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Skulduggery Pleasant #1-5
Skulduggery Pleasant #1-5
Skulduggery Pleasant, Playing with Fire, the Faceless Ones, Dark Days, Mortal Coil
Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
About the author
Derek Landy
269 books5,363 followersDerek Landy is an Irish writer and screenwriter. In addition to the bestselling children's/YA series of Skulduggery Pleasant books, a supernatural mystery series starring Skulduggery Pleasant, a skeleton detective, and Valkyrie Cain, a young female magician, he has written two screenplays that have been made into films: the IFTA award winning "Dead Bodies" and the IFTA nominated "Boy Eats Girl". Landy himself was nominated for an IFTA for Best Script.
He doesn’t like to brag about all the awards he’s won, such as the Irish Book of the Decade, or the Red House in the UK, or all the other awards that he humbly displays on his mantelpiece. He is also far too modest to mention things like the first book being a Publisher’s Weekly Best Book of the Year, but would like to extend an invitation to Oprah to pop around one day for tea, in thanks for selecting his book for the Oprah’s Book Club Kids Reading List.
Derek plays too many video games, reads too many comics, and watches too many movies. He lives in Ireland with too many cats. Occasionally he talks to real people, but only when he absolutely has to.
He doesn’t like to brag about all the awards he’s won, such as the Irish Book of the Decade, or the Red House in the UK, or all the other awards that he humbly displays on his mantelpiece. He is also far too modest to mention things like the first book being a Publisher’s Weekly Best Book of the Year, but would like to extend an invitation to Oprah to pop around one day for tea, in thanks for selecting his book for the Oprah’s Book Club Kids Reading List.
Derek plays too many video games, reads too many comics, and watches too many movies. He lives in Ireland with too many cats. Occasionally he talks to real people, but only when he absolutely has to.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
January 19, 2014
So, currently in the Skulduggery Pleasant series only 8 books have been released (the 8th book was released recently), and the 9th book which is the final book in this series is going to be released at some point next year.
The Skulduggery Pleasant series is about a young girl named Stephanie Edgley (later known as Valkyrie Cain) who be-friends a Skeleton Detective by the name of Skulduggery Pleasant. Stephanie discovers a whole new under cover world filled with magic! The partners in crime go on numerous adventures and meet an amazing set of characters along the way! However, as the series progresses Stephanie learns that being part of this world isn't all fun and games and she discovers something about herself which could change everything....
I can't stress enough how amazing but, sadly underrated this book series is! It literally has everything that you could possibly look for in a book series- with elements of magic, fantasy, horror, romance, suspense, mystery, dry humour and so much more!
If you are one of those book who become totally engrossed in book series with all those kind of features, then these books are for you! Don't be fooled by thinking that this book is for 'little children' because it may seem that way at first but as the series progresses the story gets so much more darker and complex and the characters really develop and you can't help but grow extremely attached to them!
I absolutely adore this series! It filled up the huge hole that Harry Potter left me when it ended, now I can't even decide which series I prefer out of Harry Potter and Skulduggery Pleasant, which I never thought would happen to a major HP fan like me!
Seriously, though go and read this series. You won't regret it.
The Skulduggery Pleasant series is about a young girl named Stephanie Edgley (later known as Valkyrie Cain) who be-friends a Skeleton Detective by the name of Skulduggery Pleasant. Stephanie discovers a whole new under cover world filled with magic! The partners in crime go on numerous adventures and meet an amazing set of characters along the way! However, as the series progresses Stephanie learns that being part of this world isn't all fun and games and she discovers something about herself which could change everything....
I can't stress enough how amazing but, sadly underrated this book series is! It literally has everything that you could possibly look for in a book series- with elements of magic, fantasy, horror, romance, suspense, mystery, dry humour and so much more!
If you are one of those book who become totally engrossed in book series with all those kind of features, then these books are for you! Don't be fooled by thinking that this book is for 'little children' because it may seem that way at first but as the series progresses the story gets so much more darker and complex and the characters really develop and you can't help but grow extremely attached to them!
