What do you think?
Rate this book
Skulduggery Pleasant #13
Seasons of War
The thirteenth thrilling novel in the internationally bestselling Skulduggery Pleasant series, SEASONS OF WAR will test the Skeleton Detective and Valkyrie like never before…
War is coming. To avert catastrophe, Skulduggery and Valkyrie are sent on a secret mission that takes them away from everything they know, to a forsaken land of magic and grim, unrelenting terror. It is here that Valkyrie will have to fight the hardest — not only against the enemies who want her dead, but also against her own self-destructive impulses. It's only by crawling through darkness that she'll be able to once again stand in the light…
War is coming. To avert catastrophe, Skulduggery and Valkyrie are sent on a secret mission that takes them away from everything they know, to a forsaken land of magic and grim, unrelenting terror. It is here that Valkyrie will have to fight the hardest — not only against the enemies who want her dead, but also against her own self-destructive impulses. It's only by crawling through darkness that she'll be able to once again stand in the light…
592 pages, Paperback
First published April 13, 2020
261 people are currently reading
3500 people want to read
About the author
Derek Landy
236 books5,215 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 335 reviews
July 31, 2021
Star Rating: —> 5 Stars
Holy freakin’ moly. So insaneeeeee! I don’t know how Derek Landy does this! He is utterly genius!
Each & every single novel in this series has been life changing.
Living in these books has been truly & completely addicting... my goodness they are the most magical, original, ironic, sarcastic as hell, badass, mystifying, topsy-turvy, CRAZY, INSANE books i’ve ever read! i will never get enough of all of the magic, the supernatural & magic beings, the mysterious creatures, the secret magical locations, the various new dimensions (!), the constant new & each just as devastating as the last (even more so, actually... just when you think the ante couldn’t be upped... there it is) scrapes with Armageddon... you’d think there would not be anything even remotely possible that could surprise you... but it damn always does! This books are so WONDERFULLY weird, & are actually pretty horrifying & violent at times... but the banter, wit, and generally just freakin’ hilarious sarcasm filled narrative evens it all out. There are always new absolutely bonkers secrets being revealed & new plots slowly forming from book to book. These are truly all works of speculative fiction mastery!
This particular book took Skullduggery, Valkyrie, Dex, Tanith, Sauracen, a newcomer Luke Skywalker (😂), and a seemingly reformed villian *GASPS* who shall remain anonymous— I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise— and sent them on a mission to a similar dimension, one they have visited long ago... where the terrible & evil Mevolent still lives. They are to stop him from invading THEIR world, aaaand kill him. SURPRISE TWIST! This world is overrun with creatures called Draugar (AKA ZOMBIES! 28 Days/weeks later style ZOMBIES!!!!) oh my goodness what a fun, scary as hell, wild adventure of a ride! This was absolutely fantastic. Another brilliant skullduggery novel, introducing us to maddening snippets that leave you itching to continue to investigate them (especially maddening when you realize that glimpses of even MORE NEW mysteries to solve show up left & right... and there are more to now figure out than were actually SOLVED in this book)!
And what is to come... holy hell... it is going to be BANANAS B-A-N-A-N-A-S!
GODDDD— i’ve been so spoiled, being able to read 13 (plus novellas) Skullduggery Pleasant books in a row!!! The huge advantage of discovering a brilliant series long after the first book has been published... though now, I feel quite empty, as just a few weeks later, I have now read them all... and now I must wait until 2021 to read the next. 😢
AHHHH!
Holy freakin’ moly. So insaneeeeee! I don’t know how Derek Landy does this! He is utterly genius!
Each & every single novel in this series has been life changing.
Living in these books has been truly & completely addicting... my goodness they are the most magical, original, ironic, sarcastic as hell, badass, mystifying, topsy-turvy, CRAZY, INSANE books i’ve ever read! i will never get enough of all of the magic, the supernatural & magic beings, the mysterious creatures, the secret magical locations, the various new dimensions (!), the constant new & each just as devastating as the last (even more so, actually... just when you think the ante couldn’t be upped... there it is) scrapes with Armageddon... you’d think there would not be anything even remotely possible that could surprise you... but it damn always does! This books are so WONDERFULLY weird, & are actually pretty horrifying & violent at times... but the banter, wit, and generally just freakin’ hilarious sarcasm filled narrative evens it all out. There are always new absolutely bonkers secrets being revealed & new plots slowly forming from book to book. These are truly all works of speculative fiction mastery!
This particular book took Skullduggery, Valkyrie, Dex, Tanith, Sauracen, a newcomer Luke Skywalker (😂), and a seemingly reformed villian *GASPS* who shall remain anonymous— I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise— and sent them on a mission to a similar dimension, one they have visited long ago... where the terrible & evil Mevolent still lives. They are to stop him from invading THEIR world, aaaand kill him. SURPRISE TWIST! This world is overrun with creatures called Draugar (AKA ZOMBIES! 28 Days/weeks later style ZOMBIES!!!!) oh my goodness what a fun, scary as hell, wild adventure of a ride! This was absolutely fantastic. Another brilliant skullduggery novel, introducing us to maddening snippets that leave you itching to continue to investigate them (especially maddening when you realize that glimpses of even MORE NEW mysteries to solve show up left & right... and there are more to now figure out than were actually SOLVED in this book)!
And what is to come... holy hell... it is going to be BANANAS B-A-N-A-N-A-S!
GODDDD— i’ve been so spoiled, being able to read 13 (plus novellas) Skullduggery Pleasant books in a row!!! The huge advantage of discovering a brilliant series long after the first book has been published... though now, I feel quite empty, as just a few weeks later, I have now read them all... and now I must wait until 2021 to read the next. 😢
AHHHH!
April 14, 2020
"Nothing good in this life comes without risk"
This was such a great a great adventure and I am fully here for this. I could have done with more conversations between Skulduggery and Valkyrie but there was more than enough awesomeness that I still loved every second. It was full of sarcasm, suspense and action so basically every ingredient for a great Landy is there. What I also need to mention (and I think I have already mentioned in the last reviews about this series): I love the fact that all this "we need to save the world and fight monsters" business in fact leaves the main character in bad shape. They don't brush the really bad experiences off and go on like nothing ever happened.
And again, Landy makes the president as Trump-ish as it gets. Loved it and I will be back for the next book and for rereads.
April 16, 2020
4.5 stars
Check out my spoiler-free video review on Youtube
Or the spoilery version
It's that time of year again! In the midst of a global pandemic, Derek Landy has once again blessed us with some top quality Skulduggery Pleasant content - and oh, boy, did this book deliver.
Seasons of War follows Skulduggery and Valkyrie as they reunite what's left of the Dead Men and head to Dimension X to assassinate Mevolent before he can cross dimensions and take over the world. Of course, the mission is more complicated than it sounds, given that a) Mevolent is one of the most powerful sorcerers to ever walk the earth, and b) half of the Dead Men are... well. You know. Dead.
As always, I read this book in one sitting and it was a truly wild ride. I feel like Seasons of War really played to the strengths of the Skulduggery Pleasant series, bringing us a triple threat of everything I love about it: a pacy plot, lots of action and a great deal of humour. With only three books left to go in the series, we're really ramping it up - though I have no idea where we can possibly go from here, having faced several of the series' most menacing villains all in one volume and lived to tell the tale. Over a decade since I started reading, this series still has the power to surprise me.
Above all, Seasons of War is fun. It's dark, gritty, at times terrifying and never lets up, constantly throwing more action at you and never letting up - but it's so enjoyable. I felt like I was just rolling with the punches and letting the story sweep me up and carry me along on the nostalgia train, as we returned to the OG Skulduggery characters and content and stuck with what these books do best. I think as a reader, I'm drawn to the original characters more because I've known and loved them for so long, so bringing Nefarian Serpine - a book one villain - back into the fold and making me fall in love with him was a stroke of genius. His development in this - not necessarily even in his characterisation, but in the ways the other characters see him - is absolutely incredible. He's gone through an amazing transformation and I'm totally obsessed with where this book has taken him as a character.
