Death of a character3/5
Why this rating?
Death and deadly threats are part of the plot, including losses connected to the supernatural conflict; grief is present but not the sole focus.
book
Playing with fire
Is Playing with fire appropriate for your child? See the reviewed age guidance, content cautions, positive themes, and supporting evidence below.
Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for Playing with fire by Derek Landy. This book is recommended for ages 14+; content notes include Frightening scenes, Violence, Death of a character; positive qualities include Courage & resilience, Creativity & curiosity.
Ages 14+Book 2 · Skulduggery PleasantSource checked
Want age- and preference-matched picks?Set up a reader profile on the homepage and Dickens & Rumi will tailor future recommendations.Set up a reader
Where to get it
As an Amazon Associate and Bookshop.org affiliate, Dickens & Rumi may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
10-second decision
Is this likely to fit your family?
Age guidanceAges 14+
Strongest cautionsFrightening scenes 4/5 · Violence 4/5 · Death of a character 3/5
Strongest positivesCourage & resilience 5/5 · Creativity & curiosity 5/5
Series positionBook 2 · Skulduggery Pleasant
Recommendation4.3/5
Courage & resilience; strongest caution: frightening scenes.
This is the quick scan. Open the evidence and methodology below for the basis behind each rating.
Quick context
What parents should know
Content-guidance estimate derived from the complete published caution profile. It does not measure reading difficulty and is not a safety guarantee; family context may differ. Courage & resilience; strongest caution: frightening scenes.
Readiness snapshotAge guidance: 14+Main watch-out: Frightening scenes 4/5
Recommendation 4.3/5Show Wikipedia summary
Open to load a short Wikipedia summary.
Quick view
At a glance
Recommended age14+
Strongest cautions
- Frightening scenes4/5
- Violence4/5
- Death of a character3/5
Strongest positives
- Courage & resilience5/5
- Creativity & curiosity5/5
- Good role models4/5
Reading order
Series progression
All known volumes are shown. Reviewed books include age guidance and cautions; books still being reviewed are clearly marked.
- Book 1 · Skulduggery PleasantAges 12+Starting point
- Book 2 · Playing with fireAges 14+About the same
- Gets more intense
- About the same
- Book 5 · Mortal CoilAges 14+Gets more intense
- About the same
- Gets more intense
- Gets more intense
- Gets gentler
- Book 12 · BedlamAges 13+About the same
- About the same
- Book 14 · Dead or AliveAges 13+About the same
- Gets gentler
- Gets gentler
What’s in it?
Checked and not flagged
No concern recorded in these categories
These categories were explicitly scored 0/5 in the published review. This is not a guarantee that every edition or reader experience is identical.
Religious themes · 0/5
What’s good in it?
Family discussion
Talk about it
Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.
- What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
- Which moment felt most tense or frightening? What helped the characters handle fear?
- Which choice in Playing with fire would you have made differently, and why?
- Who changed the most in Playing with fire, and what caused that change?
Community perspective — separate from editorial ratings
What families noticed
Community ratings and written reactions are a separate layer. They do not automatically change Dickens & Rumi’s official age guidance or content scores.
Add your perspective
Sign in from the homepage to rate this title.
If you liked this
Try something nearby
Related by age fit, format, and catalogue context.
These content notes are a starting point, not a guarantee. Review the evidence and use your own judgment before choosing a title.
Something wrong with this guide? Report age, caution, series, cover, or title issues.