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Alex Rider #11
Never Say Die
Five weeks after the events of Scorpia Rising, Alex is living in San Francisco, slowly recovering from the death of his best friend and caregiver, Jack Starbright, at the hands of terrorists. Alex feels lost and alone, but then, out of the blue, he receives a mysterious email. It's just three words long—but it's enough to make him believe that Jack may be alive after all. Armed with this tiny glimmer of hope, Alex boards a flight bound for Egypt.
But the deadly organization Scorpia isn't finished yet. As Alex searches for Jack, the pieces of a dangerous puzzle start to emerge... The theft of the world's most powerful helicopter; evil twin brothers brought up in the Mafia; an operation called "Steel Claw." Somehow they're connected and Alex has to find out how if he is to prevent a new terrorist plot.
From a deserted fort in Egypt to a luxury yacht in the South of France and an abandoned mine in the Welsh valleys, Alex has to untangle a web of threats and cryptic clues as he fights to discover the truth.
But the deadly organization Scorpia isn't finished yet. As Alex searches for Jack, the pieces of a dangerous puzzle start to emerge... The theft of the world's most powerful helicopter; evil twin brothers brought up in the Mafia; an operation called "Steel Claw." Somehow they're connected and Alex has to find out how if he is to prevent a new terrorist plot.
From a deserted fort in Egypt to a luxury yacht in the South of France and an abandoned mine in the Welsh valleys, Alex has to untangle a web of threats and cryptic clues as he fights to discover the truth.
349 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2017
620 people are currently reading
7136 people want to read
About the author
Anthony Horowitz
345 books20.9k followersAnthony Horowitz, OBE is ranked alongside Enid Blyton and Mark A. Cooper as "The most original and best spy-kids authors of the century." (New York Times). Anthony has been writing since the age of eight, and professionally since the age of twenty. In addition to the highly successful Alex Rider books, he is also the writer and creator of award winning detective series Foyle’s War, and more recently event drama Collision, among his other television works he has written episodes for Poirot, Murder in Mind, Midsomer Murders and Murder Most Horrid. Anthony became patron to East Anglia Children’s Hospices in 2009.
On 19 January 2011, the estate of Arthur Conan Doyle announced that Horowitz was to be the writer of a new Sherlock Holmes novel, the first such effort to receive an official endorsement from them and to be entitled the House of Silk.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/anthon...
On 19 January 2011, the estate of Arthur Conan Doyle announced that Horowitz was to be the writer of a new Sherlock Holmes novel, the first such effort to receive an official endorsement from them and to be entitled the House of Silk.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/anthon...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 576 reviews
September 28, 2017
The likes of Alex Rider, Jason Steed or young James Bond is the hero that a young reader (Or young minded reader) wants to be: a secret agent trained in every field of espionage skills who travels round the world outsmarting bad guys. I’ve followed the series all the way through Alex working for/with MI6, to his turning his back on MI6 in favour of the ultimately evil organisation SCORPIA, and back again to the devastating conclusion of Scorpia Rising.
In Never Say Die, Anthony Horowitz brings us back to the world of Alex just a few months after Scorpia Rising. There’s no trace of series fatigue here; in fact the break seems to have given Horowitz a chance to give new life to his most famous character. Horowitz knows what he’s doing here and seems to relish throwing Alex into ever more dangerous and bonkers scenarios.
Alex propels himself on a personal crusade to chase that which seemed lost and Horowitz delivers action set-piece after set-piece with breathtaking abandon. As well as that, we have another brilliant villain or in this case villains in the shape of the Grimaldi brothers, twins operating pretty much as a single entity. They have a suitably notorious history and a suitably nefarious scheme that Alex finds himself having to stop.
There are several stand-out scenes, cinematic in their writing and preposterous in their execution. Chief among those is undoubtedly a sequence along an English motorway which builds and builds as it pulls you into the pages.
The story moves along at a brisk pace as you’d expect, with several countries across three continents covered with ease, and the ingenuity of gadgets and quick thinking are to the forefront.
Throughout, Horowitz leaves clues for you to figure out Alex’s next move in any given sticky spot, but buries it deep enough that the ultimate pay-off often brings a smile to your face.
A brilliant return to an absorbing series. Alex is certainly one of the best series. If you are young at heart or have a youngster who should be reading take a look at the Alex Rider or the Jason Steed series. Both series offer fun, excitement and escapism. The Jason Steed series also offers coming of age and emotion.
In Never Say Die, Anthony Horowitz brings us back to the world of Alex just a few months after Scorpia Rising. There’s no trace of series fatigue here; in fact the break seems to have given Horowitz a chance to give new life to his most famous character. Horowitz knows what he’s doing here and seems to relish throwing Alex into ever more dangerous and bonkers scenarios.
Alex propels himself on a personal crusade to chase that which seemed lost and Horowitz delivers action set-piece after set-piece with breathtaking abandon. As well as that, we have another brilliant villain or in this case villains in the shape of the Grimaldi brothers, twins operating pretty much as a single entity. They have a suitably notorious history and a suitably nefarious scheme that Alex finds himself having to stop.
There are several stand-out scenes, cinematic in their writing and preposterous in their execution. Chief among those is undoubtedly a sequence along an English motorway which builds and builds as it pulls you into the pages.
The story moves along at a brisk pace as you’d expect, with several countries across three continents covered with ease, and the ingenuity of gadgets and quick thinking are to the forefront.
Throughout, Horowitz leaves clues for you to figure out Alex’s next move in any given sticky spot, but buries it deep enough that the ultimate pay-off often brings a smile to your face.
A brilliant return to an absorbing series. Alex is certainly one of the best series. If you are young at heart or have a youngster who should be reading take a look at the Alex Rider or the Jason Steed series. Both series offer fun, excitement and escapism. The Jason Steed series also offers coming of age and emotion.
June 7, 2017
WHAT WHY DID NOBODY TELL ME THERE WAS A NEW ALEX RIDER BOOK COMING OUT.
