Oh, the mixed feelings!

After her mother perished in a tragic boating accident, Lana’s father moved them out of the idyllic seaside town they called home and into the city. Now they’re back, if only for a few days, to help the community recover from an especially devastating storm. Yet when she rescues a sick young aquicorn (think: a cross between a seahorse and a unicorn) from a tide pool and nurses her back to health, Lana’s mission ripples outward until it becomes monumental in scope. Not only must she confront the unacknowledged grief and depression that assailed her after the loss of her mother – indeed, everything she’d ever known – she must also save the aquicorn’s home, under assault from climate change, pollution, and overfishing.

So there are lots of things I loved about AQUICORN COVE: The artwork is super-adorable, the aquicorns especially (and unsurprisingly). I appreciate the breadth of diversity when it comes to Aquicorn Cove’s citizens: not only do we see a variety of skin tones, but there’s a refreshing range of body types too, from tiny little old ladies (who are still getting it done, okay), to aunt Mae, who is big and beefy and has the kind of biceps I’d kill for. There’s even an implied same-sex romance between Mae and Aure, the queen (keeper? guardian?) of Aquicorn Cove. I ship it.

While I liked the environmentally friendly vibe, as well as the message that not a single one of us is too small to make a difference, the story lost me in its treatment of its smallest creatures: the fishes. There’s a clear divide between the aquicorns (flashy, majestic, kind, unique) and the fishes (food, natural resource), even though both are someones, not somethings. Whereas I doubt Lana would even dream of killing and eating an aquicorn, somehow it’s just fine to do this to someone who’s “just” a salmon (or whatever). In a word, it’s speciesist.

Granted, Lana’s people are perhaps indigenous to the island, and that’s a conversation worth having. That said, I don’t think it’s helpful to feed kids self-serving pap about how food animals “sacrifice” themselves for you. Most animals, when faced with death, fight to survive – just like human animals. So please just don’t try to romanticize their deaths, or make them appear complicit. They do not exist for your pleasure or convenience.

In summary, AQUICORN COVE is a pretty adorable book, though vegan parents might be better off skipping it entirely. There’s just too much to unpack.

So beautiful!! I was looking forward to reading this and I was not let down. The artwork is stunning! Can't wait own it. #aquicorncove #netgalley

This is a charming, brief look into a fantasy world not too different from ours with a story that tackles grief and environmentalism. This is no easy feat! I wish I had read this with a child, because what’s basic to me might be just perfect for younger audiences. The cheery colors and cute characters will capture kids’ attentions, and the simplifying of important life lessons will help them better grasp the concepts. I think O’Neill did a wonderful job in this respect. I also appreciate that neither the story nor artwork draws attention to the diversity of the cast—the characters are just who they are.

The artwork in this book was absolutely gorgeous. It's the same style O'Neill used in her Tea Dragon book, but she used different colors to fit the ocean theme better. I really enjoy the characters she draws and the different type of fantasy animals. Very cute.

The story was pretty simplistic but provided a deep message: we need to take better care of our oceans. The characters learn the hard way that there needs to be balance with what you take from the oceans. Also how you take care of nature is important.

It was very cute and I think it would be good for all ages.

4.5 ⭐️Just like The Teadragon Society this is a very relaxing reading, it has cute illustrations with that pastel tone that's characteristic of Katie's work, the plot is great, though just like the previous book the only problem I have is that this story presents such a well constructed world that it leaves you hoping for the book to be longer so the mythology and story presented could be explored further.

As someone whose been in love with Katie O'Neill's art style, I was excited to see where her next story took us. While on par with the lengths of her previous works, this one delves into deeper topics including strong environmentalism themes. This one also contains a subtle f/f relationship, grief and aquicorns (aqua unicorns). I recommend for fans of Katie O'Neill's previous works or if any of those things strike your fancy.

