Pirate Queen: The Legend of Grace O'Malley

by Tony Lee

A captivating retelling of the story of Grace O’Malley, the Pirate Queen of Ireland. Grace is a true daughter of the fearsome O’Malley clan, and while still a child she yearns to help her father fight to keep Henry VIII’s invading English armies out of Ireland. But battlefields are not seen as places for women, and for years she must sit idly at home while her father and her husband march off to defend their homeland. When English conspirators brutally murder her husband, though, Grace will remain idle no longer. She herself leads men into battle on the high seas, where her prowess as a sailor and her ability with a sword quickly gain her a reputation as The Pirate Queen of Ireland. But this reputation will place her own life and the lives of her entire family in danger, and will lead her to confront the most powerful woman in England, Queen Elizabeth I.

Genres: Graphic Novels, History, Ireland, Nonfiction, Pirates, Biography, Middle Grade

128 pages, Paperback

First published April 4, 2019

About the author

A New York Times Best-selling Graphic Novelist, Tony Lee was born in West London, UK in 1970. Informed by a teacher that he had a comic book style of writing, (a comment meant more as an insult), Tony decided that one day he would write for comics.

Tony has written for a variety of mediums including Radio 4, The BBC, commerical television in both the UK and US, magazines and both local and national newspapers. He has also written several award winning local radio campaigns. In 1991 he wrote for a small press comics publisher, of which only one project, The Cost of Miracles in Comic Speculator News was ever printed, and remains his first printed commercial comic work.

Moving away from comics, he went back into trade journalism and media marketing/creation. His small press magazine Burnt Offerings was a minor seller on both sides of the Atlantic, and was the first esoteric magazine to interview mainstream creators like Terry Pratchett and Pat Mills.

Since returning to comics in 2002, he has written for a variety of publishers including Marvel Comics, DC Comics/Zuda, Games Workshop, Panini Comics, Titan Publishing, AAM/Markosia Enterprises, Rebellion/2000ad and IDW Publishing amongst others, writing a variety of creator owned titles and licenses that include X-Men, Spider Man, Doctor Who, Starship Troopers, Wallace & Gromit and Shrek.

He is the writer of the ongoing Doctor Who series of comics from IDW, beginning in July 2009, and his award nominated, creator-owned miniseries Hope Falls was collected by AAM/Markosia in May 2009. His next book with them, From The Pages Of Bram Stoker's 'Dracula': Harker, was released in November 2009 to critical acclaim.

Added to this, Tony adapted Pride & Prejudice & Zombies into a graphic novel for Del Rey Publishing, with art by Cliff Richards - this was a New York Times #1 Bestselling Paperback Graphic Novel for May 2010 - he is also adapting Anthony Horowitz's Power of Five series into graphic format for Walker Books, the first - Raven's Gate is due out in late 2010, and he has adapted four Horowitz Horror books with Dan Boultwood for Hachette Children's Books.

His other book with Walker Books, Outlaw: The Legend Of Robin Hood (drawn by Sam Hart) was released in 2009 and has already been awarded a Junior Library Guild: Fall 2009 Selection, and 'best for 2010' awards from both the American Library Association and the New York Public Library in the USA, among others. In March 2010 it was announced that it was also a finalist for the Children's Choice Book Awards. The next in the 'Heroes & Heroines' series, Excalibur: The Legend Of King Arthur by Tony Lee & Sam Hart is scheduled for March 2011.

Outside of comics he is writing several books for children.

Tony is represented by Julian Friedmann of the Blake Friedmann Literary, TV and Film Agency.

Tony is also an accomplished Bard and performer, and has held the High Bard chair of the East Sussex Broomstick Rally on several occasions. His lecture Creating Gods for fun and Profit and his series of lectures on Bards and Ritual Magic were received to critical acclaim, and he still lectures occasionally in London, the Midlands and Sussex. As a Covent Garden Street Performer in the 90's, he performed 'The Scarlet Blade' Street Theatre show at the Edinburgh Festival and at locations across the UK, convincing members of the public to act out an insane pantomime for his amusement.

