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cindeereads's review against another edition
5.0
This series never disappoints with the next book always being better than the last one. As always I really loved Alex there is never a time where he is unlikable at all he is like a normal teenage boy with many other things he is very resourceful so able to handle a crisis and get out of most situations. I also loved both Jack Starbright and Tom they had better roles to play this time I liked how they fit well in what happens in the book. I really liked the plot it started with a setup for the plot with a character dying and moving to Alex thinking its all over and continuing with him on another case to save a bunch of people. I really liked how it ended and how it was set up for more of the Nightshade organization with a giant target on Alex's back I am looking forward to where the story goes next.
inkandplasma's review against another edition
5.0
Full review: https://inkandplasma.wordpress.com/2020/04/24/nightshade-by-anthony-horowitz-alex-rider-review-13/
Nightshade followed the same trend as the other later Alex Rider books. It’s longer, and darker, and a little slower. I don’t mind that, as I’m really getting to enjoy the depth that they’re finding. The early books in the series are a lot of fun and hijinks, but as Alex grows up it seems right that the books grow up too. And Nightshade, to me, seems the darkest so far. Yes, Scorpia Rising and Never Say Die had the traumatising aspect of Jack’s ‘death’, but honestly there’s something about Nightshade that viscerally horrified me. Without delving too far into spoilers, Nightshade is a terrorist cell consisting of a few Teachers and a group of highly trained children. They’re weaponised in the same way that MI-6 weaponised Alex, but there’s something even more chilling about their complete and unwavering obedience. There’s also something chilling about where the children have come from, but that’s a reveal best discovered during the book.
I loved the infiltration aspect of this book, and the way Alex had to pretend to be Julius Grief in his high security Gibraltar prison in order to befriend the boy they hoped would lead them to Nightshade – a boy who killed MI-6 agents and slaughtered police officers without hesitation. Alex has to earn his trust, and somehow infiltrate a terrorist cell that can seemingly order its members around without words. The stakes felt particularly high, with Alex stranded without any gadgets, support or communication devices, and when he discovers an imminent attack on London, he’s completely isolated – and being hunted by everyone in the UK. The fact that everyone fully believes that he’s Julius Grief, the fact that not even MI-6 can save him? It feels like Alex might finally be in more danger than he can handle.
I loved the concept of the Nightshade group, and I swear they’re the most interesting of any of the ‘bad guys’ Alex has faced so far – though it would be far too spoilery to get into it in too much detail there’s fascinating aspects of mind-control/indoctrination in the children that work in the cell to control every aspect of their lives and make them willing and eager to live and die for their cause. This makes them infinitely more interesting than the usual paid thug characters, if infinitely more tragic too.
Nightshade followed the same trend as the other later Alex Rider books. It’s longer, and darker, and a little slower. I don’t mind that, as I’m really getting to enjoy the depth that they’re finding. The early books in the series are a lot of fun and hijinks, but as Alex grows up it seems right that the books grow up too. And Nightshade, to me, seems the darkest so far. Yes, Scorpia Rising and Never Say Die had the traumatising aspect of Jack’s ‘death’, but honestly there’s something about Nightshade that viscerally horrified me. Without delving too far into spoilers, Nightshade is a terrorist cell consisting of a few Teachers and a group of highly trained children. They’re weaponised in the same way that MI-6 weaponised Alex, but there’s something even more chilling about their complete and unwavering obedience. There’s also something chilling about where the children have come from, but that’s a reveal best discovered during the book.
I loved the infiltration aspect of this book, and the way Alex had to pretend to be Julius Grief in his high security Gibraltar prison in order to befriend the boy they hoped would lead them to Nightshade – a boy who killed MI-6 agents and slaughtered police officers without hesitation. Alex has to earn his trust, and somehow infiltrate a terrorist cell that can seemingly order its members around without words. The stakes felt particularly high, with Alex stranded without any gadgets, support or communication devices, and when he discovers an imminent attack on London, he’s completely isolated – and being hunted by everyone in the UK. The fact that everyone fully believes that he’s Julius Grief, the fact that not even MI-6 can save him? It feels like Alex might finally be in more danger than he can handle.
I loved the concept of the Nightshade group, and I swear they’re the most interesting of any of the ‘bad guys’ Alex has faced so far – though it would be far too spoilery to get into it in too much detail there’s fascinating aspects of mind-control/indoctrination in the children that work in the cell to control every aspect of their lives and make them willing and eager to live and die for their cause. This makes them infinitely more interesting than the usual paid thug characters, if infinitely more tragic too.
kba76's review against another edition
4.0
With Alex Rider you come to expect the unexpected. Nightshade, the twelfth in the series, is a fast-paced explosive read that delivers in so many ways.
