March 1, 2008
Gr 5-9-If Alex Rider attended a school for bad guys, he'd end up at the Higher Institute of Villainous Education. In this follow-up to "H.I.V.E.: Higher Institute of Villainous Education" (S & S, 2007), the action doesn't stop for a moment. The story begins with Otto Malpense falling through the sky at a speed "beyond acceptable parameters." It then flashes back two weeks to an assassination attempt on the life of Dr. Nero, headmaster of H.I.V.E., and the adrenaline keeps pumping from there. The mysterious Cypher is plotting some move against Dr. Nero that begins with the murder of Otto's friend Wing and continues with the mobilization of an army of assassins that is both unbelievably fast and nearly indestructible. Everything is connected somehow to the Overlord Protocol, an AI that went rogue and was then destroyed soon after it was booted up 15 years earlier. Now Otto and his friends, along with Dr. Nero and his staff, must work to counter Cypher and his ninjas. Plot twists and startling revelations continue to the very end. The conclusion suggests that a sequel is inevitable. Just-over-the-horizon technology gives this thriller a bit of a science-fiction flavor, and it's sure to appeal to readers interested in novels that combine action and intrigue."Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids, WI"
Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
July 1, 2008
The series starts to develop more depth as Otto and friends are thrust into a decades-old feud among the world's supervillains. Hypnotism and giant ninja battle-robots add satisfying peril. Despite some aggravating reliance on racial stereotypes (e.g., a Chinese martial artist described as "inscrutable"), this gadget-laden adventure is an enjoyable romp.
(Copyright 2008 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)