own problems when even telepaths and teleporters deal with some of the same things you do?

Sometimes, as in Everblaze , one friend does a terrible thing to another without meaning to. Have you ever been in this situation, on either side? Did you try to make things right, or did it end the friendship?

Would you like to have one of the special powers the characters have? Which one? How would you put it to use?

Book Details

• Author : Shannon Messenger
• Genre : Fantasy
• Topics : Magic and Fantasy , Adventures , Friendship , Great Girl Role Models
• Book type : Fiction
• Publisher : Aladdin
• Publication date : October 31, 2014
• Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
• Number of pages : 624
• Available on : Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
• Last updated : July 12, 2017

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Andria Kennedy

Freelance Writer | Essayist | Fantasy & Sci-Fi Writer

Review of Shannon Messenger’s KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES: EVERBLAZE

Everblaze by Shannon Messenger My rating: 4 of 5 stars Ms. Messenger continues to develop a delightful series, building upon the Elvin world with the subtle strokes of a painter adding detail to a painting. It’s slow progress that gives the reader a chance to absorb the new information without getting overwhelmed. And it makes sense – something you don’t always get with similar series. It’d be nice if the characters showed the same progression of growth, but Sophie, in particular, seems to remain in a circular path that’s getting stale. There’s no need to introduce new abilities to keep her interesting. Still, her personality or even the chance to LEARN from the past would go a long way to make her more empathetic (an ironic statement to make, given the world Ms. Messenger has created, I know). Rather than feeling for her – especially toward the final chapters – you grow listless and even start to understand the Council’s position. Perhaps that’s what Ms. Messenger intends? (Doubtful at this stage of the story arc) And while the revelation of one of the antagonists was a surprise, the other unraveled too soon to hold interest. This left the volume unbalanced, unfortunately. Then again, this seems to be a common curse of the third volume in most series. Hopefully, the next book in the series will redeem the shortcomings. View all my reviews

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I speak the thoughts rattling around in my brain, sharing topics I think other people want and should hear (or are afraid to talk about themselves). I bring my personality and quirky state of mind to everything I write; serious topics shouldn't be devoid of humor. That includes my blog and freelance writing (part of my charm). I've been writing for as long as I can remember. It's a source of solace and enjoyment for me. I'm lucky enough to call what I love my career - so it's NOT work! I live in Virginia with the Minions (four cats and a Greyhound) and my wonderful husband, who ensures I stay fed (no cereal for dinner) and as close to sane as I can get. View all posts by Andria Kennedy

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Book Review: Everblaze (Keeper of the Lost Cities #3) by Shannon Messenger

Rating:  ☆☆☆☆☆ Audience:  MG Fantasy Length:  624 pages Author:  Shannon Messenger Publisher:  Aladdin Release Date:  November 4th, 2014 Image & Other Reviews on:  Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Sophie uncovers shocking secrets—and faces treacherous new enemies—in this electrifying third book in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series.

Sophie Foster is ready to fight back.

Her talents are getting stronger, and with the elusive Black Swan group ignoring her calls for help, she’s determined to find her kidnappers—before they come after her again.

But a daring mistake leaves her world teetering on the edge of war, and causes many to fear that she has finally gone too far. And the deeper Sophie searches, the farther the conspiracy stretches, proving that her most dangerous enemy might be closer than she realizes.

In this nail-biting third book in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series, Sophie must fight the flames of rebellion, before they destroy everyone and everything she loves.

FAVORITE [YET].

I know long series may take a book or two before I really feel invested and this is where I’ve hit that point for Keeper of the Lost Cities.

Sophie may be the main character but I am obsessed with Keefe. I love him and he is the perfect addition to this series. But wow did he really go through some tough things in this book. Now I just want to hug him. I like that not only do I get Sophie’s story, I get to see deeper into the other characters as well.

This was a much more action packed and heart breaking book. Yet, with the air of being a middle grade read, it didn’t seem as heavy as other fantasies. I really appreciate this distinction because sometimes I just want something on the lighter side and middle grade books tend to provide that for me.

I can’t wait to see where things go next and love how everything is unfolding. I always feel like enough information has been released that I’m satisfied with the book. Yet, enough is held back that I want more and have grabby hands trying to order the next one ASAP. If you’re curious about this series, I definitely say give it a chance. I’m glad my friends convinced me to read it!

Overall audience notes:

• Middle grade fantasy
• Language: none
• Romance: none
• Violence: people falling from cliffs, physical, fire, murder, magical

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S ophie Foster is ready to fight back. Her talents are getting stronger, and with the elusive Black Swan group ignoring her calls for help, she’s determined to find her kidnappers—before they come after her again. But a daring mistake leaves her world teetering on the edge of war and causes many to fear that she has finally gone too far. And the deeper Sophie searches, the farther the conspiracy stretches, proving that her most dangerous enemy might be closer than she realizes. In this nail-biting third book in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series, Sophie must fight the flames of rebellion, before they destroy everyone and everything she loves.

