Publisher Description

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 Biography

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.

Review

"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

Review Quote

"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

Details