Added to this Tony is an accomplished storyteller and lecturer on writing, and has performed at libraries, events and schools around the world including the 2009 Edinburgh International Book Festival, a 2009 tour of India for the British Council, and in 2003 around the Wadi Rum bedouin campfire in Jordan.

Tony currently lives in London with his fiancée, Tracy.

from: http://www.tonylee.co.uk

Reviews

[Erica · Rating 2 out of 5]

You'd think a story about a pirate queen would have a lot of oomph!
This one does not.
Grace O'Malley is just kind of there, inhabiting her world between these pages. She doesn't want to conform to gender role, which is cool, but she's only motivated by doing what needs to be done, there's not much more to her here and that's not really what I'd hoped to read about.

I also didn't care for the art.

I'd love to see what Maura McHugh would do with something like this.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of Grace O'Malley, the Pirate Queen of Ireland. O'Malley continued to rally the Irish against English invasion throughout her life, surviving many assassination plots and backstabbing from her own people. It was quite an interesting story, but could be jumpy at times.

Received a review copy from Candlewick Press and Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.

[Dev · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book from Edelweiss

Definitely an interesting read. While I already knew a bit about Grace O'Malley this is definitely more of an in-depth look at her life than I have read before. I did find the writing style to be a bit clunky and some of the pacing seemed a bit awkward as well but this might not be as much of an issue for young readers. Overall a pretty enjoyable and informative read.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book for free in a Library Thing giveaway in exchange for an honest review

I've been reading comics every month since I discovered them in December. They're quick, vary in tone, and add to my Goodreads goal. I'm a big fan of Europe and I love to read books set in that continent. Pirate Queen was my first historical comic and I learned about the legend of Grace O'Malley. The artwork was beautiful and I loved how it showed the main character at different ages. I liked the girl power and strong feminism she exuded in her life. My only complaint was that it was hard to follow at times and I got the names mixed up. I congratulate the author for all their research and the hard work that went into creating this cool comic. Thanks for this opportunity and teaching me about a rad lady in history.

[By Book and Bone (Sally) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was quite disappointed with this.
The disclaimer at the start mentions that most of it is from the author's imagination. Then why is it so unimaginative?
The dialogue is awful, which is pretty bad considering it's a graphic novel so its pretty much all dialogue. It's awkward and stilted. Lines that are meant to be badass end up being 5 words too long. I imagined Grace trailing off at the end.

The second star is for the good start to the story. It's pretty much all downhill after that.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 This was a longer graphic novel about the life of Grace O'Malley. I'm sure the sources that survive are a bit sketchy on the details so that is why each story varies a slight bit. The pictures and the story in this one were good. I didn't connect with it as much as the last one I read but I think that has to do with me. I felt a bit of a slump but am making myself read some of the books I have out from the library. This one could have waited a bit but I figured I would finish it and get it turned in. Tried to knock it out in a weekend but it spilled over a bit.
Well worth a read if you want to learn a bit more about Grace (but remember what I said about the sources). She is a very interesting woman and an impressive figure in the history of Ireland.

[Eliza Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't really like comic books.

[alexofmacedonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd never heard of the Pirate Queen before, and I've enjoyed the other graphic novels by Tony Lee, so I was curious to see what this was about. I was a little confused with the rapid time jumps as they weren't always labeled, but the story itself made up for that by being exciting and well drawn. overall this was a great read.

[John Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This very well done graphic nonfiction title is at times grim, but that's necessary to adhere to the facts surrounding the life and rebellious career of Irishwoman Grace O'Malley. Readers will come away with several impressions and awarenesses. That the English treated the Irish terribly and with no respect, that the Irish reacted in kind, mostly out of desperation, that Grace broke the mold that women of her time were cast into and that she was a very strong and determined woman. I would encourage readers to try and find another woman in history who was as tough and tenacious. It's even more amazing to realize how many times she was married, how many children she bore and the number of personal losses she experienced without giving up. This is a dandy way to introduce teens (and adults) to history and despite the violent content, I would suggest it as a worthy entry in any library collection.

