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Queen of the Sea
Cult graphic novelist Dylan Meconis offers a rich reimagining of history in this hybrid novel loosely based on the exile of Queen Elizabeth I by her sister, Queen Mary.
When her sister seizes the throne, Queen Eleanor of Albion is banished to a tiny island off the coast of her kingdom, where the nuns of the convent spend their days peacefully praying, sewing, and gardening. But the island is also home to Margaret, a mysterious young orphan girl whose life is upturned when the cold, regal stranger arrives. As Margaret grows closer to Eleanor, she grapples with the revelation of the island’s sinister true purpose as well as the truth of her own past. When Eleanor’s life is threatened, Margaret is faced with a perilous choice between helping Eleanor and protecting herself.
When her sister seizes the throne, Queen Eleanor of Albion is banished to a tiny island off the coast of her kingdom, where the nuns of the convent spend their days peacefully praying, sewing, and gardening. But the island is also home to Margaret, a mysterious young orphan girl whose life is upturned when the cold, regal stranger arrives. As Margaret grows closer to Eleanor, she grapples with the revelation of the island’s sinister true purpose as well as the truth of her own past. When Eleanor’s life is threatened, Margaret is faced with a perilous choice between helping Eleanor and protecting herself.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published June 25, 2019
34 people are currently reading
4257 people want to read
About the author
Dylan Meconis
38 books137 followersDylan Meconis is a cartoonist and writer. She was raised in Seattle, Washington, but now lives in Portland, Oregon.
She is a member of Helioscope, the largest studio of freelance comics creators in North America.
She is married to her wife Katie, and they have a dog named President Teddy Roosevelt.
She is a member of Helioscope, the largest studio of freelance comics creators in North America.
She is married to her wife Katie, and they have a dog named President Teddy Roosevelt.
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January 4, 2020***Advance Review Copy generously provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***
Unfortunately, after loving the first "scene", my interest in this or any enjoyment went downhill and I was unable to read more than 10 or 15%.
It was very tedious and tiring to read, too much focusing on the mundane life and the nun part of the story. In all honesty, I expected something completely different than what was delivered.
The art is enjoyable, though. But still I feel like DNFing and not rating is the better option here.
Unfortunately, after loving the first "scene", my interest in this or any enjoyment went downhill and I was unable to read more than 10 or 15%.
It was very tedious and tiring to read, too much focusing on the mundane life and the nun part of the story. In all honesty, I expected something completely different than what was delivered.
The art is enjoyable, though. But still I feel like DNFing and not rating is the better option here.
July 12, 2019
With graphic novels and comics for kids being produced at a rate far more prodigious than ever before, you can get a little inured to the sameness of some of the titles. There are the personal memoirs, mostly about white girls. There are the out-of-this-world space and robot adventures. There are the magic and witch inspired fantasies. And then there are the books that sort of stand apart from the pack. What we don’t see a lot of in a given year is realistic historical fiction. You might see it once in a while, as with Hope Larson’s Compass South, Andy Hirsch’s Varmints, or Matt Phelan’s Snow White but generally speaking it’s a rarity. The idea that someone would fictionalize the life of young Queen Elizabeth I through the eyes of a child raised amongst nuns almost sounds like a crazy dare. Even so, Queen of the Sea by Dylan Meconis stands out as one of the most accomplished, even beautiful, comics of the year. Let's see what we can do to keep it from being a secret.
The first thing you need to know about Margaret is that she wasn’t born on the Island. The second thing that you should know is that the island is full of nuns. That doesn’t bother Margaret, who loves her home and everything on it. When she prays for another child, William and his mother appear. It’s strange, but for them the Island is a prison, keeping those who have angered the King in some way apart from the rest of the world. When William leaves, his departure is followed by the arrival of two new guests. One is a lady and the other a nun of particular venom and spite. In no time at all, Margaret learns that the lady is Eleanor, the disposed queen of Albion. The two bond, but the more Margaret learns about her guest, the more she comes to grips with the fact that there is much she doesn’t know about the world. And much she doesn’t realize about herself. A fictionalized retelling of Queen Elizabeth I’s early years.
The choice to fictionalize the events in this book at all was such a curious one that I’ve puzzled for a while over why the choice was even made. From the get go we are told that this story takes place in a country called Albion. We are then presented with a map of the British Isles. After that, for folks who know their history, the storyline has no difficulty keeping pace with the historical record of Queen Elizabeth’s time before she came to the throne. There are certainly some additions here and there, and it is for this reason that I have to assume the author sought to separate her story from that of Elizabeth’s. Even so, I took a strange comfort in knowing the “ending”, fully aware that Meconis could upend everything in future installments, if she so desired. Had she kept this book with the real names in history, she could have taught kids some valuable history. But isn’t she teaching history with every page anyway? Reading this book you can’t help but learn about different types of stitching, or what the sea might wash onshore, or what a meal might consist of in the sixteenth-century. The choice was made with a clear purpose in mind. What that purpose might be may be revealed in subsequent sequels.
