Skulduggery Pleasant series

1. Skulduggery Pleasant: And He's the Good Guy (2007)

SP Derek1 2570424b — Derek Landy and Skulduggery Pleasant

The Skulduggery Pleasant series by Derek Landy.

Genres and Sub-Genres[]

Young Adult Urban Fantasy / also Pre-teen and New Adult

Brief Series Description or Overview[]

Who is Skulduggery Pleasant? He's a wise-cracking detective, powerful magician, master of dirty tricks and burglary (in the name of the greater good, of course). As well as ally, protector and mentor of Stephanie Edgley, a very unusual and darkly talented twelve-year old. And, oh yeah- he's dead. ~ Goodreads

Stephanie was perfectly normal until her uncle died and left her everything. After she is attacked, she follows along after Skulduggery Pleasant, a witty, crime fighting skeleton, into a new world of monsters, crime, magic, and fancy cars. ~ Skulduggery Pleasant ~ Shelfari

Lead's Species[]

Living Skeleton, Private Detective

Primary Supe[]

Magician

What Sets it Apart[]

Talking animated skull in the leading role

Narrative Type and Narrators[]

Third person narrative told mainly through Stephanie's perspective.

Books in Series[]

Skulduggery Pleasant series:

Skulduggery Pleasant (2007) (aka Scepter of the Ancients)
Playing with Fire (2008)
The Faceless Ones (2009)
Dark Days (2010)
Mortal Coil (2010)
Death Bringer (2011)
Kingdom of the Wicked (2013)
Last Stand of Dead Men (2014)
The Dying of the Light (2014)

Shorts, Anthologies and Guides[]

1.5. "The Lost Art of World Domination" (2011) ~ Kindle (28 pgs)
2.5. "Gold, Babies and the Brothers Muldoon " (2011) ~ ebook, (26 pages)
6.5. "The End of the World" (2012) ~ Short, Paperback, (128 pages)
7.5. "Tanith Low in the Maleficent Seven" (Mar 28, 2013) ~ novella ebook, (288 pages)

▶ Skulduggery Pleasant - YouTube

World Building[]

Skulduggery Pleasant Wiki

Setting[]

Places:

Temple of the Spider:
American Sanctuary:
Caves of the Void:
Hibernian Cinema: location of Kenspeckle Grouse's secret laboratory
Clearwater Hospital:
Ironpoint Gaol:
New York University:
Necropolis:
Roarhaven City:
Tattoo Parlour:
The Cauldron:
The Keep:
Grandeur Hotel:
Temple of the Spider:
Waxworks Museum:
Mevolent's Palace:
China's Library:
Ratoath:

World Locatons:

New York; Chicago; Oregon; Scotland; Dublin, Ireland; France; Russia; Africa; China; Brisbane, Australia; Sydney;

Supernatural Elements[]

✥ Paranormal PI, mages, necromancers, witches‎, warlocks, Vampires, Banshee, Crenga, Demons, Dragons, Ghosts, Gnarl, Goblins, Ogre, Poltergeist, Remnant, trolls, Werewolves, Wraiths, Yeti, Zombies, Echo Stones‎, Magical Technology, magic Rings‎, magic weapons, High Priest, fire magic, teleporting, ancient books, cults,

Magical Disciplines: Adepts‎, Elementals‎—necromancy, Kineticists‎, Magiphages, Sensitives‎ (seers), Teleporters‎, Afflictions, Children of the Spider, , ,

Species - Skulpedia - The Skulduggery Pleasant Wiki

([ link])

Glossary:[]