Sophie uncovers shocking secrets—and faces treacherous new enemies—in this electrifying third installment!

Book 3: Everblaze

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The cover art shows Fitz Vacker (left) and Sophie Foster (right) falling from Oblivimyre which is burning due to Fintan unleashing Everblaze . In the book, Councillor Oralie is with Fitz and Sophie as they fall from the building, but she is not seen on the cover. Though the cover shows Fitz holding Sophie, it is actually not in the book. Fitz is wearing a brown cape and fireproof clothing. Sophie is wearing a white long-sleeved undershirt, black with a shiny gold lining cape as well as the Ruewen Crest, beige lace dress, black leggings, and black boots.

Synopsis [ ]

A New York Times bestselling series A USA TODAY bestselling series A California Young Reader Medal-winning series

Sophie uncovers shocking secrets—and faces treacherous new enemies—in this electrifying third book in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series.

Sophie Foster is ready to fight back.

Her talents are getting stronger, and with the elusive Black Swan group ignoring her calls for help, she’s determined to find her kidnappers—before they come after her again.

But a daring mistake leaves her world teetering on the edge of war and causes many to fear that she has finally gone too far. And the deeper Sophie searches, the farther the conspiracy stretches, proving that her most dangerous enemy might be closer than she realizes.

In this nail-biting third book in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series, Sophie must fight the flames of rebellion, before they destroy everyone and everything she loves. [1]

In Everglen , they see Alden talking to Councillor Kenric . Because Sophie is slightly uncomfortable revealing this news in front of a Councillor, Kenric leaves. Sophie tells Alden and goes to talk to Biana and ask her what her "surprise" is. When she walks into the room, she spots Fitz seemingly talking by himself. But then, Biana appears and tells Sophie she had manifested as a Vanisher .

On the first day of school, Sophie gets her schedule while Biana and Dex are in for a surprise. There is an announcement saying that Biana has manifested as a Vanisher, but also one saying that Dex has manifested as a Technopath . Angry that someone has revealed his secret, Dex is in a bad mood for the rest of the day. Sophie sees that she is still taking telepathy sessions with Fitz and is delighted.

The day goes by and Sophie discovers that there are plans for her to heal Fintan. She is shocked, but she can do little against it. Tiergan tells her that he, Alden, Quinlin , and Fitz are available to aid her during the healing. After some contemplation, she chooses Fitz. They tell each other three secrets, at Tiergan's recommendation, and Fitz is able to read Sophie's mind. Shocked and scared, she blocks him. They try to recreate it with five secrets, but it goes poorly. Meanwhile, Stina is shouting harsh remarks at Sophie and Fitz for the healing, as usual. Marella soon joins in, potentially jealous of Biana manifesting. Dex, also potentially jealous about Fitz and Sophie's cooperation, attempts to create an ability-enhancing device, although it does not go well.

After a terrible session with Lady Cadence , aromark is found to be on Silveny 's tracker. Everyone that handled the tracker has the top layer of their hand skin melted off, but Keefe has to be purged twice because (unbeknownst to him) there is aromark on his family pin. When Sophie goes home, she finds Biana and Edaline there, and Biana is trying on Jolie's things. Afterward, Biana manages to convince Sophie to let her help with "whatever she's working on."

Before the healing, Grady tells Sophie that Fintan may know who set the fire that killed Jolie and is the unregistered Pyrokinetic . When the time for the healing comes, it goes poorly. Although they all wear fire-resistant clothing of Flareadon and Bennu feathers, Fintan gains consciousness and sets the Everblaze on everyone present. Flareadons and apparently Bennu cannot resist Everblaze. This includes Sophie, Fitz, Alden, Bronte , Oralie , and Kenric. Sophie, Fitz, and Oralie along with Alden and Bronte make it out in time, but Kenric is killed in the fire (Fintan is believed to have also been killed, but it its later revealed in the series that he was not.) Still, Sophie almost sees who the missing Pyrokinetic is. She and Fitz go and collect Quintessence from the Unmapped Star Elementine to help make Frissyn that stops the Everblaze. Much of the city of Eternalia is destroyed.

At Kenric's planting, the king of the Ogres, King Dimitar , arrives. Sophie attempts to go into his mind to find out who put the tracker on Silveny. After she makes it deep inside, he detects her. It is a violation of the Elf-Ogre treaty and Sophie has to be punished. She goes home and continues working to find out who the unregistered pyrokinetic is.

