The Keeper of the Lost Cities Series
Keeper of the Lost Cities has been one of my favorite series since I started reading it a few years ago. The setting of the book is somewhat like Harry Potter in that Earth as we know it exists, but it also contains concealed societies that only the members of those societies know about. In Keeper, six intelligent species besides humans exist - elves, goblins, ogres, trolls, dwarves, and gnomes.
Elves are viewed as the most powerful beings. Most elves have a special "ability." The known abilities range from telepathy to freeze powers to creating force fields. Every elf is naturally beautiful, smarter than humans, and has more money than they would need in a lifetime, so they work purely for pleasure. They also have indefinite life spans. There is no prejudice because of wealth, race, sex, or anything like in our world. However, people are judged by their abilities. The "Talentless" do not get to go to the world's elite school, Foxfire, nor do they get to be part of their government. Because of the elves' ability to be 1,000 years old and still look 30, they go through a rigorous matchmaking process so they don't unknowingly end up marrying a relative. A married couple that were not on each others' matchmaking lists are deemed a "bad match" and viewed negatively by everyone. All the intelligent species know that the others exist, except the humans, who are clueless.
The protagonist of the series is Sophie Foster, an elf who was raised as a human but is found as a twelve-year-old high-school senior and brought to the Lost Cities (the elves' cities). She is forced to leave her old life behind and gets adopted by Grady and Edaline, a couple still grieving the sudden death of their previous daughter. Sophie is different from other elves in many ways. While every other elf has blue eyes, she has brown. She also had manifested as a telepath earlier than any other, and is one of the most powerful telepaths even without training. The books follow Sophie as she learns to blend in with elves while hunting for the secrets behind her existence - why she was raised as human and why she is so different from other elves.
It is soon revealed that there is a covert organization, the Black Swan, in the Lost Cities that had taken an embryo from two unknown donors and genetically engineered it and implanted it in Sophie's human mother. Sophie was intended to bring great change to the world which, the Black Swan believed, was falling apart, as well as bring humans and the other species together. After this revelation in the first book, Sophie and her friends learn more about the Black Swan, their enemies, and find themselves thrown into the silent war that has been raging behind the glittery, perfect facade of the Lost Cities.
Keeper of the Lost Cities is a good series. The stories are well thought-out and intriguing. There are always at least two or three big mysteries happening at the same time, some of which are solved in the same book and some that still haven't been solved after eight books. There is a wide variety of characters, all of which are at least entertaining if not always likable. There is also an aspect of the books that is a commentary on our own world. The elves tend to point out all the negative parts of humanity (prejudice, ignorance, disregard for the environment, etc.), while Sophie usually offers a more positive viewpoint, remembering her family and the love and innovation she experienced while living with humans. The elves themselves also reflect humanity - they have a tendency to ignore big problems, they have prejudices more damaging than they realize, and there are large divides in how important issues should be approached that the government barely does anything about.
While there are many good things about the series, there are a few things that I don't like. I mentioned that there are many long-term questions that still haven't been solved after eight books. This is good because it makes you want to keep reading and makes the reveals of long-hidden secrets that much more enjoyable, but it can also be a bit frustrating at times. In every book, Sophie and her friends must stop the antagonists' evil plots, which seem to be never-ending. However, after eight books, no one really knows exactly what the enemy's goals are. This adds to the suspense, but also makes the plots seem random and pointless and the readers rarely get a clear idea of what the motives are of the antagonists. Another drawn-out plotline is Sophie's romantic interests. She has three main male friends that all have crushes on her (though she is oblivious to this) and one whom she likes back. Of course, this love triangle/square makes for a very interesting romantic aspect of the stories. However, later in the series the author arguably spends too much time on these crushes and much less on the action which can make the books a little boring. The one upside, though, is that these ships fuel a lot of debate and rivalry in the Keeper fandom (and are possibly the only reason people my age still read the books). My final complaint about the series is the characters. After the first few books, the main character becomes less likable, at least for me. She becomes very whiny and leans heavily on people that constantly praise her (though she does have some admirable qualities, such as her bravery and compassion). The characters are also very unevenly developed, especially within Sophie's friend group, which can bias readers towards characters whose good traits have been shown more (*cough* Keefe *cough* Fitz is still a good person *cough* *cough*).
