Sisters in Delft

by Nika Teran

“Antonia felt a pull, and that tingling in her bones she’d experienced before. She approached to read the letters on the golden-colored Johannes The View of Delft.” While on a visit to The Cloisters museum in New York City, Antonia and her little sister get pulled into a painting and land in the Dutch city of Delft in 1647. Will Antonia outwit two ancient spirits, keep her wayward sister safe, and find the way back home? Sisters in Delft is about friendship, sisterhood, and mysterious worlds that lie just beyond our reach.

220 pages, Paperback

Published November 7, 2022

Reviews

[Sara Jesus · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely tale of sisterhood, family love, painting and music. When Antonia and Erika going with her father see "The view of the Delf" they are transport for seventeenth century Netherlands. The sisters have to find a knife at the same time as they try to escape from old spirits .

I really love the Delf descriptions and the information about the painting. Also the relationship beteween Toni and Erika was so sweet, it is a magical book that melt us our hearts.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I discovered Sisters in Delft by Nika Teran while searching for non-fiction books about this charming Dutch city I visited more than ten years ago and look forward to returning to in a few months. It’s an exciting story of two young sisters from New York who visit The Cloisters and magically are pulled through Johannes Vermeer’s beautiful painting, The View of Delft, on a quest to retrieve their grandfather’s Swiss Army Knife in seventeenth century Delft. The author’s descriptions of the city were very good except for the walking distance between the Oude Kerk (Old Church) and the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church). She mentions in endnotes that The View of Delft painting is part of the permanent collection at the Mauritshuis in The Hague, Netherlands. I think the book would be most appropriate for ages 10-12 or 13.

[Meg Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sisters in Delft is a cute young adult mystery/fantasy novel. Overall, I enjoyed the story line. The sisters were endearing characters and I was rooting for them to be successful in their journey. I enjoyed the magical and time traveling aspects of the story a lot. I did find a few of the plot points to be a bit confusing, which is why it wasn't a 5 star read for me. I still recommend it, and think it is an enjoyable short read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Delphia Von Heeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sister's in Delf is Book 1 in a new series by Nika Teran. I thought that this book was excellent. Antonia and Erika are sisters and they are the heart of the book. The story is modern with a touch of fantasy. The sisters mother is a classical pianist with a scientist father. When Antonia loses her grandfather's army knife, the weather became unbalanced with rain, floods and earthquakes. I thought the book was exciting from page 1 until the end of the book. Great characters… Great writing… One fabulous book. I can't wait to read what happens next. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Lily Grigorova · Rating 5 out of 5]

A magical trip into a classical world that draws you in and makes you long for this adventure. The human story at the heart of the adventure is touching and relatable, dealing with themes of family, loyalty, and love.

[Anita Lehmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeous magical mystery reminiscent of E.S. Nesbitt's work: set in the real world, but with magical elements that feel completely natural to the story.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rich in atmosphere and suspense, Sisters in Delft is a great choice for anyone who loves time travel, fantasy, and historical fiction. Because of events that took place in 17th century Delft, sisters Antonia and Erika must travel back in time to right what was set wrong. Nika Teran fills the sisters' journey with magical elements, a deep appreciation for historic Delft, and romance, all the while intertwining contemporary New York City with historic Delft.

[Lauren Barr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nika Teran’s lyrical middle-grade novel, Sisters in Delft, is not to be missed. Every page is steeped in magic, and she creates a uniquely enchanting world where cracks in time and place exist and can be travelled through – if you have the know-how to find them.

Two sisters, Antonia and Erika, become wrapped up in an old curse that has haunted their family, unbeknownst to them, and become the target of predatory spirits looking to profit at their expense. While visiting the Met Cloisters in New York City, they are swept away into Vermeer’s masterpiece The View of Delft – and find themselves within the 17th-century Dutch city. They must find the cursed object left there and time is running out, but Antonia struggles to remember why they are there as she runs through the ancient streets. It’s possible she will end up in the painting forever if she can’t figure out what really matters.

This is a book for every child (or child at heart) who has dreamed of stepping through portals into other worlds. Magical from start to finish, Sisters in Delft is a delight.

[OpenedBooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall, I was underwhelmed by the story. It reminded me of the Wrinkle in Time but less exciting and dramatic.

Antonia and her younger sister Erika must travel through a crack in time and space to retrieve a cursed object before the worlds start to collapse. Chased by evil spirits and lost memory, they only have until sunset.

The time given to retrieve the artifact implied a way faster pace of events in the book, which was not achieved. The events dragged along and had no real thrill. The chase was more like a retreat. I was basically bored while reading.

And because of that, I was thinking more about the things that didn’t work or make sense. For example, why is Erika’s scarf a magical object? Why is only Antonia forgetting about their task? The whole Lucretia and Jean-Pierre story?

Unfortunately, the characters were also quite shallow. It felt like Antonia’s relationship with her mother was just thrown in to make her vulnerable. But it just made her mother look like an immature and broken person that doesn’t know or care what her daughter really needs. Even though it’s obvious to any mother.

In conclusion, the writing was okay, the plot was fine, and the humour was mediocre. I am not going to put a lot of energy into recommending this book.

[S. Sch. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve received „Sisters of Delft“ as a present. From the cover I assumed it was a “children’s book”, so I was surprised that as soon as I read the first page I was immediately drawn into the narrative. I could relate to all the characters who are well developed and feel very “real”. I’ve loved this magical journey into 17th century Delft and can recommend the book wholeheartedly to adult and children who enjoy an exciting story steeped in magic!

[Chloé · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book - the perfect mix of family, love, adventure, travelling, and of course plenty of magic! This was the perfect book to curl up all cosy and binge read in one sitting. This book never failed to capture my imagination and kept me hooked throughout.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Karin Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

How many times did I imagine stepping through a crack in time when I was a child, and visit another place, at another time. That’s why I enjoyed reading about the two sisters, Antonia and Erika, as I traveled with them to the city of Delft in the 17th century. Nika Teran’s lyrical novel was a delightful read that I can recommend for anyone who delights in magic, time travel, and suspense.

[Helena TM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked it because it had mystery but it was not the best book I have read which is why I gave it 4 stars

[Lits · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the author.

This first book by Nika Teran invites the readers to join Antonia and Erika on a magical journey to the city of Delft in 1647 in the hopes to thwart the plans of two ancient spirits.

I recommend this engaging story to anyone who loves to read fantastic middle grade books with lots of heart.