Skulduggery Pleasant: The Faceless Ones

Valkyrie screamed, sprinting toward Skulduggery. He looked up and reached out to her, but it was too late. f you've read the other Skulduggery books by Derek Landy (and you really should have read them by now), you've seen it all before: Some bad guy wants to bring about the end of the world, and Skulduggery and Valkyrie fight valiantly to stop it from happening. A few people get hurt, sure, but everything's all right in the end. Well, not this time.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5–8—This story picks up where Playing with Fire (HarperCollins, 2008) leaves off. The skeleton detective and his 14-year-old sidekick, Valkyrie, have uncovered an evil plot to allow the Faceless Ones through a portal into our world, which will surely bring about the destruction of life as we know it. Banished from the department and branded a dangerous character, Skulduggery is not allowed to work the case, but he is able to uncover enough information to put the pieces together. The plot contains many twists and double crosses as dubious characters factor into the mystery. In the end, sacrifices are made and Valkyrie is faced with a difficult decision. This third installment has enough action to keep casual or new readers interested in what happens next. Kids who have outgrown Lemony Snicket will enjoy the series.—Karen Hoth, Manatee Elementary School, Fort Myers, FL END

About the Author

Derek Landy is far too modest to talk about any accolades his books may have garnered. He will not, for instance, mention that his first book, Skulduggery Pleasant: Scepter of the Ancients, was named a Best Book for Young Adults by the American Library Association, or appeared on Oprah's Book Club Kids Reading List, or indeed was a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year. Similarly, he gets downright embarrassed when he has to admit to the awards won by the follow-up Skulduggery novels- Playing with Fire and The Faceless Ones. It's simply all too much for a simple lad from Ireland. Derek lives in Dublin with a variety of cats, a German Shepherd, and two arthritic Bull Terriers who keep peeing on his floor because they think it's funny.

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