It's like a sea urchin Right To Your...

I totally dug the first Young Bond adventure. I'm always on the lookout for good adventure books where kids have to actually apply knowledge (ok, well, that sounds boring, but you know what I mean). Alex Rider has to rely on his cleverness just as much as his ability to snowboard down a mountain on an ironing board.

I was geeked when I heard about the Fleming's approval of this series. How could it not be a hit? Furthermore, I was hoping that since they are setting it when James is still a teenager it would avoid the misogynous overtones that make the movies rather unwatchable by me (I mean, seriously? The dude technically never ages, and they're on the 20-something movie. Not that much time has passed. I'd like to see just one of the women he ends up with in the end to carry over to the beginning of the next film. Then if you have to kill them, well, at least it wasn't just a wham, bam thing. And don't give me any lines about the intended incorrigible nature of the character. At this point he's lacking depth. 20 odd movies and lacking depth. Totally unbelievable. Ticks me off. Rant over. ) Thus far we seem to be successful. Kind of. He still meet a lovely girl in the first book that gained no mention in this one. I also somehow doubt that I'll see the two from this one ever again. At least he isn't sleeping with all of them like he does as an adult. You know what? I think that while I knew I didn't much care for the adult version, I don't think I realized the extent of the issues I have with his man-slut behavior. I am such a moralist. *Sigh* Sex & the City doesn't make it all better. The sheer inequality! *Deeper sigh* I guess the rant wasn't really over. Sorry (oh, God, please don't let me start wearing only black & white with those horrible blocky white shoulder apron/collars. Really, I don't want to be a Puritan...).

Young Bond's second adventure, Blood Fever starts with the murder and kidnapping of the family of one of his cohorts. Soon James finds himself conveniently placed to help his friend out and uncover an international ring of robberies. You know what? I liked Silverfin more. It seemed more original to me. I kept getting elements of this one mixed up with one of the Alex Rider books. Don't get me wrong, I have no qualms recommending it, this installment just lacked the sparkle of the first (and I'm not just referring to the cover). Maybe it's just that Blood Fever lacked any of the quirky, SF, truly scary villains that Silverfin excelled at. It's pretty violent (and we were expecting...). Boys 12+ you know who to give this to.