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Skulduggery Pleasant #14
Dead or Alive
Skulduggery, Valkyrie and Omen return in the 14th and penultimate novel in the internationally bestselling Skulduggery Pleasant series – and their most epic test yet…
In a matter of days, the world will change.
Billions of lives will be wiped away in a final, desperate search for the Child of the Faceless Ones — she who is destined to bring about the return of humankind's ancient overlords.
To prevent this, Skulduggery Pleasant and Valkyrie Cain have one last – terrible – option: the assassination of Damocles Creed. With protests stirring in the magical city of Roarhaven, with riots and revolutions on the horizon, Valkyrie must decide who she wants to be: the hero who risks everything for a noble ideal, or the killer who sacrifices her own soul for the fate of humanity.
The decision must be made, and time is running out.
In a matter of days, the world will change.
Billions of lives will be wiped away in a final, desperate search for the Child of the Faceless Ones — she who is destined to bring about the return of humankind's ancient overlords.
To prevent this, Skulduggery Pleasant and Valkyrie Cain have one last – terrible – option: the assassination of Damocles Creed. With protests stirring in the magical city of Roarhaven, with riots and revolutions on the horizon, Valkyrie must decide who she wants to be: the hero who risks everything for a noble ideal, or the killer who sacrifices her own soul for the fate of humanity.
The decision must be made, and time is running out.
608 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2021
203 people are currently reading
3331 people want to read
About the author
Derek Landy
257 books5,295 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 308 reviews
August 23, 2021
Star Rating: —> 4.5 Stars
THIS.
(Please excuse my language)
This was BLOODY F*CKING FANTASTIC!
Just... holy sh*t. This one was... and I have no other way to put this... absolute f*cking chaos... setting up for more absolute f*cking chaos as we approach the final book release. I am so SAD rn, because i've been waiting for this for what feels like foreverrrr & now its... over 🥺; a 600 pg book really should last longer than a day, but i'm sick rn and had nothing to do, but read. Plus, once I am sucked into a Skulduggery book that's generally what happens... it's like i'm running full speed downhill & I can't stop until I get there...because these books are JUST THAT DAMN GOOD ! So, yeah. But seriously there were soooo many different subplots here all intersecting & interacting with one another, following characters we know & love, know & hate, & some totally new ones, setting up for a variety of possible endings, but I most definitely would've never guessed the actual ending, I mean OHMYGODDDD— I just have major skulduggery whiplash atm. Haha sorry not feeling too eloquent atm... STILL. REELING! But boy can I imagine, and am also not able to imagine at all what the last book will hold, and I suppose, it'll be, well, BEDLAM ! AND I CAN'T WAIT!
💀😉🖤
_______________
O M G. IN LOVE WITH THIS COVER! And the title! Granted cover wise, it doesn't match my SDP Collection, but whatevs. I got on the bandwagon a little late.
AHHHHH! AND this is the Penultimate novel in the long running series, which means we are also getting the 15th and final novel sometime in the near future. Both INCREDIBLY HAPPY & kinda sad that one of my absolute favorite magic/ chaotic/ cheeky fantasy universes will truly be over in the near future.
Either way i'm beyond excited for this! Beautiful cover— Wild Ride, Guaranteed™️
If you haven't read these books yet, YOU. ARE. SEVERELY. In. for. a. TREATTTT! Please try out book one when it is convenient and see what you think! Such a well hidden GEMMMMM of a series.
THIS.
(Please excuse my language)
This was BLOODY F*CKING FANTASTIC!
Just... holy sh*t. This one was... and I have no other way to put this... absolute f*cking chaos... setting up for more absolute f*cking chaos as we approach the final book release. I am so SAD rn, because i've been waiting for this for what feels like foreverrrr & now its... over 🥺; a 600 pg book really should last longer than a day, but i'm sick rn and had nothing to do, but read. Plus, once I am sucked into a Skulduggery book that's generally what happens... it's like i'm running full speed downhill & I can't stop until I get there...because these books are JUST THAT DAMN GOOD ! So, yeah. But seriously there were soooo many different subplots here all intersecting & interacting with one another, following characters we know & love, know & hate, & some totally new ones, setting up for a variety of possible endings, but I most definitely would've never guessed the actual ending, I mean OHMYGODDDD— I just have major skulduggery whiplash atm. Haha sorry not feeling too eloquent atm... STILL. REELING! But boy can I imagine, and am also not able to imagine at all what the last book will hold, and I suppose, it'll be, well, BEDLAM ! AND I CAN'T WAIT!
💀😉🖤
_______________
O M G. IN LOVE WITH THIS COVER! And the title! Granted cover wise, it doesn't match my SDP Collection, but whatevs. I got on the bandwagon a little late.
