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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
The first couple of chapters are "laugh out loud" funny! I caught myself giggling out loud at my 8th grader's basketball practice and had to contain myself. If I could, I would probably give it 3 1/2 stars because it did slow down. It is a unique plot line though so I would definitely recommend it.
3.5 stars. It was fun to read and I'm really interested to read the next book because of the ending.
Probably would’ve enjoyed it when I was a kid. Just not interested in reading more than the first chapter, too many other books to read. Will donate so hopefully a kid can enjoy it.
Dark Lord is an imaginative story with characters that are easy to root for. This dark adventure kept me laughing out loud and will appeal to fans of Lemony Snicket and Pseudonymous Bosch.
Full review to be posted at The Fake Steph Dot Com in late September.
Full review to be posted at The Fake Steph Dot Com in late September.
Slightly more problematic than I remember it being. But this book still gave me nostalgia from when I was obsessed with this series and I'm really glad that I read it again. I will definitely be revisiting this book once again in the future.
Cute - your Tweens will probably love. Passing it off to my 12-year old next.
Perhaps I am overgeneralizing my experience a bit much with this claim, but I think it unlikely: What thirteen-year-old boy doesn't dream of secretly being a dark lord, fearsome and mighty, wielder of great magics, ruler of a vast realm, feared by all, and able to squash his enemies (plus anyone else who annoys him in the least) with a simple thought? And not just a dark lord, but the Dark Lord, at that. Thousands of years old and twelve feet tall with yellow tusks, massive horns, and skull and bone showing all over the place.
Such is the case for this book's protagonist. Except he doesn't just dream of being the Dark Lord, he remembers it. He is the Dark Lord, or at least he was until the White Wizard Hasdruban trapped him in a non-magical realm inside the puny body of a human child. Now he is weak and nearly helpless, forced by the authorities to live with parents, attend school, and follow the rules, and everyone else believes he is suffering from an all-consuming psychotic delusion. They don't even get his name right, calling him Dirk Lloyd instead of Dark Lord. All he has to work with is his evil genius. That will have to be enough for him to manipulate and dominate those around him until he can return to his proper world, body, and position.
I love the concept and was regularly amused and entertained by the book. I also, however, felt that it didn't quite live up to its potential. Too frequently I felt it read just a bit too much as though it had actually been written by a thirteen-year-old, and could have used more finesse and development. Overall, though, a very fun book. I've already requested the sequel.
A sample paragraph from the first part of the book, as Dark/Dirk tries to figure out what has happened to him and make sense of this new world he has been cast into:
Shortly, he grew bored of such games and began to take notice of the hospital around him. He marveled at the size of it, and at the utter stupidity of these humans. Why waste so much wealth and resources on curing the sick or healing wounds? Much easier to simply consign those that are unable to work into the Rendering Vats, where their bodies can be turned into something useful, like candles, sausage meat, or fertilizer. And if there's a manpower problem--well, simply create more Goblins in the Warrens or more Orcs in the Breeding Silos. Hmm, but then again, you can't just breed humans when you like, because of their ludicrously inefficient reproductive processes. Dirk decided that perhaps the humans had a point. Hospitals might be useful after all.
Such is the case for this book's protagonist. Except he doesn't just dream of being the Dark Lord, he remembers it. He is the Dark Lord, or at least he was until the White Wizard Hasdruban trapped him in a non-magical realm inside the puny body of a human child. Now he is weak and nearly helpless, forced by the authorities to live with parents, attend school, and follow the rules, and everyone else believes he is suffering from an all-consuming psychotic delusion. They don't even get his name right, calling him Dirk Lloyd instead of Dark Lord. All he has to work with is his evil genius. That will have to be enough for him to manipulate and dominate those around him until he can return to his proper world, body, and position.
I love the concept and was regularly amused and entertained by the book. I also, however, felt that it didn't quite live up to its potential. Too frequently I felt it read just a bit too much as though it had actually been written by a thirteen-year-old, and could have used more finesse and development. Overall, though, a very fun book. I've already requested the sequel.
A sample paragraph from the first part of the book, as Dark/Dirk tries to figure out what has happened to him and make sense of this new world he has been cast into:
Shortly, he grew bored of such games and began to take notice of the hospital around him. He marveled at the size of it, and at the utter stupidity of these humans. Why waste so much wealth and resources on curing the sick or healing wounds? Much easier to simply consign those that are unable to work into the Rendering Vats, where their bodies can be turned into something useful, like candles, sausage meat, or fertilizer. And if there's a manpower problem--well, simply create more Goblins in the Warrens or more Orcs in the Breeding Silos. Hmm, but then again, you can't just breed humans when you like, because of their ludicrously inefficient reproductive processes. Dirk decided that perhaps the humans had a point. Hospitals might be useful after all.
Hilarious young adult novel. Imagine what would happen if Sauron was banished from Middle Earth and reincarnated as a preteen boy in present-day USA.
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Funny and enjoyable