A good writer can infuse even the smallest side character with a singular personality. It’s not easy, but it can be done. Comics have the advantage of allowing the reader the chance to put a face to a name. As a result, you get little snippets of history about each of the nuns that reveals whole treasure troves of information about who they were and are. But there are two characters in this book that captured my interest most keenly. It shouldn’t surprise you that they are our heroines, Margaret and the disposed queen Eleanor. Margaret as protagonist and narrator is marvelous in part because her growth is so palpable. She goes from innocent in all things to practically wordly in the span of 394 pages. You like Margaret too. You feel for her. You may not always agree with her but you are always, always in her corner. Eleanor, however, threatens to steal the show time and again. It must have been delicious to write her. She gets to be cunning and strategic in one breath and then shortsighted and a victim of her own temper in the next. Her intelligence is biting, as is her wit, and you understand instantly why Margaret would want to spend time with her. Many is the author that has given voice to some version of Queen Elizabeth over the years, and who could blame them? She has no equal.
But can I tell you a secret? I love the writing. Love the plot and the characters and the dialogue. The whole kerschmozzle, really. But the part that I keep returning to over and over that just sets my cold little heart aglow and lifts the entire enterprise up, far above the petty rabble? I absolutely adore how Meconis chooses to illustrate different aspects of life on an island with nuns. That’s right. I’m goofy about convent process and this book provides. Now you might suspect, and with good reason, that a book that outlines the hours of the day is not going to be particularly interesting. With that in mind, Meconis infuses these selections with light and life and breath. Not satisfied with just hours, however, the author quite cleverly works in other details about day-to-day life, seamlessly integrating them into the story. If this book were a musical, then these would be the songs. As a result you get some highly amusing looks at the silent hand gestures you would have to use when you eat in the Refectory (talking is not allowed), the rules of chess, the animals kept by the sisters, etc.
I cannot claim to know a lot about comics when it comes to their specific artistry. And certainly computer wizardry has grown to the point that sometimes it’s impossible to tell when something is created by hand or on a screen. That said, I think it’s safe to say that while computer probably had a hand in the fonts and placement of words upon a page, the images themselves, for the most part, resemble nothing so much as the most incredibly adept watercolors I’ve ever seen in a comic for kids. I mean it truly when I tell you that each page in this book (with a few purposeful exceptions) is sumptuous. There’s a limited color palette, naturally. One didn’t walk around Elizabethan England wearing neon, after all. Then there is so much to be said about how Meconis uses light and shadow. You could pore over these pictures all day. They must have taken ages to finish, and every page is worth it.
Something I’ve not mentioned until now is the fact that when I looked on the publication page to see how the book was made, it didn’t mention watercolors at all. Instead it reads, “The illustrations were done in mixed media.” Why would it say that? Because one of the delights upon reading it is discovering all the little moments when the artistic style changes. For example, when Margaret is called upon to recite the trials of St. Elysia, the book takes on a style not dissimilar from those illustrated manuscripts of old. When Margaret learns to stitch fish, there appear to be real stitches, not illustrated ones, on the page (did Dylan Meconis stitch them herself? They’re awfully clever). When we see reproductions of art, they have a realism that day-to-day life can’t match. All this serves to break up the images in the text. Combined with the book’s humor, and I can stress enough how important that humor is to moving everything along, you have a book that can engage a child reader without ever boring them.
Because graphic novels and comics still occupy this in-between space where they’re respected, but only up to a point, they do not win great literary awards. Nor, for that matter, do they often win awards for visual merit. There are some exceptions to this, and I am grateful whenever a book that integrates text and image in new and interesting ways manages to break free of the expectations surrounding it. However, for all that a book like Queen of the Sea deserves every award you can name, the likelihood is that it will be insufficiently appreciated in its time. And yet, I have to believe that the combination of excellent writing, stunning art, and a storyline that will engage and entrance readers, will yield some kind of appreciation somewhere. There is no other book like this one on the market today for young people. Maybe that’s a good thing. You wouldn’t want every book for kids to be as good as this. If they were, where would the fun be in discovering something this thoroughly enjoyable? There are kids out there that like comics and like realism and have long been starved for illustrated stories of the past. Hand them this book, and then hand it to all the science fiction and fantasy enthusiasts too, because this is a book for everyone. Impossible to forget, undeniable in its delights.
On shelves now.
The first thing you need to know about Margaret is that she wasn’t born on the Island. The second thing that you should know is that the island is full of nuns. That doesn’t bother Margaret, who loves her home and everything on it. When she prays for another child, William and his mother appear. It’s strange, but for them the Island is a prison, keeping those who have angered the King in some way apart from the rest of the world. When William leaves, his departure is followed by the arrival of two new guests. One is a lady and the other a nun of particular venom and spite. In no time at all, Margaret learns that the lady is Eleanor, the disposed queen of Albion. The two bond, but the more Margaret learns about her guest, the more she comes to grips with the fact that there is much she doesn’t know about the world. And much she doesn’t realize about herself. A fictionalized retelling of Queen Elizabeth I’s early years.
The choice to fictionalize the events in this book at all was such a curious one that I’ve puzzled for a while over why the choice was even made. From the get go we are told that this story takes place in a country called Albion. We are then presented with a map of the British Isles. After that, for folks who know their history, the storyline has no difficulty keeping pace with the historical record of Queen Elizabeth’s time before she came to the throne. There are certainly some additions here and there, and it is for this reason that I have to assume the author sought to separate her story from that of Elizabeth’s. Even so, I took a strange comfort in knowing the “ending”, fully aware that Meconis could upend everything in future installments, if she so desired. Had she kept this book with the real names in history, she could have taught kids some valuable history. But isn’t she teaching history with every page anyway? Reading this book you can’t help but learn about different types of stitching, or what the sea might wash onshore, or what a meal might consist of in the sixteenth-century. The choice was made with a clear purpose in mind. What that purpose might be may be revealed in subsequent sequels.
