Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

Series: Skulduggery Pleasant, Book One

Publisher: HarperCollins

Format: Paperback

Published: 31^st March 2007

Number of Pages: 398

Book: Bought

Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy, Comedy, Urban Fantasy, Thriller, Suspense, Horror, Action-Adventure, Mystery, Children's, YA, Children's-YA Crossover

Recommended Age: 9+

Contains: Violence, Death, Mild Swearing

No Alcohol, Drug References

Author's Blog: Derek Landy Blogs Under Duress

Skulduggery Pleasant Site: Skulduggery Pleasant

WARNING: THIS WILL BE ONE BIG FANGIRLY REVIEW.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Meet Skulduggery Pleasant: detective, magician, warrior. 

Oh yes, and dead.

                                                                   Review:

Reading Skulduggery Pleasant takes me back to when I was like ten and reading this series for the first time.  I was instantly hooked.  This book is exciting, hilarious, fresh and funny.  It's magic.  Pure magic.  In the way Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, The Mortal Instruments and Vampire Academy are magic.  And I know it's too young for me and it probably ought to be a guilty pleasure, but I just can't feel guilty about loving this amazing series.  It's just too freaking good!  It's awesome with a side of awesome with sprinkles and awesomesauce and chocolate on top.  And no.  I’m not exaggerating.  Read and find out – or at least read the rest of my review.  You'll get it.  

I hope...

 “A crazy laugh escaped [Stephanie’s] lips when she reflected on how much her life had changed in the space of a day.  She had gone from being a perfectly ordinary girl in a perfectly ordinary world to become a target for water-soluble weirdos and a partner for a skeleton detective out to solve her uncle's murder...”

Stephanie Edgley's uncle Gordon died suddenly.  At his funeral, she meets Skulduggery Pleasant.  He's completely mysterious, a detective and former friend Gordon's.

Oh yes, and dead.  

He's a living (in the loosest meaning of the word) skeleton.  And when Skulduggery busts a door in and starts throwing fireballs at an intruder, Stephanie's whole world crumbles around her.

Magic exists and it's everywhere.

And now she's involved with one of Skulduggery's cases: her uncle was murdered and a bad sorcerer is behind it.  Said sorcerer is also after a very powerful, very dangerous and all-too real 'mythical' item – one that could change the world as we know it.  

But don't worry.  Skulduggery Pleasant is on the case.  He might be dead, but he's the best detective out there.  Plus, he's joined by kickass swordswoman Tanith Low and sorcerer-slash-tailor Ghastly Bespoke.

Not that Stephanie herself is helpless.  She has a new name, a new goal, and a whole new world to explore.

Well, you know, unless it's destroyed first or something...

Skulduggery Pleasant has been one of my favourite series since I first read it.  So when I found myself a few books behind, I saw the perfect excuse to read the whole series all over again.  Oh, the hardship!   But I forgot just how much I adored this series.  Cause I love it.  It's funny, it's magic, it's exciting, it's action-packed, it's amazing, it's fun, it's awesome.  I can't get enough.  Derek Landy is my hero, Skulduggery my master-slash-comedian-slash-teacher and Stephanie my friend.  Yep, that good!  I just love it too much.  

And I love all the characters.  They are brilliantly bizarre and brilliant.  Plus, they all just have the coolest names in the history of ever. 

Now, Skulduggery Pleasant has got to be one of my favourite characters ever.  He's definitely my favourite skeleton.  He’s totally brilliant and just a little weird.  I love that.  And, my God, I want his mind.  He's amazing.  And hilarious.  I love him to pieces.

Stephanie, I love.  She's so determined and funny and weird.  Her wit?  Legendary.  And she's very relatable – haven't we all felt like we don't belong, like there's more out there?  I know I have.   And a little secret...  I wish I was Stephanie.  Not just for her wit, though that helps... But she's just really strong and brave and funny, has the coolest taken name and the most awesome friends...  I'm jealous of a fictional twelve-year old...  Something is wrong with me...

Anyway, I love Stephanie and Skulduggery's relationship too – it’s so funny.  Their witty repartee, their snarky, hilarious banter…  It just kills me and I love them so much – so, so much!

Oh, and the other characters are awesome.  Especially Tanith: I love her - she's so badass.  I love Ghastly too.  Serpine... scary as hell.  Shudder…

But I loved that our heroine was Stephanie.  She didn't start off as a badass magic ninja like the others.  People saw her as helpless.  But she wasn't.  Why?  Because she was smart and strong and brave and good.  She's a good role model, really: even those who seem powerless have hidden strengths and can overcome anything if they're just smart and stubborn enough.

I'm reading too deep, aren't I?  Sorry...  

I love Landy's writing.  So witty and funny and fresh.  And just so completely hooking.  I literally love every single second of his writing.  I love how he has me gnawing at my fingernails while also making me laugh my head off.  Skill, that is.  Legendary, awesome, kickass skill.  And my God, the plot was just too brilliant!  It's so fun and addictive!  So full of action and suspense and laughter.  Ergo, I just loved it.  It’s awesome.

And damn, I love this world!  It’s so freaking cool: I love love love it.  So much that I just wanna move there like right now!  I wanna be a sorcerer.  I wanna be Skulduggery’s sidekick.  Sigh.  I love all the mythology, all the lore.  How Landy’s taken old myths and made them awesome and new and sparkly.  He just breathed life into the whole paranormal genre.  It’s awesome.

Skulduggery Pleasant isn’t just a book that dazzles the targeted nine-plus audience.  It dazzles me, and I am not-so-much nine.  And I was just as much wrapped up and dazzled by it on what I’m pretty sure is my third or fourth reading.  That’s the sign of an awesome, legendary, new-classic book: you never get tired of it.  Never.  I could read this whole series in a single sitting and still not have enough.  Hell, if I was only allowed one series on my desert island, Skulduggery would be right at the top.  It has everything you can want - action, adventure, magic, excitement, suspense and non-stop laughter.  This is a must read for all kids - be they young, old, reluctant or book-addicted.  Even if they're not so much a kid anymore.  This series...  Well.  It's enough to get anyone hooked to reading!   I'm addicted again and I just can't get enough.

Star Rating:
5 Out of 5

Read this book if you liked:

Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

A Special Team Skulduggery Pleasant Edit!

                                                   

Happy Reading

Megan