Want to read
February 23, 2017OMG! OMG! OMG! I can't believe this is happening!!! I have waited so long for this! <3
I want it now!!! *grabby hands*
I want it now!!! *grabby hands*
February 11, 2020
I liked this Alex Rider book, although at 1 point I thought Alex was going crazy as he kept thinking he was seeing things, a good story, I really like the Alex Rider and Jason Steed series.
Bad stuff
Ben Daniels character was called 'Fox' now he is called 'Wolf' ??
I thought Sabina was not very supportive of Alex, she is supposed to be his GF? Now she has someone new?
The martial arts fighting is MEH! Why break the momentum of a fight scene to explain what aikido is?? If we have been reading teen spy books like Alex Rider and Jason Steed we know already what a good fight is!
"Spoiler" Someone is not dead, but they died in the last book? Hmmm.
Good Stuff
Good story and exciting
It says at the end that the next book is called NIGHTSHADE
Bad stuff
Ben Daniels character was called 'Fox' now he is called 'Wolf' ??
I thought Sabina was not very supportive of Alex, she is supposed to be his GF? Now she has someone new?
The martial arts fighting is MEH! Why break the momentum of a fight scene to explain what aikido is?? If we have been reading teen spy books like Alex Rider and Jason Steed we know already what a good fight is!
"Spoiler" Someone is not dead, but they died in the last book? Hmmm.
Good Stuff
Good story and exciting
It says at the end that the next book is called NIGHTSHADE
December 4, 2017
This is the first Anthony Horowitz book that I have read, so the first Alex Rider book.
I always believed that Anthony was a horror writer, and didn't realise that he did YA books, nor action books.
This book is packed to the brim with adventure. Although I haven't had the chance to get to know Alex in the previous 10 books, it didn't matter as my enjoyment wasn't affected, nor did I feel out of touch with the character, though it would of been good to of understood his personal crusade better.
Anthony Horowitz has created an amazing well balanced spy, kickass character in Alex. The book is fast pace and packs a lot in.
If you're looking for something to thrill you whilst enjoying a great story, then this would be a book to choose, though it might be an idea to start at the beginning.
I always believed that Anthony was a horror writer, and didn't realise that he did YA books, nor action books.
This book is packed to the brim with adventure. Although I haven't had the chance to get to know Alex in the previous 10 books, it didn't matter as my enjoyment wasn't affected, nor did I feel out of touch with the character, though it would of been good to of understood his personal crusade better.
Anthony Horowitz has created an amazing well balanced spy, kickass character in Alex. The book is fast pace and packs a lot in.
If you're looking for something to thrill you whilst enjoying a great story, then this would be a book to choose, though it might be an idea to start at the beginning.
June 4, 2017
I was obsessed with the Alex Rider series when I was younger, Anthony Horowitz was one of the first author I ever met at a book signing event, and I had no idea a new book was being released! As soon as I heard I went out and bought it the next day and it was great to revisit an old fave. Alex is the same Alex, always scraping through ridiculous situations and still putting himself in danger to help others. Yes, I did notice how unrealistic a lot of the situations are, how stereotypical the villains are, and how sad Alex's situation is a lot more now that I did when I was 12- but I still absolutely loved this book and was happy to just let myself get swept away in an action packed adventure spanning the globe- from America, to Egypt, to France, and back to the UK. The ending definitely hinted at more Alex books, and I'm pretty stoked and will continue to go on adventures with him for as long as they're published (he was one of my very first book crushes, and I can't let that go even if he is now 10 years younger than me!)
September 17, 2019
11 books in and this series continues to grow and get better and that is something that i didn't think was possible.
Plot: Never say Die picks up after the events of the previous book, Alex is trying to recover from the events in Egypt and coping with the loss of Jack who was killed in the explosion when she tried to escape the compound. However in true Alex Rider fashion nothing is not what it seems and after Alex gets an email he believes that Jack is alive and sets out on another adventure to find her and get her back.
It was so weird seeing Alex himself actually want to put himself in danger to find his friend and person who he's only cared for. Alex is such a determined character and the character growth has been huge even in a short amount of time. However with Alex's other missions this one seems the most personal one yet and he doesn't really think a lot of the time and mask rash decisions which could have almost got him killed.
There is so much plot lines and new characters always thrown into these books and i'm always excited to see where Anthony will take Alex next because every single book there is always multiple countries it's like i've gone on these adventures myself. Also just when i think that there couldn't be anymore for Alex to do there is a new threat and a new place to visit and i hope one day that there will be one mission that will be the end of it for Alex.
Alex and Jack's reunion was one of my most favourite scenes in this book and one of my favourites of the series, these two have such a strong bond and history together that it had Alex finding her again that much sweeter. I also feel like that Jack understands what Alex does now and i hope if he ever gets called for another mission she understands and i think she will.
The last of scorpia's people are finally taken down however there is a new threat coming and i hope that they aren't as bad as scorpia but i have a feeling that Alex's journey isn't over just yet. Mrs Jones has hinted to Alex that he will pretty much have to be ready to be used by MI6 once again and put his life on the line for them.
I do have one question though, how long can Anthony keep this series going? because i would love for this series to end of a good note before it becomes just the same stuff over and over.
Plot: Never say Die picks up after the events of the previous book, Alex is trying to recover from the events in Egypt and coping with the loss of Jack who was killed in the explosion when she tried to escape the compound. However in true Alex Rider fashion nothing is not what it seems and after Alex gets an email he believes that Jack is alive and sets out on another adventure to find her and get her back.
It was so weird seeing Alex himself actually want to put himself in danger to find his friend and person who he's only cared for. Alex is such a determined character and the character growth has been huge even in a short amount of time. However with Alex's other missions this one seems the most personal one yet and he doesn't really think a lot of the time and mask rash decisions which could have almost got him killed.
There is so much plot lines and new characters always thrown into these books and i'm always excited to see where Anthony will take Alex next because every single book there is always multiple countries it's like i've gone on these adventures myself. Also just when i think that there couldn't be anymore for Alex to do there is a new threat and a new place to visit and i hope one day that there will be one mission that will be the end of it for Alex.
