The author does a wonderful job of depicting life during the Tudor reign . She focuses here on the life of Mary Tudor, the first heir legitimately born to Henry VIII. Sadly standing in the way to her succession is the fact she was born female.
The story follows from her viewpoint from early childhood,growing up in the Tudor court, her father’s frustration at his then wife’s ( Katherine of Aragorn ) inability to bear him a male heir. Her mother is cast aside ( annullment) which then led to Mary being declared illegitimate, despite the people’s love for her.
Throughout it all,Mary is unwaivering. Her faith in her God and religion remains resolute. She is depicted as having a strong love for her half siblings, Elizabeth and Edward despite all she endures. The scene in which a very young and overwhelmed king Edward collapses in his older sisters arms is truly heartbreaking .
Mary’s eventual reign, during which many are executed for conspiring against the crown ,earning her the nickname ‘Bloody Mary’ is fraught with treason and tragedy. The author does wonderful job of making the reader empathetic to Mary. I found myself compelled to continue reading,hoping for a happier ending for Mary despite already knowing.
The author does wonderful work depicting the scenery of the time with gorgeously muted watercolors.

That was okay ? I guess really I don't know what to think of it ...
Wasn't a fan of the drawing style or the storytelling so I spend a long time skimming through it

I really didn't know much about Mary Tudor and was curious to learn more about why she was called Bloody Mary. I think there was a lot of great information that broke down her birth to death and the important roles being a princess, being religious, and being the daughter of Henry the VIII had in leading to her namesake. The art style and color felt perfect for the storyline and time period. I think younger readers would really enjoy the crazy history of this woman and learn a lot about the historical point in England, religion, and the monarchy.

Bloody Mary is beautifully illustrated with muted watercolor strokes and perfectly condensed information of the life of Mary Tudor. I really liked how we start from the beginning;chronicling her life at court, her mother's exile, her reign as queen and the terror brought to her people, and her death which makes way for Elizabeth's reign. Gehrmann's perspective of England's first queen is tragic, yet filled with compassion that is left out of history books; it encompasses the weight of being unwanted, an "illegitimate" child to a dynasty that shaped England for centuries, and her own conviction in her faith that anchored her. Mary's reign was wrought with terror, but she too, left a lasting mark on history.

A great primer and addition to Tudor history!

This is a comic book-like biography of the only living child of King Henry VIII and his first wife Katharine of Aragon, Princess Mary...also known as "Bloody Mary"- for ordering the burnings of heretics during her reign. The book is just over 300 pages with authentic looking color illustrations that sport bubbles of dialogue in comic book style. I recognized The Tower of London, The Great Hall in Hampton Court Palace, and Westminster Abbey- for a few notable British Royal locales. The book ends upon Queen Mary's death and with her younger step-sister Princess Elizabeth ascending the throne. As a passionate reader of Tudor history, it was a pleasure to digest it in a totally different way. For such a time in British royal history that was so turbulent and consequential, it somehow made it more palatable and lighthearted to digest with its splashes of watercolor and concise narration. The author included an end piece where she described how she created these comic strips with certain tablets, programs, printers and inks, and with supporting photos of these stages of development.

Thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing / Simon & Schuster who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

As someone that did not know anything about the Mary Tudor, this book was a easy entrance and glimpse of what was her life. Obviously, there is author interpretation to her story and does try to be as historical as possible, but it can be used to get someone interested about the history of Mary Tudor. After reading this book, I read some biographies online and the mayor point in here life are told in this graphic biography. This helped me cleared out some misconceptions of her life and get a clear picture of her reign in England. Very interesting. I definitely liked it. Good for history teachers that want to get their students interested in Queen Mary I, or really, anyone in general.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for sending me this ARC for my honest opinion.*

Book Review: *Bloody Mary: The Graphic Novel* by Kristina Gehrmann
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)

When I picked up *Bloody Mary*, I had no idea what I was walking into. I didn’t check the genre — just dove in, expecting something spooky or fictional. But instead, I found myself immersed in a beautifully illustrated **biographical graphic novel** about one of England’s most controversial monarchs: Mary Tudor.

From the very beginning, I was drawn in. By the halfway point, it felt like I was reading the political equivalent of *Game of Thrones* — full of royal drama, betrayal, and ideological warfare. And that’s not an exaggeration. The **political tension** and **power dynamics** in this book are so well-portrayed, it’s hard to believe you're reading actual history.

Kristina Gehrmann has done a fantastic job balancing historical accuracy with engaging storytelling. The **artwork is stunning** and truly elevates the narrative, capturing not only the period’s grandeur but Mary’s emotional journey. It’s not fast-paced, but the story flows naturally — never too slow, yet deliberate. It did take me some time to finish, but only because I kept stopping to absorb the art and the layers of history unfolding.

