Delphine and the Silver Needle

Delphine #1

by Alyssa Moon

To unravel any mystery, find the knot.


When Delphine, a young orphaned dressmaker mouse living in the walls of Cinderella''s château, stumbles upon an enormous secret, it upends everything she thought she knew: The magical tailor mice of legend really existed. Racing to stay ahead of King Midnight, the fearsome leader of the rats who is bent on harnessing age-old magic, Delphine embarks on an epic quest to uncover the truth about the past. Joined by Alexander, the most pompous noblemouse in the royal court, she travels a perilous route, encountering strange enemies and unlikely allies along the way.


Can Delphine uncover the truth and save the kingdom? Or will the evil King Midnight succeed in harnessing the power of the tailor mice? This action-packed novel is sure to be a hit with readers who like magic, adventure, and very tiny heroes with very big hearts.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Animals, Adventure, Cinderella, Magic, Childrens

313 pages, Hardcover

First published March 2, 2021

About the author

Alyssa Moon grew up in the Pacific Northwest, which explains her undying enthusiasm for rainy weather. She does her best writing in tea shops, independent bookstores, and at home under her grapefruit tree. She lives in Southern California with her husband and her cat, Picklepop (the “real” Cornichonne). Delphine and the Silver Needle is her debut novel.

Reviews

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I can’t believe how much I loved this story! I guess b/c it was about mice, I figured I would love it, but I had no idea I would love it THIS much. I’m so glad this was its own story, instead of focusing on Cinderella(& if you thought it would be you didn’t read the synopsis). There are so many retellings of Cinderella’s story(& that never bothers me, love any kind of retelling), so this was such a unique take, & just brilliant. Cinderella’s story IS going on in the background of this 1, & we get peaks every now & then. & that’s all we need-we KNOW what happens w/her lol Delphine is a young orphaned dressmaker mouse who lives in the walls of Cinderella's château. She stumbles upon a huge secret, & it disrupts everything she thought she knew-the magical tailor mice of legend really existed, & she is somehow connected. Racing to stay ahead of the fearless leader of the rats, King Midnight(who is bent on harnessing age-old magic), Delphine sets off on a quest to find out the truth about the past. A noblemouse, Alexander accompanies her-she thinks he’s the most pompous mouse in the royal court. She travels a perilous route, encountering strange enemies & unlikely allies along the way. I found the whole backstory of the rats, mice, & the Threaded & the needles so fascinating! So detailed, & was engrossed more & more as the story unravels. Loved the whole storyline! Delphine is likable, spunky, brave, & full of heart. Loved her so much. Alexander is HILARIOUS! I know he gets on her nerves at 1st, but he had me grinning ear to ear the whole time. He & Cornichonne(cat) have my heart. Cornichonne was such a brilliant character! Loved her soooo much! I had no idea there were going to be more books, & I’m SO excited that there will be! Of course, I always want a ton more when I love a book like this! & after that ending I NEED book 2! Lol There are darker pages throughout the book labeled “interlude” & they are looks into the past w/2 characters. I can’t wait to learn more about that, as well as exploring more of the story & where it goes. So much magic, action, adventure, & just heartwarming feels! Highly recommend! This cover by Therese Larsson is BEAUTIFUL! As are all the illustrations at every chapter heading! Love!💜

[Beth Cato · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a galley through NetGalley.

Delphine and the Silver Needle is a middle grade novel expanding on the world of the mice of the classic movie Cinderella. Delphine is a talented seamstress mouse within Cinderella's own household. She was delivered to the chateau as a baby, a tarnished human-sized sewing needle along with her. A request to sew for the mouse-princess leads her to court, where she befriends the pompous Alexander and finds out more about the tailor mice of legend who carried needles like her own. However, when the evil rats who also live in the castle find out about her needle, she and Alexander must flee for their lives. King Midnight of the rats has a collection of needles of his own, and he will stop at nothing to add another piece to his collection.

This is a cute story, but it disappointed me in many ways. Cinderella's story goes on distantly in the background and really has nothing to do with Delphine's tale. I was excited--like squeal-aloud excited--when the major mice from Cinderella made an appearance, but it only lasted for a few paragraphs as a passing cameo. Weirdly enough, the human world (and Cinderella's world) has little bearing on the book, which seemed to miss a major opportunity. I loved seeing how Disney mice worked with oversized human things, like lacing buttons onto the their tails; in this book, the bulk of the action is in the wilderness as Delphine and Alexander struggle to survive. Disney villains don't always have nuance, but King Midnight is pretty much as cardboard cutout as you can get. The ending doesn't satisfy, ending on a major cliffhanger.

