Sky Fall
fantasy
Series · fantasy
Keeper of the Lost Cities
The Keeper of the Lost Cities series by Shannon Messenger has 10 books and is best read in publication order, starting with Keeper of the Lost Cities (2012).
- Books
- 10 novels + 2 novellas
- First published
- 2012
- Status
- ongoing
- Last checked
Start here: Keeper of the Lost Cities (2012) — then read straight through in publication order.
Reading order
The order the books were released — the default way to read the series.
- Book 1:
Keeper of the Lost Cities
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Keeper of the Lost Cities - Book 2:
Exile
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Exile - Book 3:
Everblaze
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Everblaze - Book 4:
Neverseen
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Neverseen - Book 5:
Lodestar
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Lodestar - Book 6:
Nightfall
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Nightfall - Book 7:
Flashback
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Flashback - Book 8:
Legacy
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Legacy - Book 9:
Unlocked
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Unlocked - Book 10:
Stellarlune
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Stellarlune - Book 11:
Unraveled
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Unraveled - Book 12:
Elysian
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Elysian
About the Keeper of the Lost Cities series
Twelve-year-old Sophie Foster has always known she was different — she can read minds — but she's never known why, until a boy named Fitz appears and reveals she's not human at all. She's an elf, raised in the wrong world by accident, and her return to the hidden elvish world of the Lost Cities comes with a target on her back: her unique telepathic abilities make her exactly what a shadowy group called the Neverseen wants to control. Shannon Messenger builds out a richly detailed elvish society — its own schools, sports, technology, and politics — around Sophie as she trains her abilities, navigates a slow-burn love triangle, and gets pulled deeper into a conspiracy that spans the growing series.
This is a long-haul middle-grade fantasy in the vein of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson: a magic school, a found-family cast of specialist teen prodigies, and mysteries that seed for multiple books before paying off. Its particular hook is emotional density — Messenger is known for cliffhangers, slow-building romance, and genuinely heavy themes (memory manipulation, identity, trauma, grief) handled with more weight than the sparkly cover art suggests. Readers who want a sprawling world with real lore to dig into, plus a devoted online fandom that tracks every ship and prophecy, are the target audience, and the series rewards exactly that kind of sustained attention.
How to read this series
Read the numbered main-series novels in publication order starting with Keeper of the Lost Cities; the plot is fully serialized; each book ends on a cliffhanger the next one resolves. The two novellas, Unlocked (after book 8, Legacy) and Unraveled (after book 9, Stellarlune), are usually read in their numbered slot (8.5 and 9.5) since they contain plot-relevant scenes and are treated by most fans as required reading, not optional extras — skipping them will leave gaps. The tenth and final book, Elysian, is confirmed by title but still being written, with no release date yet.
Frequently asked questions
How many books are in Keeper of the Lost Cities?
Nine main-series novels and two novellas (Unlocked and Unraveled) are published, with the tenth and final book, Elysian, confirmed by title but not yet released.
What order should I read Keeper of the Lost Cities in?
Publication order, starting with Keeper of the Lost Cities. Read the novellas Unlocked and Unraveled in their numbered slots (after Legacy and after Stellarlune) since they carry plot-relevant material rather than being purely optional side stories.
Is Keeper of the Lost Cities finished?
Not yet. Elysian, the announced tenth and final book, is still being written by Shannon Messenger as of 2026, with no confirmed release date.
When does Elysian come out?
No official release date has been set as of August 2026 - the author has said publicly she is still writing it. Treat any specific date circulating online as unconfirmed until announced on Shannon Messenger's official channels.
Do I need to read the novellas Unlocked and Unraveled?
Yes, effectively. Unlike many series novellas, these contain scenes and reveals that matter to the ongoing plot, so most readers treat them as required entries at their numbered point (8.5 and 9.5) rather than skippable extras.
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Reading order last verified .