The Power of Six, by Pittacus Lore

Plot spoiler if you haven't read I Am Number Four!

My name is Marina, as of the Sea, but I wasn't called that until much later.  In the beginning I was known merely as Seven, one of the nine surviving Garde from the planet Lorien, the fate of which was, and still is, left in our hands.

Marina, John and the other seven Gardes were six years old when they arrived on Earth.  It took a year to travel from Lorien to Earth.  In order for the charm to work to protect themselves, the Garde separated.  Marina and her Cêpan eventually traveled to Spain, finding refuge in Santa Teresa convent.  Eleven years have passed.  When Marina turns 18 years old, she can either stay and join the sisters in the convent, or leave and find her way on her own.  Marina has five months.

For the past five years, Marina has been begging her Cêpan, Adelina, to leave Santa Teresa.  In September, Marina received her third scar, the third warning that another Garde has died.  The Mogadorians are hunting each member of the Garde, killing them in order.

Six members of the Garde are left now.  And the eyes of the Mogadorians are everywhere.

Marina's Cêpan has given up hope for Lorien.  Adelina is meant to help and assist in developing Marina's Legacies.  She feels the mission was doomed from the start; it would be impossible to defeat the Mogadorians and take back Lorien.

"It's all one big fairy tale, Marina."

Marina has been following news stories from Paradise, Ohio.  John and Henri Smith are accused of being terrorists, but Marina suspects that John could be a member of the Garde.  But how can Marina hope to find John when the whole world is looking for him, too?

Be safe and stay hidden, I think.  We'll find each other yet.

John and Sam are on the run.  They are considered a threat to national security and the FBI is offering a $100,000 for information about John, $250,000 if someone brings him in.  Six is with them as they hide in a hotel to recover from their injuries.  Their biggest priority is to find the others and train together.

Six shares with them that the Mogadorians have a cave in West Virginia. 

"No, I can't believe that this whole thing is real.  That you're real or that Six is real, or that a hostile race of aliens has scattered themselves across the planet and nobody seems to know it."

Each member of the Garde has an Inheritance, their Chest.  The moment they die, the Chest unlocks itself and everything inside it disintegrates.  It's one of the most important things that John, Six and Marina need to protect.  It's also one of the things that John and Six need to find.

Was there a second ship that left Lorien with 15 Chimaera, 3 Cêpans and a baby?  Can John and Sam find the missing chests?  Can Six find Marina in Spain?  Will they find others?  Will they find Sam's dad?  The Power of Six is an action-packed, exciting read!  I can't wait for the third book!

Rating:  10 out of 10 stars
* some language

To check this book out at NOLS, click HERE!

 

I Am Number Four, by Pittacus Lore [James Frey and Jobie Hughes] (2010)

In the beginning there were nine of us.  We left when we were young, almost too young to remember. 

Almost. 

John Smith has been hiding on Earth for 10 years.  He's moved at least 21 times, each move required a different name, a new identity.  He is an alien.  And he's being hunted.

"We came to Earth ten years ago from a planet named Lorien.  We came beause it was destroyed by the inhabitants of another planet named Mogadore.  They destroyed Lorien for its resources because they had turned their own planet into a cesspool of decay.  We came here to hide until we could return to Lorien, which we will one day do.  But we were followed by the Mogadorians.  They are here hunting us.  And I believe they are here to take over Earth..."

It took a year to arrive to Earth and now the 9 Garde are scattered around the globe.  The Lorien charm protects them; they can only be killed in order of their numbers, so long as they stay apart.  But the charm is broken when they are together.  When one is killed, a circular scar wraps around every Garde's right ankle. 

John's first scar appeared when he was 9 years old, the first sign the Mogadorians had finally arrived.  His second scar appeared when he was 12 years old.  The third scar appeared only an hour ago.  He is now 15 years old.

John is number four.

The only hope Lorien has for its survival is in the 9 Garde hiding on Earth.  Each time one is killed, Lorien's chances diminish.

John and his Cêpan, Henri, are hiding in Paradise, Ohio - population 5,243.  For the first time in his life on Earth, John has a friend and has fallen in love.  His legacies finally arrive, super-powers that will help him defeat the Mogadorians.  He must prepare for war.

Pittacus Lore is the greatest Elder of Lorien.  When the Mogadorians invaded Lorien, where did the Elders go? 

Join the saga of the Lorien Legacies!

To check the book out at NOLS, click HERE!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars

* Some inappropriate language.

Next in the series:  Released August 23, 2011