The Council decides her punishment along with the newest councillor, Dame Alina . Sophie's punishment is an ability-restricting device. Dex created it by fixing his ability-enhancing device, but Sophie isn't incredibly angry at him, though she's very frustrated with the constant headaches it gives her. He offers to take it off, even if it means him being exiled , but Sophie refuses. When she gets home, she is a wreck. She willingly takes slumberberry tea, a sedative, and refuses to leave her room. Keefe, Biana, and Fitz coax her out. Sophie continues searching for the unregistered pyrokinetic when she finally finds him. It is Brant .

Sophie tells Grady and he gets extremely angry. He goes to visit Brant, but Sophie grabs onto him and follows. There, Brant and Grady fight. When all is about to be lost, Dex appears and punches Brant with a special gadget he invented that increases the strength of the punch. Before Sophie lets Brant go. Brant tells her that he knows about the ambush at Mount Everest. Dex takes the ability restrictor off Sophie's head and throws it into the Everblaze. Sophie teleports to Mount Everest where her friends are currently defending the Black Swan from the rebels, called the Neverseen .

Mr. Forkle who saves her before she dies of cold and lack of oxygen. Then, he shows Fitz how to get past Sophie's blocking. Fitz, Keefe, Biana, and Sophie fight the Neverseen. Keefe finds out that it is not his dad, but rather his mom pretending to be his dad, in the Neverseen. But before Lady Gisela, Keefe’s mom, can blast her son with a melder, Biana tackles her down a hill. The fight continues and eventually, they make it out alive. Sandor is badly injured but is healed later on.

All five of them meet in Everglen at night. The parents agree that it is in their best interest to join the Black Swan now. Fitz relays that he found out their next location is in Florence, Italy. The story ends with Sophie saying, "Let's go join the Black Swan!"

Playlist [ ]

• ↑ https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Everblaze/Shannon-Messenger/Keeper-of-the-Lost-Cities/9781442446007
• 1 Book 9.5: Unraveled
• 2 Sophie Elizabeth Foster
• 3 Keefe and Sophie

Reading Challenges

Middle-grade audiobook review: everblaze (keeper of the lost cities #3) by shannon messenger.

Posted July 17, 2022 by jrsbookr in Audibook Review / 0 Comments

A New York Times bestselling series A USA TODAY bestselling series A California Young Reader Medal–winning series Sophie uncovers shocking secrets—and faces treacherous new enemies—in this electrifying third book in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series. Sophie Foster is ready to fight back. Her talents are getting stronger, and with the elusive Black Swan group ignoring her calls for help, she’s determined to find her kidnappers—before they come after her again. But a daring mistake leaves her world teetering on the edge of war, and causes many to fear that she has finally gone too far. And the deeper Sophie searches, the farther the conspiracy stretches, proving that her most dangerous enemy might be closer than she realizes. In this nail-biting third book in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series, Sophie must fight the flames of rebellion, before they destroy everyone and everything she loves.

Everblaze is the third book in the fantastic middle-grade series Keeper of Lost Cities by Shanon Messenger. There is quite a bit that we learn in this third book. Sophie and her friends keep growing and learning things about this world, and Sophie suddenly finds out she belongs. One of the main themes was the moral question of who has the right to give or take away abilities and the freedom to use them. Unfortunately, the council has a lot of power to weigh in on things, and I was frustrated with how easily they could decide to give or take away something. The ending of this third book is intense and what is uncovered is horrible, and I did not see it coming—I am excited that the fourth book will take on a different feel from the previous books. Bring it on.

Audiobook Sample:

About shannon messenger.

Shannon Messenger graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts where she learned–among other things–that she liked watching movies much better than making them. She’s studied art, screenwriting, and television production, but realized her real passion was writing for kids and teens. She’s the NYT and USA Today bestselling author of the award-winning middle grade series, KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES, as well as the SKY FALL series for young adults. Her books have been featured on multiple state reading lists, published in numerous countries, and translated into many languages. She lives in Southern California with an embarrassing number of cats

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Book Review

Keeper of the lost cities – “keeper of the lost cities “ series.

• Shannon Messenger
• Adventure , Fantasy , Suspense/Thriller

Readability Age Range

• Aladdin, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division

Year Published

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger has been reviewed by Focus on the Family’s marriage and parenting magazine . It is the first book in the “Keeper of the Lost Cities” series.

Plot Summary

As a 12-year-old high school senior, Sophie Foster is used to feeling different. What she has not gotten used to is her ability to hear other people’s thoughts. It is a secret she has kept hidden since she was 5.

While on a field trip with her classmates, Sophie notices an attractive boy watching her. When he sees she has brown eyes, he begins to leave, but then he notices her painful reaction when a group of kindergarteners come near. Their thoughts are like knives in Sophie’s brain. The boy asks if she is a telepath and admits that he is one, too. He introduces himself as Fitz and tells her that they have been searching for her for 12 years.

