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Skulduggery Pleasant #5
Mortal Coil
Meet Skulduggery Pleasant: detective, sorcerer, warrior.
Oh yes. And dead.
Skulduggery Pleasant is back, and reunited with his original head. But all is not well in the magical world – for one thing, foreign powers are conspiring to take over the Irish Sanctuary, and for another thing, Valkyrie has discovered she might be the sorceress set to destroy the world. The problem is, she doesn’t feel she can tell Skulduggery what she’s learned… and that’s how all the trouble starts.
With Valkyrie on a quest of her own, to seal her name and prevent her evil destiny from coming to pass, Skulduggery and the gang are even more vulnerable. Which is a shame, because remember those thousands of remnants, imprisoned in the Midnight Hotel? Well, now they’re out. Not only that but they believe Valkyrie is their messiah. And that means thousands of wicked souls, desperate to get to Valkyrie, willing to kill anyone in their way… Oh, and because they can possess any body, they could be ANYONE.
Now Skulduggery, Valkyrie, Ghastly and Tanith can trust no one. Not even each other…
Oh yes. And dead.
Skulduggery Pleasant is back, and reunited with his original head. But all is not well in the magical world – for one thing, foreign powers are conspiring to take over the Irish Sanctuary, and for another thing, Valkyrie has discovered she might be the sorceress set to destroy the world. The problem is, she doesn’t feel she can tell Skulduggery what she’s learned… and that’s how all the trouble starts.
With Valkyrie on a quest of her own, to seal her name and prevent her evil destiny from coming to pass, Skulduggery and the gang are even more vulnerable. Which is a shame, because remember those thousands of remnants, imprisoned in the Midnight Hotel? Well, now they’re out. Not only that but they believe Valkyrie is their messiah. And that means thousands of wicked souls, desperate to get to Valkyrie, willing to kill anyone in their way… Oh, and because they can possess any body, they could be ANYONE.
Now Skulduggery, Valkyrie, Ghastly and Tanith can trust no one. Not even each other…
611 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 2, 2010
About the author
Derek Landy
259 books5,327 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 1,000 reviews
April 11, 2020
Oh shit is gonna get so real and I think I know a plot twist and I hope it’s real so badly.
This book was amazing, we saw potential super villain status from the 2 main ‘good’(?) (questionable) characters - Valkyrie and Skulduggery.
It was amazing. Watching their relationship develop after Skulduggery’s time in the land of the faceless ones is actually really sweet - they are honestly soul mates but in a platonic way and it’s wonderful to read a book where romance isn’t being forced or is the main agenda.
Everything else is there as usual - kick ass adventure, heavy sarcasm and banter, and a story that transports you to another world.
This book was amazing, we saw potential super villain status from the 2 main ‘good’(?) (questionable) characters - Valkyrie and Skulduggery.
It was amazing. Watching their relationship develop after Skulduggery’s time in the land of the faceless ones is actually really sweet - they are honestly soul mates but in a platonic way and it’s wonderful to read a book where romance isn’t being forced or is the main agenda.
Everything else is there as usual - kick ass adventure, heavy sarcasm and banter, and a story that transports you to another world.
March 10, 2025
4.5 stars!
I don't often read YA, but when I do, it will almost always be for this sassy skeleton detective and his feisty teenage sidekick 💖 This was such a fun time packed with action, humor and heart! I love this world and all its characters so much and can't wait to dive into book 6 especially after that ending!!
I don't often read YA, but when I do, it will almost always be for this sassy skeleton detective and his feisty teenage sidekick 💖 This was such a fun time packed with action, humor and heart! I love this world and all its characters so much and can't wait to dive into book 6 especially after that ending!!
June 25, 2023
Star Rating: —> 5 STARS
HOLY MF HELL!
This was INSANE !
😱😱😱
HOLY MF HELL!
This was INSANE !
😱😱😱
July 24, 2020
I find it rude to laugh at a man with a sword.
Holy hell what a plot twist at the end of the book! thankfully the other books are already out that i can continue without having to wait because i need to know!
there is so much that happens in this book and so many awesome new characters that enter the scene that i really enjoyed and this is one of the few series where i can say that no one character has annoyed me yet and in five books that's a pretty good job. This book takes place in a lot of Valkyrie's 'normal world'. and in this book her two worlds slowly start to collide which i thought was really good to see because Valkyrie really had to try extra hard to keep things going.
Sometimes it's not what you say, Valkyrie, it's just the fact that you're saying it.
I really don't trust her mirror self at all because it's starting to have feelings and thoughts of its own and i have a real bad feeling that things with her mirror self with come back to bite her in the butt.
In the five books of the series that i've read so far i really think this one had the best ending as it wrapped things up perfectly but also left us with a cliffhanger that has left me completely shocked. I can honestly not recommended this series enough!
Holy hell what a plot twist at the end of the book! thankfully the other books are already out that i can continue without having to wait because i need to know!
there is so much that happens in this book and so many awesome new characters that enter the scene that i really enjoyed and this is one of the few series where i can say that no one character has annoyed me yet and in five books that's a pretty good job. This book takes place in a lot of Valkyrie's 'normal world'. and in this book her two worlds slowly start to collide which i thought was really good to see because Valkyrie really had to try extra hard to keep things going.
Sometimes it's not what you say, Valkyrie, it's just the fact that you're saying it.
I really don't trust her mirror self at all because it's starting to have feelings and thoughts of its own and i have a real bad feeling that things with her mirror self with come back to bite her in the butt.