The slightly immature writing style makes Keeper of the Lost Cities a great series for 12-year-olds and nostalgic 15-year-olds. It is exciting and relatable, the mysteries are intriguing, and it will provide you with good debate practice when you inevitably end up in an hour-long argument over what couples go together (in case you're wondering the answer is Sophitz. Always Sophitz).
-Aditi
Elves are viewed as the most powerful beings. Most elves have a special "ability." The known abilities range from telepathy to freeze powers to creating force fields. Every elf is naturally beautiful, smarter than humans, and has more money than they would need in a lifetime, so they work purely for pleasure. They also have indefinite life spans. There is no prejudice because of wealth, race, sex, or anything like in our world. However, people are judged by their abilities. The "Talentless" do not get to go to the world's elite school, Foxfire, nor do they get to be part of their government. Because of the elves' ability to be 1,000 years old and still look 30, they go through a rigorous matchmaking process so they don't unknowingly end up marrying a relative. A married couple that were not on each others' matchmaking lists are deemed a "bad match" and viewed negatively by everyone. All the intelligent species know that the others exist, except the humans, who are clueless.
The protagonist of the series is Sophie Foster, an elf who was raised as a human but is found as a twelve-year-old high-school senior and brought to the Lost Cities (the elves' cities). She is forced to leave her old life behind and gets adopted by Grady and Edaline, a couple still grieving the sudden death of their previous daughter. Sophie is different from other elves in many ways. While every other elf has blue eyes, she has brown. She also had manifested as a telepath earlier than any other, and is one of the most powerful telepaths even without training. The books follow Sophie as she learns to blend in with elves while hunting for the secrets behind her existence - why she was raised as human and why she is so different from other elves.
It is soon revealed that there is a covert organization, the Black Swan, in the Lost Cities that had taken an embryo from two unknown donors and genetically engineered it and implanted it in Sophie's human mother. Sophie was intended to bring great change to the world which, the Black Swan believed, was falling apart, as well as bring humans and the other species together. After this revelation in the first book, Sophie and her friends learn more about the Black Swan, their enemies, and find themselves thrown into the silent war that has been raging behind the glittery, perfect facade of the Lost Cities.
Keeper of the Lost Cities is a good series. The stories are well thought-out and intriguing. There are always at least two or three big mysteries happening at the same time, some of which are solved in the same book and some that still haven't been solved after eight books. There is a wide variety of characters, all of which are at least entertaining if not always likable. There is also an aspect of the books that is a commentary on our own world. The elves tend to point out all the negative parts of humanity (prejudice, ignorance, disregard for the environment, etc.), while Sophie usually offers a more positive viewpoint, remembering her family and the love and innovation she experienced while living with humans. The elves themselves also reflect humanity - they have a tendency to ignore big problems, they have prejudices more damaging than they realize, and there are large divides in how important issues should be approached that the government barely does anything about.
While there are many good things about the series, there are a few things that I don't like. I mentioned that there are many long-term questions that still haven't been solved after eight books. This is good because it makes you want to keep reading and makes the reveals of long-hidden secrets that much more enjoyable, but it can also be a bit frustrating at times. In every book, Sophie and her friends must stop the antagonists' evil plots, which seem to be never-ending. However, after eight books, no one really knows exactly what the enemy's goals are. This adds to the suspense, but also makes the plots seem random and pointless and the readers rarely get a clear idea of what the motives are of the antagonists. Another drawn-out plotline is Sophie's romantic interests. She has three main male friends that all have crushes on her (though she is oblivious to this) and one whom she likes back. Of course, this love triangle/square makes for a very interesting romantic aspect of the stories. However, later in the series the author arguably spends too much time on these crushes and much less on the action which can make the books a little boring. The one upside, though, is that these ships fuel a lot of debate and rivalry in the Keeper fandom (and are possibly the only reason people my age still read the books). My final complaint about the series is the characters. After the first few books, the main character becomes less likable, at least for me. She becomes very whiny and leans heavily on people that constantly praise her (though she does have some admirable qualities, such as her bravery and compassion). The characters are also very unevenly developed, especially within Sophie's friend group, which can bias readers towards characters whose good traits have been shown more (*cough* Keefe *cough* Fitz is still a good person *cough* *cough*).
