Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Wow - The Rise of Nine, Review The Power of Six


Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine...   
I just finished The Power of Six, which is (irreverently) reviewed below... so I can't wait for The Rise of Nine to come out August of 2012.  No cover picture for it... hence the review:

The Power of Six (Lorien Legacies, #2)
Pub Aug 23, 2011
by Harper Collins
Lorien Legacies #2

My Rating: 4 - Pretty Darn Good (and Fast!)

Premise: Ganked from Goodreads:
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.

My Review (no spoilers):

The author’s name is unique, grand, intimidating… a reflection of this series, actually. It shows up inside the book, too, which is downright weird. I have to get that off my chest because it weirded me out. Who comes up with a grand, intimidating name as an author (not his mother, surely?) and then writes himself inside, as well? Pittacus Lore. In The Power of Six (and this is NOT a spoiler, believe me) Pittacus is a statue seen in the distance back on planet Lorien in a vision. Pitticus is a clue leading back to Lorien, not a good one, mind you, but a random shot-in-the-dark sort of clue that goes hand in hand with baleful glares of great meaning which are just as indecipherable.

As soon as I got in behind the odd author-fixation, the story is very exciting, thrilling, ever-much a second book to the first, I Am Number Four. There are chases, near-misses, vast out-numberings enough to thrill the pickiest thrill-rider-reader, I would think. Enough to challenge the film-maker, definitely. I have no complaint with the action.

The relationships grow, which is really fun. There are hints of romance again, which shouldn’t be possible, but are real. There are Cepan-Garde relationships that differ hugely from what we saw between Henry and John in the first book. The relationships are creative and even while the action is flying along, they develop. I love that.

The book is super-fast-paced, read at the stoplight if you must run errands in the middle sort of book. That’s my favorite part. I love it when a story is connected within itself enough to not stumble, but flies faster and faster as the pages turn, picking up momentum until you are sure you’re going to crash – beautiful!!

So this book would be perfect – or as perfect as Four was – if Pittacus didn’t keep showing up. Only I got the impression that Pittacus was moving in to stay. The author revealed the title of the next installment with a video that either verifies or generates this presentiment, I’m not sure. I don’t even want to ask. If Pittacus Lore can continue this level of speed & danger as skillfully as he has so far, I can put up with a statue in the distance.


Here's a snippet from the website:
Pittacus LoreI am Pittacus Lore. I am from the Planet Lorien, three hundred million miles away. I am one of ten Elders who lived on our planet. I am ten thousand years old. Everyone on Lorien was gifted. We are incredibly strong, incredibly fast, and we are born with powers called legacies. Despite our powers, the Elders, responsible for the defense of our planet, failed.
Pittacus Lore
In a generous move, the author himself reveals the title of the next book in this great video (sarcasm very thick - you'll have to click the link and play the video to see exactly HOW thick my sarcasm runs on this one, if you don't bother, pretend I'm enthusiastic.)  Click HERE for this great enjoyment.

The Rise of Nine!!!!

What are you Waiting for?!