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Skulduggery Pleasant: Bedlam
Skulduggery Pleasant: Bedlam
Author Derek Landy
Cover Artist Tom Percival
Date Published 30th May 2019
Date Set In
Publisher HarperCollins
No. of pages 584
ISBN ISBN-10: 0008303967

ISBN-13: 9780008303969

Publication Order
Preceded by
Skulduggery Pleasant: Midnight
Followed by
Skulduggery Pleasant: Seasons of War
""Stay down," said Abyssinia.

"You've fought enough."

Valkyrie didn't answer.

When she had the energy, when she was standing, she simply raised her fists."

Abyssinia to Valkyrie Cain during Bedlam.

Skulduggery Pleasant: Bedlam[1] is the twelfth book in the Skulduggery Pleasant series. The title was revealed on January 24th, 2019 and the book was released on May 30th, 2019.

Description

The 12th explosive novel in the internationally bestselling Skulduggery Pleasant series, BEDLAM will blow your mind – and change everything…

On a desperate journey to recover her sister's lost soul, Valkyrie Cain goes up against the High Sanctuary itself, and there's nothing Skulduggery Pleasant can do to stop her. With Abyssinia's grand plan about to kick off in a night of magic, terror, and bloodshed, it falls to Omen Darkly to save the lives of thousands of innocent people. 

And as the madness unfolds around him, as hidden enemies step into the light, and as Valkyrie is sucked into a desperate, lawless quest of her own, he has no choice but to become the hero he never really wanted to be ― or die in the attempt.

Plot

Synopsis

Skulduggery Pleasant: Bedlam begins with Valkyrie Cain and Skulduggery Pleasant following a lead regarding Dr Nye's location. They meet up and converse with Christopher Reign; owner of a local Roarhaven bar and distributor of a new magical item known as a Splash. Originally created by Nye, the Splash is a sigil carved onto a piece of paper that gives the user a jolt of magic, just enough to feel good. As the discussion begins to get heated Christopher calls on one of his door staff, Panthea, in an attempt to have them thrown out. Valkyrie initially tries to goad Panthea into a fight but ends up flirting with her instead. Skulduggery presses Christopher for an answer only for him to insist he really doesn't know the whereabouts of Dr Nye, but insinuates that Nye came to Christopher with the splash, received payment, and left. They decide to leave the bar but not before Valkyrie knocks out a patron she describes as getting too handsy with the staff.

They leave the bar and notice a City Guard car parked in the next street over in front of a small shop with its door kicked in. They investigate only to find three city guards, Sergeant Yonder, Officer Lush and Officer Rattan trashing the place. After a brief discussion, it's revealed that this shop belongs to mortals from the Leibniz Universe. It's implied that the owners had not paid the city guard protection money and as such were being targeted till they do so. The trio of guards tries to leave only for Skulduggery to stop them and declare that they are under arrest causing all three to turn hostile. After a brief scuffle Lush, Rattan and Yonder are defeated. Cuffed and helpless Yonder declares his animosity towards the duo before being presumably taken away.

Over at Corrival Academy, Omen Darkly is in a meeting with Ms Gnosis in her office, discussing his future choice of discipline. Omen appears to be indecisive and unsure of what future discipline he wants to specialise in. Miss Gnosis attempts to ease his anxiety. She states that he doesn't have to be to hard on himself as he still has a number of years before he experiences The Surge. Omen and Miss Gnosis briefly discuss Sensitives and how twins like Auger and Omen have a strong psychic connection before Miss Gnosis lets him off early. Omen, now free to leave, manages to get to his next class just before the bell rings. Class starts and Never comes in looking exhausted. The two discuss her recent adventures with Auger and his group. Never expresses how she struggles to balance her life of adventure with her school work. She compares her lazy work ethic to Auger who is seemingly always on top of his homework even after constant adventuring. She attempts to copy off Omen only for Omen to state that he doesn't complete his homework either. Never appears to be slightly annoyed and demands to know why, only for Omen to state "I was thinking about other things". Miss Chou walks in and begins class by asking Never a question regarding her homework.

