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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed this first book in the Lost Cities series. Sophie is an amazingly strong character and I hope her confidence in herself grows as the series develops. I liked the world building and the worlds intertwined. Look forward to reading the next book in this series.
I would give this a 4-4.5. I came into this book knowing that it was a middle grade, and didn't expect what I got.
At first everything was moving extremely fast, but not in a natural sort of way and because of that I thought I wasn't going to enjoy the rest of it. About a third the way through though things began to slow down and there were a ton of layers to the story. I blasted through it after that and really enjoyed it.
At first everything was moving extremely fast, but not in a natural sort of way and because of that I thought I wasn't going to enjoy the rest of it. About a third the way through though things began to slow down and there were a ton of layers to the story. I blasted through it after that and really enjoyed it.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
This is a cute book for kids. The characters are likeable and charming, and the plot follows standard writing class advice and has some nicely-foreshadowed twists, which I think were the author's main goals. The annotated version that I read also has some good insights for aspiring young writers. That being said, this was the author's first novel, and I think it shows. The pacing can be a little odd--the six-week holiday break is sped past in a sentence or two, for instance. There are a few too many close similarities to Harry Potter, like the mean alchemy teacher and the blonde bad boy whose father is a rich snob with a Latinate name that half-rhymes with "Lucius." (But in this version, the bad boy is one of the good guys and has magical empathic powers--the stuff HP fanfics are made of!) But it lacks HP's satirical edge; Foxfire is less interesting than Hogwarts because it's supposed to be an idyllic place, not a loveable-but-insane place. Some emotional beats didn't quite work--I thought Sophie, the protagonist, accepted being cut off from her adoptive human family far too easily, especially because she mostly stopped thinking about them after it happened. Lastly and most seriously, I simply can't accept as elves a bunch of characters who act and talk like modern-day tween/teenagers. (Or modern adults, for that matter.) It is perhaps unfair to compare this book to something like The Lord of the Rings, The King of Elfland's Daughter, or The Riddle-Master trilogy*, but calling them "elves" invites comparison. The elves in Keeper of the Lost Cities just seem like humans with incredible technology, a lot of time on their hands, and a somehow-functional post-scarcity economy. They don't feel metaphysically different, or poetically-inclined, or particularly wise, or in any way numinous. It's very tricky to write convincing elves--especially so when one is juggling the many demands of writing a first novel. I think it would have been best to call them something else--but what do I know?
Overall, though, this was a basically good-hearted boarding school narrative that can lead kids to some good moral lessons. It's not something I'm likely to recommend often, but I'm also not going to steer anyone interested away from it.
*Ok, there technically aren't elves in Riddle-Master, but there are beings who come close enough.
Overall, though, this was a basically good-hearted boarding school narrative that can lead kids to some good moral lessons. It's not something I'm likely to recommend often, but I'm also not going to steer anyone interested away from it.
*Ok, there technically aren't elves in Riddle-Master, but there are beings who come close enough.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My daughter’s favorite series of all time, I was beyond nervous to read it, hate it, and crush her. But I loved it! I would call it an advanced middle grade or a youngish young adult writing style and that made for a quick read. And I’m a slooooooow reader! 🤣 Characters were lovable and I loved watching them change and grow. There was a lovely balance between discovery, adventure, and mystery. I want to visit all the elf lands because they have to be amazing! All in all, I’m so happy to be able to share my daughter’s love for this book with her and can’t wait to steal book 2 from her soon!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, Grief
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I LOVE this book! Defintaly going to read the rest of the series!
fast-paced