I always love Katie O'Neill's illustrations and gentle ways of teaching tough lessons. Aquicorn Cove is no exception.

This graphic novel was tremendously cute. I have read the author's previous comic, and was thrilled to see Aquicorn Cove on Netgalley. I have to say that O'Niell's comics stand out due to the LGBT representation, and the diversity of characters included. Though Lana serves as the protagonist, I thought that her aunt Mae played a key role in this book. It is set in a small village that relies on fishing for its economy. Though Lana admires the village, and Mae is proud of the lifestyle established in the village, the people are unaware of the damage created by overfishing. Aquicorn Cove was shorter than I had anticipated, but cute nonetheless. Despite it's length, the characters undergo transformations. For Lana, she is learning to adapt and adjust to her life in the city without her mother. Lana is a loving girl that cares deeply for the environment and small creatures. She misses her mother, but, understands that she can be strong and learn to live. Her mother serves as her inspiration, and Lana is far more similar to her mother than she had anticipated. As for Mae, the aquatic romance between her and Aure. Both women were passionate for their lifestyle, and had a loving relationship for each other. Due to circumstances, their way of living clashed with each other's lives. Overall, I hoped Aquicorn Cove were longer. I love the drawing style of the author. I can't wait to buy my physical copy of my book!

A pleasant book, but one that felt too gentle and feminine for its own good – I may well be wrong in that, but those were first impressions. A young girl gets taken back to her family's coastal village to help repair after a bad storm hit the region. There she finds a connection with the aquatic life around her, the strength her late mother may have had – and that that strength comes from an environmentally conscious, caring side she has to nurture before she can move on. There's little in the way of edge when it comes to the artwork, either – it's a little too pastel, and the shapes and design a little too twee. But that's not to deny the importance of the moral, which does come across forcefully for the target audience. It certainly lacks some of the complexity of this creator's previous, The Tea Dragon Society, but to a smaller, younger, more feminine audience it could well prove useful. Hence four stars – I don't want to be too negative, after all, for such a well-intentioned little novel.

This is my second graphic novel by Katie O’Neill, and this one is just as special as the first. The art is stunning, and the story is sweet and meaningful. For such a short graphic novel, I’m impressed at how many topics O’Neill tackles. Although it’s categorized as children’s fiction, the content is actually quite mature, and it’s a story that readers of all ages will enjoy. The novel deals with grief, the detrimental effects we have on the environment, and changing weather patterns. There’s also an implied f/f relationship, which is great to see in a book for kids!

Lana and her dad return back to her recently deceased mothers hometown to help clean up after a big storm, and she finds what she thinks might be an injured seahorse....and a world of magic and mystery!

This graphic novel had strong Steven Universe vibes for me but the big stand out was the artwork. It was absolutely stunning and I was mesmerized by so many of the pages and little details in each picture. The story itself was charming and meaningful with an important message, which I think would be great for not only kids but everyone.

Overall absolutely adorable and would recommend to anyone.

I'm starting to think that anything Katie O'Neill writes is going to be something I automatically love. Her art style is so beautiful and whimsical and her stories have a point and a moral without hitting you over the head with it. I loved the story in this book so much. The characters had clear identities and each was an individual. It was wonderfully written and though simple at times, each graphic clearly conveyed what the story was saying. I could find no faults in this other than I wished it were longer!

Aquicorn Cove by Katie O'Neil
Page Count: 96
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Oni Press
Expected Publication: October 16th 2018
Goodreads Summary: 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.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I don't know. This was quite underwhelming. Don't get me wrong, the art was gorgeous and whimsical, the dialogue was engaging and straightforward, and the story had an overall great message about the environment for young readers. However, it didn't necessarily blow me away. I kind of wish this was like 100+ pages longer because of all the characters and plot seem underdeveloped. Writing this review and just finishing the graphic novel, I already have forgotten the name of most of the characters!

The Art and the World
The art in this graphic novel is gorgeous! The style has a mixture of Adventure Time and Steven Universe, making it an extremely vivid read. The images were powerful when it came to the overall message about the environment which benefits all readers, especially young ones. I also loved how there were pages with no dialogue because the graphics themselves can tell the story. I feel as though many graphic novels rely on the dialogue which I find jarring since it is a, well GRAPHIC novel. O'Neil does an amazing job visually telling the story. 

O'Neil does an exceptional job building a fantastical sea world; however, I do wish it was further expanded. What is the deal with these Aquicorns? It just seems like we were thrown into this universe without any background.

