Earlier this month, Shannon Messenger published her new book Flashback, the seventh book in the Keeper Of the Lost Cities series. Many excited fans have already read the book, but you may be wondering if it is worth reading.
For those of you who have not read the series, it is a middle grade fantasy but contains elements of science fiction. Genetic engineering, DNA identification, and light-speed travel all appear at one point or another.
One of the things that makes this series interesting is the author’s ability to pack her books with dynamic characters and relationships, complex plots, and a thrillingly complicated style of world building, while still keeping the story concise and followable. The majority of characters presented throughout the series, heroes and villains alike, are far from one-dimensional. Villains’ motivations are complex and even understandable, however misguided, while the heroes, however heroic they may be, are often flawed.
On the flip side, one of the largest complaints about the series is the writing style. For some readers, this gets in the way of their enjoyment of the series. Another thing worth mentioning is that the main character has the unusual habit of pulling out her eyelashes when nervous.
Fans of the series will already know all the things that make Keeper of the Lost Cities great, but even within the series Flashback stands out. Most interestingly readers are given an opportunity to learn a little bit more about the other species that inhabit the world of the Lost Cities, particularly the trolls. In addition, Flashback is more action packed than some of the other installments of the series. The stakes are higher than ever, and readers will be left in suspense for much of the story. Finally, Flashback is surprisingly deep. Certain plotlines raise complicated questions about memory and the nature of identity.
We would love to hear from you, have you read any of the Keeper Of the Lost Cities books? What did you think of them? And dare we ask, are you team Fitzphie of team Sokeefe?
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