Happy Book Birthday! This one releases tomorrow and will probably leave fans of the series with split feelings. Most are waiting for the next book to finally be released, and I've noticed that many are wondering why 9.5 (from the view of Keefe) is coming out first. I've even seen some comments about this being a 'money grab', but I'm going to bet that there's a lot more behind this 'side-step' than sheer finances. I could be wrong.
Believe it or not, I'd 'met' (online) Shannon about a year before the first novel in this series released, and I remember how exciting it was to watch that moment...there was no way anyone could have guessed how successful she'd end up being! (Yay!) To think that it's done this well is inspiring and amazing.
Anyway, let's open up this latest book (can a .5 book really be over 400 pages???), and see what it's about.
KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES
UNRAVELED
by Shannon Messenger
Aladdin
Middle Grade Fantasy
429 pages
ages 8 to 12
COMING...
DECEMBER 3rd!!!
Book 9.5 in the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling Keeper of the Lost Cities series follows fan-favorite Keefe on his adventures in the human world during the events of Stellarlune.
While his friends faced their own challenges in Stellarlune, Keefe was in the human world. Where did he go, who did he see…and what shocking secrets were revealed to him?
This can’t-miss installment of the series is told entirely from Keefe’s POV and contains crucial clues about truths buried deep in the elvin world.
While his friends faced their own challenges in Stellarlune, Keefe was in the human world. Where did he go, who did he see…and what shocking secrets were revealed to him?
This can’t-miss installment of the series is told entirely from Keefe’s POV and contains crucial clues about truths buried deep in the elvin world.
MY TIDBITS
Keefe's time in the human world comes to life. Not only are there things to be discovered about him, but also about the elven world.
These pages expose Keefe's adventures in the human world during the time the rest of the group was struggling through the situations presented in Stellarlune. This entire novel is told from Keefe's point of view, allowing readers to dive deep into his thoughts and learn quite a bit more about him. And there's a lot to learn. Not only do a few secrets come to light, but his true intentions, concerns, and goals are laid bare. There are more than a few surprises as he runs into some expected and unexpected characters, and this opens up a greater understanding to where he stands and why.
While Keefe grows through each experience and needs to realign some of his thoughts as he learns more about his family, the world, and especially humans, these pages lay some necessary foundations, which I can see being useful before the author releases the next book in the series. Keefe's adventures hold their very own plot and enrich the already existing tale.
While this is an enjoyable read with surprising twists and interesting moments, I did find myself skimming over several sections as the pacing slowed down in some areas, but for huge fans of Keefe, it's a treat to get lost in a book surrounding him because he doesn't disappoint. He's easy to root for, and by the end of the read, it's hard not to like him even more.
With the next book on its way, this in between read is well placed to fill in some gaps and expose a few secrets, which are sure to make the next tale that much more fun to sink into.
These pages expose Keefe's adventures in the human world during the time the rest of the group was struggling through the situations presented in Stellarlune. This entire novel is told from Keefe's point of view, allowing readers to dive deep into his thoughts and learn quite a bit more about him. And there's a lot to learn. Not only do a few secrets come to light, but his true intentions, concerns, and goals are laid bare. There are more than a few surprises as he runs into some expected and unexpected characters, and this opens up a greater understanding to where he stands and why.
While Keefe grows through each experience and needs to realign some of his thoughts as he learns more about his family, the world, and especially humans, these pages lay some necessary foundations, which I can see being useful before the author releases the next book in the series. Keefe's adventures hold their very own plot and enrich the already existing tale.
While this is an enjoyable read with surprising twists and interesting moments, I did find myself skimming over several sections as the pacing slowed down in some areas, but for huge fans of Keefe, it's a treat to get lost in a book surrounding him because he doesn't disappoint. He's easy to root for, and by the end of the read, it's hard not to like him even more.
With the next book on its way, this in between read is well placed to fill in some gaps and expose a few secrets, which are sure to make the next tale that much more fun to sink into.
And here she is...
Shannon Messenger graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where she learned—among other things—that she liked watching movies much better than making them. She studied art, screenwriting, and television production but realized her real passion was writing for kids and teens. She’s the internationally, New York Times, and USA TODAY bestselling author of the award-winning middle grade series Keeper of the Lost Cities, as well as the Sky Fall young adult series. Her books have been featured on multiple state reading lists, published in numerous countries, and translated into many languages. She lives in Southern California with her family and an embarrassing number of cats. Find her online at ShannonMessenger.com and @SW_Messenger on Instagram, X, and Facebook.
