Царството на злото

Skulduggery Pleasant #7

by Derek Landy, Дерек Ланди, Златка Паскалева (Translator)

Като че ли не бяха достатъчно проблемите в магическия свят, а сега и светът на смъртните трябваше да се включи.

Хора, подбрани на случаен принцип, или може би не, са заразени с… магия!

Но това не е най-лошото… Оказва се, че Скълдъгъри и Валкирия ще трябва да се борят не само срещу обичайните заподозрени, а и срещу някой със сила много по-голяма от тяхната.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Magic, Fiction, Mystery, Adventure

592 pages, Paperback

First published August 30, 2012

About the author

Derek 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.

Reviews

[Feyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Hopefully, they'll see the funny side of it."
"There's a funny side?"
"I don't know. I'm hoping they'll see it and point it out to us."

I love love love looooove the Skulduggery Pleasant books and this one is no exception! It's funny, it's thrilling, it's magical (yes, I think I'm repeating myself in my reviews to this series but I do not care)... The characters are just awesome and I live for the bickering and the dialogues, especially between Skulduggery and Valkyrie (and the more I reread and the more this series continues, the more I ship the two of them... He would sacrifice the world to save you. I'm melting just thinking about it.). I always switched between laughter and holding my breath (even though I had already read this book a couple years back...) and I cannot stress enough how much I loved this. And because I just couldn't do this with just one quote (I feel like I marked half the pages in this book for great quotes, it was even hard to just choose these two), I'll finish my love letter with this:

Peace means nothing without freedom.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Star Rating: —> 5 Stars

RE-READ July 25, 2021 (hell YES! ^^^ STILL 5 FREAKING INCREDIBLE, HILARIOUS STARS)

HOLY SHHHHH*TTTTTT. THINGS JUST GOT F*CKING REAL! INSANE! DYING RN! WORDS
FAILING ME ATM... 😰😱😰

ONTO BOOK 8 (Last Stand of Dead Men)!!!!

[Ryan Buckby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course I want to kill you," said Skulduggery. "I want to kill most people. But then where would I be? In a field of dead people with no one to talk to

Epilogue. HELLO! THAT WAS MESSED UP! i need more!

This series just keeps blowing my expectations out of the water every single book that i read is just amazing and i just cannot say it honestly so if you haven't picked this series up please please do!

Plot: Things are again full swing in this book and there are so many different stories happening at once it's crazy to see how they all come together towards the end. The bond between Skulduggery and Valkyrie is stronger than ever as they try to stop regular humans getting magical powers by someone one mysterious. I really enjoyed seeing more of these two together in more scenes again because every time they are together it just works and their bond is getting so strong that these two would die for each other at this point.

Seeing Valkyrie go into an alternate reality was so cool to witness not only once but a few times throughout the book and it was good to see how she handled it once alone, once with her reflection and the last time with Skulduggery himself. too see the place at different times was also thing also because it showed that things moved on with the real time rather than things stay still when Valkyrie wasn't there.

Am i the only one that really wanted to smack those teenagers who got those powers in the beginning of the book, there entire attitude changed from when they received them right up until they lost them. The leader Kitana really enjoyed having those powers a little to much and i was glad when she finally got the powers taken from her because she is definitely one person who could have been a massive threat later on if she hadn't had them taken away.

I really wanna talk about how Carol and Valkyrie really had a nice moment with each other and how that whole scene really changed their relationship for the better. I mean they started to be nicer to each other but i feel like this scene in the book really just sealed it and i feel like they could have been really good ally's once Carol got a hold of her magic powers correctly.

Ok.. that freaking epilogue that i didn't see coming at all! I knew Valkyries reflection wasn't really all right and i knew she would start to turn and become more aware of her own feelings and want to break free. The thing i really didn't see coming was her reflection killing her cousin and then wanting her to vacuum her up like nothing had happened and i think that's just about the most messed up thing i've ever read in my life.

Book eight is going to have to live up to this one and hold this story to a whole new level going forward because i now have higher expectations going into that book than i did this one and i really hope that it does deliver!

[Kribu · Rating 5 out of 5]

ETA: Second read finished, just in time for book eight next week. It's still pretty damn powerful, and I think I noticed more details this time around - details that should very likely be relevant for Last Stand of Dead Men.

I'm not ready for LSODM. I'm really not. But at the same time, I can't wait. (Knowing that there will be one more book after LSODM, I'm relatively sure some people will have to survive. Probably.)

---
Original comments from 1 August 2012:
---

Just finished, and...

A more coherent review will have to wait for the re-read, I think. Because right now I have extreme problems putting my thoughts into words.

It was, well... more than I expected. Also, more serious, more plotty, more grown-up. There was still plenty of humour, and lots and lots of wonderfully gory violence, but overall, I'm now anticipating the next book with an equal share of fear and lust. (Can one lust for a book? One can, right?)

