Review of Shannon Messenger’s Keeper of the Lost Cities: Lodestar

Lodestar by Shannon Messenger

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ms. Messenger heeded the request of readers everywhere and picked up the pacing of Sophie’s adventures with this volume. And while there’s still plenty of teenage angst to contend with, the crumbling layers of the Elvin world start to show themselves. And, I, at least, appreciate getting to peel back the diamonds and pearls and see the mold and rot lying underneath. All of the opulence present gets cloying at times (is there a need for it?). The skulking, hiding, and lies beneath the lavish shell help cut the treacle. Though it’d be nice if Sophie caught on to the parallels between her new world and the human world she spent most of her existence within. Thus far, she seems oblivious to the similarities. It’s an annoyance, considering she’s the expert there. Perhaps, with the revelation of the final chapters, things will change in that direction with the next volume.

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