Speaking of transformations - Val!! Oh, my sweet summer child, how I've missed you. I know I say this with every book, but it feels like with every new volume the clouds clear and we get a little bit more of our girl back, and in this book the transformation finally feels complete. At the end of Bedlam, I was very concerned about Val's mental state - dependent on a creepy magical music box and dabbling with substance abuse just to cope with all the atrocities she's seen and committed - and Seasons of War opens with her in a very dark place, but it really takes some time to sit with Val and her emotions and help her relearn herself, to rebuild connections she's lost due to her own pain and suffering and her desire to punish herself, to put distance between herself and her family. By the end, she's experienced this very satisfying growth and really evolved as a character, giving a great sense of catharsis for me as a reader. It's like, all of this suffering and trauma has been worth it. This is the new Valkyrie Cain, who's suffered and made terrible mistakes and come out of it stronger than before. She's an icon and I love her.
To expand on that, the friendships in this book were wonderful. I think one of the reasons I've always been drawn to The Dead Men is because they do have this dynamic that leaps off the page, an enduring bond that can see them through anything and help them pull one another into the light. While all of the characters have some great moments, it's Skulduggery and Val who really shine in this book, having some really touching scenes together that are great to see, given that they're both allergic to their emotions and prefer to joke about their friendship rather than to acknowledge how important it is to them. Again, they spend a significant amount of time apart in this book (WHY, DEREK LANDY, WHY MUST YOU KEEP DOING THIS?) but it only serves to emphasize their faith in one another and how much they love each other. Skulduggery helps Val with her demons and brings her back from the brink over and over because he’d do anything for her and she’s his best friend; in return, she saves him over and over and he trusts her to do it because he knows that she is incredible and powerful and with or without his help, she'll find a way - that's what I'm here for, people. THAT is the essence of Skulduggery Pleasant. The skeleton detective and his partner Valkyrie Cain, together until the end. ...Except when they’re separated for more than 300 pages. On a point of accuracy, they're NOT together until the end, but they're together BY the end. At the end of the day, that's what matters.
I do have a few points of contention to make, though for the most part I did absolutely adore this. first of all, there were a few iffy moments with the pacing; while I loved the short, punchy chapters that made the story fly by, it did feel a bit off in places. The book takes place over the course of around 7 months, maybe a little longer, which is far longer than the usual duration of a Skulduggery book that I would say takes place over a few weeks at most. Because of this, we did kind of skip over some events that I felt could have used a little more development, and I didn't feel as invested in certain characters or situations as I could have been.
Secondly, there were a lot of people pairing off in these books, and I don't think romance is a particular strength of Derek Landy's - not because he's bad at it, per se, but because these books are very action-based and I feel like to really develop a romantic pairing you need more page time than this series can spare. When you've got a war, a heist, a zombie apocalypse and a presidential election all taking place in one book, you don't really have much time for canoodling. Derek Landy particularly seems to like pairing off his villains, and while he's done this well in the past (specifically in the case of Baron Vengeous and Eliza Scorn, the ultimate deranged, fanatical power couple) I think it's becoming a bit of a trend and I don't feel particularly invested in these relationships. There were a number of couples in this book and I didn't care much about any of them. Romance is hard, and I feel like it's not always necessary in this kind of series. Maybe we should leave it to the romance writers in this instance.
I also feel very sad about the way a beloved character is treated in this book. He truly is put through the wringer, something I loved about him is irreversibly altered and he gets a very disappointing, if somewhat poignant ending. This is something I disliked not because it was badly written, but just because I was personally very invested in this guy and have been for many years, and I feel like his concluding appearance was just so sad and not what I would have wanted for him. He deserved a far less gloomy exit. If anyone needs me I’ll just be over here in deep mourning, sobbing inconsolably into a pint of Ben & Jerry’s.
And finally, there's a Darquesse-centric plotline that makes me feel all kinds of weird, and I'm not here for it. I don't know what possessed Derek Landy to have Darquesse but I found it highly disturbing. If anyone has any spare cleaning products, I'd quite like to scrub my brain of that particular subplot. Unfortunately I doubt it'll happen, because hand soap and bleach are in short supply right now. Thanks for nothing, coronavirus.
If it wasn't already clear, I loved this. There were one or two shaky moments, but for the most part I think it was another excellent Skulduggery Pleasant book and a really great read.["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>
Check out my spoiler-free video review on Youtube
Or the spoilery version
It's that time of year again! In the midst of a global pandemic, Derek Landy has once again blessed us with some top quality Skulduggery Pleasant content - and oh, boy, did this book deliver.
Seasons of War follows Skulduggery and Valkyrie as they reunite what's left of the Dead Men and head to Dimension X to assassinate Mevolent before he can cross dimensions and take over the world. Of course, the mission is more complicated than it sounds, given that a) Mevolent is one of the most powerful sorcerers to ever walk the earth, and b) half of the Dead Men are... well. You know. Dead.
As always, I read this book in one sitting and it was a truly wild ride. I feel like Seasons of War really played to the strengths of the Skulduggery Pleasant series, bringing us a triple threat of everything I love about it: a pacy plot, lots of action and a great deal of humour. With only three books left to go in the series, we're really ramping it up - though I have no idea where we can possibly go from here, having faced several of the series' most menacing villains all in one volume and lived to tell the tale. Over a decade since I started reading, this series still has the power to surprise me.
Above all, Seasons of War is fun. It's dark, gritty, at times terrifying and never lets up, constantly throwing more action at you and never letting up - but it's so enjoyable. I felt like I was just rolling with the punches and letting the story sweep me up and carry me along on the nostalgia train, as we returned to the OG Skulduggery characters and content and stuck with what these books do best. I think as a reader, I'm drawn to the original characters more because I've known and loved them for so long, so bringing Nefarian Serpine - a book one villain - back into the fold and making me fall in love with him was a stroke of genius. His development in this - not necessarily even in his characterisation, but in the ways the other characters see him - is absolutely incredible. He's gone through an amazing transformation and I'm totally obsessed with where this book has taken him as a character.
Speaking of transformations - Val!! Oh, my sweet summer child, how I've missed you. I know I say this with every book, but it feels like with every new volume the clouds clear and we get a little bit more of our girl back, and in this book the transformation finally feels complete. At the end of Bedlam, I was very concerned about Val's mental state - dependent on a creepy magical music box and dabbling with substance abuse just to cope with all the atrocities she's seen and committed - and Seasons of War opens with her in a very dark place, but it really takes some time to sit with Val and her emotions and help her relearn herself, to rebuild connections she's lost due to her own pain and suffering and her desire to punish herself, to put distance between herself and her family. By the end, she's experienced this very satisfying growth and really evolved as a character, giving a great sense of catharsis for me as a reader. It's like, all of this suffering and trauma has been worth it. This is the new Valkyrie Cain, who's suffered and made terrible mistakes and come out of it stronger than before. She's an icon and I love her.
To expand on that, the friendships in this book were wonderful. I think one of the reasons I've always been drawn to The Dead Men is because they do have this dynamic that leaps off the page, an enduring bond that can see them through anything and help them pull one another into the light. While all of the characters have some great moments, it's Skulduggery and Val who really shine in this book, having some really touching scenes together that are great to see, given that they're both allergic to their emotions and prefer to joke about their friendship rather than to acknowledge how important it is to them. Again, they spend a significant amount of time apart in this book (WHY, DEREK LANDY, WHY MUST YOU KEEP DOING THIS?) but it only serves to emphasize their faith in one another and how much they love each other. Skulduggery helps Val with her demons and brings her back from the brink over and over because he’d do anything for her and she’s his best friend; in return, she saves him over and over and he trusts her to do it because he knows that she is incredible and powerful and with or without his help, she'll find a way - that's what I'm here for, people. THAT is the essence of Skulduggery Pleasant. The skeleton detective and his partner Valkyrie Cain, together until the end. ...Except when they’re separated for more than 300 pages. On a point of accuracy, they're NOT together until the end, but they're together BY the end. At the end of the day, that's what matters.
I do have a few points of contention to make, though for the most part I did absolutely adore this. first of all, there were a few iffy moments with the pacing; while I loved the short, punchy chapters that made the story fly by, it did feel a bit off in places. The book takes place over the course of around 7 months, maybe a little longer, which is far longer than the usual duration of a Skulduggery book that I would say takes place over a few weeks at most. Because of this, we did kind of skip over some events that I felt could have used a little more development, and I didn't feel as invested in certain characters or situations as I could have been.
