304 books
—
180 voters
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “Keeper of the Lost Cities (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #1)” as Want to Read:
Keeper of the Lost Cities
(Keeper of the Lost Cities #1)
by
Twelve-year-old Sophie Foster has a secret. She’s a Telepath—someone who hears the thoughts of everyone around her. It’s a talent she’s never known how to explain.
Everything changes the day she meets Fitz, a mysterious boy who appears out of nowhere and also reads minds. She discovers there’s a place she does belong, and that staying with her family will place her in grave ...more
Everything changes the day she meets Fitz, a mysterious boy who appears out of nowhere and also reads minds. She discovers there’s a place she does belong, and that staying with her family will place her in grave ...more
Get A Copy
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
Keeper of the Lost Cities,
please sign up.
Popular Answered Questions
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Start your review of Keeper of the Lost Cities (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #1)
Okay, I may be biased here. But I think it's pretty darn awesome. :D *is an incredibly nerdy author*
...more
Original review posted on The Book Smugglers
Thea’s Take:
There are two ends of the CG animated movie spectrum. On the one side, there are gems like Wall-E and Up and Toy Story. On the other, there are the lamentable films like Fly Me to the Moon, or Robots, or Shark Tale. Granted, many kids like all of these films and there is some entertainment value to find in each of them – but there’s a huge difference in storytelling skill and in quality.
Unfortunately, Keeper of the Lost Cities falls deep on ...more
Thea’s Take:
There are two ends of the CG animated movie spectrum. On the one side, there are gems like Wall-E and Up and Toy Story. On the other, there are the lamentable films like Fly Me to the Moon, or Robots, or Shark Tale. Granted, many kids like all of these films and there is some entertainment value to find in each of them – but there’s a huge difference in storytelling skill and in quality.
Unfortunately, Keeper of the Lost Cities falls deep on ...more
Jun 12, 2018
☘Misericordia☘ ⚡ϟ⚡⛈⚡☁ ❇️❤❣
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
underrated,
favorites,
pleasure,
featured,
best-ever,
memorabilia,
to-read-again-and-again,
love,
really-good,
tribute
🌟Ridiculously good! I love it. And I imagine I would have been even more head-over-the-heels, had I gotten this one to read as a kid. Still, even for an adult, this is an immensely entertaining read. Complete with a new world, tidy loose endings wrapped up, likable protagonists, Harry-Potteresque schools... And Telepaths, Mesmers, Inflicters, Washers, Descryers, Atlantis, Exilium, Eternalia, Foxfire, prodigies, talent-based nobility, Dames and Sirs, society that had no death (almost!), Slurps an
...more
This is the beautiful beginning of a new obsession. 💖
I just wanted to read a fun middle grade book, but I got something that totally blew my mind. I already orderd the next one when I was only halfway through, but I won't be able to calm down until it arrives!
The characters are everything, although I don't trust anyone except my baby Dex.
And when I say this book has the best found family (with parents), I don't lie. That is my favourite part of the whole story.
Buddy read with Rue. ...more
I just wanted to read a fun middle grade book, but I got something that totally blew my mind. I already orderd the next one when I was only halfway through, but I won't be able to calm down until it arrives!
The characters are everything, although I don't trust anyone except my baby Dex.
And when I say this book has the best found family (with parents), I don't lie. That is my favourite part of the whole story.
Buddy read with Rue. ...more
ALL KINDS OF AWESOME. Seriously am in love with this book/series and its characters.
KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES is a fantasy mystery of epic proportions--and it's captivating from page one.
While it's perfectly fitted for middle grade readers (even reluctant readers will burn through this and beg for more!) I have to be honest and say that I don't read very much middle grade. But I'm 31, and this book is still one of my all-time favorites. The reach of KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES extends from those ...more
KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES is a fantasy mystery of epic proportions--and it's captivating from page one.
