Skulduggery Pleasant: Mortal Coil
Fifth Skulduggery Pleasant novel, published September 2010.
Skulduggery Pleasant: Mortal Coil is the fifth book in Derek Landy's young adult fantasy series, released in September 2010. It follows directly after Skulduggery Pleasant: Dark Days and was the first time two books in the series came out in the same year. The plot centers on sorcerer-detectives Valkyrie Cain and Skulduggery Pleasant as Valkyrie tries to avoid a terrible fate while the Remnants work to bring it about.
A group of necromancers believe Valkyrie is the Death Bringer, also known as Darquesse, and try to read her future. Skulduggery and Valkyrie capture the traitor Davina Marr, who wrecked the Sanctuary in the earlier book. Valkyrie then visits her dead uncle for advice on controlling her True Name, Darquesse, and he sends her to a banshee. When a necromancer uses a Remnant to possess a fortune-teller and see Valkyrie's future, the Remnant realizes how important it is for Valkyrie to become Darquesse and gathers more Remnants to control her. Meanwhile, Valkyrie spends time with Caelan, a vampire who has romantic feelings for her.
At Christmas, Valkyrie sneaks away from her family and boards a black carriage as the banshee instructed. Inside, her body dies, and
- Author
- Derek Landy
- Published
- September 2010
- Nationality
- Irish
- Field
- Young adult fantasy novel
- Series
- Skulduggery Pleasant series, book 5
- Sequel to
- Skulduggery Pleasant: Dark Days
Lore & Background
At Christmas, Valkyrie sneaks away to board a black carriage as instructed by a banshee. Her body dies, and she is taken to Dr. Nye, a genderless creature that gives her the ability to control her True Name by carving symbols into her heart. Nye refuses to let Valkyrie return to the land of the living, but she escapes using necromancy. She then reveals to Skulduggery that she is Darquesse. As more allies and enemies are possessed by Remnants, Valkyrie and her friends plan to activate a Soul-Catcher to capture them. They find the key but are gradually possessed and fight among themselves. When Valkyrie is possessed she momentarily becomes Darquesse, embarking on a killing spree until Skulduggery convinces her to destroy the Remnant inside her. The Soul-Catcher is activated and all Remnants are captured except one, which possesses Tanith Low and flees.
Reader's Guide
Skulduggery Pleasant: Mortal Coil is significant as the fifth installment in Derek Landy's popular young adult fantasy series, and it was the first time two novels in the series were released in the same year. The book introduces the Remnants, beings of anger and hate that worship Darquesse as their messiah, and deepens the exploration of Valkyrie Cain's dark destiny as Darquesse, the foretold cause of the end of the world. The novel received largely positive reviews, with critics praising Landy's storytelling, wit, and ability to balance humor with a darker tone. The book did not see release in the US and Canada until 2018. HarperCollins Audio published unabridged CD sets read by Rupert Degas. The novel's legacy includes its role in advancing the series' overarching plot and its impact on readers, as noted by reviewers who found the final scenes shocking and cinematic.
Did You Know?
- Skulduggery Pleasant: Mortal Coil was published in September 2010, the same year as its predecessor, Dark Days.
- The book was not released in the US and Canada until 2018.
- HarperCollins Audio published unabridged CD sets of the book read by Rupert Degas.
- Remnants are beings of anger and hate that dream of a world of death and worship Darquesse as their messiah.
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