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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
I LOVED LOVED this so much. This may be one of the best middle school books ever. I loved Skulduggery and especially Stephanie. A heroine who is control of her self, her future, and her destiny.
This book is an absolutely amazing work of fiction, modern, easy to read yet inspiring. I have read it three times and loved it each time. It introduced me to a whole community and lead to me finally realising what books I liked.
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Skulduggery Pleasant / Derek Landy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~ There's no such thing as winning or losing. There is won and there is lost; there is victory and defeat. There are absolutes. Everything in between is still left to fight for… ~
It’s been years since I read this, I read it when it first came out, and unfortunately never continued. By chance being on a loose end on Borrowbox and seeing it available made me go down memory lane, and I’m delighted I did.
I had forgotten almost everything about this novel, not an iota. And I loved it, it was very funny, and had a solid plotline that ran throughout that carried the story. It was action packed without being overzealous, although after the 200th near death experience you do start thinking “really?”
It was the characters and the banter between them that made this though. Skulduggery the literal skeleton and Stephanie the literal twelve-year-old. I loved it when he told her she was very annoying. All the secondary characters like Steph’s family all make sense in how clueless and horrible they can be. Her da is literally me. The magic aspect was well done, you weren’t just suddenly thrown into it. The villains were well crafted also.
But all being said, this is a children’s book, and Landy doesn’t disrespect his readership, he draws you in and doesn’t make it too silly.
I will continue this, just waiting on availability on Borrowbox, but the nostalgia hit and having not read any further, I’m looking forward to the adventures these two unlikely heroes will get up to.
Audiobook Length: 7hrs, 7mins
Narrator: Rupert Degas
🎧 Listened to on @borrowbox 🎧
- Read: 11/01/25 - 14/01/25
- Release Date: 01/04/2007
A young girl, with hidden talents, is drawn into a battle between good and evil. The fate of all Mankind hangs in the balance. Blah, blah, we have read books like this before...
What makes this book so good is Skulduggery Pleasant, a walking, talking skeleton who works as a detective for the good side. The wit and charm of Skulduggery, along with rip-roaring action sequences, sets this book apart from the usual fantasy fare.
Skulduggery's job and the obvious unresolved elements, leave the door open for several sequels. There are two more Skulduggery books available at this point.
What makes this book so good is Skulduggery Pleasant, a walking, talking skeleton who works as a detective for the good side. The wit and charm of Skulduggery, along with rip-roaring action sequences, sets this book apart from the usual fantasy fare.
Skulduggery's job and the obvious unresolved elements, leave the door open for several sequels. There are two more Skulduggery books available at this point.
Yet another random book to go for - I feel like this just sums up most of the books I read though, so how random can it be?
Anyway, this series has always been one I've been aware of, but have never felt compelled to read. Mostly because of the book covers (because yes, I totally judge books by their covers). They looked like pirate books and really gruesome and dark (like Goosebumps) and I just was not interested. I am still not sure why I decided to give it a whirl, but I did, and I really enjoyed it, and it was absolutely nothing like I was expecting.
Contrary to my beliefs that this book would be about pirates, it was in fact about Stephanie, a 12 year old girl, whose uncle is dead, and she, along with skeleton detective, Skulduggery Pleasant, are trying to get to the root of his death and to uncover the secrets of the Sceptre of the Ancients. It's a fun read and I clearly was interested enough in the plot since I read it all within the space of about 12 hours (including going to sleep at 2am, rip me). I do think the characters could have done with some fleshing out, but I feel like that will come with the sequels, of which there are many! I'm not the hugest fan of the protagonist, Stephanie, but I think she's the kind of character who develops over time and grows on you, but absolutely loved Skulduggery and can't wait to see more of their adventures.
4 stars!
Anyway, this series has always been one I've been aware of, but have never felt compelled to read. Mostly because of the book covers (because yes, I totally judge books by their covers). They looked like pirate books and really gruesome and dark (like Goosebumps) and I just was not interested. I am still not sure why I decided to give it a whirl, but I did, and I really enjoyed it, and it was absolutely nothing like I was expecting.