In the five books of the series that i've read so far i really think this one had the best ending as it wrapped things up perfectly but also left us with a cliffhanger that has left me completely shocked. I can honestly not recommended this series enough!
September 11, 2018
"Plans are an invitation to disappointment."
I'm disappointed, too. Disappointed that it took me three days to finish this book when it clearly could have been done faster because it was so fricking good. But my body decided it needed more sleep than usual. Damn it. Where was I? Ah, Skulduggery. I loved this series from book 1 and I can't help loving it more with each book and even the reread won't get boring because there are so many little things you tend to forget and the bickering between the charackters (who I all adore in their own way) just make it a really fun read. This book had so much important stuff happening (and I don't mean me getting more and more into wondering if there's a ship name for Valkyrie and Skulduggery? I mean, in these books she's still a little young so I'm fine with the current relationship status but...) and there are so many characters coming out to play, there's a little foreshadowing of what's to come and it's gonna be huge!
Anyway, I feel like I'm rambling. I love this book. Go and read this series if you like sarcastic characters and magic.
January 30, 2016
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След прочитането на тази част - никоя книга вече не е същата!!!
Толкова много действие, толкова много изненади, толкова много ужасни неща и мъртви хора - е очевидно и възкръсващи (както се разбира по края на книгата) - е как да се спре човек да я чете тази поредица - буквално съм ПРИСТРАСТЕНА - ако не сте я чели - само губите - това е най-готината поредица, която съм чела - направо не знам как да спра, като знам, че края скоро наближава... искам да продължа да живея в света на магията!
След прочитането на тази част - никоя книга вече не е същата!!!
Толкова много действие, толкова много изненади, толкова много ужасни неща и мъртви хора - е очевидно и възкръсващи (както се разбира по края на книгата) - е как да се спре човек да я чете тази поредица - буквално съм ПРИСТРАСТЕНА - ако не сте я чели - само губите - това е най-готината поредица, която съм чела - направо не знам как да спра, като знам, че края скоро наближава... искам да продължа да живея в света на магията!
January 7, 2011
This was by far the thickest, and like, one of the most incredible books ever! Hands down the best in the series. Everything is witty and dry as usual, and Derek Landy even succeeded in making me tear up at one point. I also went "Oh shit," among other things a couple of times. You know it's a good book when you can laugh, cry, and swear while reading it. In fact, I loved this so much, I won't even bother trying to spoil anything, because the momentum would keep me going until I'd written the whole book down right here, and I'm pretty sure that's probably illegal.
Only... know this, Derek Landy, I'm on to you. I know that you've read the Princess Bride, I know you've read Twilight (I love your new and improved, plus more realistic, reaction to people who come on like that), and I know you watched Monty Python ("Ex-rabbit." Hah!) , and that you watch Doctor Who. With the exception of Dr Who, which I found out you watch from reading your blog, I know all this because you made your own clever little parodies and twists on some of the lines and/or situations. And being able to appreciate these mini-references, we'd probably be total best buds if we met! ... huh... how did I get here? Anyway, keep writing Derek, and pour on the awesomeness! Unless for some unknown reason, your style or plots begins to take a turn for the worse, I will never tire of reading the adventures of Valkyrie and Skulduggery! Face it. The way you write it, Skulduggery spends a good deal of his time unconscious while Valkyrie is the one going all butt-whooping mode. Please try and do something with the Skul-man other than giving him your best witty remarks and nick-o'-time appearances.
Also, I always knew you had something against Tanith Low, you heartless bastard. But Kenspeckle? Really? Who the hell is going to fix 'em now? Nye? ~scoffs~
Only... know this, Derek Landy, I'm on to you. I know that you've read the Princess Bride, I know you've read Twilight (I love your new and improved, plus more realistic, reaction to people who come on like that), and I know you watched Monty Python ("Ex-rabbit." Hah!) , and that you watch Doctor Who. With the exception of Dr Who, which I found out you watch from reading your blog, I know all this because you made your own clever little parodies and twists on some of the lines and/or situations. And being able to appreciate these mini-references, we'd probably be total best buds if we met! ... huh... how did I get here? Anyway, keep writing Derek, and pour on the awesomeness! Unless for some unknown reason, your style or plots begins to take a turn for the worse, I will never tire of reading the adventures of Valkyrie and Skulduggery! Face it. The way you write it, Skulduggery spends a good deal of his time unconscious while Valkyrie is the one going all butt-whooping mode. Please try and do something with the Skul-man other than giving him your best witty remarks and nick-o'-time appearances.
Also, I always knew you had something against Tanith Low, you heartless bastard. But Kenspeckle? Really? Who the hell is going to fix 'em now? Nye? ~scoffs~
January 17, 2019
As the series progresses it just keeps getting darker and darker, and I have so many questions that I need answered...
I might change the rating after I've had time to reflect a bit more, because while this one doesn't scream favorite! at me, giving it anything less than a full rating when I feel like this just seems wrong. So for now:
5 stars!
I might change the rating after I've had time to reflect a bit more, because while this one doesn't scream favorite! at me, giving it anything less than a full rating when I feel like this just seems wrong. So for now:
5 stars!
June 24, 2024
7.4/10
All the books so far follow a pretty similar formula. Nothing wrong with that, after all your fans expect specific things from the books. I think this is the first time we see the formula change a tiny bit. Which is good.
The threat that our heroes have to face this time feels way more.. well threating. Thus far they had to deal with someone with a grand plan to bring back some ancient gods, kill people and rule the world. This. Now ( spoilers from now on ) they are dealing with the Remnants.
