The Power of Six - Pittacus Lore

This book is the sequel to I am Number Four in the Lorien Legacies series.  If you haven't read that one already, you might want to read it (or at least see the movie) before reading this review.

Summary:  I've seen him on the news.  Followed the stories about what happened in Ohio.  John Smith, out there, on the run.  To the world, he's a mystery.  But to me...he's one of us.
Nine of us came here, but sometimes I wonder if time has changed us -- if we all still believe in our mission.  How can I know?   There are six of us left.  We're hiding, blending in, avoiding contact with one another...but our Legacies are developing, and soon we'll be equipped to fight.  Is John Number Four, and is his appearance the sign I've been waiting for?  And what about Number Five and Six?  Could one of them be the raven-haired girl with the stormy eyes from my dreams?  The girl with powers that are beyond anything I could ever imagine?  The girl who may be strong enough to bring the six of us together?

They caught Number One in Malaysia.  Number Two in England.  And Number Three in Kenya.  They tried to catch Number Four in Ohio -- and failed.  I am Number Seven.  One of six still alive.  And I'm ready to fight.  (Summary from book - Image from www.iamnumberfourfans.com )

My Review:  The Power of Six is the sequel to NYT Bestseller I am Number Four of the Lorien Legacies Series.   Even though it has been a while since I read the first book, I had no problem jumping right back into the fray and blew through this one in the better part of an afternoon. 

Narrated by Four (aka John Smith) , and a new character, Seven, The Power of Six ping pongs between their two lives.  I won’t spoil Number Seven’s story, but I thought it was very interesting.  Number Four’s story picks up where I am Number Four left off -- John Smith is on the run with his friend Sam and Six, the member of the Lorien Garde who saved his life back in Paradise, OH.  They are on a desperate search for the remaining Numbers, hopeful that together they will be able to stand against the Mogadorian hordes that are hot on their trail.   

I (not so) secretly wish I had magical powers, so this kind of story always appeals to me when I’m in the mood for some light reading.  Sam has a bigger part to play and Number Seven is not the only new Lorien character to show up.  I enjoyed learning about each Number’s emerging legacies, their back stories, and how their powers would interact and complement each other when they came together.   

Most of the issues I had with I am Number Four were taken care of in The Power of Six.   My main complaint with the first book was that the Mogadorians felt comic-book scary, which made it difficult to take them seriously.  The Power of Six explained that different types of Mogadorians are able to successfully pass as humans. This revelation made them more intimidating, because I never knew when they were going to pop up in a crowd.  I also felt that John and Sarah's relationship fizzled towards the end of the book, despite their constant protestations of love.  Although John and Sarah’s romance never seems to resonate with me, even in the sequel, it plays a smaller role because they spend much of their time apart.  It also doesn’t hurt that as John spends more time with Six and Sam, some fairly interesting emotions come into play (wink, wink).

Ultimately, The Power of Six was a fun, easy read, and it made me like I am Number Four even more.  While the story wasn’t particularly deep, in either plot or writing style, I was fully entertained.  Beware, it packs a cliffhanger ending and there is still plenty more of the story to come!  I look forward to reading the next book, The Rise of Nine, when it comes out in August 2012.  

For Lorien Legacy fans who can't wait till then -- download  I am Number Four: The Lost Files, an ebook of Six's story. 

My Rating:  4 Stars

For the sensitive reader:  A couple instances of biblical profanity, and plenty of fantasy violence, but that’s it.

Sum it up:  A fun series with a sequel that made me like the first book even more.