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Delilah Dirk #2
Delilah Dirk and the King's Shilling
After being falsely accused of spying by the nefarious Major Merrick, Delilah Dirk and Mister Selim sail to England to clear her name (and beat the tar out of the Major while they're at it). But once on her home turf, Delilah encounters an adversary mightier than the entire British Army: her mother.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 406 reviews
March 12, 2021
Grand adventure at its best. I was ecstatic when I saw there would be another Delilah Dirk book. In this volume, Delilah goes home and must deal with her family and British high society with Selim along for the ride. These books are filled with so much fun and excitement.
first-second-publications
March 14, 2016We're so pleased to be publishing a second volume of Delilah Dirk's adventures (and we love this one even more than the first).
This volume is especially awesome because it gives us the set-up of a main character who's basically 100% awesome -- having to go back to her home and deal with her parents, who haven't been following along with the reader 100% awesomeness thing. Instead they are like, 'you are a young heedless creature!' and have to be convinced to get on board with the 'my child is totally competent and also kind of a badass' wave.
It is a wonderful and uncomfortable fictional situation for everyone involved!
This volume is especially awesome because it gives us the set-up of a main character who's basically 100% awesome -- having to go back to her home and deal with her parents, who haven't been following along with the reader 100% awesomeness thing. Instead they are like, 'you are a young heedless creature!' and have to be convinced to get on board with the 'my child is totally competent and also kind of a badass' wave.
It is a wonderful and uncomfortable fictional situation for everyone involved!
December 6, 2015
(Received from Netgalley for review.)
Not quite as much fun as the first Delilah Dirk book had been. That's probably at least in part because this book is much more plot focused. The spotlight is really on Delilah's past and her conflict with a corrupt British officer. Which is fine, except that the plot itself started to bore me part way through. Maybe it went on for too long, or maybe there wasn't enough substance for the page count. It's still good overall, and certain scenes are very good, but it just wasn't as enjoyable as the first book.
Not quite as much fun as the first Delilah Dirk book had been. That's probably at least in part because this book is much more plot focused. The spotlight is really on Delilah's past and her conflict with a corrupt British officer. Which is fine, except that the plot itself started to bore me part way through. Maybe it went on for too long, or maybe there wasn't enough substance for the page count. It's still good overall, and certain scenes are very good, but it just wasn't as enjoyable as the first book.
January 21, 2017
Lord, lend me the strength to make it through the dark days until I get my claws on this book..........or so help me.
October 4, 2020
Big fan of sword fighting here, for a long time. Since Iread Glory Road, in fact. Maybe before, but I cannot remember what before that would have spawned my love of the “sport”. I was, in fact, a big enough fan, that I joined the fencing team in college -- it’s one of the few sports where college can be “getting in in on the ground floor” of a sport.
So, let’s see -- who are the fictionally great swordsmen of all time?
In order of my exposure:
The Scarlet Pumpernickel
Oscar Gordon
Cyrano de Bergerac
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Anakin Skywalker
Luke Skywalker
That tall guy that Indy shoots
Corwin of Amber
Publius Horatius Cocles
John Sable
John Gaunt
Ogami Ittō
Inigo Monyoya
Wesley Black
The Comte de la Fère, M. du Vallon, M. d'Herblay,
and Charles de Batz de Castelmore d'Artagnan
Connor MacLeod
Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez
Robin of Locksley (the Errol Flynn version is the only one I can confirm)
Zorro
Samurai Jack
Syrio Forel
Now, granted, I probably missed your favorite -- I missed a lot of movies, comics and books in my life. (And the exercise is left to the student to investigate the names you do not recognize -- they will be on the final exam!)
Who’s missing? It’s rhetorical -- ALL the LADIES are missing! Thanks to systematic pernicious genetic discrimination since the time of Red Sonja, ladies have scant opportunity and scnater recognition when they become warriors.
Until now.
Meet Delilah Dirk, International Mistress of Swordsmanship.
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So, let’s see -- who are the fictionally great swordsmen of all time?