The slightly immature writing style makes Keeper of the Lost Cities a great series for 12-year-olds and nostalgic 15-year-olds. It is exciting and relatable, the mysteries are intriguing, and it will provide you with good debate practice when you inevitably end up in an hour-long argument over what couples go together (in case you're wondering the answer is Sophitz. Always Sophitz).
-Aditi
I'm glad this post is on our blog (even if it makes mine look bad). Although it's longer than most posts, it didn't feel that way while reading it. You didn't have unnecessary filler, and the summary of the book was easy to follow. The plot of this book sounds a lot like other fantasy/fiction books that I have read. Although people like to bash books that are cliche, there is a reason these books keep being written. I also agree that it can be annoying when a character that you like becomes bratty or unlikable, especially when it's the main character. I also liked how you mentioned that this book would result in hour long arguments, as its nice to have books that are easy to talk about.
ReplyDeleteYES!!! FINALLY! A BLOG POST ON KOTLC!!!! WOOOO!!!!
ReplyDelete(WARNING: MINOR SPOILERS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT READ KOTLC OR HAVE NOT READ LEGACY)
I commend you for somehow being able to summarize the plot within a few paragraphs -- very impressive! I liked how you formatted this, starting out with a spoiler-less (is that a word?) summary and then stating your opinions on the series.
I definitely agree that KOTLC has been very drawn out with the Neverseen. I wish that Shannon Messenger would stop focusing so much on the drama between Sophie and her love interests, especially in Legacy. I found the middle-ish portion of Legacy veeeerrrryyyy boring because Sophie was soooo focused on the drama with Fitz and stuff...no spoilers. Okay. Also, I found Sophie's character EXTREEEMLLYY shallow, which in turn made the romantic plot shallow as well. I mean, seriously, Ro was dropping SO MANY HINTS about Keefe and Sophie STILL doesn't get it! How shallow can a person get? I'm also gonna have to disagree with you about Sofitz. Legacy proves that it won't work out. Honestly, they're not a good fit for each other, and I don't think it's just because Shannon Messenger doesn't really develop his character. Fitz has been given MANY chances to prove himself and he has taken none of them. Legacy kind of solidified for me, because I know for sure that if it was Keefe he would have supported Sophie throughout the entire "unmatchable" thing instead of PRESSURIZING her like and IDIOT to get matched because matching is so, so very important even though they like each other. UGH. And doesn't it say something about their relationship when going back to being just friends with Fitz is less awkward than going out? Meanwhile, while Fitz is being stupid and making Sophie feel sad, Keefe has always been the one to cheer her up and make her feel better. Throughout Legacy, there are so many more Keephie moments than Sophitz moments that it shouldn't even be a question who Sophie should end up with. Every time she has a trouble she goes to him instead of Fitz, especially since a lot of her troubles seem to stem from Fitz (ahem ahem). From what I've seen Fitz causes problems instead of solving them. Legacy has proven it to me. Sophitz is over. KEEPHIE HERE WE COME!!!!!
Anyways, great blog post! I really enjoyed reading it (except the Sophitz part) and look forward to finally finding out what happens with the Neverseen and Sophie!
*this will contain spoilers*
DeleteYeah the plot was kinda blah in Legacy, but I also love ship moments so eh.
OK but now for the ships. Here's the thing - as it is right now, Sophitz is kinda dysfunctional. I think it's because Fitz is really bad at talking about his feelings and he's suuuuuper jealous of Keefe and not really sure what to do about Sophie. That whole pressuring her about matchmaking is bad but it's also understandable - he comes from like the most famous family in the Lost Cities and marrying someone unmatchable is a HUGE conflict for him. So I think it made sense why they broke up BUT as long as Fitz is able to grow just SLIGHTLY I think they will be perfect together. Sophitz will ultimately work because they love each other. Fitz's word to bypass her blocking is "it's me" (as seen in the end of flashback i think) - what does that say about their relationship??? Meanwhile, yes Keefe and Sophie have a great friendship. I need them to be friends forever. Buuuut I don't think Keephie would be good dating. Sophie has shown zero attraction to Keefe, which Keefe clearly knows. Keefe is just taking a while to get over her. There really needs to be someone that love Keefe and who Keefe loves. I wish all the happiness in the world to him, honestly, it's just that he's not gonna find that with Sophie (he might honestly be too good for her). So, for right now, Sophitz is not working. Fitz gotta do some growing up. But Keephie will never work simply because Sophie does not love him, but they are AMAZING friends. Also, lets be honest, both boys have severe trust issues because of their families.
