Bloody Mary
A Graphic Biography of Mary Tudor
by Kristina Gehrmann
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Pub Date Jul 15 2025 | Archive Date Jul 15 2025
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Description
The story of Mary Tudor –– oldest child and daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, sister to the famous Elizabeth I –– as never told before.
A chronological telling of Mary’s life as “told” by her spans her magnificent life, starting from her “first memory” at the age of two to becoming the first queen to inherit the throne of an England in disarray. Once rejected at birth, Mary was certain the cause of suffering was her subjects’ rejection of the one true faith: Catholicism. Her zealous campaign to re-Catholicize England was unrelenting in its brutality, re-christening her, “Mary, the Bloody.”
The Tudors famously used fine art to define their reign. Using expressive line work and lush watercolor, German graphic novelist fittingly teases the painterly allure of royalty as she reveals the stark loneliness of the crown. Gehrmann pulls from real quotes from historical documents and letters along with dramatizations of known historic events. These details immerse us in Mary I’s epic life from her volatile childhood to her tragic demise, rendering a stunning portrait of a “bastard queen” losing her grip on power.
A Note From the Publisher
We regret this E-galley is not available for Kindle viewing.
Available Editions
EDITION | Hardcover |
ISBN | 9798881600266 |
PRICE | $22.99 (USD) |
PAGES | 336 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews

This was a great graphic novel outlining the life of Queen Mary. The art was well done and the biography was told in a way that had you continually reading. It is wild to me how the kings and queens ruled, but this was a great glimpse into the world of Bloody Mary.

This was a fun, quick read about Bloody Mary. A graphic novel, talks and shows images of her life and how she came to be with the infamous nickname. I’m not big into graphic novels but enjoyed reading this one due to the historical context of what was inside. Great learning experience for children who learns from pictures more than just words.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me an early copy of Bloody Mary.
It is a graphic novel retracing the life of Mary Tudor also known as Bloody Mary.
The genre of the graphic novel to address the story of figures in history is an amazing way to approach history in a more fun way. I loved it!
I studied this period in history, but it was nice to refresh my mind on the context of England in the 16th century and its relationship to religion.

“Bloody Mary” is a graphic novel about the life of Queen Mary of England by Kristina Gehrmann. I wouldn’t consider this a graphic novel for kids but more for adults or YA. I think this was well done - for someone (Mary) who was alive during her father’s (Henry VIII) upheaval of the British Church, the obsession with a male heir (and thus his multiple wives), and then, of course, Mary’s assertion to the throne and steadfastness to the Catholic religion - this book needed to cover a lot. Personally I would’ve preferred a few more name tags or “reminder” notations of who some of the characters were (men from King Henry’s counsel) as I couldn’t keep them apart. I was also surprised that just the French bethroval was mentioned, because Mary was also promised to her cousin Charles V of Spain (which was mentioned in the book a lot later, after Mary was engaged to Philip). Overall, I think if you want to know more about the often misunderstood Queen Mary of England, this is a good starter book. I think a bibliography at the end might be a good addition, but that’s just me. If you know a bit about Mary, this is an, at times, interesting intrepretation about the woman and the times in which she lived.

I find the Tudor era so interesting, but especially Mary so this was a great read! I love the idea of learning a bit of history through a graphic novel

Loved it! I read it in one sitting and was really interested in the book. I love books about the Tudor and this one was really easy to read. We see her but also a lot Henry VIII and all his wives.
The art was beautiful and fitting with the story.
Had a great time and would recommend to people who want to learn a bit about the Tudor era or just enjoy books on it

Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read " Bloody Mary" by Kristina Gehrmann.
I have really enjoyed reading this book. The illustrations were very nice. As a history nerd, watching Mary Tudors come to life through watercolor drawings and dialogues was amazing. Then political and religious situation was vividly colored. Little footnotes helped in understanding the book better. Learning English history through books like this, becomes easy and interesting.

Bloody Mary: A Graphic Biography of Mary Tudor is a watercolor based graphic novel that details the life of Mary Tudor. While the art style is not my favorite, it is beautiful and fits the subject matter well! This graphic novel does a great job explaining Mary’s life in an interesting and unique way. We follow Mary from her turbulent childhood to her rise to power as a violent queen.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read Bloody Mary: A Graphic Biography of Mary Tudor

Tudor period fiction & non-fiction is one of my preferred subject matter when reading.
This graphic novel was a nice recap of what I already know about Queen Mary I.
There always seem to be portions of the Tudor royals' lives that is rather tragic.
I would recommend reading this if you would like to know the outline of this monarch's life without having to read an in-depth biography.

I really appreciated the art work that told the story along with the text. I liked following the timeline along. I appreciated the final bit of saying what happened to the others afterwards.
Thank you NetGalley for the read.

A historical, comic reimagining of the life or Queen Mary, Henry VIII's first daughter. Mary's strength and resolve during her father's reign was highly regarded, and seeing what could have been her point of view done in a comic style was a really interesting read! I thought bought the artwork, the story telling, and the overall historical reference was very well done. If you're interested in history, especially the Tudor era, I highly recommend!

This beautifully illustrated graphic novel offers a compelling look into the life of Queen Mary Tudor, making it an excellent choice for fans of both graphic novels and English history.
The storytelling is clear and well-structured, with accessible language that makes it easy to follow. The artwork is stunning, with breathtaking watercolors that bring the historical figures to life. Despite the large cast of characters, the illustrations make it easy to distinguish who is who.
Given some strong language and graphic scenes, I would recommend this book for Young Adult readers and older.