The Remnants are dark shadowy souls? They were all locked in a room because they are looking to possess humans. After they stay 4 days in a host they are fully bonded and became the host. Kind off. So all the Remnants escape and are loose yo bring havoc to the world.
As the story progresses it's clear that this time the Remnants don't go out randomly posses anyone,, but rather work out a scheme of sorts for something. Even without a grand scheme in the picture, this still is the most interesting situation Skulduggery and the gang have to deal with. There is always tension, because you don't know who is normal or possessed. Even when you do, you have to find a way to fight them. You don't want to become the next host obviously, at the same time you can't go all out, because the person you are fighting is an innocent host. Difficult situation to say the least.
Not everything can go perfect for our protagonists and not everything did. There are some dark moments and i really want to see how things are going to be resolved. I will be very surprised if the future of some characters will left the way we see here in the end
All the books so far follow a pretty similar formula. Nothing wrong with that, after all your fans expect specific things from the books. I think this is the first time we see the formula change a tiny bit. Which is good.
The threat that our heroes have to face this time feels way more.. well threating. Thus far they had to deal with someone with a grand plan to bring back some ancient gods, kill people and rule the world. This. Now ( spoilers from now on ) they are dealing with the Remnants.
The Remnants are dark shadowy souls? They were all locked in a room because they are looking to possess humans. After they stay 4 days in a host they are fully bonded and became the host. Kind off. So all the Remnants escape and are loose yo bring havoc to the world.
As the story progresses it's clear that this time the Remnants don't go out randomly posses anyone,, but rather work out a scheme of sorts for something. Even without a grand scheme in the picture, this still is the most interesting situation Skulduggery and the gang have to deal with. There is always tension, because you don't know who is normal or possessed. Even when you do, you have to find a way to fight them. You don't want to become the next host obviously, at the same time you can't go all out, because the person you are fighting is an innocent host. Difficult situation to say the least.
Not everything can go perfect for our protagonists and not everything did. There are some dark moments and i really want to see how things are going to be resolved. I will be very surprised if the future of some characters will left the way we see here in the end
April 8, 2026
the last chapter is basically all like “hey, how come we’ve never seen you and lord vile in the same room?“ and 12-year old me was still SHOCKED when reading Death Bringer
- - -
Reread
I remember that as a kid Mortal Coil was one of my least favourite Phase I books (that's when I didn't know what a dumpster fire Phase II would be lmao). That didn't stop me from reading it a thousand times though.
I think I just wasn't into the whole Remnants thing but I can't really explain why.
Re-reading it as an adult, I am not sure I agree with kid me. I had a lot of fun and there were just so many great scenes in this particular book and Skulduggery's and Valkyries relationship really shone. Every interaction between them *chefs kiss*.
Especially the whole "You are keeping something from me and that ends now"-scene.
It also introduced a certain character (🔪) and just reading it knowing everything that is coming - it's a wholly different experience.
But we all know what the best thing about Mortal Coil is: It means Death Bringer is next.
- - -
Reread
I remember that as a kid Mortal Coil was one of my least favourite Phase I books (that's when I didn't know what a dumpster fire Phase II would be lmao). That didn't stop me from reading it a thousand times though.
I think I just wasn't into the whole Remnants thing but I can't really explain why.
Re-reading it as an adult, I am not sure I agree with kid me. I had a lot of fun and there were just so many great scenes in this particular book and Skulduggery's and Valkyries relationship really shone. Every interaction between them *chefs kiss*.
Especially the whole "You are keeping something from me and that ends now"-scene.
It also introduced a certain character (🔪) and just reading it knowing everything that is coming - it's a wholly different experience.
But we all know what the best thing about Mortal Coil is: It means Death Bringer is next.
July 5, 2015
this book had me running in circles holding my head and screaming,
in a good way:)
in a good way:)
November 10, 2021
-Serinin bundan önceki kitabının şok edici sonundan sonra çok iyi şekilde devam ettirilmiş ve bu sefer karakterlerin duygularına ve aralarındaki ilişkilere daha fazla ağırlık verilmiş, kurgu olarak biraz tekrara düşse de ve birçok soruyu yine cevapsız bırakmış olsa da, yine çok akıcı, heyecanlı ve keyifle okunan bir kitap oldu.
-Valkyrie'nin daha güçlü olmasını sevinerek takip ediyordum seride. Ama kız fazlasıyla savaşçı hale bürünüp soğuk nevalenin teki olmaya başlamıştıı. Bu kitapta neyse ki Valkyrie'nin aile, aşk ve arkadaş ilişkileri üzerinde daha sık durup tüm o soğukluk ortadan kaldırılmış.
-Serinin en "iğrenç" kitabı buydu sanırım. "İğrenç" kelimesini iyi bir anlamda kullandım aslında. Çünkü öyle "iğrenç" ölümler vardı ki; ağzım açık, hayretle okudum kitabı. Gerçi böyle deyince, çok da iyi bir anlamda yazmamışım gibi oldu "iğrenç" kelimesini. Ama gerçekten böyle karanlık bir evren yaratacaksanız, okuyucuları hikayenin içine alıp, inandırıcılığı artırmak için böyle iğrençliklere başvurmak şart bence. Ve bu konuda, bu kitap Buz ve Ateşin Şarkısı serisiyle bile yarışır diyebilirim.
Tamamı için: http://1kitap5yorum.blogspot.com.tr/2...
-Valkyrie'nin daha güçlü olmasını sevinerek takip ediyordum seride. Ama kız fazlasıyla savaşçı hale bürünüp soğuk nevalenin teki olmaya başlamıştıı. Bu kitapta neyse ki Valkyrie'nin aile, aşk ve arkadaş ilişkileri üzerinde daha sık durup tüm o soğukluk ortadan kaldırılmış.
-Serinin en "iğrenç" kitabı buydu sanırım. "İğrenç" kelimesini iyi bir anlamda kullandım aslında. Çünkü öyle "iğrenç" ölümler vardı ki; ağzım açık, hayretle okudum kitabı. Gerçi böyle deyince, çok da iyi bir anlamda yazmamışım gibi oldu "iğrenç" kelimesini. Ama gerçekten böyle karanlık bir evren yaratacaksanız, okuyucuları hikayenin içine alıp, inandırıcılığı artırmak için böyle iğrençliklere başvurmak şart bence. Ve bu konuda, bu kitap Buz ve Ateşin Şarkısı serisiyle bile yarışır diyebilirim.
Tamamı için: http://1kitap5yorum.blogspot.com.tr/2...
December 31, 2025
Was kann ich noch sagen, außer, dass die Bücher verdammt gut geschrieben sind und die Hörbücher auch wirklich gut gelesen. Ich mag die Reihe wirklich sehr und kann sie nur empfehlen! Die Wortgefechte zwischen Valkyrie und Skulduggery sind großartig und ich mag auch die restlichen Charaktere richtig gerne.
August 29, 2010
In preparation for writing this review I have just looked back at what I wrote about Dark Days, the previous book in this hugely entertaining series. At the time I really struggled to write a detailed review that did not contain any spoilers, and I'm now having that Groundhog Day feeling. Please do not feel let down if this review is not as detailed as some of my others but given the recent backlash on blogs and Twitter about certain nasty reviewers peppering their Mockingjay reviews with spoilers I want to be extra careful with this.
This is the thickest Skulduggery Pleasant book so far, weighing in at a hefty 572 pages; Derek Landy has obviously been on something of a writing roll given that Dark Days was released a mere five months ago. I enjoyed Dark Days but I had some reservations about how certain villains could have been developed more and a couple of the scenes seemed slightly superfluous. You will be glad to hear that I have no such criticisms about this book at all - I loved it and I think it has possibly become one of my favourite of the series so far.
Dark Days ended with less of a cliffhanger than its predecessor The Faceless Ones, although the final revelation about Darquesse was more than enough to get Skulduggery fans speculating wildly on fan forums and Facebook. Mortal Coil will not answer all of the questions that have been asked over the last five months, but the plot does have a number of deeply pleasing revelations. However, at the same time it also creates even more questions regarding Valkyrie, Darquesse et al so expect those forums to be buzzing noisily over the next few months as well.
The plot of Dark Days relied partly on the villains' use of a Remnant - a body-snatching wraith-like entity that can take over and use a human body without others realising. In Mortal Coil the Remnants play much more than a cameo role - the plot very much focuses on these creatures as they are released from their prison in the Midnight Hotel with devastating consequences for our team of heroes and the local 'normal' population. Yes.... people die in this book (and not just nameless mortals either), and sometimes pretty nastily, although Derek Landy rarely resorts to giving us graphic descriptions of this as he much prefers his readers to use their imaginations to fill in all the gory details. However, there is one wonderful scene where Valkyrie takes herself off to be 'treated' (any other word would give too much away) and the description of her experience is certainly not for the faint hearted!
Much of this book focuses on how Valkyrie is coming to terms with the revelations at the end of Dark Days, especially with regards to issues of trust. In her mind, despite being very close to Skulduggery, Tanith, Fletcher and the others, she is really not sure she trusts any of them enough to help her in this case. This leads to her putting her life in mortal peril, without any of them aware, and then, just as she feels she is able to confide a little more in her friends along come the Remnants and suddenly no-one knows who can they trust. Once the Remnants appear en masse the reader is kept guessing for the rest of the book as to just who has, or hasn't, been taken over and Derek Landy treats us to more nail biting scene after nail biting scene, some of which had me completely stumped as to how our heroes would escape death, or something worse, and as for the final climactic scene....... you will just have to read it for yourself, but I have a very strong feeling it will shock you.
This is the thickest Skulduggery Pleasant book so far, weighing in at a hefty 572 pages; Derek Landy has obviously been on something of a writing roll given that Dark Days was released a mere five months ago. I enjoyed Dark Days but I had some reservations about how certain villains could have been developed more and a couple of the scenes seemed slightly superfluous. You will be glad to hear that I have no such criticisms about this book at all - I loved it and I think it has possibly become one of my favourite of the series so far.
Dark Days ended with less of a cliffhanger than its predecessor The Faceless Ones, although the final revelation about Darquesse was more than enough to get Skulduggery fans speculating wildly on fan forums and Facebook. Mortal Coil will not answer all of the questions that have been asked over the last five months, but the plot does have a number of deeply pleasing revelations. However, at the same time it also creates even more questions regarding Valkyrie, Darquesse et al so expect those forums to be buzzing noisily over the next few months as well.
The plot of Dark Days relied partly on the villains' use of a Remnant - a body-snatching wraith-like entity that can take over and use a human body without others realising. In Mortal Coil the Remnants play much more than a cameo role - the plot very much focuses on these creatures as they are released from their prison in the Midnight Hotel with devastating consequences for our team of heroes and the local 'normal' population. Yes.... people die in this book (and not just nameless mortals either), and sometimes pretty nastily, although Derek Landy rarely resorts to giving us graphic descriptions of this as he much prefers his readers to use their imaginations to fill in all the gory details. However, there is one wonderful scene where Valkyrie takes herself off to be 'treated' (any other word would give too much away) and the description of her experience is certainly not for the faint hearted!