*spoiler alert (for the third time in a row hehe...)* *major spoilers* *don't read if you haven't read Legacy*
DeleteI get that Keefe and Sophie are great friends and all at the moment, but don't a lot of romances spring from friendships? In my opinion, it seems as though Fitz and Sophie like each other and are friends, I think that Keefe and Sophie have a much deeper, more trusting relationship than Fitz and Sophie have ever had, which says something because Fitz and Sophie are supposed to be COGNATES....ahem ahem cough cough. And I think that even though marrying someone unmatchable is huge to Fitz, if he truly loves Sophie he should be able to get over that and respect her decision to not search for her parents. He should have realized just like Keefe did way earlier on that the search wasn't just about become unmatchable to Sophie but also something very personal to her. I mean, seriously, look at the way Sophie reacted when she found out that Oralie was her mother. It wasn't all "YAY I FOUND MY BIOLOGICAL MOTHER NOW FITZ AND I CAN FINALLY MARRY" or whatever, but rather a strong, negative reaction filled with her hurt based off of conflicting emotions on her biological parents as she thought back to all of her memories with Oralie and wondered how Oralie could have been her biological mother all along, questioning all of the various moments they had had together. Finding out her mother made Sophie react this strongly and get this stressed out about it -- what more would finding out who her father was do? Fitz doesn't even seem to realize the struggles that Sophie is going through and insensitive keeps on pressuring her to find her parents. No wonder Sophie always goes to Keefe to talk to, not Fitz! I think that Fitz was good as merely a shallow crush on the handsome, popular boy in school, but in general Keefe fits her character better and would be a much better boyfriend (and dare I say...husband 😏???) than Fitz is or ever was or ever could be. And I don't think Sophie shows zero attraction to Keefe. There are many Keephie moments that Sophie doesn't even seem to realize. I think that Sophie has come to heavily rely on and perhaps even show some interest towards Keefe without even realizing that it's been happening. I mean, her character IS very shallow, and she has shown time and time again that she has literally zero...ummm idk the word for it but I know the word for it in Korean? ("눈치")...basically she's bad at taking a hint. So honestly I wouldn't be surprised at this point if she can't even recognize her own feelings towards Keefe. KEEPHIE FOREVAAAAAAAA LEZGOOOO
also if you don't believe me about Sophie showing feelings for Keefe, here ya go: https://lost-cities-keeper.fandom.com/wiki/Keefe_and_Sophie
ps dare I say...the best ship in KOTLC...keefitz???????? (or fizzy beef haha) lolll but there's a fandom page on it...what? https://lost-cities-keeper.fandom.com/wiki/Keefe_and_Fitz
oops sorry just realized that I wrote "insensitive" instead of "insensitively" on line 18
DeleteI agree that there's been a lot of subtle flirting between them, but as you said, Sophie hasn't realized it. But MAYBE there's a reason she hasn't realized it (she doesn't think of him that way)! And I do agree that as of now Sophitz is not working out and seems like a silly schoolgirl crush while Keephie is becoming closer. But looking at their overall relationships, I am willing to admit that both couples have an EQUAL chance of working out. For Sophitz, in the beginning of the series when Fitz was shown more, we see that he's not just handsome, he's actually a sweet guy. Think about when they were in the healing room forever after the shadowflux incidents. Think of all the gifts he's given her. Yes, he has flaws that have prompted him to be irrational in the past, but when it comes down to it, he cares for Sophie and Sophie realizes that and she clearly loves him for everything. As for Keephie, they are amazing. They support each other, they both have similar problems, they're great together. However, despite all of that, Sophie shows few signs of wanting a relationship. Occasionally her heart gets fluttery but she never say she likes him in that way, contrasting with what she constantly tells the reader when Fitz is around. Also the other thing is that Keefe is not willing to show his feelings for Sophie. I think that because of him family issues he has such low self esteem that he will never fight for her. If Sophie actually fell in LOVE with Keefe and they were able to TALK about it (like Sophitz did eventually) then fine, as long as they're healthy and happy go for it with my blessings. But as of now, they are not capable of that.
DeleteSo in conclusion, both couples have potential, both have major problems, and I'm sure we sound absolutely insane to non-KOTLC-readers. And also SSSSOOOOPPPHHHIIIIITTTTZZZZ (until proven otherwise).
ps. I totally agree Keefitz is the true OTP. except that i think this whole Sophitz/Keephie drama has kinda distanced them so they must reunite! actually, i need to see them pull a giant prank on someone together (Councillor Alina? Forkle???)
Nice post! Although I have heard of this book series before, I have never gotten around to reading it. I can see what you mean by the "argument over what couples go together" since you and Jeana have kind of started that. I liked the way you summarized the book series. Keeper of the Lost Cities seems like an interesting book and I hope to check it out soon.
ReplyDeleteI also think this is a great post because while it is longer than most posts, it does not give unnecessary details to fill space, and most of it discusses your opinion on the book. It is also interesting that you talked about the romance in the story and why it would be easy to start an argument about it (which you and Jeana proved in the comments). Overall, good review, and I like the way you summarized the entire series instead of one book.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great review! I was pretty impressed how you were able to squash the basic and most important points of the story into a three paragraph summary (which says a lot about how complicated the story is!). I agree with the majority of your observations/criticisms as those were my exact thoughts. I especially liked how you called the writing style "slightly immature" as I feel as though that captures Shannon Messenger's style correctly.
ReplyDeleteThis was a very in-depth review. It does not ramble but includes a lot of necessary information for readers who may be thinking about whether they would want to check the series out or not. I like how you looked at the series at a whole and were able to say that there were some questions that you felt were left unanswered, which is kind of a disappointment for such a long series. Based on your review and what I've heard about it I will hopefully begin reading it soon.
ReplyDeleteNice, review. I have lots to say as well...
ReplyDeleteOk. This series was very entertaining and addictive when I was 13, but after trying to read the series again for the newest book, Legacy, I have decided that there are more things I don't like about the book than things I do like. First, FITZ IS AN IMMATURE BRAT. Ahem. Sorry, but he's got anger issues. And who in their right mind would call their friend MALFUNCTIONING?? Or was it DAMAGED? Whatever it was, I really don't like how Fitz throws so many temper tantrums. Also, as a love interest, he's way too perfect on the outside. Readers need to be able to connect with the characters in the story, but the only connection I have to him is my frustration with him. Sophie is also annoying. I feel like she is blinded by Fitz's looks and isn't giving anyone else the chance they need *cough*Keefe*cough*. Yeah, I know that Keephie is never gonna work, but that doesn't mean I will ever agree with Sofitz. And I am NOT biased. Nope. Not at all. Fitz is annoying. He is much better fit to be a celecrity crush kind of thing for Sophie. Keefe is muuuuuuuuuch much much much better. Who will help him cope with his evil family when the cruel author won't give him Sophie? No random girl the author will introduce him to will do. I think the author is the one biased here. Who cares if Fitz and Sophie are Cognate partners. Also, I agree with you Aditi. SOPHIE IS SO WHINY. People want to see a strong female lead, yet all Sophie does is go around screaming, "OH MY GOD I HAVE SO MANY POWERS, NOW I'M GOING TO WALLOW IN MY BEDROOM BY MYSELF WHILE FEELING REALLY INSECURE ABOUT EVERYTHING". I find myself constantly wondering how she was a high school senior before going to the Lost Cities. Like, gurl suck it up and learn how to kick butt like a real protagonist. No, I'm not saying that main leads can't have weaknesses (I mean, look at where that got Fitz), but the problem with Sophie here is how much she needs the aid of others. And I know that everything must have been very difficult for her, but Sophie's just... Too unable and unwilling to adapt. Sophie also seems to be very... dull. She acts and thinks like a kid. I really don't know how she skipped so many grades like that.
