The Dark Lord Clementine

Category: Book
By (author): Horwitz, Sarah Jean
Subject:  JUVENILE FICTION / Action & Adventure / General
  JUVENILE FICTION / Age 10-14
  JUVENILE FICTION / Family / Parents
  JUVENILE FICTION / Fantasy & Magic
Audience: children/juvenile
Publisher: Algonquin Books
Published: April 2021
Format: Book-paperback
Pages: 336
Size: 8.25in x 5.50in x 0.90in
List Price:
$ 12.95
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Additional Notes

From The Publisher*The new face of big evil is a little . . . small.
 
Dastardly deeds aren't exactly the first things that come to mind when one hears the name "Clementine," but as the sole heir of the infamous Dark Lord Elithor, twelve-year-old Clementine Morcerous has been groomed since birth to be the best (worst?) Evil Overlord she can be. But everything changes the day her father is cursed by a mysterious rival.

Now, Clementine must not only search for a way to break the curse, but also take on the full responsibilities of the Dark Lord. But when it's time for her to perform dastardly deeds against the townspeople-including her brand-new friends-she begins to question her father's code of good and evil. What if the Dark Lord Clementine doesn't want to be a dark lord after all?
 
Review Quote*"A hilariously heartwarming magical adventure . . . Clementine [is] a remarkably three-dimensional character. Her imperfections, many failures and constant letdowns make her likable and relatable. Her ridiculous antics…will charm and delight young readers . . . The Dark Lord Clementine is infused with humor and adventure, but the foundation of the story-friendship, loyalty and compassion-never wavers. Clementine is a worthy heroine. At the start of the novel, she lives a lonely, sequestered life with her father, but as the story progresses, her world opens into a unique and beautifully absurd wonderland. This clever, inventive novel knows the value of a good-versus-evil story that is served fresh, yet familiar."
-The New York Times Book Review

"Chock-full of the cheerfully macabre . . . This quirky novel stands out from the crowd in its hilarity and its compelling premise; give it to readers who like villains who aren't, really."
-The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Horwitz has created a perfect blend of wit and heart in this fresh fantasy adventure . . . Highly recommended, this title will keep a wide variety of readers entertained with its compelling characters and witty twists on the fairy-tale universe."
-School Library Journal

"Horwitz primes readers to expect the unexpected-and delivers. . . .Horwitz's ingenuity for bizarre enchantment and characterization proves boundless . . . In a wry, satisfying ending, Clementine hints at future enchantments ahead."
-Publishers Weekly

"A spell-binding tale of dark lords and unicorns."
-The Newark Star-Ledger
 
"The castle is full of sorcery and cleverly devised magical objects, and the legends about the mountains surrounding it give Horwitz's imagined world a unique history. The story has plenty of heart and charm. Themes of trust, forgiveness, and belonging deepen this enjoyable fantasy."
-The Horn Book

"The descriptions of magical beings are fittingly awe-inspiring  . . . This inventive fantasy twists conventions while involving readers through good storytelling laced with irony and wit."
-Booklist

"After luring readers in with wordplay and tongue-in-cheek, genre-savvy humor, the plot takes an emotionally rich thematic turn, dwelling on community and forgiveness-all the while building toward a mythical, mystical arc involving the unicorn. The few action sequences are mined for utmost impact, as are the slice-of-life scenes and flashback vignettes . . . Absolutely delightful."
-Kirkus Reviews