AHHHHH! AND this is the Penultimate novel in the long running series, which means we are also getting the 15th and final novel sometime in the near future. Both INCREDIBLY HAPPY & kinda sad that one of my absolute favorite magic/ chaotic/ cheeky fantasy universes will truly be over in the near future.
Either way i'm beyond excited for this! Beautiful cover— Wild Ride, Guaranteed™️
If you haven't read these books yet, YOU. ARE. SEVERELY. In. for. a. TREATTTT! Please try out book one when it is convenient and see what you think! Such a well hidden GEMMMMM of a series.
April 19, 2021
Wow.
A lot happened here. The last few chapters ended with literally one cliffhanger after another, which was making the whole thing extremely exciting, building up the tension, but then the last cliffhanger happened and then...no. No.
This would have been easily five stars for me but I was not a fan of that ending. It is too stressful for me. It is not a bad ending, mind you. I don't mean to turn away any Skulduggery fans from this book. I loved this book a lot. It was an absolute package. Deliciously violent and hilarious as always.
And of course, I live for my all-time-favourite partners-in-crime duo.
My heart.
BUT. Back, to the ending.
I am not happy with the route this story is going to take with that cliffhanger. I am going to put the rest in spoiler tags.
And that is the only reason why I could not give this book the five stars it deserves. Honestly, I was so bummed out by the ending I would have taken away more stars, had this been any other series. But giving a Skulduggery book anything less than 5 stars is almost akin to blasphemy as it is and giving it just 4 stars had been a tough, tough choice that I had to make. So no, I really couldn't have taken away anything else. This is my favourite series for a reason.
And I am probably being a dramatic bitch about the cliffhanger because I literally just finished the book so the ending is right at the top of my mind. Otherwise, the book was very, very top-notch.
Onto the other characters -
In the previous books, I was so not happy with Darq coming back but got to say, I was loving her throughout this book. As long as she doesn't get all batshit crazy and starts killing people again.
I loved Omen and Cerpusular's dynamic as partners too. I was a little wary of their budding acquaintance at first, thinking he is going to probably turn Omen evil or whatever and Omen is too nice for that but it turned out really well. I love both the characters and of course, Omen's entire crew as well. Omen is another character that I truly do not want any harm to be inflicted on. He is too precious. And I really felt for him in this book. He is honestly just way too adorable and nice for this not so nice world and I just cannot bear to see him hurt. But I was also very proud of him because he does a splendid job in this book. He is extremely brave, even if he doesn't believe that for himself.
I cannot believe there is only one more book that remains. What a journey it has been. A long one but not long enough.
Can we skip to 2022 already? Anyways, this year also doesn't seem to be doing too well as compared to last year so...
A lot happened here. The last few chapters ended with literally one cliffhanger after another, which was making the whole thing extremely exciting, building up the tension, but then the last cliffhanger happened and then...no. No.
This would have been easily five stars for me but I was not a fan of that ending. It is too stressful for me. It is not a bad ending, mind you. I don't mean to turn away any Skulduggery fans from this book. I loved this book a lot. It was an absolute package. Deliciously violent and hilarious as always.
And of course, I live for my all-time-favourite partners-in-crime duo.
"We're going to turn this around. We've defied fate before, and we'll do it again. He doesn't decide whether we win or lose. We do. Are you with me? Valkyrie, are you with me?
She held up her fist. "Until the end," she said.
He knocked his fist against hers. "Until the end."
My heart.
BUT. Back, to the ending.
I am not happy with the route this story is going to take with that cliffhanger. I am going to put the rest in spoiler tags.
And that is the only reason why I could not give this book the five stars it deserves. Honestly, I was so bummed out by the ending I would have taken away more stars, had this been any other series. But giving a Skulduggery book anything less than 5 stars is almost akin to blasphemy as it is and giving it just 4 stars had been a tough, tough choice that I had to make. So no, I really couldn't have taken away anything else. This is my favourite series for a reason.
And I am probably being a dramatic bitch about the cliffhanger because I literally just finished the book so the ending is right at the top of my mind. Otherwise, the book was very, very top-notch.
Onto the other characters -
In the previous books, I was so not happy with Darq coming back but got to say, I was loving her throughout this book. As long as she doesn't get all batshit crazy and starts killing people again.
I loved Omen and Cerpusular's dynamic as partners too. I was a little wary of their budding acquaintance at first, thinking he is going to probably turn Omen evil or whatever and Omen is too nice for that but it turned out really well. I love both the characters and of course, Omen's entire crew as well. Omen is another character that I truly do not want any harm to be inflicted on. He is too precious. And I really felt for him in this book. He is honestly just way too adorable and nice for this not so nice world and I just cannot bear to see him hurt. But I was also very proud of him because he does a splendid job in this book. He is extremely brave, even if he doesn't believe that for himself.