Alex and Jack's reunion was one of my most favourite scenes in this book and one of my favourites of the series, these two have such a strong bond and history together that it had Alex finding her again that much sweeter. I also feel like that Jack understands what Alex does now and i hope if he ever gets called for another mission she understands and i think she will.
The last of scorpia's people are finally taken down however there is a new threat coming and i hope that they aren't as bad as scorpia but i have a feeling that Alex's journey isn't over just yet. Mrs Jones has hinted to Alex that he will pretty much have to be ready to be used by MI6 once again and put his life on the line for them.
I do have one question though, how long can Anthony keep this series going? because i would love for this series to end of a good note before it becomes just the same stuff over and over.
June 17, 2017
Teenage superspy Alex Rider returns in, unbelievably, his eleventh adventure. Where does the time go ?
Horowitz has written the most fast paced Rider book so far & he piles on the action relentlessly.
There are, unsurprisingly, some nice nods to the James Bond films here. We have a stolen helicopter (Goldeneye) & a spy ship disguised as a fishing trawler (For Your Eyes Only) as well as some very big nods (which I won't spoil) to You Only Live Twice & Goldfinger. Are there too many references to 007, or is it just that having watched the films numerous times for the last 40 years makes them easier for me to spot ?
On the whole this a great read for any teenager......even a 52 year old one like myself.
Horowitz has written the most fast paced Rider book so far & he piles on the action relentlessly.
There are, unsurprisingly, some nice nods to the James Bond films here. We have a stolen helicopter (Goldeneye) & a spy ship disguised as a fishing trawler (For Your Eyes Only) as well as some very big nods (which I won't spoil) to You Only Live Twice & Goldfinger. Are there too many references to 007, or is it just that having watched the films numerous times for the last 40 years makes them easier for me to spot ?
On the whole this a great read for any teenager......even a 52 year old one like myself.
June 23, 2018
I FINALLY CAUGHT UP WITH THE SERIES.
So - I might be the only person that feels this way but - I would have preferred it if Jack was dead. That event was very scarring for Alex, and really should have made his character grow up and evolve. It was all too convenient that they needed a nanny for all the kidnaped kids - it was completely unnecessary.
I was hoping that there was a time jump - and that Alex would be a lot older, but that fell through. I feel like this book was very forced and unnecessary - although the action was much better written compared to other books in the series. I really didn’t care for this one, and it was the hardest to get through.
So - I might be the only person that feels this way but - I would have preferred it if Jack was dead. That event was very scarring for Alex, and really should have made his character grow up and evolve. It was all too convenient that they needed a nanny for all the kidnaped kids - it was completely unnecessary.
I was hoping that there was a time jump - and that Alex would be a lot older, but that fell through. I feel like this book was very forced and unnecessary - although the action was much better written compared to other books in the series. I really didn’t care for this one, and it was the hardest to get through.
January 4, 2024
This book was so nostalgic but new, loved it. Will link my review when it's on my blog. Whew!
Here's my spoiler free review!
https://becklebooks.wordpress.com/201...
Here's my spoiler free review!
https://becklebooks.wordpress.com/201...
June 24, 2017
I started reading the Alex Rider books when I was 12. I'm 25 now. The series was over but then Anthony Horowitz began writing an Alex Rider short story which ended up turning into this eleventh book.
In the last book Alex saw his guardian Jack killed in an explosion. He retired from the spy world and moved to San Francisco. This book opens with him getting an e-mail which he is convinced is from Jack. But how can she be alive and where is she? Before he knows it Alex finds himself coming up against a pair of dangerous twins and a nasty plan from which they are trying to make millions of pounds.
The action takes Alex from San Francisco to Egypt, the South of France and back home to the UK. I thought the plot really worked here. I felt the possibility that Jack was alive would be the only thing for Alex to return to the spying world and Horowitz cleverly wove a tale where the search for her led to an MI6 mission.
The villain's scheme was incredibly outlandish but all the better for it and the villains screamed out as something from a Bond film. I guess I notice these things more at 25.
It was a strong return and there's a hint that there's more to come. This book made me feel like I was 12 once again and it's nice to feel like that once in a while.
In the last book Alex saw his guardian Jack killed in an explosion. He retired from the spy world and moved to San Francisco. This book opens with him getting an e-mail which he is convinced is from Jack. But how can she be alive and where is she? Before he knows it Alex finds himself coming up against a pair of dangerous twins and a nasty plan from which they are trying to make millions of pounds.
The action takes Alex from San Francisco to Egypt, the South of France and back home to the UK. I thought the plot really worked here. I felt the possibility that Jack was alive would be the only thing for Alex to return to the spying world and Horowitz cleverly wove a tale where the search for her led to an MI6 mission.
The villain's scheme was incredibly outlandish but all the better for it and the villains screamed out as something from a Bond film. I guess I notice these things more at 25.
It was a strong return and there's a hint that there's more to come. This book made me feel like I was 12 once again and it's nice to feel like that once in a while.
April 12, 2018
A good return to the series by Mr. Horowitz.
I'd argue that this is really Alex Rider #10, since Russian Roulette features another character....
The Seasonal Reading Challenge Spring 2018 Task 25.1 - Perletwo's Task: The Ides of March are Come
Book 1 Option 1: Never Say Die is the last (most recently published) entry in the Alex Rider series.
I'd argue that this is really Alex Rider #10, since Russian Roulette features another character....
The Seasonal Reading Challenge Spring 2018 Task 25.1 - Perletwo's Task: The Ides of March are Come
Book 1 Option 1: Never Say Die is the last (most recently published) entry in the Alex Rider series.
October 6, 2017
Alex Rider is BACK! This is the perfect book to bring older readers back to this series, or to get new readers excited about it. Spy fiction at its finest.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy of this title
This middle grade (grades 5-9) series began over 15 years ago, but the allure of Alex Rider and his high-voltage and action-packed adventures has not diminished. Overall as a series, it has proven to be a winner with middle grade readers......and with me as an adult! I'm a sucker for James Bond and Jason Bourne and I get just as sucked into Alex Rider's stories as I do the adult titles.
