Rush off by yourself to investigate—something dangerous might be happening!
You’re shopping in Atlantis and overhear someone say something that makes you wonder if they’re part of the Neverseen. Do you…?
Ignore them. It’s the midterms celebration tomorrow, and you still have to find gifts for the rest of your friends.
Tell a nearby adult what you heard.
Hail one of your friends and ask them to rush over to help.
Follow the person from a safe distance—and make sure you always stay with a crowd.
Follow them as close as you can—and don’t stop for anything. They might lead you back to their hideout!
Five members of the Neverseen surround you.
Which ability do you wish you had?
Vanisher, so you can sneak away before things get ugly.
Psionipath, so you can trap them all under a force field and wait for help to show up.
Hydrokinetic, so you can wash them away with a tidal wave.
Mesmer, so you can control everything they do.
Pyrokinetic, so you can fight fire with fire.
You discover a huge secret. Who do you tell?
Anyone who wants to know. It’s not your job to keep something hidden.
A parent. They’ll find out anyway, and you don’t want to get in trouble.
Your best friend. Because that’s what BFFs do!
No one—but you write about it in your journal.
No one. Period. A secret is a secret.
Would you ever ditch class?
Of course not! Good grades are important!
Only if it was a huge emergency.
Maybe. It depends.
Probably, as long as I wouldn’t get caught.
Absolutely!
Someone gives you a goblin throwing star.
Do you…?
Give it back. You’re not into weapons.
Ask them to give you some pointers on how to use it.
Practice with your friend.
Add a special pocket to your clothes so you can carry it with you.
Ask for a bunch more.
You end up injured in the Foxfire Healing Center.
What do you do?
Let Elwin take his time to do everything he needs to do—you can’t rush a proper recovery.
Ask your parents to collect your schoolwork so you can stay caught up with your sessions while you’re stuck in bed.
Ask your friends to help you practice whatever skills you can in the Healing Center.
Tell Elwin to give you extra treatments to hurry your recovery along as much as possible.
Tell Elwin you’re fine because you need to get out of there ASAP and catch the villains who attacked you!
If you picked…
MOSTLY AS: You’re clearly not interested in getting caught up in any conspiracies—but trouble still seems to find you, so you definitely need one bodyguard.
MOSTLY BS: You’re quick to turn to adults for help—but you definitely still want to be involved in what’s going on. So you need two bodyguards to keep you safe.
MOSTLY CS: You rely on your friends to back you up—which means you’re going to need extra protection for them. So three bodyguards is the best bet.
MOSTLY DS: You’re cautious. You take time to think before you act—but once you have a plan, it’s full steam ahead, even if it’s dangerous. So you need four bodyguards to keep you from taking too many risks.
MOSTLY ES: Congratulations, you’re destined for as many near-death experiences as Sophie—so you need the full Foster Five to keep you alive. Careful there, hero—you can’t save the world if you’re not alive to keep fighting!
WHO SAID IT FIRST?
CHARACTER FIRST LINES
Some of the Keeper characters have especially memorable first lines. See if you can match the first line to the character for these!
ALDEN BIANA DAME ALINA DEX EDALINE ELWIN FINTAN FITZ JENSI KEEFE LADY ZILLAH LINH MAGNATE LETO MARELLA MARUCA SOPHIE STINA TAM WYLIE
“You must be lost.” _____________________________________________
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sophie.” _____________________________________________
“I can’t, I can’t, I can’t.” _____________________________________________
“Hey, you’re the prodigy Dame Alina told us about, right? The new one?” _____________________________________________
“Is that my dress?” _____________________________________________
“It was you, wasn’t it? You’re the one.” _____________________________________________
“This goes a lot faster if you hold still.” _____________________________________________
“Is this you?” _____________________________________________
“You kids don’t seem to realize that interrupting elite study time merits a week’s detention.” _____________________________________________
“I need you to take me to see Wylie.” _____________________________________________
“You shouldn’t waste your talent on such ordinary defenses.” _____________________________________________
“No, Mr. Sweeney.” _____________________________________________
“Ready?” _____________________________________________
“I guess this means the Council has decided to make good on their threats.” _____________________________________________
“Thanks for taking care of her, guys, but I’ll take it from here.” _____________________________________________
“If you’re thinking it’ll get easier, it won’t.” _____________________________________________
“You’re covered in dinosaur fluff!” _____________________________________________
“Mom!” _____________________________________________
“Good morning, prodigies. First and foremost, whoever put reekrod in my desk over the weekend will—It’s not funny!” _____________________________________________
And here are some other characters’ first lines!
MR. FORKLE: “Looking for someone?”
EMERY: “Please be seated.”
KENRIC: “We don’t know.”
FALLON: “A lot can happen in six months.”
LORD CASSIUS: “Well, well, who do we have here?”
TERIK: “It works better one-on-one—you know that.”
TIERGAN: “You’ve got some nerve summoning me.”
