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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
When I first read this book in middle school I was absolutely glued. I'd definitely recommend for ages 10-14 ish!
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EDIT: I just came back and was ashamed of myself for the 5 star??? KotLC is good for the rest of the series, but it is not 5-star. Problems had to be solved. This child is 12, not 18.
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I also really want to lower my review bc this book does not deserve a 4.44 buut I am staying true to my first read...ish?
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.
EDIT: I just came back and was ashamed of myself for the 5 star??? KotLC is good for the rest of the series, but it is not 5-star. Problems had to be solved. This child is 12, not 18.
.
.
.
I also really want to lower my review bc this book does not deserve a 4.44 buut I am staying true to my first read...ish?
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
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:
Complicated
TW: Kidnapping, (mention of) death by fire, loss of family
Keeper of the Lost Cities is a middle grade fantasy about a girl, Sophie, who learns that she is actually an elf and not a human. Being an elf means that she has special powers, and she attends a school where she learns how to use them. There is also a lot of mystery that surrounds Sophie's circumstances and why she was living with humans for the first 12 years of her life.
The book felt a lot like Harry Potter (young "gifted" / chosen one, unaware of secret world and magic, school setting, mean teachers, etc.) and those kinds of comparisons will happen because Harry Potter defined a genre. I think there are enough differences and unique situations in this story to make it feel like its own story, however. The first half of the book had a lot of world building and was a steep climb. Not that it was dense but that there was so much world building happening that it felt like the plot was a bit meandering. The story found its footing at just after the 50% mark and the pace really picked up after that.
The magic system in this world is unique in that everyone has a special ability that has to be triggered through some event. Some of these abilities are more desirable than others (and even one is forbidden). The school setting and the interactions with friends were cute and typical for the 12ish age range. I did like the contrast of Sophie being extremely gifted at human subjects contrasting with her being absolutely abysmal at elf subjects, but I am not sure why we needed to know that she was so smart at the beginning of the story.
There was a mysterious past element to this story, and forgotten / hidden memories. This was my favorite part of the book and the book left lots of unanswered questions. I thought that the ending was spoiled by knowing the title of book two, but even that was what I did not expect!
I loved all of the characters and I especially loved the interactions between Sophie and Grady & Edaline. So many books for young people have completely absent parents and this book had lots of great parental figures. I thought Sophie's emotions were appropriate for her age and that she grew during the book, without the growth and the "moral of the story" being too on-the-nose.
I am very looking forward to continuing the series!
Keeper of the Lost Cities is a middle grade fantasy about a girl, Sophie, who learns that she is actually an elf and not a human. Being an elf means that she has special powers, and she attends a school where she learns how to use them. There is also a lot of mystery that surrounds Sophie's circumstances and why she was living with humans for the first 12 years of her life.
The book felt a lot like Harry Potter (young "gifted" / chosen one, unaware of secret world and magic, school setting, mean teachers, etc.) and those kinds of comparisons will happen because Harry Potter defined a genre. I think there are enough differences and unique situations in this story to make it feel like its own story, however. The first half of the book had a lot of world building and was a steep climb. Not that it was dense but that there was so much world building happening that it felt like the plot was a bit meandering. The story found its footing at just after the 50% mark and the pace really picked up after that.
The magic system in this world is unique in that everyone has a special ability that has to be triggered through some event. Some of these abilities are more desirable than others (and even one is forbidden). The school setting and the interactions with friends were cute and typical for the 12ish age range. I did like the contrast of Sophie being extremely gifted at human subjects contrasting with her being absolutely abysmal at elf subjects, but I am not sure why we needed to know that she was so smart at the beginning of the story.
There was a mysterious past element to this story, and forgotten / hidden memories. This was my favorite part of the book and the book left lots of unanswered questions. I thought that the ending was spoiled by knowing the title of book two, but even that was what I did not expect!
I loved all of the characters and I especially loved the interactions between Sophie and Grady & Edaline. So many books for young people have completely absent parents and this book had lots of great parental figures. I thought Sophie's emotions were appropriate for her age and that she grew during the book, without the growth and the "moral of the story" being too on-the-nose.
I am very looking forward to continuing the series!
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Fun, exciting, clever, and SO well done! Fast paced, but still I had time to connect with all of the characters and really enjoy the progression of the plot. I already ordered the next book and cant wait to continue on with this story!
adventurous
lighthearted
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