In order of my exposure:
The Scarlet Pumpernickel
Oscar Gordon
Cyrano de Bergerac
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Anakin Skywalker
Luke Skywalker
That tall guy that Indy shoots
Corwin of Amber
Publius Horatius Cocles
John Sable
John Gaunt
Ogami Ittō
Inigo Monyoya
Wesley Black
The Comte de la Fère, M. du Vallon, M. d'Herblay,
and Charles de Batz de Castelmore d'Artagnan
Connor MacLeod
Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez
Robin of Locksley (the Errol Flynn version is the only one I can confirm)
Zorro
Samurai Jack
Syrio Forel
Now, granted, I probably missed your favorite -- I missed a lot of movies, comics and books in my life. (And the exercise is left to the student to investigate the names you do not recognize -- they will be on the final exam!)
Who’s missing? It’s rhetorical -- ALL the LADIES are missing! Thanks to systematic pernicious genetic discrimination since the time of Red Sonja, ladies have scant opportunity and scnater recognition when they become warriors.
Until now.
Meet Delilah Dirk, International Mistress of Swordsmanship.
December 24, 2024
4.5 stars.
This was over 100 gorgeous pages longer than the first one, and I honestly can't decide which one I like more, because they're both so wonderful. This one is a bit different from the first, insofar as it is more plot-driven, with some backstory and scene changes, as opposed to the much quieter (ha) more picturesque life Delilah and Selim were living in the Turkish Lieutenant, and I know some people didn't like it as much because of that, but for me it worked because it felt like a natural organic change to the storytelling. And it's just good fun.
This was over 100 gorgeous pages longer than the first one, and I honestly can't decide which one I like more, because they're both so wonderful. This one is a bit different from the first, insofar as it is more plot-driven, with some backstory and scene changes, as opposed to the much quieter (ha) more picturesque life Delilah and Selim were living in the Turkish Lieutenant, and I know some people didn't like it as much because of that, but for me it worked because it felt like a natural organic change to the storytelling. And it's just good fun.
March 8, 2016
I love this series, I seriously do.
Review to come.
Review to come.
October 13, 2017
I love these!
May 16, 2016
I waited for so long for this graphic novel... Almost three years... Was it worth it? Meh...
When I read the first Delilah Dirk I fell in love with it. I loved the main character, I loved the side-kick. I also loved the art and the colors.
When I finally received this second volume I was almost disappointed: I didn't remember Delilah's face being so manly. I swear, she has a man's jaw. And so does her mother. If you cut their hair, they could pass for men. She has a bigger jaw than Selim, poor girl.
In addition, in the first part of the book the figures seems to be detached from the rest. If you pay attention you can see a thin white line between the characters and the background behind them. I had the feeling that the figures were taped onto the backgrounds. It was quite annoying, to be honest. Later in the graphic novel, this doesn't happen anymore.
And, yeah, why are all the characters constantly blushing?
I really like the part set in Portugal. It was the old Delilah Dirk I remember. But since she meets Major Merrick and decides to save her reputation, the plot doesn't flow. I mean, Delilah becomes a real pain in the ***. She doesn't care about anything else, just her name. She is so focused on revenge that she loses sight of everything around her: her friend, her family... And I don't like her as I used to.
Selim is quite nice. He works perfectly as a narrator but I wished he would wake up a little bit. For some things he's smart and fast but for other things... Jeez!
Would I read more Delilah Dirk in the future? Yeah, but I do hope she will turn back into the kick-ass heroine I loved so much.
When I read the first Delilah Dirk I fell in love with it. I loved the main character, I loved the side-kick. I also loved the art and the colors.
When I finally received this second volume I was almost disappointed: I didn't remember Delilah's face being so manly. I swear, she has a man's jaw. And so does her mother. If you cut their hair, they could pass for men. She has a bigger jaw than Selim, poor girl.
In addition, in the first part of the book the figures seems to be detached from the rest. If you pay attention you can see a thin white line between the characters and the background behind them. I had the feeling that the figures were taped onto the backgrounds. It was quite annoying, to be honest. Later in the graphic novel, this doesn't happen anymore.
