Mercy Thompson: Hopcross Jilly by Patricia Briggs
Series: Mercy Thompson
Published by Dynamite Entertainment
Published on: July 2, 2015
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 168
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
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Mercy is a shapeshifting coyote and honorary member of the Tri-Cities werewolf pack. When the pack stumbles upon the buried bones of numerous dead children, she shapeshifts into a mystery of the legendary fae - a mystery that draws Mercy's stepdaughter Jesse into the fray! The supernatural romance series Mercy Thompson continues in this all-new, original story by New York Times bestselling author, Patricia Briggs, exclusively created for the comic book medium!
This 168 page hardcover collects the six-issue Mercy Thompson comic book series by PATRICIA BRIGGS, RIK HOSKIN, and TOM GARCIA aand features the original script and line art to issue #1, along with character designs and sketches by Tom Garcia.
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I’m really starting to enjoy graphic novels. I haven’t read many, but the few I’ve read I’ve enjoyed. I started off with the early Anita Blake books, most were a retelling of existing novels and one prequel new story. Then I got two new stories from Kelley Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld. I’ve got actual comics from Patricia Briggs that are just a retelling of Moon Called. I read most of these before I started blogging, so I’ve only reviewed on graphic novel before this one, Kelley Armstrong’s Bounty Hunt. I find that I’m really enjoying them.
This is the story set in Mercy’s world, but follows Jesse as much as Mercy. It does start out with a werewolf run and the wolves come across a burial site. Mercy, being the one who has the easiest time changing, has to call it in to the cops. They continue to find more on an abandoned property.
While that is going on, Jesse is in school. She is not well liked by the vast majority of her classmates. She has a few friends, but most are scared of her because of her father. Once the news comes out about the deaths that the wolves find, the kids at school start to accuse her father. There is also a new girl that started in the middle of the school year.
This is a story with the fae. It also takes place, not only after they’ve come out, which is done before Moon Called, but also after the events of Dead Heat and Frost Burned. They are not playing nice with the humans any more. They are pretty much just not playing at all.
While this isn’t a very complex story, I was able to figure out who the villain was very early on, but I still enjoyed it. I loved seeing Jesse outside of the pack and even away from Mercy and Adam. She has a touch life at school and it made me sad for her. I loved seeing her with just Mercy. Mercy is exactly as I would see her as a stepmom.
It was a fun, but dark short story. Nothing darker than I’ve read in earlier Mercy books. If you’re a series reader and don’t want to read the comics, you won’t miss a piece of the overall story. I even think you could read the graphic novel without having read the series, though I don’t think you will enjoy as much as a Briggs fan would. I artistry of the book fits the characters. I liked seeing how the characters were brought to life. We even get to see what Zee looks like. If you’re thinking about trying out a graphic novel/comic book and are a reader of Mercy Thompson series, this would be a great book to try it out.
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I’m Melanie and I live in Ohio. I have two horses and a dog. I’m an animal lover, avid book reader and audiobook listener. I like to live vicariously through fictional characters. I enjoy reading and listening to mostly fictional books in the paranormal genre, including Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance and Horror. My favorite paranormal creatures are shifters, doesn’t matter the flavor.
I’m glad to see that you enjoyed this one. I’ve been considering whether or not to give the graphic novels a shot. I’m always hesitant though, especially when it comes to graphic novel adaptations of a popular series. I might also check-out the Anita Blake ones.
Samantha recently posted…Sunday Post: January 10, 2016
Anita Blake has one prequel which is an original story. It is about how Anita and Edward meet. I like the original stories from series that I’m already in. I did pick up Walking Dead. It will be the first one that I’m not already reading, but I am watching the TV show.
Melanie recently posted…#FitReaders: Weekly Check-In Jan 8 2016
I really need to try the graphic novels. I love Mercy and graphic novels. Why have I not read these yet?
There are two original stories that I know of in Mercy’s world. This one and a prequel. I’ve read both of them and really enjoyed them.
Melanie recently posted…#FitReaders: Weekly Check-In Jan 8 2016
That’s so cool Jesse gets her own story at least! I wonder if my library has this. I’m not much of a graphic novel reader, but I might enjoy this one because it’s Jesse’s
Braine recently posted…Steampunk Sundays: The Vile Desire to Scream by Oisin McGann
About half the story is from her POV. I’ve gotten to where I really enjoy graphic novels. I’m going to start reading more of them. I loved seeing Mercy and Jesse together in this one. Mercy is a great stepmom.
Melanie recently posted…#FitReaders: Weekly Check-In Jan 8 2016
That cover is scary
Fairy tales were originally scary and this one features a pretty scary fae.
Melanie recently posted…#FitReaders: Weekly Check-In Jan 8 2016
I have never read any of the Mercy Thompson books or any kind of graphic novels either. i have read some of the spin off books though. It’s nice to see that you enjoy graphic novels-maybe someday I will try one!
Lorna recently posted…Review: Dragon Fall by Katie MacAlister (@Mollykatie112, @KatieMacAlister, @foreverromance)
It is interesting to see the artist take on the characters. In this one, there is a fae who is completely different that I would’ve thought. I liked seeing the daughter Jesse.
Melanie recently posted…#FitReaders: Weekly Check-In Jan 8 2016
I still need to read this author, I have the first book in the series. 🙂 Can you read the graphic novel without ever having read the books or should you read the series first?
I think you could read this graphic novel without having read the series yet, but I think you would appreciate it more if you had read the series and the characters.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Dragon Fall by Katie MacAlister (@Mollykatie112, @KatieMacAlister, @foreverromance)
I have been a huge fan of Patricia Briggs since Moon Called debuted and it was because of this that I tried my first graphic novel that was the prequel story for the series. I loved this installment and lots of Jesse time, too. I thought the illustrations were great.
I loved the prequel graphic novel too.
Melanie recently posted…#FitReaders: Weekly Check-In Jan 8 2016
Nice review. I’ve not picked up the Graphic Novels, but I have been tempted to try the Mercy one’s out. I’ll have to see if my library has any for me to read.
Angela recently posted…Sunday Post/BB&B #94
I hope your library has it. It was a fun story. I loved seeing more of Jesse.
Melanie recently posted…#FitReaders: Weekly Check-In Jan 8 2016
I’m glad you tried graphic novels and are enjoying them, Melanie, and particularly this one. 🙂 I’ve only read one graphic novel – Persepolis – and although I enjoyed that one, I’ve not tried any others. I think I’ve stayed away because I didn’t (don’t) understand them…as I understood, a graphic novel was just a retelling of a story with pictures. BUT I might give Hopcross Jilly a go. I’m a big fan of Briggs and since this is a ‘new’ story, I think I might like it. I really like Jesse and would be curious to see her outside of the pack and see her interactions with Mercy alone. 😀 Thanks for sharing a great review and giving me a reason to maybe pick up a graphic novel. 😉
I haven’t read any graphic novels that weren’t part of a series that I already enjoyed. I do plan to try that. I already have a copy of The Walking Dead, so we will see how that goes. I might even try something completely new-to-me at some point. I hope you give this one a try.
Melanie recently posted…Early Review: The Dirt on Ninth Grave by Darynda Jones (@Darynda, @StMartinsPress)
I remember trying one or 2 in the series but I didn’t really like the illutrations at a time. Maybe I should try again.
These aren’t my favorite illustrations. I thought Anita Blake was drawn better. It was a Marvel series versus Dynamite. I think Marvel had better artist maybe. I still enjoy them, even if I don’t love the illustrations.
Melanie recently posted…Early Review: The Dirt on Ninth Grave by Darynda Jones (@Darynda, @StMartinsPress)
WOW! That cover is amazing. I haven’t read any graphic novels lately, but that cover sure makes me want to. I love Patricia Briggs and can’t help but think this will be great.
sherry fundin recently posted…Monday Mini – Pokergeist by Michael Phillip Cash @michaelpcash
I really enjoyed the story. I love Patricia Briggs. She is such a sweet lady and writes wonderful stories.
Melanie recently posted…Early Review: The Dirt on Ninth Grave by Darynda Jones (@Darynda, @StMartinsPress)
I’m so happy you enjoyed this, Melanie! I read it a while back, and I thought it was really well done 🙂
Jessie and her lack of friends made me mad, but both she and Mercy dealt with that fairly well 🙂
Great review!
Lexxie recently posted…Review: This Is Where It Ends – Marieke Nijkamp
I can see why Jesse didn’t have many friends even though she is a great person. Unfortunately, many people are bigots and kids in a school can be so cliquey and mean. It makes me mad too. Mercy was a great stepmom.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Darkness Awakened by Katie Reus (@Mollykatie112, @katiereus)
I haven’t given these a try yet, I know I need to catch up on the series first. I’ll have to grab some of the audios from the library so I can then read these 😀 I <3 graphic novels too.
LilyElement recently posted…Review: The Dirt on Ninth Grave
I’ve really enjoyed the Mercy comics. Not my favorite illustrations, but I still love the stories and I don’t hate the illustrations.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Darkness Awakened by Katie Reus (@Mollykatie112, @katiereus)
OMG! This sounds so awesome! I may need to pick it up! I love Jesse!
It was great to see how supportive Mercy is of Jesse. She is the best stepmom ever, as if there was ever any doubt.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Darkness Awakened by Katie Reus (@Mollykatie112, @katiereus)
That cover is just awesome.