I received an arc of this book from netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

I loved this!! Even though they stayed on the same island the entire time, it still managed to be interesting, funny, and the art was simply amazing.

My only complaint is that it was really really loosely based on real history, but I didn't see something mentioning it at the front of the book, which would have been nice so that I knew it wasn't like a real thing. It was more like an alternate history. But anyways, I definitely recommend this book because it is a great addition to MG graphic novels.

What a gorgeous book!

I love how this was based loosely on an actual story from history - one that I personally was not familiar with - and inspired this incredible story. I thought the characters were very interesting and their development through the story - especially Eleanor - was great.

The art style was beautiful and simple and the changes between pages with dialogue and pages with information were really well balanced and the accompanying illustrations on the latter were lovely. I also like how the art style changed when Margaret was imagining things or telling a story.

I really hope this will turn into a series as I would love more stories with these characters and see what happens next.

Overall, I rated the book 4.5/5 and would highly recommend it to anyone!

3.5 Stars The artwork was very nice overall and I liked the concept of the story. The introduction was gripping and set up the suspense for what was to come next perfectly. However, this feeling died down afterwards when I started running into the paragraphs of set up. There were times when the graphic novel told/explained details about the story that could have been revealed in the story itself. It seemed to defeat the purpose of a graphic novel since these pages had more text than art on them. I’ve never read a graphic novel in this style before but, for me, that part stood out too much and was a distraction.

Such a fun, entertaining read. I couldn’t put it down!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Queen of the Sea is a beautifully illustrated historical graphic novel for teen/older children readers, though I enjoyed it as an adult too. The story is loosely based on Queen Mary and Elizabeth I, and centres on Queen Eleanor's exile on a remote convent island off Scotland where women and children enemies of the crown are held prisoner. Events are seen through the eyes of Margaret, a 12 year old whose grown up on the island but doesn't know why she was left there. Margaret's observations of the world around her are charming and funny, and I loved her bravery, quick thinking and determination. This is a lovely book to get younger readers into history, although the ending felt abrupt, perhaps to make way for a sequel to Margaret and Eleanor's adventures,

I adore Dylan's work. A unique spin on historical drama with so much gravitas and endearing earnestness, this book is right up my alley. Expressive art and an entrancing journal-like format. High recommend!

Queen of the Sea by Dylan Meconis

This is a graphic novel. Great story with amazing illustrations.

I would like to thank Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great historical fiction graphic novel for young readers. I love how brave young Margaret is.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review.

Historical without being historical. There was an excellent mirroring of some actual events from history combined into this brilliant story. I can't wait to read the next book.

I hate when we only receive a portion of the story. It doesn't allow me to truly understand the context and the story as a whole. Queen of the Sea is one of those titles. At the very least, the page where we can request an egalley should state whether or not it will be a complete galley or a partial one.

First of all, I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. This graphic novel intrigued me from the start because it was a reimagining of the exile of Queen Elizabeth I. As I have a master's degree in English literature I was immediately drawn to this synopsis.

The story centres around Margaret who has spent most of her life on the island being raised by nuns. She slowly starts to discover everything about the island, the people who live there and the people who arrive.

Margaret's budding friendships were fun to read about and her loyalty knows no bounds. Her character was well developed but I often thought it was too convenient to have Margaret think of all the best solutions.

The art style is rather simplistic but it fits the story wonderfully. I would have preferred it if the story was either as historically correct as it can be or not based on history at all. I often found the characters resembling the royal family jarring because they acted and looked more or less the same but had completely different names.

The plot of Queen of the Sea moved quite slowly but this is fitting because time on the island would have moved slowly as well.

All in all, I did enjoy this graphic novel but if you are looking for a Queen Elizabeth I graphic novel you might be disappointed. If you are looking for a graphic novel set in a historical time period with new characters you might enjoy this a lot more. I gave Queen of the Sea 3 stars.

A wonderful graphic novel that manages to combine a compelling narrative and illustrations to create a wonderful experience for the reader.

Margaret lives a simple life on an island convent. She's the only child on the island, until William comes to live with her, the sisters, the three servants and the animals. But then William's mother dies and he is sent away, and the next person to come to the island is an angry young woman who used to be queen...and Margaret discovers her own secret history.

This is a riveting hybrid graphic novel (there's a lot of text in addition to illustrations) that is an alternate history version of England, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth I. While it's not a direct retelling, it does pull rather liberally from the history books, particularly with Mary's feud with Elizabeth and her subsequent exile while Mary was queen.

Margaret was a lively narrator, with a sense of humor that really brought life in a 16th century island convent to life (those illustrations omg), and I loved all of the sisters and the servants, who all lived on the island for various reasons—the sisters because they had been imprisoned noblewomen, and the servants because that is where they worked.

The sense of history and politics and religion was well-wrapped into everything, along with the ancient peoples who had populated the island before it became a convent-prison. I really enjoyed reading about the lives of noblewomen and the power and fickleness of monarchs, and the bonds of people living in a very isolated community together—and how they all raised one special child.

This is a lower YA graphic novel that upper MG readers would probably also enjoy (along with adults and those who like reading about English history, the Tudors, and alternate history).

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

*thank you to Netgalley and Candlewick Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

4 stars.

I really enjoyed this. I didn't think I would as I didn't like the illustrations right at the beginning but they grew on me and actually suited the story. It's a historical retelling of Queen Elisabeth and Queen Mary. I basically had no really knowledge about them so this Graphic Novel was a really good introduction. While it's not all fact, and is only loosely based on the sisters, it's still a great read.

I'll admit, it did take me a while to get into the story. But im so glad I persisted. This tale is inspired by some historical events, and it does a good job of showing some of the hardships of the time. I loved the art style, and it was well writtern to be in the perspective of a 12yr old girl as well. Id definitely be interested to read future books by Dylan Meconis. 3.5 stars

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for this early copy!

I decided to pick up this graphic novel mainly because the plot. I found some parts of it a bit wordy but overall I really enjoyed it. The plot was unique and the art was well done.

Beautiful, amazing, wonderful! Such a rich story, matched by a rich visual world. Perhaps a bit overlong, but still completely engrossing.

I gave this book 3.75 Stars.
This was such a charming, creative graphic novel and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I ended up loving this. It was so unique and I think it would be perfect for people who are wanting to test out historical fiction or for kids. It has a really cute art style that coincides with the story and has really great explanations told through words and the use of pictures which makes it really easy to understand. It’s honestly so charming and I felt all the emotions reading this. I really want another book in this world following these characters because I’ve become attached.

I was so confused the entire time I read this book. I'm not sure if the pages were all jumbled up or if that is how the story is but honestly, I couldnt and had a really hard time reading this book. The illustrations were nice but everything else about it, I just really wouldn't recommend anyone to read it.

Well written, alternative history, loosely based on the exile of Elizabeth by her sister Queen Mary, when they were fighting for the crown. Actually, it is not only an alternative history, it is an alternative universe, very much like our own, but with the names changed.

I loved the detail of the story of Margaret, exiled on an island in what would be the outer Hebrides in our world. She does not know why she is on the island of nuns, just that she is. And since she is the narrator, she lets us know what she does every day at the convent, how the prayers go, how the tasks go. That part seems to be well researched

What is odd to me how the pictures are drawn to look like Queen Elizabeth I, and King Henry her father, despite that this is an alternative take on the matter.

But the story of how Margaret slowly learns why she is in exile, with the former queen, is quite engaging, and draws you in. Great story. Highly recomended.

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Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.