Death
Bringer
Book 6: Skulduggery Pleasant
Derek Landy
HarperCollins Children's Books
August 2012
$14.99 AU
605p pb
ISBN: 978-0007466856
fp September 2011
Skullduggery Pleasant: The Death Bringer is a fantasy novel about a girl named Valkyrie, whose magic is capable of manipulating the elements. She is also a trainee necromancer, meaning that she is capable of using shadows to harm her opponents in battle. In a previous novel in the series Valkyrie was told that she might be The Death Bringer, a powerful necromancer that can ‘initiate The Passage’. Nobody except the high ranking necromancers know what The Passage is – but it’s something to do with bringing death (just as the title says). However, we find out that it is another necromancer that is capable of bringing about The Passage.
Like the other novels in this series, The Death Bringer is full of fantastic sorcery, epic fighting and snide retorts. However, its plotline is not as strong; it seems to be heavy on punch up sequences in between other events. I recommend the book for readers around 13-15 years old who enjoy action and fantasy thrillers with a smidgen of romance.
Sally, age 16, Canberra, Australia
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