This was an excellent graphic novel depiction of the life of Mary Tudor. She really does have a fascinating story and this book brought it to life.

a history of mary tudor, whom i did not know much about before. i thought that the watercolors were quite lovely but they are undermined by the amateurish construction of the speech bubbles and the massive blocks of text. i was engaged by the story though, which i think is the most important thing for a graphic novel. i just wish more care had gone into the font & spacing of the words.

⭐⭐✨

In this graphic novel, we follow Mary Tudor from her birth to the very end of her life and all the historical events surrounding her. The story-telling was pretty informative and easy to follow throughout it (specifically the religious aspect of the story). The art style was gorgeous when it came to the castles and landscapes shown, but when it came to character design, it put me off; it seemed rushed in some instances.

Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

2.5 rounding up because I could see this working for someone else, such as a youth who's getting into Tudor history.

This one is a bit of mixed bag for me. I love Tudor history. And seeing things through Mary's eyes is a different approach that should have been an exciting because it is such a different perspective. Yet something just didn't connect for me. The information is solid and does a good job simplifying the mess to be understandable to the masses. But I felt so little connection to any of these characters. Perhaps my disconnect is with the art work; it's all over the places. While I appreciate the overall tone and skill, some of the characters were just poorly done. I had a hard time telling them apart, guess ages, etc.

Thank you to NetGalley for my Advanced Reader's Copy of this book.

"Bloody Mary" by Kristina Gehrmann is an insightful read wrapped in beautiful art.

As a non-english reader, I have always enjoyed learning about England's history. I have found a special interest in the six wives of Henry VIII, and so, this book feeds my interest perfectly.

Besides the gorgeous art, the story follows Mary while painting her life in a new light. The reader can fully understand her struggles and everything that led to History as we know it.

I do wonder if there were any details left unwritten that could have been beneficial to the story. Nevertheless, this book covers almost all the bases in a simple and concise manner.

A historical biography of the daughter of Catalina of Spain. Princess Mary Tudor spends so much of her life being denied. When her chance for power, for righteousness rises up, how will she respond?

A very interesting take on the life of Mary Tudor. Well paced, covers so much of her life. Fascinating and intriguing. Good for many ages.

Princess Mary was the first born to King Henry VIII and Queen C/Katherine of Aragon. History precludes that a male heir would inherit the throne, but any sons produced by Queen Catherine were either stillborn or died shortly after birth. A daughter and son were subsequently produced by King Henry’s subsequent wives. Thereafter ensued battles between King Henry, his wives, Princess Mary, Parliament, the Vatican, and others for the right for Princess Mary to inherit the throne. Eventually we learn about her becoming Queen Mary of Tudor, the first queen of England, and how she arrived with the moniker Bloody Mary … and it’s not because of a cocktail!

I’d be the first to admit that I know practically nothing about the ancient British monarchy, let alone that King Henry VIII was a huge narcissistic jerk. In fact, I did not know about Bloody Mary at all so this graphic novel not only was an extremely educational guide for me, but also presented in a story-like, not textbook, fashion. I enjoyed every aspect of the dialogue which thankfully was written in modern day English, not Shakespeare-like language. The illustrations and colors were lovely. This graphic novel would be appealing to those who’d like to learn about Bloody Mary and for those who are already familiar with the history of British monarchy but wish to add to their reading catalog.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this story

I can't speak on the historical accuracy but I really enjoyed this story. I don't read alot of history related stories but I am trying to get more into them and I think this is a perfect introduction into this topic. Frankly the most I was hoping from this was to learn something new and try to peak my intrest in a new subject and I would say this succeded in doing both. The art style wasnt my favorite but its not the worst. The story itself is pretty fairly paced to cover her entire life

This was a quick and easy read to get some background on Queen Mary. I didn't know a ton about her as we only spoke of her a little bit back in school but it was more of an overview. It was interesting to read about her upbringing and all the things that added up to who she was. The only drawback for me was when it would pop back into 1st person -- I felt it would've been okay to do it as 3rd person as it sometimes would trip me up switching from all the dialogue to it being from Mary (but that's probably just a personal preference!). Great work.

