Book Review: The Faceless Ones

From Goodreads: 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. 

Thoughts: The characters make this story. Once again Landy delivers a fast paced, exciting, hilarious story where the characters can shine. Once again Skulduggery and Valkyrie have to stop the bad guys from letting the Faceless Ones back in. Once again there is a group of dastardly villains trying to stop Skulduggery and Valkyrie stop them. And the twist at the end of this book - guaranteed to make you want to go out and grab book 4 - which I'm glad about. It looks like Landy will be taking the story away from baddies attempting to get the Faceless Ones back to earth, which is good, because really there is only so many ways you can approach that story line. As with the other two in this series, I really enjoyed Rupert Degas' narration. Highly recommend these books in an audio format.

The Faceless Ones gets 3 stars

*        Did not like it
**       It was OK
***      Liked it
****    Really liked it

*****   It was amazing 

Book Review: Playing With Fire - Skullduggery Pleasant 2

From Goodreads: With Serpine dead, the world is safe once more. At least, that's what Valkyrie and Skulduggery think, until the notorious Baron Vengeous makes a bloody escape from prison, and dead bodies and vampires start showing up all over Ireland.

Thoughts: I listened to this as an audio book through Audible and can I just say, Rupert Degas is a phenomenal narrator. The books are good, but he brings them to life and because of him I know exactly what Skullduggery, Valkryie, China and all the other characters sound like. 
Skullduggery Pleasant is one of those rare books that has wide appeal. My nine year old loves it, my thirteen year old loves it and I love it. Landy writes so many layers into these books, there is something for everyone. The kids love the action and the magic. I love the clever language, the witty banter and a solid storyline.
Skullduggery and Valkyrie have the best relationship. Skullduggery is like the cool uncle who takes you places your parents would never, ever approve of. Valkyrie is living this incredible life, but there is that concern about what she is missing out on while she's running around saving the world.
The story is fast paced. You barely have time to draw breath between each crazy situation the characters find themselves in. The wise cracks fly just as thick and fast, leaving you unsure as to whether you should laugh or hold your breath. There is a danger of this series became repetitive - the plots of the first two books don't differ greatly, both are about stopping the baddies bringing back the faceless ones - but I really hope they don't. For now, with Valkyrie still learning to control and manipulate her powers, enough difference is there to get away with it. From this point on though, I'm hoping Landy builds on the brilliant start and doesn't plateau.

Playing with Fire gets 4 stars

 *        Did not like it
**       It was OK
***      Liked it
****    Really liked it

*****   It was amazing

Book Review: Skullduggery Pleasant

From Goodreads: 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.

Thoughts: The kids and I have been listening to this in the car. For various reasons, I haven't had all 3 children as frequently this term, with an almost 3 week break it became a bit fractured. I decided to go back and listen to the whole thing again, partly because after Anna Karenina I was struggling to settle to anything and partly because I wanted a clean run at it. The kids haven't finished it, but I have
I'm so glad I did. How bloody brilliant is this book! Intelligent, funny, amazing characters, fast paced story and fantastic dialogue - just like this:

"So you won't keep anything from me again?" 
He put his hand to his chest. "Cross my heart and hope to die." 
"Okay then. Though you don't actually have a heart," she said. 
"I know." 
"And technically, you've already died." 
"I know that too." 
"Just so we're clear."

I also think the narrator had a lot to do with how enjoyable this was. Rupert Degas has apparently received critical acclaim for his narration of Skullduggery Pleasant, and he truly deserves it. Just listen.

Although when I Googled him, he looks nothing like what I thought he would!

Skullduggery Pleasant is in the league of Harry Potter. It's a book that will get non readers reading and engage kids in some good quality writing.

The kids have just over an hour of audio left to listen to. I'm holding off downloading book two until they finish in the hope they are as eager as I am to continue the Skullduggery adventure. If not, I will go it alone!

Skullduggery Pleasant gets a well deserved 5 stars!

 *        Did not like it
**       It was OK
***      Liked it
****    Really liked it
*****   It was amazing