Publisher's Weekly Review
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. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
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. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
The final Alex Rider title is a companion to the first (Stormbreaker, 2001), focusing on Scorpia assassin Yassen Gregorovich. Prior to his mission targeting Alex, Yassen reminisces about his life: the anthrax deaths of his parents; his journey to Moscow where he falls in with pickpockets; and his kidnapping by Vladimir Sharkovsky, a wealthy businessman responsible for the death of Yassen's parents. When Sharkovsky is gunned down, Yassen convinces the assassin to rescue him, leading Gregorovich to the Scorpia organization and eventually special training with double-agent John Rider, Alex's father. As many can attest, Horowitz is a master of the YA spy thriller. He creates intriguing characters that readers care about, places them in exotic locales, forces them into perilous circumstances (for example, John Rider in the Amazon removing a target and a black widow spider with one bullet), and doles out relevant clues at a steady pace, ensuring that the suspense never flags. Although some may miss the clever gadgets used in the earlier novels, this makes a satisfying conclusion to a terrific series. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: A national Alex Rider Villain Tour, dedicated website, and app ought to build further interest on top of the already existing demand. Rider should ride out on top.--Weisman, Kay Copyright 2010 Booklist
