Super sweet addition to the story, I'm hoping to get my hands on a physical copy soon since the art is just so much better viewed on paper than digitally.
I can't wait to read more stories by Katie O'Neill, they all just fill me with a kind of warmth that brings light to my day.
In this book I love the addition of the full dragons to the sweet friendship of tea dragons.

Just like with The Tea Dragon Society, this was fantastic, Katie O'Neill can do no wrong. I think i enjoyed this even more than the first book. Once again I loved the art work because it's so cute and adorable, and I just fell in love with it. I loved this graphic novel even more than the first one, but I enjoyed this story's plot even more, I felt that there was more of a purpose to the story, and I enjoyed the story's message.
The characters were another aspect that I liked, all of them were great and had a very unique purpose in the story and within the community. I like how the story incorporated sigh language with the character Lesa, and the fact that after she was born the entire village took it upon themselves to learn it so they could communicate with her. This was adorable and I look forward to reading more by the author in the future.

Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I read a comic or a Graphic novel and enjoyed it as much as this one. It seems a bit wrong to call this book a 'Graphic Novel' as it is too short to really qualify as that and, somehow, does not fit the 'Comic' category either.  It lies somewhere in between I guess.

There are various impediments to reading comics/ graphic novels in my mind – the main one being that these books are really expensive and you gobble them up in something like 20 minutes and then are left to twiddle your thumbs. What makes them really worthwhile, more often than not, is the artwork in these books. Splurging on these kind of books becomes justified only when it is a truly beautiful book with a great story that you can look at over and over again.

The Tea Dragon Festival is a sequel to the the very well-received Tea Dragon Society. I had not read the first book before and thus was pleasantly surprised when my request to view this particular book was accepted by NetGalley and the Publishers.

The major problem I had was trying to read this e-book on my laptop. It certainly takes away from the beauty of the illustrations when you are trying to fit a page onto your unwieldy screen and some of the impact that you would have when you saw it in physical book form is certainly lost. I am sure the experience is certainly better for people with i-Pads which lend themselves very well to reading comics and graphic novels.

The art is lovely, of course, in shades of soothing pastels, although done digitally which for me is a bit of a downer as compared to art work done with traditional media. But I have this on good authority from people who are avid readers of this genre that they actually prefer digital art – these people are invariably young!

The story is a sweet one and targeted more towards 12 year old kids, with just the correct amount of mystery, magic and love to entice them in. Also, the cute tea dragons are mainly the backdrop in this book, which deals with another kind of shape-shifting dragon who wakes up after being asleep for decades. It reminded me a bit of the story of Rip Van Winkle, was it?

There are various themes handled in this book, from family, friendship, finding what you are really good at and acceptance. I enjoyed this book certainly and for fans of previous book in this series, this will be another beautiful addition to the set.

I just wish it had been a little longer and  that all the characters had been given more screen time. Since I haven’t read the previous books I have no idea whether they appear in the earlier books and hence need no deeper character development. Also, it took me a while to figure out why the tea-dragons were called tea-dragons in the first place. The beginning of the book was also a bit abrupt, as if the author had simple picked up from where she left off in the last book. The location of the story is also left open-ended in a way, but considering that it is a book for the younger lot a bit more description in the world building would have certainly helped.

All in all, a good book for gifting to little girls. Or boys.

In a sort of prequel to Tea Dragon Society, this book follows Rin, an aspiring cook and excellent forager in the village of Silverleaf. While out searching for ingredients, she happens upon Aedhan, a dragon who has been asleep for the last 80 years.

Much like its predecessor, this comic's story is as warm and rich as the beautiful color palate. We sit back and enjoy Aedhan slipping back into his role as protector of the village. Hesekiel and Erik are the connecting thread from the first book and they're here to work out what kept Aedhan asleep for so long.

You can just curl up with these books and you get the feeling of wandering barefoot through a lush forest. They're so calming and beautiful and not a bit boring despite not being chock full of sword-swinging or magical battles. A joy to read multiple times. 5 out of 5.

I just adore Katie O'Neill books. The book is beautiful, peaceful, whimsical, enjoyable and inclusive.

