Brief Synopsis
“The Dark Lord’s Daughter” is a middle-grade fantasy novel by author Patricia C. Wrede. After a day at the state fair reveals to Kayla that she is actually the daughter of a supposed ‘Dark Lord,’ her life is turned upside-down. As she explores a new, tech-free world, she is forced to make a decision: become the Dark Lady people expect her to be, or find a way to escape back home?
Content Warnings: Death (referenced), Torture (referenced), Violence (PG)
What Do I Think?
This was a book I was so very excited to pick up based on the premise alone, and yet after the first chapter I nearly found myself putting it down forever.
“The Dark Lord’s Daughter” is a novel whose premise alone sounds exciting and fascinating, but it takes some time to get going. None of the main characters are particularly likeable, the plot doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, and at first the book almost feels like it is dragging its feet to get us to the main show.
Once you get past the first couple of chapters, however, the book soars above expectations: the writing picks up (as in the prose becomes noticeably better), the character start to find their groove, and the plot, while still slow, knows where it’s going. Kayla in particular begins to discover herself in a way that is fascinating to follow, and as she navigates the world her father left behind she begins to understand just what her place might be. Her interactions with other characters, particularly the ones who expect her to do these horrible things, are equal parts entertaining, terrifying, and humorous. There is also a sort of animal-like companion who was probably my favorite of all the characters, and that was saying something!
Overall, I wish the book did a little bit more to explore the world it’s in – perhaps this was just the setup for an eventual series, but the ending did feel like it was a little bit lacking. That said, it probably isn’t such a bad thing that the ending made me want more stories set in this universe!
If you’re a fan of portal fantasies, middle-grade, or just a fan of fun fiction, “The Dark Lord’s Daughter” is an excellent pick!
Jacob Ryckman 