Razzia is applying makeup in the ladies room of Coldheart Prison next to Abyssinia. Razzia appears to be lost in her thoughts as Abyssinia speaks to her, presumably unaware that Razzia is not listening. Razzia ruminates on her past back in Australia. She admits it gets quite hazy as she thinks back to her father who she seems to be unsure she even had. On one hand, she has vague memories of a "a nasty old man quick with his fists" but expresses her dislike at those memories instead substituting them for memories of a more lovable father. Razzia realises Abyssinia has still been talking this whole time, but is completely lost as to what they were just discussing. Razzia goes back to applying her makeup and thinking to herself. Knowing Abyssinia, she assumes that she has been talking about her son, Caisson, the entire time. Razzia inwardly expresses happiness at Abyssinia getting Caisson back but appears to be at odds with him now being viewed as the weirdest one in the group. She admits though that anyone having to endure what Caisson had just endured for a near century would come out at the very least, a little odd. It's for this reason that Razzia looks up to Caisson torturer Serafina admirably. She secretly wishes to meet the mysterious wife of Mevolent and perhaps learn a thing or two. Abyssinia interrupts Razzia thoughts asking for her opinion on something. Razzia defects the question by instead asking Abyssinia what she thinks. Abyssinia believes that they should move to the next stage of her plan but at the same is concerned and unsure of what to do about Auger Darkly. Razzia doesn't see what the problem is. The Darkly Prophecy is still more than 2 years away. Plenty of time in Razzias mind to find an opportunity to kill him. She explains her thoughts to Abyssinia in a paradoxical way ending with her expressing her views on the whole concept of prophecy as a complicated yet deceptively simple business. Abyssinia disagrees and Razzia concedes the argument, admitting that her opinion may be invalid due to her being crazy.

{missing chapters}

Valkyrie surprises her mother when entering the house, with her saying that Valkyrie has "secret ninja training." Melissa tells Valkyrie that her dad is grumpy. Valkyrie finds her father in the lounge room absentmindedly watching cricket. They talk about Valkyrie's great-grandfather and Gordon, speaking about the information contained in Gordon's diaries, and the life Valkyrie leads 'saving the world everyday.' This talk brings Desmond out of his slump, and the pair return to the kitchen. Valkyrie goes to Alice's room where Sparkles the hamster has died in his cage. Valkyrie asks Alice if she is sad, and they have a conversation about Alice's emotions and how she remains unaffected by the events of Midnight, despite the major trauma surrounding the event.

Omen and Axelia Lukt arrive at the Humdrums, where Omen admits to himself that, due to her upbringing, Axelia may be slightly racist regarding mortals, especially those that have arrived from the Leibniz Universe. Omen meets Buach, Aurnia's boyfriend. Aurnia reveals that Bauch is skeptical of all sorcerers, especially Omen seeing as he tried to kiss Aurnia. She threatens to break up with Bauch if he doesn't apologize to Omen, saying she would not date a rude person, and that Bauch is a good guy when there are no sorcerers around.

Valkyrie drives to the Sanctuary where she meets Skulduggery, saying he looks like a gangster in his current suit. On their way to the meeting with the Advisors board, and are greeted by the new Administrator, Cerise. Arriving at the meeting, Skulduggery and Valkyrie are greeted by the English Grand Mage Aloysius Vespers, American Grand Mage Gavin Praetor, and German Grand Mage Sturmun Drang. Supreme Mage China Sorrows disconnects from the Whispering to greet Skulduggery and Valkyrie. They discuss the disappearance of Wilkes, the American President Martin Flanery's knowledge of the magical community and his instability as a person. A photo was shown of Wilkes surrounded by a group people, Abyssinia's group of followers, which leads to the belief that Wilkes was working as a spy for Abyssinia. China reveals that Serafina is coming to Roarhaven. China asks Skulduggery and Valkyrie if they will attend Serafina's welcoming as Arbiters under the pretense that it will be a 'show of strength' when in actuality they're there to challenge Serafina should the need arise.

Flanery and his advisors discuss the need for a pet to soften Flanery's image; however, he declines before discussing matters of policy. Lost in thought, Flanery fails to notice Crepuscular Vies walk up behind him with food that he recieved by impersonating Flanery. They discuss the news of Vice President Dan Tucker insulting Flanery, then Flannery insults Vies, and Vies goes on a tangent while choking Flanery.

Sebastian is busy crying in his house about the restrictions of his Necronaut suit and his lack of friends outside of their meetings when Bennet Troth walks in asking to use his TV to watch a sports game. They talk of Christmas and Odetta, Bennets new job, and the apparent failure of their search for Darquesse. Bennet says he came over for company, and not the football game as Sebastian receives a message from Forby saying he might have found Darquesse.

Valkyrie arrives at Grimwood House to find Xena and Tanith Low. They talk about Abyssinia and Valkyrie's girlfriend Militsa Gnosis. Tanith tells Valkyrie about the Black Sand rebellion group. China, being her secretive conniving self, has sent spies and double agents to the 3 African sanctuaries to try and put her own people as Grand mages in order to gain control of Africa. The Black Sand is working against China's advances, yet the African sanctuary is working against the Black Sand, whether due to China's spies is not elaborated on. The African sanctuary has rounded up the innocent family and friends of some of the Black Sand's members and is sentencing them to 30 years prison each. Tanith says she's here to give herself over to China as the leader of the Black Sand as a bargaining chip to release the others. Valkyrie begs her to reconsider, or at least hold the plan off for a while until they can figure something out and Tanith agrees. Following Tanith's visit, Valkyrie has a dream/premonition of the Darkly boys in Oregon America. Both boys have been shot, Omen dies from his wounds. They are being pursued by a group of people but they remain unidentified. From this dream Valkyrie learns that she can pause her visions, but cannot change the focal point or move.

