Nancy Drew was one of the first mystery books I ever read (and fell in love with). I used to dream of owning all the Nancy Drew books, until I realised that there were more than 600 of them.

So you can say I was nothing short of ecstatic when I saw this book available for review on Netgalley. It was such a delight to get back into the world of the Girl Detective I so adored. The fact that the Hardy Boys were in for the ride too was a pleasant surprise!

The plot was a bit too easy to figure out, I agree, but I still enjoyed the book a lot. Mainly, it was because I loved the modern versions of Nancy, Bess and George. Especially George! She'd always been my favourite, and the queer version of her seemed just right!

Encountering the Hardy Boys in the story made it all the more fun. And honestly, I loved the book just because it gave me a chance to be in the midst of all these characters once again!

I a b s o l u t e l y loved this book it was so great?? I originally knew nothing about Nancy Drew but this one is a modern day spin with a cast of diverse characters who I love so very much — my faves are Nancy and Bess and I swear I'd give my life for them — and they love each other so much too! All their relationships were so beautiful to see, this group of friends is e v e r y t h i n g. And I love the art style it is so gorgeous, wow. But ending the story like that?? Cruel. Please tell me there's gonna be more of Nancy and everyone else.

I am so happy to have gotten this book from the publisher!! I read this series while it was coming out, checking back each month at my local comic book store to grab the latest issue. So getting approved for an ARC of the set was a dream come true.

The story is a modern day Nancy Drew, with LGBT+ rep and a cast of diverse characters. It's really easy to get into because the plot is so engaging and interesting (you never know what's going to happen next, but the entire time you're excitedly flipping pages). The art is absolutely beautiful as well.

I think anyone could enjoy this!

Fun. Modern. Quick Read.

Let me preface everything by saying that I grew up a major Nancy Drew fan (and a minor Hardy Boys fan). The classic yellow novels were the ones that I at ten years old stayed up past my bedtime reading under the covers. And since I’m not, like, sixty, they were already pretty old by that point in time. I’m pretty sure it was my grandmother who got me into them.

Anyway, I was the kid reading old mystery novels and I absolutely loved them. By this point in history, Nancy Drew was already starting to get a little bit of an update for the modern mystery-loving preteen. Think the Nancy Drew File or the Nancy Drew Notebooks--perfect for a kid who enjoyed the likes of Encyclopedia Brown and the A to Z Mysteries. Is my age showing yet?

While in even more recent times, Nancy Drew has been able to stay alive in the forms of computer games (with which I am obsessed), movies, etc., I have to say this is the first completely modern Nancy Drew I’ve seen in awhile. It’s a graphic novel for heaven’s sake.

Let me also preface this with the fact that I have never read a graphic novel (the closest I got were the comics in Ranger Rick magazine). But I was so intrigued by this modern Nancy Drew, that I decided to bite the bullet and try it out.

I was not entirely disappointed.

While classic Nancy Drew will always hold a special place in my heart, I am glad that kids can still be sucked into a mystery set in their own modern world. Even if this one is aimed at an older age group than I was when I started reading Nancy Drew.

This graphic novel is rated Teen+. There’s some mild language, discussion of drugs, and all the other characteristics you would expect from a teen mystery novel. Although, even with the language and drugs, it felt a little younger in many parts.

I keep emphasizing “modern” for a very important reason. The characters, while they have the same names as the characters I loved and several of the same characteristics, they are also completely different in the best ways possible. Take Bess and George specifically. Here, Bess is shown as overweight and George has a girlfriend. While neither of things come as a particular surprise, it was great for them to be shown with complete normalcy. No fuss whatsoever. As it should be.

There’s also a new character, Pete, that introduces racial issues. He’s half black, half Mexican and feels that the murder of his mother was overshadowed by the death of a prominent white woman (Nancy’s mother).

The rest is as it should be for the modern teen, as well. Updated tech and completely updated style (like punk George), mentions of Taylor Swift, etc.

The writing is simple, as expected, but I liked Nancy’s voice. It especially comes across in her aside moments and I think it’s brilliant. While a younger reader may not necessarily notice it, I think it helps bring the story to life.

The illustrations are perfect and I very much enjoyed them. The artist really captured the characters and each moment. The figures are realistic while also being exciting and visually appealing.

The mystery is exciting and intriguing, but I think it happened way too quickly. I realize that that can be partially attributed to it being a graphic novel, but I feel like there wasn’t quite enough build-up or what I would call “classic mystery solving”—collecting clues, compiling suspects, etc.

So overall, for me the story itself fell a little short, but I still enjoyed the experience. From the beginning I hadn’t anticipated continuing with the series, but the cliffhanger at the end may have changed my mind.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A fabulous graphic novel on the nancy drew that we all grew up with and loved. This is a fresh take on Nancy Drew and will be loved by the new generation of readers.