Secondly, there were a lot of people pairing off in these books, and I don't think romance is a particular strength of Derek Landy's - not because he's bad at it, per se, but because these books are very action-based and I feel like to really develop a romantic pairing you need more page time than this series can spare. When you've got a war, a heist, a zombie apocalypse and a presidential election all taking place in one book, you don't really have much time for canoodling. Derek Landy particularly seems to like pairing off his villains, and while he's done this well in the past (specifically in the case of Baron Vengeous and Eliza Scorn, the ultimate deranged, fanatical power couple) I think it's becoming a bit of a trend and I don't feel particularly invested in these relationships. There were a number of couples in this book and I didn't care much about any of them. Romance is hard, and I feel like it's not always necessary in this kind of series. Maybe we should leave it to the romance writers in this instance.
I also feel very sad about the way a beloved character is treated in this book. He truly is put through the wringer, something I loved about him is irreversibly altered and he gets a very disappointing, if somewhat poignant ending. This is something I disliked not because it was badly written, but just because I was personally very invested in this guy and have been for many years, and I feel like his concluding appearance was just so sad and not what I would have wanted for him. He deserved a far less gloomy exit. If anyone needs me I’ll just be over here in deep mourning, sobbing inconsolably into a pint of Ben & Jerry’s.
And finally, there's a Darquesse-centric plotline that makes me feel all kinds of weird, and I'm not here for it. I don't know what possessed Derek Landy to have Darquesse but I found it highly disturbing. If anyone has any spare cleaning products, I'd quite like to scrub my brain of that particular subplot. Unfortunately I doubt it'll happen, because hand soap and bleach are in short supply right now. Thanks for nothing, coronavirus.
If it wasn't already clear, I loved this. There were one or two shaky moments, but for the most part I think it was another excellent Skulduggery Pleasant book and a really great read.["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>
May 13, 2020
Yet again, I want to give the latest Skulduggery adventure 5 stars, but I just can't. Whilst the characters remain some of my favourite in any series ever, the storylines are becoming increasingly lax, and honestly kind of dull. The pacing was off, and seemed to be a whole lot of nothing for two thirds, and then everything all at once, squished into the remaining third. Derek Landy still has a way with words, to his credit. The sass and snark and witty banter that makes up a lot of the dialogue is reminiscent of his earlier books, and one of the things I loved so much about the series initially. I'm glad we're finally moving on a little from broody, angsty Val, and I was really happy to see Omen step up and become a bit more involved too. This book had it's moments - we finally solve the mystery of Saracen's discipline and it's brilliant - and there's definitely elements of good Skulduggery story buried beneath the slow burn. But we're rehashing old villains, dragging out uninteresting subplots (honestly, Sebastian sucks) and I hate to admit it, but the plot this time was a real let down.
April 14, 2020
Derek: It's got a title "Seasons of War"!!
Me:
Derek: Also, it will "kick off the FINAL TRILOGY in the series."
Me:
Review - 15/04/20:
I never thought I'd say this, but Serpine was my favourite character.
full rtc later
Me:
Derek: Also, it will "kick off the FINAL TRILOGY in the series."
Me:
Review - 15/04/20:
I never thought I'd say this, but Serpine was my favourite character.
full rtc later
August 8, 2020
Me after finishing this book:
----------------------
Edit 2:
https://twitter.com/DerekLandy/status...
!!!
We got a cover!
Skulduggery with a sword and looking like the Grim Reaper!
Serpine!
Val!
and...
Serpine's Red Right Hand makes the cover look Christmassy XD
-------
Edit:
https://twitter.com/DerekLandy/status...
:')
-------
THIS IS NOT A DRILL!
WE ARE GOING TO FIND OUT WHAT SARACEN'S MAGICAL DISCIPLINE IS!!!
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1g-92_oN...["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>
----------------------
Edit 2:
https://twitter.com/DerekLandy/status...
!!!
We got a cover!
Skulduggery with a sword and looking like the Grim Reaper!
Serpine!
Val!
and...
-------
Edit:
https://twitter.com/DerekLandy/status...
:')
-------
THIS IS NOT A DRILL!
WE ARE GOING TO FIND OUT WHAT SARACEN'S MAGICAL DISCIPLINE IS!!!
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1g-92_oN...["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>
June 4, 2020
What the actual f**k?!?!
April 2, 2020
Valkyrie Cain is BACK, y’all.
After three years of grimacing through skulduggery books (while I’ve learned to love Resurrection’s evil skulduggery and other chaos, i spent my first read literally crying on my living room floor), I smiled and laughed and felt JOY AGAIN!!! UNBELIEVABLE.
This book brings back the joy and energy of phase 1. It’s genuinely funny and exciting, and seeing Valkyrie act like herself again was stupendous. I had a blast reading this and can’t wait to reread it, also not a sentiment I had for 11 or 12, lol.
Landy wrote this book in passes - instead of switching the POVS while writing, he wrote each characters story individually one after another. AND GOD DOES IT SHOW, LMAO. Temper’s plot line is absolute nonsense I can not make head or tails of. I like him as a character but it was a complete and utter waste of time. Omen’s story also feels disconnected but was hands down the best plot line he’s had. I enjoyed every element and emotionally connected to him again, after growing to loathe him after two books of “Omen hits on girls badly and waxes poetic about being straight.”
Sebastian’s storyline kidnapped me against my will and forced me to cohabitate with it and raise its children, okay, I KNOW it’s awful but I kind of love it anyway in how fucking batshit insane it is?
The last ten percent is a complete mess than felt like an entire other book crammed into the end of this one. It is the clearest sign derek DESPERATELY needs a new editor because nick lake has been phoning it in for years. And Militsa is a quite frankly concerning glimpse into Derek’s idea of the ideal relationship.
But, honestly... the worst thing about this book is knowing we could have had something this good the entire time, but for some reason... did not.
Cautiously optimistic for the next two. Grateful we got this one. Wow.
After three years of grimacing through skulduggery books (while I’ve learned to love Resurrection’s evil skulduggery and other chaos, i spent my first read literally crying on my living room floor), I smiled and laughed and felt JOY AGAIN!!! UNBELIEVABLE.
This book brings back the joy and energy of phase 1. It’s genuinely funny and exciting, and seeing Valkyrie act like herself again was stupendous. I had a blast reading this and can’t wait to reread it, also not a sentiment I had for 11 or 12, lol.
Landy wrote this book in passes - instead of switching the POVS while writing, he wrote each characters story individually one after another. AND GOD DOES IT SHOW, LMAO. Temper’s plot line is absolute nonsense I can not make head or tails of. I like him as a character but it was a complete and utter waste of time. Omen’s story also feels disconnected but was hands down the best plot line he’s had. I enjoyed every element and emotionally connected to him again, after growing to loathe him after two books of “Omen hits on girls badly and waxes poetic about being straight.”
Sebastian’s storyline kidnapped me against my will and forced me to cohabitate with it and raise its children, okay, I KNOW it’s awful but I kind of love it anyway in how fucking batshit insane it is?
The last ten percent is a complete mess than felt like an entire other book crammed into the end of this one. It is the clearest sign derek DESPERATELY needs a new editor because nick lake has been phoning it in for years. And Militsa is a quite frankly concerning glimpse into Derek’s idea of the ideal relationship.
But, honestly... the worst thing about this book is knowing we could have had something this good the entire time, but for some reason... did not.
Cautiously optimistic for the next two. Grateful we got this one. Wow.
July 5, 2020
I could cry right now.
You know, every year I desperately wait for the summer to come so that I get to read a new Skulduggery book, meet all my lovely characters again, be mindblown by yet another mindblowing plot , cry a little at just how good everything is and go back to feeling complete again for an entire one week. Then, of course, the same year-long yearning for MORE begins.
I am so content, so sated right now. Like of course, I need answers, I need more but I am still extremely satisfied. This satisfaction isn't just got to do with the story being as good as it is. Well, of course, there is that but it's more about how nostalgic I feel whenever I read these books. Like, when I was reading it, I was smiling the entire time ( I mean, except for the parts where there was lots of dying and lots of blood. I am not a psychopath, no.) because it would remind me exactly why I loved this series so much as a kid. This was the first series I had read in my life. And it was one of the best things that had ever happened to the 11-year-old me. I am 20 now, and it still is one of the best things to ever happen to me.
