Bloody Mary: Das Leben der Mary Tudor

by Kristina Gehrmann

Mary Tudor, war Tochter von Heinrich VIII. und Katharina von Aragon. Bei ihrem Amtsantritt war das Land in desolatem Zustand und Mary war sich sicher, das der Grund die Abkehr vom wahren Glauben, nämlich dem Katholischen, sei. Entsprechend energisch setzte sie sich für die Rekatholisierung ein, aber schnell wurde aus der Lichtgestalt Mary "die Blutige"

Kristina Gehrman schildert das Leben Mary I. von deren Kindheit an, den Druck und die Einschränkungen, mit denen sie aufwuchs. Und auch die furchtlose Frau, die mit allen Mitteln für das kämpfte, was sie als Gerechtigkeit empfand. Dank akribischer Recherche und mit feinem Strich vermittelt Gehrmann einen Blick auf den Menschen Mary Tudor.

Genres: Graphic Novels, History, Biography, Nonfiction, Comics, Historical, Biography Memoir

336 pages, Hardcover

First published March 2, 2021

Reviews

[*TUDOR^QUEEN* · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a comic book-like biography of the only living child of King Henry VIII and his first wife Katharine of Aragon, Princess Mary...also known as "Bloody Mary"- for ordering the burnings of heretics during her reign. The book is just over 300 pages with authentic looking color illustrations that sport bubbles of dialogue in comic book style. I recognized The Tower of London, The Great Hall in Hampton Court Palace, and Westminster Abbey- for a few notable British Royal locales. The book ends upon Queen Mary's death and with her younger step-sister Princess Elizabeth ascending the throne. As a passionate reader of Tudor history, it was a pleasure to digest it in a totally different way. For such a time in British royal history that was so turbulent and consequential, it somehow made it more palatable and lighthearted to digest with its splashes of watercolor and concise narration. The author included an end piece where she described how she created these comic strips with certain tablets, programs, printers and inks, and with supporting photos of these stages of development.

Thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing / Simon & Schuster who provided an advance reader copy via Edelweiss and NetGalley.

[S. ≽^•⩊•^≼ I'm not here yet · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Tudor period in England is undoubtedly one of the most popular settings for historical stories. I think our fascination with this time reflects a more personal viewpoint than just historical events. This time, we travel from 1518 to 1558 with vivid pictures of its time. While the name of the story is Bloody Mary, it focuses more on the broader context of that time and less about her alone.

Overall, that was a good graphic history, and I would like to thank Andrews McMeel Publishing via NetGalley for the DRC. I have given my honest review.

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not an avid reader of English history, but I do love the musical Six and was delighted that this dramatization dispelled some of my ignorance about the real events that inspired that wonderful show.

Mary Tudor is the oldest living child of Henry VIII and finds herself buffeted by all the divorce and succession drama that he creates with his many marriages, divorces, and beheadings. A devout Catholic, she is also hurt by her father's fallout with Rome and his pressure on her to renounce her religion.

Mary is somewhat sympathetic, if mostly ineffectual for much of the book, so it is sad that when she finally has a chance to take control of her life, she lashes out at other devout people as she persecutes and executes Protestants who stand in the way of her reestablishing the Catholic church in England.

History can be such a bummer. Bring on the singing ladies, please.


Disclosure: I received access to a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.com.

[Val - My Little Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful way to learn more about Tudor History.
Bloody Mary is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel that explores Mary Tudor’s life, from her childhood as Henry VIII’s daughter to her death and the rise of Elizabeth I. Often reduced to her nickname, Bloody Mary, this book offers a more nuanced and human portrait of a misunderstood queen.

The watercolor artwork and comic-style narration make complex historical events, such as England's religious and political turmoil, easy to follow and engaging. Real quotes, thoughtful storytelling, and detailed settings add authenticity.

This book is overall very accessible, well-researched, and visually stunning, a must-read for Tudor fans and a great entry point for newcomers such as myself.

Thank you to Kristina Gehrmann, Andrews McMeel Publishing, and Netgalley for the ARC.

[Matthew Elliot · Rating 3 out of 5]

This ended so out of nowhere—but I suppose that happens when your main character dies.

[Maria Almaguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know the story but this is an excellent graphic primer for those unfamiliar with the battle between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism in fifteenth century Tudor England. Focusing on Mary, King Henry VIII’s eldest daughter by his first wife, Katharine of Aragon, Mary was declared a bastard when her father annulled his marriage to marry Anne Boleyn, pushing Mary out of line for the succession. Filled with tension and foreboding in a truly medieval and primitive time, this graphic memoir just tells an amazing true story. I love non-fiction!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent graphic novel depiction of the life of Mary Tudor. She really does have a fascinating story and this book brought it to life.
I was provided an advanced copy of this book which has not affected my review.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure if I would like this one or not--I was imagining a dry and fusty lesson for teenagers who didn't want to read their history textbooks--but I was actually surprised at how much this engaged me. One person wielding ultimate power is a very bad thing, and some of the historical figures on these pages--such as the arrogant and tyrannical Henry VIII--are likely to bring to mind certain modern day politicians.