Sophie is skeptical when Fitz tells her she is an elf, until he teleports her to the elf capital of Eternalia. Humans called it Shangri-la. He explains that they were able to travel so quickly because elves can leap on light waves. He then takes her to the city of Lumenaria, where all the other worlds come together: gnomes, trolls, dwarves, goblins and ogres. Humans are no longer allowed because they wanted to rule instead of living peaceably together. Fitz takes her back to San Diego and tells her he must talk to his father about her but will be back the following day to visit.

On her way to school the next morning, a strange man tries to abduct Sophie, but her neighbor, Mr. Forkle, scares him away. Sophie could not hear the abductor’s thoughts. When Fitz appears outside her school, he convinces her that she must have been mistaken because no one else knows her location.

Fitz takes her to meet his father, Alden. Alden brings Sophie before a council of 12 elves called the Councillors. These elves will decide if she should attend Foxfire, the most prestigious elf school, to develop her abilities. Although two of the Councillors believe she is ready, one named Bronte disagrees. He insists they test her again at the end of the year.

Alden tells Sophie that she must leave her human family, as they cannot know that elves exist. Sophie agrees, but only if the elves will erase her from their memories. She does not want them to spend their lives grieving for her. He allows her one more night at home to say goodbye and bring mementos to remember them by. When Fitz comes in the morning, she brings only a scrapbook and her favorite stuffed animal, a blue elephant named Ella.

Sophie is sent to live with new guardians, Edaline and Grady, who run an animal sanctuary. Although elves usually live for hundreds of years, their only daughter died in a fire. The couple still grieves her loss and has become reclusive since her death.

When Edaline takes her shopping, Sophie meets Dex, an elf her age. The two quickly become friends, and he offers to help her navigate her first day of school. Sophie quickly settles into her new classes. Besides Dex, she makes friends with a girl elf named Marella and a friend of Fitz’s named Keefe.

She begins telepathy training with a special mentor, Sir Tiergan. Tiergan has agreed to mentor Sophie because he believes his friend, Prentice, helped to hide her among humans. Prentice was exiled for his actions. Although the most powerful of telepathics, even Tiergan cannot probe Sophie’s mind.

Sophie begins to feel at home with Grady and Edaline. She is surprised when Fitz’s younger sister, Biana, invites her to their house because Biana seemed to dislike her earlier. The two become friends, much to Dex’s displeasure, as he thinks Biana and Fitz are snobs.

Sophie manages to pass all of her midterm tests. Grady and Edaline take her out shopping for presents to give her friends for the school’s celebration after midterms. She is rattled when it appears Keefe gave her a silver pendant, but he later tells her he did not send it.

Things become more mysterious during a homework assignment when Sophie accidently captures light from a star that no one but the Counsillors know exists. The capture was highly dangerous and calls for the evacuation of the school and a tribunal.

Because Sophie was unaware of the danger involved, she is not exiled. Alden asks her to start keeping a journal of her thoughts and dreams, hoping they might point to other things hidden in her brain. At home that night, she is shocked when she looks at the cover of the photo album she brought from home. It is of her beside a sand castle she built. It looks exactly like the castle where the tribunal was held. She is too scared to tell Alden that she built the castle before she had seen it.

As Sophie becomes desperate to discover the truth about her identity, she convinces Tiergan to share some of what he knows. His friend Prentice was a Keeper for a group called the Black Swan. He was exiled for not sharing his knowledge of where Sophie was hidden. The Black Swan are insurgents who want to incite a rebellion. Sophie is afraid she must be something bad if they created her, but Tiergan assures her that she may have information they want, but she, herself, is good.

As finals approach, Dex convinces Sophie to try an elixir all the kids use to help her clear her mind. When Sophie takes it, she has an allergic reaction. She barely makes it to the school physician in time. Sophie remembers having a similar reaction when she was younger, but the doctors could not figure out what had caused it.

Sent home to recuperate, Sophie is woken up by a loud screech. Grady and Edaline try to calm a giant prehistoric bird. Sophie is able to read its mind and knows it is seeking fire. Much to Edaline’s horror, Sophie sets a fire. The bird dives into it, clearly happy, but Edaline is furious. Seeing Sophie near the flames reminds her of her own daughter’s death. The bird turned out to be a flareadon, a type of pterodactyl that needs fire to keep warm.

Tensions rise in the house when Grady and Edaline appear to start work on a secret assignment. Sophie asks Fitz if he knows what is going on, and he tells her it has something to do with the fires that have been plaguing human cities. They believe the Black Swan is trying to send a message. That afternoon, Sophie finds a book about Pyrokinesis in her locker. A page about something called Everblaze is marked.

Sophie decides it is time to tell Alden about the mysterious gifts. He tells her the Counsillors forbid him to investigate the fires in the human world, though he suspects they are Everblaze. He also says that he does not believe she has biological parents; rather the Black Swan for some unknown reason may have created her. At home, Sophie accidently learns Grady and Edaline have stopped adoption proceedings for her. Heartbroken, she sinks into a depression.

