Stormbreaker

I had a few issues with this book. The main character is just so boring. He's like a walking, talking cardboard cut-out with no emotions. Like an android.

And the plot. He's stuck in a tunnell with water, how does he get through? Oh look, it just so happens his Uncle left a suit. He's stuck in a tank of water? Oh look, magical cream that gets him out. He's looking for a way to take down a plane? Oh, just so happens he left a Nintendo Cartridge that blows up. Seriously? This whole thing was all too convenient. It's like Rider had no challenge at all, the whole thing was just laid out on a plate for him to follow. The kid never makes a mistake! Also, the explanations for when, how things happen. The plane blowing up, for example. It's only mentioned Rider places the Explosive Nintendo Cartridge a couple of minutes after he placed it. It's like the author suddely though, “Crap, I need a way to blow this plane up” a few minutes after Rider had already left the plane, so he adds a little sentence about playing an explosive thing in there. Pretty damn convenient. Like everything else that happens in this story.

Saying all of the above though, I can imagine kids liking it. Spies, explosions, violence, all fun for kids. Just not so fun for adults, who can't stand the bad plot.

Originally posted on bluchickenninja.com.

For the last three months I have been taking part in the Monster Goddess Book Club run by The Bookie Monsters and The Book Goddess. This months pick was a favourite book from your childhood. Originally I was going to read Holes by Louis Sachar because I loved that book but ended up changing to Stormbreaker after finding out (thanks to Tasha!) that the series had continued after what I had thought was the last book.

It was actually a little strange going back to this because I loved it so much as a kid. Like I literally read this book to death. When everyone else was getting all annoyed over Dumbledore dying at the end of Half Blood Prince I was more worried about the fact that Alex Rider had possibly been killed off at the end of one of the later books. True story.

And now, my opinion on Stormbreaker now that I'm all grown up. I'm very surprised to say I enjoyed it. It holds up to rereading as an adult. Admittedly it does feel a little bit childish, the plot isn't the greatest and at the end the baddie inexplicably turns up to save the day. But it could be worse. It's basically a kids version of James Bond. In fact it would be a very good way to introduce a kid to James Bond. I liked it. It wasn't good but it was still decent enough for me to want to continue the series.

This book required the sort of willing suspension of disbelief that I do not naturally possess. While an interesting premise, and not badly executed, the plot really left something to be desired in terms of believable details. There is a great deal of standard trope here, with pretty much the entire plot forecast from the beginning. It's perfectly readable though, and I can understand why it would be so popular among its target audience.