This was a tragic, deeply disturbing story, in a good way. It was bloody and brutal in it's lack of empathy to outsiders.
The art wasn't entirely my cup of tea, but it's definitely made for the story.
If you want magic, sacrifices, tragic and the complications of loyalty, family and responsibility, look no further.

Based on a Celtic folklore and has similar story line to the lost city of Atlantis but different This is a very intriguing and entertaining graphic novel. King Gradlon created the most beautiful city of Ys, also known as the city of pleasures through his wife’s magic. They have 2 daughters, Rozenn and Dahut. The wife dies mysteriously and the daughters blame the king for overworking their mother. She got older the more he demanded of her to create something. The two daughters grow up but grow apart. The younger one Dahut tries to learn her mothers magic, seduces and beheads young men. Rozenn the older sister is known to be the heiress falls in love with a commoner or fisherman. Without giving away too much, there is betrayal, nudity, demise of the most powerful and beautiful city. There is so much to this story that I truly enjoyed. This is a highly fantastical world and I absolutely enjoyed it. Thank you to NetGalley and First Second Books for providing me with a copy! The illustrations were equally as good as the story. Graphic novels like these make me want to keep reading them.

The artwork is beautiful and reminds me of the video game Child of Light (which I adore).

The story is engaging and I read it in one sitting because I wanted to know what happens!

There are some sexy scenes although nothing overt.

My one complaint would be I wished it was longer with some scenes with the girls with their mother.

I really enjoyed this adaptation of a Breton folktale. It captures the whimsy and darker moods of such tales perfectly in both the way the story is told and the artwork. I love how the personalities of the daughters is clear right from the beginning and how real their choices feel to them. They're not sketches or stand-ins, but people trying to do their best despite the circumstances they find themselves in. Ultimately, the most interesting thing isn't the magic or the fae or the art (which is gorgeous and the perfect accompaniment to the tale), but about the sisters and their relationship -- the tragedy of their mother's death pushing them apart and into completely different emotional worlds. I highly recommend this, with the caveat that there is no happy endings in tales of ancient dark magic.

The artwork in this book was BEAUTIFUL. I loved the color palette so much. The story was unexpected and exciting and ended on a note that suggests further novels to come, which I enjoyed. I like how folklore was adapted to make the story feel relatable through a modern lens despite the setting, while still remaining true to the age-old take. If you're looking for something short, lovely, and intriguing to read, this is definitely the book for you.

First, it must be said that the art is stunning. The illustrator did a fantastic job with creating a visual world for this story. The art style fits the story perfectly! It seemed a little disjointed at times, but I really love the dark turn it took. It really picked up and things got interesting a little before the halfway point! And then everything just got worse and worse. Very emotional story. I’m not familiar with the original Breton folktale, but I enjoyed this one enough to read one of the versions the author listed at the end of the graphic novel.

Thanks to First Second Books for the ARC! I'll definitely be buying a physical copy of this one when it comes out.

This book is based on an old legend. It was thoroughly weird. A woman builds her husband the King a seaside place that is grand and beautiful. They have two daughters and continue to grow their kingdom until the Queen passes away. The daughters were close in childhood but as they mature they drift apart. The dark haired daughter wants a simple life with a farm boy. The red headed daughter wants all the trappings of being a princess. But they come at a cost. There is evil lurking. This graphic novel has intrique, beheadings, sex candles, and all the sea monsters a person could want. It was very interesting and a legend this reader had never heard of before.

The art in this graphic novel is gorgeous, it’s exactly the whimsical kind I love, and the color palette is beautiful. The story is based on a Breton myth I didn’t know of, but will read about definitely. Two sisters, Rozenn and Dahut, grew up together in the magical city of Ys, which was raised from the ocean by their Faerie mother, and is now ruled by their father. After the death of their mother, the elder Rozenn leaves the court to live a simple life in nature, and Dahut stays at court, enjoying intrigue and splendor, and continuing her mother’s work of keeping the city of Ys alive by any means necessary. But the king is old and dying, and his heir has left the court, so the fate of Ys depends on the bond of the two princesses. A beautiful folk tale with gorgeous illustrations which take your breath away.