[Maggie Librarian · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this book is inspired by real events and real people, it choose to take quite a few liberties with history, and didn't even have great storytelling as a pay off for its revisions. The number one flaw with this story was it's desire to cover far too much time, in far too few pages. They wanted to take us from Grace's childhood to her elder years, which never gave us the chance to connect with any characters or story lines. Her husband was killed by the British? I guess that's a bummer, but I only had about 8 panels to get to know him. Her new lover, was also killed by the British? Well I literally just met him, so... I intellectually understand that's bad. Her one son sold out her other son which led the second son's murder, and now she's forgiving her first son, who I've never seen before? Sure, why not. Further this book ran wild with the truth --Queen Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scots are sisters?-- but since Grace O'Malley is not a historical figure I'm familiar with I had no ability to pull fact from fiction. And I don't think young readers would be able to either.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fierce and independent woman who would do anything to defend her homeland. Grace O'Malley was a pirate from Connacht, who died in 1603. She rallied the Irish to fight the English and lost her father, son, lover, and husbands. Despite meeting Queen Elizabeth I and reaching a peace settlement, the battles continued.

[Cindy Vallar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strife is a byword during the time in which Grace O’Malley grows up. As a young girl, England ravages her homeland: ransacking churches, oppressing the people, and taking land from the Irish to give to Englishmen. But the O’Malleys are a proud clan and they are determined to fight for Ireland, which gains them enemies among the English.

Often away on sailing voyages, Grace’s father arranges for her to foster with a neighboring clan, the O’Flahertys. The idea doesn’t sit well with Grace, who would much rather follow in her father’s footsteps than do what is expected of girls. And she’s not about to live with Donal O’Flaherty, a young lad who always mocks her because she is a girl. Unbeknownst to her father, Grace stows away on his ship. Donal intercepts her, but rather than stop her, he gives her a gift in hopes that it will keep her safe. Another who turns a blind eye to her disobedience is Finn, her dad’s most trusted man.

One journey takes them to Scotland where an earl requests their assistance in getting five-year-old Mary Queen of Scots to safety. The English try to stop them – an encounter that brings Grace face-to-face with her future nemesis, a man named Bingham. He slays Finn, but Grace, her father, and the queen escape his clutches. Bingham’s wrath knows no bounds. As Grace matures and gains the moniker “Pirate Queen of Ireland,” he employs other Irishmen to assassinate her father and betray her. Bingham even tries to murder Grace with the help of someone within her own castle, but the murderer’s arrow strikes a man she rescued from a shipwreck. Grace is determined to unearth the traitor and exact revenge. Bingham is equally intent of stopping her no matter what it takes or who he must kill.

This graphic novel blends legend and fact to recount Grace’s life from her early years to her final days. It begins in 1546 and ends in 1603, the same year in which another famous queen dies. The story deftly portrays the “battle” between Grace and Bingham – a struggle that ultimately forces Grace to risk her own life to meet with Elizabeth I on that queen’s home turf. Also portrayed is the birth of Grace’s son while she is at sea and how she rallies her men during an attack. Here the pirates are English and in league with Bingham, but most historical accounts identify them as Barbary corsairs. The only time in the novel where the author asks readers to suspend belief is in her ability to control the weather.

Both author and illustrator do commendable jobs showing readers that Grace is a woman who looks at the big picture and knows her enemies well. Never once do they portray her as superhuman. Yes, she is successful, but her actions always have consequences, and sometimes those consequences endanger her loved ones. The artwork captures the action and the subdued colors fit the mood of the story. For readers who enjoy graphic novels or who want a quick recap of Grace’s life, Pirate Queen is a good introduction to this woman who dared to defy those who wished to stamp out a culture and whose story is remembered because the bards followed her example to keep her memory alive in spite of her enemies.

[mad mags · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Portrait of an Ambivalent Freedom Fighter

(Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this book for review through Library Thing's Early Reviewers program.)

