The Revenge of Seven Review

The Revenge of Seven by Pittacus Lore
Published:  August 26, 2014
Synopsis from Goodreads: The worst was supposed to be over. We were reunited after a decade apart. We were discovering the truth of our past. We were training and getting stronger every day. We were even happy...

We never imagined the Mogodorians could turn one of our own against us. We were fools for trusting Five. And now Eight is lost forever. I would do anything to bring him back, but that's impossible. Instead, I will do whatever it takes to destroy every last one of them.

I've spent my entire life hiding from them, and they've stolen everything away from me. But that stops now. We're going to take the battle to them. We have a new ally who knows their weaknesses. And I finally have the power to fight back.
They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
Number Three in Kenya.
And Number Eight in Florida.
They killed them all.
I am Number Seven.
I will make them pay.
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This isn't going to be a full detailed review because this is the fifth book in the Lorien Legacies Series and I'm trying not to accidentally blurt out spoilers while at the same time needing an outlet to release my thoughts on this book.

First off, my reaction to finishing The Revenge of Seven went something like this:

 

I wish I was exaggerating when I say that's exactly what I went though. I literally dropped my book, said "what the f*ck?" and ran downstairs to ask my mom if that's really how it ended. (Note: She had already read it and is the one who actually got me into reading this series. It's sort of a thing we have going to read the books one after the other.) All she had to say was, "I told you you wouldn't like it." Thanks, mom, for the words of encouragement when my brain is crushed.

 

I won't say much about the plot of book. I will say that it takes place right where the last book leaves off. The Garde is split up after being betrayed by one of their own. Now, they must regroup to figure out how to fight Setrakus Ra and stop the impending invasion of the Mogodorian fleet to save humanity. In short, a huge undertaking for five Loric teenagers who have no one for guidance anymore and their few human allies. The book is split up into POV chapters alternating between John (aka the first Four), Six, and Ella. Surprisingly, we don't get chapters from Mariana aka Seven considering this is her title book. I thought that was pretty strange but considering her state of mind for most of the book, I guess it's understandable.

 

Honestly, I'm not usually one for reading books on aliens and space invasions. I was actually horrified of aliens when I was little. Driving home from my aunt's house past an international airport was borderline traumatic for me. I may be exaggerating a little there but groups of lights in the sky at night was not something I wanted to see when I was eight. I blame my dad and his habit of watching scifi shows while his young, impressionable daughter was in the room. But I digress. I actually really enjoy Pittacus Lore's series. It's definitely a fun, entertaining read and there's so many of them! In between the release dates of the main books of the series, smaller mini-stories get published that just add to the world and characters of The Lorien Legacies. Unfortunately, I think the movie was such a flop that everyone forgot that the books are actually good. Don't judge a book by it's movie, people!

 

I definitely recommend this series to anyone who likes science fiction. The characters have a kind of X-Men-ish feel to them what with their special powers and all. There are touches of romance here and there but that's not at all what the books' focus is on. I would have to warn that anyone deciding to read these books better be ready to do yoga or tai chi or something else that's calming. The cliffhangers at the end of these books are Mark of Athena bad if not worse because they'll happen literally in the middle of a scene. I thought I had at least another chapter to read but I turned the page and it was a preview for one of the mini-stories instead. Now I have to wait a whole year for the next book. Hence, the gif reactions.

 

Does anyone out there read this series? I really need to know if you do. I can't be the only one!



Top Ten Tuesday #6: Top Ten Books on My Summer TBR List

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/meme created by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's topic is summer reading TBR. Technically speaking, my last book haul post was my TBR list for the summer. So I won't bore you all by rewriting my blurbs about each book. Instead I'll just post the wonderful covers simply because they're oh so pretty.

Top Ten Books on My Summer Reading TBR List

  

 

Of these summer book haul books, I'm most excited to read Red Rising, Eon, and The Revenge of Seven. Eon is something that 1) I've heard great things about and 2) Tamora Pierce suggests it. Now I have to read it! Red Rising = adult dystopia! Exciting! And I've been waiting impatiently for The Revenge of Seven ever since The Fall of Five ended. That cliffhanger was pretty bad - not Mark-of-Athena-bad for pretty bad still.

 

Books not included in my book haul that I also plan to read are:

 

 

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell - I've heard really great things about this book. Half my co-workers have read it already and are raving about it. I must know why. Plus, I really liked Fangirl so I'm expecting to like this one as well.

Looking for Alaska by John Green - I've only read TFIOS and Looking for Alaska seems to be the next biggest thing John Green has written. I read the first few pages at work but didn't get very far. It seemed pretty interesting. It's sort of a toss up though whether I want to read this or Papertowns first.

 

The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien - This is just a long, long, long overdue reread. Plus, I've never actually read The Return of the King. I think it's time to now. It was either reread this or reread Harry Potter. I've read Harry a lot more than I've read LOTR though so I'm trying to even that out more a bit.

 

Book Haul Time!!

So I've been really good not really these past few months in the book buying area. I told myself that after my last huge haul over Christmas and my birthday, I wouldn't buy anything again until summer. I mostly stayed true to that. My last haul had me reading Percy Jackson for the first time. Of course, after I finished the first series I had to buy the next one - that was just a given. I've also borrowed a few books since then too. But I read ten out of the thirteen books in my last haul so all things considered, I've been good and I've worked on reading things strictly from my TBR pile. Happy dance with me:

 

I skipped the Top Ten Tuesday topic this week because I knew I wouldn't be doing my summer reading haul until today. So this post is on topic for TTT but isn't exactly a TTT.

 

Summer Book Haul

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper - This is something that I've been reading on and off during down time at work. It's a middle grade book about a girl, Melody, who was born with a disease that cost her most of her bodily functions. She eventually learns to flip herself over and her thumbs work fine but for the most part, Melody has no control over her body and is confined to a wheelchair. She also can't talk and this is what frustrates her the most because she is incredibly smart and has a lot to say. From what I've read of it so far, it's pretty good. I'm hoping to sit down and actually finish it soon.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner - I've been wanting to read this book for a long time and now that the movie is coming soon. I figured now is as good a time as any. The trailer looks amazing, by the way. Thomas wakes up with no memory surrounded by a bunch of strangers also with no memory. All that's around them is the maze which is always changing and it's the only way out. I honestly don't know much about the plot of this book but I've excited to read it anyway.

 

 

Eon and Eona by Alison Goodman - I have heard great things about these books. AND Tamora Pierce reviewed them! She is one of my favorite authors. Eon is training in Dragon Magic in hopes to become the Dragoneye. However, he has a secret that must stay hidden. He is actually Eona, a sixteen year old girl. Girls are forbidden to study Dragon Magic and if anyone discovered the truth about Eon, she would be sentenced to death. This is a very similar plot basis to Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce which is something I practically read to pieces and I'm really excited to find out more about Eona.

 

 

Red Rising by Pierce Brown - My first non-YA book in a while. It was actually a customer at work who first told me about this book and he basically said it's the adult version of The Hunger Games. This is the first book in a new adult trilogy about Darrow, a Helldiver who lives and works under the surface of Mars. It is said that Mars is uninhabitable and the work that Darrow and his fellow Helldivers do will go towards one day being able to live above the surface. However, Darrow finds out that this is a lie and Mars truly is habitable and has been the living area for generations of people called the Golds. Darrow and other rebels plan to infiltrate the Golds and take down their oppressors. Again, I'm really excited to read this book. I had to order it so I'll have it soon but I definitely can't wait.

 

Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira - Technically, I just finished reading this and I've already reviewed it. Although I only gave this book 3.5 out of 5 stars, I liked it enough to want to buy it after I only borrowed it from work. There were a surprising amount of quotes in here that I really really loved and now that I actually own the book, I can go about tagging my favorites.

Books I'm Anticipating This Summer

 

Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake -  expected publication: June 17, 2014. I know that this book is old and is out already but since I only read the first part last December, I figured I'd wait until the paperback came out to buy it so my set could match. Yeah, I'm weird like that. Basically in this book, Cas can't get over Anna's sacrifice and he begins to see her everywhere in dreams and in waking nightmares but wherever she shows up, she's being tortured and now it's his turn to save her. I really liked Anna Dressed in Blood a lot more than I thought I would actually. Plus, I'm pretty sure Kendare Blake is a Supernatural fan. Dudes, her main character's name is Cas and he's a ghost hunter. Whether she's a fan or not, she gets bonus points anyway just because the book reminds  me of Supernatural without being a rip off.

 

The Revenge of Seven by Pittacus Lore - expected publication: August 26, 2014. Does anyone read these books? Tell me I'm not the only one out there who reads these. DON'T WATCH THE MOVIE!!!! I repeat: DO NOT WATCH THE MOVIE!!! I think the movie killed this series' fandom which is unfortunate because these books are awesome. This is the fifth book in the main series. I have to catch on the little mini-books but I have time for that and they aren't absolutely necessary to the main story. I don't like the cover though. It's kind of gross looking - like moldy slime. I'm not going to go into a summary of this book because to say anything would give away spoilers to the previous four. Let me just say that, if for some reason you have watched the movie, Four (not Tobias/Four but John/Four - who came first, by the way) is so much cooler in the books. And his hands aren't massive flashlights. And he has an awesome shape-shifting dog. And Nine. I swear if Nine dies... The whole Walking Dead phenomenon if Daryl dies? Yeah, that will be me if Nine dies. Nine isn't allowed to die. Or BK.

 

 

Well, folks, that's it for my summer book haul! I'm sure I'll add a few things here and there but these are the books that I'll definitely be reading this summer. Have you read any of them? Is there anything you think I should add? (Excluding City of Heavenly Fire - sorry, I'm just not going there.)

 

Are you one of the rare Lorien Legacies fans? LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE!!! I need to fangirl with you.