I would have liked this book a lot more if it had been stand-alone. I craved more overlap of Cinderella's story, of her world and its mice and magic, and this didn't tap that potential at all.
My early galley ebook did not contain finished illustrations, though the few sketches inside were absolutely darling. Maybe the finished edition will embody more of the Disney vibe when the illustrations are there.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delphine and the Silver Needle by Alyssa Moon is an excellent novel that has action, adventure, magic, creativity, and a wonderful plot.

I really love this book. Delphine is a plucky, feisty, fierce, and likable heroine. The best part is: she is a mouse! I loved the concept of the mystery and quest to find out who this orphaned mouse could be. Is she destined for something great? Is she from a fantastic and larger-then life heritage? Within Cinderella’s castle in mid 1500s-1600s French castle landscape, we see Delphine’s arrival, the mystery, and her gradual awakening in regards to who she is, and what great things she could be destined for. The arrival of her possible partner in crime that seems the relaxed opposite, Alexander, seems to complete this cast.

Of course what Disney plot would be complete without an evil Rat King enemy, a dust of magic, adversity, and the promise of a great ending and reveal...of which might be slowly revealed in the next book....

This was such a great read and would be a welcome addition to any Disney fan’s bookshelf.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Disney-Hyperion for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.

[Alissa J. Zavalianos · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun story! It definitely read like LOTR for tweens at times which I so enjoyed. And I thought the magic system and back story was really cool.

I still have a lot of questions that need answering, but I’m hoping the second book clears all that up. This book ends on a cliffhanger, so you best bet I’m gonna be delving into the next one soon!

Overall, this was sweet with adorable mice and harrowing adventures. I will say Delphine’s character frustrated me at times, especially in regard to her treatment of Alexander, but I think it’s allowing a lot of room for character growth, which we definitely see improvement toward the end of the book.

I really enjoyed this story! Oh, and the side plot of Cinderella is equally charming 🥹

[Robert Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delphine and the Silver Needle was such a cute book that brought to life the mice that played such a pivotal role in the story of Cinderella. However, this also introduced Delphine and her story as well. I was so shocked that this book was being released because I have always loved the mice from Cinderella and always wanted to experience their stories. Delphine's character shows the grit and gut of an amazing protagonist as the story is told and you fall in love with her immediately. I absolutely would use this book for a summer reading project or over winter break for students. Thank you for writing a great novel.

[Meredith Spidel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a sweet, creative spin on a unique character voice from the Cinderella empire. I love it! My daughter and I so enjoyed this novel and are hoping for further stories in this line. How fun and what a cool way to keep the magic alive!

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you can't imagine why I'd become so emotionally attached to an anthropomorphized mouse, it can only be because you've never read the Brian Jacques Redwall Series Set (Book 1-20): Redwall; Mossflower; Mattimeo; Mariel of Redwall; Salamandastron; Martin the Warrior; Bellmaker; Outcast of Redwall; Pearls of Lutra; Long Patrol; Marlfox; Legend of Luke; Lord Brocktree; Taggerung; Triss. This book put me very much in mind of the series.

Delphine is one of the mice living in Cinderella's chateau. She was an orphan, and the only tie she has to her life before being adopted is a human-sized needle and the cloth in which she was swaddled. When she has an opportunity to design a dress for the mouse princess, she accidentally learns more about her needle and sets out on a quest to learn more about herself at the same time.

There are, of course, challenges and enemies; rat King Midnight wants the silver needle for himself, and will stop at nothing to get it.

Delphine and her new noblemouse friend, Alexander, learn about teamwork and relying on each other's strengths to get through difficulties.

This mid-grade tale is all together delightful ... but it does stop on a cliffhanger. In order to find out what happens next, you have to get the second book.

I'll be doing just that.

[Vernon Area Public Library KIDS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Orphaned mouse Delphine has lived within the walls of Cinderella’s chateau all of life, helping with chores and making dresses in her spare time. One day, an extraordinary secret comes to light linking to the silver needle she has had with her since birth. The needle actually belonged to an ancestor who was apart of a group of tailor mice called the Threaded and is being hunted down by an evil rat named King Midnight.

