Review: The Tea Dragon Society by Kay O’Neill
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I recently read The Tea Dragon Society by Kay O’Neill on Kindle Unlimited. At first glance, I thought it was a comic book for kids, but after giving it a chance, it became my first five-star read of 2023.
I’m so glad they had all three books from the series on Kindle Unlimited so I could read them for free during my 30-day trial.
The Tea Dragon Society series is a wholesome fantasy graphic novel about tea dragons and their owners (there’s great diverse character representation).
The series gives off cottage core vibes because of the beautiful illustrations, animals and lushes greens that are so aesthetically pleasing to look at.
What I really enjoyed is that at the end of each book, there’s a tea dragon handbook/guidebook that teaches you more about the species, different type of tea dragons and how to care for them.
In this blog post, you’ll learn more about each book, which book you should pick up first and my personal review.
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The Tea Dragon Society Age Rating
The Tea Dragon Society is for children ages 8-12. However, teens and adults will resonate with its messaging and diverse characters.
The Tea Dragon Society Series In Order
The Tea Dragon Society series has three books:
It is best to read these books in order to avoid spoilers.
The Tea Dragon Society Series Review
The Tea Dragon Society (Book 1)
The Tea Dragon Society follows a young girl named Greta who is the daughter of a well-renowned blacksmith.
Greta doesn’t have much interest in blacksmithing, but she tries anyway. One day, she finds a little dragon injured in an alleyway and saves the dragon, only to learn that it is a tea dragon (a smaller species of dragons that grow tea leaves and flowers from their horns).
She returns the tea dragon to its rightful owner, Hesekial, who runs a teashop out of town. Hesekial invites Greta to learn the art of tea brewing and also on how to take care of tea dragons as they can be cute creatures but difficult to deal with!
We see Greta learn more about herself as she explores the art of tea-making and blacksmithing while making new friends at the tea shop.
Rating: 5 Stars
My Review: I loved reading this book. As the first book of a three-part series, it left me wanting to read more.
It’s a very short and easy read. I finished reading it in one sitting. The character diversification is excellent. There are people of colour and LGBTQ representation.
Although art is the main reason I picked up this book, the story kept me engaged enough for me to continue reading it. This graphic novel is great for teens or adults that want an escape from reality and has lost touch with their authentic self due to everyday responsibilities.
Also, it’s so cool that the book is divided into four parts, following the four seasons – spring, summer, autumn and winter.
Some of my takeaways from The Tea Dragon Society:
- The importance of being patient when crafting
- The importance of passing down art and tradition to the younger generation
- Love comes in all shapes and sizes
- Feeling lonely after moving to a new place is normal
The Tea Dragon Festival (Book 2)
The Tea Dragon Festival follows the story of a young girl named Rinn who is an aspiring cook. She is familiar with tea dragons in her village but when she stumbles upon an actual dragon, it takes her by surprise.
Aedhan, a dragon, accidentally fell asleep for 80 years. He feels as though he has lost his opportunity to take care of the village and its villagers.
Together, Rinn and Aedhan become friends and together, they help each other understand themselves better and find their purposes.
Rating: 4 Stars
My Review: The Tea Dragon Festival is a companion story to The Tea Dragon Society. We meet new characters such as Rinn, an aspiring cook and Aedhan, a dragon that’s supposed to be guarding the village until he fell asleep for many years.
We also see familiar faces from the first book, Hesekial and Erik. I like that in this book there’s characters who speak sign-language, making the graphic novel more inclusive.
The second book of the series is set in the past, we see a younger version of Hesekial and Erik and learn that Erik is Rinn’s uncle.
Some of my takeaways from The Tea Dragon Festival:
- We cannot change the past, but we can change the future.
- If you’re good at something, you can do it purely for the joy if it.
- Just because something comes to you naturally/easily, that does not make it less valuable.
The Tea Dragon Tapestry (Book 3)
In the final installement of The Dragon Society, we once again follow Greta and Minette from the first book.
Greta has an opportunity to become an apprentice to a master blacksmith. She is given a test – to create anything her heart desires.
She questions the true meaning of crafting as she struggles to decide on what she should create to impress the master blacksmith.
Rating: 5 Stars
My Review: I don’t want to write much about the last book of the series as it might contain spoilers to the first book.
All I can say is that, I can’t believe this is the last instalment in the series, I desperately want more. I read this book in one-sitting just like the first two.
Some of my takeaways from The Tea Dragon Tapestry:
- Grief comes in different forms – grieving the lost of a loved one, grieving past versions of ourselves and grieving passions we had to forgo or are less passionate about. Animals can grief too.
- It takes courage to simply let your art exist in this world without expecations of who may or may not value it.
- Found family is a recurring theme in all three books but is very prominent in this one as it concludes the series.
FAQ: The Tea Dragon Society Series
Is The Tea Dragon Society LGBT?
Yes, there are characters with LGBT representation. Erik and Hesekial are a couple. Greta and Minnette are friends but they seem to have some attraction for each other.
Will there be more Tea Dragon Society books?
Unfortunately, no. The last book in the series (also the third book) is The Tea Dragon Tapestry.
Wrap Up: The Tea Dragon Society Review
I had a blast reading The Tea Dragon Society. I read each book in one sitting as the art was mesmerizing and the story was engaging. I wish the series did not end!
I hope the author creates a spin-off or another series set in the same world as these adorable tea dragons!
I really want to read this series! I’ve been seeing it a lot on bookstagram and so many people talk about how cozy and comforting it is, which is precisely what I’ve been looking for lately. I hope to pick it up soon! 🙂
It really is cozy and comforting. I feel like it will resonate with many adults who are still trying to figure themselves out. I personally loved the messaging in the third book that revolves around grief. 🙂