The Tea Dragon Society: (A Graphic Novel)

Tea Dragon #1

by K. O'Neill

Welcome to the Tea Dragon Society where Greta, a young blacksmith, learns to care for a rare and magical tea dragon! This gentle fantasy from Eisner Award Winning Author K. O'Neill is an enchanting introduction to whimsical graphic novels for young readers in this special over-sized hardcover edition!

Now with added bonus content and illustrations!

When Greta discovers a lost tea dragon in the marketplace, the young blacksmith learns about the magical world of tea dragons, and how to take care of them from the kind tea shop owners, Hesekiel and Erik. As she befriends them and their shy ward, Minette, Greta begins to question if blacksmithing is what she wants to do with the rest of her life, or if the little magic she's found in the Tea Dragon Society can show her a new way to live.

BONUS These updated books will feature all new illustrations and materials from K. O'Neill.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Comics, LGBT, Queer, Dragons

Kindle Edition

First published October 18, 2017

Reviews

[Melanie (meltotheany) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Memories don't just live inside you, Minette. They live in all the people and objects you share your life with.”

Friends, this was the literally cutest and most heartwarming book I’ve read all year. Also, the art in this book is probably my favorite art style of all time. I recommend this with my entire heart and soul.

This story is broken down into five parts; one for each season and then an epilogue. And during Spring, an apprentice blacksmith, Greta (who is getting trained by her mother), rescues a little dragon outside! Greta’s father recognizes the little dragon and knows who his owner is. And once Greta goes to return the little dragon, she gets an invite from the owner, Hesekiel, to come and learn all about the Tea Dragons!

Tea Dragons are basically just mini dragons that grow different herbs alongside their horns! And all the names of the dragons are because of their different herbs. The dragon that Greta saves is named Jasmine, but we also meet Rooibos, Chamomile, and a few others during the duration of this book.



Greta learns all about Tea Dragons, but also learns about a society that Hesekiel and his husband, Erik, are the last remaining members of. Greta also meets Minette, who is a young girl who was training to be a prophetess and is now having trouble remembering things. She left home, and is now working with Hesekiel and Erik, while also making a beautiful friendship with Greta.

But this story is truly about friendship, and how important it is to find a place in the world that will surround you with unconditional love. This is also a story about honoring the past, and traditions, and cultures, and not forgetting where you come from. And ultimately, this is a story about balancing those two aspects and living a life that you’re proud of and that makes you happy.

Overall, I loved this more than any word combination I could come up with. Friends, if you are looking for a beautiful book, with even more beautiful messages, that star people of color, and people with disabilities (someone in a wheelchair and someone living with memory loss), and LBGTQIAP+ characters, then look no further. This was nothing short of a treat to read, and I hope you all pick it up. Also, I desperately want my own Tea Dragon companion now.



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[2021 reread] still such a heartwarming masterpiece

[Cindy Pham]

love the precious artwork and the level of thought put into all the different types of dragons. very cozy and sweet. definitely open to reading more from this series.

[Caz (littlebookowl) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was NOT expecting the cute! This was so sweet and immersive. Where can I find my own tea dragon?

What a delight to read, definitely a new favourite and I'll be rereading this forever.

[Chelsea (chelseadolling reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the sweetest and I am desperate to have a tea dragon of my own. The cutest little things!!!

[s.penkevich [hiatus-will return-miss you all] · Rating 4 out of 5]

You should probably drop everything you are doing and read this. Seriously. Tell your boss I said it was alright. This is an overload of adorableness in both the story and artwork that just demands to be enjoyed. The Tea Dragon Society is a quick read, but it will reverberate for a long, long time. O'Neill does such excellent work with world building, creating this cozy society full of cute dragons that grow tea on themselves (drinking it allows you to experience the past memories of the tea masters, which is a psychedelic good time) and plenty of LGBTQ and racial representation that doesn't announce itself but is lovingly immersed into the story. It is a beautiful little book about friendships, honoring traditions and being proud of who you are and what you can do.

Something I enjoy most is that at the end, O'Neill includes a Tea Dragon Handbook that details each of the dragon species with fun facts about them and some tea dragon lore. This is such a cute idea for a kids book as it gives them something to enjoy beyond reading the story (much like how kids love Pokemon guide books and such) while also expanding the world in which O'Neill created. There are--at present--two more books, each with variations on the handbook and both grahpic novels are just as fun.

The artwork is OUTSTANDING. O'Neill has a such a charming style that is bright and full of color as well as an adorable cottagecore aesthetic (shoutout to the young library patron that informed me of this). This is such a good mood read that will tug your heartstrings and perhaps get you to cry a few tears. Utterly adorable and absorbing, drop everything to check this out.

