Keeper of the Lost Cities

Keeper of the Lost Cities is an upper-middle-grade fantasy series by Shannon Messenger that has appeared on the New York Times bestseller list.^[1] The first book in the series was an Association for Library Service to Children tween recommended read in 2013. The seventh book in the series, Flashback, had a first printing of 150,000 copies, and Shannon Messenger's three-week tour to promote the book drew crowds of 200–700 people per event.^[2][3]

Series[]

The series tells the story of Sophie Foster, a twelve-year-old high school senior with the ability to read minds. She lives in San Diego until a boy named Fitz Vacker reveals that she is an elf and must leave to go among the elves in the "Lost Cities", a hidden set of cities where elves and other fantasy races live. She has to leave her human family, starts school at an elvin academy named Foxfire, and stays with an elf couple, Grady and Edaline Ruewen, who later adopt her. She eventually discovers that she has dangerous and illegal secrets hidden in her mind, planted there by the Black Swan, a rebel group who is later revealed to have hidden Sophie originally in the human world. The main antagonist of the series is the Neverseen, an extreme criminal organization.

The story has continued over eight books as of November 2019, with one book released each year, as well as Unlocked (book 8.5) and four short stories in limited editions. The ninth book will be released on November 8, 2022,^[4] and the series will conclude with a tenth book in 2023.^[5]

1. Keeper of the Lost Cities (October 2, 2012)

2. Exile (October 1, 2013)

3. Everblaze (November 4, 2014)

4. Neverseen (November 3, 2015)

5. Lodestar (November 1, 2016)

6. Nightfall (November 7, 2017)

7. Flashback (November 6, 2018)

8. Legacy (November 5, 2019)

8.5. Unlocked (November 17, 2020)

9. Stellarlune (November 8, 2022)

10. Not yet announced (2023)

Unlocked is book number 8.5 in the series and is a departure from the writing style of the previous books, with chapters alternating between multiple characters' perspectives. Unlocked also includes a series guide and extras like recipes and official art of the characters, drawn by Laura Hollingsworth.^[6]

The Barnes & Noble special editions of Nightfall, Flashback and Legacy include short stories from the perspectives of the characters Keefe Sencen, Fitz Vacker, and Tam Song, respectively. The paperback edition of Flashback includes another short story from Keefe's perspective, and the paperback edition of Unlocked includes a short story from Linh Song's perspective. No other special editions are set to release.

An illustrated and annotated trade paperback edition of the first book was released on August 25, 2020.^[7]

Reviews[]

Reviews to the series have mainly been positive. Kirkus Reviews said of the first book: "wholesome shading to bland", but "well-stocked with exotic creatures and locales, plus an agreeable cast."^[8] Booklist Reviews called it a "exciting start to a promising series."

Author interviews[]

In an interview with Denise Davidson of the San Diego Union-Tribune, Messenger answered questions about book 8 of the series, Legacy, and how she writes her books. There she talked about her characters, as well as saying she tries to let the characters drive the plot.^[9]

Film adaptation[]

On January 11, 2021, it was announced that Ben Affleck would be directing an adaptation of Keeper of the Lost Cities for Disney. The release date and cast have not been announced, but it is set for around 2023/2024.^[10][11]

Important Characters[]

Sophie Elizabeth Foster: The protagonist, whose genes were edited by a rebel group called the Black Swan, giving her several powerful Elven special abilities (DNA-based powers) including telepathy, Polyglot, Enhancing, inflicting, and teleportation.

Dexter (“Dex”) Alvin Dizznee: Sophie’s best and first friend, a talented alchemist with a special ability to be skillful with technology (Technopathy).

Fitz Vacker: Sophie's close friend and son of Alden Vacker, expert Telepath. He can get through Sophie's mental blocking, thanks to help from Mr. Forkle.

Keefe Sencen: The son of a leader of the Neverseen but Sophie's friend, who has a special ability allowing him to detect feelings (Empath).

Biana Amberly Vacker: Fitz’s younger sister and Sophie’s friend, who has a special ability to turn invisible (Vanisher) like her mother.

Tam Dai Song: Sophie’s friend from Exillium, a school for banished and or unruly elves, who has a special ability that manipulates shadows (Shade).

Linh Hai Song: Tam’s twin sister, who has the ability to control water (Hydrokinetic).

Wylie Endal: The son of Prentice (an important member of the Black Swan), who can sense and manipulate colours of light as per his needs (Flasher).

Marella Adene Redek: Sophie’s friend, who she meets during her first day at Foxfire, and has a banned ability to call down fire (Pyrokinetic).

Jensi Babblos: Sophie’s friend, who meets her on her first day at Foxfire.

Maruca Chebota: Wylie’s cousin and Biana’s former best friend.

