Queen of the Sea
By author/illustrator Dylan Meconis
Candlewick, 2019
Queen of the Sea is a 400-page historical fiction, graphic novel adventure set in a time and place reminiscent of the sixteenth century British Empire. A prologue introduces a queen in mortal danger, and the story then shifts to Margaret, an orphan who lives on a remote island in the Silver Sea. She has been raised in a convent. The nuns, a few servants, a priest, and Margaret are the island's only inhabitants, and life for Margaret is peaceful, pious, and predictable. A ship with supplies arrives twice a year to bring supplies. However, one day, the ship brings a boy and a lady, and life on the island will never be the same.
Queen of the Sea is a rousing adventure, but it's also an education in sixteenth century politics and the lifestyle of a religious order in the early days of modern Western history. Though the destiny of women was often determined by men,
Queen of the Sea offers strong, but believable, female protagonists in young Margaret, Lady Cameron, and the nuns. A sequel will be most welcome!
Read a sample chapter of Queen of the Sea.
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| Inside spread from Queen of the Sea by author/illustrator: Dylan Meconis © |
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Note:
My advance copy of
Queen of the Sea was in black and white with only a sample page in color. The first 3/4 of the book were finished black and white drawings, the latter portion of the book was comprised of sketches. I almost wish that everyone had an opportunity to see a graphic novel is this format. It makes one so much more aware of the work that goes into every aspect of a book.
My copy of
Queen of the Sea was provided by the publisher.
