4 stars
A wonderful reimagining of the City of Ys, revamping the legend of King Gradlon and his daughter, Dahut. Anderson’s tale intermixes other Breton themes and stories such as Saint Corentin and his miraculous fish. The city of pleasure hides dark secrets, seeped in grief, greed, and sin. Filled with sea monsters, murder, seduction, and secrets, this new take on the legend breathes new life into Ys and explores the gray area of morality.
In this version, Gradlon has another daughter, Rozenn, who turns away from palace life and prefers simplicity and a harmony with nature. I loved the focus on the female characters in this retelling and the muddling of good and evil. Nothing is quite clear cut in this one, just the way I like it.
Rioux’s artwork is lovely. It perfectly conveys the movement of water and flight and their associations with the lead characters. What a gorgeous book.
Strange and beautiful, Anderson’s version of the legend adds complexity and darkness to this Breton folktale.