Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Selling Pitch:
Do you like stunning art, sexy ladies, and gore? The synopsis nailed it. This is the love child of Monstress and Penny Dreadful.

Pre-reading:
Absolute cover porn.

Thick of it:
This art is gorgeous.

I love how this artist draws eyes.

The dialogue is a little choppy and sometimes it’s hard to tell who’s talking.

The colors of this are just beautiful.

This comic is so diverse, and everyone is a stone-cold hottie.

Make sure you slap some big ol’ titties on the corpse so you still know it’s a lady.

Ooo nice twist. Didn't know if it was a wrap it up hunky dory style stand-alone.

“If you will not accept my affection, you may have my wrath” is a metal line.

Goddamn, what a good origin story. I hope there’s more

Post-reading:
This was gorgeous. The story wasn't anything new, but it was well executed. I would love to read more.

It's hard for me to critique graphic novels. I'm like wow, I would've liked a bit more character depth and backstory, but I’m also aware of how much work goes into every single panel. You've gotta get your story across so fast and still wow people with the visuals. This book definitely delivers on the visuals. The story is perfectly fine. It does what it needs to do. There’s no nuance to it to push it into 5-star territory for me. But if you like some gory possession stories, you should definitely pick this up.

It's self-contained enough that it can be a standalone if you're down for a no-think, just vibe read, but it leaves a lot of questions left that I hope more of the series will answer.

Who should read this:
Femme art fans
Alien fans
Victorian fans

Do I want to reread this:
Honestly, kinda. The art’s that pretty.

Similar books:
* Monstress by Marjorie M. Liu-girlypop is possessed by an alien monster, fairytale retelling graphic novel
* The Breath of Things: the Mist-Walker by Stephane Fert-fairytale vibes, witchy, femme art graphic novel
* Squad by Maggie Tokuda-Hall-femme werewolf art, high school drama graphic novel
* Nimona by N. D. Stevenson-morally gray characters, fairytale vibes, graphic novel

First, the art in this comic is so horrifically beautiful in the most disturbing way.
Second, the plot was far deeper and almost, wholesome, than I'd been expecting. Watching her have to come to terms with a strange version of her own humanity was fascinating and more than a little heart wrenching. A terrifying yet beautiful story.

Rating: 4.5

Thank you NetGalley and Image Comics for the opportunity to read this comic. The review is my own honest opinion.

Overall, I quite enjoyed this comic. The art was absolutely beautiful and I found myself pausing on sections to really study and admire each panel. The shading and coloring was all so vibrant and pleasing, even the monsters were vibrant. As was the linework, and all of the character designs and landscapes.

The setting is my absolute favorite. Gothic horror, Victorian times, gritty and tragic, in the winter time for most of the story. I found myself getting sucked in simply for the atmosphere of this story.

The story itself? I was quite intrigued and went from pacing myself to finishing the back half of the collection in one sitting because things escalated and I needed to know what happened next. Unfortunately, what lost half a star was the ending. It felt rushed, I was confused by some of the choices and ways things wrapped up. Perhaps if this stretched out to one more volume, to slow down the momentum of the ending to wrap up all of the pieces in a well timed way, it'd be less confusing.

I will say, overall I enjoyed this comic enough to want to go check out Andolfo's other comics! And pick up a physical copy of this one for my collection, of course.

I had no idea what to expect going into this one but it definitely kept me on my toes. I did not predict a single thing in this Victorian era gothic horror/fantasy. The story itself is interesting and different from most of the other graphic novels that I've read. It's unique and the artwork is fantastic and colorful. It's a quick read and I enjoyed the ending. I didn't particularly like most of the characters but I liked Joel and Rory. There are monsters, literal ones from a different world but also humans who do monstrous things so it challenges the reader to decide who the real monsters are and whether they are all more than what they seem. There are also monster hunters but they were actually a smaller part of the story than I expected and I think I would have liked more of them, but overall it was an entertaining story that kept me invested the whole way through!

I read a digital copy from Image Comics via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a very strange Manga it was all over the place with weird monsters that’s on the inside and how they attack eachother and defend I do like thrillers and This was good but unfortunately it fell a little flat as it didn’t connect with me or make me feel invested in the characters and it was a lot of telling not showing

I love a good victorian fantasy graphic novel and this did not disappoint. A gothic horror monster story, a beautiful unknown woman arrives in a small town with professed plans to expand her businesses to the area. Meanwhile people are dying gruesome deaths. But the beautiful woman isn't as she appears, and the deaths in town have deeper roots.
The art was very well done and I really enjoyed this work. I'll be looking for more from this author.

Gorgeous artwork that is at once lush and disturbing, and an interesting story. Mercy is a horror graphic novel with a gothic vibe set in the late 1800's. Into a small town with a history of violence and a mine that has been closed comes a beautiful and mysterious woman with something monstrous lurking within...

I'm not sure I fully caught everything that happened because there are a lot of moving pieces a an emphasis on visual storytelling, but I enjoyed this. It was creepy, had a cast of interesting characters, and a satisfying plot arc. Worth a look if it's your vibe! Note that it is horror and gets rather gory. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

Thanks NetGalley and publisher for allowing me to read this graphic novel for free. Absolutely loved the art but story was confusing like I felt it didn’t explain each character in more detail and why they were there in the first place. It’s disappointing because I really thought I saw potential in this story but nope it’s a nothing burger…

The art was beautiful, but the storyline was all over the place and confusing. A little less going on would have made it better.

I loved the direction that Andolfo was trying to take with Mercy. However I wish there was more background to the story rather than just being thrust straight into the gore and violence. There were points in the story that I thought could have been left out and I did find myself losing track of the plot line at times.

