THE DARK LORD'S DAUGHTER

A teen wrestles with magical powers and moral dilemmas when she learns she’s a Dark Lord’s daughter.

Four years after her adoptive father died of cancer, 14-year-old Kayla Jones still has to be careful; mentioning him sends her mom, Riki, into dark moods. But her 10-year-old brother, Del, who has fewer memories of his biological father, can’t help asking about him. Luckily, their traditional family trip to the Minnesota State Fair provides a distraction. When an armor-clad man called Waylan invites Kayla to assume her father’s throne and “rebuild the armies of Darkness,” she assumes he’s acting—until she, Del, and Riki are abruptly teleported to the kingdom of Zaradwin and its cursed, dilapidated castle. Waylan reveals that Kayla, daughter of the late Dark Lord Xavriel, is next in line to be the Dark Lady—provided she’s not defeated by challengers. But Kayla just can’t grasp Dark magic, and upholding such traditions as exile, kidnapping, and execution feels horrifying. Maybe she should just focus on getting home? A disturbing revelation, however, compels her to break the curse before it dooms every castle inhabitant. The plot and worldbuilding rely heavily on lengthy expository dialogue, and intriguing but unexplored plot elements will leave action-oriented readers awaiting a sequel. However, quirky secondary characters, including Macavinchy, Kayla’s tablet computer–turned-familiar, interject wry wit, and Kayla’s relationships with Del and Riki are humorous and poignant. Most characters read white.

A promising setup for gripping future developments.