fraserfray 's review for:

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

5.0

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It's hard to explain the impact that Skulduggery Pleasant had on me when I first read it. Up until now, a lot of young adult fiction that I'd read had taken itself very seriously. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but the irreverance displayed by Landy's prose was and is refreshing. The characters are immediately likeable while still displaying clear, real character flaws. The world building is also supremely engaging without feeling like you're being constantly info-dumped. You can immediately get a handle on how this world works and where the characters fit into it.
Skulduggery Pleasant had a formative effect on my taste in literature, and it will forever hold a special place in my heart.