I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies: The Lost Files) (Lorien Legacies, #1)

by Pittacus Lore

John Smith is not your average teenager.

He regularly moves from small town to small town. He changes his name and identity. He does not put down roots. He cannot tell anyone who or what he really is. If he stops moving those who hunt him will find and kill him.

But you can't run forever.

So when he stops in Paradise, Ohio, John decides to try and settle down. To fit in. And for the first time he makes some real friends. People he cares about - and who care about him. Never in John's short life has there been space for friendship, or even love.

But it's just a matter of time before John's secret is revealed.

He was once one of nine. Three of them have been killed.

John is Number Four. He knows that he is next . . .

Reviewed by Amber (The Literary Phoenix) on

4 of 5 stars

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I wasn’t really sure what to expect of this book. I know it had something to do with aliens and super powers. I remember seeing the film trailer… but that was about it. This one definitely exceeded my expectations.

Four (“John” for the purposes of this novel) is one of the few survivors of his race, hiding on earth from the vicious aliens that wiped out his planet. He and his protector Henri move from town to town, never staying somewhere long enough that they can be found. The survivors cannot be killed out of order. The first three have already been killed. Four is next. They can’t be too careful.

I kept trying to predict this book, constantly expecting one character or another to die and then follow with an amazing growth arc or cycle of vengeance, but I kept guessing wrong. Nothing pleases me more in a book than not being able to predict the direction of a novel. I like to be surprised, even when it infuriates me.

Where the story was interesting and fun, the characters were sort of unimpressive. The love story was predictable. The best friend/sidekick was totally cliched and ridiculous. I HATE the nerd stereotypes. The narrator further enforced this by giving Sam a nasal voice; I am not enthused. I did like the characters’ decision making skills (they are not as reckless and lucky as most) and I thought Henri was a really good character.

OMG though some of the dialogue was SO CHEESY.

Still….

I’ll definitely be picking up the next book!

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 22 December, 2017: Finished reading
  • 22 December, 2017: Reviewed