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A review by chroniclesofcosy
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy, Derek Landy
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
“Skulduggery Pleasant” is the perfect blend of snark, magic, and mayhem. Derek Landy introduces us to Skulduggery, a sharp-tongued, fire-throwing skeleton detective with a penchant for drama and impeccable style, who partners with Stephanie Edgley, a sarcastic and brave twelve-year-old thrust into a dark and dangerous magical world. Together, they unravel the mystery of Stephanie’s uncle’s death while battling ancient evils, sinister sorcerers, and plenty of dry humour along the way.
The banter is the true star here—think Agatha Christie meets Tim Burton, with a dash of Marvel-style wit. Skulduggery’s one-liners (“Doors are for people with no imagination”) and Stephanie’s sharp comebacks make their dynamic an absolute joy to follow. Honestly, I kept forgetting Stephanie was only twelve—her confidence, maturity, and quick wit made me picture her as sixteen or seventeen throughout the book.
Alongside the dynamic duo, there’s an array of interesting side characters like Tanith Low, Ghastly Bespoke, and China Sorrows, who add depth to the story. I’m hoping we get to see further development of these characters as the series progresses—they’re intriguing enough to hint at their own fascinating backstories.
Although I never read this series as a kid, there’s something delightfully nostalgic about the quirky humour and fast-paced adventure that makes it feel like revisiting an old favourite. Thanks to @harpercollinsnz for sending me a copy of this book—I’m so glad I finally had the chance to dive in!
I also have to mention the stunning new cover art from the series refresh. The updated look perfectly captures the dark, magical, and sharp-edged tone of the book, and I absolutely love it.
Here are a few tropes that stood out to me:
🔥 Snarky Mentor
🕵️♂️ Amateur Sleuths
⚔️ Badass Sidekick
📚 Hidden Magical World
💀 Undead Hero
🌌 Chosen One
I really enjoyed this and can’t wait to dive into the rest of the series. Fans of fantasy with a side of mystery (and a big serving of sarcasm) will be hooked from page one. Skulduggery Pleasant is a strong start to a series that promises to deliver wit, thrills, and plenty of skeleton shenanigans.
The banter is the true star here—think Agatha Christie meets Tim Burton, with a dash of Marvel-style wit. Skulduggery’s one-liners (“Doors are for people with no imagination”) and Stephanie’s sharp comebacks make their dynamic an absolute joy to follow. Honestly, I kept forgetting Stephanie was only twelve—her confidence, maturity, and quick wit made me picture her as sixteen or seventeen throughout the book.
Alongside the dynamic duo, there’s an array of interesting side characters like Tanith Low, Ghastly Bespoke, and China Sorrows, who add depth to the story. I’m hoping we get to see further development of these characters as the series progresses—they’re intriguing enough to hint at their own fascinating backstories.
Although I never read this series as a kid, there’s something delightfully nostalgic about the quirky humour and fast-paced adventure that makes it feel like revisiting an old favourite. Thanks to @harpercollinsnz for sending me a copy of this book—I’m so glad I finally had the chance to dive in!
I also have to mention the stunning new cover art from the series refresh. The updated look perfectly captures the dark, magical, and sharp-edged tone of the book, and I absolutely love it.
Here are a few tropes that stood out to me:
🔥 Snarky Mentor
🕵️♂️ Amateur Sleuths
⚔️ Badass Sidekick
📚 Hidden Magical World
💀 Undead Hero
🌌 Chosen One
I really enjoyed this and can’t wait to dive into the rest of the series. Fans of fantasy with a side of mystery (and a big serving of sarcasm) will be hooked from page one. Skulduggery Pleasant is a strong start to a series that promises to deliver wit, thrills, and plenty of skeleton shenanigans.