So many gutpunches in this one, for the reader.

God, I love Skulduggery.

I think I'm going to cry once this series is over in just two more books. Whichever way it ends, I'm going to cry.

[Katie.dorny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well that definitely one of the most insane cliffhangers I’ve ever read..
Skulduggery and Valkyrie are back!! And even though it took a while to get into the meat of the story, it was all the way epic one we reached there!!
Mortals are suddenly able to control magic - investigating how that’s possible, who’s responsible and the consequences/clean up of said incident is the plot of the story. However it takes so many twists and turns you literally never know who is gonna be exposed next or who might die..it’s addicting this series.
Now on to the next one!!

[Jenvile · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s my 10 Year Anniversary with Skulduggery Pleasant, the book series that changed my life. In this re-read, I’ll be doing something special. I’ll be rounding up my top 10 favourite moments from each book, and quoting the scenes that I love the most. Obviously this will come with spoilers, SO DON’T READ THIS IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THE SERIES.

Kingdom of the Wicked? What I can say about this one? It’s honestly just... fun! So much fun! There’s dimension shunting, sci-fi elements, and even more grey moral ambiguity from not only our main characters but also from the fantastic antagonist. The stakes are getting higher as tension rises with the sanctuaries... and Ghastly can only keep a straight face for so long before he cracks.

Also, this is the first book in the Darquesse trilogy and you can tell that shit’s about to get fucking real. Skulduggery does not give any flying fucks and the words “I would” are forever seared in my mind as the most tragic words uttered from Skulduggery.

Here are my top 10!

10. Hunting down werewolves yeah!!!

“...You’re going to need this.” He handed her a long-barrelled gun.
Her eyes widened. “This is mine? You’re giving this to me? This is so cool.”
“It’s a tranquilliser gun.”
Her face fell. “Oh.”
“It’s still cool,” he insisted. “But I’m going to need it back afterwards. It’s part of a set. I have the other one, and I like to keep them together.”

9. Meeting Lenka and the team who have kept Argeddion away. This scene made me really tear up...

“So there is no one you would die for?”
Valkyrie went quiet for a moment. “I’d die for my parents and my sister.”
“See?” Lenka said. “Out there, in the world, there are people I would die for. They are the reason I’m here. They are the reason I’ve sacrificed a normal life. I do this to keep them safe.”

8. China’s betrayal. Why is this even surprising anymore.

”Don’t come back here,” China said. “If we ever see you again, we’ll kill you.”
And then China and the others were gone, and Valkyrie was standing in the field in her own reality, with Skulduggery and her reflection on either side of her.
“Damn that woman,” Skulduggery said softly.”

7. Skulduggery going all alpha mode.

Skulduggery placed both hands on the table and leaned over. “You’ve heard about me. You’ve heard about the things I’ve done.”
The smirk faded a little. “So?”
“So the stories you’ve heard are nothing compared to the truth, and the truth is nothing compared to what I’ll do to you if something happens to Valkyrie. I’m the worst enemy you could ever make, Silas. Look at me and answer honestly. Do you believe me?”

6. Lord Vile fighting the bad fight in the other dimension... my heart literally dropped.

It was times like these, back in her own reality, that Skulduggery Pleasant would break down the door and stride in with a joke and a bullet. God, she missed him. God, she wished he were here right now. What she wouldn’t give to see that door open and the Skeleton Detective walk—
The door opened. Mevolent’s head moved slightly, his mouth twitching. A shadow at the door. Footsteps. Familiar footsteps. Skulduggery’s footsteps. A smile broke across her face. He’d found her. He’d used Nadir to follow her over and he’d found her and—
He emerged from the doorway and Valkyrie’s heart sank. Blood drained from her face and she suddenly got so very cold.
“Oh, no,” she whispered, as Lord Vile moved to stand beside the throne, his black armour lapping at the air around him.”

5. When Lord Vile came out to fight the teens in OUR DIMENSION. Man we really are being spoiled aren’t we.

“Black liquid dripped from the case, forming a little puddle at Sean’s feet. The dripping quickened, and liquid began to leak from the other end, flowing steadily now, like the case was filled with oil. Sean noticed, and adjusted his hold, and the case sprang open and a wave of black burst forth, splashing down on to Skulduggery, covering him from head to foot, wrapping round him, getting thicker, forming armour. And slowly, Lord Vile looked up.”

4. MEVOLENT VS DARQUESSE. YES.

“Mevolent walked away, past a headless body lying in the middle of the road.
Her headless body.
Oh, hell.”

3. When Skulduggery broke all the gods out with some sneaky sneaky shit.

“Skulduggery Pleasant was a cunning adversary. He’d have foreseen a time when Darquesse would return, and he knew she’d never give him the chance to talk her down again. He needed a weapon against her, a weapon that he would have had to keep secret from Valkyrie.”

