I Am Number Four: The Lost Files: Nine's Legacy

NINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! STUPID GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHY, STUPID GIRL?????????????????????????? NOW HE'LL NEVER LOVE ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Number Nine is my favorite character of the series. Don't ask me why: I just love assholes like him. When I first met him, I thought "yup, I'm in love with him", and I wanted to kick him. But when I read his story, when I knew what happened to him... I wanted to hug him, protect him and put him into a crystal little box, where anyone could ever hurt him.

MY BOY. He's so sweet, pls love him.

I accidentally requested this book instead of the actual first book in the series. Although I still plan to pick up the actual "I Am Number Four,"the fact that I have not read anything in this particular world did not detract from my experience of the stories. I loved how the information about the world was gradually released as the narrative progressed. Obviously, those who have read the full length novels would already know this information but still, to me this showed that Lore did not feel the compulsion of spending a chapter of exposition in recapping what is already known that other, less talented, authors do. This particular world, though, is a rather violent, unsanitized world. Sometimes that's good. Other times throughout the reading, this made me wonder a bit. I really did enjoy the role reversal with Adam's story. The plots were fast paced. Lore kept the dialogue clear and un-confusing as well as cliché free.

Wow, this novella added so much to Nine's character, providing not only backstory but then leading into his introduction with Four in the main series. Firstly, his relationships with his Cepan Sandor and a new teenage crush Maddy were well-written and, well, fresh. There was a big focus on a different kind of teenage lifestyle in Chicago, with rock climbing and car drives, perhaps to the other Garde. Then when the story takes its inevitable dark turn I watched Nine tested and broken, all the while developing his legacies. When the short story concluded, coinciding with the events of Power of Six, I felt a whole new level of understanding and attachment towards Nine.

Interesting Lost File from the perspective of the Mogadorians, showing the lifestyle of Adam and young Mogs in general. He has a difficult relationship with his family, but through some alien science is given a special link to Number One, learning from her memories and experiences. They form somewhat of a friendship, despite his contrasting upbringing and worldview, and she haunts him as Adamus encounters the Garde Two and Three. Whilst this takes the novel across the globe, it was really a brief and entertaining look at the first three Garde from key character Adam's perspective.

As Adam returns to Ashwood Estates, he faces an emotional and unexpected end to his relationship with One. Gaining her earthquake legacy, he then joins Malcolm Goode as they search for his son Sam before a cliff-hanger ending. Overall entertaining and a better read with Adam as protagonist than the first time around.

Well, this short story went a long way in explaining Five's character and life before betraying the Garde. Unfortunately, it felt a bit too similar to other Lost File stories with the rushed relationships and having lessons thrust upon the protagonist. Fortunately, it helped explain where Five ends in the first Lorien Legacy series and provides a backstory as we witness him gaining his first legacies. It was definitely interesting to see how he was different to the other Garde, with his obsession for storytelling, but there was a sense of inevitability that comes with this being a prequel, as the reader knows where he will end up.

There are two good moments in this novella, the diner conversation and a tense car encounter in the middle of nowhere, and unsurprisingly both feature the tangible threat of the FBI in Agents Walker and Purdy. Unfortunately, Mark's jock personality also translates to an amateurish, high school teenager voice that is frustrating and simple to follow, especially with all the context readers have about the Lorien Legacies series at this point. Whilst Lore develops Paradise a bit more, including Mark's relationships with family, friends and the police, it doesn't amount to much in the grand scheme of things. Fortunately, the ending signals a more exciting follow-up as Mark gets off the Aliens Anonymous blog and takes some real-life action.

A very tragic but mediocre backstory for Five, as we continue from Five's Legacy and see him further ingratiate himself into the Mogadorian hierarchy. Setrakus Ra is manipulative, Ethan and Emma are back (and suffering) and Five is hugely emotionally conflicted. As the story tries to match with events in the larger Lorien Legacies series, it all unfortunately feels a bit mundane and average as we end up with Five where we first find him in the mainline books - except for a great ending with Ethan and Five's leather blade, which ends up adding a star to the novella.

Everything you'd want in a Lorien Legacies novella. Mark's initially off-putting narration quickly grows with his personality and increasingly dangerous experiences. The story itself goes off-road and cross-country in a true fugitive on the run style, with a surprising remote base location. The supporting cast include the enigmatic Guard from Aliens Anonymous, the return of Sarah and Bernie Kosar and some threating FBI/ mog villains. And to add icing to the cake, there are substantive and surprising connections to the mainline series that just feel right to reveal in a side novella like this.

3.5 stars