Well, we have come a long way since then. Somewhere along the way, these books took a dark turn, they weren't so lighthearted anymore as the initial few books had been. You can tell that these new books, after the original series ended, are different. Not in a good or a bad way. It's just how it is. It's gloomier, etched with the losses of all those wonderful characters. Every time I see the old squad in these books, I get a little emotional. It can be overwhelming to see how few of them are left. So obviously after everything that has happened, after all the losses our characters have had to face, the series can't go back to being lighthearted again. And I don't want it to be. It wouldn't make sense.
I hated how Valkyrie's mental health was taking a toll in these newer series but I was also glad that Mr. Landy brought this aspect of her mental health being affected by everything that's happened to light. Because I have read a lot of series where obviously people die and suffer losses of loved ones. But they barely bring light to the the supposed hero/heroine's mental healths. So even though, it broke my heart to see her like that, I was glad that the author as putting it out there.
Sometimes I pick the first book from the shelf to read how energetic and innocent and happy the 12-year-old Valkyrie had been. I miss her. A lot. But it's okay. After everything that she has been put through, of course, it would change her. She is 26 now, an adult. She has grown, matured, improved, and deteriorated in the ways as anyone else would after all that she has suffered through. So it's fine. She is not the same little girl, but she is still Valkyrie. And I was so, so happy to see her finally getting better in this book. She is the strongest woman I know, and I grew up alongside her so I am extremely attached to her character. And her finally mending her self made me happier beyond words.
I was very excited to see to old squad go on a mission. It was like old times and it was a rollercoaster. Why Saracen??? That was the saddest part of the entire book. I actually cried a little at the part where he made a best friend test for Tanith to see if she would be able to be dexter's new friend. Like, he actually did that. . It was very endearing to see the interaction between old friends. But I kept missing the old ones, Ghastly especially.
This particular scene really struck me. I have always been really insecure about certain things about my body and appearance but after reading this, it made me feel thousand times and also vain for worrying about things that don't matter. And it made me miss Ghastly so much more.
Honestly, Valkyrie Cain is the best girl ever. Skulduggery Pleasant approves.
AAAAAAAH. Just look at the pride in his voice when he says that. I can never imagine Skulduggery saying all of this for anyone else other than Valkyrie. Their friendship and bond are one of the loveliest things ever. I can never get enough of their relationship. Speaking of relationships, I am so invested in the Valkyrie and Militsa ship. I don't want it to ever get ruined. Militsa is perfect for Valkyrie and their relationship is so warm and cute. And they deserve the world. Also, about
Omen didn't have that much of a, what is the book version of screentime? Page time? I am pretty sure that's not it but I'm just gonna go with it. Yeah, so Omen didn't have much of a page time ( it sounds so awkward) since he wasn't a part of the big mission with Skulduggery and Valkyrie this time. Instead, he was busy with his own little mission. I really like the kid and I would like to see more of him in the upcoming books.
I am so excited for
Moving on, I think I might be in love with Serpine. There, I said it. I never thought I would say this but he was kind of adorable in this book. Damn, he grew on me a whole lot. Also, he is so funny. He has to get brownie points for that. Who doesn't like funny? But of course, I don't trust him. He is selfish and insensitive but then again, we all love morally grey characters who are hot and funny.
I am going to keep missing all of these lovely people especially my OGs Skulduggery and Valkyrie for another year. But the anticipation will be worth it.
These two, I swear, will be the end of me.
* this book also helped me check off two prompts from two different Reading Challenges that I have participated in -
POPSUGAR READING CHALLENGE 2020 for " A book with a three word title."
and AROUND THE YEAR IN 52 BOOKS CHALLENGE 2020 for " A book related to one of the four horsemen f the apocalypse." *["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>
You know, every year I desperately wait for the summer to come so that I get to read a new Skulduggery book, meet all my lovely characters again, be mindblown by yet another mindblowing plot , cry a little at just how good everything is and go back to feeling complete again for an entire one week. Then, of course, the same year-long yearning for MORE begins.
I am so content, so sated right now. Like of course, I need answers, I need more but I am still extremely satisfied. This satisfaction isn't just got to do with the story being as good as it is. Well, of course, there is that but it's more about how nostalgic I feel whenever I read these books. Like, when I was reading it, I was smiling the entire time ( I mean, except for the parts where there was lots of dying and lots of blood. I am not a psychopath, no.) because it would remind me exactly why I loved this series so much as a kid. This was the first series I had read in my life. And it was one of the best things that had ever happened to the 11-year-old me. I am 20 now, and it still is one of the best things to ever happen to me.
Well, we have come a long way since then. Somewhere along the way, these books took a dark turn, they weren't so lighthearted anymore as the initial few books had been. You can tell that these new books, after the original series ended, are different. Not in a good or a bad way. It's just how it is. It's gloomier, etched with the losses of all those wonderful characters. Every time I see the old squad in these books, I get a little emotional. It can be overwhelming to see how few of them are left. So obviously after everything that has happened, after all the losses our characters have had to face, the series can't go back to being lighthearted again. And I don't want it to be. It wouldn't make sense.
I hated how Valkyrie's mental health was taking a toll in these newer series but I was also glad that Mr. Landy brought this aspect of her mental health being affected by everything that's happened to light. Because I have read a lot of series where obviously people die and suffer losses of loved ones. But they barely bring light to the the supposed hero/heroine's mental healths. So even though, it broke my heart to see her like that, I was glad that the author as putting it out there.
Sometimes I pick the first book from the shelf to read how energetic and innocent and happy the 12-year-old Valkyrie had been. I miss her. A lot. But it's okay. After everything that she has been put through, of course, it would change her. She is 26 now, an adult. She has grown, matured, improved, and deteriorated in the ways as anyone else would after all that she has suffered through. So it's fine. She is not the same little girl, but she is still Valkyrie. And I was so, so happy to see her finally getting better in this book. She is the strongest woman I know, and I grew up alongside her so I am extremely attached to her character. And her finally mending her self made me happier beyond words.
I was very excited to see to old squad go on a mission. It was like old times and it was a rollercoaster. Why Saracen??? That was the saddest part of the entire book. I actually cried a little at the part where he made a best friend test for Tanith to see if she would be able to be dexter's new friend. Like, he actually did that. . It was very endearing to see the interaction between old friends. But I kept missing the old ones, Ghastly especially.
"Bad news?"
"The, you know, the scars. And the bent nose and the jaw."
"Ah," she said.
He continued quickly " I mean, you're still attractive. Still very attractive. I'm not saying you're ugly or anything ..."
Valkyrie laughed, and it didn't hurt. "I knew someone once whose face was full of scars. and a more beautiful person I don't think I've ever met. And I know a woman with a flawless face and there have been times when I never wanted to see her again. What I'm saying is, Scorry, is that I don't really care about ugly or pretty. I'm just happy I'm healthy. And that's thanks to you."
This particular scene really struck me. I have always been really insecure about certain things about my body and appearance but after reading this, it made me feel thousand times and also vain for worrying about things that don't matter. And it made me miss Ghastly so much more.
Honestly, Valkyrie Cain is the best girl ever. Skulduggery Pleasant approves.
" She's smarter than that, you know. She's not going to just charge in here, guns blazing. You're dealing with someone whose actions you can't predict. I've taught her everything I know, but she's so much more than that. You won't beat her, you can't outsmart her, and you'll never - ever- see her coming. She's your worst nightmare, Mevolent. If Valkyrie Cain is in the city, you've already lost. "
AAAAAAAH. Just look at the pride in his voice when he says that. I can never imagine Skulduggery saying all of this for anyone else other than Valkyrie. Their friendship and bond are one of the loveliest things ever. I can never get enough of their relationship. Speaking of relationships, I am so invested in the Valkyrie and Militsa ship. I don't want it to ever get ruined. Militsa is perfect for Valkyrie and their relationship is so warm and cute. And they deserve the world. Also, about
Omen didn't have that much of a, what is the book version of screentime? Page time? I am pretty sure that's not it but I'm just gonna go with it. Yeah, so Omen didn't have much of a page time ( it sounds so awkward) since he wasn't a part of the big mission with Skulduggery and Valkyrie this time. Instead, he was busy with his own little mission. I really like the kid and I would like to see more of him in the upcoming books.
