(I received an ARC from Europe Comics, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review! Thanks to both for trusting me with 'The Grémillet Sisters')
What a whimsical, cozy read this was! 'The Grémillet Sisters' is, I have no doubts, one of those stories that I will keep coming back to whenever I need a comfortable, warm, feel-good story to take shelter in. From the dynamic, vibrant art style to the story itself, this was a delightful little story that made me feel as if I were seven years old again, reading Fairy Oak or W.I.T.C.H. and getting lost in a better, more magical world.
In 'The Grémillet Sisters' we meet three siblings, who live with their mother and couldn't be more different: the eldest, Sarah, has strange dreams every night, whereas middle-child Cassiopeia lives in another world entirely and the youngest, Lucille, talks almost exclusively to her cat. (Lucy, I feel you) As the Mother's Day draws closer, the Grémillet girls decide to surprise their mum by putting together a photo album, bursting with memories. But their mother won't talk about her past, so it's up to the sisters to discover what the story of their mum is! Somehow, Sarah can't shake the feeling that it might have to do with the fairylike tree she visits every night in her sleep... And that there is something really big that their mother is keeping from them.
Short though it may be, this is a perfectly satisfying story for both children and grown-ups. As you might be expecting, the Grémillet maman's issue is a delicate one (TW: miscarriage), and yet the story remains perfectly child-friendly. I really enjoyed the careful way in which something as tragic as this was dealt with, and I also really appreciated the balance between adressing this issue with the seriousness and depth it demands, and making it accesible to the youngest readers this book will find. It is something that cannot be explained to children carelessly, and this story did a really good job.
As for the characters themselves, I grew quite fond of the Grémillets! Sarah, the eldest, may be the one I relate to the most, being the older sister myself. Still, Lucille stole my heart as soon as she showed how, not unlike me, she is the 'animals over people' type. She's like a small fairy, and I loved her so much. As for Cassie... She reminds me of my younger sister, so I really wanted to hug her and make her feel understood! Then there's the girls' mum. She's a character I really, really felt for, as preborn lives are something I do not take lightly. Barbucci managed to capture all her grief and her pain with his every line, which is something that few artists can do.
Overall, a sweet tale about a family of girls! Really, really sweet. Can't wait for the next Grémventure!