I cannot believe there is only one more book that remains. What a journey it has been. A long one but not long enough.
Can we skip to 2022 already? Anyways, this year also doesn't seem to be doing too well as compared to last year so...
not-out-yet
July 11, 2020OH MY GOD THERE'S ANOTHER ONE??????
I CAN'T-
I JUST-
REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
I CAN'T-
I JUST-
REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
May 27, 2021
A certified disaster of a book with absolutely nonsensical plot lines that amount to those Hot Topic edits of Disney characters.
And I loved every minute. I know honestly that there is so much bizarro crap in this book it should be knocked down a few pegs, and the fact it just straight up does not pick up on like.... ANY of the dangling plot threads of SOW (mevolent and serafina! serpine! the refugees! .... even the omen/never/auger drama!!!) means that I may be very alone in my positive opinion, but I had a blast. I ask for so little. (I ask literally only for val/skul interactions.)
It was so much FUN. I laughed and smiled the whole time. And ok I have to mention her every review but (BIG SIGH) .... militsa was actually pretty good in this one, as was her relationship in Valkyrie. she finally felt like a person and not a parking meter that says pet names when you put coins in her. I liked what she did, what she said, how she acted, and did not spend her every appearance scowling at how horribly she was written. that being said... well......... ;)
As for a new character - I guess I gotta call them CC, lmao - OH MY DELIGHTFUL LOVE OF MY LIFE. I can’t believe I went without you for so long, baby. please please please be in 15 even if it makes no damn sense
I have no idea how he’s going to wrap this up in one book so get ready for the phase 3 announcement I guess lmao
I have faith in the grimoire now so catch me in 2 months being a clown!!! AGAIN!
ps: remember when Derek insisted they weren’t holding hands on the American cover and then they held hands like 3x in the book? good times. good times.
And I loved every minute. I know honestly that there is so much bizarro crap in this book it should be knocked down a few pegs, and the fact it just straight up does not pick up on like.... ANY of the dangling plot threads of SOW (mevolent and serafina! serpine! the refugees! .... even the omen/never/auger drama!!!) means that I may be very alone in my positive opinion, but I had a blast. I ask for so little. (I ask literally only for val/skul interactions.)
It was so much FUN. I laughed and smiled the whole time. And ok I have to mention her every review but (BIG SIGH) .... militsa was actually pretty good in this one, as was her relationship in Valkyrie. she finally felt like a person and not a parking meter that says pet names when you put coins in her. I liked what she did, what she said, how she acted, and did not spend her every appearance scowling at how horribly she was written. that being said... well......... ;)
As for a new character - I guess I gotta call them CC, lmao - OH MY DELIGHTFUL LOVE OF MY LIFE. I can’t believe I went without you for so long, baby. please please please be in 15 even if it makes no damn sense
I have no idea how he’s going to wrap this up in one book so get ready for the phase 3 announcement I guess lmao
I have faith in the grimoire now so catch me in 2 months being a clown!!! AGAIN!
ps: remember when Derek insisted they weren’t holding hands on the American cover and then they held hands like 3x in the book? good times. good times.
April 22, 2021
"Can we arrest her for something?"
"Only if she's committed or is intending to committ a crime."
"Is being annoying a crime?"
"Sadly, it's not."
4.5 🌟
What the Hell Dimension?! That ending is pure torture! 😭😭😭 Waiting for the sequel (for there will be a sequel along shortly, RIGHT DEREK LANDY?!) will feel endless (and yet, I don't want it to come because that will mean that it's all over and I don't want it to be). The smart thing would have been to just wait until you're able to bingeread this. Bt I also would've missed this action-packed adventure full of fun and banter. Because Skulduggery and Valkyrie finally spend the majority of a book together which I have seriously missed in the last books. This is them at their very best!
I am always impressed how Landy lets his characters deal with what happened to them. All that happened to Valkyrie from age 12(!) and everything that Skulduggery went through, it has effects on them and Landy does make them deal with the aftermath. And calls out that Valkyrie was way too young for everything. They show more than one sign of trauma and those aren't simply gone because they find a significant other or have an epiphany or something.
March 10, 2022
I've been reading this series for four years now and each book has just topped itself again and again I'm always surprised with what Derek might do with this series next. I know book fifteen will be the final one I'm sad and also very ready for it.