Born to a fierce chieftan in western Ireland named Eoghan "Black Oak" O'Malley, Grace O'Malley went on to become a legend and folk hero in her own right. The Pirate Queen, as she would later be called, grew up in the 1530s and 40s, at a time when England, under King Henry VIII (and later Queen Elizabeth I), began its Tudor conquest of Ireland. She eschewed traditional women's pursuits - marriage, motherhood, needlework - in favor of swordplay and sailing. Nevertheless, at sixteen she married Donal O'Flaherty and bore him three children, thus uniting the families politically.

It was only after Donal's murder at the hands of a rival family - an ambush masterminded by the British - that Grace took up arms. Her success, especially at sea, chipped away at Britain's power. In retribution - and also several failed attempts to assassinate Grace - British forces murdered a number of people close to her: her father; a shipwrecked sailor she took as a lover; her second husband, "Iron Richard" Burke; and her oldest son, Owen. Rather than cow Grace, this only fueled her quest for revenge. Despite years of battle, piracy, espionage, and hostage-taking, Grace likely lived to the ripe old age of 73, dying of natural causes (the exact year and location of her death is a matter of dispute).

Pirate Queen: The Legend of Grace O'Malley is a portrait of a reluctant freedom fighter: a mother who's desperate to protect her children; a wife and daughter who wants revenge against her family's tormentors; an Irish noblewoman who wishes nothing but peace for her country. I find it rather curious that the book's synopsis describes Grace thusly - "Grace spent her life wishing to join the fight to keep Henry VIII's armies from invading her homeland of Ireland -- only to be told again and again that the battlefield is no place for a woman." - when, in fact, she spends much of the narrative trying to avoid fighting. Certainly, Grace doesn't want to be conscripted into women's work, but neither does she revel in the bloodshed that seems to follow her on both land and sea. Or at least Tony Lee's Grace doesn't want this: my knowledge on the topic isn't broad enough to have an opinion either way.

After reading Pirate Queen, I feel slightly more informed than I was going in, but overall the details are a little more bare-bones than I was hoping for. In particular, I would have like a deeper dive on Grace's motivations; the story seems to say one thing, while the synopsis says another. The art is serviceable, though not really my style.

http://www.easyvegan.info/2019/06/11/...

[Bradley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up because I thought it was going to be crazy fantasy about a chick popping caps with a flintlock pistol in one hand and cutting throats with the other. The cover kind of gives that vibe. It sorta` screams action and adventure. The pages don’t. Now it feels like melted ice cream on a stick. Cool wrapper with the ice cream sticking to it, messy and not fun or yummy at all.

Take what I’m saying with some milk. I did a skim through and tried to see if it could look good out of context. Noperz! Aw, crap. I’ll be honest. I did not finish the comic, as in I didn’t read all the speech boxes and what not, I did look at all the pages, though! Something’s gotta` count. That means this review is completely unfair and likely unwarranted.

Pirate Queen turns outs to be more like a romanticized, historical fiction that includes Grace O’Malley. Quite frankly I might have learned more about her here. And that’s about all that needs to be said. Comics like this can work. I was totally expecting cannonballs, pistol shots, swashbuckling, more pirate talk – something like “avast ye swabs, repel the invaders!” or “You landlubbers are tougher than I thought. I’ll have to improvise!” – than what occurred, masts exploding and mist on the water.

Funny that. When I read action comics I long for better stories and attempts at characterization. With no action I pine over how senseless it is to use the graphic medium instead of novels. *sigh* Someone find a balance or just hit one of those out of the park! Please.

[American Mensa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pirate Queen tells the legend of Grace O’Malley from age 16 until she passes away at age 73. She is a fierce fighter and amazing sailor who falls in love a number of times and has several children along the way. She battles the English and the Spaniards, usually because they kill some she loves or because they try to take Irish land. Everyone doubts her strength, but I think she is more powerful than an army of men.