I am so excited for
Moving on, I think I might be in love with Serpine. There, I said it. I never thought I would say this but he was kind of adorable in this book. Damn, he grew on me a whole lot. Also, he is so funny. He has to get brownie points for that. Who doesn't like funny? But of course, I don't trust him. He is selfish and insensitive but then again, we all love morally grey characters who are hot and funny.
I am going to keep missing all of these lovely people especially my OGs Skulduggery and Valkyrie for another year. But the anticipation will be worth it.
"And then you'll be back, will you?"
She smiled at him. "Of course I will. I can't stay away from you, you know that."
The way his head tilted, Valkyrie knew that pleased him.
These two, I swear, will be the end of me.
* this book also helped me check off two prompts from two different Reading Challenges that I have participated in -
POPSUGAR READING CHALLENGE 2020 for " A book with a three word title."
and AROUND THE YEAR IN 52 BOOKS CHALLENGE 2020 for " A book related to one of the four horsemen f the apocalypse." *["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>
August 29, 2022
Funny. For people looking for grown up Percy Jackson.
Could have used 2 less storylines.
Could have used 2 less storylines.
November 26, 2021
Sarcasm has always been the luxury of the ruling class.
Woah this one one was an absolute rollercoaster of a ride from start to finish there was so much happening from so many different perspectives that it at times made it hard to keep up. One thing Derek has done really well is make sure all of the different characters that are apart of the main core story get a chance to have their voice heard and it's always such a great time.
Plot: Seasons of War is definitely just setting up for a big all out fight of fights to end it all and with a small taste of what we got in this one is what to come we all better hold on to our hats because it's about to be one bumpy ride. Skulduggery, Valkyrie, Tanith, Dexter, Saracen and Serpine all make there way to an alternate dimension to defeat Mevolent. The banter between this group has been some of the best i've seen in the entire history of the series and honestly each character bounced off the other so effortlessly it was just incredible.
However this trip turns out to be one they wouldn't have imagined when things turn south when Valkyrie is separated from the rest of the group and for me it was one of the more interesting aspects of the story seeing Valkyrie for the first time in a long time been away from Skulduggery and having to go at it alone which was interesting to see. Skulduggery also was having trouble with the separation and it was so obvious to not only me but the characters as well but with how long these two have been together as partners it's amazing that they know what the other will do even before it happens which is amazing.
Valkyrie's sister Alice is something else that was lightly skipped over in this book and I really wanted more to this side story because what Alice went through was traumatic to say the least. Alice has gone through so much in the 8 years of life she's had with being killed by Valkyrie to getting resurrected then on top of that having her emotions tampered with would have it's toll. However the only information we really get in this book is that Alice is now getting the help for this sudden burst of emotion to help her deal with it all and not much else is said about it and hopefully we get more in the next book.
Omen is such a little gem of the series since he was introduced and i really like how much this character has grown up and it makes me happy to see. Omen is in the shadow of his twin brother Auger who is referred to the 'chosen' one and a prophecy that's been set in stone for a very long time and you don't really hear him get angry or bitter about it in the slightest. He even helps his brother battle the king of the darklands and comes out victorious alongside his brother and i loved the moment they wished each other happy birthday after the fight it was the best.
Can we get Serpine back in here?” Saracen grumbled. “I feel that I need to punch someone.
At the core of this book it's all about healing and overcoming past traumas that have affected all the characters. Valkyrie especially has overcome so much during these 13 books in the series starting from when she was a new teenager to her mid to late twenties as she's been in countless fights and battles that could possibly and literally end the world that she knows. I think she still isn't over the fact that she killed her baby sister a few books back and it's touched on in the beginning of the book when she's having a conversation with Kes about Alice. Tanith also has been with being possessed with a very powerful entity to getting rid of it and trying to slowly build her life again and i think she's still not quiet 100% to where she is but is slowly making her way back.
Seasons of War is really setting up the next however many books Derek has planned before he ends it once again but i think we set for at least another book or two and i'm ready. I would have never of thought how much of an impact this series would have on me 3 years later and how much i would have grown to love this series and never in my wildest dreams in 2018 when i picked this book up would i ever have seen it. I'm so glad that the books have been out so i haven't had to wait like most people because i would get really hungry for it because these books are so good.
This series has remained snarky, funny and full of the incredible action and story that i've come to love and i'm really glad i picked this series up when i did because i can't imagine life without it!
Woah this one one was an absolute rollercoaster of a ride from start to finish there was so much happening from so many different perspectives that it at times made it hard to keep up. One thing Derek has done really well is make sure all of the different characters that are apart of the main core story get a chance to have their voice heard and it's always such a great time.
Plot: Seasons of War is definitely just setting up for a big all out fight of fights to end it all and with a small taste of what we got in this one is what to come we all better hold on to our hats because it's about to be one bumpy ride. Skulduggery, Valkyrie, Tanith, Dexter, Saracen and Serpine all make there way to an alternate dimension to defeat Mevolent. The banter between this group has been some of the best i've seen in the entire history of the series and honestly each character bounced off the other so effortlessly it was just incredible.
However this trip turns out to be one they wouldn't have imagined when things turn south when Valkyrie is separated from the rest of the group and for me it was one of the more interesting aspects of the story seeing Valkyrie for the first time in a long time been away from Skulduggery and having to go at it alone which was interesting to see. Skulduggery also was having trouble with the separation and it was so obvious to not only me but the characters as well but with how long these two have been together as partners it's amazing that they know what the other will do even before it happens which is amazing.
Valkyrie's sister Alice is something else that was lightly skipped over in this book and I really wanted more to this side story because what Alice went through was traumatic to say the least. Alice has gone through so much in the 8 years of life she's had with being killed by Valkyrie to getting resurrected then on top of that having her emotions tampered with would have it's toll. However the only information we really get in this book is that Alice is now getting the help for this sudden burst of emotion to help her deal with it all and not much else is said about it and hopefully we get more in the next book.
Omen is such a little gem of the series since he was introduced and i really like how much this character has grown up and it makes me happy to see. Omen is in the shadow of his twin brother Auger who is referred to the 'chosen' one and a prophecy that's been set in stone for a very long time and you don't really hear him get angry or bitter about it in the slightest. He even helps his brother battle the king of the darklands and comes out victorious alongside his brother and i loved the moment they wished each other happy birthday after the fight it was the best.
Can we get Serpine back in here?” Saracen grumbled. “I feel that I need to punch someone.
At the core of this book it's all about healing and overcoming past traumas that have affected all the characters. Valkyrie especially has overcome so much during these 13 books in the series starting from when she was a new teenager to her mid to late twenties as she's been in countless fights and battles that could possibly and literally end the world that she knows. I think she still isn't over the fact that she killed her baby sister a few books back and it's touched on in the beginning of the book when she's having a conversation with Kes about Alice. Tanith also has been with being possessed with a very powerful entity to getting rid of it and trying to slowly build her life again and i think she's still not quiet 100% to where she is but is slowly making her way back.
Seasons of War is really setting up the next however many books Derek has planned before he ends it once again but i think we set for at least another book or two and i'm ready. I would have never of thought how much of an impact this series would have on me 3 years later and how much i would have grown to love this series and never in my wildest dreams in 2018 when i picked this book up would i ever have seen it. I'm so glad that the books have been out so i haven't had to wait like most people because i would get really hungry for it because these books are so good.
This series has remained snarky, funny and full of the incredible action and story that i've come to love and i'm really glad i picked this series up when i did because i can't imagine life without it!
June 18, 2020
God, I have so many opinions about this book and so many mixed feelings. The whole of phase 2 of the SP series has felt kinda unnecessary, but I did really enjoy the premise of this book as an insular narrative, and the adventure that Skulduggery and Valkyrie embark upon was super fun: travelling to an alternate universe to kill Mevolent before he can kill their world. In fact, I really enjoyed the first half of this book: the getting together of a team of beloved characters, Valkyrie's healing process as she moves beyond her guilt and unhealthy coping mechanisms, the banter between the gang and the addition of Serpine as a redeemable character were all things I LOVED about this book. However, once the gang is separated and a certain character death occurred I found myself caring less and less about the primary plot as it seemed to drag on with a lot of irrelevant side quests. Also, Landy has a thing about killing off fan favourite characters, which can definitely work to make the reader even more emotional as he successfully pulled off in earlier SP books, but the character death in this one just felt cheap and unnecessary: he brought back a fan favourite character but didn't really know what to do with him so just decided to kill him off for the drama. Additionally, as has been a constant issue with phase 2, there were a lot of irrelevant side narratives following characters that I just don't care about: Omen's story had literally nothing to do with Skulduggery and Valkyrie in this one and whilst there were a couple of things I enjoyed about his storyline (his feelings for Never being explored and the reveal of who Crepuscular is), the storyline of the King of the Darklands was done so poorly and wrapped up in one single chapter right at the end that it made him and the people around him appear irrelevant for the past 3 books. Also, Temper's and Sebastian's storylines were just plain bad, and all of these random inclusions made me forget what was going on in the actual plot, especially as there were large time gaps between chapters.
