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bookwormbry's review
4.0
I've been picking at this slowly, a few pages at a time, over the last week or so and bingeread the rest today while I had a moment. Anyways, I felt like this book, though very well written and action packed--as Horowitz's works always are--was not as strong as the rest of the Alex Rider series. Perhaps my memory faults me or the passage of time has changed things in my mind but I was of that opinion. Still, it was nice to take one more journey into the world of the Alex Rider series, and this time learn about the enigmatic Yassen Gregorovich. I had forgotten a lot of story details regarding his connection to the Rider family, more specifically Alex's father John. In the context of this book, it makes sense as to why Yassen always spared Alex.
margot95's review against another edition
3.0
The Alex Rider series gets consistently more grim the older you get. I was 10 or so when I started reading these, and back then 14 year old Alex seeemed almost like an adult. Not so much, now.
For what it's worth, Russian Roulette, the story of the series' primary antagonist Yassen Gregorovich, is entertaining enough. It moves quickly and Horowitz wisely doesn't expect readers to remember what happened in the other books. More importantly, it got me through a reading slump, so I'm giving it 3 stars just for that.
For what it's worth, Russian Roulette, the story of the series' primary antagonist Yassen Gregorovich, is entertaining enough. It moves quickly and Horowitz wisely doesn't expect readers to remember what happened in the other books. More importantly, it got me through a reading slump, so I'm giving it 3 stars just for that.
romanaromana's review against another edition
5.0
I would like to apologise for the ridiculously long time it took me to read this. It is in no way a reflection of how much I enjoyed it because damn, this book was good.
I'm not going to lie, I didn't realise this was a prequel until I actually started reading it. Usually I intensively study a blurb before I read the actual book, but in this case I didn't bother since either way I was going to read it - it's Alex Rider so, obviously. So yeah, I was pretty surprised when it was suddenly in first person from the perspective of Yassen Gregorovich at age 14 - before Alex was even born.
We are told the story of his life and how he became the assassin we first meet in Stormbreaker. Starting from his small town life in Russia, through various places around the world we see how different, yet how similar his life was/is to Alex's.
Now, once I realised we were not shifting out of young-Yassen-first-person narrative, I was kind of terrified. Did this mean I wouldn't see my beloved Alex for the entire 400ish pages?!?! The horror.
But I was very pleasantly surprised. I believe Horowitz's change of style was executed very well and I was impressed. Yassen's life was shocking but interesting and I found that I really liked him. He's not quite Alex but I feel like they could be friends you know? He still thinks and acts like a teenager, makes realistic observations and questions things whenever I do. Plus I loved the way Horowitz intertwined Yassen's story with things we've already learnt about through Alex's adventures.
This book is different to all the others, that's for sure. But good different. And, partially because my memory is too weak to remember the first 7 books in detail, I'd say this is my favourite so far. I'm shocked I've even said that actually. Sorry Alex, I feel like I'm betraying you. I can just hear your voice saying:
"9 books. 9 books we've been together. Then this guy strolls in and off you go. How could you?"
*sobbing* I'M SORRY OK?!
I'll probably go running straight back if the next one is as good as this though. Which reminds me - I ABSOLUTELY CANNOT WAIT TO READ IT OH MY GOSH.
I'm not going to lie, I didn't realise this was a prequel until I actually started reading it. Usually I intensively study a blurb before I read the actual book, but in this case I didn't bother since either way I was going to read it - it's Alex Rider so, obviously. So yeah, I was pretty surprised when it was suddenly in first person from the perspective of Yassen Gregorovich at age 14 - before Alex was even born.
We are told the story of his life and how he became the assassin we first meet in Stormbreaker. Starting from his small town life in Russia, through various places around the world we see how different, yet how similar his life was/is to Alex's.
Now, once I realised we were not shifting out of young-Yassen-first-person narrative, I was kind of terrified. Did this mean I wouldn't see my beloved Alex for the entire 400ish pages?!?! The horror.
But I was very pleasantly surprised. I believe Horowitz's change of style was executed very well and I was impressed. Yassen's life was shocking but interesting and I found that I really liked him. He's not quite Alex but I feel like they could be friends you know? He still thinks and acts like a teenager, makes realistic observations and questions things whenever I do. Plus I loved the way Horowitz intertwined Yassen's story with things we've already learnt about through Alex's adventures.
This book is different to all the others, that's for sure. But good different. And, partially because my memory is too weak to remember the first 7 books in detail, I'd say this is my favourite so far. I'm shocked I've even said that actually. Sorry Alex, I feel like I'm betraying you. I can just hear your voice saying:
"9 books. 9 books we've been together. Then this guy strolls in and off you go. How could you?"
*sobbing* I'M SORRY OK?!
I'll probably go running straight back if the next one is as good as this though. Which reminds me - I ABSOLUTELY CANNOT WAIT TO READ IT OH MY GOSH.
tazzabee's review
4.0
I wasn't sure how Horowitz was going too about a prequel Alex Rider, but now it all makes sense....though I won't give anything away. He has blended the lives together seamlessly, allowing fans to see inside the world of Scorpia, the mind of Yassen Gregorovich and the paternal past of the epically important Alex. Yup it is definitely worth the read for anyone who enjoyed the books.
thomas_wright's review against another edition
3.0
my review of Russian Roulette by Anthony Horowitz (an Alex Rider Prequel)
this is Yassen Gregorovich's back story sandwiched among how his life and Alex's are in twined with the Rider family
its quite interesting but not necessary to the 9 books that came before it
this is Yassen Gregorovich's back story sandwiched among how his life and Alex's are in twined with the Rider family
its quite interesting but not necessary to the 9 books that came before it
khushg's review
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
sarah_the_reviewroom's review
3.0
I wouldn't say this is my favourite book in the Alex Rider series but it's an interesting story!
I did find the pace of Russian Roulette quite slow, most of the book was Yassen reading his own diary so it was first person instead of the usual third person for this series.
It was cool to get Yassen's life story and it offered a new perspective on decisions he's made in previous books. I particularly liked the connection with Hunter and how Yassen's life mirrors and entwines with Alex's.
I did find the pace of Russian Roulette quite slow, most of the book was Yassen reading his own diary so it was first person instead of the usual third person for this series.
It was cool to get Yassen's life story and it offered a new perspective on decisions he's made in previous books. I particularly liked the connection with Hunter and how Yassen's life mirrors and entwines with Alex's.
lucy_shanners's review against another edition
5.0
Loved it. Gregorovich was such an interesting character, and when I remembered halfway through that he's already dead I got really sad. I loved the very last scene - I got out my copy of Stormbreaker, and although there a couple of lines left out, it's almost an exact replica of that scene. I thought that that was a very good way to end it, very circular. I especially like the reveal that he had in fact been sent there to kill Alex. Gonna miss this series.
escarletarosa's review against another edition
4.0
A fantastic read. The progression from start to finish is well structured and defined, however, I feel that the writing style felt slightly basic for the age/type of the character. I would recommend to friends and family.