Plot: Picking up immediately from the previous book seeing Skulduggery and Valkyrie once again in a life or death situation that could mean the huge impact of the end of the world. This book really focuses on the fact that the faceless ones are on the brink of coming back and it's a race against time for the pair and co to save their world and also stop these events from coming true.
I loved the dynamic of Valkyrie and Skulduggery in this one and i loved how Derek really put the humor in the forefront of the story because at its essence that's what made this story and characters so beloved. They use humor in the most awkward situations or for a big fight and it honestly makes for some of the best scenes of the book and if you don't get or like the humor you'll unfortunately not like this series.
The fourteenth book in the series at this point would be at a time where you would be bored with the series and not interested but this isn't the case for me with the skulduggery books. There is so much tension and shocking moments all throughout the entire book that Derek has sucked me in and will continue to do so after the final book and page has been read. Valkyrie goes back and forth from present day life to the future where she learns that Alice is the face of the faceless ones and is some sort of god and tries everything in her power to stop this from happening. I love the bond Valkyrie and Alice have with each other its so strong and goes as far as Valkyrie trying to stop anything from the future coming true and i'd admire her if it didn't come with some serious consequences.
Omen has played such an important role during the course of the last few books and I'm really starting to have a soft spot for this character. He's lived under the shadow of his twin brother who's been the poster child of being the chosen one but this didn't stop Omen from being his own person and doing other things that are just as good as what his brother does. The dynamic relationship between Omen and Cerpusular's was very interesting to see play out in the book and i won't make many judgements but i just don't want him to corrupt Omen in anyway.
The breakup with Valkyrie and Militsa really hurt me and i knew it was coming but that it didn't stop it hurting any less because i really do like the relationship dynamic these two have because they fit really well. I would like Derek to get these two back together because i need some happiness from this series because it's sure as hell not getting it from anything before its taken away from us.
Well we all know the final book is approaching us and I'm now going to start getting ready to say goodbye to this world and characters that i love so much and it will hurt. There is so much i want from the final book and my number one thing would for Valkyrie and Skulduggery to get at least somewhat of a happy ending after everything Derek has put them through in fifteen books. I would love for the faceless ones along with Darquesse to go away and never return because I do not need that negative energy from those people and i think the characters would feel the same.
Book fourteen was such a rollercoaster with the last few chapters with that last chapter especially providing that big cliffhanger that I hope Skulduggery and co without Valkyrie can solve this and live a happily ever after skipping into the distance.
Plot: Picking up immediately from the previous book seeing Skulduggery and Valkyrie once again in a life or death situation that could mean the huge impact of the end of the world. This book really focuses on the fact that the faceless ones are on the brink of coming back and it's a race against time for the pair and co to save their world and also stop these events from coming true.
I loved the dynamic of Valkyrie and Skulduggery in this one and i loved how Derek really put the humor in the forefront of the story because at its essence that's what made this story and characters so beloved. They use humor in the most awkward situations or for a big fight and it honestly makes for some of the best scenes of the book and if you don't get or like the humor you'll unfortunately not like this series.
The fourteenth book in the series at this point would be at a time where you would be bored with the series and not interested but this isn't the case for me with the skulduggery books. There is so much tension and shocking moments all throughout the entire book that Derek has sucked me in and will continue to do so after the final book and page has been read. Valkyrie goes back and forth from present day life to the future where she learns that Alice is the face of the faceless ones and is some sort of god and tries everything in her power to stop this from happening. I love the bond Valkyrie and Alice have with each other its so strong and goes as far as Valkyrie trying to stop anything from the future coming true and i'd admire her if it didn't come with some serious consequences.
Omen has played such an important role during the course of the last few books and I'm really starting to have a soft spot for this character. He's lived under the shadow of his twin brother who's been the poster child of being the chosen one but this didn't stop Omen from being his own person and doing other things that are just as good as what his brother does. The dynamic relationship between Omen and Cerpusular's was very interesting to see play out in the book and i won't make many judgements but i just don't want him to corrupt Omen in anyway.
The breakup with Valkyrie and Militsa really hurt me and i knew it was coming but that it didn't stop it hurting any less because i really do like the relationship dynamic these two have because they fit really well. I would like Derek to get these two back together because i need some happiness from this series because it's sure as hell not getting it from anything before its taken away from us.
Well we all know the final book is approaching us and I'm now going to start getting ready to say goodbye to this world and characters that i love so much and it will hurt. There is so much i want from the final book and my number one thing would for Valkyrie and Skulduggery to get at least somewhat of a happy ending after everything Derek has put them through in fifteen books. I would love for the faceless ones along with Darquesse to go away and never return because I do not need that negative energy from those people and i think the characters would feel the same.
