8 Oct 2018

SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT 5: MORTAL COIL.


SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT: MORTAL COIL by DEREK LANDY.


Meet Skulduggary Pleasant: detective, magician, warrior. Oh yes, and dead.

With Valkyrie struggling to protect her dark secret, Skulduggery and the gang are more vulnerable than ever, just as a plague of body-snatching Remnants are released upon the world ...
- Back Cover Blurb

The doors swung open and High Priest Auron Tenebrae strode into the room, his robe swirling around his tall, narrow frame.
- First Sentence; Chapter 1, Wreath's Task

At the top of the stairs he turned and walked through the doorway, and that was when the skinny man with the Pogue's T-shirt came at him with a cushion. Not being the world's deadliest weapon, the cushion bounced softly off Wreath's shoulder, and the skinny man did his best to run by.
- Memorable Moment; Page 53

SOURCE ... A charity shop buy.

READ FOR A CHALLENGE? ... No.

MY THOUGHTS ... I strongly suspect a series best read from the beginning. That said, a book I really rather enjoyed; my not having read any of the others in no way detracting from this, the back story (and my imagination) being pretty much enough to fill in most of the gaps.

What I felt as being ideal for those boys of a certain age for whom reading maybe isn't seen as cool. Summed up in one word, I'd have to say this was a fun read.
  • Deliciously witty 
  • Great characters (some of the names alone had me quietly chuckling to myself); I adored Sulduggery's sarcasm
  • Plenty of adventure 
  • Gory; for the most part what I'd describe as cartoon-like and yet, as the story progressed, I did have my niggling concerns that things were turning really rather dark. I can quite see some parents of perhaps pre-teen, more sensitive children having their doubts about this one whilst devouring it themselves whilst said children are at school/in bed
  • Cinematic in scope - it has 'movie in the making' written all over it so to speak ...  
.... So, yeah, I'm guessing, perfect for adolescent boys.

What then was the appeal for me, far from adolescent and female?

In need of some light relief (laughter really is sometimes the best medicine), it was, without question, the humour. Take that away and I'd not have enjoyed the book nearly as much as I did.

7 comments:

Brian Joseph said...

I think that I would have loved this was a teen. Thus I think that you got the demographic appeal right. It does sound funny. I also like the cover.

Suko said...

I'm glad that you found this book so funny. Terrific review, Tracy!

Kelly said...

I certainly don't fall into the demographic, either... but I'll admit I like the cover and thought your memorable moment was good. And yes, I totally get what you're saying about needing distractions at time. Glad this one provided that for you.

Yvonne @ Fiction Books Reviews said...

One of my nephews used to read Derek Landy books and although he would pick up many of them from charity shops and sales, he would never read them until he had them all up to date and in order, so I guess that answers your question.

As you say, typical 'laddish' humour and narrative by the sounds of it and I love the artwork, which would certainly have instant appeal for a younger reader browsing the shelves.

Before beginning work on the 'Skulduggery Pleasant' series, author Derek Landy, did in fact write a couple of screenplays which were turned into films. Although apparently, it was his frustration with the industry which made him turn his hand to writing books instead, so I doubt whether we shall see a 'Skulduggery' movie any time soon!

As a small diversion, I do love the word skulduggery.

Thanks for sharing and I hope that all is well with you :)

Yvonne
xx

Lark said...

Wit, adventure, and great characters? Can't argue with that. Sounds like a fun read. :)

nightwingsraven said...

Tracy,
Thank you for your excellent and
as always honest review. Perhaps I
would borrow the first book of the
series from the library.
As what you said about the humour
or for instance the characters does
appeal to me.
Raven

Sherry Ellis said...

Sounds like this book has all the ingredients a teenage boy would like!