Skulduggery Pleasant is an ace detective and master of elemental magic. With his sharp sense of style, razor wit, and snarky sidekick, he is ready to take on any challenge and stop any threat. He is also technically dead. But that doesn’t stop him from doing his job. When a fabled weapon of great power is discovered, threating the world’s existence, it is up to Skulduggery and his sidekick to prevent the end of the world. As a walking, talking, fire-throwing and gun-wielding skeleton, Skulduggery is prepared to do just that. More or less. Probably less. I loved this book. Though technically a kid’s story, I think all ages would enjoy it. For me, it is definitely the characters that make this story shine. Skulduggery is a very lively skeleton whose quick and witty repartee with the equally spirited Stephanie Edgley cause a great many snort-and-chuckle moments. Mr. Landry creates a wonderful chemistry between these two characters, that despite the zingers and retorts, there is a real friendship being formed. Also, for being a powerful sorcerer, Skulduggery does get thrown around a lot and makes poor decisions. Believe it or not, these are things I look for in my main characters, as it shows that they aren’t infallible The story is rather clichéd (secret world of magic, powerful weapon, evil lords bent on world domination, etc.), but the pace of the story is faster and the harrowing situations numerous. It is a darkly humorous tale that grabs you from the moment Skulduggery bursts through the door to the end. This is a great red for fans of Rick Riordan’s wit and Eoin Colfer’s humor. So sit back, kick your feet up, and watch as Skulduggery and company save the world in style.