Book fourteen was such a rollercoaster with the last few chapters with that last chapter especially providing that big cliffhanger that I hope Skulduggery and co without Valkyrie can solve this and live a happily ever after skipping into the distance.
June 12, 2021
I mean what can I say that I haven’t said before?
Just as witty, quick paced, hard scratching WOAH I did not see that coming moment and wonderful characters and plot. Who wouldn’t love it honestly?
Just as witty, quick paced, hard scratching WOAH I did not see that coming moment and wonderful characters and plot. Who wouldn’t love it honestly?
February 6, 2022
Auch nach alle den Jahren freu ich mich immer noch tierisch auf die neuen Bänder der Reihe. So natürlich auch auf Band 14, der sich wieder richtig abgedreht anhört:
Ausgangssperre in Roarhaven! Der neue oberste Magier Damocles Creed ergreift Maßnahmen, um alle Zauberer zur Kirche der Gesichtslosen zu bekehren. Und das bedeutete: Tod den Sterblichen. Skulduggery und Walküre gehen in den Widerstand und versuchen Creed aufzuhalten und gehen einen ungewöhnlichen Weg. Mit Hilfe eines Sensitiven reist Walküre in Zukunft. Dort trifft sie auf einen veränderten Skulduggery und auf ihr eigenes, dunkles Ich.
Wow, was für eine Geschichte, Derek Landy kann es immer noch und liefert mit Tot oder lebendig den stärksten Teil des zweiten Zyklus ab. Der Autor schafft es immer noch, die Welt von Skulduggery ein bisschen zu erweitern und den Lesern etwas Neues zu bieten. Dadurch ist ein grandioses Abenteuer entstanden, das es in sich hat.
Wir werfen einen faszinieren Blick in die Zukunft und welcher mir richtig gut gefallen hat. Omen findet langsam seinen Platz beim Widerstand und Darquise wächst im Hintergrund weiter heran. Es bleibt abzuwarten, wohin das ganze laufen wird. Die Dynamik zwischen Skulduggery und Walküre ist nach all den Jahren immer noch ungebrochen stark und zeigt, was für ein tolles Team die beiden sind.
Band 14 der Reihe ist ein richtig spannendes Abenteuer, das mit viel Humor, Action und vor allem Spannung erzählt wird. Mit seinen tollen und diversen Charakteren und einiger Gesellschaftskritik trifft Derek Landy genau ins Schwarze, wodurch man das Buch gar nicht aus den Händen legen kann. Eine absolute Leseempfehlung für die komplette Reihe.
5 von 5 Sternen
Ausgangssperre in Roarhaven! Der neue oberste Magier Damocles Creed ergreift Maßnahmen, um alle Zauberer zur Kirche der Gesichtslosen zu bekehren. Und das bedeutete: Tod den Sterblichen. Skulduggery und Walküre gehen in den Widerstand und versuchen Creed aufzuhalten und gehen einen ungewöhnlichen Weg. Mit Hilfe eines Sensitiven reist Walküre in Zukunft. Dort trifft sie auf einen veränderten Skulduggery und auf ihr eigenes, dunkles Ich.
Wow, was für eine Geschichte, Derek Landy kann es immer noch und liefert mit Tot oder lebendig den stärksten Teil des zweiten Zyklus ab. Der Autor schafft es immer noch, die Welt von Skulduggery ein bisschen zu erweitern und den Lesern etwas Neues zu bieten. Dadurch ist ein grandioses Abenteuer entstanden, das es in sich hat.
Wir werfen einen faszinieren Blick in die Zukunft und welcher mir richtig gut gefallen hat. Omen findet langsam seinen Platz beim Widerstand und Darquise wächst im Hintergrund weiter heran. Es bleibt abzuwarten, wohin das ganze laufen wird. Die Dynamik zwischen Skulduggery und Walküre ist nach all den Jahren immer noch ungebrochen stark und zeigt, was für ein tolles Team die beiden sind.
Band 14 der Reihe ist ein richtig spannendes Abenteuer, das mit viel Humor, Action und vor allem Spannung erzählt wird. Mit seinen tollen und diversen Charakteren und einiger Gesellschaftskritik trifft Derek Landy genau ins Schwarze, wodurch man das Buch gar nicht aus den Händen legen kann. Eine absolute Leseempfehlung für die komplette Reihe.
5 von 5 Sternen
April 3, 2021
Another year, another bone book. Bane of my existence.
Every year I take publication day off to obsessively read the new book of this book series I've been reading since 2008 and which has arguably been going downhill ever since Phase 2 was announced.
What is motivating me? Is it nostalgia? Is it the few crumbs of Valduggery that are sporadically thrown in as a treat for my shipper heart?
This year I didn't read it on publication day. I read it on the two days after publication day. Nature is healing. I might finally be free.
