ajteyn's review against another edition
2.0
Ugh, I continue to be disappointed my second round through this series. Ableist and racist tropes along with formulaic writing are just demolishing any nostalgia I once had.
mnakka9's review against another edition
4.0
More fun than I expected
I picked up this series because a teen friend recommended me this. I never thought I will be hooked up. Great story, good emotions and shows all how? cruel the politics and spy business are!
I picked up this series because a teen friend recommended me this. I never thought I will be hooked up. Great story, good emotions and shows all how? cruel the politics and spy business are!
lottie_c's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? No
3.5
mandyist's review against another edition
5.0
Despite enjoying the pace and adventure of the first two books, I had been slightly disappointed with the Alex Rider series so far. It certainly wasn’t the Power of Five series and I felt something was missing. Nevertheless, after a 6 month break, I decided to try another Alex Rider book in March of this year.
I am so glad that I did!! Anthony Horowitz really comes into his own with this book. He retains the pace, adventure and intrigue of the first two stories but for the first time, you get real character development and you start to really identify with Alex Rider.
I absolutely loved this book, I adored the Cuban setting and I liked the portrayal of the “bad guys” in the book. After reading this book I can firmly say that I recommend the Alex Rider series to people young and old and to fans of the Power of Five series and of young adult fiction.
In the book, Alex Rider starts off with a simple enough mission at Wimbledon during the tennis, but is then palmed off on a joint-CIA mission when it becomes too dangerous for him to remain in England. He is to help the CIA in their attempt to investigate the suspicious Russian ex-general Alexei Sarov and his movements on the island of Skeleton Key. Alex is meant to simply accompany the CIA agents so that they can appear to be a family unit but as usual, nothing is ever that simple in the world of Alex Rider.
I am so glad that I did!! Anthony Horowitz really comes into his own with this book. He retains the pace, adventure and intrigue of the first two stories but for the first time, you get real character development and you start to really identify with Alex Rider.
I absolutely loved this book, I adored the Cuban setting and I liked the portrayal of the “bad guys” in the book. After reading this book I can firmly say that I recommend the Alex Rider series to people young and old and to fans of the Power of Five series and of young adult fiction.
In the book, Alex Rider starts off with a simple enough mission at Wimbledon during the tennis, but is then palmed off on a joint-CIA mission when it becomes too dangerous for him to remain in England. He is to help the CIA in their attempt to investigate the suspicious Russian ex-general Alexei Sarov and his movements on the island of Skeleton Key. Alex is meant to simply accompany the CIA agents so that they can appear to be a family unit but as usual, nothing is ever that simple in the world of Alex Rider.
mollyridley's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Another solid addition to the series, a good fast paced action read.
It's a little dated in certain ways, the use of disability and bodily difference to signifiy evil being one of the main tropes that leave a bit of a sour taste so be aware if that is a trigger.
For me it is nostalgic, otherwise I think I'd struggle with the series but I have to admit despite the faults I do enjoy it. The plot is punchy and Alex is a great protagonist.
Know what you're getting into, Anthony Horowitz is a brilliant author and I'd love to read his more recent work, ultimately this is a series based on James Bond, which in many ways is problematic in its own right, so if you can ignore or don't mind that you'll really enjoy this series.
It's a little dated in certain ways, the use of disability and bodily difference to signifiy evil being one of the main tropes that leave a bit of a sour taste so be aware if that is a trigger.
For me it is nostalgic, otherwise I think I'd struggle with the series but I have to admit despite the faults I do enjoy it. The plot is punchy and Alex is a great protagonist.
Know what you're getting into, Anthony Horowitz is a brilliant author and I'd love to read his more recent work, ultimately this is a series based on James Bond, which in many ways is problematic in its own right, so if you can ignore or don't mind that you'll really enjoy this series.
chloemacmillan's review against another edition
adventurous
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
3.0
clockworkp's review against another edition
5.0
Mi favorito hasta el momento. Acción trepidante desde el principio, con ambientación en lugares interesantes y muy diferentes entre sí: Wimbledon, Cuba, Miami y Rusia. Con un montón de deportes y situaciones de riesgo que hace que no quieras dejarlo de lado.
El peligro en esta entrega me pareció mucho más real y que estaba en juego algo más grande que en los anteriores, al fin y al cabo estamos hablando de bombas nucleares. Hasta el villano y su relación con Alex me gustó mucho, no es la típica.
Lo que más me chirrió fue que todos los villanos (y en esta entrega aparecen bastantes) sean todos de nacionalidades "extranjeras": México, Rusia, China... Alguna vez los malos tendrán que provenir de dentro digo yo.
Muy disfrutable.
El peligro en esta entrega me pareció mucho más real y que estaba en juego algo más grande que en los anteriores, al fin y al cabo estamos hablando de bombas nucleares. Hasta el villano y su relación con Alex me gustó mucho, no es la típica.
Lo que más me chirrió fue que todos los villanos (y en esta entrega aparecen bastantes) sean todos de nacionalidades "extranjeras": México, Rusia, China... Alguna vez los malos tendrán que provenir de dentro digo yo.
Muy disfrutable.
ianmcnamara's review against another edition
5.0
Great third book in the series, this was probably alex toughest mission so far. He had multiple enemies to deal with in this one and all of them were tough.