The Plot
The plot is surrounded by Lana and her father going to their hometown to help with the cleanup after the town faced a deadly storm. Lana finds refuge with her hometown as she's still dealing with her past. She finds an injured aquicorn and necklace that automatically unlocks a visually stunning oceanic universe. Secrets about her family are also revealed and there are events that can danger many lives. It's a compelling plot that never truly bored me. The flashbacks were relevant and overall, no loose ends. However, I do wish there as more to the story that makes it a lot more memorable. I feel that some scenes were too fast that prevented me from connecting to the story. I wasn't bored but I also wasn't that excited either.

The Characters
Lana is a sweet soul who is dealing with not loving the life her father gave her after the incident with her mother. I actually related to her a lot as my family gave me a new life after a distressful event in our lives. I also enjoyed reading about Lana's Aunt and her connection to the ocean. There's an implied f/f romance (I hate when LGBT romances are suggested, but that's a different discussion) but whether it was a subtle romance or simply just an affectionate friendship, it was still adorable.

The Environmental Message
Although this falls into the fantasy genre, there's an important message about appreciating and caring for the environment. From the natural dangers of the fish from fishing and the implications, plastic can induce, there's a lot of substance of the story that readers, especially young readers can admire.

Other messages
The graphic novel also dives into some important topics such as grieving, standing up to loved ones for the greater good, and finding peace within oneself.

The Emotional Impact 
Although I found the images and messages to be engaging to readers, it felt that graphic novel as a whole was a tad bit underwhelming? I was expecting more substance, characters, and worldbuilding but everything seemed to be so simple. I think if this was much longer, perhaps a 120-150 page graphic novel, this could be soooo much better.


Final Thoughts
Overall, I wanted more with this graphic novel. However, I will read more O'Neil's work as she's amazingly talented and her illustrations are just breathtaking. I recommend this to those who want a fast and stunning read.

[This review will be going live as part of my regular fortnightly reading round-up. Links will be added then.]

I thought <em>Aquicorn Cover</em> was really cute all-ages comic – I <em>love</em> Kate O'Neill's art, and her lineless colours make me happy. It deals with serious topics though – coping with the death of a loved one and trying to protect the environment, through the medium of a little girl trying to rescue an injured magical sea-horse after a destructive storm. I feel like it didn't quite have the space it needed for all the issues it wanted to cover – what we did get was very good, like the depiction of Lana and her father's grief, after her mother's death and the way that sometimes when everyone is trying so hard to cope, there isn't space for people (kids) to ask for the help they need. I can't tell if I feel like the way it talks about the destruction of the reef and what the humans can do to protect it felt too simple, or just right for a comic aimed at children, so your mileage may vary on that? But the core of it is the relationships between Lana, Lana's mother (who dies before the story begins, but is still an important character!), Lana's aunt, and the mermaid that helps them. It's full of love and support, even if it feels light, and I appreciated that a lot.

[Caution warnings: dead mothers, destructive storms.] [<em>This review is based off an ARC from Netgalley.</em>]

Katie O'Neill is the most perfect storyteller. This story was so beautiful and wonderful, just like the The Tea Dragon Society. These illustrations were gorgeous, the narrative was spot on. As always, these books just make me feel like I curled up in a soft warm blanket with the most delicious cup of tea. AQUICORN COVE is a bright spot in a tumultuous time and perfect for all readers.

I am in love with Katie O'Neill's works ! I've fall in love with this new story which is about loss and accepting life and how we're hurting our own planet so much. The design was amazing and super cute and I've loved the main character !

I’ve been a fan of Katie O’Neill’s art and stories. From the moment I first read, Princess Princess Ever After, I knew I was on the lookout for more of her upcoming work. O’Neill has done it again with her beautiful artwork and storyline, this time with magical Aquicorns, family hardships, and the power to stand up for what is right. Though the story itself did lack some flow, it was made up for in the overall message. When Lana discovers that the coral reef where the Aquicorn colony thrives is dying, she tries what she can to convince her Aunt Mae that it’ll save both her village and the coral reef by making better fishing choices.

As much as I liked the message of this story, I felt there was a little disconnection in some areas of the plot. One page I would be reading Lana’s internal struggles of living in the city with her father instead of the village, and the next page would begin the story of how Aunt Mae got to know the Aquicorns and the Sea Maiden in the colony. It felt like it would flip like this a few times, leaving me a little confused on what to focus on. The ending, however, was very sweet. Though I do wish this story was a little longer, I thought it was lovely and had a great message about the importance of ocean conservation.

This would be a great read for tweens who like graphic novels, fantasy, and the ocean.

Dealing with grief and healing, fishing, sea pollution and family, this graphic novel is also a lovely work of art.

Set on a seaside town, the community and beach setting made me think of a book I read recently, Summer of Salt, and I love that I was able to read these two during summer. The young protagonist’s struggle with grief was heart breaking, but it was nice to see her so well surrounded and learning about the magic and respect of the sea.