A good writer can infuse even the smallest side character with a singular personality. It’s not easy, but it can be done. Comics have the advantage of allowing the reader the chance to put a face to a name. As a result, you get little snippets of history about each of the nuns that reveals whole treasure troves of information about who they were and are. But there are two characters in this book that captured my interest most keenly. It shouldn’t surprise you that they are our heroines, Margaret and the disposed queen Eleanor. Margaret as protagonist and narrator is marvelous in part because her growth is so palpable. She goes from innocent in all things to practically wordly in the span of 394 pages. You like Margaret too. You feel for her. You may not always agree with her but you are always, always in her corner. Eleanor, however, threatens to steal the show time and again. It must have been delicious to write her. She gets to be cunning and strategic in one breath and then shortsighted and a victim of her own temper in the next. Her intelligence is biting, as is her wit, and you understand instantly why Margaret would want to spend time with her. Many is the author that has given voice to some version of Queen Elizabeth over the years, and who could blame them? She has no equal.
But can I tell you a secret? I love the writing. Love the plot and the characters and the dialogue. The whole kerschmozzle, really. But the part that I keep returning to over and over that just sets my cold little heart aglow and lifts the entire enterprise up, far above the petty rabble? I absolutely adore how Meconis chooses to illustrate different aspects of life on an island with nuns. That’s right. I’m goofy about convent process and this book provides. Now you might suspect, and with good reason, that a book that outlines the hours of the day is not going to be particularly interesting. With that in mind, Meconis infuses these selections with light and life and breath. Not satisfied with just hours, however, the author quite cleverly works in other details about day-to-day life, seamlessly integrating them into the story. If this book were a musical, then these would be the songs. As a result you get some highly amusing looks at the silent hand gestures you would have to use when you eat in the Refectory (talking is not allowed), the rules of chess, the animals kept by the sisters, etc.
I cannot claim to know a lot about comics when it comes to their specific artistry. And certainly computer wizardry has grown to the point that sometimes it’s impossible to tell when something is created by hand or on a screen. That said, I think it’s safe to say that while computer probably had a hand in the fonts and placement of words upon a page, the images themselves, for the most part, resemble nothing so much as the most incredibly adept watercolors I’ve ever seen in a comic for kids. I mean it truly when I tell you that each page in this book (with a few purposeful exceptions) is sumptuous. There’s a limited color palette, naturally. One didn’t walk around Elizabethan England wearing neon, after all. Then there is so much to be said about how Meconis uses light and shadow. You could pore over these pictures all day. They must have taken ages to finish, and every page is worth it.
Something I’ve not mentioned until now is the fact that when I looked on the publication page to see how the book was made, it didn’t mention watercolors at all. Instead it reads, “The illustrations were done in mixed media.” Why would it say that? Because one of the delights upon reading it is discovering all the little moments when the artistic style changes. For example, when Margaret is called upon to recite the trials of St. Elysia, the book takes on a style not dissimilar from those illustrated manuscripts of old. When Margaret learns to stitch fish, there appear to be real stitches, not illustrated ones, on the page (did Dylan Meconis stitch them herself? They’re awfully clever). When we see reproductions of art, they have a realism that day-to-day life can’t match. All this serves to break up the images in the text. Combined with the book’s humor, and I can stress enough how important that humor is to moving everything along, you have a book that can engage a child reader without ever boring them.
Because graphic novels and comics still occupy this in-between space where they’re respected, but only up to a point, they do not win great literary awards. Nor, for that matter, do they often win awards for visual merit. There are some exceptions to this, and I am grateful whenever a book that integrates text and image in new and interesting ways manages to break free of the expectations surrounding it. However, for all that a book like Queen of the Sea deserves every award you can name, the likelihood is that it will be insufficiently appreciated in its time. And yet, I have to believe that the combination of excellent writing, stunning art, and a storyline that will engage and entrance readers, will yield some kind of appreciation somewhere. There is no other book like this one on the market today for young people. Maybe that’s a good thing. You wouldn’t want every book for kids to be as good as this. If they were, where would the fun be in discovering something this thoroughly enjoyable? There are kids out there that like comics and like realism and have long been starved for illustrated stories of the past. Hand them this book, and then hand it to all the science fiction and fantasy enthusiasts too, because this is a book for everyone. Impossible to forget, undeniable in its delights.
On shelves now.
April 5, 2019
I received an ARC of this book for free from Candlewick Press in exchange for an honest review.
This is a graphic novel very loosely based on Elizabeth I and her sister, Mary. And by loosely I mean that it more like an alternate history. That being said, I still enjoyed it.
I had an ARC of this so the art was not complete and not in color but from what I got, I really liked the art. I can tell it will look stunning in its finished version. It’s cute in a way that captures the innocence of the main character well. The art was also successful in explaining things, like the history of the island. Those panels were well done and helped the story come to life in an interesting way.
