Delightful, lighthearted and funny.

Delilah the dust eradicator is back, and she's received a mysterious invitation from none other than Count W. Dracula. He's getting ready for a big party and neads her team to prepare the castle for his guests. But, when she and her assistants arrive, they're in for a surprise.

Book 2 in this series is fantastic. Where book 1 focuses on Delilah's broken heart and how she gets over it, book 2 picks up after she's figured out who she is and is happy with it. Unlike book 1, which focuses on feelings kids may not be familiar with, this story is definitely something kids would get and enjoy.

The characters and creatures in this book are entertaining and humorous. I love the quirky Grumpy Sponge (which I suspect is represented in the author's profile picture), especially when someone makes him angry. The Count is surprising and his efforts to prepare for the party and fit in to what people expect represent one of the main themes of this book. And, of course, Delilah's special abilities pull everything together.

Unlike the first book where the struggle was mainly internal to Delilah, this one introduces a villain or two and adds an element of danger. These things add to the excitement and make book 2 a page turner. I wish I could say more, but I don't want to spoil any of the book's surprises.

Finally, there are illustrations. I must say that almost every one I came across made me chuckle (or outright laugh) and they all fit perfectly into the part of the story they portray. I still want to know what the ? setting on the elevator does. The illustrator does a fine job of enhancing the story without distracting from it. Also, the pictures show up well on my tablet.

I do have a concern that the "handwritten notes" may not be quite readable on smaller devices or those that do not display illustrations. The notes are pictures, so they cannot be adjusted to the font size the reader prefers. I use a tablet and the longer notes displayed text smaller than the size I was using. Also, if I had been using my Kindle, I'm not certain they would have appeared at all, so I wouldn't have learned the contents of any of the Count's messages. My kindle is a bit of the cheapest one available. Still, on my tablet, they all displayed fine. I'm just concerned that not all readers would be able to see them, and they would be missing out on some important information. The notes, in my opinion, are vital to the storyline.

Overall, I absolutely loved this story. It's fantastic and magical, humorous and whimsical. The characters, major and minor, are entertaining. And the underlying themes of learning to be yourself and love what you have instead of what others have are admirably wrought. I would highly recommend this story to anyone, young or old, who likes a lot of humor, a little mystery, and a bit of magic.

I received a free copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest, non-reciprocal review.
 

Critique: Delilah Dusticle blends whimsy and wonder into a story that will appeal to both young adults and the young at heart. It's a lively, ebullient adventure through and through! Also highly recommended is the spooky sequel, "Delilah Dusticle's Transylvanian Adventure", in which Delilah and the Dustbusters are invited to Transylvania, to cater for the Hallow Eve Ball - but events take a dramatic turn when Count Dracula has a unique request!

 

“Delilah Dusticle has a special gift,” a superpower perhaps, but one so sweetly humorous any child and parent will happily relate. She can dust, like magic. And she can make dust. This latter, of course, is a bit of a problem since dust falls like snow when she’s distracted.

Delilah and Abi have started a great “dustbusting” business in post-war Britain, cleaning grand mansions for the no-longer-rich who can’t afford live-in staff. They’re advertised in all the best newspapers, and Delilah’s image can even be seen on a billboard in Piccadilly Circus. But are they ready to go international? Is it really safe for Delilah to travel to Transylvania and clean the Count’s castle?

The story’s full of fun characters, perfectly suited to Bollywood, Hollywood and more. And the text has a nice read-aloud cadence, making this not just a fun middle-grade novel, but also a great story to read to groups of younger children (or at bedtime). Illustrations nicely interspersed with the text complement the narrative and add to the fun. I especially love the picture of Doris peeping over her well-wrapped scarf, but Ulrik’s washing is pretty cool too, as are assorted bats and spiders!

And then there’s Count Dracula. But be ready for intriguing surprises, mystery and terror, all told with a nice quiet sense of humor as Delilah explores her dusty side. Imaginative, magical and fun, Delilah Dusticle’s Transylvanian Adventure will entice and amuse all ages, in the tradition of good old-fashioned fantastical storytelling. And the fact that its reluctant heroine is female, and cleans houses, is just a delightful added bonus.

Disclosure: I was given a free ecopy by the author and I offer my honest review.