The Dark Lord Clementine

Title:

Author:

Summary:

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?

Edition:

First edition.

Physical Description:

331 pages ; 22 cm

Genre:

Fantasy fiction.

Subject Term:

Witches -- Juvenile fiction.

Blessing and cursing -- Juvenile fiction.

Magic -- Juvenile fiction.

Fathers and daughters -- Juvenile fiction.

Good and evil -- Juvenile fiction.

Publisher:

Algonquin Young Readers,

Publication Date:

2019

ISBN:

9781616208943

Publication Information:

Chapel Hill, North Carolina : Algonquin Young Readers, 2019

Call Number:

M HORWITZ

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607003490342	Middle Fiction	HORWITZ	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

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?

Author Notes

SARAH JEAN HORWITZ grew up next door to a cemetery and down the street from an abandoned fairytale theme park, which probably explains a lot. She currently lives near Boston, MA. Find her on Twitter, @sunshineJHwitz, or at sarahjeanhorwitz.com .

Reviews (2)

School Library Journal Review

Gr 4--7--Clementine has always tried to be as bad as possible, following the example of her father, the Dark Lord Elithor, who strives to terrify the local villagers with dastardly deeds. Everything changes when Lord Elithor starts to lose his power at the hands of a mysterious witch. Clementine's quest to save her father brings her a host of new experiences and leads her to question her commitment to being truly evil. Horwitz has created a perfect blend of wit and heart in this fresh fantasy adventure. Even secondary characters are given intriguing personalities and well-developed back stories, and the plot is paced just quickly enough to keep young people guessing. Fans of Shrek-style fractured fairy tales will especially enjoy having their expectations upended. VERDICT Highly recommended, this title will keep a wide variety of readers entertained with its compelling characters and witty twists on the fairy tale universe.--Gesse Stark-Smith, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR

Publisher's Weekly Review

"Clementine Morcerous awoke one morning to discover that her father had no nose." With her opening sentence, Horwitz (the Carmer and Grit series) primes readers to expect the unexpected--and delivers. After Clementine notices that something is "chipping away" at her parent, the fearsome Dark Lord, he corrects her: "Not. Chipping....Whittling." Such droll wordplay punctuates the labyrinthine narrative, which reveals that the Dark Lord has been cursed by his archnemesis, the Whittle Witch, who carves a wooden-doll replica of her victims and reduces them down to nothing. Horwitz's ingenuity for bizarre enchantment and characterization proves boundless: Clementine's confidantes include a boy transfigured into a witty black sheep, a paper chicken that morphed from the family spell book, an amorphous snow figure who protects the area, and a huntress searching for a powerful unicorn. Anchoring the tale are the sensitive girl's conflicted feelings about inheriting the Dark Lord title, since she prefers flowers over weeds and spells that involve sunshine rather than darkness. In a wry, satisfying ending, Clementine hints at future enchantments ahead. Ages 10--up. Agent: Victoria Marini, Irene Goodman Agency. (Oct.)