I LOVE this graphic novel. Not only do we have a number of humanoids in all shades of the rainbow, but we have LGBTQ+ rep and ASL used throughout. I love how our main dragon friend works through his grief of being put to sleep for 80 years and learns how to make up for it since he’s awake now. Beautifully illustrated and while you can read it with The Tea Dragon Society it’s not super necessary to read them in any particular order

obviously this is just a precious graphic novel, and I love the art style, I love the storyline, the plot, the characters. everything about it was just awesome! It's diverse, sweet, but also has a great message. After reading the Tea Dragon Society I jumped right into this one, and couldn't get enough. I was honestly sad when both graphic novels were over. highly recommend them!

There is not enough words to describe the cuteness of this series!! A companion to The Tea Dragon Society, The Tea Dragon Festival is a wonderful return to the lush world of tea dragons; while at the same time a wonderful standalone that even new readers will enjoy.

Of course expect more cute tea dragons, blooming flora and lovable characters. It’s good to see beloved characters Hese and Erik, and to meet new ones like Rinn, Aedhan, and more. I also loved the artist’s rendering of the character design of the real dragon. The tea dragon idea is already an adorable and refreshing take on the familiar mythical creature, but Katie O’Neill has yet again successfully created a dragon as unique as Aedhan.

I am pleased that the second book still got O’Neill’s signature heartwarming storytelling and inclusivity. Pretty much one of the very few books to do so in an effortless and authentic way, in my opinion.

I highly recommend this for anyone who, like me, loves stories of coming home and found families. Prepare your eyes for a visual treat, and maybe also prepare a cup or two of hot tea for that perfect reading experience 🍃

Big thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for providing a copy of this wonderful book in exchange for an honest review.

I was so happy to receive the message that I can download this title since I loved Tea Dragon Society from my Owlcrate box. However I was only able to get down at my laptop and download the actual book a week later and was surprised to see it was already archived. I am very sorry I lost the opportunity to read this and that I will not be able to review this.

This was insanely cute, adorable, and whimsical.
Has amazing representation, and I can I just say that I wanna just steal chamomile and keep it with me *sobs in tea dragons*

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2958618561

In addition to Tea Dragons being a part of her everyday life, Rinn also love food, cooking, and foraging. While foraging, Rinn runs across Aedhan, a dragon sent to protect her village. Instead of protecting them, however, Aedhan took an 80 year nap. Now Rinn and the village must help Aedhan cope with the loss of time and figure out how he fell asleep for so long. Will they be able to figure it out? The enchanting, lovable characters draw the reader into the story. The creatures are endearing and the illustrations are eye-catching. Young fans of dragons, graphic novels, and cute creatures will be sure to adore this book. This is a companion to Tea Dragon Society.

The Tea Dragon Festival is a companion to The Tea Dragon Society, but it can be read alone as well.
Rinn enjoys spending time with her Uncle Erik and his partner Hesekiel, as well as learning about and caring for the tea dragons. One day she meets a real dragon named Aedhan, who has just awakened from 80 years of sleep and who has no idea where he is or what happened to him. Rinn befriends Aedhan and tries to help him remember, but she also helps him move beyond the past and enjoy life in the present.
I received The Tea Dragon Society in an OwlCrate last year, and I was astonished by the beautiful artwork and the expressiveness of the characters' faces that told a story without words. I found the same thing to be true with this graphic novel as well. The author is a master at creating a feel-good story (with a desire for tea and wanting my own tea dragon as a side effect). Though I don't agree with or promote some of the material presented, this book is beautiful, well done, and an encouraging read that teaches great lessons about friendship and helping others. I am looking forward to the next book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

You know those books that just seem to wrap their arms around you in a warm, soul-enriching embrace? That is what Katie O’Neill’s “The Tea Dragon Festival” did for me. Set in a gentle, loving world where dragons are protective of humans and everyone looks out for everyone else in more ways than one, The Tea Dragon Festival is a treat for wearied minds.

Who can resist being utterly charmed by these little creatures called Tea Dragons who sprout different kinds of tea leaves? Or a dragon named Aedhan that has just woken up from an 80-year nap that he was put into unwittingly?

But if you look beyond the magnetic pull of the cute factor, there is the strong spirit of goodness that runs through the story. Aedhan is remorseful that he has slept away 80 years and has not protected the village as he should have. To remedy it, he accompanies Rinn back to her home, helps her out, and watches over the village. Then there is Rinn herself who looks out for her mute friend, foraging her favourite herbs and vegetables, giving Aedhan a home, and looking after the Tea Dragons. There is the picture of a well-meaning, close-knit community where the villagers are there for each other.

