The Dark Lord Clementine

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.

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.

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.

"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.)

Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

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

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"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 for the Center of Children's Books

"A spell-binding tale of dark lords and unicorns."
—The Newark Star-Ledger