The overall storyline was good, however, the ending was a bit lackluster. It didn’t truly satisfy me. When it ended, I immediately wanted more. I felt like it was just getting started. I’m hoping this could be the start of a series. There’s a lot more to be explored. This book took place solely on the island, so I would love to see the rest of the kingdom in a future book.
Overall, this is a wonderful graphic novel perfect for fans of history and the lives of queens.
This is a graphic novel very loosely based on Elizabeth I and her sister, Mary. And by loosely I mean that it more like an alternate history. That being said, I still enjoyed it.
I had an ARC of this so the art was not complete and not in color but from what I got, I really liked the art. I can tell it will look stunning in its finished version. It’s cute in a way that captures the innocence of the main character well. The art was also successful in explaining things, like the history of the island. Those panels were well done and helped the story come to life in an interesting way.
The overall storyline was good, however, the ending was a bit lackluster. It didn’t truly satisfy me. When it ended, I immediately wanted more. I felt like it was just getting started. I’m hoping this could be the start of a series. There’s a lot more to be explored. This book took place solely on the island, so I would love to see the rest of the kingdom in a future book.
Overall, this is a wonderful graphic novel perfect for fans of history and the lives of queens.
July 17, 2019
A little surprised I haven't heard anyone talk about this graphic novel.
Although it skews more middle grade than YA (the protagonist seems to be a girl of about ten?), Queen of the Sea is a sophisticated work of (alternative) historical fiction, wonderfully illustrated. The story is a little hard to explain, basically it's about a Mary/Elizabeth I Tudor-type fight for the throne, told from a perspective of Margaret, who lives in a convent on a remote island. The novel borrows liberally from real history, but is set in a fictional country.
If you like Tudor history or interested in details of convent living, this is a must read.
Although it skews more middle grade than YA (the protagonist seems to be a girl of about ten?), Queen of the Sea is a sophisticated work of (alternative) historical fiction, wonderfully illustrated. The story is a little hard to explain, basically it's about a Mary/Elizabeth I Tudor-type fight for the throne, told from a perspective of Margaret, who lives in a convent on a remote island. The novel borrows liberally from real history, but is set in a fictional country.
If you like Tudor history or interested in details of convent living, this is a must read.
August 17, 2019
Historical fiction loosely based on Elizabeth I. The story is told from the perspective of a young girl raised in a convent on a remote island. The story is long and drawn out at 400 pages but I never found myself bored. It's told in a mixture of traditional comic book panels and illustrated prose. The story shifts about half way through when a mysterious woman is brought to the island as a prisoner. Meconis's art has a simple, muted style to it that gave the book the look of an illustrated manuscript from the Middle Ages.
Received a review copy from Candlewick Press and netGalley. all thoughts are my own and in now way influenced by the aforementioned.
Received a review copy from Candlewick Press and netGalley. all thoughts are my own and in now way influenced by the aforementioned.
February 13, 2020
Fascinating alternate history, closely based on the exile of Queen Elizabeth I during the reign of her half-sister, Bloody Mary. The illustrations are amazing, and the characters and story are excellent. I would love for her to continue this.
May 30, 2024
Be warned: the art in this one will deceive you. Based on the art and the summary, I picked this one up as a chill children’s book to help get my Netgalley score up. As stated in my August TBR blog post, I’m very interested in reading about English history. I thought this would just be a child’s view on what happens in this retelling but boy was I wrong.
The story starts with the MC Margaret, an orphan girl and only child on an island convent, explaining the island and her own mysterious history. Margaret’s sense of humor and the wonderful illustrations really brought this island to life. She was my favorite character, although I did like all the other nuns living there and the servants.
One day, a ship shows up with a young boy named William and his mother. He and Margaret become friends, but when William’s mother dies he is soon sent off the island.
This my friends is when the political drama gets SPICY. Soon after William leaves, a very angry woman who used to be queen shows up. Each page after that has the island’s and it’s inhabitants’ secrets revealed more and more.
There are some plot twists in this book that made me physically slam my phone on the table and pout like a child. My sister thought I was insane, but if she understood how much of a wild adventure this book was she would have picked up my phone and thrown it out the window.
I 100% recommend for anyone who likes to read mature children’s books and English history.
Where to get a copy: 📚
Amazon* - Barnes & Noble - Books-A-Million
ℹ Disclosures:
I received an arc copy of this book from Walker Books US via NetGalley and I’m reviewing it voluntarily.
*This review contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something I may earn a commission. All proceeds will be donated to a local animal shelter at the end of the year. Thanks. :)
The story starts with the MC Margaret, an orphan girl and only child on an island convent, explaining the island and her own mysterious history. Margaret’s sense of humor and the wonderful illustrations really brought this island to life. She was my favorite character, although I did like all the other nuns living there and the servants.
One day, a ship shows up with a young boy named William and his mother. He and Margaret become friends, but when William’s mother dies he is soon sent off the island.
This my friends is when the political drama gets SPICY. Soon after William leaves, a very angry woman who used to be queen shows up. Each page after that has the island’s and it’s inhabitants’ secrets revealed more and more.
There are some plot twists in this book that made me physically slam my phone on the table and pout like a child. My sister thought I was insane, but if she understood how much of a wild adventure this book was she would have picked up my phone and thrown it out the window.
