I enjoyed this book and the illustrations in it. It was heavy on history but it was well written and illustrated which made it an easy read. I would love to read more graphic novels like these and I am pretty sure, this will stay in my mind for a long time.

I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.

What I really enjoyed about this story was just the history, I do LOVE Tudor history and that was a quick, easy read. Even with me already knowing the history.

One thing I quite like about graphic novels is the art and the art for this one was....disappointing. The art seems very amateurish and everyone looks exactly the same. There were times where Mary and Elizabeth are in the same block speaking and you cannot tell the difference between who is who because of the art. That was rather disappointing.

Finally, through netgalley, this was only able to be read on the app which makes it SUPER inconvenient and very tight timeline. Makes me not want to read anything if that is the only option.

I am not generally a graphic novel fan, nor an English history buff, but I loved this!!

Bloody Mary tells the story of how Mary Tudor went from a loyal subject at her father's whim to a powerful tyrant whose name would echo through history. The reader gets to know Mary intimately and the author does a fantastic job of making the reader empathise with a figure who is often not seen favourably. Bloody Mary succeeds in its mission to provide context around Mary's tyranny and connect her hardships in life with her eventual abuse of power.

I absolutely LOVE the art in this graphic novel. I'm not art critic but I immediately recognised that the brushwork and colour palettes are reminiscent of royal portraits of the time, and I think this was such a clever touch. The movements between frames felt organic and there was clear 'light' and 'dark' eras shared by both the narrative and the illustrations.

I highly recommend to history buffs and novices alike. Most of this story was totally new information to me and it was delivered in a very accessible way, and I also think there might be some surprises for the aficionado as well.

This graphic novel gives the history of Mary Tudor from her birth to her death from a first person narrative. I found this book to be enjoyable and informative. It made history interesting while still being educational. I also thought that the art style was beautiful.

Not my cup of tea for reading I could not get into this read!! I would try another from this author ✍🏾

The watercolor art style feels fresh and different. The only criticism I have of the art is that at times, Mary and Elizabeth looked the same, and I only knew who was who when they used their names. The other one is that we don't truly see Mary age. We can clearly see others grow up. Story wise I think it was a good summary of her life. The major events were all talked about. The timing felt off. Some parts of her life went into detail while others were glossed over. I liked the additions of poetry and real letters. I wish more of these were included. Overall, I believe this is a good biography that allows us to see more of who history remembers as Bloody Mary.

Thank you to the author Kristina Gehrmann, the publisher Andrews McMeel Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A beautifully illustrated in a comic style biography of Mary Tudor, or more widely known as Mary I Queen of England, or "Bloody Mary". The first child and daughter of Henry VIII with Catherine of Aragon of Spain.

It was a quick, fresh read and enjoyable for any History enthusiast. The illustrations are stunning and I loved the style.

It narrates Mary I's life since she was born in 1516 until her death in 1558. Her upbringing, what happened to her mother Catherine of Aragon, her complicated dynamic with her father because of their difference and different religious beliefs - she was Catholic; he, a protestant that defied the Catholic Church and the Pope and the Vatican by divorcing his first wife (Mary's mother) and created the Church of England, the Protestant Church.

This reimagined biography story is told by Mary's point of view and perspective at how she observed and felt things. All of this reimagined. Mary I of England was responsible for the burning of 300 protestants over the course of her reign of terror for the course of five years that she reigned, until her death.

Elizabeth Tudor, that would lately be known as Elizabeth I of England, that would lead England to live a 'golden age', the rennaisance of a nation by naval and international expansion and ideals.

This graphic novel depicts Mary Tudor's life, in particular, although highlighting the most important changes in her life - her parents' divorce, her being stripped off her title as Princess of England, her taking care of her sister Princess Elizabeth, her being back at Court and being given her title back as Princess and Heir to the Throne of England after her brother Edward, who would die at the age of 13, her ascent to the throne, her reign of terror and disputes and fear of her sister Elizabeth and what she represented for England - being back to the Protestantism her father created and Elizabeth was born into, her burning 300 protestants to suppress them - 'Bloody Mary' - and trying to impose back Catholicism in England, and her ultimate death in 1558.

In the end, her sister Elizabeth would succeed her to the throne and become Queen Elizabeth I of England, taking England back to protestantism.

It was an enjoyable reading, and as a person that loves History it was a great, quick and easy book to read.

#BloodyMary #Netgalley

The story of Mary Tudor comes alive in this graphic novel. This takes us from her early childhood to her untimely death. There was definitely some glossed over parts but for the most part I felt this biography was balanced. I didn’t love the art style, but the history was well told. This was an enjoyable graphic novel to read. Thank you to NetGalley for a copy to review.

An accessible look into the life of Mary Tudor told through watercolor-like visuals that give an aura of the time she lived in. The graphic novel does an effective job taking you through the basics of her story and political dynamics of the time, while enticing you as the tension heightens. I did find that some of the younger women in particular were a bit hard to distinguish, however.

Bloody Mary by Kristina Gehrmann offers an intriguing look at the life of Mary I, blending history with vivid illustrations. The artwork in the graphic novel was truly well done. The narrative is engaging, but at times it feels a bit rushed, glossing over some of the complexities of Mary’s life and reign. The book provides a good introduction to Mary I’s story, and I look forward to purchasing a copy for my library's collection.

Good way to tell story of Mary and nice illustrations helped younger kids to understand. This was good for my 10 year old.

Bloody Mary: A Graphic Biography of Mary Tudor was a great graphic novel! I teach high school English and it is getting more and more challenging to get students to read. I love this book because it is a great book for reluctant readers to get them reading about things that happened in history. It is just an introductory book on the subject, but it will get students interested. I can't wait to add this title to my classroom library!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC. My opinions are my own and not influenced by receiving a copy. I highly recommend this book and will add it to my classroom library when it is released! It is a great book to get students interested in reading and in history. It would also be great for anyone who is intimidated by reading about complex times in history.

This was a concise but very good account of Mary 1st and her life from childhood right through to adulthood. It is very well researched, very colourful and very engaging. I would definitely recommend it

Oh what a fascinating read!! First of all, I love the art style and coloring. They managed to make King Henry’s face look perfectly punchable 🤭

Most of my knowledge of King Henry and his wives admittedly comes from my obsession with Six, so a bit oversimplified tbf. So I went into this not knowing much about Mary’s life beyond… well, the more famous Bloody Mary aspect of it!

“She really is a Princess of England!” “It’s a pity she wasn’t born a male!”

Overall I’m here for any book that makes learning about old royalty fun and this book definitely accomplished that! It makes me want graphic novels on more major historic events and people so I can learn and look at beautiful art at the same time!

This was a very cute way to learn about Bloody Mary and how she got her name. It was a very fun and refreshing way to relearn the origin of her story.

Kristina Gehrmann's graphic novel offers a nuanced and visually stunning exploration of Mary Tudor, challenging the simplistic "Bloody Mary" narrative that has long defined this complex historical figure. Through meticulously researched storytelling and exquisite watercolor-style illustrations, the book provides a deeply human portrait of England's first reigning queen, tracing her journey from royal princess to persecuted heir to controversial monarch.

The graphic novel stands out for its balanced approach to Mary I's life, delving beyond her notorious reputation to examine the personal and political forces that shaped her reign. Gehrmann skillfully navigates the intricate Tudor court, revealing Mary's struggles, faith, and the profound challenges she faced as a woman ruler in a tumultuous era. While not glossing over the darker aspects of her rule, the book presents a compassionate and multifaceted view of a monarch often reduced to caricature.

With its accessible narrative, rich historical detail, and breathtaking artwork, *Bloody Mary: The Story of Mary Tudor* emerges as a remarkable contribution to historical graphic literature. It successfully bridges the gap between scholarly research and engaging storytelling, making Tudor history accessible to both enthusiasts and newcomers alike. Highly recommended for those seeking a deeper, more empathetic understanding of one of England's most misunderstood monarchs.

A good introduction of the life of Mary I, Queen of England, for those unfamiliar with English history or the Tudor dynasty.

We've always focused on Henry and his wives, but I feel like Mary got side barred a lot. To see and read the history and how Mary became Bloody Mary was good. However, it was sad to see how harsh her life was and how her own dad treated her.

This book was fantastic, I had read on the Tudors but never focused on Mary herself. I loved the artistry of the pictures and truly enjoyed visually seeing the story unfold. For those who are visual learners this book shouldn’t be skipped.


I want to thank NetGalley for the ARC

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This was my first experience with a digital graphic novel and I was blown away! Beautifully done and very informative and engaging for someone who is not familiar with that part of history. I really enjoyed this one.