The Tea Dragon Society is the most adorable graphic novel series I have ever seen in my entire life. I picked it up on a whim, because I liked the art style on the cover and thought it would be a cute way to pass the time. I did not expect to be so utterly delighted, or to cry with each installment! Do not let these books pass you by!
The art in The Tea Dragon Society is gorgeous! This is probably my favorite graphic novel visually. The illustrations are soft, with no harsh outlines, and has an overall dreamlike quality. It fits the fantasy world perfectly. The characters are absolutely adorable. Every single one of them. There’s not a single character or background or object or detail that I didn’t love. And the pastel color palette is super pretty.
The Tea Dragon Society is also brimming with diversity. Sure, a lot of the characters aren’t even human, but that makes it even more special. The humans are POC, which was nice to see. There’s also disabled characters and queer characters. The stories also deal heavily with loss and grief and depression. It handles all of this gently and with care. There is some minor violence and depictions of blood, but it’s nothing harsh or explicit.
I just loved everything about The Tea Dragon Society. Every panel is gorgeous. Every word has a purpose. It’s just so good. I can’t believe I hadn’t heard about this series sooner. And I certainly hope it isn’t over! The characters are in a good place, but I need more of them and this world!
About Each Book:
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The Tea Dragon Society (The Tea Dragon Society #1) by Katie O'Neill Illustrated by Katie O'Neill
Published by Oni Press on October 18, 2017
Genres: Fantasy, LGBTQ, Middle Grade Fiction
Format: eBook (72 pages)
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Purchase: Amazon • IndieBound
Add Book: Goodreads
From the award-winning author of Princess Princess Ever After comes The Tea Dragon Society, a charming all-ages book that follows the story of Greta, a blacksmith apprentice, and the people she meets as she becomes entwined in the enchanting world of tea dragons.
After discovering a lost tea dragon in the marketplace, Greta learns about the dying art form of tea dragon care-taking from the kind tea shop owners, Hesekiel and Erik. As she befriends them and their shy ward, Minette, Greta sees how the craft enriches their lives -- and eventually her own.
The Tea Dragon Festival (The Tea Dragon Society #2) by Katie O'Neill Illustrated by Katie O'Neill
Published by Oni Press on September 17, 2019
Genres: Fantasy, LGBTQ, Middle Grade Fiction
Format: eBook (135 pages)
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Purchase: Amazon • IndieBound
Add Book: Goodreads
Revisit the enchanting world of Tea Dragons with an all-new companion story to the two-time Eisner Award-winning graphic novel The Tea Dragon Society!
Rinn has grown up with the Tea Dragons that inhabit their village, but stumbling across a real dragon turns out to be a different matter entirely! Aedhan is a young dragon who was appointed to protect the village, but fell asleep in the forest eighty years ago. With the aid of Rinn's adventuring uncle Erik and his partner Hesekiel, they investigate the mystery of his enchanted sleep... but Rinn's real challenge is to help Aedhan come to terms with feeling that he cannot get back the time he has lost.
Critically acclaimed graphic novelist Katie O'Neill delivers another charming, gentle fantasy story about finding your purpose, and the community that helps you along the way.
The Tea Dragon Tapestry (The Tea Dragon Society #3) by Katie O'Neill Illustrated by Katie O'Neill
Published by Oni Press on June 1, 2021
Genres: Fantasy, LGBTQ, Middle Grade Fiction
Format: eBook (137 pages)
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Purchase: Amazon • IndieBound
Add Book: Goodreads
Join Greta and Minette once more for the heartwarming conclusion of the award-winning Tea Dragon series!
Over a year since being entrusted with Ginseng's care, Greta still can't chase away the cloud of mourning that hangs over the timid Tea Dragon. As she struggles to create something spectacular enough to impress a master blacksmith in search of an apprentice, she questions the true meaning of crafting, and the true meaning of caring for someone in grief. Meanwhile, Minette receives a surprise package from the monastery where she was once training to be a prophetess. Thrown into confusion about her path in life, the shy and reserved Minette finds that the more she opens her heart to others, the more clearly she can see what was always inside.
Told with the same care and charm as the previous installments of the Tea Dragon series, The Tea Dragon Tapestry welcomes old friends and new into a heartfelt story of purpose, love, and growth.
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