She receives another anonymous gift, a silver orb with a note saying she must help Connor, Kate and Natalie Freeman. When she holds the orb, she sees her human family, huddling on the floor of an evacuation facility. Another gift, this time a flareadon pin inside a bottle, arrives with a note giving her directions. Sophie realizes that the gifts would allow her to travel to the human world, collect a sample of the fire and bring it back, proving it was Everblaze. She teleports with Grady’s flaredon and sends the creature to collect the fire in a bottle.

While she waits to hear if she will be exiled for breaking the law by visiting the human world, Sophie learns that Alden forced Biana to be friendly to her so he could keep a closer eye on her. Devastated, Sophie runs to a set of caves to be alone. Dex tracks her down, but the two are drugged and kidnapped by mysterious men.

The kidnappers try to read her mind, but cannot. She learns that they are not part of the Black Swan. She suspects the leader is an elf named Fintan, a wielder of Everblaze. Sophie has been telepathically reaching out to Fitz, who believes she drowned in the caves. Before the kidnappers can kill her and Dex, someone rescues them but must leave them alone to find their way back to safety. When the kidnappers find them again, Sophie uses every ounce of her concentration to teleport her and Dex to safety. Unfortunately, she used so much energy saving Dex, she begins to fade to darkness.

Fitz is able to find her, and although she is on death’s door for several weeks, she makes a full recovery. She missed her school finals, but her teachers evaluate her abilities based on her recent exploits and give her a passing grade. She discovers that the man who freed her from the kidnappers was her neighbor, Mr. Forkle. But no one knows his true identity. As she leaves the tribunal, Grady and Edaline ask for permission to adopt her, and she is thrilled to accept their offer.

Christian Beliefs

Other belief systems.

This is a fantasy with elements of contemporary realism. No other religion is actually discussed, but mythical creatures are said to be real. Elves, dwarves, ogres, trolls, as well as dinosaurs and unicorns live within the Hidden Cities, kept from humans so humans cannot dominate them. Elves used telekinesis to help humans build the pyramids. Elves sunk Atlantis so humans would not find it.

Authority Roles

Sophie’s human parents are caring and loving. They impose punishments when they feel Sophie has been disobedient. Her elf guardians are all very kind and loving. Grady is willing to lie in Sophie’s defense so she will not be exiled. Alden makes himself available to talk to Sophie whenever she has concerns. He may not be willing or able to answer all of her questions, but he does listen to her and try to help her.

Profanity & Violence

The language is very clean. The word pee is used in reference to a recipe for a burn medication.

The violence is not graphic. Sophie runs out into the street and nearly gets hit by a car. The car strikes a streetlight that almost falls on her. Sophie receives several burns, one from a faulty alchemy experiment, one from collecting the Everflame and another from starlight.

Someone has set fires in major human cities that eventually begin to kill people. In PE, the students play a telepathy game in which they must mentally force a ball of paint to explode on their opponent. Sophie excels at the game until she is matched with Fitz. She pushes out with her mind and sends the two of them flying back into opposite walls, knocking them unconscious.

Dex puts a chemical in a snobby girl’s shampoo that causes her hair to fall out. Dex and Sophie are kidnapped and kept drugged for 10 days. Sophie hears the kidnappers talk about how they need to kill Dex to hide the evidence. One promises to kill Dex quickly, so he will not suffer. He also threatens to kill Sophie since she will not give up the secrets in her mind. The kidnappers electrically shock Dex, rendering him paralyzed for a time. Sophie becomes so angry that she is able to telekinetically push pain into their minds so the kidnappers are incapacitated.

Sexual Content

Although Sophie is attracted to Fitz, nothing romantic happens between them. Keefe often teases Sophie that another elf has a romantic crush on her.

Discussion Topics

Get free discussion questions for this book and others, at FocusOnTheFamily.com/discuss-books .

Additional Comments

Lying: Sophie lies several times about what she can remember because she is afraid. She also breaks a promise not to investigate the Everflame on her own. However, when she steals the midterm test from her teacher, Sophie immediately feels remorse and confesses. Although she does not have to accept the punishment, she does so willingly because she feels guilty. Grady offers to lie to the Counsillors, telling them that he used his abilities to force Sophie into going to the human world to collect the Everblaze.

Environmentalism: Although the elves say they consider all creatures equal, it is apparent that they think humans are reckless, violent and uncaring about their environment. Some do not think humans are worth saving.

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Keeper of the Lost Cities: The Graphic Novel Part 1

The first book in the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling Keeper of the Lost Cities series is being reimagined as a graphic novel with the first half of the epic adventure adapted to this new format with beautiful artwork!

