Reviews

Russian Roulette: The Story of an Assassin by Anthony Horowitz

livvi_05's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

ellapope's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.0

helenephoebe's review against another edition

4.0

Review - Although this is technically counted as a children's book I began reading the series when I was a teenager and really fell in love with it - I had to keep reading to find out what happened next, and I when I heard that Horowitz was writing a book about the earlier life of Yassen Gregorovitch, the assassin introduced in the first book, [b:Stormbreaker|136782|Stormbreaker (Alex Rider, #1)|Anthony Horowitz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1545541515l/136782._SY75_.jpg|833565], I just had to read it, because he was a character who always interested me. I wasn't disappointed. For any fans of the Alex Rider series, this is a must-read.

Genre? - Spy / Thriller / Action

Characters? - Yassen Gregorovitch / Julia Rothman / John Rider / Alex Rider

Setting? - Moscow (Russia), New York (U.S.A.), London (England)

Series? - Alex Rider (additional)

Recommend? – Yes

Rating - 17/20

chlocharlie's review against another edition

dark reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

eleanorbdale's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

roguepingu's review

1.0

First off, Anthony Horowitz is racist. So that's an automatic one-star rating because we have enough of those in the publishing world as it is.

I read this book because the Alex Rider series was one of my absolute favourites growing up and Yassen Gregorovich - the protagonist for this book instead of the usual Alex Rider - was always one of my favourite characters. I read and re-read the first eight books in the series. It's interesting reading this particular one now, more than ten years older than when I first started the series. I did really enjoy the read. The Alex Rider series do have a somewhat repetitive style but it works with me every time and did so again with this book. The plot was excellently paced, as always, and the end had that light Horowitz touch that always gives it that extra something.

However, for the first time, I did start noticing some curious things about some of the characterisations. Firstly, there are a lot of Russian characters in this book. I personally don't know much about Russian people except stereotypes so I was a little surprised when everything I read seemed to match up with what I 'knew'. Secondly, characters of colour seems to be always 2D and/or outright evil. Finally, female-presenting characters are always described at some point in terms of 'attractiveness'. They do tend to be granted some depth to them beyond this at least.

Admittedly, I do still want to read the next couple of books in the series that have come out in more recent years. However, I think I'll be checking them out of my library rather than buying them - something to do with ethical consumerism, I guess.

the_planetarywanderer's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

r2pete2's review

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

4.0

mist18's review

5.0

This is my favourite book of all the Alex Rider books. I don't know why but I Love learning about Yassen. I just loved his character. It's very interesting learning his backstory.

returntosender's review

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

One of the most compelling and heartbreaking character studies I’ve read in a while. Yassen is an amazingly well-developed and nuanced protagonist, and I would recommend this book to anyone, even someone who has no interest in the Alex Rider series. Leaps and bounds above the rest of the series, which I enjoy.