I 100% recommend for anyone who likes to read mature children’s books and English history.
Where to get a copy: 📚
Amazon* - Barnes & Noble - Books-A-Million
ℹ Disclosures:
I received an arc copy of this book from Walker Books US via NetGalley and I’m reviewing it voluntarily.
*This review contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something I may earn a commission. All proceeds will be donated to a local animal shelter at the end of the year. Thanks. :)
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May 12, 2019
Margaret lives a simple life on an island convent. She's the only child on the island, until William comes to live with her, the sisters, the three servants and the animals. But then William's mother dies and he is sent away, and the next person to come to the island is an angry young woman who used to be queen...and Margaret discovers her own secret history.
This is a riveting hybrid graphic novel (there's a lot of text in addition to illustrations) that is an alternate history version of England, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth I. While it's not a direct retelling, it does pull rather liberally from the history books, particularly with Mary's feud with Elizabeth and her subsequent exile while Mary was queen.
Margaret was a lively narrator, with a sense of humor that really brought life in a 16th century island convent to life (those illustrations omg), and I loved all of the sisters and the servants, who all lived on the island for various reasons—the sisters because they had been imprisoned noblewomen, and the servants because that is where they worked.
The sense of history and politics and religion was well-wrapped into everything, along with the ancient peoples who had populated the island before it became a convent-prison. I really enjoyed reading about the lives of noblewomen and the power and fickleness of monarchs, and the bonds of people living in a very isolated community together—and how they all raised one special child.
This is a lower YA graphic novel that upper MG readers would probably also enjoy (along with adults and those who like reading about English history, the Tudors, and alternate history).
I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
This is a riveting hybrid graphic novel (there's a lot of text in addition to illustrations) that is an alternate history version of England, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth I. While it's not a direct retelling, it does pull rather liberally from the history books, particularly with Mary's feud with Elizabeth and her subsequent exile while Mary was queen.
Margaret was a lively narrator, with a sense of humor that really brought life in a 16th century island convent to life (those illustrations omg), and I loved all of the sisters and the servants, who all lived on the island for various reasons—the sisters because they had been imprisoned noblewomen, and the servants because that is where they worked.
The sense of history and politics and religion was well-wrapped into everything, along with the ancient peoples who had populated the island before it became a convent-prison. I really enjoyed reading about the lives of noblewomen and the power and fickleness of monarchs, and the bonds of people living in a very isolated community together—and how they all raised one special child.
This is a lower YA graphic novel that upper MG readers would probably also enjoy (along with adults and those who like reading about English history, the Tudors, and alternate history).
I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
July 28, 2019
A deliberately-paced and immersive alternate history that may be a bit of a challenge for the young audience to which it is targeted, but the plucky young heroine should carry them through. Though set entirely in a convent on a small, remote island, plentiful storytelling and royal court intrigues keep the book from feeling claustrophobic. I would certainly be interested in seeing the sequel set up by the conclusion.
September 5, 2020
I’m honestly surprised how much I loved this graphic novel. Historical fiction isn’t usually my thing and this is based loosely on the story of Queen Elizabeth and Mary.
I loved the art. It was cute but not overly so; fun but serious when it needed to be; just an overall good fit. At first I was overwhelmed with the number of characters but everyone has a fairly distinct personality and I grew to love them all. The plot was a bit convoluted but only because I really don’t know the source material.
I really wish there was a second volume as I don’t want Margaret’s story to ever end!
I loved the art. It was cute but not overly so; fun but serious when it needed to be; just an overall good fit. At first I was overwhelmed with the number of characters but everyone has a fairly distinct personality and I grew to love them all. The plot was a bit convoluted but only because I really don’t know the source material.
I really wish there was a second volume as I don’t want Margaret’s story to ever end!
April 29, 2019
Thank you to Candlewick Press for sending an ARC of this one my way. Queen of the Sea was such a pleasant surprise! Such a creative retelling of history. I loved the setting and the cast of characters. Plus, there’s plenty of political intrigue. So so good, and I really hope there are future books in this series!
December 18, 2021
A majority of the rating is for the gorgeous illustrations, but it's an interesting story about an alternate history heavily based on Queen Elizabeth I's exile and imprisonment. It does move slowly and there's a lot of information given at once, but it mostly comes together in the end and I would recommend it if you like historical fiction and graphic novels.
July 24, 2019
Rich and complex.
Also, makes me want to do a reread of Perilous Gard.
Also, makes me want to do a reread of Perilous Gard.
December 28, 2022
This was a fascinating and interesting fictionalized account of the early years of Queen Elizabeth I’s life. The convent details really transport you into the story, and the art and characters all draw you in.
My one major complaint is that the book ends too soon. Sure, if you know history you might hazard a guess as to how everything will unfold, but given that this is a historical fiction story I wanted more of a satisfying ending. When I’ve been reading for nearly 400 pages, I’d prefer something that isn’t an open ending.
4/5 stars.
My one major complaint is that the book ends too soon. Sure, if you know history you might hazard a guess as to how everything will unfold, but given that this is a historical fiction story I wanted more of a satisfying ending. When I’ve been reading for nearly 400 pages, I’d prefer something that isn’t an open ending.
4/5 stars.
July 15, 2020
I was a little nervous when I saw how thick this was.