Omen sits with Never during lunch and they talk about their love prospects and life after school before omen has to attend Miss Wicked's class on telepathy. Miss Wicked uses telepathy to enter Madcap's head and influence him to write telepahy on the white board. The class gets into a small discussion about whether or not Miss Wicked is allowed to enter a students head, and she tells them their parents gave consent and insult them for not reading the fine print and advises them to keep their thoughts clean.

Militsa and Valkyrie are on a date at a cafe during Militsa's lunch break, they talk of the Darkly boys and Valkyries recent vision while ordering food. After the waiter takes their order, Dusk walks in to talk to Valkyrie. Militsa walks to the bathroom so that Dusk and Valkyrie can have a private conversation. Dusk says that Cassion approached him, asking if he could get a message to Valkyrie. Dusk passes the note and Valkyrie asks if he will tell her what he tasted in her blood. Dusk declines, saying if she still wants to know in a couple days, he will reconsider. Militsa comes back as Dusk leaves, and the Waiter arrives with the food. The waiter asks if he can have an autograph and as Valkyrie signs his notepad, he asks if it can be signed by Darquesse. Valkyrie whirls on him, shoving him to the table. Militsa calms the situation, before taking Valkyrie out of the cafe to get muffins.

Temper, Skulduggery and Valkyrie meet Adam Brate at a store to discuss the information Adam has on the Church of the Faceless and Arch-Canon Creed's adjustments to the church and his resumption of the search for the Child of the Faceless in order to recall the Faceless Ones and destroy the world again. Creed has found thousands of the Children of the Faceless, but none with a strong enough DNA strain. Those without a strong link become the faceless, brainless Kith. Brate is sent back into the church to uncover more information.

Valkyrie heads to Corrival Academy to wish Omen a happy birthday and advise him to stay out of America before heading to the staff room where shes greeted by Militsa. She finds Fletcher and they talk about when they dated, and how Fletcher believes he turned Valkyrie gay. Skulduggery arrives and they all teleport to Seattle. During the drive to Oberon Guile, Valkyrie tells Skulduggery about Taniths problem, Alices hamster and her Darkly brothers vision. Valkyrie explains that shes worried about missing details with all the investigations they're currently running. Valkyrie asks if shes as fun as she used to be, which leads to a whole other conversation about how mentally unstable they both are, and how while Valkyrie is thinking of going to a therapist, Skulduggery believes he has everything balanced in his head. Skulduggery reassures her that her traumas may have made her who she is, they do not define her and she has the strength to live with them. They arrive at Oberon's car, getting in and talking with him about the situation. Oberon reveals that his son Robbie is being used as a bribe to get Magenta, oberons ex, to use her psychic abilities on people within the American govt. He talks about how four years ago after the split, Magenta mentioned working for Flannery as it paid well and allowed her time to look after Robbie. Oberon says Robbie is being guarded by the people in the house hes watching, and that Magenta is being guarded by the Seven-as-One, and that he has not had contact with her. They enter the house, punch a couple people, and interrogate a man Sleave. Sleave reveals his crew has been laid off recently, meaning they have no clue where Robbie is. Skulduggery makes an agreement with Sleave, allowing him to walk away free as long as they give up their employers name, Crepusculer Vies. Fletcher arrives to take them back to Ireland.

Following Dusks instructions, Valkyrie heads to the Fangs to talk to Cassion. Upon arrival, hes nervous yet placid, saying hes confused on why they're on opposite sides simply because of the people they associate with. He becomes suddenly angry, lashing out about Skulduggery and the death of his mother, before calming himself again. They come to an agreement, if Valkyrie can tell Cassion where Greymire Asylum is and Cassion will tell her where Nye is. Meeting over, Valkyrie heads to Roarhaven to greet Serafina, only to find traffic. Slightly late, she meets Skulduggery out front of the High Sanctury. Serafinas arrival has caused plenty of chaos within Roarhaven, especially Creeds Church of the Faceless and the divide caused by his sisters visit. Valkyrie tells Skulduggery of her metting with Cassion, and they plan to go to Greymire Assylum and find K-49 to delivier to Cassion for the information on Nye.

