The Daughters of Ys opens with a father relating a story to his daughters. The story concerns the magical way he met his wife and their future mother on a dark stormy night in the middle of the sea. From there, the two carve a city from the sea and begin a new life.
But now, their mother is dead and, the king and his daughters (Rozenn and Dahut) have to figure out their lives and how to run their magical kingdom, Ys, without her.
In this coming-of-age tale, secrets run in every direction. The discovery of what those secrets are make this story fascinating.
Magic and living comes with a cost is one of the many lessons that could be learned from this fairy tale.
I loved the illustrations by Jo Rioux and feel like they really elevated the story. She uses mostly muted colors to weave shadows and magic throughout the tale. The brightest colors are reserved for Dahut, the younger and more magically inclined daughter.
I think this book is appropriate for young adults. There are some mature themes that are dealt with, but they’re not explicit. Highly recommended.
Thanks for reading!
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