Skulduggery Pleasant is a well-known supernatural detective. Some might say it is because he is just bones, no skin ... or anything else. Most people would say it is because he is good at his job. Now, he is sharing his knowledge with Valkyrie Cain, the girl known by those outside the paranormal community as Stephanie Edgley.

Valkyrie is really starting to come into her own. It doesn't hurt that she has an innate elemental ability because she is a direct descendant of the Ancients, who were once powerful mages in Ireland. Of course, that also makes her quite the target. The power that runs in her veins can be used by those with less than noble intentions.

Enter Baron Vengeous and his assistants: the vampire Dusk and the bumbling aide Scapegrace. The three of them are all followers of Lord Vile. As a group, they are all hoping to bring back the Faceless Ones, dark gods that used to hold sway in the world many years ago. Valkyrie's blood may hold the key to accomplishing the deed in a mysterious and powerful rite.

Her blood is not the only important ingredient, though. Skulduggery, the female warrior Tannith, Kenspeckle the scientist and medic, the beautiful China Sorrows and her dark past, and the mysterious villain known as the Torment all work together to stop the baron and his dark minions.

As with the first book in the series, humor, magic, and action rule throughout the book. The story is good, but I felt it dragged a bit at times. Some tighter editing would have solved that problem quickly. With that said, this is definitely worth reading if you like the genre, particularly those who like the The Immortal Nicholas Flamel series by Michael Scott.