UMBER: “Ugh, now I get why Keefe was always going on about this one.”
VERTINA: “My goodness you have strange eyes.”
VESPERA: “The answer you seek does not exist.”
ALVAR: “Sorry I’m late, Mom.”
SIR ASTIN: “Where’s your seventh star?”
BRONTE: “What?”
LIVVY (AS PHYSIC): “It looks worse than it is.”
LUZIA: “Yes. I liked the view.”
ORALIE: “Give me your hand, Sophie.”
RUY: “That’s enough of that.”
ANSWER KEY: 1. KEEFE; 2. ALDEN; 3. LINH; 4. JENSI; 5. BIANA; 6. WYLIE; 7. ELWIN; 8. FITZ; 9. MAGNATE LETO; 10. MARUCA; 11. LADY ZILLAH; 12. SOPHIE; 13. DEX; 14. FINTAN; 15. MARELLA; 16. TAM; 17. EDALINE; 18. STINA; 19. DAME ALINA
IGGY COLORING PAGE
EVERYONE KNOWS THAT IGGY GETS a new fur color (and style!) in every book of the Keeper series—and many of you also know that my readers are the ones who choose his look every year. But you might be wondering why I give away that kind of control, and it’s because a reader inspired the idea in the first place.
I decided to have Dex turn Iggy pink (in Exile)—but I wasn’t planning to change Iggy again, until an adorable little girl (whose name I sadly forgot to get—author fail!) asked me at one of my Exile tour events what Iggy’s color was going to be in Book 3. I opened my mouth to tell her, “The pink will wear off, and he’ll be gray again,” when I thought, Why not have someone change his color again? So I asked her what color she wan
ted Iggy to be, and she leaned in, looking very serious, and told me, “Orange.”
And so, Iggy turned orange in Everblaze—and every year since, I’ve used my social media channels to let readers pick the next new color and style. You’ll see how this year’s winning Iggy look gets worked into the novella. But I also thought it’d be fun to give you your own Iggy coloring page, so you can turn him whatever color (or colors) your heart desires! If you want to color in Iggy, just click this link for a page you can print and color!
PS: If you’re not following me on Instagram—@SW_Messenger—you *might* want to (or have a parent follow me, if you don’t have an account), so you can vote for Iggy’s color/style in Keeper Book 9!
RECIPES
I LOVE TO BAKE—SO when I first started coming up with the elvin foods for this series, my goal was to create desserts that I’d be able to make recipes for, so that my readers could enjoy the same treats as the characters.
(Okay, fine, I wanted to eat all the yummy things too!)
And while there are sadly a few delicacies that have defeated my baking skills (so far—I’m not giving up!), I’ve also been able to create several that taste exactly like what I was imagining when I wrote those scenes. Hopefully you’ll love them too.
If you decide to give these recipes a try, make sure you have a parent or adult with you to help, since baking is a lot of fun, but it needs to be done safely!
MALLOWMELT COOKIES
Technically, mallowmelt is a gooey cake—and you can find a recipe for it on my website (shannonmessenger.com), as well as a recipe for mallowmelt-flavored cupcakes (because cupcakes are always a good idea).
But, as any of you who follow me on Instagram already know, I’ve recently spent a lot of time baking cookies. (It’s an excellent stress release—and they’re so easy to serve and share!) And one night I thought, What if I could make mallowmelt-flavored cookies?!
It took a few tries to perfect the method, but the final result was every bit as melty and delicious as I’d imagined—and now you guys can make mallowmelt-flavored cookies too! (But make sure you have a parent or adult with you to help!)
Makes about 24 cookies
Ingredients
FOR COOKIES:
1/2 cup salted butter, melted
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/4 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup butterscotch chips
12 marshmallows, cut in half
FOR CHOCOLATE DRIZZLE:
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup half-and-half
FOR BUTTERSCOTCH DRIZZLE:
3/4 cup butterscotch chips
2 tablespoons half-and-half
Directions
FOR COOKIES:
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking soda. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, stir together melted butter and both sugars until smooth. Add egg and vanilla and mix until combined, making sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl. (Note: This can also be done in a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or with a hand mixer—your preference!)
Add half of the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and stir until combined. Then add the remaining flour mixture and stir until batter is smooth, making sure to scrape down the sides of bowl.
Gently stir in chocolate and butterscotch chips until combined. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill dough in refrigerator for at least 2 hours (or as long as overnight).
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Take cookie dough out of fridge and let stand for 10 minutes. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Scoop 2 tablespoons of dough per cookie and roll into balls. Arrange cookie dough balls 2 inches apart on each tray and bake for 12 minutes.
While cookies are baking, cut the marshmallows in half, and after the 12 minutes have passed, quickly remove cookie trays from oven and place half a marshmallow, cut-side down, on top of each cookie. Return cookies to oven and bake for 2 more minutes. Remove cookies from oven and allow them to cool on the trays for 5–10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack and let them cool completely.
