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.

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.

"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."

I have adored Katie O'Neill graphics novel in the past and The Tea Dragon Festival was no different. It completely swept me away with the most charming illustrations in the loveliest setting. I love Katie's messages that she incorporates into the story and I appreciated how diverse it was! You also get to learn a bit of sign language within this one which was really incredible. I truly wish I could escape into this beautiful and whimsical world. Needless to say, I cannot recommend picking up The Tea Dragon Festival enough as it will most definitly warm your soul.

Katie O'Neill has once again brought to life a gentle and adorable story about Tea Dragons and the people who love them. THE TEA DRAGON FESTIVAL is a companion story/sort of prequel to THE TEA DRAGON SOCIETY, and let me tell you it's just as cute as that one was. I love how O'Neill creates this rich fantasy world where Tea Dragons and Wild Dragons alike function and interact, and that she builds their mythologies in non complicated, but still compelling ways. This time our main characters are Rinn, a girl living in a mountain village who wants to become a great cook, and Aedhan, a Dragon who was supposed to guard the village, but fell under a sleeping spell that made him sleep for eighty years. Seeing Rinn try to help Aedhan reclaim his life and readjust to the world he left behind was very darling, and their relationship was so lovely and transcended platonic, romantic, and most everything else. It was it's own thing, and I really liked it. Along with that, I liked how much diversity there was in this story, from the different skin colors of characters and how there was also a deaf character. O'Neill even made sure to portray sign language in a unique way that worked on the page. And finally, we get to see some familiar faces, as Erik and Hesekiel from THE TEA DRAGON SOCIETY are in their younger years when they were still roaming the countryside going on adventures. I loved seeing them, and was happy with how they felt like they fit in without taking from the rest of the story. And, of course, the Tea Dragons are still epically cute, and given that it's a different region, we got different kinds of Tea Dragons to go gaga over!

I don't want to be selfish, but I hope that Katie O'Neill keeps revisiting this world. It's still going strong and I still want to know more.

I loved this book. The characters, the sweetness of the lines, the colors, the energy, and the story. My heart is full of wonder and cuteness. The diversity alone is amazing, but everything in this didn't feel forced or anything. It felt so warm and cute and breathtaking.
I loved how much this made me want to try the food and the tea, and have a little dragon with me. If I cannot have one, at least I want a rescue pet with me FOREVER.
I will buy this as soon as it comes out! I will publish the review online close to the release date, so I will edit this with the link in a few weeks.

A cute graphic novel about a village guardian dragon who wakes after sleeping for decades, and about the girl who finds him discovering what her contribution to the village is. I was able to follow the story, but it felt a little scattered. My students will not have the issues that I did with reading it. They will like the tea dragons and the guardian dragon. I do like that the reader gets to see the relationships develop and deepen between the characters.

CUTENESS OVERLOAD!!! I loved it! The art is so so well done, the characters are adorable and I LOVE the fact that sign language was included!

This can either be read part of the Tea Dragon series or can be read as a standalone (which I did because I have yet to read The Tea Dragon Society).

A perfect graphic novel for all ages, Katie O'Neil amazes the universe with her world of tea dragons. 10/10 would recommend!

Katie O'Neill’s The Tea Dragon Festival is a charming fantasy filled with dragons, tea dragons, friendship, and community. This gentle book features pretty artwork, lovely characters, and excellent representation for several groups. I love this book but I wish the storyline had a little more depth.

Rinn is a young aspiring cook living in the mountain. They are skilled in finding the best herbs and vegetables in the forest. Rinn has grown up with the adorable Tea Dragons that live in their village but they have never encountered a real dragon before. One day in the forest, Rinn stumbles upon Aedhan, a young dragon who was appointed to protect the village eighty years ago. However, Aedhan fell into an enchanted sleep. Rinn’s uncle Erik and his partner Hesekiel set out to uncover the mysterious creature causing the enchanted sleep. Meanwhile, Rinn helps Aedhan come to terms with his lost time.

This is such a unique and gentle reading experience. I love the warm sentiments of community, friendship, inclusivity, and acceptance running throughout the book.

I love the book’s simple and unhurried plot. However, I wish the subplot with Erik and Hesekiel’s search for the elusive magical creature was more developed. I want to learn more about the forest and magic.

The characters are lovely, well-written, and so diverse! I love how seamlessly O’Neill includes numerous characters of colour as well as those with disabilities and different gender identities and sexualities. I particularly like the prominent featuring of American sign language into the book.

I like the dynamics among all the characters but I love the sweet and giving friendship between Aedhan and Rinn. They both learn and grow from their interactions with each other. Aedhan’s development is well-done. I like how nicely he fits into Rinn’s family and Silverleaf village. I love generous and kind Rinn but I would have liked to see her personal journey more developed.

My favourite part of this book is the whimsical and gorgeous artwork which perfectly complements the sweet story. The panels are nicely detailed with soft and warm colours. The tea dragons are adorably designed!

The Tea Dragon Festival is a beautiful, diverse, and heart-warming read that is perfect for all ages. You will absolutely want to move into this lovely world! I can’t wait to read more of Katie O’Neill’s work!



🐉 🐉 🐉 🐉 ½ tea dragons out of 5!

This companion was everything I hoped for—the warmth and quiet I adored from The Tea Dragon Society, absolutely stunning art—and so much more. The narrative is also relatively conflict-free, so it made for a wonderful escape from the world for a little while. I'm not crying over this you are.

I lost track of how many times I audibly squealed at the cuteness in this book. I desperately need one of these cute little tea dragons in my life, preferably Mountain Chamomile's grumpy fluffself.

"You find it effortless because you love it, and that is why it is your gift."
This was such a wonderful story, the art work was both beautiful and cute. And it contains such wonderful quotes throughout the story such as the one above.
I loved the diversity, how this story helped us learn more about the world Katie O'Neill created. Dragons and Tea dragons are such beautiful creatures. I found this story to be lovely and entertaining definitely will be reading more from this author.