I'm not inherently afraid of long books (librarian, obv), much less long graphic novels, but I still have this thing in my head that says that I'm not super into historical fiction. Which this definitely is.
I mean, it's fictionalized, sure, but is also heavily inspired by "the early years of Queen Elizabeth the First." I'm not an anglo-fanatic, and honestly, I try to avoid reading books by and about white people these days.
But I found this intensely readable.
We meet this kid who grows up in a very isolated convent on an island. I loved reading about the nitty-gritty details of being relatively self-sufficient in such an extreme environment (tropical island paradise, this is not). I loved reading about the dynamics of a community run by and for women. The intrigue of why Margaret is on the island in the first place added a nice layer of suspense.
Honestly, pair this with a viewing of "Portrait of a Lady on Fire" - I keep conflating them in my head. And maybe "Mary Queen of Scots" too.
Meconis' illustrations are expressive, muted, dreamy, soft, and cartoonish, all at once.
I enjoyed getting to know all the nuns (::cough cough Sister Act II fan here cough cough::).
Not every teen/person will be into this, but Meconis is solid.
I'm not inherently afraid of long books (librarian, obv), much less long graphic novels, but I still have this thing in my head that says that I'm not super into historical fiction. Which this definitely is.
I mean, it's fictionalized, sure, but is also heavily inspired by "the early years of Queen Elizabeth the First." I'm not an anglo-fanatic, and honestly, I try to avoid reading books by and about white people these days.
But I found this intensely readable.
We meet this kid who grows up in a very isolated convent on an island. I loved reading about the nitty-gritty details of being relatively self-sufficient in such an extreme environment (tropical island paradise, this is not). I loved reading about the dynamics of a community run by and for women. The intrigue of why Margaret is on the island in the first place added a nice layer of suspense.
Honestly, pair this with a viewing of "Portrait of a Lady on Fire" - I keep conflating them in my head. And maybe "Mary Queen of Scots" too.
Meconis' illustrations are expressive, muted, dreamy, soft, and cartoonish, all at once.
I enjoyed getting to know all the nuns (::cough cough Sister Act II fan here cough cough::).
Not every teen/person will be into this, but Meconis is solid.
July 29, 2019
Though set in a different time period, this has the same strengths as honored books of recent years such as Gidwitz’s The Inquisitor’s Tale and Murdock’s The Book of Boy. A couple of times before, I had picked this up, looked at the first pages, and put it back. But once I decided to dive in, it became good pretty quickly, then great.
November 16, 2018
I can't wait to see the finished version in full-color. And I really hope it has a sequel.
February 2, 2021
This unique graphic novel presents historical fiction about Queen Elizabeth I as a young adult. However, this isn’t readily evident, unless you understand Tudor history. The map shows the British Isles with Albion being England, usually at war with Gallia (France). Ecossia (Scotland) is also in the mix with a young exile who pronounces “nun” as “noon”. See what’s happening here? King Edmund is a large rotund man (Henry VIII) with Eleanor (a young Elizabeth) as his fav daughter. But there’s an older daughter (Queen Mary I), too, so off to St. Elysia goes Eleanor where we will learn about her through the eyes of Margaret, the little child already living on the island.
St. Elysia is the place where the King sends those who have bothered him. It’s an island of exiles, including the nuns. Margaret doesn’t know she’s an exile, as her parents have died. When new guests arrive, her world opens up and this is when we start understanding what author Dylan Meconis is doing. Thinking it’s a story about a windswept piece of rocky land and a group of survivors, we instead get diverted into the story of the young Princess, one who can be cunning, scared, and ambitious all at once.
And now the book really gets rocking as little Margaret must decide who is good and who is bad. She also learns about her own history as it dawns on her that she might be a prisoner herself. But why? And why has that angry new Queen sent out a wanted notice about a young man? Could he be trying to rescue Princess Eleanor?
I just loved this book. Graphic novels and I do not mix well, but this one was superb. SUPERB I say! Once I realized what was happening (I’m a bit slow), my days changed. It became my nighttime read so that any doings of the day would be overcome by the reading of the exiles of St. Elysia with all the adventure and intrigue of olden times. Especially, the illustrations were great, presented almost as a tapestry. I cheered for the nuns, I hissed the villains, and I wavered between the royal family. My only mistake was reading this as a library book when it really deserves to be added to the overall home book collection. A Middle Grade book strikes again. For it was fine. Very fine indeed.
Book Season = Spring (waiting for the ship)
St. Elysia is the place where the King sends those who have bothered him. It’s an island of exiles, including the nuns. Margaret doesn’t know she’s an exile, as her parents have died. When new guests arrive, her world opens up and this is when we start understanding what author Dylan Meconis is doing. Thinking it’s a story about a windswept piece of rocky land and a group of survivors, we instead get diverted into the story of the young Princess, one who can be cunning, scared, and ambitious all at once.
And now the book really gets rocking as little Margaret must decide who is good and who is bad. She also learns about her own history as it dawns on her that she might be a prisoner herself. But why? And why has that angry new Queen sent out a wanted notice about a young man? Could he be trying to rescue Princess Eleanor?
