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針子の乙女 [Hariko no Otome] (Novel) #1
Maiden of the Needle (Light Novel), Vol. 1
Yui Nuir was reincarnated into a noble family of tailors in another world, retaining her memories of her previous life in Japan. Her miserable childhood had just one source of the fairies she befriended by mending their clothes with her magic. Unfortunately, Yui’s relative lack of skill in blessweaving―the art of enchanting fabric through needlework―ultimately results in her being disowned by her family. But when she’s taken in by a nobleman named Rodin Calostira, the first person to recognize her innate talents, her luck begins to turn around...
202 pages, Paperback
First published March 30, 2019
21 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 13, 2024
Eh…it was ok. The age issue didn’t bother me too much. I wasn’t fond of the perverted maid/assassin but it didn’t squick me out too much. I get the MC h being wowed by suddenly having breasts, that’s a pretty big change for her formerly emaciated body.
What DID bug me was that even after being able to speak to others after five years, her voice was SOOOOO not used to working, that after a few…very breathy…sentences…she would cough and have to stop talking?? Like really? Super annoying.
Also annoying was her persistent weakness and lack of stamina, though it’s hinted at by the end of the book that it’s a curse/magical/Reasons for that. Shrug, whatever, by that time I didn’t really care.
The group has A Mission now and they need to Level Up to defeat the Big Bad, as well as hunt down a MacGuffin to Save the World.
*yawn*
Oh, I’m sorry. Was I supposed to be impressed?
Also, she was named the Head of the House of her family, but the Good Guys made NO effort to go to the house and evict the former head and his family and stop the abuse of the fairies? No punishment to them and the servants who abused and neglected the MC h and almost killed her? Not buying it.
Not my fav. YMMV
2, I am not picking up the next one, stars.
What DID bug me was that even after being able to speak to others after five years, her voice was SOOOOO not used to working, that after a few…very breathy…sentences…she would cough and have to stop talking?? Like really? Super annoying.
Also annoying was her persistent weakness and lack of stamina, though it’s hinted at by the end of the book that it’s a curse/magical/Reasons for that. Shrug, whatever, by that time I didn’t really care.
The group has A Mission now and they need to Level Up to defeat the Big Bad, as well as hunt down a MacGuffin to Save the World.
*yawn*
Oh, I’m sorry. Was I supposed to be impressed?
Also, she was named the Head of the House of her family, but the Good Guys made NO effort to go to the house and evict the former head and his family and stop the abuse of the fairies? No punishment to them and the servants who abused and neglected the MC h and almost killed her? Not buying it.
Not my fav. YMMV
2, I am not picking up the next one, stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2023
The fantasy element? Excellent. It has interesting magic and creatures. The rest of the book? It's a different kind of fantasy, with Yui spending a paragraph describing her breasts after she's medically helped to grow post-starvation before noting that she'll never grow body hair. Add in one "perverted maid" and marriage to the former king, who is at least 25 years older than her, and this is a classic case of squandered potential.
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November 6, 2023This is a tricky book to rate. I liked it overall but it does have issues that give me pause.
My main issue is the MC is engaged to marry a man that is much older than her. Don't like that at all. At the same time I have trouble faulting the book for it because it's set in medieval times and it seems like it's the only sure-fire way the guy can legally save her from being taken and abused by creeps, namely her incredibly abusive family.
I hope that by the end of this story (in perhaps the next book?) they can find a way for her to be safe AND marry someone else and her current fiancé can maybe be her surrogate father instead.
There's a pervy maid in the book, but she gets chucked and smacked around when she does creepy things so it's kind of cathartic humor? Idk
Oh, there was this one spot where a weird amount of detail was put into describing the MCs breasts after a growth spurt. Wasn't happy about that. Weird it's there. It IS short and skippable, though. Still weird.
I think that's all my big issues? Aside from that I liked it. I liked the fairies and how the MC is discovering things about the world and how to use magic
My main issue is the MC is engaged to marry a man that is much older than her. Don't like that at all. At the same time I have trouble faulting the book for it because it's set in medieval times and it seems like it's the only sure-fire way the guy can legally save her from being taken and abused by creeps, namely her incredibly abusive family.