While it's perfectly fitted for middle grade readers (even reluctant readers will burn through this and beg for more!) I have to be honest and say that I don't read very much middle grade. But I'm 31, and this book is still one of my all-time favorites. The reach of KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES extends from those ...more
Alright, I will start this off by saying that this book was written by my little sister....and for you to fully understand what this means I must explain a few things to you. Shannon has always been the over achiever in the family, she's younger than me, yet managed to graduate a couple days before me, 4.0 and valedictorian no less! She graduated college, which I never even went to, and she always manages to do things like change the lightbulbs, wear accessories and eyeliner, and bring a jacket
...more
Jan 06, 2021
Tina ➹ the girl who lives in Fandoms
rated it
really liked it
Recommended to Tina ➹ the girl who lives in Fandoms by:
the hype
Shelves:
most-anticipated,
2021,
golden-sparks,
fav-side-chrctr,
i-recommend,
want-this-edition,
cover,
ebooks,
favorite,
reviews
3.5 Silver Stars
with Golden Sparks
I actually was very afraid to start this book, thinking of it same as the Mortal Engines (I guess same cover vibes, it looks like a locomotive from distance), but NOTHING, absolutely Nothing similar. this one was so much more intriguing, since the first page!
I wonder maybe this kind of story was the thing I expected from Artemis Fowl. same fairy vibes I guess.
It was one of my most anticipated series & I'm glad, even in near 30, this middle grade didn't disappoin ...more
with Golden Sparks
I actually was very afraid to start this book, thinking of it same as the Mortal Engines (I guess same cover vibes, it looks like a locomotive from distance), but NOTHING, absolutely Nothing similar. this one was so much more intriguing, since the first page!
I wonder maybe this kind of story was the thing I expected from Artemis Fowl. same fairy vibes I guess.
It was one of my most anticipated series & I'm glad, even in near 30, this middle grade didn't disappoin ...more
Rating: Though I nearly DNFed in the beginning (they're ELVES?! She's HARRY FREAKING POTTER?! THEY'RE ELVES?!?!), ultimately I was charmed by this middle grade fantasy.
The cover: 99% of the reason I wanted this. LOOOOK at it! And at Sophie's oh-so-glorious middle grade hair. Let's pretend I looked like that at age 12.
The story: I came so close to giving up on this one. I thought the beginning was a MESS. Normal-but-not-normal preteen girl suddenly discovers she is part of a magical world she nev ...more
The cover: 99% of the reason I wanted this. LOOOOK at it! And at Sophie's oh-so-glorious middle grade hair. Let's pretend I looked like that at age 12.
The story: I came so close to giving up on this one. I thought the beginning was a MESS. Normal-but-not-normal preteen girl suddenly discovers she is part of a magical world she nev ...more
Non Spoilers:
This was an average book. I get why so many people love it, but it honestly doesn't live up to the hype. A few things I continually noticed was:
Why is everyone white, straight, and perfect? There is literally no flaws on anyone. They look perfect, and all fit the hypothetically perfect world of Shitler (my nickname for Hitler). It also made me uncomfortable that the gnomes had dark skin and were always working. I felt like it was uneeded, and could bring up some drama about the auth ...more
This was an average book. I get why so many people love it, but it honestly doesn't live up to the hype. A few things I continually noticed was:
Why is everyone white, straight, and perfect? There is literally no flaws on anyone. They look perfect, and all fit the hypothetically perfect world of Shitler (my nickname for Hitler). It also made me uncomfortable that the gnomes had dark skin and were always working. I felt like it was uneeded, and could bring up some drama about the auth ...more
4.29 on CAWPILE.
5
This was so good??? I have not had a middle grade suck me in this intensely since my first time reading Harry Potter—as an actual middle grade-aged reader—so I am shook.
World: ★★★★★
Characters: ★★★★★
Pacing: ★★★★
Series potential: ★★★★★
Keeper of the Lost Cities is not your average middle grade read. This is an immersive, well-built, and well-told tale that caters to a middle grade audience mostly due to its 12-year-old protagonist, Sophie Foster. It's not overly simplified. In fact, at times it w ...more
This was so good??? I have not had a middle grade suck me in this intensely since my first time reading Harry Potter—as an actual middle grade-aged reader—so I am shook.
World: ★★★★★
Characters: ★★★★★
Pacing: ★★★★
Series potential: ★★★★★
Keeper of the Lost Cities is not your average middle grade read. This is an immersive, well-built, and well-told tale that caters to a middle grade audience mostly due to its 12-year-old protagonist, Sophie Foster. It's not overly simplified. In fact, at times it w ...more
Dec 13, 2020
Mrinmayi
marked it as to-readornotto-read-that-is-the-qts
Ok...quick question...
How long is this series???!!
I am currently planning my 2021 "reading goals" AND this series is on top of it
BUT I don't usually start series that are incomplete😅
Look...I ONCE did try and "wait" for the next book to come out BUT if I am being honest ..it was pure torture
Soo...I either *wait* for the series to get complete OR start a series that will publish books faster
Please do tell if you have ANY idea when the last book will come out
...more
How long is this series???!!