Mary Tudor is often painted as a villain in popular culture, but this book offers a **more nuanced, empathetic portrayal**. It shows her not as a one-dimensional figure, but as a woman shaped by trauma, loss, and the relentless demands of power. Her loyalty to her beliefs, her dignity under pressure, and her personal struggles are all presented with depth and care. I felt for her. Deeply.

That said, the ending left me gutted. Not because it was poorly written — it’s history, after all — but because it was so *real*. Her life didn’t end in glory, but in solitude and pain. And still, her strength shone through.

If you’re into **historical biographies**, **royal history**, or **graphic novels that actually make you *feel***, you need to read this. I especially recommend it for **young women**, as it offers both inspiration and a powerful reflection on how women in history are remembered (or misremembered).

It’s a **solid 4-star** read for me. Some sections felt slightly stretched, but overall, it’s a brilliant blend of fact, emotion, and artistry. Highly recommend it.

This did not work for me, The premise of a graphic novel biography of Mary Tudor is great, but the execution is just very mediocre. The art is really beautiful in some panels, but then other ones are just incredibly awkwardly drawn, which takes you out of the story and really shatters the immersion. For example, King Henry's face is just sooo weird looking? Which is quite problematic with how big of a role he obviously plays in Mary's life. Another example would be the fact that the younger characters do not look their ages, 10 year-old Mary looks like she's 18, which is very off-putting. The story-telling is fine, but nothing outstanding.

This graphic novel focuses on the life of Mary I of England, with an in-depth description of his family's story.
The book is perfect for those who are interested in this part of the English history and can read about it in a more interesting and stimulating way.
The author covered Mary's story from the reign of her father till her death. and I think they did a great job at selecting what to write and draw. Also. the drawings were really well done and their style fits perfectly with the historical period represented.
Being honest it was a bit confusing when it came to remembering who were some secondary characters, I wanted more footnotes about them, but overall it has been a great and interesting read.
Thank you Kristina Gehrmann, Andrews McMeel Publishing and Netgalley for the arc.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for this comic arc.

This graphic novel about Mary Tudor is quite stunning, with beautiful watercolor art that shows off the fancy royal life and the loneliness that came with it. It uses real quotes from history, which helps make the story feel more real.

But the way the story is told doesn’t always work. It goes through Mary’s life in order, but it feels more like a list of events than a real story. Mary’s thoughts and feelings don’t always feel natural, and sometimes the writing is a bit too dramatic. Some parts are slow, while others feel rushed.

Overall, it’s a pretty book with an interesting idea, but the storytelling isn’t strong enough to keep it engaging all the way through.

4.5/5 rounded down

Bloody Mary is a brief dramatised history of Queen Mary I, the first queen of England.

The artwork in this graphic novel is stunning. Whilst the facial features are somewhat simplistic they convey a range of emotions very well. the mixture of line work and watercolour make this an eye catching read.

The Tudor period in general is a historical period of great interest to me and to many others. Often in history Queen Mary is villainized and most takes lack the nuance to understand her actions, why she did what she did. Yes, she committed some atrocities, I'm not excusing that, but even in such a brief history of her life, Gehrmann explores the why and gives her some semblance of justice.

The only thing keeping this from a 5star is I would have liked a bit more about the time period in general linked in to her story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My thanks to both NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for an advance copy of this graphic novel biography about a princess who became a queen, once loved, but considered a tyrant, showing that being a princess sometimes is not the best thing in the world.

I never thought about being a prince as a child, though my parents did call me one when I was stubborn or lazy, something my mother calls my nephews now. I did have a cousin who talked all the time about being a princess, and how great it would be. She would talk about dresses, galas, suitors, ladies in waiting and all the great things that being a princess would gain her. As I grew up and read more and more history, I found out the being a princess was not always a great thing. A princess something to be used in barter. Marrying a princess off could end a war, form a treaty, end a war, and get rid of extra children. When there was trouble in the realm, being a royal could be considered a problem. Only one can rule, and others just confuse the matter, and confusion could lead to being sent to the Tower. One could be a loving daughter, the next stripped of titles, and left in a limbo, like Mary Tudor was. As with many people in history there are lots of legends, rumors and stories, this graphic novel tries to get to the truth of the person who was once beloved, but soon was considered a blood soaked tyrant. Bloody Mary: A Graphic Biography of Mary Tudor by is written and illustrated by Kristina Gehrmann and tells the story of a princess who saw much change in the country she was too rule, rule in a short yet very violent time.

