The Skulduggery Pleasant series is still one of my absolute favourites even after all these years, and this book is no exception!

A secret order of dissident sorcerers is attempting to resurrect an ancient being to launch a war against the mortals. Skulduggery Pleasant, skeleton detective and sorcerer, is going to need all the help he can get to stop them. Luckily for him, his protégé Valkyrie Cain is back in Ireland. He just needs to convince her to join the fight once more, but Valkyrie has her own demons to battle. Three years after we thought we’d seen that last of them, Skulduggery Pleasant and Valkyrie Cain have returned for a new series of adventures!

I am relatively new to the world of Skulduggery Pleasant - I was actually reading the first book of the series when I was offered the new one to review. It was really interesting to see the differences and similarities in the tones of the books going straight from the first to the tenth. Skulduggery is immediately recognisable - a centuries-old, powerful and intelligent detective-sorcerer-skeleton with a penchant for puns and a big (not-literal) heart. The most obvious difference is Valkyrie Cain. She’d started the series as an excited 12 year old girl, discovering a world full of magic and adventure. In Resurrection, she is almost unrecognisable - a 24 year old woman who has seen (and caused) too much pain and destruction. She is struggling to cope, and suffers from PTSD and depression.

These differences in character and tone don’t come across as odd or out of place. Rather, they help make the world of Skulduggery Pleasant feel more real (despite the magic and walking-talking skeleton!). Consequences of decisions and actions that are all too often ignored in many popular books and films of this kind instead help to shape the world of these books. Also, you'd expect a book about a 12 year old to feel different to one about a 24 year old.

Resurrection is populated by a diverse and varied cast of characters - there are people from many ethnic and national backgrounds, displaying a range of sexualities and gender identities (one of my favourites is a teenage gender fluid teleporter called Never). It feels inclusive without succumbing to tokenism. There are a number of new characters to the series introduced in Resurrection, most notably schoolboy Omen Darkly - twin brother to the Chosen One - who is employed by Skulduggery and Valkyrie to spy on his teachers and fellow students. What could possibly go wrong? I guess you’d have to read the book to find out (spoiler: a lot could possibly go wrong).

I did really enjoy this book, but would probably have got a lot more out of it if I’d read all the intervening stories (which I definitely plan on doing, by the way). The Skulduggery Pleasant titles are among the most broadly popular in my library. I can’t think of many other books that are regularly devoured by both Year 7 boys and Year 10 girls. I don't see that changing as this books launches the new series of adventures of Skulduggery, Valkyrie and Omen.

I was nervous about reading this. I’m an enormous fan of the original series and the clear commercial reasoning behind this reboot made me nervous. I was wrong. Landy has made the brave decision to ditch most of the old characters and set our twosome off on a new adventure. In the main this feels fresh, although Valkyrie’s PTSD adds a more sombre note than in previous books. The relationship foreshadowing that began in LSODM continues- it’s weird but I like it. Overall very funny, cute and engrossing. I loved it.

I loved the rest of the Skulduggery Pleasant series, so I was really excited to be able to read the 10th book. Resurrection just didn't live up to the hype. It felt like an unnecessary addition to the series. Most of the characters I had grown to love where nowhere to be found, and a bunch of random characters that I could care less about took up most of the story.

Resurrection takes place five years after the 9th book. A lot can change in that amount of time, but the changes made seem unrealistic. Why is there suddenly a school for kids to learn magic? There never was before. Did someone read the Harry Potter books and decide a school for magic was the way to go? It seems odd.

Why is Omen's brother the chosen one that is supposed to be doing great things with his life? The book doesn't go into details about the great things he is doing, so unless there is going to be another book, it seems like a waste of words to even have the brother there. Maybe it is just to give the reader more reason to cheer for Omen. Everyone wants the underdog to win.

This book was too all over the place for me. It seems to have no connection to the other books in the series.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Author: Derek Landy
Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Books
Publication Date: 2017

It's so good to have Skulduggery back , and of the ten novels, this one is up there with my favourites. The twists and turns are plenty, and there is humour and wit by the bucketful, and of course plenty of excitement.

Please write more Derek Landy!

It is not always a good idea for an author to revisit a book series that had previously been successfully and satisfactorily finished, so Sophie was interested to see the result of Derek Landy revisiting his Skullduggery Pleasant universe.

Resurrection is set five years after the end of the original nine book series and sees Valkyrie Cane returning to Ireland and the now rebuilt and burgeoning sorcerer city of Roarhaven. The deeply emotionally scarred Cane, against her better judgment, is persuaded by her former partner, Skullduggery Pleasant–a wise-cracking skeleton detective–to help out with one more investigation. This leads to the discovery of the Anti-Sanctuary who are trying to set in motion plans to start a war between the non-magical mortals and sorcerers.

The wit and humor that the previous Skullduggery Pleasant books are loved and well known for are all still in evidence. While Valkyrie and Skullduggery are back, they are not entirely the same as we previously knew them; Valkyrie, in particular, is effectively suffering from PTSD and no longer the confident almost arrogant person of the first nine books.

Resurrection moves along at a fair pace, and while the plot is not the best that Landy has written to date, it sets up characters and events nicely for a new series. Landy avoids shoehorning in too many contrived cameos for popular characters from the previous series (well, the few that survived) and most of the new characters are interesting and intriguing, with one a trans-person (with a magical spin) and another in a gay marriage. In the universe of the book these are treated as matter-of-fact; no uncomfortable character reactions or anything derogatory or special are made of these, it is just accepted as normal. Landy handles this well and it’s good to see in popular Young Adult book series. There is even a satirical swipe at President Trump–a thread that will no doubt have huge consequences as the story arc develops.

Long time Skullduggery Pleasant fans will be delighted with Resurrection, and anyone coming to Skullduggery’s world for the first time will find much to enjoy. No prior knowledge of the previous nine books is required, and any necessary information and exposition are neatly woven into the story and dialogue. Sophie feels that Derek Landy has successfully relaunched his beloved skeleton detective and is looking forward to where this new story arc goes in the future.

ANOTHER ABSOLUTELY AMAZING SKULDUGGERY BOOK. I loved it so much <3

So this will be a fairly short review because I think ten books in you probably know whether you're going to like the style or not. What I will say is I think this series has slightly grown with it's readers. I'm certainly a different person to who I was at twelve and I still enjoyed this book. It's a little darker than the earlier books and the characters are dealing with some large issues but it's still true to the slightly sassy tone that made the books so popular.

In terms of new additions Omen Darkly was a great character to bring in. I'm excited to see if he can develop in any way or if this is the only glimpse we get of him.

Does this book hold up to what I remember of the first nine? I would say yes. I had a good time sitting and binge reading this. I didn't laugh out loud as many times as I did ten years ago but that's probably because my sense of humour is weirder now.

If you were/are a fan of Skulduggery Pleasant I can recommend reading Resurrection. I think it's a good thing for a series to change and to develop and that's what I felt Landy achieved.

My rating: 5/5 stars (a fun read)

Resurrection is available to buy now so head to your normal source of books to find your copy!

By the way, I received a digital copy of this book for free from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The first Skulduggery Pleasant came out in 2007 and here we are with number ten in 2017, after a break to write the Demon Road trilogy. Derek Landy can hardly be accused of laziness at least.

The original series was a phenomenon, both in publishing and writing. It built on brilliant characters in the shape of Valkyrie and Skulduggery with an amazing cast of characters with imaginative abilities and a brilliant magical world based in and around Dublin. Added to this was Derek Landy’s now trademark wit, razor-sharp dialogue and breakneck action.

By the time the last instalment, The Dying of the Light, was released and devoured, the readers were left devastated and with a sense of conclusion even in this world of endless possibilities.

In Resurrection, we follow a different Valkyrie, one has lived through the horrors of Darquesse and finds herself more than a little lost. Having come home to Ireland after a self-imposed American exile, the last thing she’s prepared to do is join Skulduggery on another almost-certain-death style adventure. For Skulduggery, he knows that he needs Valkyrie and he thinks he can persuade her to come back and do what she does best alongside him. Being so familiar with the characters and their usual back and forth, it was interesting to see their new, more difficult dynamic. Valkyrie’s trauma is present throughout and it fits her uncertainty in the newer powers she is presenting with. She really is struggling to find who she is now.

There is a lot of fun still to be had along the way though. Derek Landy has effectively written what might be termed as a (hate this phrase) ‘soft reboot’ and wisely introduces us to new settings, mainly new Roarhaven, and a whole heap of new characters, while including some old favourites. Chief among the new cast is Omen Darkly, who as mentioned is as unlikely a hero as there could be. While not quite at Scapegrace levels of ineptitude, Omen is not the best under pressure but he becomes necessary to the story and it’s all the better for it. He’s a quality new character with a lot of heart and he brings us in with him to ever darker corners of the magical world, as he works with Skulduggery and Valkyrie.

As for the plot itself, I won’t go into it in any detail other than to say it’s great, and it’s sets us up for plenty of questions left to be answered. It’s almost traditional at this stage for Derek Landy to set up sideplots that seem to have little or no relevance, but we’ll have to wait and see…

So Derek clearly has plenty more to tell us about this wonderful world, and if he continues at this pace, I look forward to Skulduggery 20 in 2027!

Big props to Tom Percival by the way, for his ever amazing cover art.

I almost didn't want to start it because then it would have to end lol. Skulduggery and Valkyrie .....oh how we've missed you! Great to come across old favourite characters (hi China) and to meet new ones, Omen has so much potential. The [very] thinly veiled digs at the US president were most amusing and certainly made me chuckle. There is one big shock in the plot that I won't reveal but it certainly had me on the edge of my seat. Loved, loved, loved this - can't wait to read more adventures with the skeleton detective!

I love Skulduggery Pleasant and this was everything I hoped for in a follow up novel. Valkarie is older, wiser and feeling the wright if her mistakes here. Several years have passed and she's just not who she used to be. As usual Landy balances the poignant with wit, the sorrow with humour. This isn't the most engaging plot of the series but it fits the feel of the book which is about knowledge and experience creating wisdom. There's still plenty of action and plenty of laughs. It is beautifully written - a reflection on what heroism and adventure cost. Loved it. What a fabulous series.

Laugh out loud; cry; cringe; gasp. Cover my eyes because I am too scared to read what's coming, but peak through my fingers and read it anyway. Mr Landy has never failed me and he has once again provided a magnificent thrill ride that appeals equally to young and old (me)!

There is a real depth and seriousness in this - very long awaited - 10th installment and it is a mark of someone very in touch with his audience that he doesn't shy away from the moments of dispair and sadness gripping Valkyrie.

The writing and use of language to portray emotions and atmosphere really draws one in and makes you feel like you are inside the book, experiencing events first-hand.

Though a few old favourites are notably absent, great new characters have been introduced and I can't wait to read more!

I would hate to give anything away, so will just say that this is obviously a MUST READ for Skulduggery fans. If this is your first exposure to Skulduggery, you would likely find it to be a fine book to read as a stand-alone, but you would be missing out on the rich backstory of Skulduggery and Valkyrie created in the previous 9 books and reading Resurrection would be a much poorer experience (although still highly enjoyable).

Thank you to the publisher, author and netgalley for the ARC. This is an honest review.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley to review. My 15 year old son read this book on my behalf as he has read the whole series and this is his review.

Here is the blurb

"The skeleton detective is coming back to life… again! It’s the tenth, triumphant novel in the Skulduggery Pleasant series, and it will rearrange your world.

We can’t say much but we can say this: Skulduggery and Valkyrie are going to team up with beloved characters from the first 9 books as well as an all-new cast, including new teen co-star Omen Darkly, for an adventure that takes the story to truly global proportions… while answering questions that go right back to the beginning."

Though this book is by an outstanding author who hasn't failed to amaze so far I can't help but notice slight errors in the book, such as line repeats. I hope that this has been corrected prior to going to print and is the only reason I have dropped it to 4 stars from 5. The story is as good as the others and as I had hoped it would be with plot twists and moments that stun and amaze. How it ended leaves me hopeful that there may be another one? He is definitely one of my favorite authors and I look for any books that are released by him.

After I posted this to Goodreads I decided that it really needed 5 stars and not 4 as the errors should be tidied up before going to print.

