Thanks to Netgalley for this e-arc.

I enjoyed reading this middle grade graphic novel almost TOO MUCH. Going into this, I didn't know too much besides the existence of the Aquicorns (unicorn + seahorse creatures). I love stories about the sea and this took it a step further talking about environmentalism and taking care of our oceans and the coral reef's. The art style was amazing, it reminded me a lot of Noelle Stevenson's style with the muscular Aunt Mae and the fantastical undersea castle. I truly loved everything about this graphic novel. I had chills in the beginning from excitement, then I teared up around the end because I was so sad it was over. The main character Lana is suffering from the loss of her mother, and the village reminds Lana of her, so she doesn't want to leave at the beginning. Coincidentally, she finds a baby Aquicorn who is sick, so she nurses them back to health. I love how Lana and the Aquicorn are both in need of healing, so it makes sense that they heal together. I also adored the subtle f/f relationship in here, it was everything I could have wanted from it.

Anyway, I HIGHLY recommend this graphic novel, its such a short read and it contains beautiful messages within it.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2462226725?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

this was so cute! i've wanted to read katie o'neill's previous book for ages, but haven't been able to get my hands on a copy so I was thrilled to be able to get this early. this is a short little story with one of my favorite art styles. lana, our main character, is the most adorable little human. similar to an animated short, there are characters and context and a bit of magic, but the takeaway isn't any of those things. the takeaway is the environmentalist message that this story puts out. also similar to an animated short, i actually started tearing up at one point.

This book was beyond precious!! It's like a Disney movie in a graphic novel because of its lighthearted, magical vibe yet undertones of sorrow and meaning. There's loss, there's reunion, there's messages about environmentalism, there's mythical creatures, and there's even a subtle f/f romance. The art was so gorgeous and this book was very easy to follow and a quick read that definitely got me teary-eyed. I can't wait to get a copy of this for my shelf!

Hmm, I was slightly let down with Aquicorn Cove after O'Neill's Tea Dragons, but all in all Aquicorn Cove still works nicely. It's about a little girl, Lana, who's mother drowned and now she lives with her father. They come back to their seaside hometown where they lost their everything and Lana remembers how she misses the ocean. She finds a lonely Aquicorn, a magical seahorse of sorts, and saves it. Her Auntie Mae has some relations to the sea and Lana will also get to experience the underwater world only to learn to save the seas from pollution. Aquicorn Cove is about saving the planet from plastic and saving the seas. It's a wonderful comic for kids and it has LGBTQ vibe to it, but nothing too obvious. The plot is slightly weak and it's more about preaching, which kind of felt cheap in a sense. The comic is actually in the end more about Mae than Lana and the shift feels odd.

The art is magnificent! No doubt about that. O'Neill's art is perfection and every panel could be an art piece on its own. The autumn color world works well and compliments the softness of the pictures and the lack of black line art makes this bright and cute. I do love the style, really. It's easy to follow and offers something new all the time. It's very timeless too. Thus, a good comic, even if not amazing.

Katie O’Niell is an automatic buy for me and my family. Her art style is highly imaginative with a dreamy yet intricate quality that I could pore over for hours. (In fact, my daughters did just that with The Tea Dragon Society). Her stories are sweet but contain a solid core of relevant and powerful themes. However, perhaps my favorite thing about her books is that she always includes a diverse cast of characters, settings, and situations. This story was no different.

When Lana returns to the island of her childhood, she finds that things have changed. A powerful hurricane has just ripped through many of the trees and homes, leaving destruction in its wake. Thankfully, her warm, formidable aunt seems determined to bring the village back together. However, when Lana discovers an adorable unidentified species struggling in a cove, she begins to uncover the hidden story of her aunt’s past, the trauma that led her father to leave the island years ago, and the truth behind the increasingly frequent and more destructive storms that ravage what once was paradise.

Infused with grief, this charming story is also a powerful call to action. Lana and her village must make tough decisions to save their island – decisions that many of our children will face in their lifetimes. Highly recommended!

I LOVE Katie O'Neill's books! They are just darling! I just read The Tea Dragon Society on a whim when I saw someone on YouTube mention it and it was just too adorable! I had to find out if she had more books similar to that one. Of course, when I saw that she had one available on Netgalley I had to see if I could review it.

Aquicorn Cove is beautiful in both words and art. It is the perfect kind of book that I would have adored when I was little. I love that this particular story takes place in and around the ocean. It deals with the impact that people have on the ocean as well as dealing with tough subjects like grief and loss but it a wonderful way without being too heavy. I love the creatures that Katie O'Neill creates! They are both new and timely. Combining things kids and adults love: unicorns, mermaids, and dragons. This book is perfect inside and out and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone! It is just too precious for words!

Beautiful illustrations, touching story. Will look for more works by this artist in future.

I received a free copy trough netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is just absolutely lovely; a heart-warming story about a little girl who goes to stay with her aunt and helps their village realise the environmental damage that they are having in the local part of the ocean. It's got a great message about not taking more than you need to prevent damaging local eco-systems, an LGBT-romance that is never the focus but is just matter of fact (as it should be), and is beautifully illustrated in what I think must be cell-shading like I've always loved since Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.

I'd love to share this book far and wide when it comes out!

Okay, I have to fully admit that I was initially only interested in this one because of the cover. But come on! It's gorgeous! I am glad I shamefully judged a book by it's cover, because the art in this little comic was amazing! It was super colorful, and would have different panels using really bright pastels, and then the next using really saturated darker colors. The artwork really knew how to work the story and make you have all the feels. Seriously, I blew through this one because the art was amazing to look at. I definitely want to see what other stuff O'Neill has done, because I loved this one.

I have to admit the story was not exactly what I thought it was going to be, but I ended up really liking in nonetheless. Our main character Lana is visiting her Aunt Mae with her dad to help clean up after a particularly bad storm on the ocean village they grew up on. Having recently lost her mother, Lana is having a little bit of a hard time, but she keeps up finding things from the ocean that used to belong to the townspeople with help from the mystical Aquicorns. It's here she starts to unravel the story of her Aunt Mae and how she also interacted with the Aquicorns before Lana was born. The story also heavily talks about the effect of fishing and plastic on the ecosystem and it's a big source of the conflict. I wasn't expecting the environmental aspect of the story, but I really feel strongly about how we as humans are effecting the environment that I loved that this was included.

There is also a scene early on in the comic of how Lana has been feeling since her mother's death. From the panels it really seems like Lana might be suffering from a little bit of depression. I really like that this depicted how grief can effect a child and how for Lana she has a hard time understanding what her feelings mean. I think that is really important to show kids that it is okay to feel that way.

I also really like how the women were drawn in this comic. Aunt Mae, and Lana's mom Melody are depicted as these really muscular women. I loved that! Because fishing can be hard work, so it totally makes sense for them to have a lot of physical strength, but I feel like we never see women depicted like this.

This was such a sweet story, that I definitely want to get my hands on anything else O'Neill has done. I would recommend this one for the beautiful artwork alone, but I also think it has a great message behind the story.

*I received a free egalley copy of this book in exchange for my honest review

*~~*ARC kindly provided to me for an honest review *~~*

- Review to come

Review originally posted on my blog with added content on Mikku-chan / A world full of words

Katie O'Neill has made a name for herself writing and drawing sumptuous, cute, diverse comics (The Tea Dragon Society, Princess Princess Ever After) and she continues the trend in Aquicorn Cove.

Lana returns to her childhood home after a recent natural disaster to help the small fishing village get back on its feet. When she rescues an injured seahorse-like creature a chain of events unfold that reveal secrets from the past... and maybe a way to save the future.

With imaginative fantasy elements, effortlessly diverse characters and a strong environmental message, Aquicorn is a quick, fun, beautiful read.

This is a beautiful story about a girl coping with grief and growing up. Lana lost her mother in a tragic accident when she was young. Her father moved them to the city, away from Aunt Mae and the ocean they both loved. She and her father return several years later. She comes across a colony of Aquicorns, magical seahorse creatures that live in the coral reef, while exploring the beach. She discovers more about herself, her family, and the ocean along the way.

I loved The Tea Dragon Society, so I knew I had to read Katie O'Neill's newest book. With her signature adorable art and and gentle, heartfelt storytelling, she weaves the tale of a young girl who finds magical friends and the courage to do what is right and protect the coral reef at Aquicorn Cove, upholding the balance needed for her aunt's fishing village to survive.

This is hands down one of the best graphic novels I have ever read.
If you are looking for something quick, yet meaningful, I highly suggest this novel.
We read about Lana who is visiting the small fishing town her mother and aunt grew up in. The story holds a lot of meaning in these few pages. The story is a lovely look at the environment and how to take care of it,and people of all ages will love the beautiful, colorful, and adorable artwork!
I 100% think everyone should read this not only because of the art, but because of the insightful message!

Katie O'Neill's work is nothing new for me, having enjoyed <i>The Tea Dragon Society</i>. However, where that one focused more so on the friendship developed between the two younger characters, <i>Aquicorn Cove</i> had a nice balance of learning about Lana and her relationship with her mom along with the relationship between her aunt, Mae, and the mysterious cove guardian, Aure. This is why I feel that both younger and older readers will really appreciate the lessons shown in the story.

Alongside this, one cannot forget O'Neill's beautiful artwork depicting these charming characters. Backgrounds, ocean, and sea creatures, including the aquicorns, all are created in her unique style that has a sense of calm despite the sometimes stormy and troubling atmosphere. Readers get a sense that things will turn out all right in the end, and that's where her story truly shines. I would highly recommend <i>Aquicorn Cove</i> for any library's Middle Grade colleciton.

Aquicorn Cove is about a girl returning to her village after a storm has hit. It is a story about loss and coping, but it also has an environmental message that has a lot of impact.

Both the art and story were beautiful and even though it is short it has a lot of meaning. The characters were unique and loved how strong the women are.

Inhalt

Als ihr kleines Heimatdorf an der Küste von schweren Stürmen getroffen wird, fackeln Lana und ihr Vater nicht lange. Um beim Wiederaufbau zu helfen, fahren sie zu ihrer Tante Mae, die seit dem Tod von Lanas Mutter allein in dem chaotischen Häuschen lebt. Während Lana die Nähe des Meeres genießt, stößt sie bei einem Spaziergang auf ein kleines Wesen, das sichtlich krank ist. Kurzerhand pflegt sie es gesund – und findet dabei die Unterstützung ihrer Tante Mae, die genau weiß, was es mit den wundersamen Aquicorns auf sich hat. Doch das Riff und ihr Dorf sind in Gefahr – und Lana muss einen Weg finden, beiden zu helfen …

Meine Bewertung

Ich bin so verliebt in diesen wunderschönen Comic! Dank Netgalley durfte ich den Titel bereits vorablesen und möchte nun unbedingt noch die anderen Titel von Katie O’Neill haben. „Aquicorn Cove“ hätte ich nämlich fast ausgeschlagen, weil ich dachte, es wäre mir zu kindisch – dabei ist es das genaue Gegenteil. Trotz des Kinderbuch-Charakters und der niedlichen Illustrationen beschäftigt es sich auf sehr interessante Weise mit den Themen Umwelt, Freundschaft und Zusammenhalt.

Schon beim ersten Blick auf die Illustrationen war mir klar, dass ich hier sehr, sehr glücklich werden würde. Das Buch ist größtenteils in hübschen Pastelltönen gehalten, die Sturmszenen sind im Gegensatz dazu sehr trüb und düster, was einen guten Kontrast setzt und die Bedrohung zeigt. Ich mag den Zeichenstil mit wenig bis gar keinen Outlines, dadurch wirken die Farben sehr fließend und schaffen ein sehr harmonisches, weiches Bild. Vor allem zum Strandfeeling hat das wundervoll gepasst und die Magie der Aquicorns hervorgehoben.

„Aquicorn Cove“ ist eigentlich für Leser von 9-12 Jahren angedacht, aber die Lektionen, die man daraus lernen kann, sollten sich auch Ältere zu Herzen nehmen. Die Protagonistin Lana kommt mit ihrem Vater zurück in ihr Heimatdorf, das nach Stürmen schwer beschädigt ist. Dass sie hier so großartig beim Wiederaufbau hilft, fand ich bemerkenswert für ihr Alter. Außerdem verbindet es sie mit ihrer verstorbenen Mutter. Auch diesen Aspekt des Vermissens und des Zusammenhalts innerhalb der Familie fand ich sehr gut dargestellt.

Die Aquicorns tauchen schließlich auf, als es um das Riff geht, und die Story wird zunehmend spannender. Es ist trotzdem noch sehr ruhig gehalten, mit starkem Fokus auf der Umwelt, der Verschmutzung und den Problemen, die das mit sich bringt. Mit der Anführerin der Aquicorns kann man sich gut identifizieren, und ich finde es schön, dass hier keine Schwarz-Weiß-Gut-Böse-Zeichnung reingebracht wurde. Man kann die Motive aller Handlungsträger gut nachvollziehen. Außerdem fand ich Lanas Tante Mae einfach zum Knuddeln herzlich – sie setzt sich für ihr Dorf ein, ist selbstbewusst, stark und erkennt auch ihre eigenen Fehler. Sie ist definitiv ein großes Vorbild und eine Respektperson, die das auf so positive Art vermittelt! Lanas Mut hat mir ebenfalls sehr gut gefallen, sie ist als Protagonistin sehr wissbegierig und offen. Ich kam aus dem Strahlen gar nicht mehr raus, weil sie mir so gut gefallen haben!

Dieser Comic ist definitiv herzerwärmend und eine Augenweide noch dazu. Ich bin so froh, dass ich doch zugegriffen habe, denn er spricht Kinder, Jugendliche wie Erwachsene an. Zudem ist das Thema der Umweltverschmutzung auf sehr sensible und leicht zu verstehende Weise gelöst worden, ohne mit dem Zeigefinger zu winken. Die Probleme im Comic lassen sich leicht auf unsere Welt heute übertragen und mit Lana und Mae hat man Protagonistinnen, die wunderbare Werte verkörpern und für das kämpfen, was sie lieben. Ich bin hin und weg von „Aquicorn Cove“ und da ich leider keine eigenen Aquicorns zu Hause habe, werde ich mir als nächstes noch die restlichen Comics von Katie O’Neill ansehen. Eine große Empfehlung von mir!

Gorgeously illustrated!

This book is about a girl - Lana who recently lost her mother. The story started with she and her father arrived at their previous hometown to help her Aunt Mae clean up a mess due to the storm that hit the village. Throughout the story, we can see that Lana is coping with her sadness of losing her mother. One day she found one sick baby creature “aquicorn” and tried to help it. Little did she know that this creature came from the magical kingdom in the sea.

The illustrations are really gorgeous and mesmerising! I really like the message about the environment & our society nowadays in this novel.

AQUICORN COVE recounts the tale of Lana, who finds a colony of Aquicorns — small magical seahorse-like creatures that live in the coral reef. From Katie O'Neill, award-winning author of PRINCESS PRINCESS EVER AFTER and THE TEA DRAGON SOCIETY.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

#AquicornCove #NetGalley

I really enjoyed this comic! The story was great and the art was so beautiful!
I've never read anything with lesbian romance and I really appreciated that! Also I've never seen any female being drawn like a physically strong woman and that made my day! We need all sizes of women and we need strong female characters that are simply strong and know how to admit they're wrong and how to improve themselves even more!
Thank you Katie O'Neill for giving this to us!