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jesswombat's review
I had high hopes for this one, because the concept seemed really interesting, but ultimately it got SOOO bogged down by introducing too many random characters. The story was moving at a slogging pace, and after a while, I just didn’t care enough to continue. I was also a little annoyed at how many questions the main character kept asking herself as she was trying to figure out what to do… at some point, you have to trust that the reader is going to fill in and ask most of those questions themselves. You don’t have to supply every possible thought trail or possible outcome. 🤷🏻♀️
therealbel's review
4.0
4.5
Enjoyed this thoroughly. With a hint of Pratchett about it, this book was fun with an excellent female lead and some really great secondary customers. Can’t wait to sell it!
Enjoyed this thoroughly. With a hint of Pratchett about it, this book was fun with an excellent female lead and some really great secondary customers. Can’t wait to sell it!
laura_cs's review
5.0
I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Perfect for those who loved "The Girl who Drank the Moon", "The Dark Lord Clementine" is a delightfully devious tale of the realm's smallest Dark Lord-to-be (maybe).
Clementine Morcerous has been training her whole twelve years of life to succeed her father as the Dark Lord of the Valley of Seven Sisters. This includes: learning how to properly poison, scowling practice, and ensuring that she does enough dastardly deeds to appease the high council. What she doesn't expect is for her father to suddenly fall ill at the hands of the Whittle Witch, and for his spells to begin to fade away. Determined to keep her home running, the Morcerous Dark Lord title, and the village fearful, Clementine sets off into the woods to find something to solve her problems. But what she finds is much more, and could cost her greatly: friends.
"The Dark Lord Clementine" is reminiscent of a Ghibli film, complete with Clementine's color-changing hair, a Gricken (a family grimoire turned into a chicken), a talking black sheep named David, and boys who dream of becoming knights... even when the nearest castle belongs to the Dark Lord and the only noble lady to save just happens to be the next Dark Lord. A fantastic novel certain to delight readers young and old!
Perfect for those who loved "The Girl who Drank the Moon", "The Dark Lord Clementine" is a delightfully devious tale of the realm's smallest Dark Lord-to-be (maybe).
Clementine Morcerous has been training her whole twelve years of life to succeed her father as the Dark Lord of the Valley of Seven Sisters. This includes: learning how to properly poison, scowling practice, and ensuring that she does enough dastardly deeds to appease the high council. What she doesn't expect is for her father to suddenly fall ill at the hands of the Whittle Witch, and for his spells to begin to fade away. Determined to keep her home running, the Morcerous Dark Lord title, and the village fearful, Clementine sets off into the woods to find something to solve her problems. But what she finds is much more, and could cost her greatly: friends.
"The Dark Lord Clementine" is reminiscent of a Ghibli film, complete with Clementine's color-changing hair, a Gricken (a family grimoire turned into a chicken), a talking black sheep named David, and boys who dream of becoming knights... even when the nearest castle belongs to the Dark Lord and the only noble lady to save just happens to be the next Dark Lord. A fantastic novel certain to delight readers young and old!
readingrobin's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I think this was a fairly middle of the road book for me. It definitely has its charms and will woo any middle grader invested in a fantasy that's slightly self-aware. I'd place it somewhere along the spectrum between Diana Wynne Jones and Terry Pratchett with its subversion of some fantasy tropes and poking fun at others.
The first half feels like mostly build up, while the rest is a mixed bag of satisfying/disappointing ends. For all that she was hyped up, we see very little of the Whittle Witch. We feel her presence as her curse taken over Clementine's father, there is even a chapter or two where we see her perspective as her plans slowly come to fruition. But by the time she actually appeared I felt...underwhelmed? It just felt like the tangible conflicts of the story felt a little less developed than the more emotional ones.
The way she went out through was glorious. Love a unicorn avalanche. the visuals are very The Last Unicorn .
Clementine's internal struggles, what with dealing with her "evil" father, the expectation of her becoming a Dark Lord as well, and how she relates to her magic, were all engaging and did so much to round her out as a character. Darka as well is an interesting inclusion, her story and motivations bringing a darker and deeper dimension to the story.
This is something I wouldn't mind seeing a sequel of, since there were a few things mentioned that didn't really have any payoff.
The first half feels like mostly build up, while the rest is a mixed bag of satisfying/disappointing ends. For all that she was hyped up, we see very little of the Whittle Witch. We feel her presence as her curse taken over Clementine's father, there is even a chapter or two where we see her perspective as her plans slowly come to fruition. But by the time she actually appeared I felt...underwhelmed? It just felt like the tangible conflicts of the story felt a little less developed than the more emotional ones.
Clementine's internal struggles, what with dealing with her "evil" father, the expectation of her becoming a Dark Lord as well, and how she relates to her magic, were all engaging and did so much to round her out as a character. Darka as well is an interesting inclusion, her story and motivations bringing a darker and deeper dimension to the story.
This is something I wouldn't mind seeing a sequel of, since there were a few things mentioned that didn't really have any payoff.
adrzeck's review
3.0
What if your Dark Lord dad isn't that "evil" just slightly mean?
What should you do if he's turning into a marionette? Add a young brack night (black knight has been trademarked elsewhere), a transfigured sheep, a murdering huntress, a young nightmare, and a Chickenfied Grimore to this sordid tale of figuring out what you want to be when you grow up.
What should you do if he's turning into a marionette? Add a young brack night (black knight has been trademarked elsewhere), a transfigured sheep, a murdering huntress, a young nightmare, and a Chickenfied Grimore to this sordid tale of figuring out what you want to be when you grow up.
mnstucki's review
4.0
I just don't know that anybody will ever be able to convince me that middle-grade novels aren't some of the best books out there. They're delightful and deal with many of the same complex issues as some of the best adult literature, all without the author feeling the apparent need to include sex and swearing. This is one of those books.
This reminded me a lot of [b:Frogkisser!|29736231|Frogkisser!|Garth Nix|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1485339618l/29736231._SY75_.jpg|50078773] by Garth Nix in that it's sort of a tongue-in-cheek fairytale, and the main character is a female with an interest in magic. I do think there's a little more depth to this one, although that's not to denigrate Nix's work. Frogkisser is decidedly more in the "delightful romp" category than The Dark Lord Clementine is.
I love Clementine as a character, her conflicted nature and her color-changing hair (can I please have her mood hair?! Please?!)
All in all, great fun, with some good things to think about along the way. Can't wait to read this to my kids when they're older.
This reminded me a lot of [b:Frogkisser!|29736231|Frogkisser!|Garth Nix|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1485339618l/29736231._SY75_.jpg|50078773] by Garth Nix in that it's sort of a tongue-in-cheek fairytale, and the main character is a female with an interest in magic. I do think there's a little more depth to this one, although that's not to denigrate Nix's work. Frogkisser is decidedly more in the "delightful romp" category than The Dark Lord Clementine is.
I love Clementine as a character, her conflicted nature and her color-changing hair (can I please have her mood hair?! Please?!)
All in all, great fun, with some good things to think about along the way. Can't wait to read this to my kids when they're older.
cassiesnextchapter's review
4.0
SO MUCH FUN! This is perfect for readers who really like villains that are super light on the “villain”! It’s charming, funny, and so tender! I did NOT expect to love it as much as I did, and appreciate the messages of found family and standing up for your true self. This is like a warm, slightly magic, quirky hug.