[Charity · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up on a whim and it was a fun read. I'm not a comic book fan, but I enjoyed the beautiful artwork (and the little section in the back about how she created it and her process) and it would make a great "learn history the fun way" introduction to Mary Tudor for a teenager, for sure!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit that I had a little knowledge of Mary I of England, oldest child of Henry VIII. (Up until recently the line of succession was always the oldest male. When those were used up, then it would fall on the left over women. ) I did know she came just before Queen Elizabeth I, her younger sister, and Lady Jane Grey came before her, for nine days, after Edward VI, her younger brother died.

Complicated? Oh, more than that, having now read this graphic novel. For a while, because Henry VIII was just a little crazy about marrying as many women as he could, and bedding quite a few that he couldn’t, Mary as well as Elizabeth were called bastards, and taken out of the line of succession. Mary went from having her own palace, to having to take care of Elizabeth, to having to also take care of Edward. In and out of favor. I think that would have driven me crazy as well.

The thing that this graphic novel also makes quite clear, is that Mary didn’t like the Church of England, that her father established, feeling that the one true religion was Cathodosim, and so when she became queen, she made sure to burn people who didn’t believe as she did. Thus the nick name of Bloody Mary.

There is a lot of background about alliances, and ambassadors, and court goings on, but they are all important in understanding what happened, if not exactly, because we weren’t there, but a good representation of it all. All in all, if you wanted to know about Mary I, you could get a good education about her in this book.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book will be published on the 15th of June 2025.

[Beatrice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic novel focuses on the life of Mary I of England, with an in-depth description of his family's story.
The book is perfect for those who are interested in this part of the English history and can read about it in a more interesting and stimulating way.
The author covered Mary's story from the reign of her father till her death. and I think they did a great job at selecting what to write and draw. Also. the drawings were really well done and their style fits perfectly with the historical period represented.
Being honest it was a bit confusing when it came to remembering who were some secondary characters, I wanted more footnotes about them, but overall it has been a great and interesting read.
Thank you Kristina Gehrmann, Andrews McMeel Publishing and Netgalley for the arc.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art is beautiful in this graphic novel. This is a great introduction to Tudor England. The history doesn’t feel overwhelming while still providing a lot of background and historical facts. Highly recommend for anyone who wants a quick introduction to Queen Mary.

Thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had so many things click with this graphic novel. I loved the perspective always being from Mary's. Fabulous all around. Artwork was engaging and consistent. Highly recommend. I've always read about Henry VIII and his marriages. I knew he was obsessed with an heir but didn't know how many "children" he actually had.

I'm very excited if there will be one done on Elizabeth next as her life and rule was just as fascinating as Bloody Mary's.

[Larisa (Grantica_bere) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Tudor lived an intense and tragic life as the daughter of King Henry VIII, who broke with the Catholic Church and made her mother’s life a living hell in his quest to marry other women while his first wife was still alive. A devoted Catholic, Mary fought fiercely to defend her faith, but her reign was short and she never secured an heir for the British crown.

If you want to get a real feel for her story, definitely check out Bloody Mary: Das Leben der Mary Tudor by Kristina Gehrmann. It’s beautifully drawn and really well told.

[Libbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5✨

Bloody Mary is a brief dramatised history of Queen Mary I, the first queen of England.

The artwork in this graphic novel is stunning. Whilst the facial features are somewhat simplistic they convey a range of emotions very well. the mixture of line work and watercolour make this an eye catching read.

The Tudor period in general is a historical period of great interest to me and to many others. Often in history Queen Mary is villainized and most takes lack the nuance to understand her actions, why she did what she did. Yes, she committed some atrocities, I'm not excusing that, but even in such a brief history of her life, Gehrmann explores the why and gives her some semblance of justice.

The only thing keeping this from a 5star is I would have liked a bit more about the time period in general linked in to her story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[bookishmarcos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for this comic arc.

This graphic novel about Mary Tudor is quite stunning, with beautiful watercolor art that shows off the fancy royal life and the loneliness that came with it. It uses real quotes from history, which helps make the story feel more real.

But the way the story is told doesn’t always work. It goes through Mary’s life in order, but it feels more like a list of events than a real story. Mary’s thoughts and feelings don’t always feel natural, and sometimes the writing is a bit too dramatic. Some parts are slow, while others feel rushed.