In Alex's latest adventure, he evades death so many times I can't even count, and manages to keep me on the edge of my seat despite knowing that of COURSE he ends up okay. Because he's Alex Rider. And because Horowitz has already given us a teaser for the next installment coming in Summer 2018, which is going to be incredibly difficult to wait for! This installment really covers the entire realm of what makes spy novels so enticing ~ international travel, international intrigue, ships, helicopters, guns, bombs, car crashes, train crashes, poison.....and MORE.
I love that Horowitz has brought Alex back, and I love that I can use the buzz over this newest title to get new middle school readers hooked on the series.
This series is highly recommended for any classroom or library grades 5 and up. Do a book talk, make a display, talk up the DANGER ~ get kids hooked. Because once they start, they'll want to read all 11 of the books!
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy of this title
This middle grade (grades 5-9) series began over 15 years ago, but the allure of Alex Rider and his high-voltage and action-packed adventures has not diminished. Overall as a series, it has proven to be a winner with middle grade readers......and with me as an adult! I'm a sucker for James Bond and Jason Bourne and I get just as sucked into Alex Rider's stories as I do the adult titles.
In Alex's latest adventure, he evades death so many times I can't even count, and manages to keep me on the edge of my seat despite knowing that of COURSE he ends up okay. Because he's Alex Rider. And because Horowitz has already given us a teaser for the next installment coming in Summer 2018, which is going to be incredibly difficult to wait for! This installment really covers the entire realm of what makes spy novels so enticing ~ international travel, international intrigue, ships, helicopters, guns, bombs, car crashes, train crashes, poison.....and MORE.
I love that Horowitz has brought Alex back, and I love that I can use the buzz over this newest title to get new middle school readers hooked on the series.
This series is highly recommended for any classroom or library grades 5 and up. Do a book talk, make a display, talk up the DANGER ~ get kids hooked. Because once they start, they'll want to read all 11 of the books!
November 12, 2017
Alex Rider is now living in California, but not integrating well. He receives a partial email, which he believes was sent by his guardian, Jack Starbright, who was killed in a car explosion to break Alex's spirit in the last book. Alex heads off the Egypt, where it happened, for answers, and follows a trail to Monte Carlo, where he finds the two surviving members of Scorpia, a pair of twin Mafioso brothers, sociopathic killers. Practically bankrupt, the two have devised an ambitious plan involving a powerful Sikorsky helicopter and a daring heist, when Alex intervenes to thwart their success, finding some unexpected allies along the way.
January 8, 2024
Have you ever eaten a salad after a delicious steak? The salad may be good, but the steak just reduces its value, to a huge extent. That's what this book felt after Scorpia Rising. It was forgettable, had no proper significance and was just a campy action novel.
Having said that, my criticism is relative to Scorpia Rising and, objectively speaking, it was a fun read: fast - paced, action-packed, and, for once, not degrading any non - British country. The best part about this novel was Alex's confident side and his, subsequent, acceptance of his role as a teenage spy.
Having said that, my criticism is relative to Scorpia Rising and, objectively speaking, it was a fun read: fast - paced, action-packed, and, for once, not degrading any non - British country. The best part about this novel was Alex's confident side and his, subsequent, acceptance of his role as a teenage spy.
June 29, 2018
This book was fantastic, as all the Alex Rider and Jason Steed books are. After scorpia rising and jacks death I felt like I was left hanging so this book answered my questions. It wasn't so much a spy mission more a personal adventure. The brothers: We had one mention of them in Snakehead, I feel like they should have been better introduced
Ransom: a little clique but the heist made up for it
Sabina: Should have been more supportive, her character became a bit flaky
Alexs devotion to find Jack: felt overdone and became annoying at times. His refusal to let go was infuriating and he had no problem with Yassen's or Ash's death. Both supporting characters who helped alex to let go of his past.
Ransom: a little clique but the heist made up for it
Sabina: Should have been more supportive, her character became a bit flaky
Alexs devotion to find Jack: felt overdone and became annoying at times. His refusal to let go was infuriating and he had no problem with Yassen's or Ash's death. Both supporting characters who helped alex to let go of his past.
Read
December 16, 2020Real good and probably the best one yet in the series...
April 18, 2020
After the 9th book in the series ended and the 10th book of the series turned out to be a prequel, I never thought that Alex Rider will ride on for a new adventure but it's difficult to keep a winning horse down so as soon as I came to know about this book obviously I had to read this after all after reading 10 books already in the series it was a given that I shall be reading the next one and next one in the series too.
This book starts with a time gap of six months after the fact that the first 9 books took place in slightly over a one year gap. We find Alex in San Francisco living with Pleasures and trying to move on with life. And then suddenly Alex gets an incomplete and cryptic email of just 3 words which somehow convinces Alex that his friend and caretaker Jack Starbright didn't die but somehow is alive. And there he goes traveling around the World trying to retrace his steps and trying to find Jack alive and well.
This book works beautifully to ensure that it would be the only way where Alex would leave his new home and get into the action once again and how nicely it was done. This time Alex doesn't have help from MI6 well a little bit maybe and in the final act, nobody even knows where the bad guys and Alex are and Alex has to save himself and others with his quick wit and his training.
This was just the kind of adventure which would have been possible and it was full of action and Alex finds himself from one perilous situation to another and it was glorious fun to read. So yes do go right on ahead pick this one, of course, this goes without saying that you should try to read the earlier books in the series and then come to this book in an orderly fashion.
People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genre but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books which are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
This book starts with a time gap of six months after the fact that the first 9 books took place in slightly over a one year gap. We find Alex in San Francisco living with Pleasures and trying to move on with life. And then suddenly Alex gets an incomplete and cryptic email of just 3 words which somehow convinces Alex that his friend and caretaker Jack Starbright didn't die but somehow is alive. And there he goes traveling around the World trying to retrace his steps and trying to find Jack alive and well.
