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quippeThe Blurb On The Back:
You’ve seen it all before: some bad guy wants to bring about the end of the world, and Skulduggery and Valkyrie fight valiantly to stop it happening. A few people get hurt, sure, but everything’s all right in the end.
Well, not this time.
Six months after the events in SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT: PLAYING WITH FIRE Skulduggery and Valkyrie remain fired from the Sanctuary, but are conducting their own private investigation into why Teleporters are being systematically murdered and who is responsible. With the help of Tanith Low, China Sorrows and the newly reanimated Ghastly Bespoke, they work to protect the last Teleporter alive, the arrogant 17-year-old Fletcher Renn from a dreadful conspiracy to bring the Faceless Ones into our world, a conspiracy that has placed traitors at the heart of the Sanctuary and which sees Skulduggery and Valkyrie face new enemies and even betrayal from trusted friends.
The third in Derek Landy’s brilliant Skulduggery Pleasant series is a wonderful mix of dark fantasy and laugh out loud humour. Once again, Skulduggery and Valkyrie are pitted against a plot to bring back the Faceless Ones, but here the stakes have never been more set against them, with the Grand Mage, Thurid Guild determined to prevent their return to the Sanctuary and their foe having resources and cunning that matches even their resourcefulness.
Exciting and fast paced though the central mystery is, what sets this series apart is the strength of characterisation and the way Landy builds small elements into the over-riding story arc. My particular favourite is the on-going mystery surrounding Valkyrie’s reflection, who is leading her ‘normal’ life and enjoying the experiences that should rightfully be hers, while all the time keeping secrets of her own. Indeed, one of the main themes of this book is how Valkyrie’s adventures are preventing her from having a normal life and doubts are raised even by Skulduggery’s allies as to whether he is doing the right thing by including her in his battles.
Ghastly Bespoke is a welcome return to the series and both he and Tanith get a fair amount of page time. There are also some great new characters – Fletcher Renn is a cocky addition who has more faith in his abilities than he should, while the creepy Necromancer Solomon Wreath has an interest in Valkyrie that could lead her to take a different path to that of Skulduggery.
Although the book is aimed at 9 – 12 year olds, there is a lot of violence, which might not be suitable for more sensitive readers. It ends with a nail-biting cliff hanger that certainly has me desperate to get the next book.
The Verdict:
This is the third nail-biting, laugh-out-loud, imaginative and dark instalment in what is one of my all-time favourite Middle Grade fantasy series. Although it may be a little too violent for more sensitive readers, there’s plenty in it for child and adult readers and the cliff hanger ending has me panting to get hold of the next book.
You’ve seen it all before: some bad guy wants to bring about the end of the world, and Skulduggery and Valkyrie fight valiantly to stop it happening. A few people get hurt, sure, but everything’s all right in the end.
Six months after the events in SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT: PLAYING WITH FIRE Skulduggery and Valkyrie remain fired from the Sanctuary, but are conducting their own private investigation into why Teleporters are being systematically murdered and who is responsible. With the help of Tanith Low, China Sorrows and the newly reanimated Ghastly Bespoke, they work to protect the last Teleporter alive, the arrogant 17-year-old Fletcher Renn from a dreadful conspiracy to bring the Faceless Ones into our world, a conspiracy that has placed traitors at the heart of the Sanctuary and which sees Skulduggery and Valkyrie face new enemies and even betrayal from trusted friends.
The third in Derek Landy’s brilliant Skulduggery Pleasant series is a wonderful mix of dark fantasy and laugh out loud humour. Once again, Skulduggery and Valkyrie are pitted against a plot to bring back the Faceless Ones, but here the stakes have never been more set against them, with the Grand Mage, Thurid Guild determined to prevent their return to the Sanctuary and their foe having resources and cunning that matches even their resourcefulness.
Exciting and fast paced though the central mystery is, what sets this series apart is the strength of characterisation and the way Landy builds small elements into the over-riding story arc. My particular favourite is the on-going mystery surrounding Valkyrie’s reflection, who is leading her ‘normal’ life and enjoying the experiences that should rightfully be hers, while all the time keeping secrets of her own. Indeed, one of the main themes of this book is how Valkyrie’s adventures are preventing her from having a normal life and doubts are raised even by Skulduggery’s allies as to whether he is doing the right thing by including her in his battles.
Ghastly Bespoke is a welcome return to the series and both he and Tanith get a fair amount of page time. There are also some great new characters – Fletcher Renn is a cocky addition who has more faith in his abilities than he should, while the creepy Necromancer Solomon Wreath has an interest in Valkyrie that could lead her to take a different path to that of Skulduggery.
Although the book is aimed at 9 – 12 year olds, there is a lot of violence, which might not be suitable for more sensitive readers. It ends with a nail-biting cliff hanger that certainly has me desperate to get the next book.
The Verdict:
This is the third nail-biting, laugh-out-loud, imaginative and dark instalment in what is one of my all-time favourite Middle Grade fantasy series. Although it may be a little too violent for more sensitive readers, there’s plenty in it for child and adult readers and the cliff hanger ending has me panting to get hold of the next book.
