Kay O'Neill, you've done it again!
'The Tea Dragon Society' is one of the most relaxing, heartwarming, gorgeous, and cutest reads ever published. It's like immersing yourself in a cup of sweet, aromatic tea. For anyone who is into anime, manga, and unconventional characters and storytelling, this is a must, for all ages.
Greta is a young blacksmith's daughter and apprentice who, upon finding a little dragon on the street and taking her home to her mysterious owner, Hesekiel, discovers the lost art of taking care of Tea Dragons - the cute little, sensitive dragon types whose leaves make the best tea that lets the drinker experience the dragon's memories; sharing in a special bond, developed overtime.
I love the diversity of the characters. The graphic novel fully embraces the age-old idea that in fantasy an author can and should do whatever they want, with no restrictions on creativity. Greta has dark skin and baby dragon horns. Her new special friend Minette has deer antlers, a small dragon-like horn on her forehead, and pink hair. The Tea Dragon master Hesekiel is... a humanoid dragon, I think? And his partner Erik also has dark skin, and is wheelchair-bound. It's great that we are seeing more disabled characters in comics, especially ones as happy and content with life as Erik is. There is LBGTQ subtext in the relationship between Greta and Minette, perhaps developing into what Hesekiel and Erik have with each other - not surprising from the author of 'Princess Princess Ever After'! I just love these four - together and as their own characters - and they will make a lovely new Tea Dragon society. They are like a family.
While there isn't a plot in 'The Tea Dragon Society' per say, it is divided into each of the four seasons as Greta - along with the reader - learns more about her new friends. There's no conflict, but I don't mind, as I love spending time with these super nice characters as they are when interacting with one another. Plus it is so cute! I can easily see this being adapted into a Studio Ghibli film - it was made for it. 'The Tea Dragon Society' has anime written all over it; heck, the Tea Dragons are like Pokémon (you will want to catch them all by the end of the comic, trust me), and the character designs and relationships remind me of a junior 'Revolutionary Girl Utena'!
The artwork is absolutely wonderful. Every page, every panel is worth framing up on a wall. Or in a museum. Beautiful, cutesy, chibi fantasy galore.
Honestly, what more can I say to convince you, dear reader, to buy this little gem of a graphic novel? I adore everything about it. It may not be as exciting, thrilling or conventionally structured as 'Princess Princess Ever After', but it is meant to be its own unique, charming thing, without the need for a bad guy. It's subtle and dreamlike - an experience - containing themes of old memories and creating new ones, friendship, and never letting ancient, beautiful traditions and crafts die.
I dare anyone to not feel like they want to own a Tea Dragon after reading 'The Tea Dragon Society': O'Neill includes a Tea Dragon "handbook" in the end, on the art of Tea Dragon husbandry! (I personally would like to care for an Hibiscus Dragon).
Now if you excuse me, I'm off to read this magical baby for the 107th time, snugged up in blanket on a comfy armchair, with a nice cup of chamomile tea.
Final Score: 5/5
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