Queen of the Sea

by Dylan Meconis

Paper Book, 2019

Status

Available

Call number

741.5

Genres

Graphic Novels and Comics

Graphic Novels

Comics

Collections

Read, High rated read

Publication

Somerville, Massachusetts : Walker Books U.S., a division of Candlewick Press, 2019.

Description

"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."--Provided by publisher.

User reviews

LibraryThing member villemezbrown

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.

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LibraryThing member electrascaife

A sort of alternate history/historical fiction graphic novel loosely based on the experiences of the young Elizabeth I. I enjoyed it just fine, but it didn't knock me off my feet like I was expecting. I think, honestly, it would have worked better as a plain old novel, where details could be

fleshed out more (and I don't really feel like the illustrations playing a strong enough role in the story anyway). *shrug*

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LibraryThing member ladycato

I received an advance copy of this book via NetGalley.

Queen of the Sea is a graphic novel that is loosely based on the life of Queen Elizabeth I, but set in a setting all its own. Margaret has never known life outside of the isolated island where she lives with a numerous nuns. A ship brings

supplies twice a year, and otherwise the only new arrivals are swept in by the sea. The religion-regimented pattern of her life is shaken up by the arrival of another boy her age--and then by the coming of a haughty young woman kept under close guard. What Margaret learns from these new arrivals changes her views of her island and herself, but not her spirit. Indeed, she's a smart, feisty young girl who brims with compassion. She's a fantastic heroine to follow.

I enjoyed this graphic novel. It doesn't offer anything earth-shattering but there's a pleasant coziness to the bright, pleasant artwork and the story itself. The target audience is middle grade, but really, this could easily be read by and enjoyed by younger kids as well. As a history geek, I was unsure at first how much loyalty to the era to expect, and soon found that "loosely based" is the best way to look at the book. It still has a strong historical feel, though, as there is no presence of functional magic, just some mention about things like selkies (which made me very happy, as I love selkies).

In all, an enjoyable read. I sure would have adored this book at age 10, too.

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LibraryThing member tacocat

Full disclosure, I've been a huge fan of Dylan Meconis since her early webcomic days, so I was eagerly looking forward to this book. Meconis has always combined beautiful art, thoughtful writing, and hard-core nerding out about history in her work, and Queen of the Sea brings all of this to another

level.

In this alternate history based on the exile of Elizabeth I, Margaret lives on an island with nuns, and wonders what lies beyond her small world. But when the princess Eleanor arrives, things change in ways Margaret could never have imagined. The story is simple but nuanced, and as Margaret encounters difficult situations and people, she learns more about them and herself. A bold and endearing heroine, she will undoubtably be welcomed by fans of Catherine, Called Birdy.

Meconis tells Margaret's story with warmth and humor, providing a vivid exploration of her daily life; there's clearly a lot of care put into the research but in a way that enriches the narrative instead of bogging it down. The gorgeous and expressive watercolor art is also full of detail that encourages careful reading. This is a really lovely and lovingly-crafted book, and a definite standout in middle grade graphic novels.

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LibraryThing member Bitter_Grace

Queen of the Sea is a gorgeous book full of wonderful illustrations and an engaging story featuring a cast of bold and clever female characters. The story follows orphaned youngster Margaret, whose idyllic island existence is thrown into turmoil by the arrival of the princess Eleanor—a character

loosely based on a young, exiled Queen Elizabeth I.

Margaret relates the story with an authentic, relatable voice. Her brash spirit is matched only by that of the domineering Eleanor, who teaches Margaret that being a monarch is a real job and not at all like being a fairy-tale princess. As Margaret learns, the queen is the most effective piece not only in chess, but in real life as well.

There is a lot of variety in the layout of the illustrated panels, and the beautiful watercolor art really conveys the emotions of the characters. There is plenty of humour in the interplay between the words and pictures. Despite being a thick, heavy book, the illustrations make the story trip along quite quickly, especially since the plot is absorbing and the characters are so appealing. I would love to read more about Margaret and Eleanor!

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LibraryThing member kpolhuis

This was an exciting read from start to finish! The graphics are eye catching and support the story very well, making this kind of historical fiction an interesting and intriguing read. I look forward to seeing more of this author.

LibraryThing member Familyhistorian

Margaret lived on a small island in a convent, which was about the only thing there. She enjoyed her life there especially when she had William to share it with. But he got older and had to leave. After that happened, she began to question whether the sisters were prisoners. Then a woman of high

status was brought to the convent who truly was a prisoner and with her came a very strict and demanding nun. Life at the convent became more difficult but more connected to the outside world.
A graphic novel set in the time of the Tudors, "Queen of the Sea" envisions an alternative history of this era full of plots and counter plots and secrets. It was also the story of Margaret learning the truth about herself and what she valued.

