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thelilbulldozer's review against another edition
3.0
Liked less than Point Blanc, definitely my least favorite of the series, but the stuff with Yassen has me excited for the future books.
My Rating: 3 Stars
Granny's Rating: 4 Stars
My Rating: 3 Stars
Granny's Rating: 4 Stars
mirable's review against another edition
4.0
SLJ review:
Gr 5-10-This is Anthony Horowitz's fourth Alex Rider adventure (Philomel Books, 2004), but it's not necessary to have read any of the others to follow this one since enough background is provided along the way. The novel opens with 14-year-old Alex, an orphan who has been trained by British Intelligence as a secret agent, on vacation in the south of France with his friend Sabina and her parents. When he spots Yassen Gregorovich, a Russian contract killer he's run into before, his curiosity is peaked. Alex is determined to discover why Yassen's target seems to be Sabina's father, a journalist. His search leads him back to London, to a pop star named Damian Cray whose philanthropic works recently got him knighted. Alex has his own suspicions about what Cray is up to, but the truth is stranger than even he suspected: the end of the world as we know it. Thrilling action, an edge-of-your-seat chase through the streets of Amsterdam, gadgets worthy of any James Bond movie, and a bang-up ending make this an exciting listen. Simon Prebble captures the entire cast of characters well, and each, no matter how minor, is easily distinguished. Alex's determination, Cray's conceit, and Gregorovich's jaded Russian tones all come through. Engaging enough to entice the most reluctant readers, this is a good purchase for both public and school libraries.-Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI
Gr 5-10-This is Anthony Horowitz's fourth Alex Rider adventure (Philomel Books, 2004), but it's not necessary to have read any of the others to follow this one since enough background is provided along the way. The novel opens with 14-year-old Alex, an orphan who has been trained by British Intelligence as a secret agent, on vacation in the south of France with his friend Sabina and her parents. When he spots Yassen Gregorovich, a Russian contract killer he's run into before, his curiosity is peaked. Alex is determined to discover why Yassen's target seems to be Sabina's father, a journalist. His search leads him back to London, to a pop star named Damian Cray whose philanthropic works recently got him knighted. Alex has his own suspicions about what Cray is up to, but the truth is stranger than even he suspected: the end of the world as we know it. Thrilling action, an edge-of-your-seat chase through the streets of Amsterdam, gadgets worthy of any James Bond movie, and a bang-up ending make this an exciting listen. Simon Prebble captures the entire cast of characters well, and each, no matter how minor, is easily distinguished. Alex's determination, Cray's conceit, and Gregorovich's jaded Russian tones all come through. Engaging enough to entice the most reluctant readers, this is a good purchase for both public and school libraries.-Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI
fj1204's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
innocenthedgehog's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
hughl's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
teyn's review against another edition
3.0
Ugh, this series is nowhere near as good as I remembered, but I still continue because my inner child continues to need lines like, "It seemed to Alex that his only destiny was to be lied to and manipulated by adults who cared nothing about him."
derekrm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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? No
3.75
chava_in_oz's review against another edition
4.0
Teenage book, but I got right into it. A great story