Contrary to my beliefs that this book would be about pirates, it was in fact about Stephanie, a 12 year old girl, whose uncle is dead, and she, along with skeleton detective, Skulduggery Pleasant, are trying to get to the root of his death and to uncover the secrets of the Sceptre of the Ancients. It's a fun read and I clearly was interested enough in the plot since I read it all within the space of about 12 hours (including going to sleep at 2am, rip me). I do think the characters could have done with some fleshing out, but I feel like that will come with the sequels, of which there are many! I'm not the hugest fan of the protagonist, Stephanie, but I think she's the kind of character who develops over time and grows on you, but absolutely loved Skulduggery and can't wait to see more of their adventures.
4 stars!
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
[Update: September 9 to September 19, 2016]
This was just as much fun the second time around! The narration is stellar and I so wish Degas had read the entire series. Probably my second favorite series after Harry Potter which is pretty much as high as praise gets for me!
Read from June 28 to July 29, 2013
Reading this book was an amazing experience! [a:Derek Landy|165168|Derek Landy|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1521215464p2/165168.jpg]'s writing is witty and fun and seriously funny. With the added bonus in the audio version of [a:Rupert Degas|1149240|Rupert Degas|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]' low, sarcastic voice I had a great time listening and, yes, laughing out loud causing lots of staring in my direction. The dialogue between Skulduggery and Stephanie is my absolute favorite; their dynamic of adult/child and partner/partner (in fighting crime) causes dramatic tension that had me rolling on the floor laughing.
"Stephanie: What is it?
Skulduggery: That, my dear Valkyrie, is what we call a monster.
Stephanie: You don't know what it is, do you?
Skulduggery: I just told you; it's a monster. Now shut up before it comes over here and eats us!"
This book will go over famously with kids (and adults!) who enjoyed the Harry Potter books as it has a similar (though a bit more funny) feel to it. I loved this book and will definitely be listening to the second. If you've never tried an audiobook before, this is the one to start with!
This was just as much fun the second time around! The narration is stellar and I so wish Degas had read the entire series. Probably my second favorite series after Harry Potter which is pretty much as high as praise gets for me!
Read from June 28 to July 29, 2013
Reading this book was an amazing experience! [a:Derek Landy|165168|Derek Landy|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1521215464p2/165168.jpg]'s writing is witty and fun and seriously funny. With the added bonus in the audio version of [a:Rupert Degas|1149240|Rupert Degas|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]' low, sarcastic voice I had a great time listening and, yes, laughing out loud causing lots of staring in my direction. The dialogue between Skulduggery and Stephanie is my absolute favorite; their dynamic of adult/child and partner/partner (in fighting crime) causes dramatic tension that had me rolling on the floor laughing.
"Stephanie: What is it?
Skulduggery: That, my dear Valkyrie, is what we call a monster.
Stephanie: You don't know what it is, do you?
Skulduggery: I just told you; it's a monster. Now shut up before it comes over here and eats us!"
This book will go over famously with kids (and adults!) who enjoyed the Harry Potter books as it has a similar (though a bit more funny) feel to it. I loved this book and will definitely be listening to the second. If you've never tried an audiobook before, this is the one to start with!
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
i'm finally sitting down and rereading this series for the first time in at least ten years, back when i was waiting to borrow these at my primary school. I later found a bookseller at a market who gave me 6 books from the series for dirt cheap, and i meant to reread the series but it was right as i ran out of time and patience for reading. Now, so much time has passed and the shit still slaps.
I can tell where i got my humour from so tangibly with this series, as well as my interest in scifi, fantasy, magic/powers and creative uses of them. Reading this made me feel like I was back in my younger self, thinking Skulduggery was so cool bc I wanted to be a detective, and wishing my life was like Valkyrie's.
I was gonna write something about how crazy it is that she's twelve but yknow what, i'll suspend my disbelief for the sake of nostalgia, bc as a smol child, twelve year olds were the big kids
I can tell where i got my humour from so tangibly with this series, as well as my interest in scifi, fantasy, magic/powers and creative uses of them. Reading this made me feel like I was back in my younger self, thinking Skulduggery was so cool bc I wanted to be a detective, and wishing my life was like Valkyrie's.
I was gonna write something about how crazy it is that she's twelve but yknow what, i'll suspend my disbelief for the sake of nostalgia, bc as a smol child, twelve year olds were the big kids
It was a good time. I had a good time. It held up to my memory - a bit simple as it's the fuest book, but engaging and fun to read.