Dylan MeconisRecensioni

really great, very lovely, looking forward to the sequel! (hopefully coming out in 2025)

The art is spectacular, the main character is charming, and gives the book a sweet, youthful perspective.. The story is so interesting.

Wow! I got completely absorbed in this and read it in one sitting. It's a big, heavy book, but it didn't take long to read. It has elements of mystery, history, and feels like book one in a series (a series that I will definitely keep reading).

I've watched all 17 hours of the BBC's Monarchy documentary, so I know a thing or two about British royalty. I really enjoyed that this was similar enough to real history see the connections, but different enough to be intriguing and surprising. This is a weird comparison, but it reminded me of why I like the HBO show Succession -- it can be as outrageous as it wants to be because it's fiction, but it still feels like it's about real people.

There's a lot of great explaining in this book about convent life, island life, and political machinations. It will appeal to historical fiction readers even though "Albion" isn't a real place. There's an author's note at the end that explains how Eleanor is based on Elizabeth but the plot is entirely made up.

Though they are dissimilar in many ways, fans of [b:My Lady Jane|22840421|My Lady Jane (The Lady Janies, #1)|Cynthia Hand|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1444923765l/22840421._SY75_.jpg|42397220] may also enjoy this alternate-England.

Not really sure who the intended audience of this title was—maybe high school students?

The book tries to tell the story of both Harlow and his work, and it didn't really work for me, since Harlow's life wasn't sufficiently dramatic. Still, an interesting moment in the history of science.

Dylan Meconis does a fine job with the art, but her skill has definitely improved since this title.

Very charming and beautifully illustrated. I've always adored memento mori art, and seeing a modern spin on it was completely delightful.

Y'all. This book! Am I super late in reviewing this? Hell yeah, but i'm coming back now to tell you - TOTALLY worth the read. The illustrations are top tier, the writing is great. I finished it all in one sitting. I totally recommend it. 5/5 stars.

This is an absolutely gorgeous and compulsively engaging graphic novel based (loosely) on some pretty big-time history. I had to look it up -- the story of Queen Elizabeth I (who reigned in the 16th century) and her crappy sister Mary, who usurped her and locked her up, but finally named her as successor when the time came, securing a line of British royalty that has lasted for centuries. I'm sure there were bumps in the road since then, but despite this inauspicious episode, it has been pretty solid. But I digress. This tale is actually that of Margaret, a precocious young girl who lives on a tiny island off the coast of Albion (Great Britain), which houses an isolated religious order of nuns whose primary mission is to care for those who traverse the seas. They are visited twice a year by a ship from the mainland, which brings them supplies, news, and occasionally, more inhabitants. Gradually, the history of Margaret, how and why she (and all the others) came to be on the island, is revealed. They are far removed from the politics of the mainland, yet even at such a distance, the nuns and servants are affected and even ruled by them. Eventually, a noblewoman who proves to be the deposed Queen arrives, exiled by her upstart sister, and changes the course of Margaret's life -- indeed, her very identity. This is a truly excellent book, the art and text marrying perfectly to tell a compelling and beguiling story -- and teaching a fascinating piece of history at the same time.

Interesting book. It's... inspired, sort of, by Elizabeth I before she was the queen. None of the events in this book happened, I don't think, and I don't know if any of the characters actually match historical ones (any more closely than Eleanor/Elizabeth). But it's very much a could have happened, it's a beautiful story in itself, and the art carries a lot of richness to flesh out the words. I find Margaret fascinating and the setting and situation very interesting. I'll be looking for more by this author.

This was a fun and interesting read. I enjoyed the slightly historical setting.

This middle-grade/young-adult graphic novel is set in a fictionalized version of Tudor England. Margaret has lived her whole life on a small island, in a convent with little contact to the outside world. Occasionally, though, visitors turn up on the island: when Margaret iso young, a boy shows up, and several years later, Eleanor---the exiled queen (basically, Elizabeth I during Mary's reign)---does.

I really enjoyed this story! I really enjoyed the art style, and the historical elements were really enjoyable---the mentions of life in the convent were really enjoyable. It was definitely a quick read, and I'm glad that I read it!

So everything about this book is appealing to me -- historically inspired, medievally inspired images, great characters, plucky young lady protagonists, and Alt-Elizabeth I. I loved it. Can't wait for the next installment.

*Received via NetGalley for review*

An interesting and amusing historical fiction story about a young orphan living on a nunnery she discovers is a kind of prison, in more than just her imagination.