It’s a graphic novel-style biography about Mary Tudor and it does such a good job showing her life beyond the scary nickname. The art is gorgeous, kind of moody and delicate, which fits the whole Tudor drama vibe perfectly.

What I really liked is how human Mary felt in this. You see her as a little kid, a daughter desperate for her father’s approval, and then as a queen just trying to hold it together in a country full of people who basically hate her. It doesn’t sugarcoat the messy parts of her reign, but it also gives context to why she made the choices she did.

If you’re into history, royals being dramatic, or just love a good graphic novel with beautiful art and solid storytelling, I would be heavily recommending it to you. It’s a fast read but leaves you thinking about it after.

I rated it a solid 4/5, I don’t read graphic novels often but this one sucked me in and now I kinda want a whole series on Tudor queens done like this.

A Visually Striking and Thoughtful Reimagining of Mary Tudor’s Life

Kristina Gehrmann’s Bloody Mary offers a compelling and nuanced portrayal of one of England’s most controversial monarchs. Through expressive line work and lush watercolor illustrations, Gehrmann brings to life the complex journey of Mary Tudor—from her early years as the daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon to her reign as the first queen to inherit the English throne in her own right.

The graphic novel excels in humanizing Mary, often vilified in history for her zealous efforts to restore Catholicism in England. By incorporating real quotes from historical documents and letters, Gehrmann adds authenticity to the narrative, allowing readers to understand Mary’s motivations and the personal and political challenges she faced.

While the artwork is undeniably beautiful and the storytelling engaging, some readers might find the pacing a bit slow, particularly in the early chapters focusing on Mary’s childhood. Additionally, a deeper exploration of the broader political context during her reign could have enriched the narrative.

Overall, Bloody Mary is a thoughtfully crafted graphic novel that sheds light on the complexities of Mary Tudor’s life and reign. It’s a valuable read for history enthusiasts and those interested in the Tudor period, offering a fresh perspective on a figure often overshadowed by her successors.

What a wonderful way to learn more about Tudor History.
Bloody Mary is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel that explores the life of Mary Tudor, from her childhood as Henry VIII’s daughter to her death and the rise of Elizabeth I. Often reduced to her nickname, Bloody Mary, this book offers a more nuanced and human portrait of a misunderstood queen.

The watercolor artwork and comic-style narration make complex historical events, such as England's religious and political turmoil, easy to follow and engaging. Real quotes, thoughtful storytelling, and detailed settings like the Tower of London add authenticity.

This book is overall very accessible, well-researched, and visually stunning, a must-read for Tudor fans and a great entry point for newcomers.

Thank you to Kristina Gehrmann, Andrews McMeel Publishing, and Netgalley for the ARC.

"Bloody Mary" is a graphic novel by Kristina Gehrmann.

The story follows Mary from birth until her death.
I appreciated the way she was portrayed, showing how her religious faith influenced her decisions and shaped both her personal life and her reign.
I also liked that the story included the well-known tales of her father and his six wives, as these are significant parts of Mary's life and legacy.

I like that it kept the famous stories of her father and his 6 wives. All of these are important parts of Mary's life.

Highlights:
The hidden “easter eggs” at the end:
extra insights into what happens to the other characters
and a behind-the-scenes look at the comic-making process (so much work clearly went into it!)
The artwork is beautiful, and I loved the costumes.
The colours are subtle yet so evocative of the story’s tone and period.


Overall:
I enjoyed the story and all its rich details. It’s refreshing to see Mary given her own narrative, rather than just a brief mention in history books. I recommend this to history lovers, Tudor enthusiasts, and anyone who enjoys beautifully illustrated graphic novels about strong women.
The part about her pregnancy and the pressure queens faced to produce heirs was particularly well depicted.

Thank you to Kristina Gehrmann, Andrews McMeel Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this graphic novel.