The plot that Messenger started with was good. After that, I think that by attempting to make the story more complex, all she accomplished was shoving one storyline or problem after another into the books. The evidence can be seen in the gradually thickening books with gradually worsening characters, plots, and overall writing. Also, the fact the Sophie never knows anything and that the author never lets her figure anything out and do something about it in a mature way can be frustrating.
I am sad to say that I have left this series. However, I will always (like you mentioned) be willing to rant about the series. The author's ability to ignite so many passionate discussions is impressive. Your review was well-written, with valid points ('xept for those few parts about Sofitz, bleh), and nice summary of the whole series. Thank you for writing a review about the book (about time someone did) and I look forward to your next post!
Sorry, it didn't look that long when I was writing it... I guess I was ranting.
DeleteGreat review! I really liked how you went over all of the positive and negatives. I really agreed with your description of Shannon Messenger's writing style, and that the only reason I'm still reading this series is for Sokeefe. The one thing I disagree with you on is, of course, Fitz. I'd argue that if Shannon Messenger has "unevenly" developed Fitz compared to Keefe, it's because Keefe actually has stuff to develop. Anyways, I will agree that Keefitz is the true OTP. Good job!
ReplyDeleteThis comment exceeded the HTML character limit for the blog, so I'll do it in 2 parts.
ReplyDeleteMinor spoiler warning!
The KOLTC series is excellent, and I agree with all of your points about it being good. However, I also agree about the downsides, mainly the fact that Sophie is EXTREMELY whiny. I know that Shannon Messenger is trying to make her sound brave and all, but she does a really bad job of it. Even though she does get into a lot of difficult situations, the other people in her friend group seem to handle them a lot better, and I think that's a bad trait for a main character to have (unless it's secretly intentional and Messenger is trying to make us think she's whiny for some future plot point... idk). I also agree that the series deteriorates in quality/has drawn-out plotlines. After rereading the last couple of books and then going back to the first book, I was like, "Wow! This seems a lot better!" It was nice to see everything freshly again, with no influence from the aforementioned drawn-out plotlines. Another reason (tangent time) might be that I really like parts of fantasy stories where the main character discovers their powers/a new world. This is probably the reason that I really liked book 1 of Harry Potter. I mentioned in my review of the Inheritance cycle (go read it) that I liked the magic training portion of those books as well, even though some people could probably find them boring. I don't know why, I just like reading about characters with abilities (tangent over).
Part 2! (edit I apparently need 3 parts)
DeleteI also agree that a lot of characters are underdeveloped. If Messenger wants to support Sophitz (not saying thats's a good idea btw), then she definitely needs to develop Fitz more. One of the main reasons that I'm pro-Keephie is that Fitz just seems like a rich brat. Here's a breakdown of the reasons Sophie likes Fitz:
-She thinks he's really handsome (40%)
-He's sometimes nice to her and this is amplified because she thinks he's handsome (30%)
-He gives her gifts and she thinks bribery is ok (20%), even though Keefe's gift of the drawings was much more meaningful
-He gives her a shoulder to cry on when she's being whiny (10%)
I'm not trying to say that Sophie's shallow in her boyfriend tastes--wait, actually I am. Literally the main thing Sophie thinks about when she thinks about Fitz are his apparently gorgeous teal eyes. This is so freaking shallow it makes me want to scream. Again, as I said before, his personality is extremely underdeveloped. All we hear about him is that his family is super powerful, and he fits that stereotype perfectly. Sure, he may care about Sophie part of the time, but HE CANNOT RESPECT HER JUDGEMENT. I can hear what you're saying: "But Keefe ignored Sophie's judgement so many times!" That's true, but at least Keefe was acting for what he thought was the best and actually trying to take initiative. He also has reasons for having poor judgement unlike Fitz, which I'll discuss later. Anyway, back to Fitz. Let's take the example in Legacy of when Sophie decided not to kidnap Alvar in exchange for information. I agree that it was the best logical decision at the time. But Fitz was SO FREAKING ANGRY at her when she told him. A good boyfriend should be able to know that his girlfriend was trying to act for the best, but Fitz apparently doesn't understand that. And, unlike Keefe, he doesn't have a logical better idea (that's not irrational and based on lingering hatred). It's like Hamilton said in the musical: "They don't have a plan, they just hate mine!" I think that quote captures the essence of this perfectly.
