'The best books, reviewed with insight and charm, but without compromise.'
- author Jackie French

Sunday 23 July 2017

Review: Never Say Die

Alex Rider is back in another adrenalin-fuelled adventure.

This is the eleventh story in the series featuring the teenage spy, written by Anthony Horowitz.

You should be aware that if you haven't read Scorpia Rising, then you will run headlong into big spoilers in Never Say Die, and there's no way to avoid them.

At the end of Scorpia Rising, Alex was left broken by his experiences. There's really only one person who could pull him back into the world he had been trying to leave behind.

Someone who Alex believes to be that person makes themself known to him by email early on, which spurs him onto a journey, but to tell you who it is would spoil the story.

The action takes place in the United States, Britain, France and Egypt. And it really is action. Anthony Horowitz writes in a visual and fast-paced style. It's like you're watching events play out on screen, which should be no real surprise given he is also an accomplished screenwriter.

At various points the story involves a massive helicopter, a luxury yacht, and a super strong, enormous magnet. There's also a car loaded with spy tricks and tools.

The villains, whose identity is clear from early on, but who I will not unmask here lest it giveaway something important, will stop at nothing to get what they want.

Too bad for them Alex has them in his sights. Alex is determined to succeed in tracking down that one person whose messsage brought him back into the world inhabited by the bad guys.

The title, Never Say Die, says it all. Alex will not give up, no matter what is thrown at him (literally and figuratively), so the baddies better watch out.

I have loved reading all the books in the Alex Rider series, and this is no exception.

Grab a copy of Never Say Die and settle down for the ride because you will not want to put the book down until you have discovered just what is going on, and whether or not Alex will survive.

As for whether there are any more adventures on the horizon for Alex Rider, that's a question only the author can answer!

Title: Never Say Die
Author: Anthony Horowitz
Publisher: Walker Books, $16.99
Publication Date: June 2017
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781406377040
For ages: 12+
Type: Young Adult Fiction