Lodestar by Shannon Messenger
Fantasy. 688 Pages. 5 Stars
Synopsis:
Dark schemes unfold–and Sophie’s loyalty is pushed to the limit–in this thrilling fifth book in the best-selling KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES SERIES.
Sophie Foster is back in the Lost Cities–but the Lost Cities have changed. The threat of war hangs heavy over her glittering world, and the Neverseen are wreaking havoc.
The lines between friend and enemy have blurred, and Sophie is unsure whom to trust. But when she’s warned that the people she loves most will be the next victims, she knows she has to act.
A mysterious symbol could be the key–if only she knew how to translate it. Every new clue seems to lead deeper into her world’s underbelly and the Black Swan aren’t the only ones who have plans. The Neverseen have their own Initiative, and if Sophie doesn’t stop it, they might finally have the ultimate means to control her.
My Review:
I am thoroughly enjoying this story, truly.
Messenger has woven together an intricate plot with conspiracy theories, imminent danger, page-turning suspense, messy mysteries, and tied it together with crafty characters that are just impossible to resist. You love them. You hate them. But you simply can’t ignore them.
I’ve heard this is not considered a fan favorite and that people think it’s slower as compared to the others, but I didn’t really see that myself. Some pretty big stuff went down. It wasn’t quite as suspenseful at first and did take a little longer to get to the heart-thumping bits, but I tend to like setup, especially clever setup. This one had a much stronger focus on fitting pieces together in a puzzle or a mystery, and I enjoyed that. I liked how they all clicked into place when they were supposed to. There were a few things I guessed, of course, but watching them play out was more the fun of those parts.
This book brought some pretty cool powers into play and I was excited to see the way the abilities worked together on a team. That’s one of my favorite parts of the series, actually, seeing how these people come together and serve one another. I love the political tension in a story, especially in a fantasy world, and we got an inside scoop complete with summit and all! It was neat to see Sandor’s home and the gnome society, even if it was brief. The summit was cool and seeing everyone gather like that. Also, I liked the climax of this one. I liked, like I said, how all of the pieces scattered throughout the story all came together and clicked into place at just the right times.
Dude, and I can’t leave without a quick comment on the characters. I really, really love Messenger’s characters. I spent most of the book teetering and wondering what she was going to do with Keefe and which direction he was actually going to take. It was cool that she built up that seed of doubt and uncertainty. Keefe has grown on me since book one. I love his backstory and his personality and his ability. I love his loyalty. And the other characters, too. Biana is one that I really love to see shine. I hope we get an even deeper look into her at some point. Alden kind of took a backseat in this one, and he’s one of my favorites, but hopefully we’ll get more of him later. 😀 Fitz, my man. I just love Fitz. From his teal eyes to the way that Sophie completely and unconsciously trusts him. He’s definitely one of my favorites. And, surprisingly, Mr. Forkle really stood out in this one. I won’t say why, but the dude hit me in the feels a little bit and I’m not sure I’m ready to forgive him for it yet. Tam played a cool part and I’m fascinated by his power. I hope we get to see him grow and work with some light dudes to pair up in a really cool duo at some point. That would be loads of fun.
I could go on, but I’ll stop. I just love her characters XD They’re why I keep reading. That and I need to see what on earth this plot leads to. Also, Ms. Messenger! That ending was unacceptable. Like, what?! Why would you do that to your beloved readers?? I even read the sneak peek preview of the first chapter of the next book and it solved nothing! In fact, I’m pretty sure you made it worse?!!! So, from one unknown fan to the incredibly creative author, I’m putting my faith in you and trusting that you’re going to fix this! Just sayin!
Content: It’s middle grade fiction, y’all. It’s fine. No foul words. A few teasing remarks about a crush and some blushes here and there. And some basic fantasy fights, mild for the most part. Only one or two bits that were even mildly graphic. There is an organization that kidnaps and tortures and murders people. There are some darker characters, motivations, and themes, but there’s nothing graphic or scaring. I’d be comfortable having a preteen read the series.
More:
Book 1 in the Keeper of the Lost Cities is Keeper of the Lost Cities (5 Stars)
Book 2 is Exile (5 Stars)
Book 3 is Everblaze (5 Stars)
Book 4 is Neverseen (5 Stars)
Book 6 is Nightfall (5 Stars)
Book 7 is Flashback
Book 8 is Legacy
Book 8.5 is Unlocked
Click the links above for more information on the books. I’m reading through the series now as I get them in from my library, so you can scroll down and see my reviews for the ones I’ve rated.
This series must be read in order.
On GraceBought
If you missed it, check out my thoughts on the previous books below! And stay tuned next week for my thoughts on the next book in the series 🙂
Keeper of the Lost Cities, Exile, Everblaze, and Neverseen