Overall, I liked the first half, thought the book dragged in the middle, but that it had a good final battle but a poor ending overall. 3/5 stars - some mixed feelings dragged my rating down, I really wanted this to be at least 4 stars and there were bits that definitely were, but there was a lot that really let this book down for me overall. I'm not sure if even Landy knows where this series is going at this point, but there will always be a part of me that is excited to revisit these characters.
Overall, I liked the first half, thought the book dragged in the middle, but that it had a good final battle but a poor ending overall. 3/5 stars - some mixed feelings dragged my rating down, I really wanted this to be at least 4 stars and there were bits that definitely were, but there was a lot that really let this book down for me overall. I'm not sure if even Landy knows where this series is going at this point, but there will always be a part of me that is excited to revisit these characters.
June 1, 2020
Only Derek Landy could turn a notorious villain into a loveable rogue hero.
This instalment of the series picks up where we left off and gets even nuttier over time. Darquesse is back, Valkyrie is having a mare and more of skulduggery’s skeletons keep crawling out the closet.
The plot is as fast paced as ever, the dialogue witty and sharp, the writing hilarious and intriguing in equal measure.
This instalment of the series picks up where we left off and gets even nuttier over time. Darquesse is back, Valkyrie is having a mare and more of skulduggery’s skeletons keep crawling out the closet.
The plot is as fast paced as ever, the dialogue witty and sharp, the writing hilarious and intriguing in equal measure.
August 1, 2020
Popsugar's 2020 Reading Challenge: A book that's published in 2020
Yep, another 5 stars for Mr. Landy. I can't help myself
Yep, another 5 stars for Mr. Landy. I can't help myself
July 6, 2020
Of course, another great Skulduggery book. BOOK 13!!!!!
Is it dragging on a bit though? Yes.
I don't think I should really write a review about this because as it's book 13, I can't talk about anything and not spoil stuff for you, plus, if you're gonna read this, you're gonna have to go all the way back to book 1.
→3.5 stars
Is it dragging on a bit though? Yes.
I don't think I should really write a review about this because as it's book 13, I can't talk about anything and not spoil stuff for you, plus, if you're gonna read this, you're gonna have to go all the way back to book 1.
→3.5 stars
April 25, 2020
A time has not come yet when I rate SP book anything other then 5 stars.
I have my issues with is book, but I need some time to cool off before formulating them.
I have my issues with is book, but I need some time to cool off before formulating them.
July 9, 2020
Not may favourite book in the series, but not my least favourite either. Love the action and fast-paced battle scenes (of which there were many), but everything started to get a little muddled up near the end. It was like all the scenarios I pictured happening at the very end of the series happened within the space of a few chapters, and it felt pretty rushed and messy. Like Landy had forgotten to wrap things up.
Although the one thing I can give him credit for is unpredictability. So many books of this genre are way too predictable and everything gets wrapped up in a neat little bow. But not with this series. Bad guys working with good guys, good guys doing very bad things, prophecies are wrong, heroes are corrupt, up is down, down is up, cats and dogs living together.
13 books in and I still never know what to expect, which is great because I'm always kept turning pages. But it's also not great because it's like being slapped in the face when one of my favourite characters is killed off unexpectedly, or in a way that I never expected them to go.
SPOILER ALERT:
I can't believe I had to say goodbye to another Dead Man. Whatever happened to "And don't take our name too literally. We actually do out best not to die" ??
Although the one thing I can give him credit for is unpredictability. So many books of this genre are way too predictable and everything gets wrapped up in a neat little bow. But not with this series. Bad guys working with good guys, good guys doing very bad things, prophecies are wrong, heroes are corrupt, up is down, down is up, cats and dogs living together.
13 books in and I still never know what to expect, which is great because I'm always kept turning pages. But it's also not great because it's like being slapped in the face when one of my favourite characters is killed off unexpectedly, or in a way that I never expected them to go.
SPOILER ALERT:
I can't believe I had to say goodbye to another Dead Man. Whatever happened to "And don't take our name too literally. We actually do out best not to die" ??
June 2, 2025
Well. Damn.
A very interesting book. Very different from the rest of the series in many ways. Spread out over such a long period of time, but Derek wrote it so well! Love Omen’s character development over the course of the books. Love how Val is finally letting herself heal. Very interested to see where the books go from here!
A very interesting book. Very different from the rest of the series in many ways. Spread out over such a long period of time, but Derek wrote it so well! Love Omen’s character development over the course of the books. Love how Val is finally letting herself heal. Very interested to see where the books go from here!
November 24, 2020
Jedes Jahr aufs Neue freu ich mich auf den November, denn dann erscheint ein neuer Teil von Skulduggery Pleasant. Ich liebe die Reihe und war natürlich auf das neuste Abenteuer des dynamischen Duos Skulduggery und Walküre Unruh gespannt:
Mevolent ist zurück und in der Dimension X ist eine Zombieapokalypse ausgebrochen. Überall lauern Horden von Untoten und nur eine einzige Stadt ist noch sicher und genau in die ist Mevolent geflüchtet und plant von dort aus die Erde zu erobern. Skulduggery, Walküre und die Toten Männer werden ausgesandt, um Mevolent mithilfe der Götterschlächter Waffen zu töten. Leichter gesagt als getan denn erstmal müssen sie sich einen Weg durch das Land der Untoten schlagen und auf dem Weg dorthin ist plötzlich Walküre verschwunden...
Die 2. Staffel von Skulduggery Pleasant hat durchaus seine Probleme und kommt insgesamt nicht an die erste Reihe heran. Mit Untotenland konnte Derek Landy mich aber wieder packen.
Zum einen haben wir die Geschichte um Skulduggery, Walküre und die Toten Männer im Leibniz Universum und ihren Auftrag Mevolent zu töten. Zum anderen geht auch die Geschichte um die Prophezeiung der Darkly Brüder weiter und dann haben wir auch noch Darquise am Start. Es ist also wieder einiges Los in der Geschichte.
Für mich am interessantesten war die Geschichte um die Darkly Brüder und ihrer Prophezeiung um den Nachtkönig. Das liegt daran, dass mir Omen sehr ans Herz gewachsen ist. Er ist in meinen Augen das Beste in den neuen Büchern da man sich wirklich leicht mit ihm identifizieren kann. Mit seiner naiven und tollpatschigen Art muss man ihn einfach lieben. Diesmal wird nochmal eindeutig gezeigt welchen Stellenwert er in seiner Familie hat, und wie sehr er darunter leidet.
Aber auch die Geschichte im Untotenland mit den Zombies und den Krieg gegen Mevolent hat es in sich. Hier erwarten uns wieder tolle Momente mit Walküre und Skulduggery, es war aber auch toll die Toten Männer wieder an Board zu haben.
Die Geschichte um Darquise fand ich zwar sehr sehr ... sehr strange aber das Ende lässt viel Raum für Spekulationen und ich bin gespannt wie es mit ihr weiter geht.
Zum Schreibstil brauch ich nach 13 Bänden glaube ich nichts mehr zu sagen, der ist gewohnt spannend, einfallsreich und vor allem witzig.
Insgesamt konnte mich Untotenland überzeugen und auch, wenn nicht alles perfekt ist, hat es mir wieder besser gefallen als zuletzt Mitternacht und Wahnsinn. Es passiert wieder sehr viel für eine einzige Geschichte aber Derek Landy gelingt es hier eine gute Balance zwischen Action und Charakterentwicklung zu schaffen. Ich bin gespannt wie es nun weiter geht vor allem mit Darquise und Omen.
