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Quick answer: If your child loved Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger, try Fablehaven by Brandon Mull, Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend, The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling, Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer and Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston.
Keeper of the Lost Cities follows Sophie Foster, a twelve-year-old genius who has always heard other people’s thoughts. When she learns she is not human but an elf from a hidden world, she moves to the Lost Cities, a secret society of elves, dwarves, gnomes and ogres, and begins training her powers. Shannon Messenger’s long series is a favorite of kids who want big, detailed fantasy worlds, with plenty of mysteries to solve. The picks below share its hidden magical societies, special abilities and mysteries. They suit ages 8 to 13, and the table notes a recommended starting age.
Table of Contents
Why Readers Love Keeper of the Lost Cities
Kids love Keeper of the Lost Cities because it is packed with details. Shannon Messenger builds a whole elvin world, with creatures, schools, powers, politics and secrets, and then hides enough mysteries to keep fans theorizing across a long series. Sophie is a gifted heroine who still makes mistakes, and her friends, Fitz, Biana, Dex and Keefe, have their own storylines. The books are long, which makes them great for strong readers who want to disappear into one world for weeks.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick below shares at least one thing readers loved about Keeper of the Lost Cities: its characters, its mood, its setting or the questions it raises. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious choices, and we noted the genre and who each book suits best in the table, so you can scan for the right fit before you read the blurbs.
We kept every description spoiler-free and flagged mature content where it matters, since some of these books are written for adults and others suit teens. If you’re not sure where to start, the tips near the end of this list match each pick to what you loved most. The FAQ at the bottom answers the questions readers ask most often.
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fablehaven | Brandon Mull | 9+ | Secret magical creatures |
| Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow | Jessica Townsend | 9+ | Whimsical magical cities |
| The School for Good and Evil | Soman Chainani | 10+ | Fairy-tale twists |
| Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone | J.K. Rowling | 8+ | The classic magic school |
| Artemis Fowl | Eoin Colfer | 9+ | Fairies and gadgets |
| Amari and the Night Brothers | B.B. Alston | 9+ | Secret supernatural bureaus |
| Skandar and the Unicorn Thief | A.F. Steadman | 9+ | Magical creatures and bonding |
| The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell | Chris Colfer | 8+ | Fairy-tale adventure |
| The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Field Guide | Holly Black | 7+ | Short and spooky |
| The Mysterious Benedict Society | Trenton Lee Stewart | 9+ | Gifted kids and puzzles |
| Magyk | Angie Sage | 9+ | Wizards and a long series |
| Beyonders: A World Without Heroes | Brandon Mull | 9+ | Portal adventures |
| The False Prince | Jennifer A. Nielsen | 10+ | Clever, twisty fantasy |
| Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief | Rick Riordan | 9+ | Heroic adventure |
| Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy | Tui T. Sutherland | 8+ | Epic animal fantasy |
1. Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
Two siblings stay at their grandparents’ estate, which is secretly a preserve for magical creatures.
2. Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
A cursed girl is rescued by a mysterious man and must pass four trials to join a secret society.
3. The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani
Two best friends are kidnapped to a school for fairy-tale heroes and villains. It’s darker.
4. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
Harry learns he is a wizard and starts at Hogwarts.
5. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
A child genius kidnaps a fairy to steal her gold. It’s clever and funny.
6. Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
A girl searches for her missing brother and joins a secret bureau of magical creatures.
7. Skandar and the Unicorn Thief by A.F. Steadman
A boy desperate to bond with a unicorn enters a dangerous trial.
8. The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer
Twins fall into a book of fairy tales and meet their heroes.
9. The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Field Guide by Holly Black
Three siblings discover a book that reveals a hidden world of faeries. It’s brief and thrilling.
10. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
Four gifted kids are recruited for a secret mission.
11. Magyk by Angie Sage
A seventh son of a seventh son, a magical baby and a wizard’s apprentice fight for a kingdom.
12. Beyonders: A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull
Two kids are pulled into a world with a powerful wizard to find the pieces of a word that can destroy him.
13. The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
An orphan is forced into a plot to impersonate a missing prince.
14. Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Percy learns he is the son of a Greek god and is thrown into a quest.
15. Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland
Five young dragons are destined to end a war. It’s a favorite of kids who love big stories.
How to Pick Your Child’s Next Read After Keeper of the Lost Cities
- Want secret magical worlds? Fablehaven and Nevermoor.
- Want a magic school? Harry Potter and The School for Good and Evil.
- Want clever heroes? Artemis Fowl and The Mysterious Benedict Society.
- Want something shorter? The Spiderwick Chronicles.
- Want a modern series? Amari and the Night Brothers and Skandar.
- Mix in audiobooks. Long series are great on road trips.
A Quick Note on Length
The Keeper of the Lost Cities books are long, with later books over 800 pages, and the series has many books. Some families read them aloud over several months, and others choose audiobooks. If your child isn’t ready for something so long, shorter series like Nevermoor and Fablehaven are good steps, and The School for Good and Evil is a darker fairy-tale alternative. The books have some peril and a few frightening scenes, so check each volume for your child.
Related: what age Keeper of the Lost Cities is appropriate for and books like Percy Jackson.
Frequently Asked Questions
What series is most like Keeper of the Lost Cities?
Fablehaven and Nevermoor are the closest matches for hidden magical worlds.
What age is Keeper of the Lost Cities for?
The books suit ages 9 to 13, though strong younger readers enjoy them.
How many Keeper of the Lost Cities books are there?
There are nine main books, plus companion books and more planned.