Keeper of the Lost Cities

Twelve-year-old Sophie Foster has a secret. She’s a Telepath–someone who can read minds. It’s a talent she’s never known how to explain. Everything changes the day she meets Fitz, a mysterious (and adorable) boy who appears out of nowhere, and who can also read minds like her. She discovers there’s somewhere she does belong, and that staying with her family will put her in grave danger. In the blink of an eye. Sophie is forced to leave behind everything and start a new life in a place that is vastly different from what she has ever known.

Read Excerpt Where To Buy

Sophie Foster thought she was safe. Settled into her home at Havenfield, surrounded by friends, and using her unique telepathic abilities to train Silveny–the first female alicorn ever seen in the Lost Cities–her life finally seems to be coming together. But Sophie’s kidnappers are still out there. And when Sophie discovers new messages and clues from the mysterious Black Swan group, she’s forced to take a terrifying risk—one that puts everyone in incredible danger.

Sophie Foster is ready to fight back. Her talents are getting stronger, and with the elusive Black Swan group ignoring her calls for help, she’s determined to find her kidnappers—before they come after her again. But a daring mistake leaves her world teetering on the edge of war, and causes many to fear that she has finally gone too far. And the deeper Sophie searches, the farther the conspiracy stretches, proving that her most dangerous enemy might be closer than she realizes.

Sophie Foster is on the run—but at least she’s not alone. Her closest friends from the Lost Cities have gone with her to join the Black Swan. They still have doubts about the shadowy organization, but the only way to find answers is to start working with them. And as they settle into their new lives, they uncover secrets bigger than anything they’d imagined. But their enemies are far from done, and unleash a terrifying plague that threatens the safety of an entire species. Sophie and her friends fight with everything they have—with new allies joining them—but every choice has consequences. And trusting the wrong person could prove deadly.

Sophie Foster is back in the Lost Cities–but the Lost Cities have changed. The threat of war hangs heavy over her glittering world, and the Neverseen are wreaking havoc. The lines between friend and enemy have blurred, and Sophie is unsure whom to trust. But when she’s warned that the people she loves most will be the next victims, she knows she has to act. A mysterious symbol could be the key–if only she knew how to translate it. And each new clue reveals how far the villains dark schemes spread. The Black Swan aren’t the only ones who have plans. The Neverseen have their own Initiative, and if Sophie doesn’t stop it, they might finally have the ultimate means to control her.

Sophie Foster is struggling. Grieving. Scrambling. But she knows one thing: she will not be defeated. The Neverseen have had their victories—but the battle is far from over. It’s time to change tactics. Make sacrifices. Reexamine everything. Maybe even time for Sophie to trust her enemies. All paths lead to Nightfall—an ominous door to an even more ominous place—and Sophie and her friends strike a dangerous bargain to get there. But nothing can prepare them for what they discover. The problems they’re facing stretch deep into their history. And with time running out, and mistakes catching up with them, Sophie and her allies must join forces in ways they never have before.

Sophie Foster doesn’t know what—or whom—to believe. And in a game with this many players, the worst mistake can be focusing on the wrong threat.

But when the Neverseen prove that Sophie’s far more vulnerable than she ever imagined, she realizes it’s time to change the rules. Her powerful abilities can only protect her so far. To face down ruthless enemies, she must learn to fight.

Unfortunately, battle training can’t help a beloved friend who’s facing a whole different danger—where the only solution involves one of the biggest risks Sophie and her friends have ever taken. And the distraction might be exactly what the villains have been waiting for.

In this unforgettable seventh book in the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling Keeper of the Lost Cities series, Sophie must let the past and present blur together, because the deadliest secrets are always the ones that get erased.

Sophie Foster wants answers. But after a lifetime of lies, sometimes the truth is the most dangerous discovery. Even the smallest secret comes with terrifying new responsibilities.

And Sophie’s not the only one with blank spots in her past, or mysteries surrounding her family. She and her friends are part of something much bigger than they imagined—and their roles have already been chosen for them.

Every clue drags them deeper into the conspiracy. Every memory forces them to question everything—especially one another. And the harder they fight, the more the lines blur between friend and enemy.

Illusions shatter—and Sophie and her friends face impossible choices—in this astonishing eighth book in the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling Keeper of the Lost Cities series.

On Sale Nov. 5, 2019

In this extra special installment of the Keeper of the Lost Cities series, the story picks up right from Legacy’s particularly devastating cliffhanger. But chapters alternate between Sophie and Keefe’s perspectives to give readers deeper insights into both beloved characters. New powers will be discovered. Hard truths from the past will come to light. And all of your favorite characters will find themselves tested in ways they never imagined.

And that’s not all!

Unlocked also includes a comprehensive guide to the world of the Lost Cities, featuring new character and world details that have never been revealed before—plus fun bonuses like Keeper-themed recipes, a detailed map of the Lost Cities, gorgeous full-color illustrations, and so much more!

STELLARLUNE

The long anticipated ninth book in the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Keeper of the Lost Cities series.