Kelly Thompson has brought new life to this well-loved character with her quick, witty graphic novel. I was an occasional mystery fan growing up and though I was never an avid fan, I fondly recall the Nancy Drew books I took from my elementary school library. I enjoyed the reintroduction to familiar characters (Including The Hardy Boys!) and how Thompson portrays them in their late teen years.

The story begins with the midst of her hi-jinks, finishing up a mystery involving the disappearance of her school's mascot. As she begins searching for her next case, Nancy is suddenly drawn back to her hometown by a mysterious letter relating to the death of her mother. Back in Bayport, Nancy reunites with her old friends and rallies the group to aid her investigation.

The artwork throughout the entire graphic novel is gorgeous, I'm a huge fan of Jess St. Onge's style. The story is filled with interesting twists and a diverse cast of characters. Though the plot didn't completely thrill me, I was definitely hooked by the cliffhanger and I will be looking forward to the next installment!

I grew up reading Nancy Drew, so I was very curious and anxious to delve into this graphic novel. It did not disappoint! The storyline and plot was very engrossing and enjoyable and the illustrations absolutely gorgeous. I loved that the Hardy Boys were also brought in, which leant another intriguing layer to the story.

When I was a kid, I used to read a lot of the Nancy Drew books, which I really loved. When I got older, I really got into graphic novels, so when I saw this Nancy Drew graphic novel, I needed to read it. It was a very interesting story and I really really loved the artwork. The ending really made me anticipate a second volume! Highly recommend it to people who loved Nancy Drew as kids!

Such a fun twist on one of my favorite childhood characters I enjoyed the updated kick butt version of Nancy. The mystery was more modern and very good flew through this!

I grew up on Nancy drew and was so excited to see a modern version of it, I had no idea it was being redone! I have to say that I thought the author did a wonderful job bringing Nancy, Bess and George into the 21st century! This was a wonderful throwback to my childhood that I really enjoyed. I have to say the graphic novel wasn’t my favorite style of writing but I really enjoyed the story! Thank you netgalley for an ARC.

Hello, nostalgia! So this was a fun, easy, and extremely quick read. I really liked the reimagining of the classic characters as teens in the now. I didn't read too many Nancy Drew books back in the day, but enough to know the general characters. My biggest complaint was how short the book was. I'm ready for book 2 and I hope there are several, because I think there is so much promise here! The art is so great and honestly, I think this is a great modern reimagining of this!

I had such a great time reading this ! The art is so georgous I'm in love with it. I loved all the characters, Bess and Joe have such a cute relationship and Nancy and Pete have an awesome dynamic it was impossible for me to not root for them ! And that ending ??? Wow I need the sequel, like right now.

I grew up reading and watching Nancy Drew. I am a big fan! I was so excited to read a modern twist on the character. I enjoyed the mystery and the author did a great job with Nancy!

Kelly Thompson absolutely knocked it out of the ballpark with this updated, edgier Nancy Drew and company. The storyline was fun and relevant and reminiscent of everything I loved about Nancy Drew as a kid.
The pacing was great with a strong build-up of suspense. The crisp illustrations added to the atmosphere and really drew me into the world Kelly Thompson built.
If I could be sure all graphic novels would be as appealing as Nancy Drew: The Palace of Wisdom, I would read a lot more of them.

*4.25 Stars*

I have never read the Nancy Drew novels, however this was my second ND graphic novel though to be honest, I don't really remember the other one.
In this book, Nancy is 17 and doesn't live in the same city she used to, where she lived with her mother before her death.
But she goes back when she receives an anonymous letter and reconnects with all her friends.
Then a lot of things happen, including cadavres, explosions, drugs and kisses.

This was really good. I really got into the story, loved the characters and their relationships.
I just loved the way it was told, the plot really kept me on edge and I felt a connection to the characters I rarely get when reading comic books.
I'm gonna be on the lookout for more books from this author and from this illustrator too because I really loved the art.

Absolutely loved this! The illustrations and the content was great. This could almost be classified as a graphic novel. I would definitely recommend this especially to the preteen/teen group. Feels like the Nancy Drew books come to life and all grown up. Looking forward to reading more of these.

Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC of Nancy Drew: The Palace of Wisdom

"Let no one say the life of Nancy Drew is boring”

Nancy Drew: The Palace of Wisdom is a fun and quick read that I managed to finish in one sitting. That’s how hooked I was in the novel right from the first page. We get to follow teenage Nancy Drew as she and her fellow crime-solving teenage friends solve the mystery that somehow brings them all back to their hometown.

