I read this not having ever read The Tea Dragon Society before. It still made a lot of sense and I could grasp the concepts and world easily. This was honestly so cute! The little tea dragons may have been the most adorable things I've ever seen. GREAT representation in here in multiple ways! Not an all time favorite, but definitely nothing wrong with it. I'll be picking up The Tea Dragon Society FOR SUREEEE now.

2.5 Stars

A vast improvement from the first edition! There is actually a plot within this one which I felt was lacking in the original. I suspect that wasn't the point of the first but its simply my taste. In this one we get a hint of romance with the two of the character preparing for the Tea Dragon Festival. So this book gets a few points for that rather then the first which doddled around a bit to much for my liking. In certain moments it still happens in this volume, but the characters seem much more developed and dynamic then the first volume.

If you like fluffy, sweet, and short things to read in one sitting, you will enjoy this book.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2900200008?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Thank you for granting me the arc for THE TEA DRAGON FESTIVAL!

I loved THE TEA DRAGON SOCIETY and was excited to get the next book in the series. The art and stories for both are fantastic. Perfect for all ages (at least all ages who love cute stories). I love all the different dragons and creatures and it makes up for a fun read.

"Just because something comes easily to you, does not mean it has no value. You find it effortless because you love it, and that is why it is a gift."
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This is such a wonderful read! I wanted to wait 'til i read the first book in this series (The Tea Dragon Society) before I started this one but I needed an immediate comfort read so I went with this one. And I'm so glad I did. 🥰

In a small village where humans and adorable tea dragons live harmoniously with each other, Rinn tries to find her purpose in the community as a cook. A week before the Tea Dragon Festival, she discovers a sleeping dragon in the middle of the woods. Aedhan awakens and reveals that he's late in fulfilling his duties as the village's guardian and protector, 80 years late in fact. Rinn vows to help Aedhan catch-up and re-enter society after missing a generation, and in the process, he helps her find her heart's true desire.
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The premise seems simple and straightforward but in it lies a depth that I found both endearing and refreshing. The peace the village enjoys isn't depicted as a sugary lack of conflict, but more of an existence that is both content with simple happiness, yet still prepared, and unafraid, of inevitable change.

The diversity is inspiring and is presented not as a special feature but just as a fact of life, a detail I appreciate and love so much! Compassion and empathy are woven into the story so well. With the cute and whimsical illustrations, the book could've easily delivered a steady pleasantness and still I would like it, but what really made me love this were the bits of mystery and suspense that made the reading experience whole and unforgettable.

I highly, highly recommend it!

Beautiful illustrations are the making of this delightfully creative graphic novel. The magical creatures in a magical land, where community and caring is at the heart of everything, make it a gentle and enjoyable read. I particularly liked the part at the end where it explains that tea dragons are the domesticated result of a smaller sub-species of wild dragon, which is now found only in rare numbers. I can imagine young readers being caught up in this fantasy land. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher, Oni Press for an ARC.

I first became interested in this delightful graphic novel after receiving and reading The Tea Dragon Society in a book subscription box. I adored the first installment and had high hopes for this next story. I was not disappointed in the slightest. Katie O'Neill crafts a lovely story paired with whimsical art that really transports you to a kinder, more beautiful world.

The tea dragons are back and cute as ever, although they take a back seat to Aedhan. Aedhan is a "real" dragon, or a Dracona Major - a big thanks to the author for including supplemental information about her world at the beginning and end of the story. He is sent to this tiny mountain village to protect its people; however, he falls asleep for decades thanks to a mysterious force and is only awoken when Rinn stumbles upon him. I loved the sweet plotline between Aedhan and Rinn.

Throughout the story, there are nice little touches of romance, interesting discussions of identity (e.g., dragons shifting between male and female forms), and inclusion of individuals with differences. Lesa's use of sign language was one of my favorite aspects of the story. When Lesa was born deaf, the village made the effort to learn a mode of communication that was appropriate for her. The illustrations even include some recognizable signs from American Sign Language.

Overall this story was short and very enjoyable. I highly recommend this to fans of graphic novels and anyone in the market for a serious mood booster.

AHHHH. Katie O'Neill's art is just the most precious and adorable thing. I want to go to the Tea Dragon Festival, stat, and I need a Mountain Chamomile tea dragon IMMEDIATELY. I love this graphic novel!

This book was an adorable read. It follows a girl who is working hard to become and apprentice cook before her parents return to their village. In the process, she discovers a dragon asleep in a shrine. This light hearted plot reminded me of Animal Crossing with adorable dragons, with species of every shape and size coming together to co-exist. The addition of American Sign language brought a new dynamic that I do not see very often in graphic novels.

This was almost more adorable than the last one! I loved that there was a deaf character and that they gave you places to learn ASL from! These stories make my heart swell with happiness.

Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this before the publication date.

5 cute stars

This is one of the most precious, most wholesome things that I've ever read and I will definitely be pulling this sweet graphic novel out again on a gloomy day.

Following Katie O'Neill's smash hit The Tea Dragon Society, The Tea Dragon Festival expands on the world of tea dragons and the villagers who care for them in this sweet story that can be read as a standalone companion.

Rinn is an aspiring cook in her village, and the niece to Erik—one of the characters we met in The Tea Dragon Society. One day, while foraging for mushrooms in the enchanted woods, Rinn discovers a sleeping dragon. She accidentally wakes him up, and finds out that he has been in an enchanted sleep for 80 years!Aedhan, the dragon, is quick to realize how much of the village's life he's missed and is eager to learn more from Rinn. Cue the cutest dragon/human exploits to ever occur in a graphic novel.

I loved so many aspects of this novel. But a few of them stand out, including the wonderful diversity in representations of gender, race, and disabilities. One of the characters relies on American Sign Language to communicate and several of the dialogue scenes reflect this character's ASL and the community's integration of that form of communication. Discussions of gender and sexuality are done with a deft hand, and are easily understood by any age level—I continue to love the author's ability to paint such a loving portrait of acceptance in all forms.

I can't wait for the next installment in this blissfully happy and uncomplicated world. More dragons, please!

This book is such a delight in so many ways! Katie O'Neill's art is so absolutely lush and absorbing that you just want to move into her stories and stay awhile. It's a wonderful thing to find a story so utterly positive and beautiful. This is a gentle story, but still one worth spending time in - it focuses on family, food, and finding yourself - all themes that resonate, particularly when paired together in such a charming fashion. I will definitely be recommending this book!

The Tea Dragon Festival is a whimsical graphic novel packed with stunning illustrations and an adorable storyline. This is the first graphic novel I have read that includes sign language in the illustrations and I absolutely loved it! I enjoyed being transported into this world full of magical dragons, spectacular home cooked meals, adorable tea dragons and amazingly breath taking landscapes!

This was my first read from Katie O'Neill and I was afraid of starting from the second book. However, I enjoyed this one. The art was too cute for words.

I got an ARC of this from Oni Press on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It comes out September 17th!

After reading The Tea Dragon Society, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the sequel. It's cute, funny, heartwarming, and absolutely adorable. Both volumes are super quick to read but are also packed with important life lessons.

I recommend this to everyone!

I absolutely loved this. It was so whimsical, and the story flowed really well. I loved the way this graphic novel built on Hese and Erik's relationship from the previous book. It was just brilliant, and it made me really happy to read. I really want to get more of Katie O'Neill's work!

5 Stars, ARC acquired from Oni Press through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wholesome, sweet, and what it means to be loved within a community. I just loved this graphic novel and the art is just fabulous!

It just filled me with warmth and happiness!

With diverse characters, and Hearing impaired rep woven within, this is a novel not, only for children but adults as well.

This was the perfect sequel, or should I say prequel, to The Tea Dragon Society. I loved learning more about Erik's family, his and Hesekiel's past, and more new characters! Rinn and Aedhan were so cute, and they learned so much from each other. I can't wait to see if more comes from this series! And I'm very excited for September!

I was provided this graphic novel (as an advanced reader copy) by NetGalley. All views expressed in this review are my own.

This was just as cute as The Tea Dragon Society, to which this is a companion and sequel. You don't have to have read the first book in order to read this one, but I would recommend it just because they're both good. This gives us extra backstory into two characters, but mostly focuses on other characters while keeping those two as minor characters (but it does show off their adventuring days). Once again there is mlm rep as well as disability rep, with a deaf character and multiple characters using sign language. Definitely a lovely expansion into the world.

Rinn lives in a village with her grandmother and creatures called Tea Dragons. It's a “gatherer society” the inhabitants forage for mushrooms, roots and leaves. They drink tea and make merriment. Everyone knows sign language. While on an errand to gather herbs for her grandmother, Rinn encounters a dragon which is larger than she'd ever imagined. The dragon is big, beautiful, handsome with angels’ wings and a clean smile. We learn the dragon’s name is “Aehdan” and he has been asleep for many years due to an enchantment from an unknown creature who is still at large. When Uncle Erik shows up with his companion, Hesekiel, motives become apparent and come full circle.

This was an absolutely delightful book by the author of THE DRAGON TEA SOCIETY. You do not have to read the first one to understand the second. I wrote down a list of ideas that sparked my imagination-- gender-fluid dragons, barley tea festivals, and memory food (like something out of a Harry Potter book). Personally, any mention of barley tea is nostalgic and will immediately warm me to the book. There’s something comforting and familiar about the illustrations as well. The Tea Dragons resemble Pokémon except they wander around asking for food, begging for attention and have no power. They're adorable pets--their only commonality to the dragons is one ancestor. The various breeds are mountain chamomile, marshmallow, and fennel. The pictures of food are colorful shapes and have the consistency of Asian food. The list of sign language resources at the back of the book was a bonus I didn't expect.

I can’t to wait to see what Katie O’Neill will come out with next. THE TEA DRAGON FESTIVAL will appeal to children and adults alike. Target ages are elementary school students and older kids, especially those who are reluctant readers.

Thanks to Oni Press for the digital ARC through NetGalley.

This loose prequel to The Tea Dragon Society features Hesekiel and Erik in their younger days. It's a beautifully drawn, gentle tale of friendship and magic with the adorable tea dragons and this time, a full size dragon! Fans of Katie O'Neill's other work will not be disappointed. It's also the first time I've seen a character in a comic/graphic novel using sign language, which was pretty cool.