I just loved this book. Graphic novels and I do not mix well, but this one was superb. SUPERB I say! Once I realized what was happening (I’m a bit slow), my days changed. It became my nighttime read so that any doings of the day would be overcome by the reading of the exiles of St. Elysia with all the adventure and intrigue of olden times. Especially, the illustrations were great, presented almost as a tapestry. I cheered for the nuns, I hissed the villains, and I wavered between the royal family. My only mistake was reading this as a library book when it really deserves to be added to the overall home book collection. A Middle Grade book strikes again. For it was fine. Very fine indeed.
Book Season = Spring (waiting for the ship)
January 17, 2020
This is a truly a graphic novel, with lots of text and story mixed with the gorgeous artwork. It is inspired by history but not based on any one story. Meconis' artwork is fantastic and it really pulls you in to the story. I really enjoyed Margaret's adventure on the island and I hope that there is a follow up because I want to know what happens next!
February 19, 2020
An absolutely brilliant graphic novel, great story, and fantastic alternate history. Book two when?
July 13, 2019
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I wasn't really sure what to expect from this. I was just browsing my library's website in search for books I could borrow and found this. It was a recently published graphic novel and it seemed interesting enough for me to check it out.
Synopsis
When her sister seizes the throne, Queen Eleanor of Albion is banished to a tiny island off the coast of her kingdom, where the nuns of the convent spend their days peacefully praying, sewing, and gardening. But the island is also home to Margaret, a mysterious young orphan girl whose life is upturned when the cold, regal stranger arrives. As Margaret grows closer to Eleanor, she grapples with the revelation of the island’s sinister true purpose as well as the truth of her own past. When Eleanor’s life is threatened, Margaret is faced with a perilous choice between helping Eleanor and protecting herself.
This book ended up being okay, I think I would've been a lot more interested in the story line if it had captured my interest more than it did. The plot was okay but it jumped around a lot and honestly made me super confused. The setting, for the most part, made sense but the characters were just jumbles jumping around in my head; So for the entirety of the novel I wasn't sure who everyone was. I really do hope there is more to the story than how it ended because if there isn't a sequel that makes the book even worse.
I did really enjoy the art and the historical aspect of it. That is one of the few things that made this enjoyable. That and the references to chess. I really liked how she was taught the game and then connected/referenced it in other aspects of her life. The art was beautiful and everything was drawn out very well, but like I said, it was the jumping around plot and confusing characters that made me not enjoy this.
If there is a sequel I think I'd read it just to see if this book sets up the other one for something better but who knows.
I'm not really sure if I'd recommend this to someone who is new to graphic novels like myself, because that also might be part of why I didn't enjoy it as much. Maybe if I was more familiar with graphic novels, I might have enjoyed it more.
I wasn't really sure what to expect from this. I was just browsing my library's website in search for books I could borrow and found this. It was a recently published graphic novel and it seemed interesting enough for me to check it out.
Synopsis
When her sister seizes the throne, Queen Eleanor of Albion is banished to a tiny island off the coast of her kingdom, where the nuns of the convent spend their days peacefully praying, sewing, and gardening. But the island is also home to Margaret, a mysterious young orphan girl whose life is upturned when the cold, regal stranger arrives. As Margaret grows closer to Eleanor, she grapples with the revelation of the island’s sinister true purpose as well as the truth of her own past. When Eleanor’s life is threatened, Margaret is faced with a perilous choice between helping Eleanor and protecting herself.
This book ended up being okay, I think I would've been a lot more interested in the story line if it had captured my interest more than it did. The plot was okay but it jumped around a lot and honestly made me super confused. The setting, for the most part, made sense but the characters were just jumbles jumping around in my head; So for the entirety of the novel I wasn't sure who everyone was. I really do hope there is more to the story than how it ended because if there isn't a sequel that makes the book even worse.
I did really enjoy the art and the historical aspect of it. That is one of the few things that made this enjoyable. That and the references to chess. I really liked how she was taught the game and then connected/referenced it in other aspects of her life. The art was beautiful and everything was drawn out very well, but like I said, it was the jumping around plot and confusing characters that made me not enjoy this.
If there is a sequel I think I'd read it just to see if this book sets up the other one for something better but who knows.
I'm not really sure if I'd recommend this to someone who is new to graphic novels like myself, because that also might be part of why I didn't enjoy it as much. Maybe if I was more familiar with graphic novels, I might have enjoyed it more.
August 25, 2019
Based loosely on the story of Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Mary, this graphic novel is remarkable. Margaret has been on the island since she was a baby, cared for by the nuns that live there, not knowing who her parents are. The island has only a few residents, including goats and chickens. The nuns help those whose ships sink or crash making their way around the island, and they take in political prisoners as well. In fact, when Margaret is old enough to be curious, she discovers that the nuns are all political prisoners on the island who became nuns after being sent there. Things change when William arrives, the first person Margaret has ever known who is about her own age. But their friendship is short lived and he is taken back to Albion. The next person to arrive is Eleanor, the deposed Queen of Albion, sent to the island by her sister who is now queen. Margaret struggles to connect with the aloof Eleanor, even after her own origins are revealed as being entwined with Eleanor’s. As Margaret learns more about politics and royalty, she is caught up in a web of power that she has to find her way through or lose everything she holds dear.