My favorite parts of the book were inspiring quotes from confident women. At Donal O’Flaherty and Grace O’Malley’s wedding, Donal says, “You’re not gonna stab me with your dagger, now are you?” Grace replies, “Donal, if you don’t treat me right, I’ll use the sword you gave me!” During another scene, Grace is taking vengeance on the people who killed an important character. One of the enemy soldiers’ yells, “Oh my god, what happened?” as he looks at the burning building. Another soldier replies, “I think she did it,” (referring to Grace O’Malley). Grace O’Malley is my favorite character because she breaks the 1500’s stereotype as a strong, empowered woman.
I give this book five stars because it was an entertaining story about strong women and vintage girl power. I recommend this book for ages 8+ because there’s lots of fighting, but I also recommend it for any girl who love to be inspired by stories about powerful women.
Reviewed by Bianca M., Age 10, Denver Mensa

[S. Daisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a graphic novel with an historical setting and cast of characters. It tells the story (some fact, some fiction) of Grainne Ni Mhaille, a.k.a. Grace O'Malley, daughter of a legendary Irish chieftain, shortly after Ireland came under English Tudor rule. Spanning from the reign of King Henry VIII to that of Queen Elizabeth, this novel is a good way to introduce mature older children and young adults (or anybody who likes graphic novels, actually) to an era of history perhaps little known to them.

There was a lot of research put into the making of this book. However, perhaps to make it more fast-paced, a lot of history was twisted and condensed to make it a "better story". I personally would have liked it more if it stuck to the facts, rather than obviously glamorizing a pirate, who pillaged and killed. The book seems to have a stark feminist agenda, and twists the facts somewhat to further this agenda. I also did not like the use of magic in this book. It wasn't at all needed, and only distracted from the story without adding to it.

The colorful illustrations are very good, and get the point of each pane across nicely.

Overall, I would give the book four stars, and add that it should only be read for entertainment and not for the history it contains.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

PIRATE QUEEN brings us the legend of Grace O'Malley. There aren't many books about her available, so this is a refreshing and needed book. It's in graphic novel format and opens up with Grace as a young girl wanting to fight instead of being stuck with the mundane activities of a lady at that time. She didn't want to wear a dress and wanted to wield a sword instead of learnin things like sewing.

With the English trying to overtake Ireland, Grace wants to help defend her homeland any way she can. As she grows, she learns that there are different ways to help strengthen a country. She discovers the passive one that involves marrying someone to strengthen alliances. Then, there's the aggressive one that lands her the title of "Pirate Queen" and the name alone instills fear on the seas. She can best any man in battle and always seems to be underestimated until it's too late.

Before reading this, I didn't know much about Grace to be honest. For example, I didn't realize how many times she'd been married or how much pain she went through. No matter how many times England took a shot at her or how many loved ones they stole, it only made her stronger. Her grief and pain morphed into a weapon of wrath for her to unleash on the English in return. This novel is all about a powerful heroine that any girl can look up to. Her strength and wit are admirable.


Final Verdict: I would recommend this to fans of history, powerful females, pirates, war, and those who want to know more about the legend that is Grace O'Malley.

This review can also be found on YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfic...

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 4 out of 5]

Precious little information is available about Mary O’Malley, the legendary Pirate Queen of Ireland.
This is the fourth title in Tony Lee’s Heroes and Heroines series, and it is a doozy.

Born into the O’Malley clan, Mary becomes a skillful sailor and warrior when family and friends are viciously murdered by the English as she overcomes harsh sexist stereotyping. Her reputation precedes her as she skillfully negotiates or battles to attain her goals – to avenge murders in her family and to keep Ireland free from British control. Her meeting with her adversary Queen Elizabeth I is legendary. Filled with action, it is a quick read. Sam Hart’s color-filled graphic art is richly saturated and exciting to view. There are battles aplenty, but not gallons of blood shown. It would be much stronger if source documentation or bibliographic information for further reading was included. Regardless, this is a strong retelling of the legend of the woman. Be sure to pull this one out on International Talk Like a Pirate Day, September 19th.

Recommended for grades 5-up.

