Review: Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger + GIVEAWAY!

Title: Keeper of the Lost Cities
Author: Shannon Messenger
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Keeper of the Lost Cities #1

Paperback, 512 pages

Publication: August 6, 2013 by Aladdin

Source: Paperback received from publicist 

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Twelve-year-old Sophie has never quite fit into her life. She’s skipped multiple grades and doesn’t really connect with the older kids at school, but she’s not comfortable with her family, either. The reason? Sophie’s a Telepath, someone who can read minds. No one knows her secret—at least, that’s what she thinks…

But the day Sophie meets Fitz, a mysterious (and adorable) boy, she learns she’s not alone. He’s a Telepath too, and it turns out the reason she has never felt at home is that, well…she isn’t. Fitz opens Sophie’s eyes to a shocking truth, and she is forced to leave behind her family for a new life in a place that is vastly different from what she has ever known.

But Sophie still has secrets, and they’re buried deep in her memory for good reason: The answers are dangerous and in high-demand. What is her true identity, and why was she hidden among humans? The truth could mean life or death—and time is running out.

This book was simply AMAZING. I don’t read many middle grade novels, afraid that I’d find the characters too young and un-relatable but after reading Keeper of the Lost Cities…that assumption proved wrong. Keeper of the Lost Cities was a fantastic fantasy novel that exceeded my expectation and definitely will appeal and reach beyond its targeted audience.

Sophie is a great character, and I was immediately captivated by her story…she’s an telepathic (someone who can read people’s thought) and a child prodigy, a 12 year-old-old who is a high school-er! At the start of the book, we see Sophie as a lost and insecure girl. She has these powers but don’t know how to make sense of it, and most of the time she doesn’t feel like she belong, unable to relate to her own family. Over the course of the book, Sophie begins to grow; discovering things about herself and the world in which she never knew existed. I enjoy seeing Sophie’s physical and mental development, and it’s a big change from where she started. Sophie is very compassionate and headstrong for her age. Basically, what I’m trying to say is Sophie is a refreshing heroine and I wish there were more characters like her. 

I find a supporting cast just as important as the main characters and the world-building, and Messengers’ secondary-third characters were vibrant and unique. I found myself invested and connected to every single character not just Sophie. Everyone was so realistic that I found myself laughing and smiling alongside Sophie and her friends, and other times teary-eyed by the love and support of her family.

The attention to details and world building is incredible. The world that Messenger created just leaps from the pages and at times I even forgot I was reading a fantasy novel…because yes, it felt that realistic. Everything from clothing, surrounding (like Sophie’s home and the school setting), to school functions were told in great detail but not to the point that readers felt lost or weighed down with too much information.  The book is a little over 500 pages long but it was so good I found myself flying through the book till I reach the very end! The pacing was good, and a mystery with a lot of twists and turns. The story is left on a small cliffhanger, so I can’t wait to see what happens in book 2, Keeper of the Lost Cities: Exile!

Bottom line, Keeper of the Lost Cities was a phenomenal middle grade fantasy. This book has definitely opened my door to reading more MG novels, because if this is what MG books are like…man, I’ve been totally missing out! This is the best MG book I’ve read ever. I highly recommend this to everyone. Even if you’re not a fantasy fan, I believe there are other aspects of this book that will be appeal to many readers. 

- Many people compared this to the Harry Potter series, and I definitely agree there are similarities…so if you’re a fan of HP, this is a series worth checking out.

Thanks to the lovely people at Simon & Schuster, I have 1 copy of KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES by Shannon Messenger to giveaway! To enter please fill out the Rafflecopter below.

[US only, sorry international folks.]

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