Skulduggery Pleasant

 

Title: Skulduggery Pleasant (some countries have subtitle: The Scepter of the Ancients)
Author: Derek Landy 
Genre: Fantasy/Horror
Length: Average (approx. 400 p.)
Rating: 5 out of 5

This is one of my favorites that I have re-read many times and will for a long time.

Stephanie Edgely didn't expect her uncle, Gordon Edgely to suddenly die. Of course, she also didn't expect to meet a walking, talking, wit-flinging, sarcastic skeleton who can throw fire-balls. Yup, I'm talking about that handsome man on the cover, Mr. Skulduggery Pleasant. And he's the good guy.

Stephanie meets Skulduggery when a strange man breaks into her late uncle's house which she had inherited. The man tries to kill Stephanie after he asked her where a mysterious "key" is. Skulduggery bursts in to the rescue and saves Stephanie. Soon  Stephanie is caught up in the wonder and mystery of the world of magic, which Skulduggery is a part of.

Together, Stephanie and Skulduggery must find the controversial Scepter of the Ancients before evil Nefarian Serpine does. If they can't unravel the mysteries of the Scepter, Serpine's master plan, as well as Gorgon Edgely's own involvement, the world may very well end at the hands of the ancient gods known as the Faceless Ones.

Or even a fate worse than that . . .

I love this book, and like I said above, it is definitely one you will want to read again and again. The witty writing of Derek Landy will keep you grinning, and the characters positively jump off of the page. by the end of the book, you feel as if you have known Skulduggery for years, even if he does keep many secrets . . .
The gripping action and suspense will keep you sweating until the very end. I recommend this book for ages nine and up, and up, and up . . . Seriously, you'll enjoy this book no matter your age. Go read it now!

~B-Man

Some Helpful Words From Mr. Dashner

I just found this post on James Dashner's blog under his question and answer section. I just wanted to share this and I feel like this is some good advice. I hope that many budding writers can get some good info from the advice of a successful author.

~B-Man

Q&A: Aspiring Writers

Great News!

I have just gotten great news!
Local author John Claude Bemis, author of the Clockwork Dark trilogy (The Nine Pound Hammer, The Wolf Tree, & The White City) is hosting afterschool writing classes starting this January for 8 weeks! I am one of the students going there! I am so glad that there was a spot left! I met John at a book signing and reading event earlier this year at the Regulator book store and he is a really nice guy. I got a signed copy of the Nine Pound Hammer and loved it (look out for a review). I am so psyched that I am getting the chance to learn from a published author and this will be a huge thing for me and the writing career I hope to have one day. Once I start lessons, I will post about what I am learning and the kinds of lessons we have.
I am so excited!!!!!! :)
~B-Man

Season's Greetings

I just wanted to say merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone out there. I hope you all get some good R&R and have a great time away from work or school.
Peace out!
~B-Man

The Maze Runner and James Dashner

I recently read an amazing book.

Title: The Maze Runner
Author: James Dashner
Genre: Science Fiction
Length: Average (approx. 400 p.)
Rating: 5 out of 5

It is called The Maze Runner by James Dashner. The story follows Thomas, a boy who arrives in a place called the Glade with no memory of his life. The other boys who live in the Glade, called the Gladers are trapped in the middle of a Maze and also share his amnesia. Every morning the doors to the Maze open and every night they close. If you are caught inside the Maze at night, you are as good as dead because the animal-machine hybrids called Grievers prowl the Maze at night in search of prey. When Thomas arrives, things start to change. The first girl to ever arrive in the Glade comes the day after Thomas with a message that she is the last to arrive. That is only the beginning. Soon, the things that the Gladers came to depend on are pulled out from under their feet. Thomas is determined to discover the secret of the Maze and time is running out. All of this leads to a heart-pounding, fist-clenching climax. I absolutely recommend this book to all readers. James Dashner paints a perfectly believable world filled with deep characters and his fluency and sense of direction will keep you reading to the last page. This is a five-star book. I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel, The Scorch Trials and I will write a review as soon as I am done. To check out James Dashner's blog, CLICK HERE
~B-Man

First Post

Hello, whoever may be reading this. In this blog I will talk about books and writing. I will share some of my favorite books and I will include reviews of popular books. I will also talk about my writing and anything else that comes to mind. Thanks, whoever is out there reading this!
~Ben