Mary Tudor was the oldest child of King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. This was becoming a problem as the King wanted and needed a male heir to secure his power base. Catherine had gone through 3 miscarriages and had one son who died early in childhood. Mary was a precocious child, able to talk and entertain people older than her, but her sex was a problem, a problem that Henry was going to do something about. Mary was sent to Wales, while plans were made to marry her off. At the same time Henry's eyes began to stray to another woman. Henry hatched a plan to annul his marriage to Catherine, allowing him to marry in hopes of producing an heir. The plan was unpopular, causing a schism with Rome, and making Henry declare himself the leader of the Church. Mary was strongly Catholic, and against this, but had no choice, soon she wasn't even a princess, losing to her new sister Elizabeth her place in the line of succession. Soon there was a male heir, but the heir's health was not the best. And plots, plans, and other schemes began to make life in England very difficult for quite a lot.

A very good book, one that I found fascinating and easy to follow. English history can be a pain with so many similar names popping up in different eras, but Gehrmann does an excellent job of keeping everything clear, and easy to follow. One understands the problems of succession, the different forces trying to gain, and most often losing power, along with the many that lost their heads. Gehrmann is also the illustrator, and the art is really quite good. Bright, clear and shiny, with characters that are easy to recognize, with a lot of consistency. The writing and the art work well together and help make a complicated story easy to follow, and easy to get lost in.

This is the first work I have read either art or writing by Gehrmann and I quite enjoyed it. As I stated English history can be confusing. This covered quite a lot of events and made everything easy to understand, and enjoyable. Recommended for younger readers, as well as older ones who have read a lot of Alison Weir, or Sharon Kay Penman, and want a better understanding of the era.

This graphic novel offers a vivid and accessible take on a turbulent historical era. While I was already familiar with much of the history covered, I still appreciated the narrative structure and the visual storytelling, which added a fresh dimension to well-known events. For readers who might find traditional history texts daunting, this is an excellent alternative. It moves quickly, yet still covers the essential facts, making it a compelling way to engage with the past.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love the Tudors, so knew I would like it. And I did, for the most part. I thought the facts were interesting and obviously well researched. I did not love the flow of the text though or the way the point of view changed. I feel like you probably need to really like the Tudors in order to enjoy this book or need to read it for a class.

I didn’t enjoy the art style, but that was a personal preference. The colour palette used was nice, but the actual drawings did not work for me.

While the art was well done, and the story factually accurate, it read like a textbook. The tense of the narrative is inconsistent so it is hard to tell if it is meant to be a dry recitation of facts (with supporting pictures) or if the author was trying (and largely failing sadly) to present a more immersive tale, connecting the reader to the characters.

It could be used in a classroom setting, but don't recommend it for pleasure reading.

A great way to learn about English history in a fun way through a graphic novel. Students would gravitate to this book. I learned more than I knew.

A graphic novel depicting the life of and reign of Queen Mary I, also known as Bloody Mary.

She lived during a very tumultuous and bloody and unstable time during England’s history, mostly due to her father, Henry VIII, who’s notorious nowadays for going through wives like toilet paper and treating them with the same amount of care. I knew the basics before going in but not the details or the political/religious maneuvering going on behind the scenes, so that was interesting to see illustrated. I never liked Henry VIII but wow I dislike him even more after reading this… may he rightfully be complained about for all eternity to make up for the unrest he bestowed during his dysfunctional reign.

But back to Mary. It focused on her faith, how she dealt with her father and his revolving door of wives, and her own political maneuvering to stay alive. She seemed a good person who stuck to her morals early in her life, but after she comes into power, it goes bit downhill. The early parts of this graphic novel were focused a bit more on her family rather than her, and even after she’s in power that part felt brief by comparison, so I’m not sure this focused on Mary as much as it could have. I’m also not sure where the sources for this came from, so that would have been helpful to know.

The coloring was pretty, like water color, though the art style wasn’t my favorite. This does make the history easy to comprehend, and I could imagine middle grade or above students reading this to learn some English history.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for and eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I would like to thank the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this eBook.

As someone very interested in the Tudors, I enjoyed reading this book. Bloody Mary is an excellent graphic novel about Queen Mary. The art style was clean. I hope the author writes more biographical graphic novels in the future.

I did not like the art style of this one, It was not engaging and lacked visual depth. I got bored with it quickly, which is a shame because the Tudor era is one of my favorite time periods.

It’s fascinating to see Mary’s history from someone who doesn’t go straight to turning her to a villain. as far as comics go it is a little dry though. The art style is really appealing but sometimes I felt the background was oversimplified but that’s a personal preference issue. Ultimately I enjoyed reading this !