I hope that by the end of this story (in perhaps the next book?) they can find a way for her to be safe AND marry someone else and her current fiancé can maybe be her surrogate father instead.
There's a pervy maid in the book, but she gets chucked and smacked around when she does creepy things so it's kind of cathartic humor? Idk
Oh, there was this one spot where a weird amount of detail was put into describing the MCs breasts after a growth spurt. Wasn't happy about that. Weird it's there. It IS short and skippable, though. Still weird.
I think that's all my big issues? Aside from that I liked it. I liked the fairies and how the MC is discovering things about the world and how to use magic
May 16, 2023
Maiden of the Needle is a Japanese light novel. A Tokyo woman finds herself reincarnated as a baby in a world with fairies and magic, with all the memories of her previous life. Yui’s new family has the unique ability to weave magic into clothes, but when it turns out she doesn’t have the ability, the family treats her like a slave.
At fifteen, Yui is sold to a man who is hated by her family. But he turns out to be a nice person and under his care she thrives, and she’s finally able to show how skilled she is both as a seamstress and as a wielder of magic. Fearing for her safety, he instantly betroths her to the former king who can protect her.
This was a typical transmigration novel. The world is non-Japanese and organized like a video game, which Yui soon realizes. There are also elements of hero tropes, with labyrinths and the final boss that needs to be defeated. The bad guys are truly evil and good people are purely good. And the heroine turns out to be unique in her abilities and the saviour of the realm.
The story was light but interesting, and not in any way unique. Like most books in this genre, the narrative relied heavily on telling and was a bit all over the place, though I’ve read worse. The entire backstory is given in the first chapter, with random infodumps at odd times. Most of the book is from Yui’s first-person point of view, with occasional third person POVs by other characters.
The first volume has no romantic plot. Yui is fifteen, which apparently isn’t too young to become engaged. Her fiancée is in his fifties, which would’ve been gross—was a bit gross—but he gives to understand that the marriage will be in name only. All the other potential romantic interests already have their partners.
Unlike most light novels I’ve read, the first volume doesn’t end in a cliffhanger. It does set the story for the next volume though, and it sounds interesting enough to continue reading.
I received a free copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
At fifteen, Yui is sold to a man who is hated by her family. But he turns out to be a nice person and under his care she thrives, and she’s finally able to show how skilled she is both as a seamstress and as a wielder of magic. Fearing for her safety, he instantly betroths her to the former king who can protect her.
This was a typical transmigration novel. The world is non-Japanese and organized like a video game, which Yui soon realizes. There are also elements of hero tropes, with labyrinths and the final boss that needs to be defeated. The bad guys are truly evil and good people are purely good. And the heroine turns out to be unique in her abilities and the saviour of the realm.
The story was light but interesting, and not in any way unique. Like most books in this genre, the narrative relied heavily on telling and was a bit all over the place, though I’ve read worse. The entire backstory is given in the first chapter, with random infodumps at odd times. Most of the book is from Yui’s first-person point of view, with occasional third person POVs by other characters.
The first volume has no romantic plot. Yui is fifteen, which apparently isn’t too young to become engaged. Her fiancée is in his fifties, which would’ve been gross—was a bit gross—but he gives to understand that the marriage will be in name only. All the other potential romantic interests already have their partners.
Unlike most light novels I’ve read, the first volume doesn’t end in a cliffhanger. It does set the story for the next volume though, and it sounds interesting enough to continue reading.
I received a free copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
July 24, 2024
A very good read!
I think this book really allows for an artistic reader to bond with the main character. She has such a sense of pride in her work and there are interesting comments along the way referring to your creations and your craft as an extension of the person or their own children in a way. I often feel that way about my art, wanting to make sure that they find good homes. Sometimes I consider it adoption. Additionally, the series is very heartwarming and has just the right amount of conflict. If you're a fan of the manga, the manga at this time of writing the review only has three volumes out. The third volume ends mid-fight with the wraith. This novel goes a little past that so I think the first four mongo will likely cover everything in this light novel. Having not read Volume 4 yet, there might be some of light novel number two incorporated towards the end, hard to say at this point. I am greatly looking forward to reading more of the manga as well as more of this light novel series. They are both absolutely wonderful!