Much of this book focuses on how Valkyrie is coming to terms with the revelations at the end of Dark Days, especially with regards to issues of trust. In her mind, despite being very close to Skulduggery, Tanith, Fletcher and the others, she is really not sure she trusts any of them enough to help her in this case. This leads to her putting her life in mortal peril, without any of them aware, and then, just as she feels she is able to confide a little more in her friends along come the Remnants and suddenly no-one knows who can they trust. Once the Remnants appear en masse the reader is kept guessing for the rest of the book as to just who has, or hasn't, been taken over and Derek Landy treats us to more nail biting scene after nail biting scene, some of which had me completely stumped as to how our heroes would escape death, or something worse, and as for the final climactic scene....... you will just have to read it for yourself, but I have a very strong feeling it will shock you.
May 24, 2018
I'm pretty sure the power is going to go out any minute now, so I have to make this quick lmao
- Enjoyed this one as much as the others. I honestly don't know if it's nostalgia or whether I'm just genuinely really enjoying these books and these characters, but either way: I'm having a great time!
- I remember reading these books as they were coming out when I was a kid and then teenager, so it must not have bothered me at the time, but some of the scenes in this book are preeeetty damn gory and dark. It wasn't too bad, really, but I remember being like "Bit full on for a kid's book!" while I was reading. Am I just getting old? Who knows.
- REALLY not a fan of the budding love triangle, it was definitely my least favourite aspect of the novel. Luckily it's mostly in the background of the story, so it's not enough for me to remove a star, but... If it ends up being a bigger part of the plot... That's gonna be a problem for my love-triangle-hating ass.
- I'm a sad mess right now! What a fun time!
- I love China Sorrows a lot. Best girl. We love a queen.
Onto book six! It's the last book in the series I remember reading as a teenager, so after that everything's going to be all new and surprising. Can't wait!
- Enjoyed this one as much as the others. I honestly don't know if it's nostalgia or whether I'm just genuinely really enjoying these books and these characters, but either way: I'm having a great time!
- I remember reading these books as they were coming out when I was a kid and then teenager, so it must not have bothered me at the time, but some of the scenes in this book are preeeetty damn gory and dark. It wasn't too bad, really, but I remember being like "Bit full on for a kid's book!" while I was reading. Am I just getting old? Who knows.
- REALLY not a fan of the budding love triangle, it was definitely my least favourite aspect of the novel. Luckily it's mostly in the background of the story, so it's not enough for me to remove a star, but... If it ends up being a bigger part of the plot... That's gonna be a problem for my love-triangle-hating ass.
- I'm a sad mess right now! What a fun time!
- I love China Sorrows a lot. Best girl. We love a queen.
Onto book six! It's the last book in the series I remember reading as a teenager, so after that everything's going to be all new and surprising. Can't wait!
August 4, 2020
Радвам се, че отново се завърнах към света на Валкирия и Скълди. Определено има развитие от 4та част, която реално ми беше леко кашава. Тук екшънът беше ненормален, 3 сцени ми се запечатаха в съзнанието и май ще си седят в него дълго време.
Виждам как основата за следващите книги беше поставена и определено не мога да се оплача от това, което се очаква.
Виждам как основата за следващите книги беше поставена и определено не мога да се оплача от това, което се очаква.
December 4, 2018
Книгите наистина стават по-мрачни, но нещо в маниера на писане на Дерек Ланди продължава лекинко да ме придразва - твърде много екшън (сметайте точно аз да го кажа, ама...) с известни логически пукнатини в решенията на автора... Има например един пич - руснак, дето с мигване на окото чупи 206 бр. кокали в човешкото тяло, ама нашето момче-скелета го бие кат маче у дирек... Ми хич не ми звучи достоверно, при все че жанрът се води градско фентъзи ;) Та след като завиших оценката на предния том, тук си взимам едната точка обратно.
November 10, 2021
A much more serious entry in the SP series, with less of a YA feel. I missed the witty banter. This one packed a lot between the covers, and I get the sense that will only continue. Derek Landy has created a lot of character threads, and from book to book a few come together while others are put off until later.
This one was mainly about Remnants, smoke-like beings that take possession of the living and control their actions. The Council meets to discuss who the Death Bringer might be and they decide it's probably Valkyrie, but they need proof. A single, captured Remnant is taken to a seer to possess and force him to tell the future. As a result, the Remnant learns how critical Valkyrie is to its kind and escapes to tell them the news. *cue havoc*
In other news: A very interesting villain named Tesseract is introduced - definitely an assassin, possibly a vampire?? Valkyrie tries getting her true name sealed in order to avoid her fate - with near-death consequences. Ghastly and Tanith might be a thing... if Billy-Ray Sanguine doesn't come between them. Valkyrie and Fletcher start dating, but she and vampire Caelan have serious chemistry too.
On to #6, Death Bringer.
This one was mainly about Remnants, smoke-like beings that take possession of the living and control their actions. The Council meets to discuss who the Death Bringer might be and they decide it's probably Valkyrie, but they need proof. A single, captured Remnant is taken to a seer to possess and force him to tell the future. As a result, the Remnant learns how critical Valkyrie is to its kind and escapes to tell them the news. *cue havoc*
In other news: A very interesting villain named Tesseract is introduced - definitely an assassin, possibly a vampire?? Valkyrie tries getting her true name sealed in order to avoid her fate - with near-death consequences. Ghastly and Tanith might be a thing... if Billy-Ray Sanguine doesn't come between them. Valkyrie and Fletcher start dating, but she and vampire Caelan have serious chemistry too.