It seemed as if after nine books that Valkerie and Skulduggery were going to put their feet up permanently. But there are still too many adventures to be had and inner as well as outer demons for Valkerie and Skulduggery to fight.

This time there are the usual suspects as well as Omen Darkly, a fourteen year old, insignificant school boy and underdog to his first-born (by a few minutes) older brother Auger who is supposed to take his place in history in “a battle that would decide the fate of humanity”. However Omen’s anonymity makes him an asset to Skulduggery who sets the unassuming boy off on some intelligence work with interesting results.

Resurrection is very dark. There is a genuine sense that people can get hurt and in some very unpleasant ways. But the story is also not without plenty of wise ass wit along the way. Because of this the Skullduggery Pleasant series shows little sign of wearing out its welcome.

It's good to have Skulduggery and Valkyrie back. Things have moved on from the earlier books and both characters reflect different aspects of themselves that places them at odds with one another. It is refreshing that new characters are introduced that become part of the central team and that they are young and male. This allows for some interesting reflections by Valkyrie and how she has reached this point but more importantly brings in fresh blood that will hopefully allow for a larger dynamic around Skulduggery. There is also a good mix of bad guys and a new arch-enemy on the horizon. All of this bodes well for further adventures.

The writing style remains tight with good characterisation and scene development. The current story leans heavily on the premise that everyone has a good and bad side and that ultimately we choose which one we want to be. There is no explicit moral forced upon the reader, certainly the bad characters have redeeming characteristics and vice versa. In fact within the book there is a lot of personality swapping going on.

It was a good read and is certainly recommended for those familiar with the earlier stories.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley

The dynamic duo is back!

I wasn't even aware there was a 10th Skulduggery Pleasant book, so imagine my delight when I came to know that Derek Landy is taking the story forward.

After the tumultuous events of the previous book, Valkyrie is (understandably) suffering from a type of PTSD, and has lot a lot of her confidence and swagger. Despite this — or maybe because of this — Skulduggery draws her back into "the life", and what follows is a fascinating journey into the mind of arguably the most powerful sorcerer to have ever existed.

As dark as the core of the story might be, the book is not without its trademark Landy snark, mostly expressed through Skulduggery's inimitable dialogue.

A large portion of the story is also devoted to Valkyrie Cain facing perhaps her deadliest foe yet, apart from, of course, Darquesse.

All in all, a cracking return to form. It is with great anticipation that I look forward to the next book (of course there will be more books).

I didn't find out about this book right up until the release day. I had thought this series had ended, and I missed Skulduggery since I didn't enjoy Landy's Demon Road series as much. Therefore, when I saw this book--after much double checking to make sure I hadn't read something wrong and got my hopes up for nothing--I squealed with excitement. Because Skulduggery Pleasant is back!!

I have missed reading these books so much. Landy's humour and wit is unlike anything I've read before, and it never fails to put a smile on my face. I've said it before, but even his dedications make me chuckle. When all of this is combined with the skeleton detective's fast-talking, quick-witted, and comically arrogant personality it just creates a character I want to read more about.

Once again, there are more baddies to face in Resurrection. There are new friends, old friends, and new enemies that turn up as Valkyrie and Skulduggery are left to save the day. Some of the characters are also still tormented by the past events of the final book in the previous section of this series. And since Resurrection starts five years after that, it allowed for some growth in the characters and for a new dimension to form in the relationships. The characters might be older, but they're just as good.

Overall, if you've followed this series, this book will have everything you want and have come to love from it. Action, humour, magic--it held my attention well and I couldn't put it down. I'm so glad this author has decided to continue this series with this book.

Gorgeous cover as usually. The plot wasn´t as good as other books in the series but it was an enjoyable read and let's see where it goes next.

THE TEAM IS BACK! <3
THE TEAM IS BACK! <3

Derek is back to doing what he does best!

This book is everything I could have hoped for.
Resurrection is fast-paced and gripping with a laugh a minute as Valkyrie and Skulduggery's friendship is tested like it has never been before.

A new evil is rising but our heros are still reeling from the effects of the last series's finale.
Derek deals with these issues in an exceptional way and proves that no matter what, your friends will always be by your side.

With the gang back together, with a few new additions, I can't wait to see what Derek has in store for them next!