Playing With Fire (Skulduggery Pleasant - book 2)

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Skulduggery Pleasant: Skulduggery is such a master mind in everything he does and it kind of freaks me out with how calculated he is and knows what to do before anyone else. I still do really enjoy this character though he is smart, unique and different to many main leads in middle grade series so it's refreshing to meet a character who is the good guy but also very calculated. After losing to Skulduggery Pleasant, Baron Vengeous goes after China Sorrows who was once part of a cult that worshipped the Faceless Ones and also included Serpine and Vengous himself. The Baron confronts China Sorrows in her apartment whilst Valkyrie is visiting. Valkyrie hides whilst China and Vengous talk. Vengeous reveals that he was released from prison by an assassin named Billy-Ray Sanguine who promptly arrives along with Dusk. A battle ensues during which Valkyrie reveals herself and defends China. Valkyrie Cain is soon chased by Billy-Ray Sanguine who can travel through earth and buildings. After being a struggle, Valkyrie is saved by Tanith Low. In the process, Valkyrie steals Billy-Ray Sanguine's razor, his primary weapon, leaving the psychopathic assassin with a grudge against her.

The Wonderful Adventures of Geoffrey Scrutinous: (5–6) Set after Mortal Coil, Geoffrey Scrutinous and Skulduggery Pleasant search for Elwood Satchel. Originally included in Mortal Coil. Before being caught, Vengeous was tasked with resurrecting a Faceless Ones using remains found in a long-forgotten tomb. Vengeous combined the remains with the limbs and organs of other creatures to form a hybrid called the Grotesquery. He was caught before he could finish it, and was missing two crucial ingredients: a Necromancer’s power to revive it, and another ingredient to keep the Grotesquery alive. When Lord Vile disappeared, presumed dead, Vengeous tried to find his armour, but could not. Every solution to every problem is simple. It's the distance between the two where the mystery lies.”Skulduggery, despite his bizarre appearance which he hides while in public with a disguise, is something of a dapper gentleman. He has a polite, old-fashioned way of speech and a velvety-smooth voice which enraptures Valkyrie when they first meet. As well as a powerful sorcerer, more specifically an Elemental, he is particularly enthusiastic about detecting, always searching for clues, much to Valkyrie's and Tanith's chagrin. He is also a flamboyant egotist, vocally exalting his own plans, complimenting himself, and showing off his magical abilities to Valkyrie, at one point walking on the ocean's surface after falling from a cliff. Skulduggery excels at Elemental magic. Air being his most powerful element. He initially possessed the standard powers of an Elemental sorcerer, however during his imprisonment in the Faceless Ones' dimension, Skulduggery had ample time to enhance his existing powers and become a stronger adversary. He can now also create streams of fire, fly, create solid walls of air and manipulate earth more than just as a defensive element. After Valkyrie acquires the brooch the next day, she and Skulduggery meet Mr. Bliss, who has agreed to help them get the Sceptre from the caves, at a Martello tower on the cliffs of Haggard. They show him the brooch, and he pushes Skulduggery off the cliff. That’s why I have a husband, so I don't have to. Engines and shelves, that’s why men were invented."

Ahoy there me mateys! So this is the second book in the series. No real spoilers but read further at yer own peril . . . The Shark comes for Geoffrey, Valkyrie grabs his arm and pulls him away at the last second. But she drops him again, under water. He looks for the shark and sees it coming for him. But at that time, the water disappears and so does the shark. Geoffrey thanks Valkyrie for saving him. Skulduggery wonders why he doesn't get a thank you too and Geoffrey merely said, Skulduggery told him to shut up and walked away. Stephanie: I can't see what would be in it for my parents. I mean, they have the perfect daughter already - What more could they want?”

BookBrowse Review

Across a Dark Plain: 1861: (–1) The Dead Men traversed South Dakota on the hunt for their target, Nefarian Serpine. She started reading. She didn’t mean to spend long at it, but soon she was devouring every word, oblivious to the creaking old home and the rain outside.” The End of the World: (6–7) Set after Death Bringer, Skulduggery and Valkyrie attempt to solve a mystery surrounding Deacon Maybury, Ryan and the Doomsday Machine.