On to #6, Death Bringer.
November 29, 2023
damn... what's next 😵💫
July 5, 2013
It's....it's.....
A few of my previous complaints about this series have included -
1. Decrease in snappy humor
2. Increase in tendency towards darkness
3. General creepiness and kind of disturbing.
4. Back of the cover was inappropriate
Mortal Coil doesn't really stray from any of those problems. In fact, the front cover is a seriously creepy picture of Skulduggery's head and a whole bunch of skeleton and human hands reaching for it. I've been trying to keep it face down as much as possible, which is generally not a good sign. There is decidedly a lack of snappy humor in this book. It's not laugh-out-loud, crying-till-you-kicked-out-of-the-library sort of humor. There were maybe half a dozen comebacks that were genuinely funny. I think giggled more because I wanted something to giggle about then because it was that great. Heck, Dark Lord: A Fiend in Need made me laugh harder. No, this was definitely not like the first book in the series.
There is still Necromancer activity, possession by disturbing little Remnant things, and other dark things I did not fully appreciate.
Yet I gave it three stars.
I liked it?
Yeah, actually, I think I did. Despite the inappropriate cover, it was a tinge less darker, less morbid then the preceding book. It was less comical, true, but there is more character change. Stephanie/Valkyrie doesn't spend hours bemoaning about how she's "fooling her parents". There were less "deep dark hints" into Skulduggery's "evil past". In fact, I like how the "philosophical" nature in some ways adds to the story. Can the future be changed? What drives a person to become totally, whacked out evil? Can Valkyrie prevent herself from becoming Darquesse and destroying the world? Is it right to hurt a mortal, innocent person if they are being controlled by an evil being? What do you do when one of your best friends is controlled by a Remnant and dating a really awful guy?
That is, I think, why I enjoyed this book more. It's transformed itself from silly humor and emotionally irritating scenes of self-doubt to a more natural and questioning balance. Valkyrie is now a trained warrior. There is no more little girl learning about magic for the first time. She's building deep relationships with her friends.
Landy is also not afraid to murder off key characters. Well, mostly key. We haven't exactly seen Skulduggery's death yet (actually...he's already dead but that's not quite what I meant) but other main-ish characters die or get possessed and Valkyrie and Skulduggery are injured. As an author, he's not afraid to deal harm to his characters and I'm beginning to learn....that is an important aspect in truly tugging at your reader's emotions.
That said....WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY IS THERE A RANDOM VAMPIRE-SORT-OF-KIND-OF-LOVE-TRIANGLE??????????
It wasn't really...needed. I have a feeling Caelan is being set up to be a more important foil in later books and that he might, in fact, do something to help turn her into Darquesse. However, I wanted to gag. REALLY, must Valkyrie turn into a pile of mush because a vampire kissed her? I'm not kidding. This is just disturbing on so many levels. It wasn't embedded in the plot enough to make me want to minus a star, but it was still there and it still made me go -
>.>
Stupid.
Very, very stupid.
I thought I was done with the series after the last book, but curiosity eventually won over and I got Mortal Coil. However, if the series continues to have such inappropriate covers I can't continue bringing them home. I'm going to have to seriously consider whether that means I stop reading the books until I have my own apartment where there aren't little siblings to take peeks at what their elder sister is reading or if the very fact that I feel the need to hide the covers from them means it is something *I* shouldn't be reading.
A few of my previous complaints about this series have included -
1. Decrease in snappy humor
2. Increase in tendency towards darkness
3. General creepiness and kind of disturbing.
4. Back of the cover was inappropriate
Mortal Coil doesn't really stray from any of those problems. In fact, the front cover is a seriously creepy picture of Skulduggery's head and a whole bunch of skeleton and human hands reaching for it. I've been trying to keep it face down as much as possible, which is generally not a good sign. There is decidedly a lack of snappy humor in this book. It's not laugh-out-loud, crying-till-you-kicked-out-of-the-library sort of humor. There were maybe half a dozen comebacks that were genuinely funny. I think giggled more because I wanted something to giggle about then because it was that great. Heck, Dark Lord: A Fiend in Need made me laugh harder. No, this was definitely not like the first book in the series.
There is still Necromancer activity, possession by disturbing little Remnant things, and other dark things I did not fully appreciate.
Yet I gave it three stars.
I liked it?
Yeah, actually, I think I did. Despite the inappropriate cover, it was a tinge less darker, less morbid then the preceding book. It was less comical, true, but there is more character change. Stephanie/Valkyrie doesn't spend hours bemoaning about how she's "fooling her parents". There were less "deep dark hints" into Skulduggery's "evil past". In fact, I like how the "philosophical" nature in some ways adds to the story. Can the future be changed? What drives a person to become totally, whacked out evil? Can Valkyrie prevent herself from becoming Darquesse and destroying the world? Is it right to hurt a mortal, innocent person if they are being controlled by an evil being? What do you do when one of your best friends is controlled by a Remnant and dating a really awful guy?
That is, I think, why I enjoyed this book more. It's transformed itself from silly humor and emotionally irritating scenes of self-doubt to a more natural and questioning balance. Valkyrie is now a trained warrior. There is no more little girl learning about magic for the first time. She's building deep relationships with her friends.