4.5/5

[April (Aprilius Maximus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

2019 -

"Memories don't just live inside you, Minette. They live in all the people and objects you share your life with."


2018 - hello this is the best little book in the whole entire universe can i please have 20 more books set in this world plz

[Miranda Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

"He's a peculiar fellow, but I'd expect he'd be very grateful if you returned his dragon."

Young Greta is excited to be training to be a blacksmith (even though society doesn't seem to have much use for swords). It feels a bit odd to spend so much time learning a career that doesn't have much practical use.

One day she finds a very small dragon being attacked by starving dogs. She saves it and is directed to Hesekiel's home to return the dragon.

She learns that the creature she saved is a 'tea dragon' - a domesticated species of dragon that can shed leaves which can be brewed into highly potent and magical teas. They are also highly finicky, snooty, and often difficult to care for.

Hesekiel offers to teach her to take care of tea dragons and to learn how to make the special tea.

"Tea Dragon tea is a wonderful thing, but it takes a long time to make. Back when everything took a long time, perhaps that didn't matter. Sadly , the art is fading.”

Contemplating his decision, Greta decides that she wants to learn. Along the way she discovers why lost arts should be appreciated and finds her place among her people.

“Memories don't just live inside you, Minette. They live in all the people and objects you share your life with.”

This was a really sweet graphic novel. The story is split into four sections - Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter - and each chapter allows us to get to know the characters better.

I really enjoyed the slow pace of this story - there wasn't a big bad or world-ending event, just a group of four friends who bond together over their finicky and fearsome pets. That being said, each section felt rather short - I wish we had more time per season and that the stories within were longer.

I liked how Greta discovers the importance of preserving history and learning from the past. I also was rather interested in the background of her companions - I feel like we get a little teaser and I'm excited for the next one.

One of my favorite bits was the information at the back - all about the Tea Dragon Society and how to raise specific breeds of tea dragons. Very cute!

[Gavin Hetherington · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so cute and wholesome omg!!! Read it in like 15 minutes and I just wish it was 7 hours longer - I love the vibes from this one, it’s so down to Earth and dreamy and cosy and whimsical and wonderful. What a beautiful little story. Illustrations were stunning too, really added more to the story!

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE CUTEST BOOK IVE EVER READ. From pursuing your passions to respecting the passions of others, to caring for each other and your pets!! I’m dumbfounded by how much I loved this and am so so happy I picked it up.

[Warda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m not sure how to rate this.

The story needed… more.

I get that it’s middle grade, but it was far too simplistic and straightforward for my liking. I learned more about the Tea Dragons in the handbook that was included at the end of the book than what was told to us in the story.
I wish it was actually incorporated into the story.

The art was gorgeous and rich. But the story needed more development.

[Whitney Atkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

reread dec 2024

this is some of the most impressive art in a graphic novel and even though it's a very simplistic children's story, this book is soooo cozy and sweet and is a great escape. told in chapters that change with the season, i loved following greta into her world and the friends and creatures she meets. definitely excited to continue on and finally finish this series!

--
original review: 2018

4.5 stars

I loved this!! So gorgeous and sweet, can't wait to own my own copy :)

[daph pink ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMG THIS WAS SOO CUTE AND PLEASING AND AESTHETIC AND BEAUTIFUL.

My feelings ⬇️💕



pre review

reviewers say this is the cutest thing they have ever read ~ well time to find out!

Can't believe I haven't read this book yet when every other day it pops up in my GR feeds.

[Patricia Bejarano Martín · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este ha sido el cómic que más me ha gustado en mi vida y lo más bonito y precioso que he leído este año. Estoy enamorada.
Es cierto que no destaca por su trama, pero sus personajes entrañables y el bellísimo dibujo de la autora lo gana todo. Solo espero que se animen a sacar más sobre este mundo, porque falta muchísimo por descubrir junto a estos maravillosos personajes y sus dragones de té, que son las criaturitas más cuquis que he tenido el gusto de conocer en mi vida ^^
Creo que también es un acierto para los primeros lectores de cómics, quedarán encandilados con esta novela gráfica y sus valores.

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that this was really cute! I’m not sure what took me so long to read it. It was sitting in my to be read shelf for a minute but I think that’s just because I’ve had a lot going on. I loved the representation and the relationship between the characters. It’s truly heartwarming to see how well they support each other. I can’t wait to dive into the next volume. Full review to come.

[destiny ♡ howling libraries · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is literally one of the best graphic novels I've ever read in my life. I can't even begin to express how much I cherished these precious characters, the sweet dragon babies, and the incredible range of representation. We have normalized QPOC rep all over the place (I mean, I'm not sure if anyone here is cishet and I'm so here for it), disability rep that is so beautifully done it made me cry, and I just loved the entire story endlessly. I know I'll be recommending this to anyone and everyone for a long, long time.