I am currently planning my 2021 "reading goals" AND this series is on top of it
BUT I don't usually start series that are incomplete😅
Look...I ONCE did try and "wait" for the next book to come out BUT if I am being honest ..it was pure torture
Soo...I either *wait* for the series to get complete OR start a series that will publish books faster
Please do tell if you have ANY idea when the last book will come out
...more
I am definitely not ready to depart with this book right now. It was just so good. SO GOOD. I haven't read a middle grade that I really liked in quite a bit, so this was a surprise!
Characters
Sophie - She was really just okay. I didn't particularly love her or hate her. I did like how she was super smart for her age and in high school. I found that pretty interesting.
Fitz - In the beginning he was annoying. In the end he was annoying. No character development there.
Dex - In the beginning, he was ...more
Characters
Sophie - She was really just okay. I didn't particularly love her or hate her. I did like how she was super smart for her age and in high school. I found that pretty interesting.
Fitz - In the beginning he was annoying. In the end he was annoying. No character development there.
Dex - In the beginning, he was ...more
3.2/5 | It's like The School for Good and Evil, but better.
Actually, it's The School for Good and Evil with some Harry Potter thrown in along with a bit of Narnia and sprinkled with elements of Percy Jackson. And you have it. But, for real, it reminded me so much of TSfGaE; it was everything good about that series and more.
It's also worth mentioning how drop dead gorgeous every single cover in this series is. It's actually shocking.
P L O T
I was afraid at the beginning because the pacing was shit ...more
Actually, it's The School for Good and Evil with some Harry Potter thrown in along with a bit of Narnia and sprinkled with elements of Percy Jackson. And you have it. But, for real, it reminded me so much of TSfGaE; it was everything good about that series and more.
It's also worth mentioning how drop dead gorgeous every single cover in this series is. It's actually shocking.
P L O T
I was afraid at the beginning because the pacing was shit ...more
that was not what i expected and i have to say i’m glad.
this is my first middle grade in a while (other than Renegades because that WAS NOT A YA) anyway i’m going to answer some questions that i looked up online haha
Who was your favorite character and why?
Keefe was my favorite character🥰. i loved how he was the funny one in every situation. He sort of reminded me of Adrian (from Vampire Academy not Renegades lol) and any character like him is automatically my fav😌
Who was your least favorite cha ...more
this is my first middle grade in a while (other than Renegades because that WAS NOT A YA) anyway i’m going to answer some questions that i looked up online haha
Who was your favorite character and why?
Keefe was my favorite character🥰. i loved how he was the funny one in every situation. He sort of reminded me of Adrian (from Vampire Academy not Renegades lol) and any character like him is automatically my fav😌
Who was your least favorite cha ...more
WOW!!! This book was WONDERFUL!!! My favorite read of 2018.
Where to start...
Romance- Sophie did have crushes of boys; mentions of hugging, hand holding... nothing bad at all.
Violence/content- Two of the main characters get kidnapped; lots of magic, feeling severely alone; mentions of being drugged (while kidnapped), etc.
First off- Shannon Messenger is an INCREDIBLE author. I cannot wait to read more of her work.
The world-building in this book is mesmerizing. The details and choice of words ...more
Where to start...
Romance- Sophie did have crushes of boys; mentions of hugging, hand holding... nothing bad at all.
Violence/content- Two of the main characters get kidnapped; lots of magic, feeling severely alone; mentions of being drugged (while kidnapped), etc.
First off- Shannon Messenger is an INCREDIBLE author. I cannot wait to read more of her work.
The world-building in this book is mesmerizing. The details and choice of words ...more
EEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!! Can't wait to read Exile!!!!!!!!!!!! Omg this book was so good!!!!! I know, i know, Sophie is 13, but like, im still shipping!!!! I loved all the characters (except Stina you bitch), and o.M.G!!!!!! I'm adding another guy to my bio crush-list!!!😍😍😍🥰🥰 Keeeeefeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!! I know that lots of ppl ship her and Fitz, and that she and Fitz have more of a romantic relationship, but STILLLLLLLLLL!!!!! And Dex is so sweet!!!!!
...more
Solid fun and a good take on the middle grade magic school genre (except the elves are adamant that "it's not magic!!"), with some good twists.