This book works beautifully to ensure that it would be the only way where Alex would leave his new home and get into the action once again and how nicely it was done. This time Alex doesn't have help from MI6 well a little bit maybe and in the final act, nobody even knows where the bad guys and Alex are and Alex has to save himself and others with his quick wit and his training.
This was just the kind of adventure which would have been possible and it was full of action and Alex finds himself from one perilous situation to another and it was glorious fun to read. So yes do go right on ahead pick this one, of course, this goes without saying that you should try to read the earlier books in the series and then come to this book in an orderly fashion.
People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genre but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books which are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
August 20, 2017
Sadly I think I have finally outgrown the Alex Rider series. What started out as a much beloved book series for me growing up has simply grown stale.
For one thing, I'm not sure why this series (that ended) was suddenly revisted for another installment. To put it bluntly, I don't feel that Never Say Die added anything to the Alex Rider series. And that's where my main problem lies with the book. It felt like more of the same, which meant I grew very bored, very quickly. Boredom led to skimming. Which led to my 2 star rating.
The positives is that it's still a great book series for a younger audience. It's well written and very well researched.
The negatives:
-As I previously mentioned, this book does not add anything new to the series, which made me seriously question its existence. This was particularly frustrating to me since I know Horowtiz is capable of doing so, as he previously demonstrated with my favorite Alex rider installment - Scorpia. That was a highlight for me because it was showing a different side of a character that felt natural and true to the progression of the over-arching plot. Never say die does none of that, it could easily be the second book in the series (instead of a staggering number 11).
-Another huge negative for me was that Alex actually doesn't have a personality. The one thought I had while reading Never Say Die was "my goodness this kid is dull". What started off as a troubled kid who was wise beyond his years has become dry and done. I wonder if it would have better to age Alex quicker within these books to give him a bit more to work with, but I'm not sure.
-The last thing I'll say is that at book 5 it's great to read about how Alex gets himself out of incredibly difficult situations. But at book 11, my belief can no longer be suspended.
I just didn't have fun reading that one. But I know this is definitely a case of "it's not you, it's me". If I were 8 years younger I may have perfectly enjoyed this book. So I'm saying farewell to Alex Rider. It was certainly fun while it lasted.
For one thing, I'm not sure why this series (that ended) was suddenly revisted for another installment. To put it bluntly, I don't feel that Never Say Die added anything to the Alex Rider series. And that's where my main problem lies with the book. It felt like more of the same, which meant I grew very bored, very quickly. Boredom led to skimming. Which led to my 2 star rating.
The positives is that it's still a great book series for a younger audience. It's well written and very well researched.
The negatives:
-As I previously mentioned, this book does not add anything new to the series, which made me seriously question its existence. This was particularly frustrating to me since I know Horowtiz is capable of doing so, as he previously demonstrated with my favorite Alex rider installment - Scorpia. That was a highlight for me because it was showing a different side of a character that felt natural and true to the progression of the over-arching plot. Never say die does none of that, it could easily be the second book in the series (instead of a staggering number 11).
-Another huge negative for me was that Alex actually doesn't have a personality. The one thought I had while reading Never Say Die was "my goodness this kid is dull". What started off as a troubled kid who was wise beyond his years has become dry and done. I wonder if it would have better to age Alex quicker within these books to give him a bit more to work with, but I'm not sure.
-The last thing I'll say is that at book 5 it's great to read about how Alex gets himself out of incredibly difficult situations. But at book 11, my belief can no longer be suspended.
I just didn't have fun reading that one. But I know this is definitely a case of "it's not you, it's me". If I were 8 years younger I may have perfectly enjoyed this book. So I'm saying farewell to Alex Rider. It was certainly fun while it lasted.
April 25, 2017
Awesome comeback! I am so excited to see where Alex goes from here! Second favorite, only because I love Scorpia so much!
June 21, 2017
Beware of flying cacti, razor roses, and a certain teen superspy...
Read my full, spoiler-free review on https://myshelf2017.wordpress.com/
Read my full, spoiler-free review on https://myshelf2017.wordpress.com/
July 6, 2017
A really great read! Can't wait for the next one.
February 20, 2022
A typical Alex Rider book that never disappoints :)
November 30, 2019
Fifteen-year-old Alex Rider is broken. The events from his last adventure as described in Scorpia Rising pushed him past the point that that he can easily recover. He had actually witnessed the death of his caregiver and best friend, Jack Starbright, when the car she was riding in was blown up. She was an innocent bystander in Alex’s spy activities with MI-6 and he feels responsible for her death. That was a real blow for me as a reader, as well. So now when Alex receives a cryptic e-mail saying simply, “ALEXX…I’M AL” he feels certain it is from her and that she is alive. How and where is a mystery worth pursuing.
This was one of my favorite books in the series. There is no way that Jack Starbright can actually be alive, but Alex has learned long ago to trust his instincts. He embarks on his own adventure this time, taking him to London, to France, and back to Egypt, fueled by hope and getting caught up in one dangerous situation after another. SCORPIA is gone now, thanks largely to Alex’s previous efforts, but there are still some remnants scattered here and there. This time it’s a psychopathic pair of identical twins called the Grimaldi brothers. Alex’s mission to find Jack alive intersects with the twin’s dastardly plot to kidnap a bunch of school children of the super-rich for ransom.
I really like how the author balances the over-the-top Bond-style spy stuff with genuine emotion and everyday challenges of being a fifteen year old boy. As usual, Alex uses his clever ingenuity to get out of scrapes, one after another but his self confidence has now grown enough to allow him to show some real leadership. The plot in this book really sucked me in and was a thoroughly satisfying read.
While the story is wrapped up nicely in this novel, the last few paragraphs serve to set up the following book. As long as these books keep coming out, I’ll be reading them.