Fitz also just has anger issues in general, and I think we should be a lot more strict in judging his character compared to Keefe. Speaking of Keefe, he would be a MUCH better boyfriend for Sophie. Let's compare: Fitz has been a pampered boi for his entire life, with two loving parents and a super-powerful family (dare I say it) legacy, but the best character traits he can pull out of that are an above-average taste in gifts and liking/caring for Sophie about half of the time. Sure, his brother did turn out to be a traitor, but Keefe has had much worse in his life. We'll start with the best part: his father (who can only be seen as good in comparison to his mother). He has completely unrealistic expectations of Keefe, and he wants his son to fit the Procrustean bed of a smart, quiet, and prudent child. But Keefe just naturally isn't that way, and his father, instead of accepting Keefe as he is, decides to be cold, distant, and shaming. Keefe's mom, on the other hand, is a liar, a manipulator, and only cares about Keefe for his (dare I say it again) legacy. Keefe has had to deal with a lot in his life, which actually lets him deal with some adversity unlike our teal-eyed friend. He also has a much more deep personality, and (although Sophie misses it) likes/cares for Sophie ALL the time (a 100% improvement over Fitz)! But Messenger just refuses to put Sophie with the boy who has better character traits than teal eyes. Despite the fact that Sophitz has only caused arguments (Fitz has only gotten really angry at Sophie since they first declared their liking for each other!), I doubt it will change. I'll hold out hope, but I do think that Keefe is going to die by the end of the series to take out a pesky competitor for our perfect, pampered child. But we've already seen that Sophie and Fitz work better as friends (like Jeana said). Anyway, I do think the twisting romance threads can get a little bit repetitive, but it's true that no series can incite rants like KOLTC. I liked your post and it provided me with an opportunity to rant for a great cause (Keephie)!
Deletep.s Ro=best bodyguard
I'm small brain and I said KOLTC a lot. It should be KOTLC.
DeleteWell wow thanks for taking the time to write that haha.
DeleteSo here's the thing: I totally agree with all of your supporting points, just not you conclusion. Fitz has been super weird and selfish recently but he's also in like 5% of legacy where Keefe is in like 95%. And I know you're gonna say that should imply something, but really, I think if Sophie and Fitz were to sit down and talk out their issues and start spending more time with each other, they would be a really great power couple (I have proposed in the past that Tiergan be a couples councilor for them, but that's getting off topic). Right now, they're bad at talking to each other about things. And about what you said about Sophie - yes, she is into him because of his looks, but that''s not the only reason. And he does give her meaningful gifts!
As for Keephie, I agree that Keefe right now is a much better friend. He's a well-rounded character and he doesn't get irrationally angry. Which is why I love their friendship. However, as I've said before, they won't work as a couple because, let's face it, Sophie just isn't in love with him like she is with Fitz. If she was, go for it, but she's not.
It just makes me really mad that Fitz started out as a great character. He was funny and caring and had his flaws, but at least he was well-rounded. Now, for whatever reason, his time has been drastically reduced and Keefe is spending like all of his time with Sophie. Shannon Messenger just wants some people to be Keephie fans so she's giving him attention! Fitz is an ok person, it's jut his character development has been really stalled. So right now, Sophitz may not be working, but at least they actually love each other, unlike Keephie (and btw Keefe deserves better than unrequited love).
But like all the characters have their issues so honestly none of them should be dating right now. And yes, Ro is the best (and is also the ultimate Keephie shipper).
This was a really good review! I read the first book in sixth or seventh grade and was hooked (sadly that lasted a very short time as I forgot to finish reading the second). You do a really good job of supporting your opinion that this is a good book and I really appreciated how you recommend it to 12 year old's as well as nostalgic 15 year old's.
ReplyDeleteThis review took me down memory lane to when I read this series in middle school. It holds a special place in my heart, however, as you pointed out, it does have quite a few flaws. Your review was incredibly in depth, and put every feeling I have towards the series into writing. I found it very admirable that despite your love of the series, you gave a very honest review on the book and a realistic analysis on why older teens like a series geared more towards preteens. Thank you for putting so much thought into this review!
ReplyDelete