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overkastkid123's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
_isabellefrances's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
pewterwolf's review against another edition
4.0
First half a little slow for my tastes, but the second half hits the ground running. Can't wait to see where this NIGHTSHADE arc is going to do next.
Review taken from The Pewter Wolf, which will be going live in mid/late April 2020
***Please note that while I read my preordered copy, I was gifted an eProof by UK publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review/reaction. However, due to technical difficulties, I couldn't read the eProof. But, I will still give my honest reaction***
One of the the weird things about self-isolation over the Easter Weekend is that the amount of free time I have to read. Am trying to keep a daily routine (for the sake on my mental health) but, on a normal working-day, I can only grab snatches of reading here and there while relying hugely on audiobooks and podcasts. But what I mean is that reading a book of this size would normally take me several weeks and yet, the past few weeks, I have been reading books of this size at a pace and I’m not sure how my reading is going to cope when I go back to work…
But we’re not here to talk about work, we are here to talk about Nightshade, the twelfth Alex Rider novel. I have read Alex on and off since my college days (starting with Eagle Strike) and, earlier this year, I audiobooked/reread [b:Ark Angel|851341|Ark Angel (Alex Rider, #6)|Anthony Horowitz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1321640845l/851341._SY75_.jpg|90923], a bit of a “jump the shark” in the series and, after that, I went “I’m going to read Nightshade. I mean, what is the mysterious Nightshade that was referenced at the end of [b:Never Say Die|34528239|Never Say Die (Alex Rider, #11)|Anthony Horowitz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1489183969l/34528239._SY75_.jpg|55005128]?”. So, I preordered it and, unlike the other preorders I made while in self-isolation which I start then DNF/put on hold for one excuse or another, I powered through this at a quick speed.
After the events of Never Say Die, the criminal organisation [b:Scorpia|1780575|Scorpia (Alex Rider, #5)|Anthony Horowitz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1329085991l/1780575._SY75_.jpg|1779383] is truly dead and all 15 year old Alex Rider wants to do is go back to school, study for his GCSEs and not be a spy anymore for MI6. But MI6 have other ideas. According to intel they have recently discovered, a new and far more dangerous criminal organisation has come on their radar: Nightshade.
And they seem to be using children. MI6 want Alex to go to a high security prison in Gibraltar to befriend a boy who, without hesitation, killed an MI6 agent, several policemen and will happily kill without question. As Alex tries to get involved with this boy’s involvement with Nightshade, he finds out an attack will hit London and must, somehow, stop it. But this time, he’s on his own…
I’m glad I’m making myself go back into the world of Alex Rider because it’s a mix of fun, comforting and pure escapism. I admit that this series isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea (what if James Bond was a regular teenage who was dragged into this world?) but there’s something about this series that is fun.
It’s interesting that the Alex Rider books where Alex is fourteen (starting with[b:Stormbreaker|25313025|Stormbreaker (Alex Rider, #1)|Anthony Horowitz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1434744214l/25313025._SY75_.jpg|833565] and ending with [b:Scorpia Rising|10227759|Scorpia Rising (Alex Rider, #9)|Anthony Horowitz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1352652542l/10227759._SY75_.jpg|13298975] - though we do have [b:Russian Roulette|17934771|Russian Roulette|Anthony Horowitz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1370226693l/17934771._SY75_.jpg|24362196] that focus on fan fave, Yassen Gregorovich), the missions have a slight sci-fi twist to them (at the time. Look now to technology such as space travel and cloning, we are very close), whereas the newer Alex Rider novels, starting with Never Say Die (Alex Rider 2.0, if you will), the books are far more grounded, more darker in tone and seems to go a little further.
For me, this book has two parts. The first half is slower in pace - this isn’t a bad thing, but I like stories where I hit the ground running. But I completely get why I struggled with this half - we are setting up a new criminal organisation, one that seems to be far more ruthless and coldblooded compared to Scorpia and unlike Scorpia, Alex discovers this differently. Alex first hears about it at the end of [b:Eagle Strike|1366915|Eagle Strike (Alex Rider, #4)|Anthony Horowitz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1413133192l/1366915._SY75_.jpg|1356744] with hints that his father was involved so Alex had a personal reason to find out more. Here, Alex has no real ties to it, (but other main characters do) so it’s a slower burn and, because of that and Alex slowly trying to get in, it takes time. But, once we got halfway through the book, the book suddenly picks up pace and we are running. I do hope that, because of this, the next book in the series continue with this speed.
I am going to keep going with this new Nightshade arc as I am so intrigued over where Anthony is going to go. Though I am a little worried over Alex, as much as I enjoy this series and I think fans all over the world, I don’t want this series to outstay its welcome. There are several series that did and fans were glad/relieved when these series ended and I don’t want that to happen to Alex.
But I’m planning to stay with Alex for a little while longer. I’m thinking of rereading some old Alex Rider missions and maybe one or two I haven’t. You’re not getting rid of me that easily…
Review taken from The Pewter Wolf, which will be going live in mid/late April 2020
***Please note that while I read my preordered copy, I was gifted an eProof by UK publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review/reaction. However, due to technical difficulties, I couldn't read the eProof. But, I will still give my honest reaction***
One of the the weird things about self-isolation over the Easter Weekend is that the amount of free time I have to read. Am trying to keep a daily routine (for the sake on my mental health) but, on a normal working-day, I can only grab snatches of reading here and there while relying hugely on audiobooks and podcasts. But what I mean is that reading a book of this size would normally take me several weeks and yet, the past few weeks, I have been reading books of this size at a pace and I’m not sure how my reading is going to cope when I go back to work…
But we’re not here to talk about work, we are here to talk about Nightshade, the twelfth Alex Rider novel. I have read Alex on and off since my college days (starting with Eagle Strike) and, earlier this year, I audiobooked/reread [b:Ark Angel|851341|Ark Angel (Alex Rider, #6)|Anthony Horowitz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1321640845l/851341._SY75_.jpg|90923], a bit of a “jump the shark” in the series and, after that, I went “I’m going to read Nightshade. I mean, what is the mysterious Nightshade that was referenced at the end of [b:Never Say Die|34528239|Never Say Die (Alex Rider, #11)|Anthony Horowitz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1489183969l/34528239._SY75_.jpg|55005128]?”. So, I preordered it and, unlike the other preorders I made while in self-isolation which I start then DNF/put on hold for one excuse or another, I powered through this at a quick speed.