This was one of my favorite books in the series. There is no way that Jack Starbright can actually be alive, but Alex has learned long ago to trust his instincts. He embarks on his own adventure this time, taking him to London, to France, and back to Egypt, fueled by hope and getting caught up in one dangerous situation after another. SCORPIA is gone now, thanks largely to Alex’s previous efforts, but there are still some remnants scattered here and there. This time it’s a psychopathic pair of identical twins called the Grimaldi brothers. Alex’s mission to find Jack alive intersects with the twin’s dastardly plot to kidnap a bunch of school children of the super-rich for ransom.
I really like how the author balances the over-the-top Bond-style spy stuff with genuine emotion and everyday challenges of being a fifteen year old boy. As usual, Alex uses his clever ingenuity to get out of scrapes, one after another but his self confidence has now grown enough to allow him to show some real leadership. The plot in this book really sucked me in and was a thoroughly satisfying read.
While the story is wrapped up nicely in this novel, the last few paragraphs serve to set up the following book. As long as these books keep coming out, I’ll be reading them.
September 21, 2018
Never Say Die
When people think about undercover spies and secret agents, they usually imagine how cool it is for them to go on classified missions and save the world. Unfortunately, for Alex Rider, being recruited by the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) at a young age was not so cool.
Alex Rider is a phenomenal, action-packed series written by Anthony Horowitz that leave readers holding their breath waiting for the next twist and turn. Never Say Die is the eleventh book in the series that picks up after the tragic and heartbreaking events of Scorpia Rising. Alex had moved to live in San Francisco with his girlfriend, Sabina Pleasure, and foster family to hopefully begin a more normal life and recover from his time being held captive in Egypt, tortured, and forced to witness the terrifying murder of his caregiver and best friend, Jack Starbright, at the hands of sadistic terrorists who worked for the Scorpia organization. He goes to school and tries his best to fit with the rest of the kids, but with his traumatic experiences and past he still feels empty and lonely. Then, one day out of the blue, he receives a cryptic and truncated email from an unknown person that says, “ALEXX I’M AL”. Just those three words gave him the sliver of hope that maybe Jack was still alive, and his determination to find her and learn the truth set him off on another dangerous journey into the world of spies and criminals.
Authors often kickoff their stories by writing about the main character. However, Anthony Horowitz did not begin by writing about Alex, but rather an event that happened on the other side of the planet that would come deeply affect the story later on. The way he started the book was wonderful especially first few lines, “Fifty thousand people had come to the Suffolk Air Show on the east coast of England. But only one of them was there to commit murder”. The hook had dragged me into the story craving to know what happens next. It’s been a long time since I last read an Alex Rider novel and just reading the first couple of chapters makes me realize how much I miss Alex’s narrative. I love reading his thoughts and his incredible ideas when trying to get himself out of a sticky situation. Once he had this plan to scare and get past the professional gangster, Frankie Stallone, who was in the way of his escape. The gangster thought that he had killed Alex, but then Alex appeared in front of him looking the way he did before he almost died. The killer thought he was seeing the ghost of the boy he had killed and was completely paralyzed with terror. This gave Alex the chance to defeat Stallone who was a trained killer. His quick thinking and actions always amazes me. A motif of the story was quest. It wasn’t just the physical traveling but also how Alex’s personality seems to repeatedly take him on more adventures to help others. Each time he knows others are in danger, he is willing to go rescue them even if it means that he will also have put his life on the line.
Despite all the thrilling and exciting events that take place in the novel, it’s not the most realistic. After all Alex is still a teen, only fifteen years old. It’s hard to imagine someone who is merely a year older than me being able to walking out alive after the mountain of challenges and struggles thrown at him. Even in the story there was a security guard who was suspicious of Alex and did not believe in his abilities. At first, the man felt that he should be the one in charge since he was an adult, and Alex was just a kid. But soon enough he learned to trust Alex and listen to his plans. Every time Alex manages to save the people around him and escape death, it seems like some sort of a huge miracle. There was a scene where he was outnumbered four to one by armed men and how he got out of it was unbelievable and simply brilliant. Even though something like this would probably be impossible for a fifteen year old to pull off in real life, it is still very enjoyable to read.
Never Say Die is an impressive novel that pulls the readers in for a spectacular roller coaster ride. The book incorporates a bit of humor even in the most serious and dangerous circumstances that never fail to make me crack a smile every time. When I finished reading Scorpia Rising, I felt kind of sad because I thought it was going to be the end to the series so I kept myself busy with reading Russian Roulette and made myself not think so much of Alex. But now that I have read Never Say Die, I can’t wait for the next book, Secret Weapon. I hope it comes out soon, because I’m very excited to know what mission Alex will take on next.
When people think about undercover spies and secret agents, they usually imagine how cool it is for them to go on classified missions and save the world. Unfortunately, for Alex Rider, being recruited by the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) at a young age was not so cool.
Alex Rider is a phenomenal, action-packed series written by Anthony Horowitz that leave readers holding their breath waiting for the next twist and turn. Never Say Die is the eleventh book in the series that picks up after the tragic and heartbreaking events of Scorpia Rising. Alex had moved to live in San Francisco with his girlfriend, Sabina Pleasure, and foster family to hopefully begin a more normal life and recover from his time being held captive in Egypt, tortured, and forced to witness the terrifying murder of his caregiver and best friend, Jack Starbright, at the hands of sadistic terrorists who worked for the Scorpia organization. He goes to school and tries his best to fit with the rest of the kids, but with his traumatic experiences and past he still feels empty and lonely. Then, one day out of the blue, he receives a cryptic and truncated email from an unknown person that says, “ALEXX I’M AL”. Just those three words gave him the sliver of hope that maybe Jack was still alive, and his determination to find her and learn the truth set him off on another dangerous journey into the world of spies and criminals.