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LibraryThing member smcgurr

A graphic novel inspired by the daughters of England's King Henry VII, Queen of the Sea is tale of a young girl who lives on a remote island in a convent. Her world changes when a new visitor comes to the island and she learns about her true parentage. Dylan Meconis has written and illustrated an

engaging book. Although I'm not fully familiar with the true story of Mary and Elizabeth, I was mesmerized by the story of Margaret and Eleanor. I especially liked the asides in the story (illustrated in a different style) about the workings of the convent and the game of chess, which provided me with a whole new way of looking at the game. I can't wait to share this with my wife and daughter.

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LibraryThing member foggidawn

Margaret has spent her whole life on a lonely island off the coast of Albion, raised by the sisters at the convent there. When a mysterious prisoner arrives with the biannual supply delivery, it will change Margaret's peaceful life forever. Has the island always been a prison? Is Margaret herself a

captive? Why?

This graphic novel is loosely based on history, specifically the relationship between Mary I and Elizabeth I of England. The artwork is just lovely, done in glowing earth tones. Margaret is a great character, and all of the secondary characters are fascinating and complex. Eleanor, in particular, is not very likable, but boy, is she interesting! The ending leaves me hoping for a sequel. Recommended.

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LibraryThing member oddandbookish

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.

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LibraryThing member quondame

This graphic novel just didn't work for me. The details of convent living were delightfully presented but interfered with the flow of the plot, which seemed to drag. The artwork is pleasant and works to convey the story and characters, but becomes familiar and repetitive halfway through.

LibraryThing member BillieBook

I can't wait to see the finished version in full-color. And I really hope it has a sequel.

LibraryThing member Marmie7

I enjoyed looking through this graphic novel with my daughter. The artwork is well done. The story was engaging and well written. I definitely recommend reading this!

LibraryThing member froxgirl

Sweet story of two sisters who are both potential queens. Beautifully drawn and lettered, with a feminist perspective. Hoping for a sequel!

LibraryThing member reader1009

children's middlegrade fiction - alternate history of Queen Elizabeth I.
Read to page 42. Illustrations are ok, but too much of the story/worldbuilding is explained by text to appeal to most graphic novel readers (including myself). Would be very hard for a middlegrade reader to get into, in this

reviewer's opinion.

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LibraryThing member jennybeast

So everything about this book is appealing to me -- historically inspired, medievally inspired images, great characters, plucky young lady protagonists, and Alt-Elizabeth I. I loved it. Can't wait for the next installment.

LibraryThing member forsanolim

This middle-grade/young-adult graphic novel is set in a fictionalized version of Tudor England. Margaret has lived her whole life on a small island, in a convent with little contact to the outside world. Occasionally, though, visitors turn up on the island: when Margaret iso young, a boy shows up,

and several years later, Eleanor---the exiled queen (basically, Elizabeth I during Mary's reign)---does.

I really enjoyed this story! I really enjoyed the art style, and the historical elements were really enjoyable---the mentions of life in the convent were really enjoyable. It was definitely a quick read, and I'm glad that I read it!

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LibraryThing member davisfamily

This was a fun and interesting read. I enjoyed the slightly historical setting.

LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey

Interesting book. It's... inspired, sort of, by Elizabeth I before she was the queen. None of the events in this book happened, I don't think, and I don't know if any of the characters actually match historical ones (any more closely than Eleanor/Elizabeth). But it's very much a could have

happened, it's a beautiful story in itself, and the art carries a lot of richness to flesh out the words. I find Margaret fascinating and the setting and situation very interesting. I'll be looking for more by this author.

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LibraryThing member Salsabrarian

Margaret has been raised by the Elysian nuns on an island convent since she was brought there as a baby. Life is idyllic if quiet. Then the mysterious Queen Eleanor is banished to the island. A dense but accessible package of historical fiction, drama, soap opera, and high intrigue wrapped with a

travelogue of sorts about living in a convent. Memorable characters: Margaret, Sister Agnes, Eleanor, Tess and Bess. Even the island is a character, inscrutable and hard but reliable and sturdy. Balanced with a child’s sense of humor and perspective. (See the explanations of the nuns, convent time, table signs, 208 Eleanor wasn’t exactly a saint though so the fish probably weren’t going to rescue her. Etc)

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LibraryThing member Beammey

Y'all. This book! Am I super late in reviewing this? Hell yeah, but i'm coming back now to tell you - TOTALLY worth the read. The illustrations are top tier, the writing is great. I finished it all in one sitting. I totally recommend it. 5/5 stars.

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