Tag Archives: Derek Landy

Five scary books for Hallowe’en

DemonRoadFor anyone who ever thought their parents were monsters… Amber Lamont is a normal sixteen-year-old. Smart but insecure, she spends most of her time online, where she can avoid her beautiful, aloof parents and their weird friends. But when a shocking encounter reveals a horrifying secret, Amber is forced to go on the run. Killer cars, vampires, undead serial killers and red-skinned, horned demons – Amber hurtles from one threat to the next, revealing the terror woven into the very fabric of her life. As her parents close in behind her, Amber’s only chance rests with her fellow travellers, who are not at all what they appear to be…

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Can you love a bullying, racist thug, if he’s your father?Zom-B  How do you react when confronted with your darkest inner demons?  What do you do when Zombies attack?  B Smith is about to find out!

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Woman In Black

Arthur Kipps, a junior solicitor, is summoned to attend the funeral of Mrs Alice Drablow, the sole inhabitant of Eel Marsh House, unaware of the tragic secrets which lie hidden behind the sheltered windows. The house stands at the end of a causeway, wreathed in fog and mystery, but it is not until he glimpses a wasted young woman, dressed all in black, at the funeral, that a creeping sense of unease begins to take hold, a feeling deepened by the reluctance of the locals to talk of the woman in black – and her terrible purpose.

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Long WeekendSam knows that he and his friend Lloyd made a colossal mistake when they accepted the ride home. They have ended up in a dark mansion in the middle of nowhere with man who means to harm them. But Sam doesn’t know how to get them out. They were trapped, then separated. Now they are alone. Will either of them get out alive?

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NGhostSoldierobody believes in ghosts until they see one … The war has changed everything for Rob and Millie. Their father is missing in action and they are terrified they’ll never see him again.  Then one night, deep in the woods, Rob and Millie see an eerie figure in the window of an abandoned house.

But there’s no such thing as ghosts, is there?

 

 

All blurbs and cover pictures from publisher’s websites.

Book of the Week – Demon Road, by Derek Landy

DemonRoadDerek Landy’s new novel is a road trip with demons!

Amber Lamont is a normal sixteen-year-old. Smart but insecure, she spends most of her time online, where she can avoid her beautiful, aloof parents and their weird friends.

But when a shocking encounter reveals a horrifying family secret, Amber is forced to go on the run. Killer cars, vampires, undead serial killers and red-skinned, horned demons – Amber hurtles from one threat to the next, revealing the terror woven into the very fabric of her life. As her parents close in behind her, Amber’s only chance rests with her fellow travellers, who are not at all what they appear to be…

Demon Road is a scary roller-coaster of a book, which already has a waiting list (sorry), so if you want to read it, ask at the library desk.

New books in the Library – Skulduggery Pleasant: The Dying of the Light

imageIt’s hard to believe that we have finally reached the end of the Skulduggery Pleasant series – and what an ending! I am not going to give anything away, but this book is twistier and darker than it’s predecessors, whilst still having Derek Landy’s unique sense of humour running all the way through. The new Skulduggery Pleasant book can be found on the top of the display of all our other Derek Landy books.

There are currently no reserves for The Dying of the Light, so first come, first served!

Thursday 3rd October – Last Stand of the Dead Men reviewed by KH

laststandofdeadmenThe Last Stand of Dead Men is the penultimate episode in the Skulduggery Pleasant series. Derek Landy, the author, leaves it at a really big cliffhanger, so everyone hates him for doing that, and he’s killed off two more of his major characters – but that just keeps things interesting.

You’ve got all the mystery about who are the people behind the war of the Sanctuary but the biggest mystery for me was which power Sacrean Rue had because it was never actually revealed, and it’s really nagging at me that you know the result of his power but not what it really is. I expect it will be in the last book of the series.

I actually asked Derek Landy on Twitter, but he never answered me!

Friday 27th September – The Wonderful Derek Landy talking about why he kills off his characters


There is a waiting list for the latest Skulduggery Pleasant book – Last Stand of Dead Men – if you want to add your name to the list, ask at the library desk. In the meantime, enjoy Derek Landy talking about why he kills off so many of his characters!

