In this Mere Mortals book review, I dive into Secret Weapon, the 12th entry in the Alex Rider series, but not a traditional one. Instead of a full-scale mission, Horowitz delivers seven short, fast-paced stories set early in Alex’s spy career. It’s action-packed, easy to consume, and offers small bursts of worldbuilding without fundamentally shifting the universe.

(00:00) - Welcome & Book Intro
(01:17) - What Makes Secret Weapon Different
(02:39) - Horowitz’s Intentions Behind The Stories
(02:53) - High-Paced Nature of the Book
(05:27) - Will I Re-read It? Probably Not
(05:55) - Worldbuilding at the Margins
(07:16) - Overall Enjoyment & Final Take

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A raw, no-fluff review of The Two Towers — the darker, tighter middle act of LOTR. I cover the split structure, why Book III feels punchier (Helm’s Deep, Ents), why Book IV slows to a crawl before the Shelob crescendo, and how pain trains the will through Frodo’s burden and Sam’s rise. I read this over a couple of months and felt the weight, the world-building, and the payoff.

Spoilers ahead: Gandalf’s return, the march to war, Frodo/Sam/Gollum through the marshes, and that spider. If you value integrity, patience and quiet courage, this one hits deep.

If you’ve read it, tell me your favourite moment (Helm’s Deep or Shelob?). If you haven’t: persevere — the last hundred pages cook.

Chapters
00:00 – Intro & why this book now
00:26 – Edition & context (movies vs book)
00:56 – Darker tone; two storylines
01:23 – Reading over 2–3 months; dense lore
02:34 – Detail overload: when it works/doesn’t
04:35 – Book split: company/Helm’s Deep vs Frodo/Sam
05:56 – Helm’s Deep: thrill + I wanted more
06:29 – Frodo/Sam/Gollum: the slow march
07:35 – The drag before the payoff
08:16 – “Shelob’s Lair”: can’t-put-down stretch
09:40 – Sam takes the Ring; cliffhanger
10:00 – “Pain is a teacher” & Frodo’s burden
11:44 – Sam’s unsung heroism
12:40 – Who should read; how to read it
13:37 – Verdict: “savage, beautiful middle movement”

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Alex Rider returns in Never Say Die — a fast, zany, throwback instalment that swaps grit for velocity. I break down what works (pace, scale, that classic Rider ingenuity), what doesn’t (the Jack twist), and the one big philosophy that matters: leadership is action, not announcement.

What you’ll hear:

How the plot kicks off post-Egypt and why Alex goes rogue to follow a single clue.
Why the “Jack is alive” reveal felt forced compared to the darker mid-series tone.
The pivotal switch: when Alex stops following orders and starts leading.
The core lesson: people follow what you do, not what you say.

Chapters
(00:00) – Welcome & series context
(01:18) – Setup: Jack presumed dead, mysterious email, post-Egypt timeline
(02:19) – Solo hunt: Egypt → Cromwell brothers → bigger operation revealed
(03:20) – Verdict: not as strong as the darker mid-series books
(04:16) – The Jack twist: why it doesn’t land
(05:21) – Throwback energy: action, travel, excitement
(06:05) – Adults feel clumsy; impact drops
(06:45) – Real stakes: not gold — kidnapped kids; Alex steps up
(07:27) – “Shoot me out”: the ejector plan & leadership in motion
(08:20) – Leadership by doing, not telling
(09:39) – Older, more capable Alex (with restraint)
(10:17) – Final thoughts & recommendation

If you’re new to Alex Rider: read earlier books first; this one assumes you know the history.

Connect with Mere Mortals:
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