[human · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5/5)

AAAAAHHHHHH. THIS WAS SO CUTE. I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND WHY EVERYONE LOVES THIS NOW.



Just, two things:

First, I felt that there wasn't much to the story? The further I got into the book, the more frantically I was hoping that there was going to be something that gave it a little more, I don't know, anything. By the time that I had finished, it felt really insubstantial.

Like, yeah, sure, the art is adorable and there's an incredible amount of unforced diversity, but there was nothing moving the book forward. Which, let's be honest, is probably why it was so short. I mean, I would definitely read an entire book about cute little dragons (literally why else would I be here), but I feel like I was expecting something more from this, especially character-wise.

While reading this, I felt that we were given a view out of a window into the story. While, yes, it kept everything light and charming, I didn't really connect/understand/appreciate the characters as much as I hoped I would.



Of course, that being said, I absolutely LOVED the art. And the concept as a whole, really. I mean, come on people, TEA DRAGONS?? It was so cute and something I don't think I've really seen before, which means that I was left with no choice but to love it.

Also, where could someone get a tea dragon of their own? Asking for a friend, of course.

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you read something which you find yourself muttering 'so cute!' for every page you read?

Well.....

[ally · Rating 4 out of 5]

my only complaint is that i wish she were longer :,)
can’t wait to read the other 2

[Jean Menzies · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars every time.

[Rue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I desperately need a tea dragon. Like right now!!😭

[Teodora · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in a dear need of my own tea dragon!!

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

i want to live inside this book!!!

i'm a sucker for warm, sweet, adorably-illustrated graphic novels, and the tea dragon society is the pinnacle of the genre. the story is charming, and the art is unbelievably cute!!

it's a short book, and divided into four chapters according to season. it feels nice and earthy.

our main character, greta, has loving blacksmith parents (who are both semi-androgynous, which is cool). greta is learning to smith, and she stumbles onto the practice of raising tea dragons. sweet and colorful lil creatures who grow herbs, tea leaves, and flowers on their heads!!!

greta learns from the wise tea masters, who happen to be a warm and friendly gay couple. and she slowly befriends minette, a shy and mysterious girl who has her own tea dragon, chamomile.



in these beautifully-illustrated pages we have friendship, reverence for tradition, and deep care for those in need. it's ridiculously warm and fuzzy. i want a tea dragon of my own!!

[Mrinmayi · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 ✨


BUT the good news is that Sid LOVED this book!!

SHE WANTS TO READ MORE BOOKS!!!!
I see this as progress!!! If you are not aware...one of my 2021 goals is to convert her into a bibliophile lmao


As for the book..
I did like it...It was a good middle-grade book
BUT I had some high expectations
This author's other book Princess Princess Ever after is one of my all-time fav
The artwork in this was STUNNING
BUT I found it difficult to connect to the characters
I know this is supposed to be a fluffy and fun book
however..I think something was lacking
The tea dragons were adorable and cute

BUT the characters felt two dimensional
I still want to join the tea dragon society tho!!

Gonna continue the series !! I think I will like the next installments better!

Update 1
Buddy read with GR newbie
This idiot apparently does not UNDERSTAND the concept of GR and buddy reads😫😤😂
She freaking CALLED me just to say that she is starting the book SMH

This is ME rn😂
Ohh..and guys...she is NEW to the reading world
She REALLY wants to be a bibliophile (Mrin starts screaming )
Sooo..I am trying my BEST to be a good friend and show her our book world

[Olivia (Stories For Coffee) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cutest, coziest graphic novel. A warm hug and a cup of tea in book form

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/21/18 update: The Tea Dragon Society is the winner of the 2018 Eisner Award for Best Publication for kids 9-12! Yay, Katie O'Neill!

12/14/17: I admit I have not yet read Princess Princess Ever After, also from Katie O’Neill (I know! Where was I when the fairy dust was handed out?!). But I am on the bandwagon at last, following the story of blacksmith apprentice Greta in the world of tea dragons (What do you mean you don’t know what a tea dragon is?!). Well, you like tea parties, right?! And you like dragons, right? so, perfect, there are certain dragons, tea dragons, from which you get tea dragon tea leaves (What?! You can’t be serious! You aren’t going to tell me you don’t know where tea dragon leaves come from?! From the horns and antlers, silly, where else, duh??!)

Anyhow, Greta has this like friend, Minette, and they are very different but they are still good friends, and there’s this like tea dragon shop owned by these two gay guys Hesekiel and Erik. Yes, of COURSE you can form your own Tea Dragon Society—ooooooh!—with all your friends, yay! (This is ALL about the queering of the fairy tale, kids, with disabilities, colors, and sexual orientations.) And ev’ry illustration is A-DOR-A-BLE, ‘course! And I know what you’re thinking: Might Greta and Minette be more than friends, like Hesekiel and Erik!? Ooooh! We’ll just have to wait and see!