That being said, I had a lot of fun reading Dead or Alive. The high I felt reading Seasons of War was yet back again and I was just enjoying myself immensely, giggling like an idiot and screaming at the important parts (CADAVER WHAT'S UP MY LOVE). Even Omen wasn't annoying and I also enjoyed Sebastian Tao's chapters.
Nostalgia sure is a drug.
The last 100 pages or so weren't as good as the first 500 though and I have no idea how Landy is going to end it next year with what, allegedly, is going to be the last book. Haha. Phase 3, here we come.
Every year I take publication day off to obsessively read the new book of this book series I've been reading since 2008 and which has arguably been going downhill ever since Phase 2 was announced.
What is motivating me? Is it nostalgia? Is it the few crumbs of Valduggery that are sporadically thrown in as a treat for my shipper heart?
This year I didn't read it on publication day. I read it on the two days after publication day. Nature is healing. I might finally be free.
That being said, I had a lot of fun reading Dead or Alive. The high I felt reading Seasons of War was yet back again and I was just enjoying myself immensely, giggling like an idiot and screaming at the important parts (CADAVER WHAT'S UP MY LOVE). Even Omen wasn't annoying and I also enjoyed Sebastian Tao's chapters.
Nostalgia sure is a drug.
The last 100 pages or so weren't as good as the first 500 though and I have no idea how Landy is going to end it next year with what, allegedly, is going to be the last book. Haha. Phase 3, here we come.
August 24, 2021
I’m gonna be honest this was hard. There were so many things about this book that reminded me of the original series and it was great. But so much of the book was Flanderized. It seems like Derek tried doing something different with that Demon Road trilogy which didn’t work (at least for me) and then thought “hmmm. What do they like? Oh, Skulduggery! Hmmm what do they like about it? Oh right the banter and silly names. I’ll just give them more of that.”
Like it really has been feeling forced the past few books but this one really drove it home. And that’s not to say it was bad, but in terms of the first series it’s drastically not as good (sad to say). I must say I wasn’t expecting that ending, but tbh I’m not sure if that’s good or not. It definitely felt like it came out of left field to me.
The next book is supposedly the last and tbh I’m happy for it. The series needs to end. I’ll still check out what Derek writes next after SP, but I’ll definitely go into it cautiously.
Like it really has been feeling forced the past few books but this one really drove it home. And that’s not to say it was bad, but in terms of the first series it’s drastically not as good (sad to say). I must say I wasn’t expecting that ending, but tbh I’m not sure if that’s good or not. It definitely felt like it came out of left field to me.
The next book is supposedly the last and tbh I’m happy for it. The series needs to end. I’ll still check out what Derek writes next after SP, but I’ll definitely go into it cautiously.
June 6, 2021
This review doubles as commentary on the new series of Skulduggery Pleasant from Resurrection onwards.
This book is what you expect from Skulduggery Pleasant. It is fast paced. I have never read anything that reads quicker. It is full of action. Almost too much as the fight scenes start to blur together. It has tons of random and/or witty banter. This new series has been weaker in this regard, but I think this book corrects that. It has twists and turns. It is classic Skulduggery. However, 14 books in and the same old routine has started to become stale.
Let me explain: For me, a continuation series has to have a purpose for existing, something that the original series left unsaid. Starting with Resurrection, Derek Landy partially found the answer in Valkyrie’s unresolved trauma from the first nine books. Unfortunately, the exploration of this isn’t enough to sustain six new books. Plus, this book and its predecessor, Seasons of War don’t explore any new depths around Valkyrie’s trauma.
Instead of exciting new ideas, the series recycles already used ideas. Alice could become evil just like Valkyrie already did. The Faceless One’s are back. Skulduggery is evil again through mind control like with Lord Vile. The Leibniz dimension is back. Countless new doomsday devices. The list goes on. The characters even continuously say they’ve faced similar situations before. And the ideas that are new—like the additions to Skulduggery’s history—feel like awkward, originally unplanned additions that the plot nevertheless needs to continue.
I think I will always enjoy Skulduggery. It will always bring me joy. Still, one of the aspects that always so excited me about Skulduggery Pleasant and made some moments hit so hard was its freshness and vitality. That part, sadly, is gone, replaced with redundancy.
This book is what you expect from Skulduggery Pleasant. It is fast paced. I have never read anything that reads quicker. It is full of action. Almost too much as the fight scenes start to blur together. It has tons of random and/or witty banter. This new series has been weaker in this regard, but I think this book corrects that. It has twists and turns. It is classic Skulduggery. However, 14 books in and the same old routine has started to become stale.