It starts a bit frantically but then finds its pace once we get to the school. Then it starts to shine. Great things to study here for aspiring upper middle grade writers (like me), like how to introduce a big cast of characters. There were some rough edges that didn't land with me, but the whole book was compelling. I'm glad it's a long series! Excited t ...more
It starts a bit frantically but then finds its pace once we get to the school. Then it starts to shine. Great things to study here for aspiring upper middle grade writers (like me), like how to introduce a big cast of characters. There were some rough edges that didn't land with me, but the whole book was compelling. I'm glad it's a long series! Excited t ...more
It's been a while since I've read a good MG book and I'm glad that I've started this one. This could be one of my favorite MG books given time, maybe after I've read the next few books.
What I love about this series is diving on a whole new world of fantasy and adventures. I've been through the world of wizardry, demigods, ghost hunters, fairy tales and the like. And this series is about elves but not like the LOTR ones with pointy ears, great eyesight and hearing, and clearly not the fairy tale ...more
What I love about this series is diving on a whole new world of fantasy and adventures. I've been through the world of wizardry, demigods, ghost hunters, fairy tales and the like. And this series is about elves but not like the LOTR ones with pointy ears, great eyesight and hearing, and clearly not the fairy tale ...more
Uhhhh... Fitz and annoying and groping and needs to be kicked in the knees
~3.5 stars~
Re-read (10/23/20)
Keeper of the Lost Cities: ★★★½
Exile: ★★★★★
Everblaze: ★★★★
Neverseen: ★★★★½
Lodestar: ★★★½
Nightfall: ★★★★½
Bonus Keefe Story: ★★★
Flashback: ★★
Legacy: ★★½
Is there anything better than revisiting a book or book series that you loved as a child? Of course my taste in books and writing has changed much since I have last read this, but I still very much enjoyed it. And I see why I it was one of my favorite series all those years ago. This has a similar vibe to Harry Pott ...more
Re-read (10/23/20)
Keeper of the Lost Cities: ★★★½
Exile: ★★★★★
Everblaze: ★★★★
Neverseen: ★★★★½
Lodestar: ★★★½
Nightfall: ★★★★½
Bonus Keefe Story: ★★★
Flashback: ★★
Legacy: ★★½
Is there anything better than revisiting a book or book series that you loved as a child? Of course my taste in books and writing has changed much since I have last read this, but I still very much enjoyed it. And I see why I it was one of my favorite series all those years ago. This has a similar vibe to Harry Pott ...more
Feb 24, 2020
Drewthereader20
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
own-books,
fantasy,
fall-tbr,
tbr-shelf,
2020-reads,
paperback,
yallwest-2020-tbr,
audiobook,
debut-authors
This was a really good first book! I didn’t knew what I was expecting going into it because I heard a lot of great things about it and it’s really good!
I started reading this Saturday. And I was going to finish it last night but was too tire to finish!😂
So I finished it today and I will have more thoughts later today when I have time to think about it, instead of writing this at 7am!😂
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I started reading this Saturday. And I was going to finish it last night but was too tire to finish!😂
So I finished it today and I will have more thoughts later today when I have time to think about it, instead of writing this at 7am!😂
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
After careful deliberation I’m giving this 4 stars. It was a really fun read, not gonna lie.
Sep 09, 2020
Hillary
rated it
it was ok
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
low-fantasy,
middle-grade
So um,,,I have no idea why this series is well-loved. This book is a basic mix of HP and every YA that was popular at the time this was released, and it’s not good. At ALL.
There’s a circle in my personal hell for middle grade books that think their readers stupid, and I’m shoving Keeper of the Lost Cities right in. No regrets.
This book did a 180 for me one third in. The beginning isn’t all bad, it introduces the main character, the light-leaping magic and the elven cities made of crystals. Tha ...more
There’s a circle in my personal hell for middle grade books that think their readers stupid, and I’m shoving Keeper of the Lost Cities right in. No regrets.
This book did a 180 for me one third in. The beginning isn’t all bad, it introduces the main character, the light-leaping magic and the elven cities made of crystals. Tha ...more
Feb 18, 2020
¸¸.•*¨*•♫ Mrs. Buttercup •*¨*•♫♪
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
2020-favourites,
kindle
“This is…magic?”
Fitz laughed – a full body laugh, like it was the funniest thing he’d ever heard [...] “No,” he said when he’d regained control. “Magic is a stupid idea humans came up with to try to explain things they couldn’t understand.”