I think this book really allows for an artistic reader to bond with the main character. She has such a sense of pride in her work and there are interesting comments along the way referring to your creations and your craft as an extension of the person or their own children in a way. I often feel that way about my art, wanting to make sure that they find good homes. Sometimes I consider it adoption. Additionally, the series is very heartwarming and has just the right amount of conflict. If you're a fan of the manga, the manga at this time of writing the review only has three volumes out. The third volume ends mid-fight with the wraith. This novel goes a little past that so I think the first four mongo will likely cover everything in this light novel. Having not read Volume 4 yet, there might be some of light novel number two incorporated towards the end, hard to say at this point. I am greatly looking forward to reading more of the manga as well as more of this light novel series. They are both absolutely wonderful!
August 17, 2023
Cute story, but sometimes it meandered.
I was more enamored with the magic than the plot. I believe this story suffered from the web novel process where the author made things up as she went along week by week, chapter by chapter. Sometimes it felt like the author forgot who the main character was, and the ending felt like a rushed muddle. Still, it had an entertaining premise and a main character whose hyper enthusiasm for sewing helped hold the story together. I especially liked how the fairy system worked. There was a lot of thought put into it.
Unfortunately, the main character was too OP, too perfect, and even though terrible things happened to her, she was so amazing that she always ended up on top.
And yet, I liked it. I’m looking forward to volume two being released next month.
What did you think of it?
I was more enamored with the magic than the plot. I believe this story suffered from the web novel process where the author made things up as she went along week by week, chapter by chapter. Sometimes it felt like the author forgot who the main character was, and the ending felt like a rushed muddle. Still, it had an entertaining premise and a main character whose hyper enthusiasm for sewing helped hold the story together. I especially liked how the fairy system worked. There was a lot of thought put into it.
Unfortunately, the main character was too OP, too perfect, and even though terrible things happened to her, she was so amazing that she always ended up on top.
And yet, I liked it. I’m looking forward to volume two being released next month.
What did you think of it?
January 16, 2024
This story was dissapointing.
It started strong and I was really enjoying it, but then the ML came in and I lost my interest. I get the motivation behind his actions but I also don't like them. I'm pretty sure the age gap is big so I'm not comfortable with how the story progressed. It's a shame, I had really high hopes for this book. What also bothered me was the fact that no one talked about giving the FL money for all the sewing she did. If she is going to create new clothes and toys then she needs to be given monetary compensation.
It started strong and I was really enjoying it, but then the ML came in and I lost my interest. I get the motivation behind his actions but I also don't like them. I'm pretty sure the age gap is big so I'm not comfortable with how the story progressed. It's a shame, I had really high hopes for this book. What also bothered me was the fact that no one talked about giving the FL money for all the sewing she did. If she is going to create new clothes and toys then she needs to be given monetary compensation.
August 13, 2023
So I’m reading the manga and the light novel at the same time and I have to say the light novel has way more information. The manga has a couple holes and had me asking questions maybe they are pushing that off till later who knows. I 100% enjoyed it and can’t wait till the next book. This series is very light and def a breath of fresh air it’s shorter then most light novels I have read it being at 8 chapters but def worth the read.
September 20, 2023
A very interesting take on isekai. I definitely liked the story and thought it was interesting how there wasn't very much "spoken" dialogue, especially from the main character (which makes sense given that she hadn't spoken at all for years). I'm interested in how the next volume continues the story.
February 26, 2024
I probably would have enjoyed this concept if it was executed differently. As it stands, the plot is thin and doesn't really get going until the last 25% of the book, I'm not particularly fond of any of characters, and the relative hotness of the characters is not as much of a priority for me as it is for the narrator.
February 3, 2024
I enjoy some aspect of this lightnovel, but something is lacking for example how to describe why her family despise her and treat her like that, the world building is also somewhat lacking. but the positive thing is its has unique story and world that can be explored more
July 20, 2024
It was fine? There was some weird fan service, an odd age gap, and everything was just . . . there? I'm liking the manga adaptation a whole lot more with this one. Also, I know she was abused but the whole "she's the most delicate and frail precious being ever" thing is annoying.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews