Entire series is very well received by teens, luckily I got to read first, title has disappeared!

FROM AMAZON: Alex Rider's life changed forever with the silent pull of a trigger. When Ian Rider died at the hands of the assassin Yassen Gregorovich, Alex, ready or not, was thrust into the world of international espionage - the world's only teenage spy. Alex vowed revenge against Yassen and the two have battled ever since. Yet, years ago, it was none other than Alex's own father who trained and mentored Yassen, turning him into the killer he would eventually become. What makes us choose evil? Why did one boy choose to kill while another chose to risk his life to save others? In some ways, Alex Rider and Yassen Gregorovich are mirror images of each other. Yet the paths they traveled turned them into mortal enemies. This is Yassen's story. ( )

Enjoyable. The tragic backstory of the villain. We learn of his relationship with John Rider (Alex's father). Alex Rider only comes in at the end. ( )

The 10th Alex Rider novel, I think not. This book is about the Russian, Yassen Gregorovich, and how he became Scorpio's most successful assassin, including having his life saved by John Rider, Alex's father. A good backstory, behind Yassen's decision to spare Alex's life at the end of the last novel. ( )

Very interesting to hear Yassan's story, which has become a story in its own right. It helps to show some of the shades of grey that exist in this world ( )

Not the best book in the series, but a very good look at the bigger picture surrounding the Alex Rider story. I truly enjoyed the parallels between Alex and Yassen in this book ( )