And, yeah, why are all the characters constantly blushing?
I really like the part set in Portugal. It was the old Delilah Dirk I remember. But since she meets Major Merrick and decides to save her reputation, the plot doesn't flow. I mean, Delilah becomes a real pain in the ***. She doesn't care about anything else, just her name. She is so focused on revenge that she loses sight of everything around her: her friend, her family... And I don't like her as I used to.
Selim is quite nice. He works perfectly as a narrator but I wished he would wake up a little bit. For some things he's smart and fast but for other things... Jeez!
Would I read more Delilah Dirk in the future? Yeah, but I do hope she will turn back into the kick-ass heroine I loved so much.
March 19, 2016
Now I'd like to reread the first. Same gorgeous illustrations and while some of the action sequences didn't feel as dynamic as they might've been (in regard to smashing, parrying - the leaping, dancing, sword fighting scenes are beautifully fluid). And it doesn't feel like it's only been a two-book series, rather, it feels that we've known the cast for much longer than that.
Great inclusion of Delilah's backstory and family dynamics.
Is there more coming? I'd hope so.
Great inclusion of Delilah's backstory and family dynamics.
Is there more coming? I'd hope so.
March 9, 2021
I couldn’t wait any longer and picked up the second installment of Tony Cliff’s Delilah Dirk series! The book picks up several years (!) after Selim and Delilah’s meeting. While on their adventures, Selim dreams of visiting London; Delilah is reluctant, but is pulled into returning home when they encounter Major Merrick of the British army, who frames Delilah for espionage.
Delilah and Selim are delightful characters; they balance each other out very well, and while there are hints of romance it doesn’t feel like a typical “will they, won’t they” romance – though I’m expecting it eventually, Cliff is clearly focused on the adventure here. And this volume we get to know one of Delilah’s weaknesses: fixating on her reputation as Delilah Dirk. That eventually risks her relationship with Selim, and they emerge with some good character development.
But Cliff still keeps us at arm’s length from getting to know Delilah. There are several emotional moments, where the perspective suddenly switches to Selim’s limited perspective, losing an opportunity for the reader to get to know Delilah during a vulnerable moment, or simply her experience of returning home. It’s unclear if this is because it’s meant to be Selim’s story (contrary to the series’ title), or if Cliff simply chooses to maintain some mystery around Delilah.
Unfortunately, the story fell a little flat compared to the first volume. Merrick is such a boring villain and it takes a while for all the pieces to come together. (Frankly, I’m curious when Delilah’s nemesis will be another woman.) The story dragged a bit in the middle; things felt much slower compared to the gleeful, almost frantic romp of the first story. There also weren’t any other futuristic elements to the world, which was disappointing.
Even with those disappointments, Delilah Dirk is still worth the read, and Cliff’s art is still top-notch. There is a rough but expressive and kinetic feel to his art style. His action scenes communicate excitement well and feel like storyboards. While Spain had far more visual interest than London, there were also a lot of lush details to banquet halls, dresses, and horse drawn carriages. (I can’t say what’s accurate or not though, I have no expertise on that.) The coloring is also done very well and I feel immersed in Dirk’s world, even though it was a bit of a let down. I’m still looking forward to volume three.
Delilah and Selim are delightful characters; they balance each other out very well, and while there are hints of romance it doesn’t feel like a typical “will they, won’t they” romance – though I’m expecting it eventually, Cliff is clearly focused on the adventure here. And this volume we get to know one of Delilah’s weaknesses: fixating on her reputation as Delilah Dirk. That eventually risks her relationship with Selim, and they emerge with some good character development.
But Cliff still keeps us at arm’s length from getting to know Delilah. There are several emotional moments, where the perspective suddenly switches to Selim’s limited perspective, losing an opportunity for the reader to get to know Delilah during a vulnerable moment, or simply her experience of returning home. It’s unclear if this is because it’s meant to be Selim’s story (contrary to the series’ title), or if Cliff simply chooses to maintain some mystery around Delilah.
