What is the setting in the novel, Dark Lord of Derkholm?

Dark Lord of Derkholm is set in a "typical," almost generic fantasy world, with many of the features familiar to readers of fantasy: a thinly populated landscape containing villages, inns, temples, castles, and such. But Jones always adds her own touches. For example, she does not depict a purely medieval-style culture. One of Derk's human children plays the piano, and one of the griffin children designs "gizmos" that use electronics. The result is a world that is at once familiar and unpredictable.

The family's sprawling residence, Derkholm, is far more individual than the standard fantasy castle. More than merely giving expression to Jones's own inventiveness, Derkholm also serves to reflect the ingenuity, eccentricity, and diversity of the family who lives there. Moreover, the way in which Derk, his wife Mara, and the rest of the family must use magic to transform the home into a fearsome stronghold (including moving a small forest) to prepare for the tour emphasizes the upheaval caused by Mr. Chesney and the tours.