After the events of Never Say Die, the criminal organisation [b:Scorpia|1780575|Scorpia (Alex Rider, #5)|Anthony Horowitz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1329085991l/1780575._SY75_.jpg|1779383] is truly dead and all 15 year old Alex Rider wants to do is go back to school, study for his GCSEs and not be a spy anymore for MI6. But MI6 have other ideas. According to intel they have recently discovered, a new and far more dangerous criminal organisation has come on their radar: Nightshade.
And they seem to be using children. MI6 want Alex to go to a high security prison in Gibraltar to befriend a boy who, without hesitation, killed an MI6 agent, several policemen and will happily kill without question. As Alex tries to get involved with this boy’s involvement with Nightshade, he finds out an attack will hit London and must, somehow, stop it. But this time, he’s on his own…
I’m glad I’m making myself go back into the world of Alex Rider because it’s a mix of fun, comforting and pure escapism. I admit that this series isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea (what if James Bond was a regular teenage who was dragged into this world?) but there’s something about this series that is fun.
It’s interesting that the Alex Rider books where Alex is fourteen (starting with[b:Stormbreaker|25313025|Stormbreaker (Alex Rider, #1)|Anthony Horowitz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1434744214l/25313025._SY75_.jpg|833565] and ending with [b:Scorpia Rising|10227759|Scorpia Rising (Alex Rider, #9)|Anthony Horowitz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1352652542l/10227759._SY75_.jpg|13298975] - though we do have [b:Russian Roulette|17934771|Russian Roulette|Anthony Horowitz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1370226693l/17934771._SY75_.jpg|24362196] that focus on fan fave, Yassen Gregorovich), the missions have a slight sci-fi twist to them (at the time. Look now to technology such as space travel and cloning, we are very close), whereas the newer Alex Rider novels, starting with Never Say Die (Alex Rider 2.0, if you will), the books are far more grounded, more darker in tone and seems to go a little further.
For me, this book has two parts. The first half is slower in pace - this isn’t a bad thing, but I like stories where I hit the ground running. But I completely get why I struggled with this half - we are setting up a new criminal organisation, one that seems to be far more ruthless and coldblooded compared to Scorpia and unlike Scorpia, Alex discovers this differently. Alex first hears about it at the end of [b:Eagle Strike|1366915|Eagle Strike (Alex Rider, #4)|Anthony Horowitz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1413133192l/1366915._SY75_.jpg|1356744] with hints that his father was involved so Alex had a personal reason to find out more. Here, Alex has no real ties to it, (but other main characters do) so it’s a slower burn and, because of that and Alex slowly trying to get in, it takes time. But, once we got halfway through the book, the book suddenly picks up pace and we are running. I do hope that, because of this, the next book in the series continue with this speed.
I am going to keep going with this new Nightshade arc as I am so intrigued over where Anthony is going to go. Though I am a little worried over Alex, as much as I enjoy this series and I think fans all over the world, I don’t want this series to outstay its welcome. There are several series that did and fans were glad/relieved when these series ended and I don’t want that to happen to Alex.
But I’m planning to stay with Alex for a little while longer. I’m thinking of rereading some old Alex Rider missions and maybe one or two I haven’t. You’re not getting rid of me that easily…
sienna727's review
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
nklosty's review against another edition
4.0
It's been a minute since I read an Alex Rider book. His world hasn't seemed to change too much in the years, but I loved the story and incidents that Alex always seems to put himself into. 86
lauren_helen's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
reyofmoonlight's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
labraden's review against another edition
4.0
After Alex enjoyed a brief vacation with Jack, Mrs. Jones once again calls on him to help MI6 in a way that no other agent can. A boy about Alex's age was captured in the middle of an assassination of one of MI6's agents. The agent had been investigating an organization called Nightshade. The boy is placed in a maximum security facility located under Gibraltar. Alex's job is to pose as his double from Point Blank, Julius Grief, and try to get information about Nightshade and an imminent attack that this organization is planning on London. Alex is unsuccessful until he and the boy escape from Gibraltar when Alex finds himself on his own.
Nightshade starts with the intriguing premise of having Alex replace his double, Julius Grief. This turns out to be extremely interesting, even after the escape from Gibraltar. However, this story take a step backward, when nothing about Alex or his recent adventures seems to have had any effect on him. The story, though, is full of action and adventure as well as a dandy plot about they way young children have been taken from parents and brainwashed into service for an evil organization. We also learn more about Mrs. Jones and her background. Overall, Nightshade is a very enjoyable entry in the Alex Rider series. 4 1/2 stars
Nightshade starts with the intriguing premise of having Alex replace his double, Julius Grief. This turns out to be extremely interesting, even after the escape from Gibraltar. However, this story take a step backward, when nothing about Alex or his recent adventures seems to have had any effect on him. The story, though, is full of action and adventure as well as a dandy plot about they way young children have been taken from parents and brainwashed into service for an evil organization. We also learn more about Mrs. Jones and her background. Overall, Nightshade is a very enjoyable entry in the Alex Rider series. 4 1/2 stars
tamara_danielle's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0