2. THE REFLECTION DOING A FUCKING 180 ON US.

“So that’s who I am now: Stephanie. And I am a better Stephanie than Valkyrie could ever hope to be. I’m not an empty shell, and you don’t have to be, either. This Sceptre bonds to people, not to things. I’m not a thing. I’m not an it. I’m a person. I am a her.”

1. How do you contain a potential mass murderer? Would you be willing to sacrifice your entire life to contain them? This conversation between Kalvin and Skulduggery is so sad and the fact that Val is listening as well makes it even sadder.

”But do you have enough people to monitor her? Do you have anyone who’d be willing to give up the rest of their life to spend with her?”
“I would,” Skulduggery said.
Valkyrie looked away.

Honourable mention: Skulduggery’s love for Grace Kelly!

“Unrequited love is nothing to be ashamed of. Many people have crushes. It’s all perfectly natural.”
“What, like you and Grace Kelly?”
Skulduggery turned his head away. “Don’t talk about Grace Kelly.”
“Oh, so it’s OK for you to make fun of me for having a crush but not the other way around?”
“No, I mean don’t talk about Grace Kelly when I’m flying. I need to focus, and talking about one of the most beautiful women who ever lived makes me inclined to drop you.”

An action jam packed adventure with an ode to science fiction! All that science talk and dimension shunting, more use of weapons and magical technologies and finally - another person who had discovered their true name.

I absolutely loved this one - and we are being led up right to the war against sanctuaries arc and to, imo, the top 3 of the series with LSODM!

———

Excerpts from: Skulduggery Pleasant: Kingdom of the Wicked by Derek Landy. Copyright HarperCollins Publishing, review under fair use.

[Stopped · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked up this book a few weeks ago, remembering how the first instalment of the series had entertained me when I was thirteen. Sadly, all the appeal has faded now I'm older and, truthfully, I can't think of anyone I would recommend the series to.

Firstly, the novel is hard to place. The style and writing is clearly written for children while the content contains so much gratuitous violence and murder it hurts. I'm not sure who Landy is writing for, but it seems odd to construct a novel so obviously aimed at children, while trivialising horror and gore. I mean, I understand that the types of blood and sinew would appeal to teenage boys and the like, but the way in which Landy orchestrates his massacres is unsettling. He neither eschews the gravitas of death or refrains from gratuity. The result is many characters dying whilst screaming or begging for mercy.

Kingdom of the Wicked is the seventh in a nine-part series, the stretched contrivance of the plot is clear to see. Following the last two books, which were almost identical, the Kingdom of the Wicked does seem to freshen things up a bit. Still, its the same characters, Valkyrie Cain and Skulduggery Pleasant, who inexplicably destroy and escape from predicaments with no consequences or sense of reality. Being an animated skeleton, it stands to reason that Skulduggery's personality is barely held up with more than a few salty one-liners. But its the protagonist, Valkyrie, who is devoid of any real personality or likability. Arrogant, snarky and ignorant, Valkyrie sails through the story the pinnacle of Landy's ideal. She's smug, badass and doesn't care what you think. There is very little she's vulnerable to. In fact, she sounds like the perfect villain. Except she's not. Landy, smitten with his creation, constantly displays Valkyrie as a positive person, despite her instant unlike-ability. Not only is she an insufferable narrator, she's one of the most powerful characters of the series, holding natural abilities that easily overwhelm the immortal assassins she goes up against. All at the tender age of 17. How lovely.

Another result of this is that the characters (of which there are many) barely develop. Save for a handful of central figures, countless enemies and allies are constantly introduced only to perish a few pages in.
Its difficult to decipher whether and Mary-Sue Valkyrie Cain are supposed to be heroes or anti-heroes. Landy blatantly accepts their righteousness while the injustice and corruption they hold as characters seems amiss. Especially in this genre. When the detective and his assistant are as bad as the baddies, what do readers from the book take away? Nothing. Landy simply constructs one-dimensional characters to exist as constants in a world of perpetual death.

Its true, the book does read like a screenplay, a bad one. The dialogue is full of constructed witticisms and satirical humour that the characters never really engage in any meaningful conversation. You can read a dozen chapters without understanding the plot purely because Valkyrie and Skulduggery have a four-page argument about semantics. Even worse, the humour is standard run-of-the-mill and barely original. If used sparingly, it would be tolerable. However, Landy constantly substitutes actual conversation or interaction with his bland jokes.

It seems strange that he insists his characters have a moral compass. They condone violence, injustice and cruelty and yet believe such things as "guns" are immoral. Its disconcerting to see the protagonists slaughter and slice their way through countless enemies, and then draw the line at people using firearms. If Landy is attempting to make a political statement, he could pick a far more suitable forum.

