Title: The Tea Dragon SocietyAuthor: Kay O'Neill
Series: Tea Dragon #1
First Published: June 16, 2020
Publisher: Oni Press
Pages: 72
Genre: Fantasy, LGBTQ, Middle Grade
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library, Purchased
Rating:
Synopsis:
From the award-winning author of Princess Princess Ever After comes THE TEA DRAGON SOCIETY, the beloved and 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.
Review
The Tea Dragon Society might just be one of the cutest graphic novels that I’ve ever read. It was so beautiful, so wholesome, with the most adorable dragons ever. The story follows Greta, an apprentice blacksmith learning the craft and her chance encounter with a tea dragon. She finds herself pulled into the world of tea dragon caretaking, a dying magical art form, and the wonderful people she meets along the way.
As Greta learns more about caring for tea dragons, she comes to appreciate the beauty of this ancient practice, and with it begins to appreciate blacksmithing just as much despite both arts becoming redundant with the passage of time. The book explores themes about memory and the way that it can enhance our experiences and help us connect with other people. The story exceeded my expectations, it was so sweet and felt like a soft hug to read.
The illustrations were outstanding and the tea dragons are just so cute, I felt so happy reading. The back of the book includes a caregiver’s guide for tea dragons and a short bestiary with information about each dragon. I loved that there were different dragons linked to different kinds of tea, with looks and mannerisms to match the taste and feel of each tea. While not every dragon featured in the bestiary appeared in the story, it made me excited to see them in future volumes.
Quote
“Memories don’t just live inside you, Minette. They live in all the people and objects you share your life with.”
About the Author
About Kay O’Neill
Kay O’Neill is an illustrator and graphic novelist from New Zealand. They are the author of Princess Princess Ever After, The Tea Dragon Society, Aquicorn Cove, and more. They mostly make gentle fantasy stories for younger readers, and are very interested in tea, creatures, things that grow, and the magic of everyday life.
On an Instagram post 17th December 2020 the author shared that they use they/them pronouns and prefers to be called Kay.
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