4 von 5 Sternen
Mevolent ist zurück und in der Dimension X ist eine Zombieapokalypse ausgebrochen. Überall lauern Horden von Untoten und nur eine einzige Stadt ist noch sicher und genau in die ist Mevolent geflüchtet und plant von dort aus die Erde zu erobern. Skulduggery, Walküre und die Toten Männer werden ausgesandt, um Mevolent mithilfe der Götterschlächter Waffen zu töten. Leichter gesagt als getan denn erstmal müssen sie sich einen Weg durch das Land der Untoten schlagen und auf dem Weg dorthin ist plötzlich Walküre verschwunden...
Die 2. Staffel von Skulduggery Pleasant hat durchaus seine Probleme und kommt insgesamt nicht an die erste Reihe heran. Mit Untotenland konnte Derek Landy mich aber wieder packen.
Zum einen haben wir die Geschichte um Skulduggery, Walküre und die Toten Männer im Leibniz Universum und ihren Auftrag Mevolent zu töten. Zum anderen geht auch die Geschichte um die Prophezeiung der Darkly Brüder weiter und dann haben wir auch noch Darquise am Start. Es ist also wieder einiges Los in der Geschichte.
Für mich am interessantesten war die Geschichte um die Darkly Brüder und ihrer Prophezeiung um den Nachtkönig. Das liegt daran, dass mir Omen sehr ans Herz gewachsen ist. Er ist in meinen Augen das Beste in den neuen Büchern da man sich wirklich leicht mit ihm identifizieren kann. Mit seiner naiven und tollpatschigen Art muss man ihn einfach lieben. Diesmal wird nochmal eindeutig gezeigt welchen Stellenwert er in seiner Familie hat, und wie sehr er darunter leidet.
Aber auch die Geschichte im Untotenland mit den Zombies und den Krieg gegen Mevolent hat es in sich. Hier erwarten uns wieder tolle Momente mit Walküre und Skulduggery, es war aber auch toll die Toten Männer wieder an Board zu haben.
Die Geschichte um Darquise fand ich zwar sehr sehr ... sehr strange aber das Ende lässt viel Raum für Spekulationen und ich bin gespannt wie es mit ihr weiter geht.
Zum Schreibstil brauch ich nach 13 Bänden glaube ich nichts mehr zu sagen, der ist gewohnt spannend, einfallsreich und vor allem witzig.
Insgesamt konnte mich Untotenland überzeugen und auch, wenn nicht alles perfekt ist, hat es mir wieder besser gefallen als zuletzt Mitternacht und Wahnsinn. Es passiert wieder sehr viel für eine einzige Geschichte aber Derek Landy gelingt es hier eine gute Balance zwischen Action und Charakterentwicklung zu schaffen. Ich bin gespannt wie es nun weiter geht vor allem mit Darquise und Omen.
4 von 5 Sternen
April 15, 2020
Warning: ahead there be spoilers
It’s obligatory that I give every (main) Skulduggery Pleasant book a five star rating. The characters, the banter, the work building, it’s all always exceptional. And this book especially has been the best of Part 2. Dare I say it, but the first 90% was maybe even Kingdom of the Wicked/Last Stand of Dead Men levels of good. Not that the first three books in Part 2 were bad, they just felt like a Flanderized version of the world and characters but now we’re getting back to form.
The Skulduggery and Val plot was great. It always is, but this book was so good because Skul helped Val come to terms with the atrocities she’s done, something Skul himself has had to come to terms with. It really emphasized the father/daughter bond they have (I will never understand the people who read their relationship as romantic. That shit is fucking disgusting).
The Temper plotline was kinda out of nowhere and meaningless to me, but I liked seeing the snake things from Razia were his now.
The Sebastian plotline was definitely something and I can only imagine where it’ll go in the next two books since this was the beginning of the final trilogy.
The Omen storyline was all over the place if I’m being honest. I’ve been clear that I find his character really problematic and I lowkey wish Derek hadn’t added his character to the story at all. I can semi understand it as him wanting to keep a middle grade/YA thread in the books, but it really is just the weakest aspect of Part 2. And to be frank I’d rather just have more time with the established characters. It feels like the entire Darkly prophecy was something that Derek ended up getting fucked over by and that’s why it was resolution was crammed into the end of the book. And obviously to keep Omen relevant he had to meet up with Crepuscular. I like that he was revealed to be an old apprentice of Skul’s, but that plot could’ve easily been given to Val if Omen didn’t exist. I honestly feel there’s more interesting material to be written with that than with Omen meeting him.
Overall I did enjoy this book. The last 10% did feel like an entire books worth of plot shoved into 70 pages tho. The end of Mevolent was underwhelming by far. I really think it’s time this series ended, so I am glad there are only two more books coming. I guess they’ll focus more on whatever Crepuscular is planning and on how Darquesse (sp?) is gonna allegedly re-grow up and safe the world from him (I guess? Honestly have no clue). I can’t wait to see how Derek ends this.
It’s obligatory that I give every (main) Skulduggery Pleasant book a five star rating. The characters, the banter, the work building, it’s all always exceptional. And this book especially has been the best of Part 2. Dare I say it, but the first 90% was maybe even Kingdom of the Wicked/Last Stand of Dead Men levels of good. Not that the first three books in Part 2 were bad, they just felt like a Flanderized version of the world and characters but now we’re getting back to form.
The Skulduggery and Val plot was great. It always is, but this book was so good because Skul helped Val come to terms with the atrocities she’s done, something Skul himself has had to come to terms with. It really emphasized the father/daughter bond they have (I will never understand the people who read their relationship as romantic. That shit is fucking disgusting).
The Temper plotline was kinda out of nowhere and meaningless to me, but I liked seeing the snake things from Razia were his now.
The Sebastian plotline was definitely something and I can only imagine where it’ll go in the next two books since this was the beginning of the final trilogy.
The Omen storyline was all over the place if I’m being honest. I’ve been clear that I find his character really problematic and I lowkey wish Derek hadn’t added his character to the story at all. I can semi understand it as him wanting to keep a middle grade/YA thread in the books, but it really is just the weakest aspect of Part 2. And to be frank I’d rather just have more time with the established characters. It feels like the entire Darkly prophecy was something that Derek ended up getting fucked over by and that’s why it was resolution was crammed into the end of the book. And obviously to keep Omen relevant he had to meet up with Crepuscular. I like that he was revealed to be an old apprentice of Skul’s, but that plot could’ve easily been given to Val if Omen didn’t exist. I honestly feel there’s more interesting material to be written with that than with Omen meeting him.
Overall I did enjoy this book. The last 10% did feel like an entire books worth of plot shoved into 70 pages tho. The end of Mevolent was underwhelming by far. I really think it’s time this series ended, so I am glad there are only two more books coming. I guess they’ll focus more on whatever Crepuscular is planning and on how Darquesse (sp?) is gonna allegedly re-grow up and safe the world from him (I guess? Honestly have no clue). I can’t wait to see how Derek ends this.
February 22, 2021
Давам три звезди, защото се забавлявах много и заради носталгията, обаче съм разочарована от тази част от поредицата, ако съм честна. 4/5 от книгата беше супер. Нищо специално не се случваше ама имахме любимите си герои в комбина на пътешествие и приключение. Обаче последните 70стр напрау Дерек какво направи не знам. Още от преди две книги се кефех как постоянно създава нови злодеи и изглежда сякаш поредицата никога няма да свърши, е тук той се справи с двама трима от злодеите наведнъж и като цяло им отдели по една максимум две глави на всеки в последните 70стр. Лайк уат. Всеки от тях заслужаваше собствена книга според мен а не такова отношение. И имаше някви плотове дето никъде не отиваха, някви дето бяха там просто щото трябваше да спомене тези герои, за да не забравим, че съществуват. Не че нещо ама the Darkly thing. Бахти разочарованието. Дано има нещо повече там честно.
Нямам намерение да спирам да ги чета. Забавлявам си се с тях, смях се супер много, обаче разчитах, че Ланди ще ме впечатли накрая. Уел хич не ме. Чак се бях ядосала. Ще видим какво ще измисли за следващата, но тази засега може би ми е най-нелюбимата от всички досега. То е ясно, че аз съм извън възрастовата граница за тези книги, но преди това не ми пречеше. Тук обаче смотана работа.
Ай артлайн до догодина със следващата😂👌
Нямам намерение да спирам да ги чета. Забавлявам си се с тях, смях се супер много, обаче разчитах, че Ланди ще ме впечатли накрая. Уел хич не ме. Чак се бях ядосала. Ще видим какво ще измисли за следващата, но тази засега може би ми е най-нелюбимата от всички досега. То е ясно, че аз съм извън възрастовата граница за тези книги, но преди това не ми пречеше. Тук обаче смотана работа.
Ай артлайн до догодина със следващата😂👌
May 14, 2021
Thick, packed with action, fun dialoges and magic. Good as usual, all the names took some time to get back to but good story.
August 10, 2021
adshfjh I LOVED IT
April 22, 2020
I've felt that this 2nd story arc is a bit 'samey'. That said the story-telling is still fabulous and, honestly, I couldn't put it down, so maybe 'samey-ness' isn't a problem when you're on to a good thing. This installement was nicely fast paced and I liked the regular changing between the various sub-stories; for me it was a style that kept the book interesting. I think I may actually sort of like Nefarious Serpine and I'm not really sure I particularly like Skulduggery much nowadays. Valkyrie is both awesome and so seriously stupid you want to shake her and, in my opinion, there wasn't enough Omen. The witty dialogue we've grown to love, and so essential to these book, is, of course, present and correct. So is huge sadness- big sobs of sadness. This is probably my favourite so far of the second series.
May 27, 2022
Overall rating: 5 stars!
Oh Derek, you've done it again. You have once again provided a phenomenal book full of wit, adventure, magic and sarcasm. This was classic Skulduggery. This was perfect.
I absolutely loved this book, it felt like my childhood again. It's plot was interesting and well done, all of the characters are amazing, and the emotional arcs they all go through are realisitic to there personalities. Valkyrie spends a lot of the book struggling with her decisions of the past, but with the help of Skulduggery and Tanith, she get's to a good place, but unlike in other books where this is instantaneous, this takes place over months, and there is fall backs and Valkyrie eventually realises she doesn't have to be perfect, as long as she's okay, which is a lovely message.
The plot was absolutely kick ass, all aspects, granted, it had a bit of a sudden "oh okay" ending, but I think that's okay, because of how amazing and action packed the rest of the book was. They go back to the other dimension to try and stop Mevolent from invading their world by killing him, but of course run into a lot of trouble along the way.
There was action, ambush, magic and a lot of punching in the face that was just so in line with all that Skulduggery stands for I can't help but think this next trilogy of story will be up there with The Dying of the Light and I cannot wait to see how this story arc comes to a close.
"Skulduggery isn't the monster, you idiot. I am."
Oh Derek, you've done it again. You have once again provided a phenomenal book full of wit, adventure, magic and sarcasm. This was classic Skulduggery. This was perfect.
I absolutely loved this book, it felt like my childhood again. It's plot was interesting and well done, all of the characters are amazing, and the emotional arcs they all go through are realisitic to there personalities. Valkyrie spends a lot of the book struggling with her decisions of the past, but with the help of Skulduggery and Tanith, she get's to a good place, but unlike in other books where this is instantaneous, this takes place over months, and there is fall backs and Valkyrie eventually realises she doesn't have to be perfect, as long as she's okay, which is a lovely message.
The plot was absolutely kick ass, all aspects, granted, it had a bit of a sudden "oh okay" ending, but I think that's okay, because of how amazing and action packed the rest of the book was. They go back to the other dimension to try and stop Mevolent from invading their world by killing him, but of course run into a lot of trouble along the way.
There was action, ambush, magic and a lot of punching in the face that was just so in line with all that Skulduggery stands for I can't help but think this next trilogy of story will be up there with The Dying of the Light and I cannot wait to see how this story arc comes to a close.
"I went through my own thing. You're going through yours. We deal with our own traumas in our own ways. So I don't understand everything you're going though. But you need to hear these words, and you need to remember them. They might not be of much use to you now, because you've got your grieving to do, but at some stage in the future, they might help. Maybe."
April 30, 2020
I loved this.
I'm not saying it was perfect, and I haven't read any reviews so I don't know what the popular opinion is yet, but still. I thought it was great. It was a roller coaster from start to finish, and while I feel like some people might say the pacing was a hot mess, I actually really liked it? Like I wasn't ever bored, but I also didn't ever feel like we'd just skipped something vital that I wished had been better explored. Does that make sense?
I don't know.
What I do know is I'm very sad I have to wait so long for the next one. Well, I'm guessing I'll have a while to wait anyway. I haven't actually looked to see if there's a release date for number 14 yet. I'll probably do that next, along with checking out some reviews to see what other people thought.
As far as I'm concerned, this one was a winner.
5 stars!
I'm not saying it was perfect, and I haven't read any reviews so I don't know what the popular opinion is yet, but still. I thought it was great. It was a roller coaster from start to finish, and while I feel like some people might say the pacing was a hot mess, I actually really liked it? Like I wasn't ever bored, but I also didn't ever feel like we'd just skipped something vital that I wished had been better explored. Does that make sense?
I don't know.
What I do know is I'm very sad I have to wait so long for the next one. Well, I'm guessing I'll have a while to wait anyway. I haven't actually looked to see if there's a release date for number 14 yet. I'll probably do that next, along with checking out some reviews to see what other people thought.
As far as I'm concerned, this one was a winner.
5 stars!
June 17, 2020
Good lord this was a hot mess. Just too many things going on and too many things just happen without enough development to make me care or believe what is happening. I think Derek Landy can be and has been a good writer but he just needs to slow the fuck down. I kept having to reread whole chapters and consult wikis just to figure out what was going on. Many characters are represented by a name only. If you have read this, come on, tell me anything about Dexter. He's listed in the blurb as a main character and I can't remember a thing about him other than one thing he does, that any of the other characters present could have done. The main dimension was confusing enough but they spend a lot of this book in another one and we get updates on things that originated in a third. I read that this is the first book of a final trilogy but I don't know if I want to read two more giant bricks of chaos to see how all these storylines tie together.
April 22, 2020
What the FUCK?
I thought I knew where this story was going. I really did. But I was a fool. A buffoon. I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THIS STORY IS GOING AND I LOVE IT.
I am in awe. Total awe. This book is an utter masterpiece.
I thought I was gonna give it four stars until the last 150 pages. Then I bumped it up to 4.5. The last 50 pages pushed it to a 5. SO MUCH HAPPENED. SO MUCH.
EVERYTHING HAS GONE OFF THE RAILS AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S HAPPENING.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
I NEED THE LAST TWO BOOKS IN MY HAND RIGHT NOW.
Sidenote: Why does the pagecount say 592? My copy is 552.
I thought I knew where this story was going. I really did. But I was a fool. A buffoon. I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THIS STORY IS GOING AND I LOVE IT.
I am in awe. Total awe. This book is an utter masterpiece.
I thought I was gonna give it four stars until the last 150 pages. Then I bumped it up to 4.5. The last 50 pages pushed it to a 5. SO MUCH HAPPENED. SO MUCH.
EVERYTHING HAS GONE OFF THE RAILS AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S HAPPENING.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
I NEED THE LAST TWO BOOKS IN MY HAND RIGHT NOW.
Sidenote: Why does the pagecount say 592? My copy is 552.
April 11, 2020
The story travels at a breakneck pace with seemingly the sole intention of wrapping up as many plot threads as possible in the fewest words or effort possible.
No moment is left to linger (even ones that should be really powerful), every chapter is brief, contains the bare minimum to move the plot forward, a few jokes, and nothing else.
No moment is left to linger (even ones that should be really powerful), every chapter is brief, contains the bare minimum to move the plot forward, a few jokes, and nothing else.
May 8, 2020
All I want to say is Never is perfect and inclusion of diverse characters being accepted is super important.
Valkyrie’s storyline of mental health issues and suicidal thoughts is heartbreaking and so important. Really glad it wasn’t pushed to the side and was treated with respect.
Landy continues to weave his magic and wonderful sarcasm whilst still tackling major issues with skill and care.
Valkyrie’s storyline of mental health issues and suicidal thoughts is heartbreaking and so important. Really glad it wasn’t pushed to the side and was treated with respect.
Landy continues to weave his magic and wonderful sarcasm whilst still tackling major issues with skill and care.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 335 reviews