There is an ongoing tension between the group of friends and mentors surrounding Sophie that keeps the reader engaged and invested in the outcomes. There is just as much action, danger, perilous questing and testing of trust and loyalty. So, without any spoilers, I can say that Book 5 is just as riveting as the first four. Of course, the good thing about coming to a series late is that there is no waiting! The next book is right there in the bookstore or on the bedside table, which really gives the reader an incentive to push through and get to the next exciting episode of the story.

I have not been this engrossed in a fantasy series since Harry Potter and his friends captured my imagination and dominated the literary landscape. Now I am up to Book 5 and my enthusiasm for finding out what happens next is undimmed. I have not been reading this series for very long – I only picked up Book 1 in June this year – but I was immediately drawn into the characters’ unresolved issues and their magical world. Known as 8.5 it has fans in a frenzy of anticipation. There are currently eight books in the series, with a ninth book due for release before Christmas. The first book in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series was first released in 2012. Drawing on her background in cinematic arts, she writes fast-paced adventure stories that have featured on The New York Times bestseller list and proven popular in many countries around the world.

Author Shannon Messenger has won numerous awards for The Keeper of the Lost Cities series and the Skyfall series.

Lodestar by shannon messenger