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Skulduggery Pleasant: Death Bringer by Derek Landy
The Blurb On The Back:
”My power is practically limitless,” Melcholia said softly. “I’d describe the sensation to you but words would not be sufficient. To understand what it’s like to be a god, you’d really have to be a god. Like me …”
The Death Bringer has risen.
Faced with a possible cataclysm that could change the world, Skulduggery and Valkyrie have seven days to uncover the Necromancers’ secret before it’s too late.
The clock is ticking.
Lord Vile is loose.
And after this one, nothing will ever be the same again.
Several months have passed since the events in MORTAL COIL. Valkyrie’s dating both the vampire Caelan and teleporter Fletcher and remains frightened of her potential to unleash Darquesse. When the Necromancers announce that they have already found their Death Bringer and it’s the snotty Melancholia St Clair, she thinks that things might turn out okay afterall. Then she discovers that the Death Bringer will kill everyone in the world. Now she and Skulduggery have 7 days to work out whether and how Melancholia has become the Death Bringer and stop her from destroying the world.
The 6th in Derek Landy’s bestselling dark fantasy series is another dark and dangerous story filled with action, tragedy and adventure.
Valkyrie has become a stranger in her normal life, relying more and more on her reflection who increasingly seems to have her own agenda. The scenes between Valkyrie and her baby sister are touching precisely because they force her to confront what she’s lost by embracing the magical world. Her two timing of the sweet Fletcher reflects this and I enjoyed how Landy uses her relationship with the stalkerish Caelan to satirise teen paranormal romance.
The investigation of the Death Bringer slightly meandered for me and while there’s a lot of action, at times I found the fight scenes to be repetitive. There is a nice insight into the Necromancers and their agenda and the scheming Solomon Wreath is always interesting – notably his battles with Cleric Craven – and China Sorrows finds her past rapidly catching up with her when Eliza Scorn, an old friend from her Diablerie days turns up with some incriminating information and a desire to regain past glories. Landy also introduces a new sub-plot via new character Kenny Dunne, a reporter who’s alerted to the world of magic and who begins to take a close personal interest in Valkyrie.
My big issue with the story though was with the twist towards the end, which was too much of a stretch for me when you consider the previous books in the series, although I’m hopeful that it will pay off in the next book.
Landy retains his wicked sense of humour, and I was particularly pleased that he brought his useless zombie duo back as they provide some much-needed light relief from all the darkness. The cliff hanger ending will ensure that I buy the next book.
The Verdict:
The 6th in Derek Landy’s bestselling MG dark fantasy series is another dark and thrilling adventure. Although I didn’t like the main twist towards the end (mainly because it raises too many issues with the previous books) the different plot strands are expertly brought together, there’s some comic zombie fun and a great cliff hanger that will ensure I keep reading on.
The Death Bringer has risen.
Faced with a possible cataclysm that could change the world, Skulduggery and Valkyrie have seven days to uncover the Necromancers’ secret before it’s too late.
The clock is ticking.
Lord Vile is loose.
And after this one, nothing will ever be the same again.
Several months have passed since the events in MORTAL COIL. Valkyrie’s dating both the vampire Caelan and teleporter Fletcher and remains frightened of her potential to unleash Darquesse. When the Necromancers announce that they have already found their Death Bringer and it’s the snotty Melancholia St Clair, she thinks that things might turn out okay afterall. Then she discovers that the Death Bringer will kill everyone in the world. Now she and Skulduggery have 7 days to work out whether and how Melancholia has become the Death Bringer and stop her from destroying the world.
The 6th in Derek Landy’s bestselling dark fantasy series is another dark and dangerous story filled with action, tragedy and adventure.
Valkyrie has become a stranger in her normal life, relying more and more on her reflection who increasingly seems to have her own agenda. The scenes between Valkyrie and her baby sister are touching precisely because they force her to confront what she’s lost by embracing the magical world. Her two timing of the sweet Fletcher reflects this and I enjoyed how Landy uses her relationship with the stalkerish Caelan to satirise teen paranormal romance.
The investigation of the Death Bringer slightly meandered for me and while there’s a lot of action, at times I found the fight scenes to be repetitive. There is a nice insight into the Necromancers and their agenda and the scheming Solomon Wreath is always interesting – notably his battles with Cleric Craven – and China Sorrows finds her past rapidly catching up with her when Eliza Scorn, an old friend from her Diablerie days turns up with some incriminating information and a desire to regain past glories. Landy also introduces a new sub-plot via new character Kenny Dunne, a reporter who’s alerted to the world of magic and who begins to take a close personal interest in Valkyrie.
My big issue with the story though was with the twist towards the end, which was too much of a stretch for me when you consider the previous books in the series, although I’m hopeful that it will pay off in the next book.
Landy retains his wicked sense of humour, and I was particularly pleased that he brought his useless zombie duo back as they provide some much-needed light relief from all the darkness. The cliff hanger ending will ensure that I buy the next book.
The Verdict:
The 6th in Derek Landy’s bestselling MG dark fantasy series is another dark and thrilling adventure. Although I didn’t like the main twist towards the end (mainly because it raises too many issues with the previous books) the different plot strands are expertly brought together, there’s some comic zombie fun and a great cliff hanger that will ensure I keep reading on.