Alex Rider stops being bulletproof. In Scorpia Rising, Anthony Horowitz cashes in every IOU the series has dodged: real stakes, identity games, and a gut-punch that actually lands. Today I break down why this is the first truly adult entry in the YA spy saga and what it teaches about cost, courage, and growing up without permission.

00:00 Cold Open — “The end begins here”
00:38 Why Scorpia Rising Matters
02:02 Spoiler-Safe Synopsis
04:05 What Horowitz Does Differently
06:11 Villains That Bite: Razim
08:03 Identity Warfare: Julius Grief
10:02 The Cost of Winning
12:09 Major Spoiler: The Blow That Lands
14:05 Who Should / Shouldn’t Read
15:18 Best Lines & Takeaways
16:40 Final Rating + Next Read
17:35 CTA

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