Although he’s trying to get back to normal life, nothing is ever going to be straightforward for Alex. He is, once again, contacted by the new head of MI6 when one of their agents is attacked. The person responsible for the attack was a fifteen year old boy...and Alex may well be the best hope they have of learning more about the boy known as Freddy who killed five of Brazil’s most dangerous police force.
Having already been mistaken for Julius Grief, Alex is shipped out to the facility from which he is thought to have escaped. The psychologist there is the only one who knows the truth about Alex, and it’s up to Alex himself to find a way in to befriend Freddy.
What follows is an adventure beyond your wildest imaginings.
Once again Alex finds himself relying on his wits and his very special set of skills. This time round he’s up against the mysterious Nightshade group who are planning a lethal attack on London. Alex has to learn the truth and find a way to stop what could, potentially, be the most dangerous event in British history. Business as usual - except this time MI6 have been shut down, Alex is on his own and there’s a leak from within.
An audacious scheme, plenty of opportunities for it to go wrong and - at its heart - young Alex being pushed to his limits. There’s a depth to this that hasn’t always been in the Alex Rider novels with the personal revelation about Mrs Jones...and the most ominous ending suggesting that things are not over.
Although he’s trying to get back to normal life, nothing is ever going to be straightforward for Alex. He is, once again, contacted by the new head of MI6 when one of their agents is attacked. The person responsible for the attack was a fifteen year old boy...and Alex may well be the best hope they have of learning more about the boy known as Freddy who killed five of Brazil’s most dangerous police force.
Having already been mistaken for Julius Grief, Alex is shipped out to the facility from which he is thought to have escaped. The psychologist there is the only one who knows the truth about Alex, and it’s up to Alex himself to find a way in to befriend Freddy.
What follows is an adventure beyond your wildest imaginings.
Once again Alex finds himself relying on his wits and his very special set of skills. This time round he’s up against the mysterious Nightshade group who are planning a lethal attack on London. Alex has to learn the truth and find a way to stop what could, potentially, be the most dangerous event in British history. Business as usual - except this time MI6 have been shut down, Alex is on his own and there’s a leak from within.
An audacious scheme, plenty of opportunities for it to go wrong and - at its heart - young Alex being pushed to his limits. There’s a depth to this that hasn’t always been in the Alex Rider novels with the personal revelation about Mrs Jones...and the most ominous ending suggesting that things are not over.
m3l89's review against another edition
5.0
Again, like Never Say Die, Nightshade had a different feel to the rest of the series. It felt more mature and hinted at more mature subject matters than previous books. Alex himself read different, his character development over the series as a whole very evident and I liked how his relationship with Jack has changed slightly; less like parent and child and more even. I also enjoyed finding out a bit more about other characters back stories.
itratali's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
stirlingsherman's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
These books are starting to pick up quite a bit now and this book was a super quick read! The story had super high stakes, compelling characters, and I never really knew what was going to happen next! I also feel like they finally let some character development happen in this book which was a nice change of pace. 😅 Anyway really enjoyed this one, but not gonna lie I'm very glad I get to read a different series now that I've made it through this one.
oneus's review against another edition
my third time reading this book in two years... i have issues
fabilous_books's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.5
Loved this book. Made me feel like I was a teenager reading them again. They were one of my first book series that I ever read. Anthony never disappoints with the twists and turns with the fast paced plots.
cindeereads's review against another edition
5.0
This series never disappoints with the next book always being better than the last one. As always I really loved Alex there is never a time where he is unlikable at all he is like a normal teenage boy with many other things he is very resourceful so able to handle a crisis and get out of most situations. I also loved both Jack Starbright and Tom they had better roles to play this time I liked how they fit well in what happens in the book. I really liked the plot it started with a setup for the plot with a character dying and moving to Alex thinking its all over and continuing with him on another case to save a bunch of people. I really liked how it ended and how it was set up for more of the Nightshade organization with a giant target on Alex's back I am looking forward to where the story goes next.
justagirlwithbooks's review against another edition
4.0
“It’s easy enough to change your personality, to become evil. The trouble is, it stays with you. And it damages you.”
After searching for this book for two years, I finally found it. This was such an enthralling read.
Should this series have ended by now? Yes.
Did I still enjoy this book? Also yes.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse