Aquicorn Cove is a wonderful graphic novel that follows a young girl who, after coming back to the village she grew up in to help them rebuild after a storm, discovers a small creature on the beach that she nurses back to health, all the while finding out about the reef and its declining health.

I really, really love this. The art is absolutely stunning, with beautiful colours and soft lines that make it so nice to look at and study as you read. The story itself is so poignant and relevant as it acknowledges different views on the natural world and the dying reef, and how human survival has grown into taking too much from an environment that doesn't have a lot to give anymore. I saw this described [in a negative way] as 'preachy', which I think is quite a damaging way to look at this- why is caring about the environment and encouraging others to take care of their surroundings 'preachy'? This story encourages sympathy and to begin looking at the world with more love before we lose it forever. Why is it being 'preachy' something wrong, when all it does is teach and push you in a way that's meant to benefit us in the long term?

I adore this, and I will be buying a copy!

“When Lana and her father return to their seaside hometown to help clear the debris of a storm, the last thing she expects is to discover a colony of Aquicorns—magical seahorse-like residents of the coral reef. As she explores the damaged town and the fabled undersea palace, Lana learns that while she cannot always count on adults to be the guardians she needs, she herself is capable of finding the strength to protect both the ocean, and her own happiness.”

Aquicorn Cove is probably one of my favourite graphic novels. Ever. It’s short, at just 96 pages, but it packs a punch. I’d be a liar if I said this little graphic novel for middle-graders didn’t tug on my heartstrings – okay, yeah, I cried.
The artwork is stunning. I was enchanted from page 1. The colours are so aesthetically pleasing, and I just couldn’t get enough. I’ll definitely be buying a physical copy of this, so I can drool over the art.
The dialogue and plot were fantastic. I don’t think I have any complaints, other than wishing it was longer. Katie O’Neill is a master storyteller and I am excited to pick up her other works in the future.
I loved the characters. I loved the whimsy. I loved the magical elements. I loved the harder topics it touched on. I loved the dynamics in the family and the strong relationships. I LOVED IT.

This is another cute graphic novel by an author known for them. While it isn't my favorite, the artwork is gorgeous and the moral of the story solid. My only complaint is it's a moral I've heard many times, and perhaps I am getting a little bored of it, but it does not mean it's a bad one nor that there aren't others who need reminders of how small changes can still make big differences (especially regarding climate change).

4.75 stars
This graphic novel was very cute with beautiful illustrations. I was so impressed! I will re-read this book with great pleasure
Thanks to Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Oni Press and NetGalley for providing me a copy to review.

Each one of O’Neill books has an overarching meaning; for Princess, Princess it was “Be whoever you want to be as long as you do it with heart” and Tea Dragon focused on friendship and how being different isn’t bad. For Aquicorn Cove, it focused on how our relationship with our environment is crucial for us to continue living prosperous lives. It also deals with grief, love, and the power of family. Yes I know it sounds like a Disney movie but it is so good and the messages don’t overpower the story. I totally ship Aunt Mae with Aure, the Sea Goddess. And random thought, I think Lana’s hair looks like Jude’s for The Cruel Prince, just saying.

I was familiar with Katie O’Neill’s art through The Tea Dragon Society, a book that I haven’t read yet, but with a cover so beautiful that I just want to see what’s inside.

So I jumped at the opportunity to read Aquicorn Cove, recognizing the same art style immediately.

At 96 pages long, Aquicorn Cove is sadly very brief, but it doesn’t need any more pages to have you experience a variety of feelings, including: tenderness, nostalgia, and remorse.

The story revolves around Lana, a young girl who hast lost her mother, and with her, her sense of self and meaning in this world. When she finds a sick aquicorn in a shallow pool, this sets off a chain of events where she and many others begin to heal and move forward.

The art is so sweet and peaceful, delivering a seaside town with cheery peach-toned clouds, fields of yellow flowers, and waves that you can almost hear; plus a very diverse cast of characters.

I would recommend this to young children (or the young at heart), people who care about the environment, and someone who needs a pacifying mental break.

I received an advance reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is my honest opinion on Aquicorn Cove by the wonderful Katie O´neill
This was everything I wanted and more! I love O´neills work so much, just her art, writing, everything is so beautiful and well-written. The story really said something that is a big topic these days and she elegantly introduced the element of the dying coral reef excellently. Katie O´neill is a new favorite author for sure! I wouldd recommend this cute and important story to everyone! Thanks to Netgalley and One Press for the opportunity to read it before its release, I received an e-arc of this novel and I highly appreciate it :)

I received a free ebook of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher! This is truly my honest review, and receiving a free copy has not affected my opinion in any way.

Lana returns to a little sea-side village with her father to help out in cleaning the village after a storm. The village is Lana's mother's homeplace, which still brings out painful memories to Lana's dad by reminding him of the awful loss of her. But Lana's mother taught Lana to not be afraid of the ocean. And she won't be.

This graphic novel is completely heart-warming and mesmerising. Katie O'Neill's artistic talent is breathtaking, and I love the playful style. Aquicorn cove is middle grade, but it is something that an individual who prefer adult books can fully enjoy too. I was sincerely touched by the story and I could hear the ocean roaring in my ears while reading it.

But I now I have fallen in love with it. And it hurts so deeply to think that this beautiful beautiful thing is a standalone. Please please Katie O'Neill, give us a second part with Lana grown up. My soul craves it.

Please read it, you won't regret it.

O'Neill has this innate gift to create worlds you just want to immerse yourself in. I felt that when I finished The Tea Dragon Society, and I feel that again with Aquicorn. This is a story with a message: we can (and should) fight for our world. This story focuses on the water and reefs, but at its heart, there is that the realization that this message fits the entire natural world. This is a sweet story of hope and resistance. I will read anything else that Katie creates!

Katie O'Neill quickly became one of my favorite illustrators. Her use of color, emotion, and imagination astounds me to no end. Tea Dragons and Aquicorns are two creatures I dearly wish existed. They're so lovely and innocent.
I also <b>love</b> the representation in every graphic novel Katie O'Neill released. Every one of them includes a deep woman x woman friendship/relationship, and it's representation that is very needed in society.
In the case of this specific graphic novel, I loved every bit of it.
I need everyone to read everything this author/illustrator puts out.
Thanks.

Vividly and beautifully yet simple art style with a beautiful message. The colours matched the mood and conwayed the story perfectly. The only thing I wished was that the ending was a little bit more flashed out as it seemed a bit rushed.

The story centers on Lana, a young grade school aged girl and her father. After a big storm leaves their family's seaside town torn up, they go for a visit and stay with her Aunt while aiding in the clean-up and recovery efforts. Lana loves the ocean, the memories it holds and being near her Aunt who's undoubtedly been an even more important presence in her life since the loss of her mother.


Best enjoyed with a delicious tea
In assisting with clean-up, in helping the neighbors and making repairs we see a community working together. Lana's explorations of the shore lead to her rescue of a young Aquicorn, a sweet seahorse like entity that she nurses to better health and releases back to it's shore side colony. Lana learns that the cove has in the past worked together, in balance with the colony of magical sea creatures but in the changing times her hometown of humans has exacted a heavier and heavier toll on the ocean and now they are all in danger aquicorn and man alike.

In the end, Lana does what she feels is the right thing in her heart to help the Aquicorns.

Bright, not too many words, joyous and emotional in the ways a child can understand. This sweet story is definitely one that I'll want on the shelves for my own kids. The illustrations are simple with perfect color palette but so expressive, you can follow the story even if you can't read the words which speaks volumes about how well Ms. O'Neil can craft the pages.

The good hearted nature of Lana and the way she handles the challenges life has delivered her thus far is so endearing, the kind that might kick you right in the feels - especially if you're in an emotional state. But, you don't have to be in a tender mood to smile or sniffle at the sweetness. I've read and re-read this story, relishing in the detail and the amount of love that it holds for the characters and the ocean itself.

Perhaps it's because I absolutely love the ocean and any seaside town I can pull off into, but the book was bursting with charm for me. I loved the fact that Lana's aunt was herself, unapologetically a strong woman who could take care of things, rock a flannel, bond thusly with the matron of the Aquicorn colony and see when she's made a mistake - that she can be strong and apologize. The low key messages of acceptance and the power of love in many shapes and forms struck a chord with me; I wish more books for kids had the potential to show them so many different kinds of people, to softly tell them "it's okay" just by existing on the page.

What: Aquicorn Cove
Author: Katie O'Neill
Illustrator: Katie O'Neill
Publisher: Oni Press
Pages: 96
Format: Hardback
Publication Date: October 16th 2018 (expected)


Author Online: Website   Instagram   Twitter
I encourage everyone to add her to your IG/Twitter feed, it will brighten your day!


***Full Disclosure: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. And honestly I loved it!

This book had a sweet and imaginative plot, complete with beautiful artwork. A lovely little read that I will definitely be recommending.

Aquicorn Cove by Katie O’Neil is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel about family and how we treat our environment. Lana is a young girl who returns to Abalone Cove with her father to help clean up after a devastating storm. There, she reunites with her Aunt Mae where she learns more about her mother’s side of the family and the hidden tie they have with the sea, including the magical creatures within. Lana is curious to learn more about the sea creatures that generations of her family have known.

In my opinion, the best part of this book is the illustrations! There are multiple panels that convey a feeling or an emotion without any word bubbles. The drawings do not have hard outlines, so there is an overall soft and magical element to the book.

The story itself is well written and the way O’Neil approaches the environmental issue in the story is not too overbearing. The book does touch upon the subject of death, but it is told in a gentle manner. This was my first time reading a Katie O’Neil book and I would definitely pick up another one! I would recommend this book to grades 3-6.

Aquicorn Cove follows a young girl named Lana who visits her Aunt Mae's seaside village after a storm hits to help get things back to normal. While there, Lana is reminded of her love for the ocean and discovers a colony of aquicorns. Aquicorn Cove shines a light on how awfully we are treating our oceans and ocean life, and the dangerous effects of our use of plastic.

I am so so so in love with Katie O'Neill's art style and it worked so beautifully and seamlessly with the story. I felt so engrossed while reading because the art just pulls you in and sweeps you off of your feet. This is hands down the most beautiful graphic novel I've ever read and I cannot wait for everyone to read it so soon. I couldn't recommend it more.

Adorable, visually stunning, and heartwarming all at once. Katie was able to touch on real life issues on loss, mourning, the environment, and change in a way that's gentle and thought provoking. The story is lovely, and the message easy to follow. I highly recommend this!

*thank you to Netgalley and Oni Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

4 stars.

If I had to sum up this book in one word, that word would be 'beautiful!' And that is referring to both the story and the illustrations. Both were just stunning and had such a warmth to it. I love how the author is from New Zealand as I was born there aswell and my heart is still there. So I was rather looking forward to this and I was not disappointed at all. I loved the Aquicorn! Even the word is beautiful! I can easily see this being a series (I'm not even sure if it will be or not), and I can also see it being rather popular. I definitely recommend this for adults and children.

This book is super cute!
I love the illustration, the message to taking care of the ocean. It teaches us to always do the right thing, to not be selfish and think only about ourselves.

Beside that, this book will make a very cute gift for your loved ones :)

*Thank you NetGalley for providing the e-copy.

What a delightful story! There is so much to love about this graphic novel: unique magical creatures, breathtaking illustrations, likable characters, diversity, environmental awareness, and a sweet tone. The story wrapped up nicely, but I still want more. I need more aquicorns in my life!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I love the illustration inside this book. You might be curious of what is this book about? This book is a comic, about a girl, name Lana, who missed her Mother so much. Her mother has been died because of an accident during storm at sea. So she live with her father and seldom visited her mother's house. There, you would met Mae, Lana's aunty.

For children, this comic is full of deep message about how to face the fear, how to looks anything from different point and how to save the sea. And you may enjoy the journey to the deep blue sea.