Blacksmiths? My grandfather, whose last name was Kuyper (or Cooper, or metal-worker) was a blacksmith, for a time, so I was in from page one! Anyway, in this book, blacksmiths were once as important as magicians, as they forged swords and stuff, in the old days. So: traditions, from the Old Days, awesome!

The question is: How can we hold fast to traditions (like blacksmithing and tea dragon care!) in a world that is changing SO FAST? Read on, I say! There’s not a lot of plot here, but who needs it?! There is way much energy and colors and feels and sweetness to sustain you, if you need these kinds of things, and who doesn’t?!

And there’s like this cool appendix with info on tea dragon care and societies and different kinda tea dragons--like Jasmine, Peppermint or Chamomile! And the info pages are set up almost already in the form of Tea Dragon TRADING CARDS: I know! Ooooh!! Coming soon! So awesome!

But seriously, I do think it is cute. I am NOT making fun of it! I have a ten-year-old daughter who loves this!! But watch out: You recall what happened when the Teletubbies came on the Scene? Watch out, world! You want a tea dragon now, too, I can definitely tell!

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm soft

[sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Memories don't just live inside you, Minette. They live in all the people and objects you share your life with.”

What a sweet, wholesome read!

At the surface this book is stunning, beautiful, gorgeous- all of the adjectives. But within the pages, similar, if not greater, beauty can be found.

In so few pages, this book presented and explored important topics in a simple and yet thorough way.

This is such a perfect book for younger readers. But for me personally, I felt that it was too short and with not enough development for my taste. I know I am outside its target audience and that the length is probably a good thing for little brains, but it didn’t have complete crossover appeal. Not that every middle grade book has to, but the best ones transcend age and anyone can get something out of.

That being said, for what it set out to do, it accomplished all of it and more. I would love to continue on with series, but I’m finding it pretty difficult to access considering it is not available online like the first or through my library. If you know anywhere I can find them it would be much appreciated!

If you haven’t picked up this gorgeous book yet, I would recommend it! It is such a short read that it will take you no time at all and boost the goodreads goal at the same time!

★★★☆☆.5 stars

[Suhailah · Rating 5 out of 5]

~5 shining dragon stars
for this lovely graphic novel~

Have you ever heard of a tea dragon?!! I hadn’t until I read this gorgeously cozy graphic novel. And now, I want one!!!! They are so cute it makes my heart hurt.

A tea dragon is rare, difficult to take care of, and produces tea.

The guide at the end of the novel was super fun to read and very informative as it explains the history of tea dragons and provides descriptions of all the different kinds! After learning about the 8 different kinds of tea dragons, I feel I would be most compatible with a chamomile tea dragon. Chamomile tea dragons are easier to take care of as they are very easygoing. They also like to sleep A LOT. Like A LOT. 18 hours a day to be exact. Which is very close to my own routine haha. I can sleep 12 hours at a time due to my chronic illnesses, so, a snuggly little friend that’s also low maintenance would be ideally perfect for me.

But this is not only just a story about tea dragons. It’s a story about trust, companionship, memories, bonding, and holding onto ways of life. There is also representation. It’s heartwarming and lovely. So what are you waiting for?? Come join the Tea Dragon Society!

Looking forward to continuing on with the next two installments of the series!

[el · Rating 3 out of 5]

the tea dragon society is entirely too lovely and wonderful and wholesome for this world, my heart is soft. 🥺🌿🌸✨

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Memories don't just live inside you, Minette. They live in all the people and objects you share your life with.”

~ Rating- 3 stars ~

Content / Trigger Warnings- Minor Blood Depiction, Physical Injuries, Minor Violence, Paralysis

-No Mention of these in the review-

The Tea Dragon Society, by Kay O'Neill was a sweet read. It doesn't really have a plot, and the characters are a bit shallow, but the illustrations were really beautiful. I don't have much to say, and there's nothing to really 'review' about this, but I enjoyed my read. It was very short and didn't take me that long to finish. I would recommend it if you are looking for something fun.

Review written on 3rd October, 2021.

DISCLAIMER-All opinions on books I’ve read and reviewed are my own, and are with no intention to offend anyone. If you feel offended by my reviews, let me know how I can fix it.

How I Rate-
1 star- Hardly liked anything/ was disappointed
2 star- Had potential but did not deliver/ was disappointed
3 stars- Was ok but could have been better/ was average / Enjoyed a lot but something was missing
4 stars- Loved a lot but something was missing
5 stars- Loved it/ new favourite

......................................

This was nice. Review to come.