Six years ago when I finished the last pages of Scorpia Rising, I remember feeling satisfied with the ending to an epic series, but also sad to see some of my favorite YA characters sign off for good. So when I happened to spot Never Say Die on the shelves of my local bookstore, I grabbed it with a gasp. Alex Rider was back! I raced home and plowed through Anthony Horowitz’s latest, so excited to find out what happened next to the youngest spy in MI6.
Alex is grieving the death of his caregiver and friend Jack Starbright when he receives a mysterious email that Alex believes has to have come from her. He embarks on a journey to find out anything he can about what exactly happened to Jack. Is he being manipulated again by MI6? Or has a villain from the past resurfaced to take revenge? Only Alex Rider can stop what’s coming before it’s too late. Because the fate of hundreds of lives hangs in the balance — including his own.
Horowitz is back at the top of his game with thrilling chases, huge action set pieces, and crazy revelations. I would say Horowitz is always best when he’s racing through the action, and a little weak when it comes to characters. At the beginning of the book, Alex is really processing the death of Jack, and that felt surprisingly real, along with the hope that she might be alive. Throughout the novel, we’re kept guessing whether Alex is being manipulated or whether Jack is actually alive, and Alex’s emotions trail through that journey well.
One interesting thing to note here is that the typical plot formula of an Alex Rider novel is broken with Never Say Die. Usually there is an ending stinger where the main villains return after the plot has been foiled. But this time, that does not happen. No spoilers, but it was definitely a top-notch end to an insane ride. Also, fans should rejoice, because this doesn’t sound like the end of Alex’s adventures in espionage!
If you haven’t read an Alex Rider book, what are you doing with your life? Pick up Stormbreaker and see what the hype is about. And if you’ve been a fan all along, definitely dive into this latest installment in one of Horowitz’s best series to date.