Omen meets Aurnia and he asks her about the meeting. She says its annoying that the Sanctuaries bureaucrats tell them no using every other word but no, she is still grateful for the chance to talk. Aurnia tells him about the sorcerer raids on mortal businesses. Conversation moves to how the mortals are settling in, the music and singers they're being introduced. Omen jumps on the tram as Aurnia leaves, and hes approached by Colleen Stint. Colleen tells Omen that Perpetua, Sabre, Disdain and her want Omens help to get away from Abyssinia. They want to go somewhere with a beach to assimilate with mortals. She says they were wrong, that they let lilt and Abyssinia convinced them that they were better than mortals, but now they feel sorry and don't want any part in the whole Abyssinia drama.

On the drive to Mellifluous Golding's place, Skulduggery catches Valkyrie humming one continuous note which disturbs Valkyrie slightly but she ignores it. When they arrive Valkyrie blasts herself upwards to see that the building is built to look like a sigil. The inside of the Clockwork House is grand, soaring ceilings and incredibly large rooms with walls covered in cogs. Skulduggery asks the house for the location of Greymire Asylum, and the house leads them through two rooms to a seemingly random cog in one of the walls. Valkyrie and Skulduggery give one secret each in return for the secret of Greymire Asylum; Valkyries secret is that she can see and interact with a splinter of Darquesse. While in the recording room, Kes says she's been getting weaker the longer she's apart from Darquesse. After the secrets are recorded, they're placed in the wall. The Greymire Asylum secret is put in a device in one of the rooms in the house and a lever is pulled to release the secret. Greymire Asylum is on Inis Tra Thuathail, an island thought to be deserted.

Razzia is sitting on the cliffs of Coldheart Prison, letting her pets eat the dead birds. Her, Nero and Abyssinia teleport to Flannery's office to talk to him. Abyssinia asks about Wilkes and Flannery lies saying he doesn't know where Wilkes went, only that he'd left his job. While Nero mouths of the President, Razzia thinks of her murderous tendencies and self control, she notices that the longer Nero uses his magic, the more unstable he gets. Abyssinia calms Nero before entering Flannerys mind to update herself on Flannerys recent movements. Flannery agrees to keep Abyssinia updated on everything. They teleport back to Coldheart and Nero apologizes for his outburst. Abyssinia accepts the appology, saying she completely understands the outburst and that she will enjoy deploying the soul sucking bomb at Flannerys next speech.

Skulduggery and Valkyrie drive to Malin Head, Donegal, and fly to Inishtrahull. They enter the cloaking sphere surrounding Greymire, and are attacked by the hollow men guarding the asylum. Valkyrie creates a protective sphere out of her magic that destroys the paper men when they come close, and manages to burn through her scarf, hat and gloves. They're greeted by Brother Boo of the The Order of the Void. Valkyrie asks about K-49, but brother Boo refutes, saying the patients aren't there to be treated, simply contained, and he will not give up K-49 as it is not a cure. They're escorted out by Brother Bear, but Valkyrie asks to go to the bathrooms and uses this as a means to escape and explore the Asylum. As she leaves the bathrooms she runs from Brother Bear. Using her magic she shoots herself up to the grilled ceiling and hangs there for a bit. Brother Bear leaves to go looking for her, and she drops back down to go exploring further into the asylum. While exploring she comes across a brother leading an inmate on a leash, and finds Doctor Derleth. They chat about the prison and accounting as Dr, derleth leads Valkyrie to K-49. He leads her to a doorway, and leaves Valkyrie to go get K-49 herself, only to find Dr. Derleth has tricked her and lead her into a box. He then takes the box down a flight of stairs where he reveals the box is, in fact, a coffin and Valkyries going to be buried alive. Valkyries left screaming and panicking and contemplating in the coffin before she remembers Dr. Derleths comment about the air. She feels a scratching against the bottom of the coffin, notices as she's pulled through thte ground and dropped back somewhere. Billy-Ray Sanguine had taken her out of the coffin and dropped her at her parents back garden. Billy-Ray manages to convince her to go into the house. The house is quiet and empty, and Valkyrie goes adventuring around and makes her way to her bedroom. She steps through the mirror and another version steps out. The other version tells Valkyrie that she's a broken reflection and goes to call Skulduggery. Valkyrie slaps the phone out of the other Valkyries hand and they argue about whos real before getting to hitting each other.

TBA

Sequel

On Twitter, a few days out from Bedlam's release, Derek had Tweeted about 'still writing on a book!' While some fans theorized that Bedlam hadn't been finished yet, others theorized that Derek had already started to write a sequel. Derek later said in a tweet a few hours after the one above, that Bedlam was indeed finished, but did not elaborate if the book he was talking about was indeed a sequel to Bedlam or a new series entirely, nor did he divulge the book's title.

Gallery

References

  1. Title announcement on Twitter. Retrieved 1/25/19.

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