Note: The cookies are delicious just like this—but if you want to capture the true gooeyness of mallowmelt, you’ll want to add the chocolate and butterscotch drizzles.
FOR CHOCOLATE DRIZZLE:
Combine chocolate chips and half-and-half in a microwave-safe bowl.
Cover and microwave for 30 seconds.
Remove and stir.
Repeat process, microwaving in 30-second intervals until chocolate is melted and stirs smooth. (Caution: The bowl may get warm.)
Using a spoon, drizzle chocolate over each cooled cookie. (If you want it to look fancier, you can use a pastry bag. Or if you want to keep it simple, you can also spread like frosting on top. Whichever method you choose, make sure the cookies have cooled completely before adding drizzle.)
FOR BUTTERSCOTCH DRIZZLE:
Combine butterscotch chips and half-and-half in a microwave-safe bowl.
Cover and microwave for 30 seconds.
Remove and stir.
Repeat process, microwaving in 30-second intervals until butterscotch is melted and stirs smooth. (Caution: The bowl may get warm.)
Using a spoon, drizzle butterscotch over each cooled cookie. (If you want it to look fancier, you can use a pastry bag. Or if you want to keep it simple, you can also spread like frosting on top. Whichever method you choose, make sure the cookies have cooled completely before adding drizzle.)
Additional note: I use salted butter for the cookies because I think it helps balance the sweetness of the butterscotch—but if you prefer to bake with unsalted butter, it works just as well!
Cinnacreme
Ever since I invented cinnacreme for a scene in Lodestar, I’ve been wishing it existed. I mean, who doesn’t want to drink something warm and steamy that tastes like melted snickerdoodles?
Took me a little while to figure out the right combination of flavors to capture what I was imagining—but I finally did it! And now you (and your friends) can make yourselves mugs of cinnacreme too! (Just make sure you have a parent or adult with you while you try!)
Makes 2 servings
Ingredients
1/4 cup + 3/4 cup half-and-half (divided)
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1 cinnamon stick
1 cup whole milk
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup mini marshmallows
Optional: extra mini marshmallows
and whipped cream for topping
Directions
In a small saucepan, combine 1/4 cup of half-and-half, white chocolate chips, and cinnamon stick.
Place on stove and set the burner to low heat.
Stir until chocolate melts.
Add remaining 3/4 cup of half-and-half, milk, salt, and ground cinnamon, stirring constantly.
Add mini marshmallows and stir until melted.
Pour into mugs.
Top with additional mini marshmallows and/or whipped cream if desired.
Note: This recipe works with any kind of milk you prefer. Personally, I like the thickness when it’s equal parts whole milk and half-and-half, but you can use anything you like. And make sure you’re working on low heat so the milk doesn’t scald.
Lushberry Juice
(the Forbidden Cities version)
Probably the number one request I’ve gotten from readers over the years is for a recipe for lushberry juice. And sadly, I’ve always had to tell everyone, “Alas, lushberries only exist in the Lost Cities”—which is true. I’ve yet to meet any gnomes who could grow some for me.
BUT.
I did discover a way to create that perfectly refreshing, sweet-tart juice I’ve been imagini
ng by using ingredients we humans have access to.
Bonus: It’s SUPER easy to make!
And so, I give you my recipe for the Forbidden Cities version of lushberry juice! (And even though this recipe is really simple, it’s still a good idea to have a parent or adult with you when you make it.)
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients
2 cups strawberry lemonade
1 cup pomegranate juice
1 cup sparkling water
Ice to serve
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher and stir. Pour over ice. Enjoy!
Note: I use my favorite brand of store-bought strawberry lemonade when I make this, but you are welcome to make your own, if you want to be fancy like that.
For more Keeper-themed recipes, go to
shannonmessenger.com/keeper-of-the-lost-cities/recipes!
Keefe’s Memories
AUTHOR’S NOTE
THOSE WHO’VE READ LEGACY PROBABLY remember that Keefe is in the process of drawing all his memories, to see if it helps him remember anything his mom erased. And ever since I wrote those scenes, I’ve wished those drawings existed.
So when my editor and I were discussing what art to include in Unlocked Book 8.5, my immediate thought was, OHHHHHH, WE NEED TO HAVE A SECTION OF KEEFE’S MEMORIES WITH ONE FROM EACH BOOK IN THE SERIES!!!!
Thankfully, my editor agreed, and we began the nearly impossible task of deciding which memories to include. It wasn’t just about picking favorites (though there are definitely some of those in the mix)—we also needed to show the moments that Keefe might focus on, since all the gorgeous art is followed by Keefe’s personal commentary!
*pauses while Team Keefe does all the squealing*
We also let you guys settle the tie for the Exile memory. My editor and I had narrowed it down to two, and there was no way to pick, so I put a poll on my social media and let you guys choose.
Unlocked 8.5 (Keeper of the Lost Cities) Page 25