Authors often kickoff their stories by writing about the main character. However, Anthony Horowitz did not begin by writing about Alex, but rather an event that happened on the other side of the planet that would come deeply affect the story later on. The way he started the book was wonderful especially first few lines, “Fifty thousand people had come to the Suffolk Air Show on the east coast of England. But only one of them was there to commit murder”. The hook had dragged me into the story craving to know what happens next. It’s been a long time since I last read an Alex Rider novel and just reading the first couple of chapters makes me realize how much I miss Alex’s narrative. I love reading his thoughts and his incredible ideas when trying to get himself out of a sticky situation. Once he had this plan to scare and get past the professional gangster, Frankie Stallone, who was in the way of his escape. The gangster thought that he had killed Alex, but then Alex appeared in front of him looking the way he did before he almost died. The killer thought he was seeing the ghost of the boy he had killed and was completely paralyzed with terror. This gave Alex the chance to defeat Stallone who was a trained killer. His quick thinking and actions always amazes me. A motif of the story was quest. It wasn’t just the physical traveling but also how Alex’s personality seems to repeatedly take him on more adventures to help others. Each time he knows others are in danger, he is willing to go rescue them even if it means that he will also have put his life on the line.
Despite all the thrilling and exciting events that take place in the novel, it’s not the most realistic. After all Alex is still a teen, only fifteen years old. It’s hard to imagine someone who is merely a year older than me being able to walking out alive after the mountain of challenges and struggles thrown at him. Even in the story there was a security guard who was suspicious of Alex and did not believe in his abilities. At first, the man felt that he should be the one in charge since he was an adult, and Alex was just a kid. But soon enough he learned to trust Alex and listen to his plans. Every time Alex manages to save the people around him and escape death, it seems like some sort of a huge miracle. There was a scene where he was outnumbered four to one by armed men and how he got out of it was unbelievable and simply brilliant. Even though something like this would probably be impossible for a fifteen year old to pull off in real life, it is still very enjoyable to read.
Never Say Die is an impressive novel that pulls the readers in for a spectacular roller coaster ride. The book incorporates a bit of humor even in the most serious and dangerous circumstances that never fail to make me crack a smile every time. When I finished reading Scorpia Rising, I felt kind of sad because I thought it was going to be the end to the series so I kept myself busy with reading Russian Roulette and made myself not think so much of Alex. But now that I have read Never Say Die, I can’t wait for the next book, Secret Weapon. I hope it comes out soon, because I’m very excited to know what mission Alex will take on next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2023
Never Say Die is the 11th (!!) book in the Alex Rider series, and oh boy does this stuff just keep going... and going... and going. But it's a fun ride!
Overall, this is not a bad book. It's a perfectly fine installment in the series, just not as good as some of the previous books.
In this one we follow Alex as he gets a clue that one of his friends who he previously thought was dead may still be alive, and despite orders from the MI6 to go home and let them deal with it, he goes to investigate, taking him to places like Egypt, the south of France, and Wales.
The biggest problem with this book is that the plot doesn't feel like something new. The idea of taking kids and using them against their parents is something we've seen before in this universe. Sure, it hasn't been done exactly like this, but it just didn't feel fresh in the way I wanted. I can't deny that the book felt more like Anthony Horowitz was out to make some more money of Alex, as opposed to him having some brilliant new idea that he just had to write down. But I'm not necessarily against that, the author needs to make money too, and it's still a fun book overall, so it's a win-win situation.
The plot also feels a little bit too convenient in places. Books like these will always have to be "convenient", to not make it completely impossible that a 14/15 year old boy would beat an endless stream of super villains, but I think this one was pushing it a bit too much.
I liked how the book was very emotional, and dealt with Alex's PTSD in a way we haven't really seen before, so in that way the book felt more mature than some of its predecessors. I still would have liked to see it delve even deeper into Alex's state of mind, but what we got was good and probably as much as I can expect from what at the end of the day is a middle-grade book.
Another thing I appreciated was that this book wasn't as offensive in places as a lot of the older books were. Alex goes back to Egypt in this one, and he's not incredibly rude about how ugly it is! I don't think he necessarily enjoys his stay there in this book either, but the way it's described feels less like a judgment of the entire country, and more like a realistic portrayal of the good and bad Alex would experience there. The only thing I would point out is that the female characters are very much defined by their looks. The good women are pretty and the female villains are really ugly. It's very much a man writing women, and it's a shame because they have so much potential. I also don't think the female characters are as in character as they could be, Mrs. Jones especially seems out of character. I think it was necessary to continue the story, but it could have been done in a more convincing way.
In less than a month Alex Rider season 2 starts airing (with Toby Stephens as the villain!!!!! which is very exciting to me, I love Toby Stephens), and hopefully I will have finished Nightshade by then and be completely caught up with the series.
Overall, this is not a bad book. It's a perfectly fine installment in the series, just not as good as some of the previous books.
In this one we follow Alex as he gets a clue that one of his friends who he previously thought was dead may still be alive, and despite orders from the MI6 to go home and let them deal with it, he goes to investigate, taking him to places like Egypt, the south of France, and Wales.
The biggest problem with this book is that the plot doesn't feel like something new. The idea of taking kids and using them against their parents is something we've seen before in this universe. Sure, it hasn't been done exactly like this, but it just didn't feel fresh in the way I wanted. I can't deny that the book felt more like Anthony Horowitz was out to make some more money of Alex, as opposed to him having some brilliant new idea that he just had to write down. But I'm not necessarily against that, the author needs to make money too, and it's still a fun book overall, so it's a win-win situation.
The plot also feels a little bit too convenient in places. Books like these will always have to be "convenient", to not make it completely impossible that a 14/15 year old boy would beat an endless stream of super villains, but I think this one was pushing it a bit too much.
I liked how the book was very emotional, and dealt with Alex's PTSD in a way we haven't really seen before, so in that way the book felt more mature than some of its predecessors. I still would have liked to see it delve even deeper into Alex's state of mind, but what we got was good and probably as much as I can expect from what at the end of the day is a middle-grade book.
Another thing I appreciated was that this book wasn't as offensive in places as a lot of the older books were. Alex goes back to Egypt in this one, and he's not incredibly rude about how ugly it is! I don't think he necessarily enjoys his stay there in this book either, but the way it's described feels less like a judgment of the entire country, and more like a realistic portrayal of the good and bad Alex would experience there. The only thing I would point out is that the female characters are very much defined by their looks. The good women are pretty and the female villains are really ugly. It's very much a man writing women, and it's a shame because they have so much potential. I also don't think the female characters are as in character as they could be, Mrs. Jones especially seems out of character. I think it was necessary to continue the story, but it could have been done in a more convincing way.