Landy is also not afraid to murder off key characters. Well, mostly key. We haven't exactly seen Skulduggery's death yet (actually...he's already dead but that's not quite what I meant) but other main-ish characters die or get possessed and Valkyrie and Skulduggery are injured. As an author, he's not afraid to deal harm to his characters and I'm beginning to learn....that is an important aspect in truly tugging at your reader's emotions.
That said....WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY IS THERE A RANDOM VAMPIRE-SORT-OF-KIND-OF-LOVE-TRIANGLE??????????
It wasn't really...needed. I have a feeling Caelan is being set up to be a more important foil in later books and that he might, in fact, do something to help turn her into Darquesse. However, I wanted to gag. REALLY, must Valkyrie turn into a pile of mush because a vampire kissed her? I'm not kidding. This is just disturbing on so many levels. It wasn't embedded in the plot enough to make me want to minus a star, but it was still there and it still made me go -
>.>
Stupid.
Very, very stupid.
I thought I was done with the series after the last book, but curiosity eventually won over and I got Mortal Coil. However, if the series continues to have such inappropriate covers I can't continue bringing them home. I'm going to have to seriously consider whether that means I stop reading the books until I have my own apartment where there aren't little siblings to take peeks at what their elder sister is reading or if the very fact that I feel the need to hide the covers from them means it is something *I* shouldn't be reading.
January 21, 2025
Ohne viel zu Spoilern kann ich natürlich nicht über Details sprechen. Aber sagen wir, die Helden müssen das erste mal so richtig einstecken.
Das ist längst nicht mehr so unschuldig und klamaukig, wie das Anfangs vielleicht noch gewirkt hat. Die Reihe reifte mit ihren Lesern und wird damit immer düsterer. Wo das in späteren Bänden, wenn Walküre in ihren 20ern sein sollte, wohl noch hinführen mag?
Band 6 kommt dann bald dran, nach ein paar anderen Büchern dazwischen. Ich freue mich schon.
Das ist längst nicht mehr so unschuldig und klamaukig, wie das Anfangs vielleicht noch gewirkt hat. Die Reihe reifte mit ihren Lesern und wird damit immer düsterer. Wo das in späteren Bänden, wenn Walküre in ihren 20ern sein sollte, wohl noch hinführen mag?
Band 6 kommt dann bald dran, nach ein paar anderen Büchern dazwischen. Ich freue mich schon.
January 28, 2018
Ich habe es geliebt ..So grandios wie immer..❤️Aber dieses Ende..🤭😳Das kann nicht gut weitergehen... 🤨🤯
February 18, 2024
tanith and ghastly are my roman empire
August 10, 2019
Still fun, the shine is off a little but the characters are still good. Too many and too long fight scenes in this book, they got pretty boring. The denouement was overly long and clearly just setting up the next book but as a whole good enough to buy and listen to the next one.
June 25, 2011
Mortal Coil is the fifth book in Derek Landy's entertaining fantasy series, and sees a continuation of the overarching storyline that emerged in the fourth book. Valkyrie Cain continues to enjoy her life as the side kick of Skulduggery Pleasant, along with her other supernatural friends and her new boyfriend Fletcher Renn. However, her apparent future as Darquesse continues to hang over her, driving her to take drastic steps to change her fate. Elsewhere, the Necromancers decide to possess Finbar Wong using their entrapped Remnant to determine whether or not Valkyrie is to become the Deathbringer. But plans take a turn for the worse when the Remnant escapes, with the single minded aim to release the thousands of other Remnants trapped within Anton Shudder's hotel.
In my review of the fourth book I made the point that it changed the feel of the series so far by concentrating on an overarching storyline as well as an individual plotline. That change continues with this book to the point where it could be said that the overarching plotline now takes precedent over the individual one. To that end this book does start slowly, with the first couple of hundred pages exploring the attempts of the Irish Sanctuary to rebuild after the events of the last book. As ever some new characters are introduced, with the Russian assassin Tesseract being a highlight, but the main plotline after those initial couple of hundred pages centres around the outbreak of Remnants.
In a way a Remnant outbreak is a lazy choice for a main villain given that Landy traditionally brings in new villains in every book. However, once the outbreak gets going it actually becomes a gripping story in which Landy begins to show his ruthless side in relation to his characters. The plot moves quickly and contains exciting set pieces in the trademark Skulduggery Pleasant style. There are also a couple of juicy twists in terms of information about the overarching plotline, and as such it is difficult not to recommend the book as an excellent continuation of what is an excellent series. I chose to knock off a star considering the slow start, but by the end that really doesn't matter.
In my review of the fourth book I made the point that it changed the feel of the series so far by concentrating on an overarching storyline as well as an individual plotline. That change continues with this book to the point where it could be said that the overarching plotline now takes precedent over the individual one. To that end this book does start slowly, with the first couple of hundred pages exploring the attempts of the Irish Sanctuary to rebuild after the events of the last book. As ever some new characters are introduced, with the Russian assassin Tesseract being a highlight, but the main plotline after those initial couple of hundred pages centres around the outbreak of Remnants.
In a way a Remnant outbreak is a lazy choice for a main villain given that Landy traditionally brings in new villains in every book. However, once the outbreak gets going it actually becomes a gripping story in which Landy begins to show his ruthless side in relation to his characters. The plot moves quickly and contains exciting set pieces in the trademark Skulduggery Pleasant style. There are also a couple of juicy twists in terms of information about the overarching plotline, and as such it is difficult not to recommend the book as an excellent continuation of what is an excellent series. I chose to knock off a star considering the slow start, but by the end that really doesn't matter.
