Graphic Novel Review: The Tea Dragon Festival by K. O’Neill
The Details
Media Type: Graphic Novel
Title: The Tea Dragon Festival
Series: The Tea Dragon Series
Author(s): K. O’Neill
Publisher: Oni Press
Pages/Length: Hardcover; 134
Release Date: September 17, 2019
Source: Library Borrow
Add it on: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Oni Press
Rinn has grown up with the Tea Dragons that inhabit their village, but stumbling across a real dragon turns out to be a different matter entirely! Aedhan is a young dragon who was appointed to protect the village but fell asleep in the forest eighty years ago. With the aid of Rinn’s adventuring uncle Erik and his partner Hesekiel, they investigate the mystery of his enchanted sleep, but Rinn’s real challenge is to help Aedhan come to terms with feeling that he cannot get back the time he has lost
The Review
Oh. My. GOODNESS. I thought that this series couldn’t get any cuter, and I was dead wrong. From the very first page The Tea Dragon Festival absolutely stole my heart. If you didn’t read my rambling review of the first book, I’ll recap for you. Soft color palettes, lovely floral backgrounds, gorgeous panels that slowly flow into one another and just make you feel so at ease. That’s the highlight of these stories. K. O’Neill takes you on a journey into a world where time, patience, family and friends are all in equal balance. It’s so gloriously calming, and one of my new favorite places to visit.
In this particular volume, we see another part of the Tea Dragon family. A tiny village, tucked away in nature, that treats Tea Dragons as a part of their familial unit. We meet Rinn, a cousin of the ever sweet Erik, and fall into step with her as she forages in the wild and spends time with family and friends. She meets Aedhan, and a wonderful friendship starts to bloom. Once again, every single panel in this whole book is a gem. You can tell how lovingly O’Neill has shaped each one of these characters, down to the point where Rinn’s grandmother made me teary eyed. This a family, and they are all important to one another. It felt like I was accepted into that as well.
My favorite part of this book though was the inclusion of sign language. As one of the characters communicates via sign language, the entire village has taken the time to learn as well. I was overjoyed by this fact! The characters’ hand placements while they spoke were so perfect. Seeing everyone do the sign for applause in one of the panels made me smile so large, I probably looked a little crazy. Such beautiful inclusion, and done in such a loving way. I seriously cannot gush enough.
Have I mentioned that you need to read this series? You need to read this series.