This is an enchanting, at the same time haunting, graphic novel not just bec of the ethereal and otherworldly art style (which I absolutely loved!) but also bec of grim and surprisingly adult themes of the story. I say surprisingly, bec I didn't exactly thought this would feature sex and murder (among other things) when I requested it based on the cover, but it's there. It's unapologetic in the presentation of the dark themes too, which made it even more entertaining for me.

Based on a version of an old Celtic legend, The Daughters of Ys tells a story of sisters living in the royal palace of Ys, a kingdom founded on magic, greed and betrayal. It starts with a simple request from a magical woman appearing from the sea, for a man to kill her wizard husband - something I thought was v common in fairy tales - but then the story steadily progresses into wicked territory as the characters show more of themselves.

I liked how flawed every single character is, from Dahut's naivety, to Rozenn's evilness, to their father's ultimate monstrosity, no one is safe from blame for the destruction of their world.

I would've wanted more explanation on the magic of this world, and I especially am craving for more of Lady Mdgver and her full powers, but I understand it would disrupt the rather perfectly paced story. I also want more of what happens after, like I get why it ended the way it did, but still I want more of Rozenn and Dahut. Maybe on a prequel or sequel? LOL.

I recommend this for lovers of fantasy and dark stories, and I will definitely buy and read more books set in this world.

*The eARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for free in exchange for an honest review. It doesn't affect my opinion of the book. Thank you.

Gorgeous illustrations give new life to this retold Celtic legend by M. T. Anderson. The Daughters of Ys follows a family from conception, through the death of the powerful matriarch, and to the demise of the father as two daughters forge very different paths, both riddled with difficult truths. Despite the gentle appearance of the cover art, the story is dark and works well as an upper-teen/adult crossover pick. Fans of fairy tales, folklore, and Atlantean mythology will devour this one. Recommended.

This has such beautiful artwork and a really haunting story - I ended up loving every second of it. It's a story about two sisters growing up in a seaside town that's based on an old celtic folktale and gives off frozen vibes but a lot darker. Definitely would recommend.

The Daughters of Ys is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel. This was my first experience with Breton legends and I can't wait to learn more about it.

The artwork is beautiful, it´s stunningly illustrated and the story is so pretty, heartbreaking and dark at the same time! It kind of reminded me of Frozen but with the vibes of Through the Woods by Emily Carroll. I think that fans of Emily Carrol could really love this graphic novel because the story itself was incredibly haunting. It gave me all the chills, really. It was darker and more adult than I initially expected and I fell in love with it.

Readers who love mythology, folktale adaptations, fairylike-like, yet dark stories will love this.

I´m definitely buying the printed copy to add it to my collection.

Thank you to First Second Books & NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn't sure what I was going to think of this book but I really ended up enjoying it! I really enjoyed the magic and how it shows the dangerous side and how it's not the easiest of things to do because of that dark side. I hope there will be more in the series!

This haunting, folklore retelling is brutal, heartbreaking, and such a surprise. Thank you First Second Books for the opportunity to read it!

Quick Thoughts
-This is a Celtic retelling of a story I've never heard before, though it still feels a little familiar because the City of Ys is similar to tales of Atlantis.
-The art is beautiful, the strokes of pale colors with pops of red and green make the story feel ethereal, like a fairy tale.
-If you're squeamish about blood on the page, be aware that this graphic novel has some depictions of violence and blood.

Lasting Impressions

This heart wrenching tale of sisters falling apart and a glorious sitting coming to ruin is not unfamiliar, but this take was surprising and engaging. I was at times gasping in horror at the dark magic used to keep Ys afloat. Both of the daughters of Ys are portrayed in ways I found I could empathize with them both. They are so different, in their flaws and strength, but they both yearn to be loved.

Overall Feelings

I would recommend this book to those who enjoy dark fairy tales and folklore, and I'm excited to see if First Second Books and the author come out with more books like this one.

The Daughters of Ys is a beautiful retelling of the story of Ys, a mythical city that was submerged off the coast of Brittany. This book varies somewhat from the majority of myths in that Dahut, the sorceress daughter of King Gradlon, is not solely at fault for the downfall of the city. It also adds a second daughter, Rozenn, who doesn't seem to be in any version of the myth that I can find. Her addition gives another sisterly dynamic to the myth.
The illustrations are quite lovely, and I think they added so much atmosphere to the story.
All in all, a wonderful book. I recommend it for anyone who likes retellings, especially those that are a bit more obscure to English-speaking audiences.