This is not a slim graphic novel, but more of a tome. Meconis tells a sturdy tale, a graphic novel that reads fully as a novel with well-developed characters whose motivations are cleverly concealed but are always understandable when all is revealed. Margaret has a bucolic upbringing on the island, filled with the care of the nuns, their strict rules, and helping with the animals. As she learns the truth, the book changes around the reader, the beauty of the island becoming more like the prison it is.
The pairing of an imaginative world with roots in real history makes for an incredible read. Those who know the English history will love the parallels between the stories, glimpsing that history often enough to keep it well-rooted. Margaret is a great lens to view the history through, providing context to the world around her as she learns things alongside the reader.
A stellar graphic novel for middle grades. Appropriate for ages 10-13.
This is not a slim graphic novel, but more of a tome. Meconis tells a sturdy tale, a graphic novel that reads fully as a novel with well-developed characters whose motivations are cleverly concealed but are always understandable when all is revealed. Margaret has a bucolic upbringing on the island, filled with the care of the nuns, their strict rules, and helping with the animals. As she learns the truth, the book changes around the reader, the beauty of the island becoming more like the prison it is.
The pairing of an imaginative world with roots in real history makes for an incredible read. Those who know the English history will love the parallels between the stories, glimpsing that history often enough to keep it well-rooted. Margaret is a great lens to view the history through, providing context to the world around her as she learns things alongside the reader.
A stellar graphic novel for middle grades. Appropriate for ages 10-13.
September 1, 2021
Gorgeous, detailed hybrid graphic novel that’s an alternate history version of England, focused on Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth I, as seen through the eyes of a young girl who lives at the island convent where “Eleanor of Albion” is exiled. I loved how slow this book was, and how much of Margaret’s everyday life and the environment of the convent and the natural world around it are explored.
It’s maybe lower YA or even for some upper MG readers, depending on how they feel about the pacing and the content? But both the adults in my house enjoyed it wholeheartedly, and we bought a copy after reading it from the library so we could have it on hand for re-reads.
I’ve heard there will be a sequel and I’m really looking forward to it.
It’s maybe lower YA or even for some upper MG readers, depending on how they feel about the pacing and the content? But both the adults in my house enjoyed it wholeheartedly, and we bought a copy after reading it from the library so we could have it on hand for re-reads.
I’ve heard there will be a sequel and I’m really looking forward to it.
Read
October 2, 2019The sort of fantastic extrapolation that I would have invented as a young girl - a third daughter of Henry VIII hidden away on an island -- some delightful space between history and fantasy.
August 9, 2020
There are kids who like graphic novels and then there are kids who love graphic novels. Give this tale of intrigue, secrets and betrayal to the latter.
Set in the mid 1500s on an island convent near England (called Albion), young Margaret knows only of life with the nuns of the island. How did she arrive on the island? Who are her parents? Are they still alive? The story picks up speed when Eleanor arrives on the island to stay as a guest. Margaret finds herself the sometimes companion of Eleanor who is slightly older than her (the book doesn't say but I would guess Eleanor is about 10 years older than Margaret). Why is Eleanor on the island? How are her and Margaret's stories intertwined? Finding the answers to these questions and more will keep readers turning the pages and excited for the sequel, Prince of the City. Due out Fall 2022!
Set in the mid 1500s on an island convent near England (called Albion), young Margaret knows only of life with the nuns of the island. How did she arrive on the island? Who are her parents? Are they still alive? The story picks up speed when Eleanor arrives on the island to stay as a guest. Margaret finds herself the sometimes companion of Eleanor who is slightly older than her (the book doesn't say but I would guess Eleanor is about 10 years older than Margaret). Why is Eleanor on the island? How are her and Margaret's stories intertwined? Finding the answers to these questions and more will keep readers turning the pages and excited for the sequel, Prince of the City. Due out Fall 2022!
May 10, 2019
*thank you to Netgalley and Candlewick Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
4 stars.
I really enjoyed this. I didn't think I would as I didn't like the illustrations right at the beginning but they grew on me and actually suited the story. It's a historical retelling of Queen Elisabeth and Queen Mary. I basically had no really knowledge about them so this Graphic Novel was a really good introduction. While it's not all fact, and is only loosely based on the sisters, it's still a great read.
4 stars.
I really enjoyed this. I didn't think I would as I didn't like the illustrations right at the beginning but they grew on me and actually suited the story. It's a historical retelling of Queen Elisabeth and Queen Mary. I basically had no really knowledge about them so this Graphic Novel was a really good introduction. While it's not all fact, and is only loosely based on the sisters, it's still a great read.
June 18, 2019
I very much enjoyed the well-thought out storyline and all of the characters. I was frustrated by the ending, because it was left open and there seems to be no sign of a sequel yet, although I sincerely hope there is one!
This book was definitely packed with a lot of information, and sometimes I felt just a little bit of boredom creeping in. But overall I really like the book and am eager for more of the story!
This book was definitely packed with a lot of information, and sometimes I felt just a little bit of boredom creeping in. But overall I really like the book and am eager for more of the story!
September 15, 2019
Rating 5 Stars
I absolutely adored this hefty graphic novel filled with amazing illustrations and a great tale loosely based on real historical events. I can't recommend this enough!
I absolutely adored this hefty graphic novel filled with amazing illustrations and a great tale loosely based on real historical events. I can't recommend this enough!
January 31, 2024
I loved this book! So rich with historical details and such a compelling story, alongside gorgeous art!
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