Starred review from January 6, 2014
Horowitz’s final novel in the popular Alex Rider series relates the story of Rider’s sworn enemy, Yassen Gregorovich. It was Yassen who killed Alex’s uncle Ian Rider and launched the 14-year-old’s career as a super spy—and this installment examines Yassen’s life and the choices he made along the way to becoming a contract killer. Narrator Prebble offers an absolutely gripping performance in this audio edition. His delivery is hard not to love: wise, commanding, and endlessly entertaining. Additionally, Prebble’s pacing is flawless; the narrator understands how to increase tension through slight shifts in tone and never fails to do so at the right moment. The result is an unforgettable conclusion to an entertaining story that fans will love. Ages 12-up. A Philomel hardcover.
January 1, 2014
The life story of Yassen Gregorovich, teen spy Alex Rider's archenemy, humanizes the assassin as it details his courage through the (sometimes unbelievable) hardships leading to his murderous career. Alex appears only in the frame story, but series fans will welcome the flipped perspective. This page-turner can stand alone and will likely make any new readers curious about the main series.
(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)