Alex is living in San Francisco with Sabina Pleasure and her parents. He is trying hard to live this new life until he receives an email that he is sure was sent by Jack. No one believes him because everyone, including Alex, thought she had been killed in Egypt, but he is determined, so when the Pleasure's are away, Alex takes off for Egypt. What he doesn't realize is that his search for Jack will lead him into a new adventure that may be more dangerous than any he has already encountered.

Never Say Die basically restarts the Alex Rider series after the events in Scorpia Rising. Once again, Alex is on his own, when he stumbles on another devious plot arranged by villains formerly associated with Scorpia. The search for Jack leads Alex to several countries, so the story includes the description of exotic locales around the world. The toll that the previous year has taken on Alex is clear as he is unable to make friends in San Francisco because he knows he will always be lying to them. Also, Mrs. Jones indicates that Alex has become addicted to the danger and will probably never be able to live a normal life. Overall, Never Say Die is a good soft reboot to the Alex Rider series. ( )

Alex Rider is now living in California, but not integrating well. He receives a partial email, which he believes was sent by his guardian, Jack Starbright, who was killed in a car explosion to break Alex's spirit in the last book. Alex heads off the Egypt, where it happened, for answers, and follows a trail to Monte Carlo, where he finds the two surviving members of Scorpia, a pair of twin Mafioso brothers, sociopathic killers. Practically bankrupt, the two have devised an ambitious plan involving a powerful Sikorsky helicopter and a daring heist, when Alex intervenes to thwart their success, finding some unexpected allies along the way. ( )

This is the eleventh book in the Alex Rider series starts out slow. The spy aspect creates action and the pace picks up as he bounces all over the world looking for his friend Jack. At times, Alex’s actions seem too old for the character and his recovery time too fast. Overall, it is a fun easy to read book for young adults.

I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway. Although encouraged, I was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. ( )

OMG I am so excited! There is going to be an 11th book?!?! YESSSSSSS!! And the Alex Rider series continues...

It has been a few years since I've read an Alex Rider novel, so I was wondering how I would go with this latest novel in the series. I loved it! At the start I was questioning whether I had made the right decision to pick up another Alex Rider book, but once Alex returned to Egypt the pace was relentless and the action nail-biting. The evil Grimaldi twins were at their villainous best and Alex, once again, risked his own life to save the world (or in this case 52 children with wealthy parents).

Despite the plot being totally far-fetched and unrealistic, I loved that Anthony Horowitz could still capture the reader's imagination with his clever writing, and I thoroughly enjoyed being back in Alex's world. It was fun and entertaining, and the fact that the ending more than hinted that another book was in the pipeline, made the read even more exciting. ( )