I absolutely adore this series! It filled up the huge hole that Harry Potter left me when it ended, now I can't even decide which series I prefer out of Harry Potter and Skulduggery Pleasant, which I never thought would happen to a major HP fan like me!
Seriously, though go and read this series. You won't regret it.
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February 13, 2018It's a good long journey of mystery, action and adventure. I absolute loved it!!
November 8, 2018
The series was good but the sequels were too long to come out but the good point was that it was getting better every story
April 16, 2020
best series EVER
February 12, 2018
Repeatedly read, Skulduggery Pleasant is an engaging story with a fantastic grip on character. Warm personalities mixed with witty humour makes the lead characters thoroughly likeable, and the villains detestable - and some of the later novels are all the more gripping as a result.
I would absolutely recommend the series to anybody with a sense of adventure. Derek Landy is a legend in his own right.
I would absolutely recommend the series to anybody with a sense of adventure. Derek Landy is a legend in his own right.
October 6, 2019
This series takes you on a long journey. Each book provides its own fresh story but does not overlook the details of the books before it. Each decision feels weighted and each character brings a different element to the story. You feel like you grow with them and each death, win and loss forces you to feel with the characters. There are times throughout the series when the stories can lose their charm slightly and aggravate you but they are overall a great read.
May 30, 2017
Skulduggery Pleasant is a magical story about a hidden world of sorcerers, both elemental and adept. Stephanie is introduced to this world by a mysterious Skulduggery Pleasant a friend of her late uncle. In this world Darquesse is rising and if she does the world will burn, but it is up to Stephanie and the Sanctuaries (the government of the magical world) to save the world.
January 24, 2023
Really great series. Mystery with some magic. The protagonist is a young woman who helps an immortal skeleton sherlock Holmes, who also happens to be able to use power.
He introduces her to a whole new world of intrigue and power, and she needs to balance life as a young woman, a child in the first book, as she learns of the duality of the world.
He introduces her to a whole new world of intrigue and power, and she needs to balance life as a young woman, a child in the first book, as she learns of the duality of the world.
October 22, 2021
This is an excellent series. So much good stuff going on, except dude give your characters a break! Can they have just one second of peace together to hang out before all hell breaks loose because if Tanith and Ghastly never see each other again I will cry.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2017
One of my favourite fantasy series😍😍
September 23, 2017
Love it!
April 24, 2019
Was a long time ago but i liked it a lot.
Felt a tad childish tho but i guess cuz its for young teenagers
Felt a tad childish tho but i guess cuz its for young teenagers
March 12, 2020
Very good series, read 1 to 11, currently reading 12
September 18, 2020
My favourite series from back in middle school :)
April 12, 2021
One of my childhood favourites
July 4, 2021
Great starter series into teen fiction
June 30, 2023
perfect read in rehab
December 13, 2023
AHHHHHSVS I WAS SO OBSESSED WITH THIS (kinda still am🤭)
May 7, 2025
This is my Roman Empire
December 1, 2025
Young me was really onto something with these books. They're awesome!
December 30, 2025
mi infancia entera
March 10, 2019
The first two words that come to mind: witty and funny. This story is not just wizards with sticks shouting in some incomprehensible language. You've got more than just spells and the cliché vampires and zombies. Every character is unique, with its own interesting abilities and personality. I find this series much more interesting than any other magic story. Every creature is being developed in a different way, being at the same time given not only good but also bad, sometimes reaching evil, features.
Honestly, I read the first book three times, because I wouldn't take it seriously. To me it was just a children's book. But then I realized I was a child once too and I could identify myself with a young girl who would love to be part of something so unreal, dangerous, new and fun.
One of the main characters is a teenage girl, who goes through a huge transformation. At first she is just a little girl, not sure how to control or understand her powers, let aside the amazing new magic world she steps into.
