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Phil Leader (619 KP) rated I am Number Four (Lorien Legacies #1) in Books

Nov 15, 2019

I am Number Four (Lorien Legacies #1)

Pittacus Lore | 2011 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)

7.6

(31 Ratings)

Book Rating

When the planet Lorien is destroyed by invading aliens 9 refugee children who are bound by fate and will develop mystical powers come to Earth with their mentors. Each is given a number and they can only be killed in sequence. After Number Three is killed Number Four knows he is the next on the list, but he has a lot on his plate with not only his powers developing but his teenage school life becoming complicated. With the predatory aliens closing in he must rely on both friends and enemies to survive.

The basic outline is that of a good book but the detail and the execution somewhat let it down; too much of the back story is paper thin and invented for dramatic convenience. The killing in order thing is just hokey and absurd and that's just the start. The 9 aren't supposed to meet each other but that makes no sense as they would be stronger together. 'Henri', the mentor of Number Four is obseessed with secrecy yet sends him to school just when his powers are going to manifest in an obvious way. The plot itself doesn't quite hold together and the final showdown at the end of the book is over the top to the point of ridiculousness.

There are good bits, but they are generally unrelated to the whole Lorien part of it. The story of the new boy at school who gets on the wrong side of the school bully and befriends the previously friendless is good and works well with some good characters. This may have been better as a standard story of teenage life without all the science fiction trimmings.

I was disappointed with this book. I expected a lot more than it delivered. There are far far better science fiction books for young adults out there.