Let me explain: For me, a continuation series has to have a purpose for existing, something that the original series left unsaid. Starting with Resurrection, Derek Landy partially found the answer in Valkyrie’s unresolved trauma from the first nine books. Unfortunately, the exploration of this isn’t enough to sustain six new books. Plus, this book and its predecessor, Seasons of War don’t explore any new depths around Valkyrie’s trauma.
Instead of exciting new ideas, the series recycles already used ideas. Alice could become evil just like Valkyrie already did. The Faceless One’s are back. Skulduggery is evil again through mind control like with Lord Vile. The Leibniz dimension is back. Countless new doomsday devices. The list goes on. The characters even continuously say they’ve faced similar situations before. And the ideas that are new—like the additions to Skulduggery’s history—feel like awkward, originally unplanned additions that the plot nevertheless needs to continue.
I think I will always enjoy Skulduggery. It will always bring me joy. Still, one of the aspects that always so excited me about Skulduggery Pleasant and made some moments hit so hard was its freshness and vitality. That part, sadly, is gone, replaced with redundancy.
April 2, 2021
OH. MY. GOD. This book was AMAZING. It was so funny but it also deals with serious things like trauma in a tactful way. There was time travel, which I was not prepared for but I still enjoyed. We got to see a completely different Auger which I LOVED. We didn't get enough Temper or Tanith for my liking but there was still a good amount. I have to say that I did predict what was going to be the thing they were searching for. To me, it was kind of obvious. The whole plot with Coda Quell is kind of irrelevant and added something like fifty pages that weren't needed. I really enjoyed child Darquesse. Really enjoyed. It was just really cute and funny. I liked the idea of Féile na Draíochta. It was kind of interesting, and I'd like to find out in the future about how it actually happens. You should DEFINITELY read this book. I mean maybe read the other ones first, BUT IT WAS SO GOOD. READ IT.
July 27, 2020
I'm so excited!
April 1, 2021
she's an ABSOLUTE MESS but we LOVE HER, okay????
April 4, 2021
This book was actually bad and I'm suing Derek for making me read all 600 odd pages of it I didn't deserve that
April 27, 2021
Not my favourite so far, but I still love the characters so much
July 8, 2021
hoooo boy. Please STOP. stop stop stop it. !!! don't !!!
Okay, now to put this into actual meaningful words. For a long time, I've been reading this series as each book is released. It used to be one of my favourites. But in my opinion, Derek should've stopped around five or six books ago. The newer books are just so.. convoluted and messy. They make me unhappy but they keep being published, so I keep reading them. It feels like I'm locked in a game of chicken with the author. Well, no more. I'm done! Next time an SP book is published I'll be reading the plot summary online instead of trying to trudge through 600 pages of my childhood memories being desecrated.
tl;dr - F*ck this sh*t, I'm out.
Okay, now to put this into actual meaningful words. For a long time, I've been reading this series as each book is released. It used to be one of my favourites. But in my opinion, Derek should've stopped around five or six books ago. The newer books are just so.. convoluted and messy. They make me unhappy but they keep being published, so I keep reading them. It feels like I'm locked in a game of chicken with the author. Well, no more. I'm done! Next time an SP book is published I'll be reading the plot summary online instead of trying to trudge through 600 pages of my childhood memories being desecrated.
tl;dr - F*ck this sh*t, I'm out.
August 10, 2021
3.5*
For the nostalgia I have for this series, I want to rate this a five star.
Dead or Alive is full of action-packed adventure, a guaranteed staple for a Skulduggery Pleasant novel. There's fight scenes galore, the looming threat of mortal genocide, and time-travel.
Unfortunately, my excitement was bogged down by negatives that kept adding up to an unfun time. My main issue is that most of the characters personalities (old and new) have amalgamated, to the point where if it didn't tell me who was speaking at certain points, I could tell if Valkyrie or Skulduggery was speaking.
Dead or Alive did end out on a high note, which left me itching for the next one (i think the finale?).
For the nostalgia I have for this series, I want to rate this a five star.
Dead or Alive is full of action-packed adventure, a guaranteed staple for a Skulduggery Pleasant novel. There's fight scenes galore, the looming threat of mortal genocide, and time-travel.
Unfortunately, my excitement was bogged down by negatives that kept adding up to an unfun time. My main issue is that most of the characters personalities (old and new) have amalgamated, to the point where if it didn't tell me who was speaking at certain points, I could tell if Valkyrie or Skulduggery was speaking.
Dead or Alive did end out on a high note, which left me itching for the next one (i think the finale?).