The whole facade of the world exists only to service some bizarre superhero obsession of Landy's. There is no consequence, reality or even playfulness to the stories. Simply a bunch of unsympathetic characters kicking their way through countless goons to arrive at some awfully contrived conclusion. Overall, I can't imagine a serious reader or a child taking anything away from this book. It lacks humour, originality, believability and a sense of storytelling that is vital to a novel, adult or otherwise.

[Kalkwiese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wir bewegen uns zweifelsohne aufs Finale von Staffel 1 zu. (Diese sollte bis Band 9 gehen, wenn ich mich nicht irre.)

Es gibt nun transdimensionale Reisen, wie der Titel nahelegt. Ich war da erst skeptisch, denn Multiversumsgeschichten öffnen schnell der Beliebigkeit Tür und Tor. Aber Landy geht damit vorsichtig um, vermeintliche Zufälle sind doch keine und am Ende fügt sich alles recht schlüssig.

Nach einigem Anlauf kocht dieses Gebräu hoch und es geht drunter und drüber. Der Ritt ist wild. Argeddion ist der bisher interessanteste Gegenspieler: Er will allen Nicht-Magiern die Magie schenken. Unsere Helden sehen das Zerstörungspotential der Leute und wollen Argeddion aufhalten. Dinge fruchten, auf die ich seit Band 1 ein Auge habe.
Meine spoilerfreie Stichpunktliste erschöpft sich hier.

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm just not sure about this book. Did I only give it two stars because I'm comparing it to other skulduggery books or did I just not like it? If it wasn't a skulduggery book would I give it two stars or four stars? I am so confused. I will think about it and probably edit this review.

The main thought I have is this: It's a good book, but disappointing for a skulduggery book. I don't really like too many of the characters anymore (apart from skulduggery himself, Val's dad and The Zombie King). I didn't really 'like' the lead villains. I mean, I know you're not meant to like villains but i didn't even like to dislike them. I was kinda 'meh' about everything. I still have high hopes for the next books though, it's not as though this has vanquished my love of skulduggery. Derek Landy is still a comic genius, of course.

[Jessica (aus.fangirl.reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can make a Skulduggery Pleasant book even better than it already is? How about some Science fiction dimensional shunting?
Kingdom of the Wicked was such an action packed read, but I still found myself laughing during really dramatic fight scenes. I mean how could you not laugh when a a characters thinks "Wow, this guy was violent" while getting the heck beaten out of them?
Just like most of these books, no matter h0w much action there is, there is always some emotional scenes and boy do they still hit me hard. No matter how many times I read these books I will always feel my heart break just a little when Skulduggery and Valkyrie have a moment.

[The Girl with the Sagittarius Tattoo · Rating 3 out of 5]

The one in which an all-powerful wizard awakens after 30 years to bestow magic on several mundane humans.

Four human teenagers are turned into supervillains; Valkyrie slips into an alternate universe and accidentally leaves her mirror self there; zombies Scapegrace and Thrasher finally convince Dr. Nye to give them new bodies; more political trouble at the Sanctuary, this time coming from the Americans; Tanith is still hooked up with Billy-Ray Sanguine; Fletcher has moved on with a new Australian girlfriend.

[freddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uhhhhhh, what the fuck @ that ending?? Wha?? What????
I KNEW THE REFLECTION WAS GONNA END UP BEING EVIL SOMEHOW

Proper RTC later!

[anastasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely shellshocked rn i need a fucking MINUTE

i gobble these books up so fast that i'm not sure if my brain is comprehending anything beyond omfg-give-me-more so i've compiled a highlight reel for this one:

- valkyrie. just valkyrie. she's thoroughly unlikeable. she's witty as hell. she'll punch your face in. she's cold. she's a bitch. she's perfect and i love her.

- skulduggery refusing to tell valkyrie he loves her. when it happens, and it WILL happen, it'll break me.

- fletcher moving on with a nice girl bc he deserves it. valkyrie really put him through the wringer and himbo boy is soft. happy for him!

- skulduggery agreeing, WITHOUT A SECOND OF HESITATION, that he'd be willing to give up literally everything to protect valkyrie for eternity????

- skulduggery singing VALKYRIE A LULLABY TO SLEEP SHSGDHSJS FUCK

- scapegrace getting a new hot bod bc of course My Favorite Dumbass did. scapegrace—aka the killer supreme, aka the zombie king (formerly)—can never die.

- kitana being an actual murdering psychopath—but she's also an ally?

- the grey morals. everybody is lowkey evil. who can i trust????? NO ONE

- the motherfucking reflection. i saw it coming and still somehow my jaw is on the floor????

- valkyrie was literally, seriously decapitated. like her head was OFF for five seconds. the way i gagged.

- SERIOUSLY HE TORE HER HEAD OFF WHAT THE FUCK

- "valkyrie, he would sacrifice the world to save you." THAT'S IT THAT'S THE TWEET

[Booknut 101 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our favourite Skeleton Detective is back, with his not-so-sidekick-sidekick Valkyrie Cain - but not for a holiday or casual investigations. Everyday mortals are starting to have paranormal powers; fat butterfly men being the prime example.