This. Was. So. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!!!
From the first sentence, I knew this book was going to be captivating, fast-paced, marvelous, a whimsical magical adventure!!! We immediately get catapulted into action, and we barely have taken our first breath that we get th ...more
Fitz laughed – a full body laugh, like it was the funniest thing he’d ever heard [...] “No,” he said when he’d regained control. “Magic is a stupid idea humans came up with to try to explain things they couldn’t understand.”
This. Was. So. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!!!
From the first sentence, I knew this book was going to be captivating, fast-paced, marvelous, a whimsical magical adventure!!! We immediately get catapulted into action, and we barely have taken our first breath that we get th ...more
i know so many people who love this book, and while they’re definitely entitled to their opinion, i don’t know why anyone would enjoy this. the magic system is ridiculous, the main character is a complete mary sue, the writing is average at best and its overall really boring. the only character i liked was keefe but i didn’t like him enough to want to continue reading this NINE BOOK LONG SERIES- that is too many books. i don’t care how “good” the series is, nine is too many.
DNF at 65%. I simply grew bored, so bored of the special snowflake MC. I grew angry with the narration telling me she was the prettiest girl, so pretty even 15yo boys look at her (this is so not credible). I grew bored of all the Déjà-vu feelings *coughharrypottercough*. I grew bored of the overall lack of imagination, how the plot was full of clichés, the freakin love triangle (really??? In a middleschool book? Gdi), how the dialogues felt stiff and once again, not credible.
I am not impressed. ...more
I am not impressed. ...more
This was so much fun!
Review to come tonight. I'm so glad I've delved into middle grade fantasy. Sure, Sophie is a bit of a Mary Sue, but the other characters are so wonderful I couldn't stop reading. I just feel that the world building was lacking, but the potential is still there.
...more
Review to come tonight. I'm so glad I've delved into middle grade fantasy. Sure, Sophie is a bit of a Mary Sue, but the other characters are so wonderful I couldn't stop reading. I just feel that the world building was lacking, but the potential is still there.
...more
Oh my God... I bought the boxset of this series.... how could I have done this??
Ugh... I mean it's not like I haven't done this before. I bought the City Trilogy by Darren Shan all at once for around the same price and I ended up hating those books too. But at least with the first book of the City Trilogy I could see the promise in the series and could enjoy the unique vibes it gave.
With this though... I really can't see any promise for this series. At all. It just failed on every level. I just ...more
Ugh... I mean it's not like I haven't done this before. I bought the City Trilogy by Darren Shan all at once for around the same price and I ended up hating those books too. But at least with the first book of the City Trilogy I could see the promise in the series and could enjoy the unique vibes it gave.
With this though... I really can't see any promise for this series. At all. It just failed on every level. I just ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Grade Madn...: KotLC Book 1 - January 2021 | 61 | 55 | 34 minutes ago | |
| com-page-titions: January BOTM- Keeper of the lost cities | 30 | 8 | Jan 21, 2021 11:03PM | |
| Unpopular opinions for KOTLC? | 21 | 33 | Jan 20, 2021 04:50PM | |
| YA Buddy Readers'...: Keeper of the Lost Cities (Keeper of the Lost Cities #1) by Shannon Messenger - Restarting January 5th 2021 | 36 | 44 | Jan 19, 2021 06:52AM | |
| KOTLC: Quotes | 29 | 54 | Jan 18, 2021 09:49AM | |
| Fitz or Keefe | 1213 | 726 | Jan 17, 2021 07:01PM | |
| ships | 2 | 3 | Jan 06, 2021 10:05PM |
Readers also enjoyed
Hi! I'm the NYT and USA today bestselling author of the KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES series and the SKY FALL series! And yes, I DO accept friend requests here--BUT! Please note: I *never* check my private messages here, so if you send me one, you won't get a reply. My real contact information is on my website: shannonmessenger.com
...more
Other books in the series
Keeper of the Lost Cities
(9 books)
Related Articles
Melissa Albert burst onto the YA scene (and catapulted into readers' hearts) with her 2018 debut The Hazel Wood. This darkly fantastical...
82 likes · 5 comments
18 trivia questions
6 quizzes
More quizzes & trivia...
6 quizzes
“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.”
—
137 likes
“Fitz pulled her forward, and the warm tingling in her hand shot through her body--like a million feathers swelling underneath her skin, tickling her from the inside out.”
—
81 likes
More quotes…