Stina Destry Heks: A school bully who later becomes Sophie's friend she has the ability to, when touching someone's arm, to tell what they are feeling

Edaline Kelia Ruewen: Sophie’s adoptive mother, Conjuror.

Grady Howell Ruewen: Sophie’s adoptive father, Mesmer, which is the ability to control what others do.

Sandor: Sophie’s goblin bodyguard.

Councillor Bronte: Ancient elf who can inflict pain (Inflictor) , also an Ancient (Senior Councillor) and one of the three Councillors who votes in whether Sophie should be allowed to attend Foxfire.

Councillor Oralie: An elf who can read emotions (Empath), Sophie's biological mother, and of the three Councillors who votes in whether Sophie should be allowed to attend Foxfire. Also Sophie's biological mother.

Councillor Alina: An elf who can manipulate people just by the tone of her voice, or a Beguiler. She is principal of Foxfire at an earlier point in the series before resigning in order to become a Councillor.

Mr. Errol Loki Forkle: Two members of the Black Swan's leaders who are identical twin brothers and share an identity (as well as all of their memories and experiences through telepathy), and one/two of Sophie’s creators. Also known as Magnate Leto Kerlof and Sir Astin.

Granite: A member of the Black Swan's leaders also known as Sir Tiergan Andrin Alenefar, Wylie’s adoptive father and Sophie’s Telepathy Mentor at Foxfire.

Prentice Endall: A member of the Black Swan who had the role of storing important information deep in his mind, who sacrificed his sanity to keep Sophie hidden among humans. Prentice is also the father of Wylie Endall.

Lady Vespera Neci Folend: An elf who lived in the dungeon of an elven city for thousands of years, who was secretly experimenting on humans, and a leader of the Neverseen. She is an Empath (she can read emotions), but she can no longer feel HER own emotions due to her letting herself get overwhelmed by everyone elses emotions

Lady Gisela Minette Sencen: A leader of the Neverseen and Keefe’s mother. Gisela is a Polyglot (she can speak any language).

Fintan Pyren: A Pyrokinetic, originally a member of the Council before Pyrokinesis was banned, and a leader of the Neverseen.

Brant Alger (last name unknown): The fiancé of Jolie, Grady and Edaline’s daughter (dead) and an unregistered Pyrokinetic (he can manipulate and create fire) being trained by Fintan.

Alvar Soren Vacker: Fitz and Biana’s brother, who joined the Neverseen after learning a secret about their family's "legacy".

Elwin Heslege: The physician at Foxfire.

Alden Dedrick Vacker: Fitz Alvar, and Biana’s father and a mentor to Sophie, has the ability to read minds (Telepathy)

Della Adara Vacker: Fitz, Alvar, and Biana’s mother, as well as Alden's husband, has the ability to vanish

Many of the names in Keeper of the Lost Cities have meanings in other languages and are presumably derived from them.

• The surname "Vacker" (Fitz Vacker) means "beautiful" in Swedish.
• The surname "Heks" (Stina Heks) means "witch" in Dutch.
• The given name "Luzia" (Luzia Vacker) means "bright" or "light" and is of Latin origin, a reference to her ability to manipulate light.
• The surname "Ignis" (Ruy Ignis) seems to be roughly derived from Latin for 'fire'.
• The surname "Ondsinn" (Gethen Inar Ondsinn) roughly means "evil" in Norwegian.

Locations[]

Eternalia: The elves’ capital city, known in human myths as Shangri-La. It’s divided by a river, with the Councillors’ castles on one side and buildings like the elven courtroom for criminal cases, the Tribunal Hall.

Atlantis: An underwater city originally meant to be shared with humans before they started a war with the elves.

Mysterium: A city usually occupied by elves without special abilities, or Talentless, and looked down on by some members of the elven nobility.

Lumenaria: A castle that inspired human legends of Camelot, where species come together to negotiate, and where some prisoners are kept.

Foxfire: The elves’ most prestigious school, which students must attend to be members of the elven nobility.

Exillium: The school for students banished from the Lost Cities. This school was originally attended by Tam and Linh Song.

The Sanctuary: An animal preserve hidden in the Himalayas for species humans believe to be mythical or extinct.

Exile: The most secure interspecies prison.

Havenfield: Sophie and her parents' home and the place where animals are domesticated and trained to live in the Sanctuary, a hollowed-out mountain used as an animal preserve.

Everglen: The Vackers’ home.

Alluveterre: One of the Black Swan’s hideouts.

Solreef: Sir Tiergan's house.

Sterling Gables: The Heks' house.

Watchward Heath: Mr. Forkle's office.

Splendor Plains: Elwin Hesledge's house.

References[]