The Pacific Northwest during the late 1800s! Alien (?) parasites! A town just getting by, but with rumors of a mysterious being killing folks after a devastating mine explosion years prior! The tricky moral thoughts about what it is to be a mother, or what it is to be connected to other humans! Or just other beings...?

Mirka Andolfo's Mercy is a full-color, fully contained (all six issues of the comic are in this volume) graphic novel containing: all of the above. The horror aspects were really gross (this is a positive considering the subject matter) with gorgeous art throughout and there were several twists I didn't see coming (always a positive!).

Thank you to NetGalley and Image Comics for the eARC in exchange for review!

As interesting as the story was, I found this comic to be a bit too fast-paced. Andolfo tries to cram too much information into the short amount of pages we have, which leads to a few very big jumps in the narrative. This is an increasingly annoying problem in the last two chapters, up until to the point when the story abruptly ends and one of the characters has a change of heart that makes no sense. I still enjoyed reading the comic though because the art is fantastic. I can even see myself reading it again in the future, which I rarely do, but it wasn’t a 5-star read.

Mercy excels in its visual presentation, with hauntingly beautiful artwork that effectively conveys the eerie ambiance of the narrative. The illustrations skillfully capture the darkness lurking beneath the surface of the seemingly tranquil town, enhancing the overall reading experience.

This graphic novel was outside of my comfort zone as I don’t do many horror books since I do get scared rather easily but I did enjoy it.

A beautifully illustrated gothic tale of love and death. A bit confusing in the beginning, but the tale will suck you in as memories unravel.

Mercy by Mirka Andolfo was a beautifully illustrated graphic novel. The amazing cover is what caught my eye and why I requested to read it through NetGalley. The plot was a little hard for me to follow; I do not read a lot of graphic novels, but this one peaked my interest. The graphic novel is a horror/thriller genre, fast paced, and intriguing. I enjoyed reading the graphic novel and was captivated by the illustrations. I plan to add the sequels to my reading list!

Wow, where do I even begin with "Mercy"? Let me just say, I might not have understood everything that went down, but I absolutely loved the journey it took me on!

"Mercy" is a spellbinding historical horror/SFF crossover that's as unsettling as it is captivating. Filled with monsters, both human and otherwise, it strikes a perfect balance between eerie, tragic, and romantic elements. The artwork in this graphic novel is simply unmatched, drawing readers into a world of intricate detail and spine-chilling scenes. Admittedly, I found myself a bit lost at times, especially during the intense action sequences where the fine lining blurred the lines between monsters. But hey, that's more of a "me" thing than a flaw with "Mercy" itself.

I wholeheartedly recommend this masterpiece to anyone who appreciates beautiful, fantastical horror graphics and doesn't mind a healthy dose of bloodshed.

Now, let's talk about why "Mercy" deserves a solid 5-star rating:

1. **The Story**: It's unique, it's cool, and it grabbed me right from the start. While it's hard to put into words exactly what it's about, the story is a captivating whirlwind of horror and intrigue.

2. **Artwork**: The illustrations set the perfect tone, bringing every scene to life with stunning detail. Mirka Andolfo's artwork is simply breathtaking and adds immense depth to the narrative.

3. **Characterization**: The characters are well-written and deeply intriguing. Unlike some horror stories where characters feel disposable, I found myself genuinely caring about the fate of the characters in "Mercy."

4. **Excitement and Intensity**: Each issue is packed with excitement and intensity, ensuring that readers are always on the edge of their seats. I never once felt bored while diving into the world of "Mercy."

5. **Horror Elements**: From badass monsters to disturbing violence, "Mercy" delivers on the horror front without relying solely on gore. The atmosphere is perfectly eerie, and Andolfo's mastery of body horror is on full display.

6. **Unpredictability**: One of the greatest strengths of "Mercy" is its ability to keep readers guessing. The story takes unexpected turns, keeping you hooked until the very end.

7. **Romantic Elements**: While not the main focus, the romantic elements in the story add depth and emotion to the narrative, making it even more compelling.

8. **Emotional Impact**: "Mercy" packs an emotional punch, drawing readers into the characters' struggles and triumphs.

9. **Satisfying Ending**: The ending ties up the story beautifully while leaving room for future exploration. I, for one, am eagerly anticipating any sequels that may come our way.

In conclusion, "Mercy" is a gothic horror masterpiece that deserves all the praise it receives. Mirka Andolfo's talent shines through in every aspect of this comic, from the stunning artwork to the cleverly crafted narrative. If you're a horror fan, this is an absolute must-read!

The art was stunning. The style was horrifically beautiful. The visuals alone kept my attention but I found it hard to totally comprehend and follow the story. I understand I've never read anything similar to this and I may not be the targeted audience. Overall it was an enjoyable venture.

Confession… I didn’t give a crap what this graphic novel was about because THAT COVER!!!! And I knew if that cover was the gorgeous the artwork would be too and I was not let down. It’s hard to explain because the colours were like dark but monochrome but colourful at the same time ahhha. The style was beautiful. So because I didn’t know what the book about so I was a bit surprised the direction it went lol, but not in a bad way. I like how the time period felt like Victorian but also a bit old time western hahaha. Loved it.
I would recommend this to graphic novel readers of any type.

I received this ARC copy from Netgalley complimentary for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this story! The graphics were vibrant and entrancing! This is a new category for me and I can’t wait to read more!

Mercy: The Fair Lady, The Frost and The Fiend is a beautifully crafted horror story from writer/artist Mirka Andolfo that features a plethora of twists and turns throughout. I wish that I had enjoyed it more than I ultimately did and it's entirely possible I just didn't quite understand everything that occurred in the pages of the story. Nevertheless, it was quite a ride.

Special thanks to Image Comics and NetGalley for the digital ARC. This was given to me for an honest review.