Bright art and interesting fact (winding thread with gold wire for embroidery sounds so tedious- I'm glad that's not the way it's done anymore!).

children's middlegrade fiction - alternate history of Queen Elizabeth I.
Read to page 42. Illustrations are ok, but too much of the story/worldbuilding is explained by text to appeal to most graphic novel readers (including myself). Would be very hard for a middlegrade reader to get into, in this reviewer's opinion.

Sweet story of two sisters who are both potential queens. Beautifully drawn and lettered, with a feminist perspective. Hoping for a sequel!

I enjoyed looking through this graphic novel with my daughter. The artwork is well done. The story was engaging and well written. I definitely recommend reading this!

A bit strange that the author took bits and pieces of real English history and illustrations and spun a completely different story with it. Whey not just use original drawings and characters? But if you just take it as a regular fiction graphic novel, it's engaging and interesting. I read it very quickly and was eager to see how it ended.

[A]n engrossing graphic novel by Dylan Meconis set in an alternative Tudor realm in which England is Albion (Margaret is similar to Elizabeth the first she is the hidden third child of dead King Edmund who could be queen too after the king secretly married her mother a letter was left with sister agnes about her birth)

When her sister seizes the throne, Queen Eleanor of Albion is banished to a tiny island off the coast of her kingdom, where the nuns of the convent spend their days peacefully praying, sewing, and gardening. But the island is also home to Margaret, a mysterious young orphan girl whose life is upturned when the cold, regal stranger arrives. As Margaret grows closer to Eleanor, she grapples with the revelation of the island’s sinister true purpose as well as the truth of her own past. When Eleanor’s life is threatened, Margaret is faced with a perilous choice between helping Eleanor and protecting herself and her Island family

Extremely quirky with excellent artwork! think if I were more familiar with cons all the references would probably make me smile. The premise built on fanboy/girl nerd culture is fun. I liked Destiny, and I'm not being biased. But I'm not interested in reading another volume.

2.5

Beautifully illustrated fable of wishes and transformation that makes you question what we'd really do to be safe...

Margaret has been raised by the Elysian nuns on an island convent since she was brought there as a baby. Life is idyllic if quiet. Then the mysterious Queen Eleanor is banished to the island. A dense but accessible package of historical fiction, drama, soap opera, and high intrigue wrapped with a travelogue of sorts about living in a convent. Memorable characters: Margaret, Sister Agnes, Eleanor, Tess and Bess. Even the island is a character, inscrutable and hard but reliable and sturdy. Balanced with a child’s sense of humor and perspective. (See the explanations of the nuns, convent time, table signs, 208 Eleanor wasn’t exactly a saint though so the fish probably weren’t going to rescue her. Etc)

A sort of alternate history/historical fiction graphic novel loosely based on the experiences of the young Elizabeth I. I enjoyed it just fine, but it didn't knock me off my feet like I was expecting. I think, honestly, it would have worked better as a plain old novel, where details could be fleshed out more (and I don't really feel like the illustrations playing a strong enough role in the story anyway). *shrug*

This graphic novel just didn't work for me. The details of convent living were delightfully presented but interfered with the flow of the plot, which seemed to drag. The artwork is pleasant and works to convey the story and characters, but becomes familiar and repetitive halfway through.

Margaret has spent her whole life on a lonely island off the coast of Albion, raised by the sisters at the convent there. When a mysterious prisoner arrives with the biannual supply delivery, it will change Margaret's peaceful life forever. Has the island always been a prison? Is Margaret herself a captive? Why?

This graphic novel is loosely based on history, specifically the relationship between Mary I and Elizabeth I of England. The artwork is just lovely, done in glowing earth tones. Margaret is a great character, and all of the secondary characters are fascinating and complex. Eleanor, in particular, is not very likable, but boy, is she interesting! The ending leaves me hoping for a sequel. Recommended.½

Literary Merit: Great
Characterization: Good
Recommended: Recommend
Level: Middle School and High School

This was a really fun graphic novel to read. As someone who appreciates history, seeing an alternate history of Elizabeth I and her sister Mary was really cool and felt fresh and new especially to the graphic novel format.

The illustrations were wonderful, and I think the art style is my favorite thing about this book. I really enjoyed the little historical tidbits here and there about the convent and the sisters working there.

Margaret was a great main character to follow. I enjoyed the plot twist about her parentage and her overall demeanor. She was always willing to help those she cared for, friends old and new. Her determination was strong, and I loved seeing that in someone so young.

The ending was a bit open, so I’m hoping maybe someday there will be a sequel with more tales of the true Queen of Albion and her companions!