But this isn't the only problem. Old friends return to backstab, ex's become fond of muffins, Grand Mage's don't bother to read the manuals, headless zombies search for new bodies, true names are found and enemies believed dead make reappearances. Why can't the dead just stay dead anymore?

Valkyrie and Skullduggery are on yet another race against the clock. Valkyrie still has to figure out the puzzle that is Darquesse. Does she want her? Does she like having that power? Or does she need to find a way of sealing away Darquesse for good even if it means harming Valkyrie herself? The difference between friends and foe blurs and the fights get gory in the latest instalment in the series which is sure to have you hanging onto every word and laughing to death.

[Книжни Криле · Rating 5 out of 5]

Когато една книга има над 10 000 гласа в Goodreads и рейтинг по-висок от 4.5, то явно книгата не е каква да е. Когато обаче въпросната книга е номер 7 (да, СЕДЕМ!!!) в многотомна поредица, това вече наистина е свидетелство, че авторът е някаква абсолютна машина! Досетихте ли се кой е тоя литературен терминатор? Да, Дерек Ланди. А седмата книга от размазващата поредица „Скълдъгъри Плезънт” се нарича „Царството на злото”. Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле": https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/201...

[L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

CO TO BYLO PROBOHA ZA KONEC?? Ta mrňavá, hnusná...

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly love the series, the names are a bit cringe sometimes , and the epilogue, THE EPILOGUE had me startled, gagged, amazed x

[xmekalux · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was soll ich schon groß sagen? Der Teil war genau so gut wie auch schon die Bänder davor. Ein direkter Einstieg, viel Aktion und eine gute Portion Derek Landy Humor. Da kann man sich wirklich nicht beschweren ;)
Besonders gut hat es mir dieses Mal gefallen, dass nicht das gesamte Leben von Walküre so super rosa rot beschrieben wurde. Sie ist auch mal erschöpft und möchte einfach nur etwas Zeit mit ihrer Familie verbringen können. Hoffentlich wird das auch noch in den nächsten Teilen weiter thematisiert.
Wie immer ist die Geschichte aber auch wieder teilweise sehr vorhersehbar gewesen. Die Lösung des Problems war jetzt nicht einfach, aber im Endeffekt hatte Skulduggery einfach wieder die richtigen Ideen zur richtigen Zeit, wodurch dann alle wieder gerettet wurden. Das hat mich schon immer etwas an den Büchern gestört, wodurch sie wohl von mir auch nie 5 Sterne bekommen werden. Da sich die Reihe aber an eher jüngere Leser wendet, kann ich die meiste Zeit darüber hin weg sehen ;)

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Oh my gods, the ending of this book...

It's one of those epilogues which is really a hook for the next book and this tactic sort of annoys me a lot of the time but I've been waiting for this particular hook to take shape for ages, and now I'm all wriggling for the next damn book!

Ugh!

Only two more to go in the series, if Landy sticks to the plan. And, to be honest, as much as I do enjoy the books, generally, I'm glad that there is an end in sight because I don't know how much longer the formula can play out.

Valkyrie and Skulduggery are both sort of overpowered at this point, at least when they let themselves tap into their alter-egos, which they always say they can't do but then ya know they're going to, because the only way to make things interesting is to ramp up the bad guys to be even more overpowered.

The fight scenes have sort of gotten anti-climactic for me. I mean, there's rarely any real tension and it's not just because of the overpowered thing but because everyone who doesn't die is pretty much back to normal in the next chapter. There never feels like there's any real stakes, on a personal level. And there should be. I mean, with all the internal struggles with their dark sides, and saving the world and shit, there really should feel like the stakes are huge...

But - that hook. I gotta say, I'm really curious to see how that's gonna turn out.

But aside from the hope from future gratification, it's not like this book was bad or anything. The best part continues to be the humor. And while, in the past, I sometimes felt like there was a lot of humor at the start and then it faded as things got serious, in this book the wry one-liners and banter were well played throughout the whole story.

And, in a lot of ways, it's the humor and the character interactions which keeps me reading.

The pacing is a bit uneven, with lots of time spent on something and the skipping ahead without a lot of rhyme or reason. Especially the ends of battles seemed very abrupt, and then we'd jump ahead a bit.

Overall, though, this was one of the better of the series, I think.


One last thing - this series has always been pretty violent but as the characters, both main and villain, get more and more overpowered, the violence level is ramping up a lot, too. So you've been warned, for those who get upset about such things - especially in a younger series.

There's still not much in the way of gore - more the typical action-movie level violence.

That said, one thing that's always kind of bothered me isn't the violence, really, but the lack of repurcussions - or even shock waves. Like I said earlier, someone could come to the brink of death but, as long as they don't actually die, they're up and about in a chapter or two.

