LGBTQ & Gender Identity
The initial books in the series had no explicit LGBTQ+ content. However, Book 9.5, "Unraveled," introduces mentions of same-sex couples among human characters. While these mentions are brief and presented as normal in the human world, they mark a shift in the series' content. Fan communities also discuss queer interpretations of existing characters, though these are not canon within the main series narrative.
In Book 9.5, "Unraveled," while Keefe is in the human world, he encounters multiple instances of same-sex relationships. On pages 137-141, a jogger mentions having a "husband." Later, on pages 259-262, a waitress refers to her "wife." Keefe and Alvar discuss these human relationships, with Alvar stating, "It's really cool," and Keefe agreeing. This content has led to discussions among readers, including some Christian parents who express disappointment over the introduction of this theme later in the series.
Violence
The series contains mild to moderate violence that escalates in intensity as the series progresses. While not graphically descriptive, there are frequent mentions of fights, injuries, kidnappings, and threats to characters' lives. The violence is often action-oriented and contributes to the suspenseful plot.
In the first book, Sophie nearly gets hit by a car, and there are incidents of characters being knocked unconscious during a telepathy game. Later in the series, characters face more severe threats, including an extended kidnapping scene where young characters are drugged, bound, gagged, interrogated, and subjected to burns on their arms. There are also reports of fires in human cities that cause fatalities.
Romance and Sexual Content
The series includes significant romantic elements, primarily focusing on a love triangle involving the protagonist, Sophie, and her male friends. This includes flirting, crushes, and eventually, a kiss. The content remains age-appropriate for its target audience, without explicit sexual descriptions.
Sophie experiences "fluttery moments" and a "hummingbird mode" heartbeat when close to Keefe. The romance develops throughout the series, with Sophie and Keefe being frequently described holding hands, and a kiss between them is confirmed in "Stellarlune." While the early books are noted for minimal sex content, significant flirting is present throughout.
Profanity
The "Keeper of the Lost Cities" series is generally considered to have no language or minimal profanity. Reviews consistently note the absence of strong curse words, maintaining a clean dialogue suitable for middle-grade readers.
Multiple sources explicitly state that there is "no language" in the series. Plugged In's review mentions "Profanity & Violence" but then describes only the violence, implying profanity is not an issue. A parent reviewer for Book 9.5 also describes the series as "clean and amazing" regarding language, before noting other content changes.
Witchcraft & Occult
The series is set in a fantasy world where characters, identified as elves, possess various magical or supernatural abilities, such as telepathy, telekinesis, and elemental control. These powers are integrated into the world's scientific understanding and are not depicted as occult rituals, witchcraft, or dark magic.
Elves in the Lost Cities utilize abilities like telepathy (Sophie's primary talent) and telekinesis, with elves having used the latter to help humans build pyramids. The magic is described as being more scientific in nature, rather than involving wands, spells, or voodoo. While central to the plot, these powers are part of the inherent nature of the elven world and its species.
Substance Use
The "Keeper of the Lost Cities" series contains no explicit depiction or mention of alcohol, drug use, or smoking. The narrative focuses on the fantastical elements and character relationships without involving substance use as a plot point or background detail.
Several reviews explicitly state that there is "no sex" and "no language" in the series, and no mention of substance use. The content analysis indicates that such elements are absent from the narrative.
Scary & Intense Content
The series includes escalating levels of scary and intense content, particularly in later books. Characters face life-threatening situations, kidnappings, betrayals, and psychological manipulation. While not excessively graphic, the suspense and emotional stakes can be high, involving dark themes and morally ambiguous situations.
Sophie is exposed to dangerous situations from the first book, including nearly being hit by a car and being kidnapped. Later books feature more prolonged intense scenes, such as an extended kidnapping and interrogation where young characters are drugged, bound, gagged, and subjected to burns. The series also deals with themes of loss, bullying, and mental distress, described as "dark topics" handled tactfully but present.
Disrespect & Rebellion
The protagonist, Sophie, and her friends frequently engage in acts of defiance and rebellion against authority figures, particularly the Council and the Black Swan organization, driven by their desire to protect others and uncover truths. While often motivated by good intentions, these acts can sometimes be impulsive and lead to dangerous outcomes.
Sophie often expresses resentment towards the Black Swan for withholding information from her, despite her eventual acceptance of her role. The characters frequently make decisions that go against established rules or direct orders from adult figures, for example, when Sophie ignores warnings and places herself in danger to find answers or save friends. The blurring lines between friend and enemy also lead Sophie to question whom to trust, often resulting in independent, sometimes rebellious, actions.
Anti-Christian Themes
The series is a secular fantasy that does not explicitly discuss or promote anti-Christian themes. However, it operates within a world where mythical creatures and magic are central, and a divine creator is not referenced. This may present a worldview where God is absent or irrelevant from a Christian perspective.
The narrative exists in a world populated by elves, dwarves, ogres, trolls, and other mythical creatures, where their inherent abilities function as 'magic' within a perceived scientific framework, without reference to God or traditional religious practices. One source notes that a prolonged immersion in secular books, even without explicit anti-Christian content, can convey a message that "there is no God or that God is irrelevant." The series promotes a worldview centered on the characters' abilities and actions in a non-Christian spiritual context.
