A review by gee_reads_books
All Princesses Die Before Dawn by Quentin Zuttion

emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Since I loved Quentin Zuttion's "Appellez-moi Nathan", a graphic novel about a trans man's journey to figuring himself out, I didn't hesitate to request "All Princesses Die Before Dawn". And I'm so, so glad that I did. Quentin has a special talent not only for drawing and creating strangely moving illustrations, but also for conveying queerness in his stories in unique ways. 

APDBD follows three members of the same family. Eight-year-old Lulu likes to try on lipstick, plays with dolls, and thinks about kissing the boy at the end of the street; meanwhile, teenager Cam turns the volume up so nobody can hear her boyfriend sneaking into her room through the window, whereas their mother hasn't sung for the long time her marriage has been crumbling down. Over the course of twenty-four hours, each of them faces tragedy in their own way; and despite the fact that they're facing their demons alone, it brings them together in a special way.

This was an incredible story from beginning to end. I appreciated how the different issues Quentin addressed were handled; from queerness in early childhood, to abusive relationships, to divorce, each character faces a traumatic situation, and yet they manage to heal in unexpected ways. It was a quiet, tranquil read that progressed at its own pace, and left me feeling satisfied and pensive.