On sale November 8, 2022.

CHARACTERS FROM THIS SERIES

Sophie Foster

Fitz Vacker

Keefe Sencen

Biana Vacker

Wylie Endal

Dex Dizznee

Jensi Babblos

Marella Redek

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Keeper of the lost cities: is it safe is it good.

Keeper of the Lost Cities is a wildly popular series for teens; what do we think about it?

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger. Aladdin, 2012. 512 pages.

Reading Level : Upper middle grades to teens (ages 12+)

Recommended For : Ages 12+ (note considerations)

Keeper of the Lost Cities : A Brief Summary

Special child learns she is not ordinary, but belongs to a different (better) kingdom/group/lineage. Her special talents mean that she is the chosen one, one who will (nearly single-handedly) help restore order and save others.

Sound familiar? It should. This is a common fantasy trope, one we see in series such as Skyward or Harry Potter . In Keeper of the Lost Cities , our heroine is 12-year-old Sophie Foster. Her secret talent? Telepathy. One day, she meets a strange boy named Fitz who whisks her away to a Lost City in an elven kingdom; the name of this Lost City is Eternalia or … Shangri-La. Fitz reveals to Sophie that she’s actually an elf, one for whom his family has been desperately searching. Sophie is soon a permanent resident of the elven world, taking classes, living with a new-to-her family, and learning about her special powers. Predictably, she is at the top of her peers in nearly every area, an outspoken contingent of elves wants to see her harmed or discredited, and the book ends with promise of more action. Surprise! There are quite a few more titles to enjoy. There’s even a movie version coming out.

Keeper of the Lost Cities Is “Safe” but not “Good”

Books like Keeper of the Lost Cities are fun reads, and it’s easy to see why so many teens are devouring them. In particular, it’s easy to understand why so many Christian teens are reading and recommending them. A fun plot, a spunky heroine, elves with cool powers, intrigue, mystery, a new world. Bonus: there’s only mild romance and minimal real violence or swearing, all of which occur excessively in many contemporary fantasy series directed to teens.

But books like Keeper are easy to read, easy to forget. Frankly, the writing is a little trite, the elves are unoriginal, Sophie herself is a bit too perfect, and the storytelling lacks nuance. For instance, a description of one Elven woman reads “Della’s beauty was like a force, pulling every eye to her as she tossed her long, chocolate brown hair and pursed her heart-shaped lips” (p. 96). Phrases like “heart-shaped lips” and “chocolate brown hair” aren’t “wrong,” they’re just weak and over-used in books for teens. Elves that are tall, beautiful, and powerful are par for the course. Sophie is not only the best at nearly everything she does, but she’s manifested her special skill (telepathy) earlier than most and also reveals a second special skill (most Elves don’t have two). But you don’t have to take my word for it, at least in terms of writing style. You can read an excerpt of the book (and others in the series) on the Keeper of the Lost Cities series page at the author’s website.

Nuance Is Needed

The idea of “nuance” is harder define. Remember the Pevensie children in the Narnia books? Over and over, the reader is reminded that they are sons and daughters of Adam and Eve. They are human, and, as such, the rightful rulers at Cair Paravel. In contrast, the tone in Keeper of the Lost Cities regarding humans is somewhat demeaning: “The slowest elf can still trump a human—even one with no proper education” (p. 24). In that sense, the storytelling in this book lacks nuance: the humans are universally weak and the elves powerful with no gradation. Even for a fantasy world, the world God made should still resonate (and the Bible reminds us that humans are pretty special).

Similarly, Sophie’s perfection is irksome because the best characters should be more nuanced: their weaknesses are real weaknesses, not merely related to being the new kid on the block or someone else’s antipathy towards them. Sophie needs others’ help socially, but that’s about it. Her special powers always seem to save the day. Interestingly, my own teens noticed this, too. In other beloved books, the protagonist succeeds precisely because he or she is surrounded by people who balance out his or her weaknesses. Harry could never have defeated Voldemort without Ron and Hermione (and many others) by his side from the beginning. Frodo couldn’t have thrown the ring into the fire without Sam’s faithful service along the way. Sophie, on the other hand, seems to need little more than medical care and friendship; while those are not insignificant needs, they do little to balance out any real weaknesses or flaws in her character.

Keeper of the Lost Cities = Organic Mac-and-Cheese

None of this means someone shouldn’t read a book like this; rather, it means to keep books like this in their place. My teens love their boxed mac-and-cheese. It was one of the first things I taught them to make on their own. Occasionally I buy an organic version, like Annie’s, but I recognize the irony: Annie’s might be “free” from some offensive ingredients, but it’s still boxed mac-and-cheese. And, while I’m okay with my teens eating it occasionally, I’ll never think that boxed mac-and-cheese should be the core of a healthy diet. Will it hurt them once in a while to enjoy it? No. Would it hurt them if that’s all they ate? Probably. It certainly would deprive them of eating other good foods that their bodies need more; it would also stunt their tastes, teaching them to prefer salty, processed foods over better, real foods.