Delphine embarks on a quest to stay ahead of Midnight and find the key to who she is. Joined by a pompous noble mouse named Alexander, this headstrong mouse will stop at nothing to uncover the truth and save the kingdom, all while facing strange enemies and gaining strong allies along the way with the help of a little magic.

When I read that this was about one of Cinderella’s little helpers, I had to pick it up. Gus and Jacque were cute, but Delphine is fierce and brave. Her determination to find out who she is and learn how to use the needle is such an inspiration. It proves that even the smallest person can make a big difference. Look for book two coming out Spring 2022!

Reviewed by Skye Kordistos, Youth and School Services Librarian, Vernon Area Public Library

[Victor The Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprising and imaginative new series that puts one of Cinderella’s sewing mice, who was abandoned at her home, on a life changing royal adventure. Our heroine mouse 🐭 is pretty much a female Desperaux with a more royal touch. While there’s little of the Cinderella lore, Delphine’s story manages to be its own adventurous Cinderella story, just with more mice. A- (91%/Excellent)

[Ry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a huge fan of animal fiction, so this was a different kind of book for me. I enjoyed it, though! As in, i liked it enough to want to read the next one! XDD

[Janie Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

# Delphine and the Silver Needle is a # Disney book. That alone tells you your in for treat. Author # Alyssa Moon has written a fun story for all ages. Taking place in Cinderella's castle.
Join me on Instagram for a delightful review at Maddie approves book reviews. 💜🐾🐾
Thank you for the advance copy,
# Netgalley, # Alyssa Moon, and #Disney💜🐾🐾

[Reyy Loves Middle Grade Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I SHIP DELPHINE WITH ALEXANDER.
THEY LOOK SO CUTE TOGETHER.




ASDFGHJKL

[Coco · Rating 5 out of 5]

We follow Delphine. Who is an orphan mouse, Her love for sewing causes her to uncover some big mysteries. Uncovering the truth and magically history.

Adorable story adding to Delphine from Cinderella. The story doesn’t touch on Cinderella but it does add to the world. Which I absolutely loved, I enjoy stories within the same world. My children got a kick out of the fact it was from Delphine’s as they love all the little side characters.

Definitely for anyone who loves Disney. Also great for all ages.

Thank you to Disney and Netgalley for allowing me to have an arc.
***I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.***.

[Colt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cinderella meets Redwall in this adorable, easy-to-read but engaging story. If you have someone who loves the story of Cinderella this is great for them, but it definitely is in the vein of Redwall, Avi's Poppy, and The Secret of NIMH. Cute little critters acting as brave heroes is a weirdly specific genre that we need.

[Perla The IB Teen Book Blogger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightfully charming expansion of Cinderella's kingdom. My love of The Secret of NIHM drew me to this novel, and was delighted to find a treasure trove of characters populating this story, mystery pulling me deeper, and the charm of these little anthropomorphic creatures- ala Redwall- will bring me back for any future stories!

[TheGeekishBrunette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an earc to read in exchange for a review!

How could I not request this one?

The cover is amazing! I love the little mice. 💕

I also enjoy that even though it has nothing to do with Cinderella, it still deals with the kingdom that she lives in and they are mice from her chateau.

I’m happy to announce that I really enjoyed this one because if I didn’t it would have made me really sad.

Delphine is a very brave mouse. She also is a great dressmaker that is summoned by the princess to help with making a dress. I liked her character and enjoyed the adventure that awaits her throughout.

There is another mouse that is also present through a majority of the book named Alexander. He is a nobelmouse who has decided to protect Delphine from the rats but honestly, she does most of the protecting haha. He is quite the character though!

I wasn’t sure what to expect when it came to the plot. I thought that it was very intriguing and was also well paced. There was enough action/adventure to keep me hooked. Plus, there is a bit of magic! I think many will like this one, especially if they like Cinderella, because there are familiar characters from the movie that are mentioned.

The only thing that was a bit hard was the french words used for some of the mice name. At least my husband was able to help me with that, ha.

Overall, this was a enjoyable read. I did think it was going to be a standalone but it looks like it will be a series since it ended without a conclusion. It’ll be cool to read more about Delphine and Alexander!

[Larissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delphine knows very little of her past. She just knows that she appeared on the steps wrapped in a robe and with rusted human size needle. Delphine loves to sew and design and has always enjoyed hearing stories about the Threaded. A group of seven mice who had magical needles and were known through out the land for their talents in sewing and magic. When Delphine is asked to come to the palace and to design a dress for the Queen, she meets the noble mouse Alexander who shows her tapestries which depict the history of the Threaded. Delphine and Alexander embark on an epic journey that takes them to a monastery, has them befriend a cat, and tests their strengths and weakness all while running from the evil rat King. Will Delphine find out who she is? What is so important about the needle that was left with her when she was a baby? Can she find out all these answers and keep the mouse kingdom safe from the rats or will her looking into her history cause the rocky peace between mice and rats to crumble?

Over all Delphine and the Silver Needle is a fast paced read for children. I love how there are Cinderella references twisted into Delphine's tale. They are perfectly placed and do not take away from the story. Delphine is a strong character who is determined to find out who she is no matter what it takes. The only downside to this book is the fact that once things start to finally come together the book ends. Luckily this is only book one so there will be more adventures with Delphine and Alexander to come.

Thank you Disney Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book early.

[Critter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delphine was discovered as a baby, wrapped in a cloth bundle with a human sized needle. The needle has always been a great mystery, but her everyday li*fe prevents her from seeking out answers. When the princess requests her to make a ballgown, she meets Alexander who shows her a hidden room that may provide answers about the needle. After the rats break the treaty in an attempt to get the needle, Delphine is thrust into a journey to discover the truth behind the needle and where she came from.

I loved the characters. Delphine and Alexander’s personalities work really well together. Delphine undergoes a bit of character development as she learns about and works with Alexander and while learning about the past of her ancestors. I am looking forward to seeing how Delphine and Alexander both develop in the future. The only issue I had was there seemed to be little buildup for the villain, which I hope is fixed in future books. This book is focused on setting up the world and its characters. However, the villain plays a minor part in this book, but it is only the first book. Otherwise, I loved the setting. It takes place in the same world as Cinderella and there are peeks into Cinderella’s life from the viewpoint of the mice. I also enjoyed the hints of magic and seeing Delphine begin to learn how to use it. I am looking forward to learning more about how this magic works in future instalments.

I would like to thank Hyperion for providing me with an ARC.

[Oscar · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Disclaimer I received a free copy of this book for a honest review, his will not affect my thought or feelings toward this book*

In one word this book was AMAZING! I can’t tell you how much I loved this book, the characters were amazing and I felt like I got attached to them. Delphine was such a nice lovable character to watch and see her grow on her adventure in this book. I thought all of the supporting characters added to the story and didn’t feel useless. I thought the story was super fun to read and I loved the mystery that was present throughout the whole book. I also thought the pacing was done really well never felt way to slow or to fast. I really loved how it ended and can’t wait for the next one cause this one was such a great read! Overall another top 2021 read with a final rating of 4.5/5 stars rounded up. Definitely a must read for Disney fans or for anyone that wants a fun adventure

[⚜️XAR the Bookwyrm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm slowly getting back into the things that brought me joy before my mental health took a bit of a downturn 4 years ago, and in so doing, I have found joy in reading Disney books. I've had this book borrowed for a while now, but only recently decided to pick it up to read. It's a great story, filled with adventure and mystery, centering on a secondary character from Cinderella that we've only seen in the background. Book one ends on a cliffhanger, so have book two ready and waiting!

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delphine is a young, orphaned dressmaker mouse living in the walls of Cinderella’s chateau. After being summoned to the castle for a dress consultation by Princess Petits-Oiseaux, Delphine stumbles upon a life-changing secret that sheds light on her mysterious past as well as the disappearance of the magical tailor mice of legend known as the Threaded.

[Annabel Mumm]

A cute, thrilling adventure of two French mice, Delphine and sir Alexander de Soucy Perrault. It feels like a bit of a longer read, but once that’s over, it’s an amazing! 🤩 the mice live in princess Cinderella’s world, so throughout the story the mice are talking about “the prince’s royal ball” and I found that quite clever to have a story we all know and love from a mouse’s point of view.

[Ashley Case · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf. I was reading this to try to connect with my 10 year old son, who actually finished the book. We both agreed that it is so slow. He claims it picks up in the last third, but I made it that far and never got I to it. I was almost at the end when it was due back at the library and wasn't worth bothering to check out again. I am a big fan of Cinderella, but it felt pressured to tie in with that story. All in all just disappointing.

[Ninbooklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 🌟

I love this Cinderella story, but this time it's not about Cinderella but it's about Delphine Cinderella's bravest mouse. Delphine has watched and learn sewing from Cinderella. I liked that we got to read a tiny bit about Cinderella and how she was her stepmother's slave basically. Also we got a bit of gossip about the Prince who is searching for his princess with the glass slipper ( we all know this)

Delphine is trying to fit in and search for who she really is. I find this character a very strong character and very loving. Alexander is her companion in her journey and he's so funny.

The book was easy to read and follow. I would recommend this if you love Cinderella or just want to read something with animals as main characters.

[Samantha Fraenkel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

This was a really fun read! Such a fun and unique spin on a familiar story, I was instantly charmed by Delphine and the world she lives in. Lots of adventure, mystery, and heart, Delphine and the Silver Needle is a strong first novel in a new series and I know I'll be on the look out for book two.

ARC Provided by Edelweiss

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't wait for the second! (also, a bit more violent than expected)

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has got to be one of my new favorites for my shelf! I couldn’t put it down, and I plan to not only tell every middle grade teacher I know to give this book a read, I will eagerly be awaiting the next part of Delphine’s journey! The story wasn’t just a sweet story about mice, Delphine and Alexander are such loveable protagonists, and I was cheering them on at every step! This is a book I would have killed to get my hands on as a student, and I look forward to hearing my students rave about this book in the future! Absolutely amazing, I would give more stars than 5 if I could.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I was excited to read this story, it was super cute.

However, I was disappointed Delphine didn’t end up being one of the mice who helps Cinderella. We see tidbits of Cinderella’s story throughout, but not enough.

This also ended on a major cliffhanger, which was all too apparent when I got to the last 4-5 pages of the book and something pretty shocking was revealed that I was not expecting.

This will need at least one more book if not more, to clear up how this ended. I’m not into reading series when they’re new...I usually wait until all the books are completed because I’m impatient for the next book! I remember the frustration with Harry Potter when it came out and I had no intention of going through that again, but here we are!

Looking forward to book two in this series. Make it quick Moon ;)

[Nicole Pramik · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some reason, animal-centered fantasy stories have never landed on my reading radar. I love the talking beasts in the Chronicles of Narnia and I've perused The Wind in the Willows, but for some reason I've never clicked with books that feature talking animals as central characters though I have no inherent dislike of them. Hence, I was on the proverbial fence when it came to this book, and I'll admit my initial interest in it was due to its gorgeous cover. However, I'm happy to say that, despite this not being in my usual vein of fantasy, it certainly didn't disappoint.

Delphine and the Silver Needle, by Alyssa Moon, is the first novel in a planned duology. Here, readers are introduced to Delphine, a seamstress mouse who lives with her adoptive mother and fellow worker mice in Cinderella's chateau. However, Delphine, who is a creative dressmaker, dreams of bigger things, driven especially by the mysterious circumstances of her birth and arrival at the chateau. One day, an invitation to the palace to craft a special gown for the princess introduces Delphine to a world she's only dreamed about as well as teases answers to questions she has long sought after. However, the wide world is not without peril, as her possession of a silver needle makes her a target of the Rat King and his minions, and he will stop at nothing to claim it as his own.

I believe this novel was initially marketed as a Cinderella-themed story (meaning the Disney version, not the original fairy tale). However, it's only fair to declare that, while Cinderella and some of the Disney adaptation's characters get a passing mention or cameo, this is decidedly an original tale. Personally, I didn't mind this approach becomes it becomes its own story rather than a Cinderella retelling. It's also worth mentioning that this novel serves as Alyssa Moon's debut, and she's already on my mental list of authors-to-watch (meaning I'll intentionally be on the lookout for any of her future books).

Delphine and the Silver Needle, as a whole, is a warm sweet story, but its degree of sweetness is more in the vein of deliciously warmed maple syrup drizzled over fluffy pancakes as opposed to cotton candy-coated sugar cubes. Thus, it's a charming, heart-warming story filled with adventure headed by courageous characters that never reeks of twee superficiality. This is a story that's easy to cuddle up to and get lost in, and I had a hard time putting it down once I got started.

Oddly enough, I usually don't care for stories where most of the characters are anthropomorphic animals (such as, by way of example, The Wind in the Willows), of which this is one such story. There are passing mentions to humans, but all of the leads and minor characters are animals, from mice, to rats, to even cats. However, I didn't mind that here as I found, Delphine and Alexander, the two mouse protagonists, to be just as compelling and engaging as any human character. To Moon's credit, her creature characters aren't merely humans in disguise - their way of life and rules of engagement and manners are unique to their respective species and there is no way a reader could just envision these characters as humans.

