The Power Of Six by Pittacus Lore (Lorien Legacies: Book 2)

The sequel to the critically acclaimed I Am Number Four, The Power of Six shifts into a completely different dimension that may puzzle and confuse some readers, but does what any sequel should do in a series, move the story along and change things up so it is virtually unrecognisable from its prior instalment.

The Power Of Six is told from several different perspectives: Number Four (John Smith from the previous book), Number Six (Bernie Kosar) and Number Seven (Marina), a girl who is hiding at Santa Teresa, a convent in Spain.

The book starts off with Marina’s story, an instantly relatable character. Unable to adapt to society on Earth, unlike John Smith, she lives in a convent community that helps children in need. Starting the book off like this was a bold move, but it pays off as the story is so different and engaging, and shows the diversity of the story as a whole. Along with her is Adelina, her Cepan (Henri equivalent) and has been living there for 11 years. The great role reversal as Adelina has given up all hope for the rise of Lorien and the Nine and as a result has hidden Seven’s chest. Unwilling to give up on Lorien, Marina secretly follows John Smith’s trail of destruction online and is determined to find him and join the nine.

Shifting between Seven and Four’s story keeps things interesting and crossing plots over each other could easily become confusing, but in this case it keeps things moving along while gaining momentum for the story arc as a whole. John Smith is now on the run after the events of the previous book and being in close quarters with Six and Sam provides some much appreciated teenage angst scenes and conflict with his love for Sarah and new-found feelings for number Six.

The trio of Sam, Six and Four is an interesting love triangle to watch develop over the story as encounters and relationships grow stronger. Four, Six and Sam, while united at the start, go their separate ways on separate missions and this is the cliffhanger the book offers, a mild comparison to the first book.

Stylistic wise this is a much more sophisticated story telling style, the back and forth between characters in different parts of the world and story is a well crafted and cleverly executed style. I have never seen multiple story arcs told as well as this book does.

Marina and Adelina are a welcome addition to the Lorien legacy and provide a different perspective on things that adds to the believability and development of the Lorien legacies. The Mogadorians are menacing as always and their deadly encounters still continue to terrify and surprise in this instalment.

Overall this is a sequel worth of the Lorien legacies, offering more insight into the Lorien world and characters, while adding and mixing the story telling around to create a new kind of novel, this is an engaging story that stands out as one of the best sci-fi novels I have ever read.
Alaisdair Dewar, 9.5/10

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I've seen him on the news. Followed the stories about what happened to John Smith. 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.

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 ready 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 might 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. And I'm ready to fight.

I liked I am Number Four. It had some great ideas and more general concepts that did work but were in some cases not that original. In The Power of Six everything works out better. Showing a more original plot line building on the direct events that occurred in I am Number Four. In The Power of Six the plot continues to deepen and there are some nice revelations being revealed.

In the advent of the destruction of the school (ending off I am Number Four) of John, Sarah and Sam. Meeting up with Number Six and setting out on a journey to find the other numbers. The story takes a turn to becoming even more interesting.

In I am Number Four there was brief in-story note mentioning Number Seven in Spain and Number Nine somewhere in South America. In The Power of Six we meet up with more Numbers, Seven being one of them. I was pleased with how these introduction was done and how Seven was shown. The point-of-views are switched between chapters, in one chapter you are following Four, Six and Same and in the other you are focussing on Seven. Looking to how Four and Henri had a relationship as Garde and Cepan, this is hardly the case for Seven and her Cepan. Instead she is more or less thrown into the depths of her being a Garde and growing up and discovering her Legacies. Being placed into this situation, fending for yourself and struggling not to get discovered and staying posted using the net (what I believed to be one of the jobs of the Cepan) wereshown in a great manner. Where I actually started to feel for Seven that she was more or less on her own. In the end, she does meet up with some unexpected allies and the tables are turned. But again, I found that Pittacus Lore created a very strong, independent heroine in Seven, with some cool Legacies to go with it.

Following Four, Six and Sam reveals much about the past of Sam and more about the possible future plans they might have. With Four and Six both being Cepan-less they have to fend for themselves and try to figure out their Legacies and Inheritances on their own. This proves to be quite a daunting challenge, especially as the significance of the chests that each Garde has remain elusive for the greater part. Only a few rocks and crystals... Four does not have a clue what most of them do... and in one case does something terrible. I found the mysteriousness of the chests a great addition and I am still eager to get to the bottom of what they actually do... The question for me remains if Pittacus can create a false bottom in the chest to further enlarge their mysteriousness or ultimate goal?

Another great addition to the storyline is the mysterious stranger that comes to aid for Seven. Crayton. As you get to know him, within only a few paragraphs I got the feeling that he knows much much more than he is letting one. With interesting references to Visions of Four and other discoveries that they have made so far. And of course the quote “ The calm before the storm” got my hopes up pretty high for “The Rise of Nine”.

The Power of Six proved, for me, to be a very good addition to The Lorien Legacies. Giving much more information about specific going on's and still featuring a good portion of action. Likewise with I am Number Four there is a climactic build-up towards the end of the book featuring some full tilt, sword, fist and gun action. The introduction of more Number and alliances being forced between the remaining number keep the story lively and interesting. Quickly onto book three now!

Thanks to Penguin for providing me with the review copy.
Jasper de Joode, 8.2/10

9/10 An engaging story that stands out as one of the best sci-fi novels I have ever read.