<description>&lt;p&gt;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.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What you’ll hear:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;How the plot kicks off post-Egypt and why Alex goes rogue to follow a single clue.&lt;br /&gt;Why the “Jack is alive” reveal felt forced compared to the darker mid-series tone.&lt;br /&gt;The pivotal switch: when Alex stops following orders and starts leading.&lt;br /&gt;The core lesson: people follow what you do, not what you say.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Chapters&lt;br /&gt;(00:00) – Welcome &amp;amp; series context&lt;br /&gt;(01:18) – Setup: Jack presumed dead, mysterious email, post-Egypt timeline&lt;br /&gt;(02:19) – Solo hunt: Egypt → Cromwell brothers → bigger operation revealed&lt;br /&gt;(03:20) – Verdict: not as strong as the darker mid-series books&lt;br /&gt;(04:16) – The Jack twist: why it doesn’t land&lt;br /&gt;(05:21) – Throwback energy: action, travel, excitement&lt;br /&gt;(06:05) – Adults feel clumsy; impact drops&lt;br /&gt;(06:45) – Real stakes: not gold — kidnapped kids; Alex steps up&lt;br /&gt;(07:27) – “Shoot me out”: the ejector plan &amp;amp; leadership in motion&lt;br /&gt;(08:20) – Leadership by doing, not telling&lt;br /&gt;(09:39) – Older, more capable Alex (with restraint)&lt;br /&gt;(10:17) – Final thoughts &amp;amp; recommendation&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you’re new to Alex Rider: read earlier books first; this one assumes you know the history.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Connect with Mere Mortals:&lt;br /&gt;Website: &lt;a href="https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/" target="_blank"&gt;https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Discord: &lt;a href="https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU" target="_blank"&gt;https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Twitter/X: &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/meremortalspods" target="_blank"&gt;https://twitter.com/meremortalspods&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Instagram: &lt;a href="https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/" target="_blank"&gt;https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;TikTok: &lt;a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast" target="_blank"&gt;https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Connect with Mere Mortals:&lt;br /&gt;Website: &lt;a href="https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/" target="_blank"&gt;https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Discord: &lt;a href="https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU" target="_blank"&gt;https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Twitter/X: &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/meremortalspods" target="_blank"&gt;https://twitter.com/meremortalspods&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Instagram: &lt;a href="https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/" target="_blank"&gt;https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;TikTok: &lt;a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts" target="_blank"&gt;https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Value 4 Value Support:&lt;br /&gt;Boostagram: &lt;a href="https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support" target="_blank"&gt;https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Paypal: &lt;a href="https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast" target="_blank"&gt;https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Mere Mortals Book Reviews

Kyrin Down & Juan Granados

Action-Packed Throwback with a Soft Spot | Book Review Never Say Die

NOV 4, 202511 MIN
Mere Mortals Book Reviews

Action-Packed Throwback with a Soft Spot | Book Review Never Say Die

NOV 4, 202511 MIN

Description

<p>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.<br /><br />What you’ll hear:<br /><br />How the plot kicks off post-Egypt and why Alex goes rogue to follow a single clue.<br />Why the “Jack is alive” reveal felt forced compared to the darker mid-series tone.<br />The pivotal switch: when Alex stops following orders and starts leading.<br />The core lesson: people follow what you do, not what you say.<br /><br />Chapters<br />(00:00) – Welcome &amp; series context<br />(01:18) – Setup: Jack presumed dead, mysterious email, post-Egypt timeline<br />(02:19) – Solo hunt: Egypt → Cromwell brothers → bigger operation revealed<br />(03:20) – Verdict: not as strong as the darker mid-series books<br />(04:16) – The Jack twist: why it doesn’t land<br />(05:21) – Throwback energy: action, travel, excitement<br />(06:05) – Adults feel clumsy; impact drops<br />(06:45) – Real stakes: not gold — kidnapped kids; Alex steps up<br />(07:27) – “Shoot me out”: the ejector plan &amp; leadership in motion<br />(08:20) – Leadership by doing, not telling<br />(09:39) – Older, more capable Alex (with restraint)<br />(10:17) – Final thoughts &amp; recommendation<br /><br />If you’re new to Alex Rider: read earlier books first; this one assumes you know the history.<br /><br />Connect with Mere Mortals:<br />Website: <a href="https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/" target="_blank">https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/</a><br />Discord: <a href="https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU" target="_blank">https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU</a><br />Twitter/X: <a href="https://twitter.com/meremortalspods" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/meremortalspods</a><br />Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/</a><br />TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast" target="_blank">https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast</a></p> <p><br /><br />Connect with Mere Mortals:<br />Website: <a href="https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/" target="_blank">https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/</a><br />Discord: <a href="https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU" target="_blank">https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU</a><br />Twitter/X: <a href="https://twitter.com/meremortalspods" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/meremortalspods</a><br />Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/</a><br />TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts" target="_blank">https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts</a><br /><br />Value 4 Value Support:<br />Boostagram: <a href="https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support" target="_blank">https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support</a><br />Paypal: <a href="https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast" target="_blank">https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast</a></p>