Adept Magic: Adept magic is one of the two base types of magic, the other being Elemental magic. Adept mages have dedicated their life and magical potential to a single set of powers, although the scope of these powers might vary. Powers can range from burrowing underground to having an immunity to fire. Based on the concept of there being no gain without loss, many Adepts have weaknesses that may cause trouble for them. (link)
Ancients: the first beings, sorcerers, to ever use Magic, and worshipped evil gods known as the Faceless Ones. They then banished their gods with God-Killer level weapons. (link)
Arc Light Book: publisher of the works of Gordon Edgley
Cu na Gealaí Duibhe: 'Hound of the Black Moon' in Gaelige. It was a creature whose heart was used for the the Grotesquery. It was only dangerous when the sun, moon and earth were aligned, a trait it passed onto the Grotesquery. (link)
Dagan Logistics: shipping company owned by Arthur Dagan—shipped freight around the world, without gaining the attention of mortals
Dullahan: mysterious headless being that drives the Coach-a-Bowers. The coach is pulled by four similarly headless horses. The Dullahan collects people that have heard the cry of a Banshee. (link)
Elemental Magic: involves the manipulation of fire, earth, water and air for both offensive and defensive purposes. (link)
Faceless Ones: evil gods ([ http://skulduggery.wikia.com/wiki/The_Faceless_Oneslink])
Grand Mage: Grand Mage is the highest ranked official in each Sanctuary, who leads along with two Elders as part of the Council of Elders. Grand Mages are usually highly respected individuals.
Grotesquery: part of a Faceless One and can open the portal for them to come back every lunar eclipse. It is made of several creatures. (link)
Hollow Men: animated skin bags bloated with stink and evil. Their easy creation allowing them to make up the bulk of an army, have strength in numbers. Some are used as cheap labor.
Infected: The Infected are people who have recently been bitten by a full Vampire. They then spend two days as a mindless minions until they complete the change into a full Vampire.
Magiphage: or Leeches are mages who study a branch of magic which allows them to drain other mages powers for limited time. The only known Leech is Sabine.
Necromancers: This magic is one that harnesses the power of death to control and manipulate shadows and darkness. Necromancers put their power in an object, an obvious example being Lord Vile's armour (link)
Phalanx Tiger: is a creature in the Caves of the Void. It always hunts in groups.
Yeti: monsters that live in the Alps—installed as guardians for Tyren Lament's cave.
Reflection: complete, and perfect copy of somebody—as long as you can see the body in the reflection you are using. (link)
Rider: creatures of The Faceless Ones' universe and flies a winged beast.
Sceptre of the Ancients: ancient weapon used by the first sorcerers, the Ancients, to defeat their tyrannical gods, the Faceless Ones. Stephanie's uncle sealed this deadly weapon in a maze beneath the house Stephanie inherited.
Vampires: suffer from a magical disease that is transmitted by the bite of another vampire. At nightfall, they transform from their human form, into their vampire form, a pale and hairless beast consumed by blood lust. (link)
Wall-Walkers‏‎: type of Adept magic, which lets the user shift their centre of gravity to allow them to walk up or along walls and along ceilings.
Wretchlings: are adaptions of Hollow Men, but instead of foul gases, they are filled with solid entrails, making them many times more deadly. They are summoned by Warlocks; carry swords or daggers.

Resources:

Groups & Organizations:[]

Brides of Blood Tears: witch coven— gathering location was a pyramid in Egypt. They could shoot energy beams from their hands and command Devoted.
Children of the Spider: secretive organization of Spider mages lead by the Torment. Its followers utilize a magical ability that allows them to vomit and control spiders and to transform into gigantic spiders. fundamentally human, though Derek has implied that there is more to be revealed about this strange Adept discipline. (link)
Crones of the Cold Embrace: group of witches.
Department X: an alleged mortal organization who hunted down and killed mages
Diablerie: gang of mages who are trying to bring back the Faceless Ones. — Mevolent's most ruthless group devoted to bringing the Faceless Ones back. — China Sorrows (former leader), Batu, Jaron Gallow, Murder Rose, Gruesome Krav, Baron Vengeous. (link)
Maidens of the New Dawn: witch coven.
Sanctuaries: organizations that enforce the magical laws. All Sanctuaries have a Council of Elders that lead the Sanctuary, and the Council is in turn lead by a Grand Mage. Sanctuaries were seen by some as a "magical police"

~ Groups - Skulpedia - The Skulduggery Pleasant Wiki

World[]

✥ Write a description of how this world works.