Even worse, even when people are dying it's treated with a sort of sad inevitability, but there's never any real reflection or, well, trauma or anything.

It's one of the reasons why I don't feel like there are a lot of real stakes in this series, and one thing which keeps the characters from being entirely believable and/or relatable. I mean, Valkyrie is kinda funny and badass and whatnot... but I'm not sure I actually like her, ya know?

After 7 books and however many hundreds of pages, I would like a bit more depth and development instead of the few strands of character just rehashed over and over.

I mean, I like the series. I enjoy it. But I think I could love it, given the chance, but it just doesn't quite make it.

But, anyway -

Two more books to go. Maybe all my dreams will come true? ;)

[Amelie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nein, tut mir leid, ich muss da jetzt einen Stern abziehen. Auch wenn es mich innerlich fast zerreißt, aber das ganze Buch zerreißt mich innerlich. Ich bin sicher, das wird sich auch in den beiden Büchern, die da noch kommen werden, nicht ändern.

Warum das Buch gut ist, das habe ich, denke ich, schon oft genug erwähnt: Die genialen Protas, die awesome Magie, die detailreichen Gegenspieler und Nebencharaktere und die unerwarteten Blow-your-Mind Wenden. All das hatte auch Duell der Dimensionen und ich ergehe mich jetzt nicht wieder in Lobeshymnen auf diesen Teil der Geschichte, denn ich habe noch zwei weitere Bücher zu lesen und genial zu finden.

Warum also der eine Stern Abzug? Im Prinzip ist das ein Trotz-Stern. Ich bin trotzig, ich bin widerwillig, auf gut Deutsch: Ich find dat alles scheiße. Kann Derek sich sonst wohin schieben seinen verschissenen Plot! Woran das liegt? Nun, das ist einfach zu sagen: Sowohl Skulduggery als auch Walküre verhalten sich in diesem Buch teilweise richtig DUMM. Natürlich verhalten sie sich die meiste Zeit absolut genial und wie gewohnt ist ihr Intellekt etwas, wovon wir Normalsterblichen nur träumen können, aber dann gab es einfach Momente, in denen ich meinen Kopf am liebsten auf den Tisch gedeppert hätte. Und das waren all die Momente, die das Zepter involvierten. Ich weiß nicht, wie oft in diesem verdammten Buch, das Zepter zum greifen nahe ist und wie oft Walküre und Skulduggery das vermasseln, aber es hat mich ernsthaft SOWAS VON AUFGEREGT!
Und dann ist da noch das Ende... GNAANANNANNENNUF NINODNOWQND UNOD!!!NR IWNWQND! Diese verdammte.... AHNUWNR IU§DN. Und traurig daran ist, dass ich es habe kommen sehen. Diese ganze Plotline habe ich kommen sehen und habe mir schon aus meilenweiter Entfernung gedacht "Och nö, nicht schon wieder". Ich hab keine Lust, das nochmal zu lesen. Das fand ich schon beim ersten Mal blöd, aber ein zweites Mal?! ICH. WILL. DAS. NICHT. Das ist auch so eine Sache, die ich nicht verstehe. Wenn ich Dummerchen sogar in der Lage war, das kommen zu sehen, warum dann nicht auch Walküre, die doch einfach Superbrain ist?! WARUM?!

Außerdem? FLETCHER! Verdammte, nicht vorhandene Fletcher Storyline... WARUM NICHT? Er ist einfach einer meiner liebsten Charaktere EVER und Derek... DEREK! WARUM?!
Ich glaube, wenn das alles vorbei ist, dann muss ich eine Fletcher&Walküre Fanfiction schreiben oder lesen, um mir wenigstens einbilden zu können, dass die beiden in meinen Gedanken zusammen irgendwelchen Scheiß bauen. Und nein, es interessiert mich nicht, ob Walküre überhaupt überlebt. Falls sie stirbt oder sich endgültig in Darquise verwandelt oder ihre Kräfte verliert und alles vergisst und wieder Stephenie wird oder von einem riesigen Spaghettimonster gefressen wird, IST MIR EGAL! In meinem Herzen ist sie glücklich mit Fletcher und die beiden heiraten.... Wobei, streicht das letzte, Walküre ist nicht der Typ zum heiraten. Aber sie sind zusammen und sie sind glücklich und Walküre macht sich über seine Haare lustig wie sich das gehört. SO.

Ich möchte gern weinen gehen und dann Derek Landy boykottieren... Aber ich weiß, dass ich das nicht tun werde. Stattdessen werde ich mir den achten Band reinziehen. Aber der Trotz, er ist mein ständiger Begleiter.

[Ela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. She just...and the...with that...Wow.