Overall, it’s a pretty book with an interesting idea, but the storytelling isn’t strong enough to keep it engaging all the way through.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh wow, those Tudors were messy! 😳

Knowing very little about the history of this period, other than a few tidbits here and there, and of course, the infamous rhyme of Henry VIII and his wives, I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this one. But I was pleased to find that this graphic novel was easily approachable, seemingly carefully considered and found it to be an engaging look into the life or Mary Tudor, aka Queen Mary I of England.

I found that the religious and political factors were made very easy to understand, thanks to the beautiful watercolour artwork and storytelling, making it super accessible and engaging. It was also great to learn about this historical figure from a more personal view point, not just via a barrage of facts and information. I had never really heard much of Mary’s life before, only of her simplified and almost caricatured reputation. But thanks to the dialogue, alongside real quotes and letters of the period, it really opened up a new understanding of the complexities of her story.

I thought it was a great insight also into the everyday lives of not just Mary, but everyone: the servants, the families involved, the church, the politicians, the subjects and so on. It made the story feel very alive and grounded in the time period, and it felt like everything was well researched, and drawn and written with great consideration. I also really appreciated the notes throughout explaining who everyone was and their connections to the story. The brief “what became of…” section was also a great addition.

If I had any negatives to add, it would probably be that there were some topics/events mentioned that I felt might require a bit more information or further reading, but as I mentioned, I was pretty much new to this topic! And I can understand the limitations of that in this form of storytelling. So I’d say overall it was a clear, engaging and well structured story, and with beautiful illustrations that brought Mary’s history to life. I’d highly recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the early access in exchange for an honest review.

[MKF]

The most important part of this book is the art and its not great but its not that bad either. Some of the characters look okay but others stood out because they looked a bit weird.
My biggest issue is that the story jumps from moment to moment and it affects the art and story. You'll be reading something and then a page or two later you'll read and see something different. An example is Anne Boleyn's arrival in London and walking to the tower of London. Turn the page and Anne is being carried through town and she's already married and pregnant. Occasionally the author decides to randomly throw in a date but there's no timeline. Unless your a fan of Tudor history you have to guess or look up dates of these events. I do understand that including dates could be difficult when condensing a person's life down but it would be helpful.
Another issue is that some of the wording is at the very edge of page. Most of the time it's still readable but other times part of the words are cut off.
I think it's an okay book and probably easier to read compared to other biographies on Mary's life. Even though the author leaves out information and doesn't really use dates you will still learn a lot about Mary, the English monarchy and Tudor England.

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve always loved the Tudor era, and this book was such a fun and accessible way to explore Mary I’s life. It’s a great intro if you're curious about her story, but don’t want to dive into something super dense.

The art really stood out to me—vibrant and expressive, capturing Mary from her childhood to her death. It made history feel alive and added so much to the storytelling.

What I appreciated most was how Mary was portrayed in a more nuanced light. She’s often vilified in history, but I thought Gehrmann did a great job showing how her faith influenced her decisions, without turning her into a caricature.

That said, the book does focus a lot on her early years. I would’ve loved to see more time spent on her fight for the crown—it’s covered, but felt a little glossed over. I’m not sure if that’s because the story is told from Mary’s perspective, but I definitely wanted more of that part.

Still, I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who loves history, especially fellow Tudor fans!

Thank you to Kristina Gehrmann, Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for review. This book will be released on July 15th, 2025.

[Siri Olsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bloody Mary: A Graphic Biography of Mary Tudor utilises a comic book-style format to tell the story of Mary Tudor, from her youngest years as Princess of England through the hardships associated with her parents' divorce and her father's subsequent marriages to her ascension to the throne and, eventually, her death. The book's angle is sympathetic to Mary, but it does not shy away from depicting the atrocities she committed during her time on the throne. The graphic style employed is quite nice, and it's easy to tell people apart, but having the majority of the plot conveyed through speech bubbles (and, to a lesser extent, thought bubbles) does limit the amount of nuance and information which can be communicated to the reader. As such, while I think the book is a really great idea and an interesting shorter read, it did not offer that much in terms of historical understanding or depth to someone like myself who is already very familiar with the Tudor history and with Mary Tudor in particular.

[Suki J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up.

A graphic novel focusing on the life of Mary Tudor up until her death. I am endlessly fascinated by the Tudors so this was a must-read for me.
I felt like it approached the subject matter in a very accessible way, although sometimes it felt a little simplistic.
It was fascinating seeing the events that I've seen portrayed in so many TV adaptations, books and films, through Mary's eyes, as I feel she is often overlooked in such representations.
It also made me go away and look into historical happenings further as my interest was piqued.
Additionally I enjoyed the watercolour look of the illustrations.

[jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

⚔️ Thank you to NetGalley for the arc! 👑

Oh what a fascinating read!! First of all, I love the art style and coloring. They managed to make King Henry’s face look perfectly punchable 🤭

Most of my knowledge of King Henry and his wives admittedly comes from my obsession with Six, so a bit oversimplified tbf. So I went into this not knowing much about Mary’s life beyond… well, the more famous Bloody Mary aspect of it!

“She really is a Princess of England!”
“It’s a pity she wasn’t born a male!”

Overall I’m here for any book that makes learning about old royalty fun and this book definitely accomplished that! It makes me want graphic novels on more major historic events and people so I can learn and look at beautiful art at the same time!

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this ARC via Netgalley.

This ambitious graphic novel covers the life of Mary Tudor, eldest child of Henry VIII, from her childhood until her death. This is quite a lot, including the drama of all of Henry VIII's six wives, the religious conflicts and uprisings in England at this time, the court intrigue, and Mary's marriage to Philip of Spain. As such, the reason why Mary was called "Bloody Mary" didn't get as much weight as it could have. The reader is made to sympathize with Mary, when in the end, during her brief time in power, she executed so many. I found this an interesting slice of history where most historical accounts focus on Henry VIII or Elizabeth I (Mary's younger half-sister).

[Juniper Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual raing 3.5 stars, but I rounded up :)

I enjoyed this book, I had never known much about Mary I aside from her staunch Catholic faith, and all the people who were burned at the stake under her reign. Queen Mary, nicknamed Bloody Mary, was always painted as a villian in all the books I have read.

This book was different, in that it was from Mary's point of view. We got to see her rebellion against her father King Henry VII, who reminded me a lot of King President Trump. We heard of her point of view watching him re-write the rules so he could marry whoever he wanted. I never thought I would empathize with her plight, but I did and I enjoyed learning a different perspective.

[Bunny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review

I became a Tudor girly almost out of nowhere. I decided to pick up The Other Boleyn Girl and suddenly I needed to read and watch everything regarding this period in time. That obsession has loosened its grip over the years, but I still tend to pay attention to things about that era, almost like I need to make sure I can still spout off useless knowledge at random intervals.

This is a REALLY fun way to take in Tudor history. Especially for someone who, like me, stumbled upon the era and decided they needed to absorb every bit of knowledge. I appreciate that the art style is...like this for a reason, but I will admit, some of it was....too interesting to the point of distraction.

Even so, I admire the work and research that went into making this graphic novel. I hope it inspires incoming generations to learn more about this absolute soap opera of a time period.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!!!

As a big historical (specifically English royalty) girly I really enjoyed this graphic autobiography. It was a quick read and used many quotes from letters between our characters. Though the watercolor style is not my favorite for illustrations I did adjust to it quickly and recognize the beauty and hard work that went into it. I would not rank this as a middle grade graphic but YA or adult for a very few set of triggering scenes. Triggers ahead:


(beheadings, blood, miscarriage, and burning at the stake)

[Schmetterlingskuss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Die Geschichte rund um die Rosenkriege und die Tudors finde ich sehr spannend und um einen ersten Überblick zu bekommen, mag diese/r Comic/Graphic Novel nicht verkehrt sein. In meinen Augen werden aber einige „unwichtigere“ Dinge zu sehr ausgeschmückt und andere wichtigere in 2-3 Bildern abgehandelt, aber möglicherweise ist das nur meine persönliche Ansicht. Schade ist, dass gar nicht herausgestellt wurde, wieso die titelgebende „Bloody Mary“ ebenso genannt wurde.

[Booksopi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me an early copy of Bloody Mary.

It is a graphic novel retracing the life of Mary Tudor also known as Bloody Mary.
The genre of the graphic novel to address the story of figures in history is an amazing way to approach history in a more fun way. I loved it!

I studied this period in history, but it was nice to refresh my mind on the context of England in the 16th century and its relationship to religion.

[Tori DeFazio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bloody Mary: A Graphic Biography of Mary Tudor is a watercolor based graphic novel that details the life of Mary Tudor. While the art style is not my favorite, it is beautiful and fits the subject matter well! This graphic novel does a great job explaining Mary’s life in an interesting and unique way. We follow Mary from her turbulent childhood to her rise to power as a violent queen.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read Bloody Mary: A Graphic Biography of Mary Tudor

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun, quick read about Bloody Mary. A graphic novel, talks and shows images of her life and how she came to be with the infamous nickname. I’m not big into graphic novels but enjoyed reading this one due to the historical context of what was inside. Great learning experience for children who learns from pictures more than just words.

⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews Publishing for giving me an ARC and allowing me to share my honest feedback⭐️