Thursday 9th May – The Maleficent Seven, reviewed by KH

The Maleficent Seven starts with Tanith trying to get together a group of villains (obviously seven) to match the group of good guys (also seven). They’re all looking for weapons which could kill a God (Darquesse). There’s a dagger, a spear, a bow… and they have to go where the weapons are kept. This book is written from the perspective of the bad guys – Derek Landy has turned the concept of ‘good always wins’ inside out.

I like this book because the background characters from the Skulduggery Pleasant books, who you don’t always know very much about, were the main ones in this book.

Monday 15th April – Book of the Week

Derek Landy’s new book has the most amazing title! The Maleficent Seven is a standalone book in the Skulduggery Pleasant world, and what’s more, it features my favourite villainess – Tanith Low. My mystery reviewer said,

Derek Landy does villains well, and this is a book totally focusing on the bad guys – it’s just so Derek Landy and so good. Murderous sociopathic villains who stop and ask for cuddles – absolutely hilarious.

The blurb (on the inside front cover this time) says,

Four god-killer weapons scattered around the world.

 

Seven sorcerers hunting them down in a desperate effort to prevent the mysterious Darquesse from ending humanity.

 

And then there’s Tanith. A highly trained combat mage, she was a scary enough prospect when she fought on the side of good. But now that she has a Remnant bonded to her soul? Now she’s something else entirely.

 

Recruiting her own team of misfits and villains, Tanith will have to stay one step ahead of her enemies if she wants to protect Darquesse and do her part to usher in the end of the world.

 

It’s a good day to be a bad guy…

The library copy has really good endpapers – I almost prefer them to the cover – and the usual very funny author comment from Derek Landy on the back flap.

Thursday 14th February – Anti-Valentine’s Day

At this time of year, we have lots of completely non-romantic books for you to enjoy:

The Forbidden Game 2: The Chase by L.J.Smith – Julian has returned to trap Jenny and her friends in yet another game, Lambs and Monsters, and it looks like Jenny doesn’t stand a chance. Tom and Jenny are having problems, and Julian is waiting in the wings for his chance to attack. A creepy story that shouldn’t be read in the dark.

Gone by Michael Grant – A dome has appeared over a small town in California, and all the adults are gone. Chaos has descended on the town as the kids run riot, but they soon run into problems when their world starts to fall apart.

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy – A strange skeleton detective appears on Stephanie’s door soon after her uncle’s demise. She is thrown into a world of magic, monsters and mayhem. Just a few pages in and you’ll be hooked on the entire series.

These and many more are on the Anti-Valentine display in the Library.

Thursday 11th October – Skulduggery Pleasant: Kingdom of the Wicked reviewed by ND

Kingdom of the Wicked was an amazing book. Valkyrie and Skulduggery must save the world yet again as it tumbles into near chaos. Random mortals have been gifted with magic by Argeddion, a sorcerer who knows his true name and therefore has unlimited power, who contacts them through their dreams. This new breed of sorcerer is stronger than the last and while the good guys try hopelessly to defeat them it looks like all hope is lost. This book is just so brilliant, there are no words.

Skulduggery Pleasant: Kingdom of the Wicked is by Derek Landy

Monday 10th September – Book of the Week

A lot of enthusiastic readers have been waiting impatiently for the release of this week’s Book of the Week. It is the latest in Derek Landy’s Skulduggery Pleasant series, Kingdom of the Wicked.

The blurb on the back of the book says:

Magic is a disease

 

Across the land, normal people are suddenly developing wild and unstable powers. Infected by a rare strain of magic, they are unwittingly endangering their own lives and the lives of the people around them. Terrified and confused, their only hope lies with the Sanctuary. Skulduggery Pleasant and Valkyrie Cain are needed now more than ever.

 

And then there’s the small matter of Kitana. A normal teenage girl who, along with her normal teenage friends, becomes infected. Becomes powerful. Becomes corrupted. Wielding the magic of gods, they’re set to tear the city apart unless someone stands up against them.

 

Looks like it’s going to be another one of those days…

I wish I could say that you could take this book out today, but unfortunately there is a waiting list for it. You could always add your name to the list, and read the other Skulduggery Pleasant books while you are waiting?

Click on the book cover to go to the official UK website.