"When his best friend Tom is abducted, Alex Rider is given an ultimatum by Nightshade--a sinister cult of assassins with a score to settle. But what twisted evil are they planning, and how is it connected to a revolutionary new gaming system? With no idea who to trust, Alex finds himself dragged into a nightmare world--where nothing is real but the game could kill you. The clock is ticking and Nightshade is out for revenge ... "-- Publisher's website.