Unfortunately, the story fell a little flat compared to the first volume. Merrick is such a boring villain and it takes a while for all the pieces to come together. (Frankly, I’m curious when Delilah’s nemesis will be another woman.) The story dragged a bit in the middle; things felt much slower compared to the gleeful, almost frantic romp of the first story. There also weren’t any other futuristic elements to the world, which was disappointing.
Even with those disappointments, Delilah Dirk is still worth the read, and Cliff’s art is still top-notch. There is a rough but expressive and kinetic feel to his art style. His action scenes communicate excitement well and feel like storyboards. While Spain had far more visual interest than London, there were also a lot of lush details to banquet halls, dresses, and horse drawn carriages. (I can’t say what’s accurate or not though, I have no expertise on that.) The coloring is also done very well and I feel immersed in Dirk’s world, even though it was a bit of a let down. I’m still looking forward to volume three.
May 31, 2022
This second volume finds Delilah going back to her roots in England. It was nearly twice as long as the first volume so there was so much more adventure - and the villain was truly nasty! I nearly fell asleep reading it by the light of my headlamp while camping - I just had to know what happened!
May 26, 2020
The story was much slower than the first book. There was also not as much action in this one. It took me much longer than it should have to get through this book.
September 26, 2019
Delilah Dirk Series Ratings:
Vol 1: ★★★★
Vol 2: ★★★★
Vol 3: ★★★★
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This series has been a lovely surprise! I'm enjoying it more than I thought I was going to when I picked up the first volume.
—
I read this book as part of my 2018 Library Love binge, where I read as many library books as possible to take advantage of my great local library network before I move interstate!
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Vol 1: ★★★★
Vol 2: ★★★★
Vol 3: ★★★★
—
This series has been a lovely surprise! I'm enjoying it more than I thought I was going to when I picked up the first volume.
—
I read this book as part of my 2018 Library Love binge, where I read as many library books as possible to take advantage of my great local library network before I move interstate!
___
│Blog│Instagram│Twitter│Tumblr│
—
January 13, 2020
I was thoroughly delighted by Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant but found that this installment in the series was missing the hilarious quips and light-hearted adventures I liked so much in book 1.
The story in Delilah Dirk and the King's Shilling was a lot darker than I would've expected. I did appreciate that we got to learn more about Delilah Dirk's past but found myself wanting more interactions between Delilah and Selim. The artwork was just as gorgeous as in the first book.
This was an enjoyable read for me but not quite as much fun as book 1.
The story in Delilah Dirk and the King's Shilling was a lot darker than I would've expected. I did appreciate that we got to learn more about Delilah Dirk's past but found myself wanting more interactions between Delilah and Selim. The artwork was just as gorgeous as in the first book.
This was an enjoyable read for me but not quite as much fun as book 1.
January 29, 2018
Not as good as the first but still has a lovely ending. I am looking forward to the next book.
April 9, 2017
I loved this graphic novel. The first Delilah Dirk book is very good, but this, the second, is awesome. The story, set in the early 19th century, is more complex and intriguing, as Delilah and her sidekick, Selim, head for England to clear her name after the evil traitor Major Jason Merrick has framed her for treason in the war between the English and the French. There's a lot of humor in this story, as we get to meet Delilah's family and find out her real name is Alexandra Nichols. Selim finds himself employed by her family, after Delilah's mother samples his irresistible tea. The art and coloring are also fantastic, better than in the first book. There's a hint of more adventures to come, but fortunately no cliffhanger.
June 28, 2022
really stunning art!!! *_* i wished i enjoyed this as much, it was quite hard to follow through the action sequences and story dialogues to understand what was happening. could picture this turning as an action/adventure film tho which would probably help to visualize more of the characters after reading.
February 1, 2019
I am hooked!!! I love the artwork, and the characters interaction is so much fun. Not history. Fun.
February 17, 2019
Oh my gosh! I absolutely loved this book!! I read this for our January Book Club Pick and I'm so glad I did, because it was so good!!
I loved the characters. They were so good! Mr. Selim honestly cracked me up and I loved the dynamic of his relationship with Ms. Dirk! Ugh. I just love them so much! XD
The art in this book, oh my gosh. It was so good!! I love how they captured movement in the this graphic novel and how they drew each character. They did a really great job of bringing them to life! I loved all of the outfits in this book, too! They made the dresses look so flowy and comfortable, which I'm sure wouldn't be the case in real life, but one can dream, right?
The story was well-paced and I found myself flying through it when I actually found the time to pick it up and read it. If you happen to get your hands on a copy, I can assure you that you won't regret it. It has a great storyline, awesome characters, and amazing art! What more could you want? Nothing. The answer is nothing.
I loved the characters. They were so good! Mr. Selim honestly cracked me up and I loved the dynamic of his relationship with Ms. Dirk! Ugh. I just love them so much! XD
The art in this book, oh my gosh. It was so good!! I love how they captured movement in the this graphic novel and how they drew each character. They did a really great job of bringing them to life! I loved all of the outfits in this book, too! They made the dresses look so flowy and comfortable, which I'm sure wouldn't be the case in real life, but one can dream, right?
The story was well-paced and I found myself flying through it when I actually found the time to pick it up and read it. If you happen to get your hands on a copy, I can assure you that you won't regret it. It has a great storyline, awesome characters, and amazing art! What more could you want? Nothing. The answer is nothing.
May 27, 2016
The story Tony Cliff is writing about Delilah is as haphazard as her adventures, and not in a good way. By the second volume I hoped for a little more backstory, instead of the flashes here and there that only hinted at what came before. But overall I was distracted enough to passably enjoy the story, even with the weird white outlines around the figures sometimes that made the artwork seem unfinished or cut out and placed on a better background in a rush job, but then I came to his note on "historical accuracy." Basically the note was a big F-You to anyone concerned with historical accuracy. If you hadn't gathered by his storytelling that he doesn't care about the big picture well then his little note would have clued you in. I can get playing with the history to an extent, the first book had fantastical elements, but the French Revolution was OVER and Napoleon was EMPEROR at this time. These aren't "little things" that can be changed. The French Revolution had to end in order for the Napoleonic Wars to start! And then to ask offended readers to correct his errors in the future? How about you bother doing the research yourself or listen to those who help you? There's a smugness here that smacks of Garth Nix and that stupid "Newt's Emerald" and I can safely say that I think I won't ever be picking up any future Delilah adventures, no matter how many people I know who love them.
April 9, 2023
Re-read 9 April 2023
Still an incredibly fun read!
I detest that Tony Cliff hasn't taken care of a certain character. Seems like that person will remain being a prominent antagonist.
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Phwoar! This was a ripper of a story - loads of mystery and intrigue! Our heroine, Delilah, had been accused of spying for the French, and so to clear her name, she had to resort to her true identity (which was hilarious to behold, to see how she attempted to settle into her old life, and see Selim likewise try to acclimatise himself to British weather!). I can't wait to read more of her adventures!
Still an incredibly fun read!
I detest that Tony Cliff hasn't taken care of a certain character. Seems like that person will remain being a prominent antagonist.
---
Phwoar! This was a ripper of a story - loads of mystery and intrigue! Our heroine, Delilah, had been accused of spying for the French, and so to clear her name, she had to resort to her true identity (which was hilarious to behold, to see how she attempted to settle into her old life, and see Selim likewise try to acclimatise himself to British weather!). I can't wait to read more of her adventures!
April 30, 2016
If the first Delilah Dirk book was a great introduction to Cliff's unconventional adventurer, then this latest work is a full-throttled exploration of the character. There's a lot more going on here than in the first volume, and there are more moving narrative parts than just the "adventurer fleeing dark villain" storyline. And the art is outstanding! I know it takes a long time to create these stories, but after reading Delilah Dirk and the King's Shilling, I'm wanting more...and impatiently so.
December 29, 2016
Delilah Dirk is a hot headed adventurer who roams Europe during the Napoleonic Wars doing good deeds. By her side is Erdemmoglu Selim, a cautious Turk who makes excellent tea and is all too often taken for granted. They are wonderful characters, their adventures are thrilling, their dialog amusing, and the art is fantastic.
December 9, 2019
This one is just as stunning as the first! Love seeing the English setting as well :3
September 17, 2016
Another solid, funny, beautiful addition to the series.
December 12, 2016
♥ so good.
March 24, 2017
4 stars
I've owed First Second a review of this for some time. They were kind enough to give me access to an egalley, but I neglected to download it in time (grad school probably got in the way...it got in the way quite a bit. ANYWAY) and didn't get to read until recently. Like the first volume, there's lots of action, a great friendship, and some really excellent art. The ending leaves it wide open for there to be more adventures, but isn’t a cliffhanger, which is honestly the best kind of ending. (EDIT: I mean endings that are open but not cliffhangers are the best, eep. Cliffhangers are the Worst.)
If you're looking for historical accuracy, you won't always find it here, particularly in terms of dialogue. However, Cliff freely admits to this, making it, I think, much easier to forgive...and anyway, it's so much fun that I usually wasn't too bothered by it. (Maybe not as fun as the first volume, but still fun.) Between this series and Zita the Spacegirl, First Second might be my favorite source for all ages graphic novels.
Despite the fact that I didn't read the copy I received via NetGalley and the publisher, my review has been an honest one, and I truly appreciate them accepting my request. (I also appreciate the Los Angeles Public Library accepting my request for them to purchase the Kindle edition! Thank you's all around!)
I've owed First Second a review of this for some time. They were kind enough to give me access to an egalley, but I neglected to download it in time (grad school probably got in the way...it got in the way quite a bit. ANYWAY) and didn't get to read until recently. Like the first volume, there's lots of action, a great friendship, and some really excellent art. The ending leaves it wide open for there to be more adventures, but isn’t a cliffhanger, which is honestly the best kind of ending. (EDIT: I mean endings that are open but not cliffhangers are the best, eep. Cliffhangers are the Worst.)
If you're looking for historical accuracy, you won't always find it here, particularly in terms of dialogue. However, Cliff freely admits to this, making it, I think, much easier to forgive...and anyway, it's so much fun that I usually wasn't too bothered by it. (Maybe not as fun as the first volume, but still fun.) Between this series and Zita the Spacegirl, First Second might be my favorite source for all ages graphic novels.
Despite the fact that I didn't read the copy I received via NetGalley and the publisher, my review has been an honest one, and I truly appreciate them accepting my request. (I also appreciate the Los Angeles Public Library accepting my request for them to purchase the Kindle edition! Thank you's all around!)
July 20, 2021
4.5/5
This is such fun! I only wish it were longer, haha! The dynamic between "Mister Selim" and "Miss Dirk" is really adorable and I love the fact that they don't have to be in a romantic relationship to get along. Sometimes? Sometimes all you need is swashbuckling. (Sometimes you also just need an excellent cup of tea. I'd love to try Selim's because all the tea I've ever had is so mediocre.)
I'm thrilled I get to finally finish this series, which is so so underrated in the graphic world. Recommended.
This is such fun! I only wish it were longer, haha! The dynamic between "Mister Selim" and "Miss Dirk" is really adorable and I love the fact that they don't have to be in a romantic relationship to get along. Sometimes? Sometimes all you need is swashbuckling. (Sometimes you also just need an excellent cup of tea. I'd love to try Selim's because all the tea I've ever had is so mediocre.)
I'm thrilled I get to finally finish this series, which is so so underrated in the graphic world. Recommended.
Read
April 9, 2019I didn’t enjoy this as much as the first Delilah Dirk book. It really drags in the middle - the swaths of text quickly became tedious to read. I kept waiting for the action to start. The story’s pretty good though, with Delilah returning home to England to clear her name from a scheming army major. She reconnects with her family while there. Cliff delivers a thrilling climax, and strong scenes with Delilah’s family and Selim towards the end.
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