So I finally did a YA novel that I knew was a YA novel going in.

I really enjoyed Derek Landy’s Skulduggery Pleasant.

Skulduggery reminded me of my best friend, which may have been why I enjoyed it so much.

The story begins with Stephanie Edgely, a twelve year old who inherits the bulk of her best-selling novelist uncle’s estate, in spite of her living parents and aunt and uncle. Mr. Skulduggery Pleasant, also at the funeral and will reading but unknown to the family, is left a piece of advice (which nobody is very jealous of, as it sounds rather useless).

Stephanie spends time in her new property and is attacked there by a man demanding a key. She is rescued by Skulduggery Pleasant who throws a fireball he generated with a finger snap at the man. Skullduggery’s disguise is knocked askew in the fray, and he is revealed to be nothing but a skeleton held together by magic.

Stephanie goes on to figure out that her uncle was murdered and was very involved in sorcery and was quite the magician. As it turns out, he had discovered some kind of magic weapon that the first sorcerers used against their gods. (As everyone knows, it is *never* a good idea to fuck with gods). Skulduggery and Stephanie go on to investigate, save the day, etc…

Anyway, as this goes on, Skulduggery and Stephanie also become friends, with Skulduggery encouraging Stephanie to come up with a new magic name, that she needs if she plans to continue in the magical world. She, of course, does.

Again, I really, really enjoyed this book, even though it was YA.  Stephanie was likeable enough, and Skulduggery’s deadpan humor and dry wit amused me to no end. There are more books in this series. I’ll try to get to them, and have been meaning to for awhile. I just haven’t yet. 

I may give the book to my cousin’s kid for her next birthday. I’m going to try to corrupt her into fantasy but she’s into mysteries right now. Perhaps this magical mystery will be the first step on the path…

Tagged: authors: derek landy, books: skulduggery pleasant, genre: fantasy, genre: mystery, genre: YA