Like in The Tea Dragon Society, we get to see how an adult in the young protagonist life met their beloved. Here, her well-muscled fisher aunt seems to be in a tender relationship of mutual respect with a magical creature of the sea. Their relationship is never defined but their love is definitely easy to notice.

Aquicorn Cove is the third book I read by Katie O’Neill and she keeps on amazing me with her gorgeous art, soft colours and magical tone.

I feel the same about this as I did about Katie O’Neill’s first book, The Tea Dragon Society: super-cute, gorgeous art, good representation, but flimsy and kind of preachy story.

The artwork is so appealing to me - the colour palettes are so soft and gorgeous, all those pinks and greens. The character design is lovely too, and I like that there’s a variety of race and body types (especially Mae, with her chunky body and muscular arms). Also a subtly implied lesbian human/sea-creature romance, which was cute.

It’s an environmental fairytale, and it did feel quite preachy, but I don’t imagine anyone reading this book would think ‘nah, fuck it, let’s just destroy the coral reefs’, so I suppose it’s preaching to the converted. No harm in reminding kids about environmental issues, I guess. The plot is flimsy with no real sense of tension or grappling with serious issues.

Overall, I liked this and found it really sweet. I read it on a hot summer day while having my morning coffee, and it made for a gentle and uplifting start to the day. If you’re looking for something meaty or satisfying, this probably won’t do the job. But if you like pretty pastel artwork and gentle tales, this won’t disappoint.

I can't get over the art style and how gorgeous it was. I'm a sucker for a cute graphic novel that also tells an important tale.

Brilliant, just brilliant!

This was just the cutest graphic novel! The artwork is so beautiful and adorable. And other than being incredibly heartwarming and amazing, it has such an important meaning - the author takes up the issues of over-fishing and destroying oceans and reefs and how it affects the lives of both sea-animals and humans.

Had only wished for it to be a little longer and more in-depth.


*thanks to the publisher and netgalley for a copy in exchange of an honest review!*

This was such a cute light hearted inspirational read. The aquicorns are so stinking cute I could scream. I also really appreciate the diversity in the cast and design of the characters. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a quick feel good story that they can gobble up in one sitting.

I've read and enjoyed the two previously published graphic novels illustrated by Katie O'Neill before. Hence, when I saw that she will be releasing a new book, I immediately seize the chance to check out the ARC from the publisher.

The illustrations in her latest comic book are quite similar to The Tea Dragon Society which she released last year, but I prefer the story of Aquicorn Cove because of how it brings up the environment issue. It set as a wake-up call for readers about it and no matter how small, we could contribute to saving our habitat that will help all living things.

This graphic novel is an amazing and a bit informative reading material with a great message and heartwarming story that will delight readers of all ages.

I was a big fan of The Tea Dragon Society, so to have a chance to read and review this title as well was big. I was beyond hyped and it did live up to it.

Lana and her father go to visit her Aunt Mae on a small island after a storm. It just happens that Lana's mother was killed in a similar storm, bringing up a lot of emotions for the three of them. Lana finds a seahorse like creature that's injured and decides to nurse it back to health. By doing this, she gets visited by grown Aquicorns who bring her lost items. Including an item that her Aunt Mae had thrown into the ocean.

Basically, this story is about protecting the waters and the life in it by doing away with plastic nets that hurt the coral reefs and other parts 0f the ocean. Which brings bigger and more dangerous storms. But it's done in a magical way, with a person who looks after the sea and is basically Mae's girlfriend. She talks about the importants of not over fishing and fights for the right of the sea creatures. Mae of course plays the part of most of society of needing food and money to survive. Lana is the reason that bridges in between and gets Mae to realize that her stance is wrong.

Basically, the art and story is adorable. Is it more of a piece about protecting the ocean? Yes. But we NEED books like this if we want our planet to survive for the future generations to come. Highly recommend.

I don't know why, but I was expecting an adventure story about a girl and aquicorns, but I was pleasantly surprised when I found out it was not the case at all. It was a quiet story about loss, taking care of nature and family. It was like the warm hug I didn't know I needed, one of these stories that just make you feel happy and relaxed for a while. It was the equivalent of drinking hot chocolate in a winter rainy day covered by your soft blanket.

The art was adorable and magical, with pastel colours and soft lines that made me feel very peaceful, kinda like the feeling I get when watching a Ghibli movie. The story was so sweet, and I loved how the diversity was just there and they didn't make a big deal out of it - different body types, the cutest sapphic relationship, and everything portrayed in a positive way. I know a lot of my friends would love this comic, so I can't help for it to be released and buy it.

OMG, this graphic novel is gorgeous! I love the art and the story behind it. This book is precious and it needs to be read by everybody. The enviroment message and female/female relationship is an amazing plus. I felt like all the characters were my friends and I really care and worried about them. I highly recommend it.