I loved this envisioning of a beautiful world filled with magic and charm and all things nice where nobody can do any harm. Even the creature that puts Aedhan to sleep “never meant to make people sad.” I adored O’Neill’s rich illustrations that makes the story more enchanting to read. It reminded me of some of the Ghibli animations that deftly intersperse the parallel worlds of magic and reality. Or perhaps they are all on the same plane and we are just too jaded to see it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a copy for review!

Adorable! I love the Tea Dragons and the characters are great. I hope we get more of this world in the future. I would also love Tea Dragon Merchandise.

This was such a precious graphic novel with stunning artwork and amazing diversity. It tells the story of Rinn, a young girl living in the mountains who is a little disillusioned with her role as a forager for her village. One day she has an unexpected encounter with a dragon who has been asleep for 80 years. Firstly, the artwork is absolutely beautiful. The colours are really vibrant and the line drawings are simplistic without being basic. I loved the variety of on page representation at play in this novel, particularly the way in which the whole village learned ASL to better communicate with the deaf character. There are some great moral messages encapsulated in the narrative, but they're not intrusive and speak more to acceptance of difference than anything else, which I really appreciated. My only criticism is that I felt the narrative felt a little bit disjointed, particularly around chapters 5 and 6, but overall, this was a really wholesome book that children and adults can both love...and can I please have a Tea Dragon?!
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I was a big fan of the Tea Dragon Society, and I hoped so much that Katie O'Neill would release a sequel. I was excited to learn there would be a new book set in this vibrant world, and I am so delighted with The Tea Dragon Festival, a prequel that is perfect in every way.

The story is so sweet and tender, a fantasy story that is especially suitable for readers more concerned with worldbuilding, cute characters, and beautiful illustrations than they are concerned with action-packed fight scenes. The inclusion of sign language was great, especially the way that it is shown as being an important part of the community so that everyone can feel a part of it. The messages in this story are sweet, touching, and worth learning for readers of any age.

I would generally recommend anything from Katie O'Neill, and this precious fantasy comic is no exception!

Wow this was so cute! I loved the story and the art style. This book had a really good message. Our main character stumbles upon a sleeping dragon. Her village hasn't seen a dragon in a long time. This dragon wakes up when she finds him. They soon discover that this dragon has been asleep for 80 years. He was supposed to be watching over this village helping them when needed. Our main character than makes it her mission to make this dragon feel welcome and not guilty for sleeping for so long. This is a great book for friendship

“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 your gift.”

Most of you know, that I fell head over heels in love with The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O’Neill last year, so when I got my hands on an ARC of this, I knew I had no option but to read it and fall in love with it immediately. And, dear reader, that is exactly what happened. This story, this art, and these messages are gifts from above, I swear to you all, and I recommend this companion novel to you all with my whole heart and soul.

At the very start of this graphic novel, we see some familiar faces prepping for the tea dragon festival. But this story stars Rinn who, while collecting things, meets a dragon named Aedhan, and invites them to the festival! Meanwhile, Erik and Hesekiel are back and are bounty hunters who are searching for something ancient that can put people to sleep for decades.

This is an incredibly diverse work of art. Rinn in nonbinary/genderfluid, Erik and Hesekiel are in a m/m relationship, there is Sign Language being used and being taught to the entire village, and the cast is full of people of color with visible brown skin. The actual blessings.

Seeing Aedhan teach Rinn about how dragons can shift between genders was something more beautiful that words to me. Also, seeing Aedhan help Rinn see that they are worthy and have so much value, and that they should never feel lesser for getting enjoyment and pride from gathering and forging… I’m still so soft. And this story really puts an emphasis on how you can cook with love, and how preparing and sharing food can be something so intimate and so filled with unconditional love and joy.

Overall, I really just think that this is a masterpiece. The art is truly on another level as well, and it fills my heart and soul with so much happiness. I also just really appreciate the reminder that you are always needed, and you are always worthy of value and love.

Katie O'Neill crafts a beautiful story in a rich and unique world, and I am such a huge fan of hers. This is a worthy follow-up to the incredible Tea Dragon Society, and I want to live inside this book forever.

Loved this story! What a great addition to the Tea Dragon world. Katie O'Neill's art is always charming and whimsical, with amazing use of movement and color. The story and its characters are so inclusive, everyone can find someone to relate to, and the plot will certainly tug at your heartstrings. I already recommend Tea Dragon Society at my store, and I can't wait until I can recommend The Tea Dragon Festival.