"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 "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.