Keeper of the Lost Cities is like organic mac-and-cheese: it’s free from a lot of offensive “ingredients” that crop up in many contemporary fantasy series (sexuality issues, swearing, etc.), but it’s still boxed mac-and-cheese. It’s not the sort of literature we want our teens to base their reading diets on. It’s fun for a vacation read, but if that’s all teens are reading, they’ll lose their “taste” for more complex fare. Just like boxed mac-and-cheese, a series like this is easy to come by and easy to consume. Don’t sweat it too much; do keep it in perspective.

What to Read Instead

I’m glad you asked. We’ve got very fun Keeper of the Lost Cities “Read Alikes” List for you: Fantasy Books for Teen Girls (but boys will enjoy this list, too)!

Considerations:

• Dangerous Precedent: I realize this is a fantasy series, but it is troubling that Sophie has so many one-on-one meetings with men behind closed doors. What’s troubling about this is not the issue on the surface (although every child protection training workshop will remind you this is not a good idea) but that Sophie depends on her gut to determine safety; often these meetings are with men she’s just met (such as Alden), and the only one who can vouch for him is another person she’s just met. In fact, her entire entrance to the elven world is with an older boy she’s just met (Fitz) and she trusts him utterly. For impressionable young women, this sets a dangerous precedent. It’s a subtle issue, and one I wouldn’t overtly discuss with my daughter unless she read a lot of this sort of thing. But it’s an issue worth noting. It happened enough that I noticed, and my radar went up.
• Incomplete Review: I’ve only read book 1 in the series, so I can’t speak to the sexuality/violence/language/etc. issues that may crop up later.

Overall Rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

• Worldview/Moral Rating: 3.5 out of 5
• Literary/Artistic Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Read more about our ratings here .               

Related Reading from Redeemed Reader:

• Reviews : As mentioned earlier, Skyward is another fantasy for teens that also features a plucky heroine.
• Resource : Mega Sci-Fi and Fantasy List

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Is it considered bad parenting to have my 13yo boy read this review? 🙂 I’ve read all the books so far, since my son was reading them at 11 and I was still trying to keep up with him. Nothing much changes from what you’ve described except that Sophie ends up pulled between two boys and the flirting/heart-stopping/endless gazing ramps up (nauseatingly so). Thankfully, my kiddo is just as likely to reread LOTR or Shakespeare or the Odyssey, so like you said, I can overlook this bit of nonsense. But I appreciate your review! Nuance is definitely the thing missing.

Oh, the heart-stopping/endless gazing… it’s enough in book 1! Glad you found the review helpful. It’s hard to put words to our thoughts, sometimes, isn’t it? And the RR team has been known to have their own children (or young friends) read reviews on here, too ;-).

Our teen daughter devoured all of these books and sometimes went back to read entire sections (so I read through 3 of them).

Your description is spot on: inoffensive for the most part, but with poor depictions and awfully sappy fare. May I add one other potential bullet point?

We are an adoptive family; KotLC is not adoption/orphan friendly. It’s *not* thoughtful or subtle with its orphan tropes. Sophie endlessly pines after belonging and identity; and may needlessly provoke adopted kids to question their own identity and belonging. Moreover, the series arc (over several books) inserts a lot of doubt on bio parents (who have to give up a child) AND adoptive parents (whose motives are impugned with a lot of drama). Adoptive families be warned.

Thanks for your comment! I hadn’t thought about the adoption-related issues; thanks for bringing those out. I think you’re absolutely right.

This is a little bit opinionated. You put a lot of religion-based opinions in this writing and some things you said go against each other. For example, you say that ‘Harry could never have defeated Voldemort without Ron and Hermione (and many others) by his side from the beginning. Frodo couldn’t have thrown the ring into the fire without Sam’s faithful service along the way.’ Going against what you said, when I read this series (multiple times unlike you just reading it once) it seemed like Sophie had many friends to help her. I also thought that many of Sophie’s problems are ones that teens AND adults face in life. One last thing- when I read the books, I saw many great descriptions and new ideas like a kick-butt girl main character and how there was freedom of religion, no racism, sexism, etc. This really gives teens an understanding of kindness, adventure, real-life problems, and freedom. I really loved this series! 😀

Thanks for your thoughts, Sky. Since our website is specifically geared to Christian parents and educators, you’ll find that most of our reviews come from a “religious-base.” It’s what we do :-).

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Everblaze (Keeper of the Lost Cities Book 3)

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Exile: Keeper Of The Lost Cities; Exile; Everblaze; Neverseen; Lodestar (Keeper of the Lost Cities #2)

By: shannon messenger.

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• by Shannon Messenger
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• in Literature and Fiction

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