Protagonist[]

✥ Valkyrie Cain: Taken Name Valkyrie Cain, Given Name Stephanie Edgley, True Name Darquesse. She is a 20-year-old women descended from the last Ancients and an Elemental. She later becomes a Necromancer in addition to being an Elemental and stores her power in a ring. She also has a powered concussion stick. After losing her True Name, she gains the ability to manipulate White Energy when she has her surge. She was originally called Stephanie Edgley, but had to change her name so she could protect herself from other mages who desired to influence her. Skulduggery Pleasant is her magic mentor, Sanctuary detective partner, and best friend, Solomon Wreath was her Necromancy mentor until 2011 and, before a Remnant possessed her, Tanith Low was her fighting mentor, "big sister" and other best friend. She has been romantically involved with Teleporter, Fletcher Renn and the Vampire, Caelan. ~ Full Bio: Valkyrie Cain - Skulpedia

✥ Skulduggery Pleasant is an Elemental and a "living" skeleton. He fought in the War against Mevolent as part of a group called the Dead Men. However, the death of his family caused him to go mad and in a fit of rage, he picked up a poisoned dagger which killed him. 150 years later, he was resurrected as Lord Vile, the most powerful of the Three Generals. Five years later, he regained his sense and became Skulduggery Pleasant again. From 2007 onward, he took on Valkyrie Cain as an apprentice Detective and they saved the world many times

Sidekick[]

Name: Skulduggery Pleasant / What: living skeleton, Detective / Sidekick-to: Valkyrie Cain / About: magic mentor / Book First Seen In: Skulduggery Pleasant

Characters Chart[]

Characters	What	About
Stephanie Edgley / Valkyrie Cain	twelve year old girl	thirst for adventure; very headstrong; possesses magical abilities;
Valkyrie Cain / Darquesse	Apprentice Detective, partner	Stephanie's Chosen name; she is the apprentice of Skulduggery Pleasant; studies Elemental Magic and Necromancy;
Darquesse	Valkyrie's inner self, True Name	tries to seal her true name, to hide her real power to stop destroying the world;
Skulduggery Pleasant	Elemental, "living" skeleton, Para-PI	Walking, talking, magical skeleton (with a gift for sarcasm), brought back to life by dark magic. He's the protector of Stephanie Edgley; commands the four elements; known to be the last descendant of the Ancients;
Tanith Low	Adept, mercenary, bounty hunter,	hidden blade; Valkyrie's close friend; combat, stealth, Wall-Walking; mentor: Quoneel; master swordswoman who helps Skulduggery at times of great need; warrior, with her long sword; dosn't like using her magical abilities;
Fletcher Renn	last Teleporter	He is the last Teleporter in the world and Valkyrie Cain's love interest; often helps her in her missions; 'big' hair, charming personality;
Gordon Edgley	Famous author, wealthy uncle	Left Stephanie his fortune and mansion; friend: Skulduggery; Steph & Skulduggery investigate his murder; soul lives on in an echo stone; won many awards;
Mr. Bliss	Adept, strongest man on Earth	Enigmatic and slightly sinister, he worked for the Elders; discovered Tanith Low; China Sorrow's brother; difficult to kill;
White Cleaver	evil Cleaver	under Serpine's command
China Sorrow	beautiful woman	works with Skullduggery with an interesting trick; everyone that meets her falls in love;
Ghastly Bespoke	tailor, Elemental	Skulduggery's friend; hideously scarred; learned boxing from his mother, sewing from his father; harnessed the power of earth to turn himself into stone; made Valkyrie a almost invincible coat and outfit;
Nefarian Serpine	insane sorcerer	used to be one of Mevolent's feared Three Generals; trying to take over the world; tries to kill Stephanie and Skulduggery multiple times;
Kenspeckle Grouse #3	magical scientist	The Sanctuary's greatest and crankiest magic-scientist and doctor; secret laboratory in the old Hibernian Cinema; terrified of vampires; assistant: Clarabelle;
Beryl	aunt	Stephanie's pompous aunt;
Crystal	stepsister	One of Stephanie's mean, spoiled stepsisters.
Baron Vengeous:	Mevolent's general	One of Mevolent's three generals during the war trying to bring back the Faceless Ones;
Springheeled Jack	Evil jumping creature	operates around London. Enjoys murdering;
Dusk	vampire	works for Baron Vengeous;
Grotesquery	Evil being	created with bits of other dangerous creatures
Billy-Ray Sanguine	Hitman deluxe	weapon of choice is a straight razor; sinks-into-the-ground-powers bad guy you love and hate;
William Raymond Sanguine #3	Adept, Texan hitman	Billy-Ray;
Finbar Wrong #3	Sensitive (seer)	Skulduggery's acquantance; known to be a Sensitive (power to see in the future); first person to see the mysterious Darqueese
Scapegrace #3	wanna-be killer	Tries to kill people but terrible at everything; defeated by a 14 year old girl;
Thurid Guild	Grand Mage	for the sanctuary; may be a tratior;
Scarab	evil character	always has plans; Billy-Ray Sanguine's father was framed for killing a man who tried to bring peace;
Davina Marr	Sanctuary's top detective	American; hates Skulduggery Pleasant, and by association, Valkyrie Cain
Vaurien Scapegrace	evil murderer	wants to make killing an art
Caelan	vampire	possibly the only nice one one in existence;
Tenebrae	High Priest	High Priest of the necromancers
Lord Vile	necromancer	his power is in his armour

