Honestly better than I expected. It was quite touching. How life's biggest tragedies and change can happen in just 24h, and how people survive and go on with their lives.

The book deals with hard themes but does so very well. Despite the story being quite difficult (dad leaving, the loss of a childhood best friend when coming to terms with one's sexuality, the pressure for teenage girls to have sex) it remains hopeful and shows the importance of a loving family that sticks together through hardship.

The intro to this story immediately caught my interest. There was something in the drawings and the way the words were used that sucked me into this story. 

There were so many things about Lulu that brought back memories from my childhood and years as a teenager. Memories I didn't even know I had. The way Luly played with the toys, the things that caused Luly to be annoyed, hearing things your parents say about you behind you back... It brought back some warmth, some pain and probably healed a few wounds. It was so recognizable, because once upon a time I was the main character in familiar scenes. Both pretty and horrible ones. So thank you, Quentin Zuttion, for giving a visualisation and somehow making me feel less alone in all of this. Thank you, for bringing up harder subjects while also adding enough warmth and hope. 

Apart from the story, I am also a big fan of the art style! I was amazed by how the art was used to bring the fantasy world of children alive. Seeing the real world change into the ones they imagine being in, was such a lovely and beautiful experience. 

This is for sure a graphic novel I'd like to reread sooner or later! May the fairy tales you once had as a kid come true one way or another.

Special thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this story in exchange for an honest review. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Europe Comics for a review copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review. 

This is a very solid 4 ⭐️ book for me. The central plot takes place over one hot, end of summer day from the perspectives of Lulu, his sister Cam and their mum. It starts with the news of Princess Diana’s death but each character is more focused on their own dramas: discovering one’s sexuality and gender identity and first love for another boy, a relationship with an older boy who she’s falling for but is being used, and a failing marriage respectively. This day will prove to be a decisive one for each of them and Zuitton uses a ‘slice of life’ approach to show this. There are some heavier themes touched on but not explicitly mentioned, I believe to cater to a larger audience and younger demographic, specifically those of Lulu’s and Cam’s ages (7-16) where such topics should be taught and I believe are handled well. I know the story is based in part on some truth, the author’s childhood and family but it is a very universal portrayal of coming to terms with one’s sexuality - lots of relatability and, albeit not one-for-one, comparisons I personally could make. I loved how Lulu tried to experience his dreams playing with princess dolls and childhood games using his imagination - there’s a certain bit where you can so perfectly understand what’s going on inside his mind and it’s captured amazingly. 

The graphic elements were truly mesmerising and beautiful. There is a recurring use of light and water which adds a dreamlike, ethereal notion but it’s undoubtedly clear to the reader that the basic is firmly grounded in the real world. The characters are honestly very developed despite taking place over a single day, you get to know them and they’re slightly flawed but lovable. It definitely makes you want to know more about them, another instalment would be amazing but as it is, I’m happy. 

My only real qualm was that the length didn’t really allow that much discussion or exploration of some of the topics. This means that some plot lines left us with loose ends -  which yes leads to ambiguity - that I kind of wanted more focus on. The impact is somewhat lessened but overall I would most definitely recommend this book and I am intrigued to check out more of Zuitton’s works. 

*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

All Princesses Die Before Dawn is a slow read, chronicling the lives of a family in suburban France on one fateful day. The story is nice but not impactful enough for me, while the art fits the story with its dreamy style.

There are multiple things happening in this novel, all with the setting and thematic backdrop of Princess Diana's death. Zuttion does a good job of layering the story and its themes, though it can feel a little disjointed at times. A sense of melancholy also permeates the book; coupling with the slow pace, it makes for a moody combination suited for certain readers more than others, with me belonging in the latter. We do not learn much about the characters aside from the one day shown in the novel, and while I am interested in Lulu's story, I do not feel connected enough to or impacted by the other characters and overall plot (or lack thereof). As someone who quite values emotional impact in my reading, needless to say this is not as good a reading experience as can be.

The art fares better in my opinion. It has a certain dream-like, ethereal quality that fits the book's inclusion of fairytales and renders the story with a particular uniqueness. The color scheme is nice as well, maintaining the novel's dreaminess while also portraying the vibrane and tranquility of summer. It can be hard to discern facial expressions at times, however, and the font in the e-book edition is small, making it almost impossible to see punctuations. 

This is a nice read overall, but its pace, tone and story are suited for some readers more than others. One has to be in a particular mood to truly enjoy it, but objectively it is nice enough.