I didn’t know anything about Breton folklore, so had to do a little research. Breton folklore is from Brittany, which ‘is a cultural region in the west of France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica during the period of Roman occupation. It became an independent kingdom and then a duchy before being united with the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province governed as if it were a separate nation under the crown.’ – Thanks, Wikipedia

The Daughters of Ys is based on one of these folklores, and follows the story of Princesses Rozenn and Dahut as they grow up in the city of Ys. Rozenn is a land-loving gal, who prefers to spend her time with the animals and the birds in the forest, while Dahut is set on staying in the palace, using her mother-given magic.

The story has some very alarming, dark twists that sort of jarred the story at times. I was not prepared for beheadings! I don’t know what the original tale is like – perhaps something to look into – so I don’t know how far from the tale this graphic novel deviates, but the plot was pretty intense. At times the storyline was a little tricky to follow, so I don’t think I quite got the full story, which was a shame.

The illustrations weren’t my favourite, however they were really well done. The one thing that was really weird to me was the monster near the end; it was just a strange rendition, and didn’t seem scary at all to me, just sort of … meh.

All that being said, I did overall like the story, but I wouldn’t read it again. Like I said, I’d be interested to read some original Breton folklore to check it out.

First and foremost, this graphic novel is *stunning.* Jo Rioux's style is everything I would want mine to be if I was artistic and I could also pick who I want to emulate, haha. This art style was right up my alley and I adored it. I felt that there was a consistent color scheme throughout that consistently matched the tone of the novel as a whole, which I found really interesting.

Regarding the content, I have never heard of the city of Ys before. I made the decision to read this adaptation in its entirety first and, as someone with no knowledge of Breton folklore and an appreciation of female power, I think it was the right decision. After finishing I read a few descriptions I found on the internet and I think I really like the decisions that M.T. Anderson made. I'm not sure if they change the cultural or emotional significance of the legend, but as an outsider, I was all for it. I am particularly interested in learning more about Dahut and Anderson's decision to include French composer Eduardo Lalo's characters of Rozenn and her lover.

Dark and rich, this graphic retelling of a Celtic myth is well-done. After their fae mother dies and they find their mourning father in a compromising situation with a couple of women, two princesses grieve in different ways and are left to care for their country Y. While I enjoyed the graphic novel, it would not serve my middle school population being fit for readers grades 10-12 for sexual content and nudity.

Oh, this graphic novel will stay with me forever. I adore everything about it: the art, the story, the characters. How lovely and gruesome it is. Has a similar vibe as the works of Emily Carroll or Kerascoët. This is a hauntingly beautiful read, one you will go back to again and again because it is that good. Thank you so much for allowing me to read it!

This haunting story, based on a folktale from Brittany, is about two sisters of a king and faerie mother. The mother passes away, and the two daughters grieve very differently. When they find their father in a questionable situation with two young ladies, their opposite reactions shape the course of their lives. Dahut, the strong-willed red-head, follows in her mother’s magical footsteps and does what she can to protect the city of Ys from the sea. Rozenn, the kind and gentle brunette, retreats to the country and tries to live among the folk. She, being the heir, does not understand her sister’s life and what the price has been to keep Ys prospering. It turns out, that price is seducing young men and then decapitating them to feed heads to a vengeful spirit. The last half of the story is full of heart-breaking moments as the two sisters make many sacrifices to keep their people safe. In the end, this story has half a happy ending, but mostly chilling and unsettling.

This story is mystical, chilling, and beautiful. I was completely pulled in and forgot I was reading until the last page when the story abruptly shifted to show how this myth is still alive off the coast of France. The art is beautiful with some slight unnatural human contortions, but overall, was perfect in emulating earlier art styles, and bringing to life a classic myth.

There are sex scenes throughout the story, as this is part of the price to keep Ys safe, but no bits are shown, and most of the scene happens off the page.

Sara's Rating: 10/10
Suitability Level: Grades 10-12

This review was made possible with an advanced reader copy from the publisher through Net Galley.