Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy (review by Andrew R. '17)

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

“Ace detective, snappy dresser, razor-tongued wit, crackerjack sorcerer, and walking, talking, fire-throwing skeleton.” That’s how author Derek Landy describes Skulduggery Pleasant, who, in this first book of an ongoing series, must track down and stop his old nemesis Nefarian Serpine from acquiring a staff of unimaginable power. Fortunately, a young girl named Stephanie Edgley is eager to join the chase – and once she sees the world of sorcery and wonder – never wants to leave. While action and humor are scattered liberally throughout its pages, I found that this novel provides instant gratification, rather than the long-lasting satisfaction I tend to prefer. The characters are consistent but forgettable; the plot is engaging but not particularly unique. Fans of Artemis Fowl and The Bartimaeus Trilogy will enjoy reading Skulduggery Pleasant for pleasure, but should not expect a thought-provoking or memorable experience. – Andrew R. ‘17

View all my reviews

Kingdom of the Wicked by Derek Landy (review by Cynthia H. '16)

Kingdom of the Wicked by Derek Landy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After defeating the Death Bringer, seventeen-year old magician-detective Valkyrie Cain and her wisecracking, fire-throwing skeleton partner Skulduggery Pleasant are back for the seventh installment of Landry’s series. Here, they track down a magical extremist who calls himself Argeddion while dealing with a group of vicious, arrogant teenagers who have just come into their powers. Valkryie and Skulduggery must also face their old enemies Darquesse and Lord Vile, who pose a threat that cannot be ignored. Reading the other books in the Skulduggery Pleasant series before starting Kingdom of the Wicked is highly recommended, since readers’ understanding of the plot relies heavily on knowledge of past events. Although the multiple plotlines and abundance of main characters can be confusing at times, the witty dialogue and writing style, intriguing characters, action-packed fight scenes, suspenseful plot twists, and a cliffhanger ending make Kingdom of the Wicked well worth a read (or two, or three). – Cynthia H. ‘16

View all my reviews