A very cute fantasy tale about a little girl named Lana who lost her mother to a storm and is now learning to live life without her. She misses her old home by the sea and is currently visiting with her dad to help her aunt clean up after a storm. The story's main focus is on caring for and living in symbiosis with the ocean, the main source of livelihood and income for the village Lana used to live in. It's a little strange that this should be the main focus when so much of the story is about Lana's sadness and healing over the loss of her mother. I wish this part of the story was better resolved, but other than that I really enjoyed it.

Also, I love her artwork!! -happy sigh-

I absolutely loved this graphic novel! This is a wonderful story that is necessary for every age to read. It really brings to light how much we effect our environment. This was such a sweet but impactful story. It not only covers our over fishing and dying coral reefs but brings a beautiful LGBTQ love story with a sprinkle of magic.

I can't wait to get my hands on the physical copy!

Thanks to Netgalley for providing an e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

(Disclaimer: I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)

I've read Princess Princess Ever After and Tea Dragon Society from Katie before and loved both of them, so I was very excited hearing about her next one. The art and story continues to just be incredible, and blow me away. The colors in this are gorgeous and, also, the message behind it is important as hell.

Also continues to have queer characters, which I am all here for because really, and everyone isn't one beige color. You know, like how to actual world looks.

Bottom line - I'd recommend all three graphic novels I've read by Katie O'Neill so far, high recommend even. I think Tea Dragon Society stands as my favorite but just cause, you know, dragons. This one was really cute, though, and sweet. And very real? Even with the fantastical elements, all of Katie's work feels very real.

When i saw this on netgalley i wanted to read it. It was amazing. So cute and i loved the story behind it. Artworks are amazing too. I loved it.

Aquicorn Cove is a wonderful graphic novel that follows a young girl who, after coming back to the village she grew up in to help them rebuild after a storm, discovers a small creature on the beach that she nurses back to health, all the while finding out about the reef and its declining health.

I really, really love this. The art is absolutely stunning, with beautiful colours and soft lines that make it so nice to look at and study as you read. The story itself is so poignant and relevant as it acknowledges different views on the natural world and the dying reef, and how human survival has grown into taking too much from an environment that doesn't have a lot to give anymore. I saw this described [in a negative way] as 'preachy', which I think is quite a damaging way to look at this- why is caring about the environment and encouraging others to take care of their surroundings 'preachy'? This story encourages sympathy and to begin looking at the world with more love before we lose it forever. Why is it being 'preachy' something wrong, when all it does is teach and push you in a way that's meant to benefit us in the long term?

I adore this, and I will be buying a copy!

“When Lana and her father return to their seaside hometown to help clear the debris of a storm, the last thing she expects is to discover a colony of Aquicorns—magical seahorse-like residents of the coral reef. As she explores the damaged town and the fabled undersea palace, Lana learns that while she cannot always count on adults to be the guardians she needs, she herself is capable of finding the strength to protect both the ocean, and her own happiness.”

Aquicorn Cove is probably one of my favourite graphic novels. Ever. It’s short, at just 96 pages, but it packs a punch. I’d be a liar if I said this little graphic novel for middle-graders didn’t tug on my heartstrings – okay, yeah, I cried.
The artwork is stunning. I was enchanted from page 1. The colours are so aesthetically pleasing, and I just couldn’t get enough. I’ll definitely be buying a physical copy of this, so I can drool over the art.
The dialogue and plot were fantastic. I don’t think I have any complaints, other than wishing it was longer. Katie O’Neill is a master storyteller and I am excited to pick up her other works in the future.
I loved the characters. I loved the whimsy. I loved the magical elements. I loved the harder topics it touched on. I loved the dynamics in the family and the strong relationships. I LOVED IT.

This is another cute graphic novel by an author known for them. While it isn't my favorite, the artwork is gorgeous and the moral of the story solid. My only complaint is it's a moral I've heard many times, and perhaps I am getting a little bored of it, but it does not mean it's a bad one nor that there aren't others who need reminders of how small changes can still make big differences (especially regarding climate change).