May 25, 2011
1) "What exactly would you call a dog" pg156
2) This is the fifth and most current book in the already intriguing series, Derek Landy make this book thriling with the introduction as well as the much anticipated introduction of Lord Vile. THe book is thrilling and i would highly recommend it to people of all ages. Skulduggery and Valkyrie are both trying to find out how to stop Darquesse from emerging. As Valkyrie reveals this information to Skulduggery, she has tried to block her true name as well as blaock the possibility to be possessed but the visions by the sensitives has not yet changed. During this they encounter a man called Tesseract and they must stop him at all costs, or they will die. Tanith being possessed permanently was a very strong twist in the book.
3) My favorite part of the novel is when Valkyrie and Skulduggery enquire Vaurien Scapgrace and they begin to tease him. Scapegrace has always hated them and wanted to kill them but they always elude him and make him very angry. Despite his efforts he can't seem to make them treat him seriously let alone the possibility that he could kill them. The connection i have made here is a book to book connection as i have seen this before in other novels.
4) I would personally rate this book 5 stars because of its various humorous parts as well as the rising action and the constant increasing addictiveness
2) This is the fifth and most current book in the already intriguing series, Derek Landy make this book thriling with the introduction as well as the much anticipated introduction of Lord Vile. THe book is thrilling and i would highly recommend it to people of all ages. Skulduggery and Valkyrie are both trying to find out how to stop Darquesse from emerging. As Valkyrie reveals this information to Skulduggery, she has tried to block her true name as well as blaock the possibility to be possessed but the visions by the sensitives has not yet changed. During this they encounter a man called Tesseract and they must stop him at all costs, or they will die. Tanith being possessed permanently was a very strong twist in the book.
3) My favorite part of the novel is when Valkyrie and Skulduggery enquire Vaurien Scapgrace and they begin to tease him. Scapegrace has always hated them and wanted to kill them but they always elude him and make him very angry. Despite his efforts he can't seem to make them treat him seriously let alone the possibility that he could kill them. The connection i have made here is a book to book connection as i have seen this before in other novels.
4) I would personally rate this book 5 stars because of its various humorous parts as well as the rising action and the constant increasing addictiveness
November 22, 2022
4.5 stars!!
“You’ll walk you own path. And I’ll be right there beside you, Valkyrie. I’ll always be beside you.”
Screaming crying throwing up
That ending was UNNECESSARY! These characters can never be happy 😫
To recap:
Fletcher - deserves the world
Ghastly - deserves the world (#not all men)
Valkyrie - I feel for you baby girl but why you got to play my boy fletcher like that!
Skulduggery - my comfort skeleton
China - badass bitch <3 (who’s done nothing wrong in her life ever argue with a wall I don’t care)
Billy Ray - disappointed but not surprised (gold star for that stellar entrance though)
Tanith - 😭😭😭 (don’t talk to me)
Scapegrace - I’m rooting for you, stay winning my killer supreme 🙏🙏
Darquesse - um…. anyway
And lastly, Caelan - fall in a ditch! I swear to god if he doesn’t die soon, and painfully, I’m gonna scream (he’s not even the villain of any of these books but he’s the villain to me okkk)
“You’ll walk you own path. And I’ll be right there beside you, Valkyrie. I’ll always be beside you.”
Screaming crying throwing up
That ending was UNNECESSARY! These characters can never be happy 😫
To recap:
Fletcher - deserves the world
Ghastly - deserves the world (#not all men)
Valkyrie - I feel for you baby girl but why you got to play my boy fletcher like that!
Skulduggery - my comfort skeleton
China - badass bitch <3 (who’s done nothing wrong in her life ever argue with a wall I don’t care)
Billy Ray - disappointed but not surprised (gold star for that stellar entrance though)
Tanith - 😭😭😭 (don’t talk to me)
Scapegrace - I’m rooting for you, stay winning my killer supreme 🙏🙏
Darquesse - um…. anyway
And lastly, Caelan - fall in a ditch! I swear to god if he doesn’t die soon, and painfully, I’m gonna scream (he’s not even the villain of any of these books but he’s the villain to me okkk)
February 9, 2015
After looking forward to redding this for a while and finally getting in the mood for it, I must say I was a bit disappointed. I found Mortal Coil to be the weakest book in the. Series so far. The plot was neither as fas paced or as fun as any of the previous ones. Also it was rather dark, which definitely wasn't something I appreciated. The humour helped as usual but I wish there was more of it to balance the gloom and doom.
There was anew narrator for this book, which might also have contributed to my lesser enjoyment. Although this new guy (sorry, I don't remember the name) did a decent job and tried to be as close to Rupert Degas as possible he was still miles behind...
This has still been an enjoyable read and I'm long forward to the next book in the series.
There was anew narrator for this book, which might also have contributed to my lesser enjoyment. Although this new guy (sorry, I don't remember the name) did a decent job and tried to be as close to Rupert Degas as possible he was still miles behind...
This has still been an enjoyable read and I'm long forward to the next book in the series.
February 6, 2017
Read 17 Dec 2012
Read 25 Jan 2017: I still really love all the books in this series. This volume has awesome Tesseract and the ridiculously frustrating Remnants. This book is where the series really turns dark and makes you want to cry. What fun I have to look forward to moving forwards!
Read 25 Jan 2017: I still really love all the books in this series. This volume has awesome Tesseract and the ridiculously frustrating Remnants. This book is where the series really turns dark and makes you want to cry. What fun I have to look forward to moving forwards!
October 7, 2022
crying screaming throwing up
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