Derek Landy has outdone himself yet again. I don't think I've ever read a series that has matured and grown so quickly as the books continued. In this book he managed to maintain the hilarity and the fantastic characters, as well as adding a load of great new aspects. At one point we were in a parallel world, at first I thought 'meh, I guess this is quite cool' then it was all I could do to stop myself from running down the street shrieking, 'THIS IS AMAZING'. Generally in books that contain time travel or parallel universes, they seem like a good idea, but when the idea is actually carried out its just a dull gimmick, and you just want it to be over so you can get back to the 'real' story. Landy however, got it spot on: it was interesting, it untwined believably within the story and I can definitely see it being used in later books to add even more drama to the Skulduggery's world.

Another excellent improvement in this book, was that Valkyrie and Skulduggery's relationship deepened, and as it did, so did the emotional responses of some of the other characters. This meant that in amongst the fights, explosions and hilarity, there were some moments which were really sweet.

I could go on and on about how amazingly the storyline was concluded, how fantastically the characters have developed and how the world is now truly brilliant. But, what I really want to say is that; that was probably the best, most unexpected, ruthless cliffhanger ever. There is no way I can wait until the next book come out. I don't know what I'm going to do, but at this point, criminal activity is definitely an option. I may draw the line at actual murder, but that's it.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ordinary people are suddenly getting magical powers and don't know how to handle it. Most get confused and scared, but then there's teenagers like Kitana and her friends who get obsessed with the unexpected power and who have no respect for other people. The Sanctuary has to find out what's behind this "infection" and how to stop it. Skulduggery Pleasant and Valkyrie Cain have a lot of hard work ahead of them.

Valkyrie is now 17 years old and there is A LOT of violence in this book, so I think this series is now more young adult than middle grade. It has always been rather dark and violent, but I feel like it's getting darker as we get further along. Personally, I enjoy the balance between the dark and the witty in the series, but I guess that's a matter of taste. I'm looking forward to spending more time with Skulduggery and Valkyrie, and to see what happens next!

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the injection of sci-fi into this magical world. I love the way this series is structured, so we have a bunch of new ideas in this one, but the whole series arc is still super important.

[Kimberley doruyter · Rating 4 out of 5]

a little long but still so good.
i love how derek landy still gets some comedy inbetween the serious stuff.

[ekaterina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5/5 stars

this book made me sad, but in a good way, which i've been warned is gonna change for the worst in the next installations.

first of all, this whole mess with argeddion could have been avoided if they went to see china. but then again, without her library.... it does make sense that they'd have a harder time finding answers. however you could feel that the book wasn't complete without her in it (the other version doesn't count. rip.) and i missed her. i hope she is okay and is gonna fuck over eliza very soon.

also!! we got tanith back. well, "tanith." i'm still so fucking sad about what happened. i want her back. properly. not the remnant, not it pretending to be a part of /tanith/. because we see valkyrie friendless, if not for skulduggery, and she mentions it and that passage deadass made me cry. she has her reflection, but how much does that count exactly? especially by the end of the book, as it kills carol and we learn that the torture it went through made it ready to overthrow the og steph™....... i do think before the alternative dimension it was genuine and the sharp turn in personality kind of made me sad, but then again, was it? it showed some signs starting from at least book 4, if not 3. the thing with valkyrie being uncertain about her memories, also it having worry and love for the family, etc etc. was the want to become the only stephanie always there, dormant, and the torture just brought it up to the surface, or was the reflection planning this for a while? i guess we'll see. i can't say i blame it for wanting steph's life that it has been living for years now, but then again i'm def not there for anyone hurting valkyrie. except maybe darquesse. but i don't want her to be too badly hurt, yeah?? it's lowkey scaring me to see the line between the two being so blurred, but i also want valkyrie to reach her full potential.

and the alternative dimension. first, lord vile!! still being bad!! that was so interesting and the moment valkyrie recognized skulduggery's footsteps, i wept. their relationship is so powerful and deep and deadass is the best part of the books. their partnership is what makes this series my fave, i love them so so much. can you believe skulduggery is ready to give up on everything, including his work and life to watch over valkyrie so she doesn't fulfill the visions??? oh my God derek landy, my heart was ready to burst. i'm saying this now, they better not fully die in the massacre to come (aka what i've been told is gonna happen in lsodm and book 9) because i can't say i will be able to survive that either.

[Krasi Karaivanov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Дългата пауза между шеста и седма книга си каза думата и ми трябваше доста време, за да се адаптирам(завърна) към стила на Ланди.
Звездите за 4,5, но тук половинки няма та давам 4 защото нещо ми липсваше, а пък на моменти описанията ми бяха вповече. Хумор, екшън, страхотни персонажи… нищо неочаквано.😁