In less than a month Alex Rider season 2 starts airing (with Toby Stephens as the villain!!!!! which is very exciting to me, I love Toby Stephens), and hopefully I will have finished Nightshade by then and be completely caught up with the series.
June 11, 2017
Alex Rider was a huge part of my teens, and I've absolutely devoured all of Anthony Horowitz' novels since. The teen equivalent of James Bond was always innovative, action-packed and with a crackin' underlying storyline and character developments and that hasn't changed. Baddie organisation Scorpia may have finally been dismantled thanks to Alex' missions in the previous books, but there are still plenty of evil people to defeat, especially those with a grudge against Alex, with an entirely new group of villains introduced in Never Say Die.
The novel wasn't flawless though. I'm not sure if this was written more rushed, dumbed down to introduce new readers to the world of Alex Rider, or if I've become more perceptive over the years but some of the writing was unnecessarily repetitive and distracting, for example the constant mentions of "your uncle, Ian Rider", after the first or second time "Ian Rider" or "Ian" would've sufficed, we know who he is by now!
Despite some of the language being repetitive and simplistic, it was great to be back in the world of Alex, MI6, and the other characters we've come to know and love for so many years. There were foreign locations, evil villains, explosions and tons of other action; just bring back more gadgets in the next one please, Anthony!
The novel wasn't flawless though. I'm not sure if this was written more rushed, dumbed down to introduce new readers to the world of Alex Rider, or if I've become more perceptive over the years but some of the writing was unnecessarily repetitive and distracting, for example the constant mentions of "your uncle, Ian Rider", after the first or second time "Ian Rider" or "Ian" would've sufficed, we know who he is by now!
Despite some of the language being repetitive and simplistic, it was great to be back in the world of Alex, MI6, and the other characters we've come to know and love for so many years. There were foreign locations, evil villains, explosions and tons of other action; just bring back more gadgets in the next one please, Anthony!
September 18, 2025
Another absolutely incredible book in the Alex Rider series. I've enjoyed reading this so much, especially since I've just re-read the whole series again and all of the events are fresh in my mind.
One of the reasons I love Alex Rider so much is because of Alex's desire to help people. He wants a normal life, but at the same time it's quite clearly seen in the earlier books when Alex gets recruited by MI6 that he can't NOT help. If he has the opportunity to stop something bad from happening, he'll do whatever he can.
If you've read up to Scorpia Rising, you'll know that Alex went through a lot of terrible stuff and isn't the same kid as he was at the beginning. But in this book, his character and development are still portrayed really well according to everything he's been through.
I'll probably add some spoiler-stuff to this review later, but for now I'm going to leave it at that.
I'm so glad this book was written.
One of the reasons I love Alex Rider so much is because of Alex's desire to help people. He wants a normal life, but at the same time it's quite clearly seen in the earlier books when Alex gets recruited by MI6 that he can't NOT help. If he has the opportunity to stop something bad from happening, he'll do whatever he can.
If you've read up to Scorpia Rising, you'll know that Alex went through a lot of terrible stuff and isn't the same kid as he was at the beginning. But in this book, his character and development are still portrayed really well according to everything he's been through.
I'll probably add some spoiler-stuff to this review later, but for now I'm going to leave it at that.
I'm so glad this book was written.
July 18, 2017
Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, a new Alex Rider book! For me, finding out about this book was both exciting and heartbreaking. I'm so happy to get to read more about Alex but the poor boy has already been through so much that you know in this book he isn't going to be okay.
I loved that you do see the effects of what's happened in the past on Alex in this book. It's good though painful to see him struggling as it goes to show that being a spy, at such a young age at that, isn't all fun and games. It can and will mess you up.
The plot itself was really interesting but the villains were a little bland compared to some of the past baddies. The final chapter gives you a preview into the mission for the next book though and boy does that look good. I'm really hoping for something special for the next book.
I'm giving this one 4 stars as I did love it but the villains and Ben being ret-conned just let it down a little. But I definitely still recommend picking this series up.
I loved that you do see the effects of what's happened in the past on Alex in this book. It's good though painful to see him struggling as it goes to show that being a spy, at such a young age at that, isn't all fun and games. It can and will mess you up.
The plot itself was really interesting but the villains were a little bland compared to some of the past baddies. The final chapter gives you a preview into the mission for the next book though and boy does that look good. I'm really hoping for something special for the next book.
I'm giving this one 4 stars as I did love it but the villains and Ben being ret-conned just let it down a little. But I definitely still recommend picking this series up.
March 26, 2020
(Audiobook review - narrator Rupert Degas).
Nice addition to the Alex Rider series. So glad the author decided to continue with Alex's story, and from the way this one ended, there'll be a twelfth book coming too.
There's no way to do a decent review and not have spoilers, so I won't even bother. The narrator did a great job of bringing the story to life. Too bad it's so difficult to buy audio books here in the States from Bolinda. I was luck enough to find a vendor which had a stock of the CDs and would ship to the US.
My only 'ding' to the story is the fact that Ben Daniels is referred to as Wolf - he wasn't Wolf, he was Fox. Really wish authors would get the facts of their own stories correct. But other than that, it was a fun 'read'. Am really looking forward to the next book.
Nice addition to the Alex Rider series. So glad the author decided to continue with Alex's story, and from the way this one ended, there'll be a twelfth book coming too.
There's no way to do a decent review and not have spoilers, so I won't even bother. The narrator did a great job of bringing the story to life. Too bad it's so difficult to buy audio books here in the States from Bolinda. I was luck enough to find a vendor which had a stock of the CDs and would ship to the US.
My only 'ding' to the story is the fact that Ben Daniels is referred to as Wolf - he wasn't Wolf, he was Fox. Really wish authors would get the facts of their own stories correct. But other than that, it was a fun 'read'. Am really looking forward to the next book.
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