Shannon Messenger

Shannon Messenger is an American author. She wrote the middle-grade series Keeper of the Lost Cities, which was a New York Times bestseller; Flashback, the seventh book in the series, reached number 17 on USA Today's list in 2018.[1][2] She also wrote the young-adult Sky Fall series. Her books have been published by Simon & Schuster.[3]

Shannon Messenger
OccupationAuthor
NationalityAmerican
GenreFantasy
Notable worksKeeper of the Lost Cities series, Sky Fall series
Website
shannonmessenger.com

Biography

Shannon Messenger graduated from the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts.

Personal life

Shannon Messenger currently lives in Southern California with her cats.

Bibliography

Keeper of the Lost Cities series

''Keeper of the Lost Cities'' is an upper-middle-grade fantasy series that has appeared on the New York Times bestseller list. The first book in the series was an Association for Library Service to Children tween recommended read in 2013.[4] The seventh book in the series, Flashback, had a first printing of 150,000 copies, and Messenger’s three-week tour to promote the book drew crowds of 200–700 people per event.[5][6]

The series tells the story of Sophie Foster, a twelve-year-old high school senior with the ability to read minds. She has always felt alone, until a mysterious boy named Fitz Vacker shows her that there is a place where she belongs, and staying where she is will put her in terrible danger. She is forced to leave behind everything she has known and start a new life in the Lost Cities. Only then does she realize that she was given extraordinarily powerful abilities — and deadly secrets hidden in her subconscious — that some may kill for.

The story has continued over eight books as of November 2019, with one book released each year, as well as three short stories in limited editions. At least two more books in the series are planned for release in the Fall of 2021. It is confirmed that there will be a ninth book. Shannon Messenger has not signed a contract for the tenth book yet, but was offered one.[7]

#1 Keeper of the Lost Cities (October 2, 2012)
#2 Exile (October 1, 2013)
#3 Everblaze (November 4, 2014)
#4 Neverseen (November 3, 2015)
#5 Lodestar (November 1, 2016)
#6 Nightfall (November 7, 2017)
#7 Flashback (November 6, 2018)
#8 Legacy (November 5, 2019)
#8.5 Unlocked (November 17, 2020)


Unlocked is book number 8.5 in the series and will be a departure from the writing style of the previous books, with chapters alternating between Sophie and Keefe’s perspectives. Unlocked will also include a series guide and extras like recipes and new artwork. [8]

The Barnes & Noble special editions of Nightfall, Flashback and Legacy include short stories from the perspectives of Keefe Sencen, Fitz Vacker and Tam Song, respectively. The paperback edition of Flashback includes another short story from Keefe's perspective.

An illustrated and annotated trade paperback edition of the first book was released on August 25, 2020.[9]

Sky Fall series

The Sky Fall series is a young adult fantasy series about seventeen-year-old Vane Weston, who learns he is a sylph, a wind spirit. He is betrothed to Solana, heir to the throne, but falls in love with Audra, who had been assigned to protect him. As the last remaining sylph with the power to speak to the Westerly winds, Vane must use them to defeat the evil and power-hungry Raiden. He struggles through many challenges, and while trying to defeat Raiden, he also must protect Audra and their relationship, even though most others are against it. Can Vane, Audra, their friends, and army save the world as they know it before Raiden overpowers them all?

The series is a trilogy.

  1. Let the Sky Fall (2013)
  2. Let the Storm Break (2014)
  3. Let the Wind Rise (2016)

Awards

Keeper of the Lost Cities won the 2017 Middle School/Junior High California Young Reader Medal.[10]

Critical Reception

Reviews of Messenger’s works have been mixed. Kirkus found Keeper of the Lost Cities to be “wholesome shading to bland,” but with “exotic creatures and locales, plus an agreeable cast” and described Exile as a “cumbersome coming of age tale.”[11][12]

The Publisher's Weekly review of Let the Sky Fall did not like the story’s pacing and said that the “novel works best when Messenger’s characters are left to explore her vividly imagined world of wind, rather than just talk about it.”[13] Kirkus was more positive, stating that “Characterization elevates this romance over similar offerings in a crowded genre.”[14] Kirkus remained positive about Let the Storm Break, writing, “Witty, romantic and filled with personality — after the slow start.”[15]

References
  1. "Children's Series Books - Best Sellers - November 25, 2018 - The New York Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
  2. "Flashback". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
  3. "Shannon Messenger". Simon & Schuster. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
  4. "ALSC Tween Recommended Reads" (PDF).
  5. "Children's Institute 2018: Authors and Illustrators to Meet". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 2019-01-01.
  6. "On Tour with Shannon Messenger". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2019-01-01.
  7. "EXCITING NEWS, KEEPER FANS!!!". Shannon Messenger. 2018-05-22. Retrieved 2018-12-30.
  8. "Unlocked Book 8.5". Simon and Schuster. 2020-03-10. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
  9. "Keeper of the Lost Cities Illustrated & Annotated Edition". Simon and Schuster. 2020-03-10. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
  10. "Keeper of the Lost Cities". California Young Reader Medal. Retrieved 2018-12-30.
  11. KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES by Shannon Messenger.
  12. EXILE by Shannon Messenger.
  13. "Children's Book Review: Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 2019-01-01.
  14. LET THE SKY FALL by Shannon Messenger.
  15. LET THE STORM BREAK by Shannon Messenger.
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