[Kayenta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. God. That was amazing. I didn't sleep the night before, got up at the crack of dawn, and then bought the book. Read it twice in a row. Loved it even more the second time through. Am contemplating the third time through right now. My sister got annoyed at me for randomly shrieking, laughing, freaking out, and then cooing at the book. I loved it. Loved it! Cannot get this through to you enough: READ THE BOOK. I loved how the books have matured as the series progressed. It kind of started slowly in the first book, but by now, you get chucked headfirst into the action. No coddling. Sure, it's violent. But it is good violence. No, sorry, that sounded bad. It is exciting. It isn't terrible. But it is a little bit more so than before. People's heads get pulled off. I'm revealing that. But it's not just gory that makes the book good. Derek Landy has some amazing sense of humor. I was screaming with laughter, sitting in my room by myself reading this book. It's hilarious and witty. So good. I really love Valkyrie. I adore her name, first of all. She's everything I want to be. And Skulduggery? Let's just say that I worship that dude. What really gets me is that there is a little bit of romance coming into the book. I'm a suck for that kind of thing, OK? I am so overcome by the fact that Skulduggery and Valkyrie are starting to get a little bit close. A little more than friends? It's so sweet that the book is growing up, and I think that they are perfect for each other. It would honestly be MY dream for THEM to get together. Yeah, it's a little sad that my dream is about two characters in a book. But the way that Mr. Landy writes makes them seem so real that it's like I AM the characters. He gets you to react to these things like it's you in there. I am so blown away by this that I am screaming out this review on a website. Anyone who is reading this..... go buy that book right now. If you have read it, I hope you are freaking out about it like I am. Because, as I am about to say for the third time, I LOVED IT!!! The plot is fantastic, and bringing all of the other characters from before into it really is genius. Kingdom of the Wicked is pure beauty in a book. Best thing that I have ever read. The ending.... I died. I can not possibly wait another year for the next one to come out. But at the same time, this series cannot end. Not allowed. It is just... indescribable the way the books connect with you. The ending of this book was perfect. It was a cliffhanger. I screamed. It was insanely tense and unexpected. It took me some time to figure out what had actually happened #hyperventilation! By now, I convinced myself that I will now go and reread it and you, dear reader must do the same. The subtle romance is so mind-blowing. I'm gushing about this book. I should go and read now...

[Crazyjamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll be honest. After the last Skulduggery Pleasant Book (Death Bringer) I was genuinely concerned that Landy had run out of ideas for this series. I actually said as much in my review on here. Because whilst Landy can clearly knock out sharp and witty dialogue until the cows come home, to be perfectly blunt the plot in the last book generally was below par for the series as a whole.

Fortunately, Kingdom of the Wicked is not just a return to form, for me it is the best book in the series. I actually didn't expect it to be when reading the preamble, which details a mysterious situation where ordinary people are suddenly gaining magical powers, including three teenagers who develop powers far stronger than ordinary magicians. In fairness, that description isn't particularly standout.

Fortunately, the description of the plot that the back/inside cover provides doesn't come close to even scratching the surface of where the plot actually goes in this book. The book does open with the 'humans are gaining magic' scenario, but Landy quickly throws out a number of distinct plot strands, all of which are intriguing. I'm sure other reviews will provide mini spoilers on what at least one of those strands is, because to be frank in the context of the series as a whole it will excite fans greatly, but I'm opting not to do that. Because if you've read the six books in the series up to this point, you deserve to read this book without anyone even hinting as to what happens.

All you need to know is this; the stall in the last book was temporary. Kingdom of the Wicked is in many ways the definitive book of the series so far. The plot is exciting, clever, and littered with Landy's trademark characters and dialogue. And perhaps most importantly, it sets up the final two books in the series in the best possible way. If you're a fan of the series you'll buy this anyway, but even against that backdrop I can't recommend it enough.

[katie meddins (maresh) · Rating 5 out of 5]

FUCKING HELL

derek really woke up and chose VIOLENCE

this is the first in the series i've given 5 stars and it def deserves it

this was the first time we reeeeally got to explore a parallel reality and i ate. that. shit. up.

now, DARQUESSE...um i liked her in this???

THE REFLECTION??? i fucking knew some shit was going on there after skulduggery shot it in book 3 or4 (i cant remember which lol)

but where was our reality's China in this book tho i miss her:(

skulduggery's sarcasm hit new levels in this one and i fucking loved it, some of the shit he came out with had me pissing myself

nye and mist...what are those sneaky fucks up to??

i was a bit worried about halfway through that the ending of the last book with the journalist's discovery had been forgotten but it was very briefly mentioned at one point so im assuming it'll have some future significance

ANYWAYS, i smell war on the horizon

[Pat Nino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another earnest 5 stars for Mr. Landy. Absolutely masterful story woven across different dimensions and timelines. A strong moral dilemma for Valkyrie in how to combat Argeddion, even if she is forced into taking the route to which she has always defaulted. The threads of book 9 are already beginning to be drawn together, with characters from almost every novel making an appearance. This is as close as the YA genre can get to a story like A Song of Ice and Fire in its complexity. However, it bears none of the extra dead weight of Martin's world, and is exceptionally clear the way through. I cannot wait to read the next one.