This was a very comprehensive and sympathetic retelling of Queen Mary’s life. I like how it was told as a graphic novel. There was a lot that happened throughout her life, but the graphic novel simplified it and made it more understandable. I also loved the artwork. It made Tudor England come alive! Overall, it was a very breezy read! I recommend this for Tudor fans! Hopefully, this will be a graphic novel of Queen Elizabeth!

Bloody Mary tells a dramatized version of the real life of Mary Tudor. Rendered in detailed line art and stunning watercolour.
"Princess Mary, your cause is clearly noble, but you must not sacrifice your life for it."
This graphic biography was just a perfect read to me. I felt engaged in the story throughout despite knowing some of the facts already, and the gorgeous art just added to the whole atmosphere. The author mentions in the last few pages that she looks up reference pictures of historically accurate objects and it shows.
The dialogue is compelling, and immerses you in the story. You can feel compassion for the position all these different people have been put in, and how that affected their emotions and subsequent actions. While of course still acknowledging that a majority of players did a lot of harm big and small.
Bloody Mary is an engaging graphic novel for anyone who is at least a little interested in Tudor history. It is an engaging read supported by stunning artwork.

The graphic novel follows the life of Mary I of England, from her birth to her death. It not only highlights her fate but also the lives of other important figures around her. I already had some general knowledge, but this book taught me a lot more.
What impressed me the most was how human and relatable the characters felt, making it easy to empathize with them. Mary’s daily life is also well depicted—what she learns, how she perceives her surroundings, and how she navigates the political world. The story also provides insights into the lives of common people and their opinions on the political events.
The artstyle is very beautiful and perfectly complements the atmosphere of the narrative. Overall, this is a fantastic graphic novel that makes the historical events both accessible and compelling!

This graphic novel chronologically retells the Story of Mary Tudor, from her early childhood until her death. It starts with her first memories and how she at first was to inherit her father's throne before he chose to annul his marriage to her mother making her an illegitimate child, with no claim to the throne.
The art style is beautiful and fits the story well. I particularly liked the thoughtfulness that went into this work, which became apparent while reading the "Behind Bloody Mary: A Look at the Comics Process." section. The story itself is gripping, which makes this graphic novel hard to put down, and does great in outlining the obstacles Mary had to face before being able to ascend the throne. I also especially liked the "What became of..." section, as it complemented the story.
Thank you Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing me with this book to review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!
This book is a historical graphic novel all about Mary Tudor (Bloody Mary.) We follow Mary as she grows up and all the turmoil that ensues during her father’s rule and then her own.
I enjoyed this graphic novel! I’m not super familiar with this time period and the history but I learned a lot from this graphic novel! It had a lot of good information and was presented in a way that kept me interested in the book.
I also really enjoyed the illustrations throughout.
I would recommend this one!

4.5 stars.
I like to read historical or non-fiction comics. And this one was very interesting.
The story of the Tudors is familiar. But I have mainly read (or seen movies/series) about Henry and his six wives and about Queen Elisabeth. Not about Queen Mary.
The drawings remind me of the Flemish comics that I read in my youth. So this was a bit of nostalgia.
It just doesn't get 5 stars because I didn't get emotionel...

This graphic novel is great! I knew a bit about the history going into it, however I feel like the format of graphic novel helps to understand what happened better. I think this is great for anyone who enjoys history and art, and it would be great for high schoolers learning about the monarchy in England. While Mary is not perfect, I do enjoy that this story focuses on an important woman rather than just focusing on her father.
Thanks NetGalley for providing this awesome book!

Good way to tell story of Mary and nice illustrations helped younger kids to understand. This was good for my 10 year old.

Bloody Mary: A Graphic Biography of Mary Tudor was a great graphic novel! I teach high school English and it is getting more and more challenging to get students to read. I love this book because it is a great book for reluctant readers to get them reading about things that happened in history. It is just an introductory book on the subject, but it will get students interested. I can't wait to add this title to my classroom library!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC. My opinions are my own and not influenced by receiving a copy. I highly recommend this book and will add it to my classroom library when it is released! It is a great book to get students interested in reading and in history. It would also be great for anyone who is intimidated by reading about complex times in history.

This was a concise but very good account of Mary 1st and her life from childhood right through to adulthood. It is very well researched, very colourful and very engaging. I would definitely recommend it

Kristina Gehrmann's graphic novel offers a nuanced and visually stunning exploration of Mary Tudor, challenging the simplistic "Bloody Mary" narrative that has long defined this complex historical figure. Through meticulously researched storytelling and exquisite watercolor-style illustrations, the book provides a deeply human portrait of England's first reigning queen, tracing her journey from royal princess to persecuted heir to controversial monarch.
The graphic novel stands out for its balanced approach to Mary I's life, delving beyond her notorious reputation to examine the personal and political forces that shaped her reign. Gehrmann skillfully navigates the intricate Tudor court, revealing Mary's struggles, faith, and the profound challenges she faced as a woman ruler in a tumultuous era. While not glossing over the darker aspects of her rule, the book presents a compassionate and multifaceted view of a monarch often reduced to caricature.
With its accessible narrative, rich historical detail, and breathtaking artwork, *Bloody Mary: The Story of Mary Tudor* emerges as a remarkable contribution to historical graphic literature. It successfully bridges the gap between scholarly research and engaging storytelling, making Tudor history accessible to both enthusiasts and newcomers alike. Highly recommended for those seeking a deeper, more empathetic understanding of one of England's most misunderstood monarchs.
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