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naomicorbet's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
kiri23's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
elliepardoe's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
bayfleming's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
elza102's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
issianne's review against another edition
4.0
Alrighttttttt, Horowitz is finally giving us action thriller. I thought I liked the last one the most, but I think this one tied or is just a little above. Alex can no longer trust MI6 to tell him the truth and joins the enemy, who have illuminating information on Alex's dad and his life before he died. Alex is becoming a little secret agent in this, and I enjoyed it. There was a bit more espionage and turning the script in this installment. I enjoyed the plot twists and am interested to see where we go from here.
I'm just asking once again for Horowitz to stop writing characters of color whose characterization is solely based on their race and stereotypes attributed to it. For example, a black person with vitiligo is still black--an autoimmune disease doesn't change that. (Don't get me started on the trend of making the bad guys have a disability.) And while the villain is the one who states this, there's no rebuttal. There's no inner monologue from Alex, no questioning. It's a harmful stereotype that erases culture and, in this story in particular, for NO reason.
I'm just asking once again for Horowitz to stop writing characters of color whose characterization is solely based on their race and stereotypes attributed to it. For example, a black person with vitiligo is still black--an autoimmune disease doesn't change that. (Don't get me started on the trend of making the bad guys have a disability.) And while the villain is the one who states this, there's no rebuttal. There's no inner monologue from Alex, no questioning. It's a harmful stereotype that erases culture and, in this story in particular, for NO reason.
english_lady03's review against another edition
4.0
Actually enjoying this series, even though its for teenagers.
theglossreview's review against another edition
5.0
It’s madness how good this is! I knew that the Alex Rider books hit their stride between the fourth and seventh volume, and now I think that Scorpia was that turning point. This is where the writing became masterful, the formula was perfected and the most amazing backstory is introduced.
This is the first re-read after many years and I’m shocked that I’ve forgotten how the story went down. I always thought that Alex went to Scorpia undercover, but now I read that he went there voluntarily, as himself, with real intentions of joining them?! Of course, this is attributable to the shock of what happened in the Widow’s Palace and the revelations of Julia Rothman. However, this shock and confusion is not described, Alex seems to feel no emotions in that part of the story. I can’t imagine what he’s going through and I’m worried about him. It would really be impossible to take: Scarred from the last adventure that happened in August, Alex now spends his September disappearing into Scorpia for a couple of weeks, has a few near-deadly stunts in London, manages to stop by school for 5 days and then he has the very worst visit to the department, ever. Mr Blunt and Mrs Jones have no mercy, and apparently, barely any will to live, judging by their insistence on keeping the truth from Alex (until crushing him with it all of a sudden) and not worrying about the possible consequences. I feel so bad for Alex!
The strangest things about this novel are
a) temporary lapses of judgement and emotion by Alex and Mrs Jones.
b) negative health-related descriptions that have not aged well.
c) Jack’s near-complete absence and Tom’s attitude towards the spy reveal and work, which is almost criminally chill and misses the point completely.
Overall, Scorpia deserves a 5 star rating for the explosive plot, charming villain, mind-blowing ending, and above all, the most intriguing, twisted and emotional backstory of all series I have ever read.
This is the first re-read after many years and I’m shocked that I’ve forgotten how the story went down. I always thought that Alex went to Scorpia undercover, but now I read that he went there voluntarily, as himself, with real intentions of joining them?! Of course, this is attributable to the shock of what happened in the Widow’s Palace and the revelations of Julia Rothman. However, this shock and confusion is not described, Alex seems to feel no emotions in that part of the story. I can’t imagine what he’s going through and I’m worried about him. It would really be impossible to take: Scarred from the last adventure that happened in August, Alex now spends his September disappearing into Scorpia for a couple of weeks, has a few near-deadly stunts in London, manages to stop by school for 5 days and then he has the very worst visit to the department, ever. Mr Blunt and Mrs Jones have no mercy, and apparently, barely any will to live, judging by their insistence on keeping the truth from Alex (until crushing him with it all of a sudden) and not worrying about the possible consequences. I feel so bad for Alex!
The strangest things about this novel are
a) temporary lapses of judgement and emotion by Alex and Mrs Jones.
b) negative health-related descriptions that have not aged well.
c) Jack’s near-complete absence and Tom’s attitude towards the spy reveal and work, which is almost criminally chill and misses the point completely.
Overall, Scorpia deserves a 5 star rating for the explosive plot, charming villain, mind-blowing ending, and above all, the most intriguing, twisted and emotional backstory of all series I have ever read.