Speaking of characters, I adored Delphine and found her to be a more than capable heroine, though she doesn't start out thinking that about herself. She is a fun character who possesses many positive traits, such as a compassionate heart, curious nature, and courageous spirit, but she avoids becoming too perfect. Delphine is talented and doesn't deny those talents, but she doesn't have as much faith in her abilities, or in herself, as she ought. She's intelligent and wise but not a know-it-all and is willing to listen to and learn from the advice and wisdom of others. Lastly, she's brave in the face of danger, but sometimes becomes a little too headstrong and refuses help from others so as not to lose face. Overall, through her flaws and her mistakes, Delphine becomes a well-rounded and surprisingly relatable character despite the fact she's a mouse. But I found myself rooting her on, and I'm eager to see where the next leg of her journey takes her.

The other main character here is Alexander, a mouse who belongs to the royal court whose full name is Lord Alexander de Soucy Perrault, which is a big hint as to his pompous nature. At first, he comes across as a comic foil/funny sidekick, but Alexander actually becomes more than that and for that I was glad. While I adored Delphine from the start, I had to warm up to Alexander because I feared he was just going to be a one dimensional character. However, once the action moves away from his familiar settings, Alexander is forced to change and adapt to the situations he finds himself in, and in these he evolves. In truth, one gets the feeling that he puts on airs when he's at the castle among his peers as he clearly tries to impress others with outlandish stories and claims.

In reality, Alexander struggles with his self-image and not fitting in, especially when he's thrust into situations that he's unprepared to handle. He works as the perfect partner for Delphine as they start on their quest and they both balance each other out nicely. When Delphine is weak, he becomes strong, and when Alexander falls into trouble, Delphine can provide help. Once more, even though they are anthropomorphic characters, Alexander and Delphine's relationship is surprisingly relatable.

Structure-wise, the novel maintains a good, solid pacing with three different, but interconnected, story threads (no pun intended). Delphine's story, which she shares with Alexander, is front and center but we're also given snippets of the Rat King's nefarious plans and a smaller side story about a friendship between a rat and a mouse. Seeing as this is the first book in a planned duology, it will be interesting to see how all of these are wrapped up. The story as a whole is one of missing origins as well as a quest, both an overt search as well as an inner search regarding one character's own personal history. Granted, this story skeleton is nothing new. However, here all of the individual "quest" stories are set up to contrast good and selflessness with evil and selfishness. Thus, the focus, especially regarding the main plot starring Delphine, is how she fits into a bigger picture and contributes towards said bigger picture as opposed to simply wanting to "find herself" in order to satisfy her own curiosities.

The only reason I awarded this novel four stars is that the story ends on a bit of a cliffhanger (which is a reading pet peeve of mine) and the inclusion of the rat-mouse friendship story has no closure, though I sense it might be finalized in the second and last book. This story also quickly turns into an on-the-road narrative, which may or may not be to every reader's liking, so it feels worth mentioning (I suspected early on that's the direction the story would take, so I didn't mind). In all honesty, these are minor nitpicks and didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story. But, as I've mentioned before, I'm very stingy with my stars.

Overall, Delphine and the Silver Needle is a warm, delightful adventure that would appeal to fantasy readers of all ages. It's a sweet, gentle tale that uses elements from Disney's Cinderella to get the story going and to set the scene, but it quickly abandons these in favor of an original story with engaging creature characters. Fans of animal-centered fantasy tales that are in the vein of traditional fairy tales - not the Disney-fied version - should consider checking this out and will find much to love.

Content:
Language - None.

Violence - Nothing in terms of any blood or gore. Characters sometimes find themselves in perilous situations but escape with no lasting harm. Rats are depicted as enemies to mice and other creatures with a few exceptions. The Rat King is especially devious and stops at nothing to retrieve a magical item he craves strictly for its power. A battle is shown in flashback and casualties are implied. One character tries to stab an enemy. Scenes of skirmishes between rats and mice are depicted but never described with graphic details though there are some casualties and/or injuries. Overall, while nothing would be too frightening for a general middle grade (or older) readership, very young children might be scared by the villainous rats and of one flashback character's brave final stand but tragic demise.

Sexual Content - None. Delphine and Alexander befriend each other, and while there are hints at a possible future romance, nothing of the sort develops here and nothing ever becomes inappropriate.

[Patricia Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not like ending i.e. the two words following "The End of". I wished that the book did have an ending.