At first everything is exciting and thrilling and cool. The idea to have a double, while being on the way to your next big adventure, would appeal to anybody, I'm sure. But very quick things get serious and a little too dark: her chest had to be literally opened in order to lock her real wizardry name. Which is why I love this series. This is a good premise to turn each character into something a little bit more. Valkiria and Skulduggery are the main point around which the story develops and Valkiria as the new kid in town seems to grow a little too fast. Soon she gets more aware of the real world, missing her parents, friends meetings, boys attention. This leads to a mix up of her both worlds, which just takes the plot to a new level. Every time you think everything is over, there's nowhere more this could take you, the writer sends you to a new journey.
There's so much happening in the first 5 books that I don't even want to try to tell you a bit. It is just impossible to describe each and every character, his powers and stories. You are on your own here. Let yourself get lost into the world of constant surprises, real fights, inflammable chasing and above all pure magical experience.
https://boovely.blogspot.com/?m=1
Honestly, I read the first book three times, because I wouldn't take it seriously. To me it was just a children's book. But then I realized I was a child once too and I could identify myself with a young girl who would love to be part of something so unreal, dangerous, new and fun.
One of the main characters is a teenage girl, who goes through a huge transformation. At first she is just a little girl, not sure how to control or understand her powers, let aside the amazing new magic world she steps into.
At first everything is exciting and thrilling and cool. The idea to have a double, while being on the way to your next big adventure, would appeal to anybody, I'm sure. But very quick things get serious and a little too dark: her chest had to be literally opened in order to lock her real wizardry name. Which is why I love this series. This is a good premise to turn each character into something a little bit more. Valkiria and Skulduggery are the main point around which the story develops and Valkiria as the new kid in town seems to grow a little too fast. Soon she gets more aware of the real world, missing her parents, friends meetings, boys attention. This leads to a mix up of her both worlds, which just takes the plot to a new level. Every time you think everything is over, there's nowhere more this could take you, the writer sends you to a new journey.
There's so much happening in the first 5 books that I don't even want to try to tell you a bit. It is just impossible to describe each and every character, his powers and stories. You are on your own here. Let yourself get lost into the world of constant surprises, real fights, inflammable chasing and above all pure magical experience.
https://boovely.blogspot.com/?m=1
October 26, 2015
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy, is one of the best books I have ever read and so is the rest of the Skulduggery Pleasant series. It is about the adventures of Stephanie Edgely, a normal girl who goes on to become a powerful magic user and is prophesied to destroy the world, and Skulduggery Pleasant, a wisecracking, magical detective who is also a skeleton. They have to face a range of threats throughout the series including: vampires, evil magic guys, spider people, faceless gods and beings powerful enough to destroy the world. The storylines are interesting, unique and exciting with surprising twists and the action is intense and fast paced. The characters are amazing as well, especially Skulduggery Pleasant who is cool and hilariously amusing and funny. All of this combines to make a series of books that are exciting and intense and quite dark at times but also with a lot of humour to lighten it up. The only thing that I don’t really like about this series is that some of the books are quite complicated and there are too many storylines happening at the same time. This makes some of it hard to keep track of. Especially in the last few books when a lot of different things are happening at once. Even so it is still a good series. Derek Landy has done a great job of writing this. These are probably my favourite series of books and Skulduggery Pleasant is definitely my favourite book character. I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys reading books about: magic, detectives, action and a lot of other awesome things.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2023
Picture the scene: A dreary day in Waterstones (because of COURSE it's Waterstones) and I'm trudging around in a book rut. Apathetic. Pathetic. Looking for a crumb, a kernel, a teensy bit of something to get me interested in reading. Derek Landy said "Hold my beer" and had me at:
"Gordon Edgley's sudden death came as a shock to everyone—not least himself... A tragic loss, his mind echoed numbly as he slipped away."