To expand the table, in Edit–Visual mode, right-press on a Row of the table (Control-press on a Mac)—choose add Row or Column. Or, in Source Mode: copy-paste rows.

Author[]

Derek Landy

Website: Skulduggery Pleasant
Genres: Young Adult, Horror, Mystery & Thrillers

Bio: Derek Landy (Irish author) is far too modest to talk about any awards or accolades his books may have won. He will not, for instance, mention the fact that his first book, Skulduggery Pleasant, won the Bord Gais Energy Irish Book of the Decade Award AND the Red House Children's Book Award, or that his second, Playing With Fire, won an Irish Book Award for Children's Book of the Year, or that his third, The Faceless Ones, is his mother's personal favourite. He lives in Ireland with a variety of cats, a German Shepherd, and two geriatric Staffordshire Bull Terriers who keep peeing on his kitchen floor because they think it's funny. (key word: British) ~ The Author

Contributors[]

Cover Artists[]

Artist: Tom Percival — Source: Skulduggery Pleasant - Series Bibliography

Other Contributors:

Audio Book Narrator: — Source:
Editor: — Source:

Publishing Information[]

Publisher:
Author's page: Derek Landy - HarperCollins
Bk-1:

Book Cover Blurbs[]

✤ BOOK ONE—Skulduggery Pleasant (2007) : Stephanie's uncle Gordon is a writer of horror fiction. But when he dies and leaves her his estate, Stephanie learns that while he may have written horror, it certainly wasn't fiction. Pursued by evil forces intent on recovering a mysterious key, Stephanie finds help from an unusual source - the wisecracking skeleton of a dead wizard. (Paperback) ~ Original — Meet Skulduggery Pleasant:

Ace Detective
Snappy Dresser
Razor–tongued Wit
Crackerjack Sorcerer... and
Walking, Talking, Fire-throwing Skeleton

—as well as ally, protector, and mentor of Stephanie Edgley, a very unusual and darkly talented twelve-year-old. These two alone must defeat an all-consuming ancient evil. The end of the world? Over his dead body. ~ Goodreads | Skulduggery Pleasant #1

✤ BOOK TWO—Playing with Fire (2008): Skulduggery and Valkyrie are facing a new enemy: Baron Vengeous, who is determined to bring back the terrifying Faceless Ones and is crafting an army of evil to help him. Added to that, Vengeous is about to enlist a new ally (if he can raise it from the dead): the horrible Grotesquery, a very unlikable monster of legend. Once Vengeous is on the loose, dead bodies and vampires start showing up all over Ireland. Now pretty much everybody is out to kill Valkyrie, and the daring detective duo faces its biggest challenge yet. But what if the greatest threat to Valkyrie is just a little closer to home? Look for Scepter of the Ancients ~ Goodreads | Playing with Fire (Skulduggery Pleasant, #2)

✤ BOOK THREE—The Faceless Ones (2009): The third bone-breaking, belly-busting adventure in the series that puts the “funny” back in, um, funny series. That didn’t really work, did it? If you’ve read the previous Skulduggery books then you know what the Faceless Ones are — and if you know what the Faceless Ones are, then you can probably take a wild guess that things in this book are going to get AWFULLY sticky for our skeletal hero and his young sidekick. If you haven’t read the previous Skulduggery books then what are you doing reading this? Go and read them right now, so that you know what all that stuff in the previous paragraph was about. Done? Good. So now you’re on tenterhooks too, desperately awaiting the answers to all your questions, and instead you’re going to have to wait to read the book. Sorry about that. ~ Goodreads | The Faceless Ones (Skulduggery Pleasant, #3) by Derek Landy

