Out of this world - Rated 
Having not really liked the Alex Rider series much execept for the first book, I was weary about this installment. But I decided to buy it - and thank goodness I did. I have never read a better Anthony Horowitz book, or such an action packed book.
It tells of forteen year old Alex Rider who, having discovered the disturbing truth about his father, is on a school trip to Italy when things take their turn. He knows a little about Scorpia but he sees the symbol on a boat and follows it. Later that evening he sees the passenger on the boat going to a party. He disgises himself and finds himself coming face to face with a live tiger!
Full of twists and turns this is a roller coaster that everyone can enjoy!
A GOOD BOOK BUT NOT AS REALISTIC AS THE CHERUB SERIES - Rated
I have enjoyed all the books in the alex rider series and i like this book very much. I find the humor fuuny and unlike some of the sences in some of the cherub books it is sutiabal for all ages. My main critisisum of the Alex Rider series is that he does things that are unrealisic of a 15 year old kid with a BMX. Overall a good series but if above the age of 12 i would strongly recommend the cherub books instead as i find they are much more realisic.
My Boys Devoured this Book - Rated 
Which is a good thing Right? I have 2 boys, 9 and 11, and they loved this Alex Rider book (and all the others in the series). I havn't read it so I can't tell you what it's about! But it must have been a page turner as it was finished by both of them in days.
Brilliant ending but same old characterisation and narrative problems - Rated
Characterisation has not improved and the same narrative issues remain in this installment of the Alex Rider series. For example, this time Horowitz introduces the character of Tom Harris, who we're told is a friend of Alex's, even though he has not appeared or even been mentioned in any of the previous books. It reinforces my feeling that Horowitz did not have a clear view of his canon when he started writing the series, and creates an artificiality that marrs the books.
Saying that, Horowitz uses Scorpia to continue the story arc introduced in Eagle Strike to more effect. The Scorpia organisation is an interesting one and has a structure that is credible. Mrs Rothman as the 'Project Manager' for Invisible Sword is by turns manipulative and cunning. I was particularly impressed with the way in which she manipulates Alex's need to know more about his father and the use of film footage does allow for a certain amount of doubt in the reader's mind as to what Alex will do.
The central point about whether Alex is prepared to deliberately kill someone in cold blood is less well handled, mainly because we know that he's already killed people in the past (and not had any look at how he feels about it), which makes his current dilemma feel a little forced. There is tension to be had when he finally breaks into Mrs Jones' apartment, but the shock that you feel when he fires the gun is nullified when you discover that she was protected all the time and then Horowitz deliberately lessens that effect later when he says that Alex wouldn't have hit her anyway. In part, I think this is a problem of Horowitz's own making. On the one hand, he can't have a teenager who is also a cold-blooded killer because the parents won't like it (and from a screenplay perspective, it would not be sellable). On the other hand, it's difficult to have a credible teenage spy who refuses to kill.
Where Horowitz does redeem himself is with the shock ending, which I won't give away. I was genuinely impressed that he had the guts to do it and whilst you could argue that it's cynical in the context of the series, it does serve to tie in with what we know of the Scorpia organisation and as such is satisfying.
Scorpia - Rated
This is where the series gets interesting. Breaking away from the MI6 needing help theme, this book is the darkest in the series. We see Alex go it alone and discover secrets concerning his father's past. I would reccomend reading the previous four books in the series first, as you need the backstory to completely understand what happens in Scorpia. This book is a great, action-packed thriller. Reccomended to any fans of young-spy books.
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