First of all, I really enjoyed the art style and the illustrations. They were colourful, detailed and really brought the entire novel together. I especially enjoyed the illustrations on the chapter pages and cover art pages. They are absolutely stunning!. Plus did I mention there’s extra bonus material with the most gorgeous illustrations by a bunch of talented artists?!

I really liked seeing a grown up and older version of the cast and was happy to see George grow up to identify as queer. Besides that, there was some diversity of minor characters like Danica, George’s new girlfriend, which was also nice to see. I also love the genuine friendship between the original crime-solving crew and there were moments that literally made me smile like a lunatic whilst reading.

The plot was really easy to follow and because of the mystery element it was fast-paced and you find yourself flying through the entire book and wanting to read more. It was one mystery after another, and it seemed like something always goes wrong after you think the mystery has been solved.

Unfortunately, I did not grow up reading the Nancy Drew series as a child and have only read a couple Nancy Drew books so I will give this novel 3 stars. The reason being I did not really connect with Nancy Drew as a character and as a person, but I definitely enjoyed this novel and will pick up more of the classic Nancy Drew books plus any other upcoming novels of this series in the future. I definitely would recommend this to not only people who grew up reading the Nancy Drew series but to others who would like to read a quick and fast-paced graphic novel mystery about the beloved detective, Nancy Drew.

Nancy Drew: The Palace of Wisdom is quick, thrilling and fun to read. We get to follow teenage detective Nancy Drew as she and her friends solves mysteries in her old hometown.

I have never read any Nancy Drew books and at first I didn't understand that this was one either. I'm from Sweden and here Nancy Drew is called Kitty so I guess it was quite understandable that I didn't get it at first. But once I figured it out the story itself became more captivating and interesting.

My mother was a huge Nancy Drew fan in her teenage years, so reading something that she loved so dearly — and probably still enjoys — I found the graphic novel even more fun to read.

The story itself has plots that is quite hard to figure out and the ending was nothing like I'd imagined it would be. Therefor the book felt like a classic (in a good way) mystery novel.

I really enjoyed the illustrations. They were beautifully made, colorful and full of life. I feel like this Nancy Drew was a lot more "cool" when it comes to looks than the "old" Nancy, but to me it seemed really fitting considering all the bad ass things she does.

Thank you NetGalley and Dynamite Entertainment for the e-ARC of Nancy Drew: The Palace of Wisdom , I really look forward to the next novel in the series!

Also a big thanks to Kelly Thompson for the fun, mystery read. ❤️

Nancy Drew is in the middle of her usual crime solving, badass, smart girl routine when she receives a mysterious letter that pulls her back to her home town. There she reunites with her old friends and tries to get to the bottom of what grudge is being held against her and who exactly is trying to kill her.

So, considering this is the sixth in the series I should have probably read the others first. I haven’t. I also never read the original Nancy Drew series, so I’m sure I don’t have the full scope of appreciation for this modern revision.

All that said, I was able to follow the story without feeling lost. I appreciated the millennialness they put into it. Smart female protagonist, social commentary, pop culture references, diverse range of teenage characters (races and sexuality) wrapped in with some emotionally charged moments, fast paced action and mystery.

The art was pleasing, offering small samples of variation in style in every new chapter. All modern especially when you compare it to the original series. The characters are all edgy and refreshed from the past styles.

I wasn’t a huge fan of Nancy, I found her personality a bit unlikable, but I enjoyed the dynamics of her and her large group of friends together. Funny, quirky and a little Buffyesk with the smooth talking, sarcastic teen vibes.

The mystery didn’t blow me away. I wouldn’t say it was too predictable, but I found myself not as invested in the plot line. It felt quite rushed through with the number of things that happened, making the transitions and the parts that are usually intended to pack a punch (mystery reveal) kind of sudden and a little anticlimactic.

I’m very tempted to read the rest of the series. Though I’m not sure how much would be contained of what I read since Nancy was going back to her previous home town in this issue. I’m pretty attached to this first cast I was introduced to.

I have received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

– 3/5 Nancy Drew brought back to life with some new millennial edge.

I really loved this book. I'd been looking forward to reading Kelly Thompson's take on Nancy Drew since she's one of my favorite authors and I devoured the Nancy Drew novels as a child, and this did not disappoint. Thompson imagines the classic Nancy Drew friend group in a modern context and engages themes of loss, long-distance friendship, and systemic injustice. Instead of just having the issue of police not believing Nancy and her friends because they're high school kids, Thompson also looks at what it means for victims to be women in vulnerable socio-economic situations and how those cases are investigated. Even while Thompson deals with serious themes, it's still a really fun book. The individual issues in this collection go together well, and the artwork is really well-done. I'd highly recommend this to fans of comics/graphic novels and the classic Nancy Drew books and computer games.