✤ BOOK FOUR—Dark Days (2010): ~ fourth Skulduggery Pleasant adventure... only Skulduggery Pleasant himself is lost on the other side of a portal, with only some evil gods for company. Can he possible survive? (Yes, all right, he?s already dead. But still.) Skulduggery Pleasant is gone, sucked into a parallel dimension overrun by the Faceless Ones. If his bones haven't already been turned to dust, chances are he's insane, driven out of his mind by the horror of the ancient gods. There is no official, Sanctuary-approved rescue mission. There is no official plan to save him. But Valkyrie's never had much time for plans. The problem is, even if she can get Skulduggery back, there might not be much left for him to return to. There's a gang of villains bent on destroying the Sanctuary, there are some very powerful people who want Valkyrie dead, and as if all that wasn't enough it looks very likely that a sorcerer named Darquesse is going to kill the world and everyone on it. Skulduggery is gone. All our hopes rest with Valkyrie. The world's weight is on her shoulders, and its fate is in her hands. These are dark days indeed. About the Author Derek Landy was born Dublin County. He is an Irish author and screenwriter, He is famous for the Skulduggery Pleasant series of children's books. Goodreads | Dark Days (Skulduggery Pleasant, # 4)

✤ BOOK FIVE—Mortal Coil (2010): Following the shocking revelations of DARK DAYS, get ready for the fifth instalment of the bestselling Skulduggery Pleasant series -- guaranteed to contain at least 40% humour, 50% action, and 100% thrills! "The blonde girl with the black lips turned to Valkyrie. 'We know,' she said. 'We've seen the future. We know you're going to kill the world!'" Skulduggery Pleasant and Valkyrie Cain are back -- just in time to see their whole world get turned upside down! While they struggle to protect a known killer from an unstoppable assassin, Valkyrie is on a secret mission of her own. This quest, to prevent her dark and murderous destiny, threatens to take her to the brink of death and beyond. And then the body-snatching Remnants get loose, thousands of twisted souls who possess the living like puppets, and they begin their search for a being powerful enough to lead them. Facing such insurmountable odds, Skulduggery, Valkyrie, Ghastly and Tanith can trust no one. Not even each other! ~ Goodreads | Mortal Coil (Skulduggery Pleasant, #5) by Derek Landy ~ and ~ Skulduggery Pleasant is back, and reunited with his original head. But all is not well in the magical world - for one thing, foreign powers are conspiring to take over the Irish Sanctuary, and for another, Valkyrie has discovered she might be the sorceress set to destroy the world. (Paperback)

✤ BOOK ZIX—Death Bringer (2011): The sixth instalment in the historic, hysterical and horrific Skulduggery Pleasant series. Think you’ve seen anything yet? You haven’t. Because the Death Bringer is about to rise… The Necromancers no longer need Valkyrie to be their Death Bringer, and that’s a good thing. There’s just one catch. There’s a reason the Necromancers don’t need her any more. And that’s because they’ve found their Death Bringer already, the person who will dissolve the doors between life and death. And that’s a very, very bad thing… ~ Goodreads | Death Bringer (Skulduggery Pleasant, #6) — and — The Necromancers no longer need Valkyrie to be their Death Bringer. There's just one catch. There's a reason the Necromancers don't need her any more, and that's because they've found their Death Bringer already, the person who will dissolve the doors between life and death. That's a very, very bad thing. ~ (Hardcover)

✤ BOOK SEVEN—Kingdom of the Wicked (2013): The seventh installment in the biggest, funniest, most thrilling comedy-horror-adventure series in the universe - and the follow-up to 2011’s number-one bestseller, Death Bringer… Magic is a disease. Across the land, normal people are suddenly developing wild and unstable powers. Infected by a rare strain of magic, they are unwittingly endangering their own lives and the lives of the people around them. Terrified and confused, their only hope lies with the Sanctuary. Skulduggery Pleasant and Valkyrie Cain are needed now more than ever. And then there's the small matter of Kitana. A normal teenage girl who, along with her normal teenage friends, becomes infected. Becomes powerful. Becomes corrupted. Wielding the magic of gods, they're set to tear the city apart unless someone stands up against them. Looks like it's going to be another one of those days… ~ Goodreads | Kingdom of the Wicked (Skulduggery Pleasant, #7) by Derek Landy

✤ BOOK EIGHT—Last Stand of Dead Men (2014): War has finally come. Not between good and evil, but between Sanctuaries, and if Skulduggery and Valkyrie are to stop it they must team up with the rest of the dead men. At the same time, war rages within Valkyrie herself, as Darquesse is on the verge to rising.~ Goodreads | Last Stand of Dead Men (Skulduggery Pleasant, #8) by Derek Landy — The eighth instalment in the biggest, funniest, most thrilling comedy-horror-adventure series in the universe - and the follow-up to 2012’s number-one bestseller, Kingdom of the Wicked… — War has finally come. — But it's not a war between good and evil, or light and dark – it's a war between Sanctuaries. For too long, the Irish Sanctuary has teetered on the brink of world-ending disaster, and the other Sanctuaries around the world have had enough. Allies turn to enemies, friends turn to foes, and Skulduggery and Valkyrie must team up with the rest of the Dead Men if they're going to have any chance at all of maintaining the balance of power and getting to the root of a vast conspiracy that has been years in the making. But while this war is only beginning, another war rages within Valkyrie herself. Her own dark side, the insanely powerful being known as Darquesse, is on the verge of rising to the surface. And if Valkyrie slips, even for a moment, then Darquesse will burn the world and everyone in it. ~ (Paperback)

✤ BOOK NIBE—The Dying of the Light (2014): FINAL — The War of the Sanctuaries has been won, but it was not without its casualties. Following the loss of Valkyrie Cain, Skulduggery Pleasant must use any and all means to track down and stop Darquesse before she turns the world into a charred, lifeless cinder. And so he draws together a team of soldiers, monster hunters, killers, criminals… and Valkyrie’s own murderous reflection. The war may be over, but the final battle is about to begin. And not everyone gets out of here alive… ~ Goodreads | The Dying of the Light (Skulduggery Pleasant, #9) by Derek Landy

First Sentences[]

Skulduggery Pleasant (2007) — Gordon Edgley's sudden death came to a shock to everyone, not least himself.
Playing with Fire (2008) — Valkyrie Cain hit the parapet and tumbled, unable to stop herself, and with a panicked gasp she disappeared off the edge.
The Faceless Ones (2009) — The dead man was in the living room, facedown on the floor beside the coffee table.
Dark Days (2010) — When Dreylan Scarab had been locked away in his little cell, he'd thought about nothing but murder.
Mortal Coil (2010) — The doors swung open and High Priest Auron Tenbrae strode into the room, his robe swirling around his tall, narrow frame.
Death Bringer (2011) — Prologue: the closing door made the candlelight dance, waltzing and flickering over the girl strapped to the table. / Chapter one:: Kenny Dunne wasn't an expert on cars.
Kingdom of the Wicked (2013) — It was a beautiful spring day and they were standing on the roof.
Last Stand of Dead Men (2014) — The camp was dark and quiet, and the Warlocks slept
The Dying of the Light (2014) — Five in the morning and Danny is up, rolling slowly out of bed, eyes half open as his bare feet touch the floorboards.

~ Skulduggery Pleasant Series ~ Shelfari

Quotes[]

Derek Landy Quotes (Author of Skulduggery Pleasant) ~ Goodreads
Skulduggery Pleasant Series ~ Shelfari

Trivia[]

Awards[]

Skulduggery Pleasant won the Red House Children's Book Award, the Bolton Children's Book Award and the Staffordshire Young Teen Fiction Award. The book was also recommended for confident readers (9+) by the Richard & Judy Children's Book Club in 2007. It also won the Portsmouth Book Awards in 2008, having been selected by school children in Portsmouth. Also, in 2009 , it won the Kernow Youth and Grampian Book Awards by a majority vote. In 2010, Skulduggery Pleasant was awarded the title of Irish Book Of The Decade, after being up against some of the worlds best sellers. ~ Skulduggery Pleasant (book) - Skulpedia - The Skulduggery Pleasant Wiki