[Blue · Rating 4 out of 5]

A colorful telling of the story of a famous part of the Irish resistance against the English crown for middle graders. Pirate Queen interprets the story of Grace O'Malley based an a few known facts about her life. Grace was certainly an impressive lady pirate who did it all: she had lovers, husbands, children, and she fought and fought and fought the English, and she even met the queen (of England). It's a short book, so even if Grace does some amazing things, like give birth in the middle of a battle, the story moves on quickly to the next thing. But this may be best in keeping younger readers' attention. The authors strike a good balance between legend and fact. Recommended for those who want an introduction to the Irish resistance during Tudor England, and those who like shipwrecks and stowaways.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story transcends the format - whether it's a screen play, novel or comic book.
You don't need to be a fan of graphic novels to get wrapped up in the accessible tale of Grace O'Malley. Known as the Pirate Queen, O'Malley fought to protect her homeland of Ireland from war and land-grabs by the English. She experienced tragic loss but continued to battle for what she believed was right and inspired others to do the same. With villains you'll love-to-hate, this one is recommended for anyone who loves adventure!

[Virginia DeBusk · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a young adult graphic novel based on the life of Grace O’Malley, The Pirate Queen. My rating is biased as I don’t particularly care for graphic novels but I did give this one a fair try and it fell short for me. It was a relatively easy read but had many holes in the plot. It just seemed a bit rushed and could have used a little more development. (But is that the English teacher talking?)It does tell the story (rather crudely) of the life of the Pirate Queen of Ireland. It is relatively historically accurate. Mild language. This one just didn’t do it for me.

[Kate Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is more a 3.5. This is a hugely important story to tell. Again, I find myself reading a book and thinking dang, I wish I had this in middle school or even high school! I would have LOVED reading about a woman pirate at 13...even more than I did at 25! However, this book wasn't perfect. It definitely could have had a stronger message of why Grace fought beyond simply her dead husbands. Still, it's a cool story and the history geek in me loved the story itself, if not the writing.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A graphic novel biography of the Irish leader and folk hero, Grace O'Malley. Set in Ireland and England during the 1500's, the point of view of this historical graphic novel is quite definitely Irish. The English are portrayed as a cruel occupying force. The deceitful Lord Brigham comes across as particularly brutish. Grace is a fascinating character--a brave and resourceful woman of her time and place. I definitely want to learn more about her.

[Shalee Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

All hail Grace O'Malley, Pirate Queen of Ireland! I picked this up after spying it on the shelves at work, intrigued because I recently finished Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks. The MC of Morbidly Yours is an animator working on a short film about Grace. It was fate! Overall, I really enjoyed reading Pirate Queen. Mostly I wish it had been a smidge longer; the ending felt rushed.

[Caliclia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated tale of Grace O'Malley and her fight to free Ireland from English rule. A wonderful way to learn a little bit of a woman of genuine heroism. Loved every second of it. It is technically a Children's book but I think ages 8 and up would enjoy this book greatly, as I did at 35.

[Cerys Harrison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m not an authority on graphic novels but I found this one to be a disappointment. The story of Grace O’Malley has great potential but in this book characters are superficial and many are so generically drawn it’s difficult to keep track of who’s who. The ending is rushed and unsatisfying.

[Jacki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Grace O'Malley's story, but this treatment had campy dialogue and chunky faces. Also, the curves of Grace's cheekbones often looked like glasses, which distracted me. It was fine, but I think I'll stick with the song.

[Elizabeth P · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this graphic novel and found it fascinating. One note, though: it has quite a lot of killing and blood in it so I would probably recommend it for middle schoolers but not elementary schoolers.

[Cass (all too tired) · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting and informative graphic novel about the life of Grace O’Malley. The writing style was weirdly written in parts and the art wasn’t for me. Other than that, it’s a fun story about a woman defending her homeland, defying gender norms, and of course, pirates.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent graphics, interesting story (semi-historical) about a woman protecting her people and country from invaders over the years. As well as the lies some told to keep their power - at the cost of so many other's lives.