4.75 stars
This graphic novel was very cute with beautiful illustrations. I was so impressed! I will re-read this book with great pleasure
Thanks to Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Oni Press and NetGalley for providing me a copy to review.

Each one of O’Neill books has an overarching meaning; for Princess, Princess it was “Be whoever you want to be as long as you do it with heart” and Tea Dragon focused on friendship and how being different isn’t bad. For Aquicorn Cove, it focused on how our relationship with our environment is crucial for us to continue living prosperous lives. It also deals with grief, love, and the power of family. Yes I know it sounds like a Disney movie but it is so good and the messages don’t overpower the story. I totally ship Aunt Mae with Aure, the Sea Goddess. And random thought, I think Lana’s hair looks like Jude’s for The Cruel Prince, just saying.

I was familiar with Katie O’Neill’s art through The Tea Dragon Society, a book that I haven’t read yet, but with a cover so beautiful that I just want to see what’s inside.

So I jumped at the opportunity to read Aquicorn Cove, recognizing the same art style immediately.

At 96 pages long, Aquicorn Cove is sadly very brief, but it doesn’t need any more pages to have you experience a variety of feelings, including: tenderness, nostalgia, and remorse.

The story revolves around Lana, a young girl who hast lost her mother, and with her, her sense of self and meaning in this world. When she finds a sick aquicorn in a shallow pool, this sets off a chain of events where she and many others begin to heal and move forward.

The art is so sweet and peaceful, delivering a seaside town with cheery peach-toned clouds, fields of yellow flowers, and waves that you can almost hear; plus a very diverse cast of characters.

I would recommend this to young children (or the young at heart), people who care about the environment, and someone who needs a pacifying mental break.

I received an advance reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is my honest opinion on Aquicorn Cove by the wonderful Katie O´neill
This was everything I wanted and more! I love O´neills work so much, just her art, writing, everything is so beautiful and well-written. The story really said something that is a big topic these days and she elegantly introduced the element of the dying coral reef excellently. Katie O´neill is a new favorite author for sure! I wouldd recommend this cute and important story to everyone! Thanks to Netgalley and One Press for the opportunity to read it before its release, I received an e-arc of this novel and I highly appreciate it :)

I received a free ebook of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher! This is truly my honest review, and receiving a free copy has not affected my opinion in any way.

Lana returns to a little sea-side village with her father to help out in cleaning the village after a storm. The village is Lana's mother's homeplace, which still brings out painful memories to Lana's dad by reminding him of the awful loss of her. But Lana's mother taught Lana to not be afraid of the ocean. And she won't be.

This graphic novel is completely heart-warming and mesmerising. Katie O'Neill's artistic talent is breathtaking, and I love the playful style. Aquicorn cove is middle grade, but it is something that an individual who prefer adult books can fully enjoy too. I was sincerely touched by the story and I could hear the ocean roaring in my ears while reading it.

But I now I have fallen in love with it. And it hurts so deeply to think that this beautiful beautiful thing is a standalone. Please please Katie O'Neill, give us a second part with Lana grown up. My soul craves it.

Please read it, you won't regret it.

O'Neill has this innate gift to create worlds you just want to immerse yourself in. I felt that when I finished The Tea Dragon Society, and I feel that again with Aquicorn. This is a story with a message: we can (and should) fight for our world. This story focuses on the water and reefs, but at its heart, there is that the realization that this message fits the entire natural world. This is a sweet story of hope and resistance. I will read anything else that Katie creates!

Katie O'Neill quickly became one of my favorite illustrators. Her use of color, emotion, and imagination astounds me to no end. Tea Dragons and Aquicorns are two creatures I dearly wish existed. They're so lovely and innocent.
I also <b>love</b> the representation in every graphic novel Katie O'Neill released. Every one of them includes a deep woman x woman friendship/relationship, and it's representation that is very needed in society.
In the case of this specific graphic novel, I loved every bit of it.
I need everyone to read everything this author/illustrator puts out.
Thanks.