'What fabulousness is this?!' I thought, immediately purchasing the book and finishing it off in the car ride home. New obsession unlocked. I adored the witty, cutting style of writing, the characters themselves, the mystery in a lot of the lore and what was going to happen next. Landy is very good at not beating you over the head with exposition or an obvious 'here's what's going to happen next here are all the plot flags!' he's more of a feed you the bread-crumb trail then SURPRISE! Instead of arriving at the witch's cottage OR your family home, you've had the rug pulled out from under you and you've been pushed off a cliff.
I've read up to book 13 but I can't really remember much of the plot/s after book 5 which is why I'm not listing/reviewing the rest of the series. I think Skulduggery Pleasant as a series started to show cracks around book 10 and hasn't recovered (for me, which is a shame as I love the characters - I just think there's too much trying to happen in not a lot of book). I'd still recommend this heartily to others to make up their own mind though :)
"Gordon Edgley's sudden death came as a shock to everyone—not least himself... A tragic loss, his mind echoed numbly as he slipped away."
'What fabulousness is this?!' I thought, immediately purchasing the book and finishing it off in the car ride home. New obsession unlocked. I adored the witty, cutting style of writing, the characters themselves, the mystery in a lot of the lore and what was going to happen next. Landy is very good at not beating you over the head with exposition or an obvious 'here's what's going to happen next here are all the plot flags!' he's more of a feed you the bread-crumb trail then SURPRISE! Instead of arriving at the witch's cottage OR your family home, you've had the rug pulled out from under you and you've been pushed off a cliff.
I've read up to book 13 but I can't really remember much of the plot/s after book 5 which is why I'm not listing/reviewing the rest of the series. I think Skulduggery Pleasant as a series started to show cracks around book 10 and hasn't recovered (for me, which is a shame as I love the characters - I just think there's too much trying to happen in not a lot of book). I'd still recommend this heartily to others to make up their own mind though :)
February 9, 2017
This fictional series is really good and I enjoyed it (I read each book in about 3 days or so). Awesome and the author has really spilled all his ideas onto the page.
Extremely funny and ironic.
I would recommend this series to harry potter lovers and would definitely recommend it to people who love fictional series..
Extremely funny and ironic.
I would recommend this series to harry potter lovers and would definitely recommend it to people who love fictional series..
March 29, 2011
These books are my favourites. They're the best books I've read in a long time. I can't wait until the sixth one comes out in September. The person I admire the most in the book is Valkyrie/Stephanie because of her wits and her bravery. I think that it was cool to say that in the book she has powers from the ancients. Skulduggery is one of my favourite characters as well because of his bravery and how he can make a joke even when he's in a bad or painful situation. I, also, love that Valkyrie is going out with Fletcher though Valkyrie acts way more mature than Fletcher. I can't believe that Caelan kissed Valkyrie in Mortal Coil though that was a nice touch in the story but I hate him because of that
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April 11, 2011Derek Landy is an absolute genius! This series has everything a teenage girl could want, apart from a hot main guy character. The witty, kick-ass charm of the heroine, the skillfully sarcastic humour of the detective and the amazingly crafted characters fall into line with a great plot line. Could I gush anymore?
August 5, 2014
One of my favourite series ever! Never have I wished a character to be more real than the skeleton detective! I wish so much I could jump into Valkyrie's shoes and go off on adventures with Skullduggery. His witty humour and at times his vulnerability and love for his partner in crime brings tears to my eyes. Derek Landy is one talented writer
March 16, 2015
Its just awesome. I started read them when I was in seventh class and read them in german, but currently I am reading them in english. To emprove it. Derek Landy is just a genius because Skulduggery Pleasant is so funny, hilarious and full of sarcasm. And I totally LOVE sarcasm.
July 24, 2016
Amazing series! I am currently on book number 8: Last Stand of Dead Men, and I have been reading this series since I was 10, purely because I don't want it to to end. The entire series is definitely worth the money.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews