Delphine is one of the supporting characters in the 2023 young adult romantasy A Ruinous Fate, the first novel in the Heartless Fates series by Kaylie Smith (she/they). While she is a supporting character in the first book, she takes a leading role in the second volume, A Reckless Oath (2024).
Delphine is a close friend of Calliope, the main character in A Ruinous Fate. Calliope is a powerful rogue witch who also has the Siphon curse, a power that allows her to sap the energy out of her enemies to the point of death just by touching them. This curse keeps Calliope on the run, as the power could prove reckless and fatal if put in the wrong hands. Delphine and her friend Hannah, another witch, come across Calliope in a bar one night, and the three become friends. When it’s discovered that the mysterious Witch Eater, who lives deep in the Neverending Forest, may be able to prevent Calliope from becoming a pawn in the Fates’ war against mortals, Delphine and Hannah join her on an adventure into the forest.
Delphine is a siren with the power to sing songs that persuade others to do her bidding. She is amphibious, with sets of gills on the side of her neck that allow her to breathe underwater. At 19, Delphine has an athletic build, bluish skin that can help camouflage her underwater, white hair cut into a bob, and silvery, starlight eyes.
As someone knowledgeable about the Neverending Forest, Delphine is a valuable resource to the company. She’s also funny, fiercely protective of her crew, and not one to put on airs around royals, often clashing with Ezra, an Onyx prince and ex of Calliope’s. Delphine would take a bullet before she’d let Ezra break Calliope’s heart again. Delphine was involved with different men in the village where she lives, and before going off on their journey, Delphine often laments the fact that she’s leaving without telling anyone — particularly her current beau, a nonbinary villager named Alexx. This is all much to the chagrin of Hannah, who is clearly in love with Delphine. While it’s unclear if Delphine returns these affections when Hannah finally opens up (plot developments interrupted her response), it’s clear that Delphine is attracted to people regardless of their sex or gender.
Something important to note about all of these bi characters — Calliope, Ezra’s brother, Gideon, and Delphine — is that they are all created by a bi author (#ownvoices) in Smith. Smith has spoken at length in interviews about how this was a deliberate choice in the characters’ creation, and also in part an answer to the dearth of bi representation she came across growing up. Though the term “bi” is never uttered in A Ruinous Fate, the attractions of the characters are crystal clear.