I’ve always loved the Tudor era, and this book was such a fun and accessible way to explore Mary I’s life. It’s a great intro if you're curious about her story, but don’t want to dive into something super dense.

The art really stood out to me—vibrant and expressive, capturing Mary from her childhood to her death. It made history feel alive and added so much to the storytelling.

What I appreciated most was how Mary was portrayed in a more nuanced light. She’s often vilified in history, but I thought Gehrmann did a great job showing how her faith influenced her decisions, without turning her into a caricature.

That said, the book does focus a lot on her early years. I would’ve loved to see more time spent on her fight for the crown—it’s covered, but felt a little glossed over. I’m not sure if that’s because the story is told from Mary’s perspective, but I definitely wanted more of that part.

Still, I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who loves history, especially fellow Tudor fans!

Thank you to Kristina Gehrmann, Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for review. This book will be released on July 15th, 2025.

I love getting close to history through unconventional ways and this graphic novel was perfection! I really enjoyed the art style, the story and how it was developed throughout the book

Overall, Bloody Mary is a beautiful looking book that has an ambitious goal of showing us the entirety of Queen Mary's life.

At times, the book feels bogged down in intricacies of church history, and early in the bk, spends more time on her father's marriages than on Mary herself, which means we don't see much of her youth beyond reacting to her father's choices.

Obviously, this is a story very steeped in religious history, but it felt like I needed to have a stronger grasp of religious doctrine and the tensions of the time to keep the middle part of the bok interesting.

During the depiction of Mary's time as queen. we see a lot of depraved violence, often quite graphically depicted on the page. However, I don't think the book goes far enough in showing her actions as problematic rather than divine, making it inappropriate for younger audiences. It is hard to say that a book with multiple pictures of heads on stakes and people burning alive downplays the violence of the time, but I do think that this one does.

When I was in high school, I snuck in secret episodes of The Tudors. Learning about the life of King Henry VIII has always intrigued me. He lived quite an illustrious life and his legacy is still discussed to this day. Last year I saw a musical called Six, a fun concert featuring his six wives. Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived...live! A perspective we don't often get was his first daughter, Mary Tudor. I did like the format of Bloody Mary as a comic. It felt very accessible and palatable to the uninformed reader. There were moments that dragged on or felt repetitive, but it's to be expected with an intense biography. I thought the artwork was lovely, especially with the historically accurate wardrobe. I would be happy to read more from this author detailing other important figures in history. Although Bloody Mary barely got her heinie on the throne, she still made an impact!

A chronological telling of Mary’s life as “told” by her spans her magnificent life, starting from her “first memory” at the age of two to becoming the first queen to inherit the throne of an England in disarray. Once rejected at birth, Mary was certain the cause of suffering was her subjects’ rejection of the one true faith: Catholicism. Her zealous campaign to re-Catholicize England was unrelenting in its brutality, re-christening her, “Mary, the Bloody.”

This graphic novel is a great way to tell the story of Mary Tudor and how she came to be queen of England.
As always, using comics or graphic novels is an excellent way to teach history is a way that is entertaining. I remember learning some things about Queen Mary but don't remember why she had some many killed and tortured.
Such a troubled and painful life, but I will never understand how the love of God can lead to such cruelty.

Highly recommended. Expected publish date: July 15, 2025
Thanks to @netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

I thought that this book was interesting. I knew about Queen Mary's story, but I think this book is great for teens and tweens who are interested in history and/or are struggling readers. I will suggest this for English language learners or history buffs if my library purchases this title.

As someone fascinated by the Tudors, this comic was right up my alley. Recounting the story of Mary I of England, Bloody Mary showcases the life and motivations of the queen, with delicate, watercolour illustrations bringing the story to life.

If the author is planning to bring out other historical comics, in the future, I would like to see an illustrated note at the end, showing how the actions of the historical figure stuck around after their passing.

Thank you to Kristina Gehrmann, Andrews McMeel Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC.