The Keeper of the Lost Cities series (KotLC) by Shannon Messenger is an unfinished series of nine books plus an extra installment of material. The untitled book 10 is currently set to be released on Nov. 4, 2024. The extra book, number 8.5 of the series, is titled Unlocked. Unlocked includes extra material such as character biographies, pictures and maps. The end of the book also includes a few chapters that continue the plot of the series.
The plot follows the journey of 12-year-old high school senior Sophie Foster who has the power to read minds. Early into the first book, she learns that her supernatural abilities are due to the fact that she is not a human as she has always believed. She is an elf, a secret species that is basically a more evolved version of humans.
The series is marketed for anyone 9-12 years old. However, that does not mean that teens cannot enjoy it as well. Sophie may start the series as a 12 year old, but due to the length of the series she is closer to 16-17 at the current end.
What many teens do not fully understand about age ratings is they are the minimum ages you should read it, not the only age. It can be fun to read something below your reading level to give your brain a break. However, it is by no means a quick read for anyone of any reading level. There are 9.5 books and counting, each with 500-800 pages. Reading that many pages of a book that is mentally challenging is not fun for anyone. You should not be intimidated by the length of the series, as it is definitely worth the time.
Another good thing about the series is how captivating the plotline is. The series is full of mystery and fantasy, which makes it hard to be bored while reading it. In addition to the main plotline, there are many sub plotlines, some of which tie back to the main plotline and some that do not.
Throughout the series, there are many different characters that appear throughout the series. It can be challenging to remember everything that each different character is involved in the first time you read it. However, this many characters is also a good thing as it makes rereading more interesting and keeps you on your toes. Due to all the character development as well as plot shifts, this book is definitely not boring to read.
A downside to rereading the series, however, is that the first two or three books consist of the character finding answers to the most fundamental questions of the series. It can be a little more boring to reread if you, the reader, knows all the answers.
Some series that are similar to KotLC are the School for Good and Evil, the Mysterious Benedict Society and Harry Potter. The plotline has the same complexity as the Harry Potter series, with things from the very beginning not becoming important until the end. While it is similar to the Mysterious Benedict Society in terms of number of pages, a more significant similarity is the relationships between characters and the way they interact with each other.
The series has gained a lot of popularity lately, especially among teens and young adults. KotLC can be found in most major bookstores as well as online shopping places such as Amazon. An exciting announcement for all KotLC fans is that another extra installment titled Unraveled 9.5 will be released on Nov. 12, 2024.
Overall, the KotLC series is a great read for all ages. Although it is slightly time consuming, it is definitely worth it. The characters and plot will keep you on your toes waiting eagerly for the next addition to the series.