May 23, 2022
I have decided I am no longer going to be giving these books higher ratings than I objectively think they deserve just because of the nostalgia factor of how much I enjoy certain aspects of them due to phase 1 being one of my favourite series of all time. Whilst I did enjoy Valkyire and Skulduggery being together and interacting for most of the book - a lovely change from previous phase 2 books - and the time travel plotline with Cadaver Cain and co was indeed a lot of fun, it was VERY hard to push past my constant annoyance at the author's surface-level, unnuanced political commentary in order to appreciate the elements I did enjoy. 2.5 Stars.
May 30, 2021
These books are always a lot of fun to read, but then I almost immediately forget them. Things are getting so complicated; there are so many story lines and so many characters. I will always love the series but it's really got to end.
May 24, 2021
Okay, well wow.
I am not going to lie it would be almost impossible for me to rate a skulduggery pleasant book anything less then a 5 and at points in this I was tempted to go for a 4/4.5 due to a few little points that bugged me but the ending simply made the book so much better!!
I am not going to lie it would be almost impossible for me to rate a skulduggery pleasant book anything less then a 5 and at points in this I was tempted to go for a 4/4.5 due to a few little points that bugged me but the ending simply made the book so much better!!
September 19, 2021
what the F*CK JUST HAPPENED????? I mean ok so first of all we get time-travel, a ridiculously complex plot which ONCE AGAIN draws on scenes from 10 books ago WE DIDN'T SPARE A SECOND THOUGHT OVER,,, and MALICE HAPPENED? and now we have a Valkyrie's whose mind has snapped. I've genuinely never in my life experienced the chokehold of reading so strong as to silly little Irish men,, how do you actually even master literature like this
April 4, 2021
Ahhhahahaha THIS WAS FUN. FIRST P2 BOOK WHERE VAL & SKUL WE'RE NOT SEPERATED AN ABSOLUTE DELIGHT. Didn't make a lick of sense but oh boy did I have a hoot. PRAISE BE THIS CHAOTIC TOME 💀💪🎉
May 19, 2021
So this is a 4.5 rounded up. Loved the first 90% but the ending was rushed and feels like some scenes were cut? Great overall tho
April 22, 2025
── ✦✦✦✦✦:
“A wise man once said—”
“You, right?”
“—never underestimate a heart of evil—”
“I bet it was you.”
“—for in that heart you can—”
“It was you, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, it was me,”
I have no words other than I was freaking out the whole time. My blood pressure was through the roof and I officially need an inhaler 24/7 from the hyperventilating I did.
I know the next book is going to be horrifying and is going to break my heart. But this book had me at the edge of my seat. The War looming ahead?? All the betrayals?? Enemies being friends?? Friends being enemies??
I can’t do this anymore— I will put myself in a coma at this point.
“A wise man once said—”
“You, right?”
“—never underestimate a heart of evil—”
“I bet it was you.”
“—for in that heart you can—”
“It was you, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, it was me,”
I have no words other than I was freaking out the whole time. My blood pressure was through the roof and I officially need an inhaler 24/7 from the hyperventilating I did.
I know the next book is going to be horrifying and is going to break my heart. But this book had me at the edge of my seat. The War looming ahead?? All the betrayals?? Enemies being friends?? Friends being enemies??
I can’t do this anymore— I will put myself in a coma at this point.
May 26, 2021
Three stars
I mean at this point I'm only continuing with this series because there's only one to go. The first phase was great and I really wish these new ones weren't written. Still I need answers so....
I mean at this point I'm only continuing with this series because there's only one to go. The first phase was great and I really wish these new ones weren't written. Still I need answers so....
March 27, 2021
Hmmmmmmmmm
Review to come!!
Review to come!!
August 28, 2022
Absolutely bonkers. Entertaining af tho.
May 13, 2021
Two years, I have awaited the arrival of this book since completing the last. When the book finally arrived, I expected to be as entertained reading this as much as I had been years before. My expectations were high. Thank goodness I wasn’t disappointed. This was as phenomenal as I had remembered and was absolutely worth the wait. My only complaint is that reading this made me lose copious amounts of sleep, as I’m sure it will continue to do so in my wait for the next book.
July 13, 2024
This was so bad I wanted to give it a zero, but that’s not possible so I give you a one.
In all honestly what the actual fuck? Like what the fuck was this? Oh yeah let’s just make new powers and travel to the future FOUR times?! Also how many times can Val be a vessel for an all evil entity?! I’m sick to death!
To all the bitches who say book 15 is the best I’m watching your ass.
In all honestly what the actual fuck? Like what the fuck was this? Oh yeah let’s just make new powers and travel to the future FOUR times?! Also how many times can Val be a vessel for an all evil entity?! I’m sick to death!
To all the bitches who say book 15 is the best I’m watching your ass.
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