In Scorpia by Anthony Horowitz, Alex Rider has to make some of the hardest choices in his life, and he starts to question everything he thought he knew about loyalty, trust, and who he really is. After realizing MI6 might have been using him all along, Alex starts wondering if he’s been on the wrong side, and if the truth about his dad is with the people he always thought were his enemies, a group of terrorists called Scorpia. One part that really stood out is when Alex realizes how much they’ve taken from him:
“They had lied to him, used him, and stolen his childhood. And now they expected him to keep working for them, as if none of it mattered.” (p. XX)
This part shows a lot about Alex’s struggle. He’s a teenager who’s had to grow up way too fast, doing dangerous things most adults couldn’t do, and still doing them better than everyone. He’s giving up a normal life for missions he never asked for. I thought this moment was really powerful because it shows Alex isn’t just a spy—he’s also a kid who’s been betrayed and used, and now he’s trying to figure out who he really is.
What I liked about Scorpia is how Horowitz mixes action with bigger questions about loyalty and identity. It’s exciting but also makes you think. For me, it’s not my favorite book in the series, but it’s probably the most intense and deep one.