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Marvel Aconyte Novels
Squirrel Girl: Universe: A Marvel Heroines Novel
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl is on a wild cosmic adventure to save the galaxy, in a Marvel Heroines action novel that is totally out of this world!
Squirrel Girl is in a pickle and a jam, a metaphor that mixes about as well as it tastes. She and her friends are lost in outer space, where there is a conspicuous absence of oxygen and, even more troubling, a shortage of squirrels. After hitching a ride on a passing space whale, Squirrel Girl and her trusty companions find themselves on a free-merchant space station and on the front line of a looming interstellar war. The stakes have never been so high, and trillions of lives are at risk! Luckily for the universe, Squirrel Girl is here to stand up against the odds and set things right across the galaxy.
Squirrel Girl is in a pickle and a jam, a metaphor that mixes about as well as it tastes. She and her friends are lost in outer space, where there is a conspicuous absence of oxygen and, even more troubling, a shortage of squirrels. After hitching a ride on a passing space whale, Squirrel Girl and her trusty companions find themselves on a free-merchant space station and on the front line of a looming interstellar war. The stakes have never been so high, and trillions of lives are at risk! Luckily for the universe, Squirrel Girl is here to stand up against the odds and set things right across the galaxy.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 2, 2022
6 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
May 20, 2024
This book is like Marvel smushed with The Good Place and I love it. The power set of the villain was so much more interesting for sustaining a novel-length work than most of Marvel's villains are and it was such a smart choice for Squirrel Girl in particular. Also, hell yeah, Koi Boi!!!
May 25, 2022
I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really wish this had been a graphic novel instead of a regular novel. Lots of the action gets bogged down by wordy sentences full of footnotes and asides. That works in a comic when your character is able to break the fourth wall in a panel, but in a novel? It just comes off as long winded and bombastic.
I am a fan of the Squirrel Girl comics but I would hesitate to recommend this book. I'm not sure who the audience for this book would be, kids? Older teens? Fans of the Squirrel Girl comics? Marvel fans?
In the end, I found the book mildly entertaining but wishing it would get to the point already.
I really wish this had been a graphic novel instead of a regular novel. Lots of the action gets bogged down by wordy sentences full of footnotes and asides. That works in a comic when your character is able to break the fourth wall in a panel, but in a novel? It just comes off as long winded and bombastic.
I am a fan of the Squirrel Girl comics but I would hesitate to recommend this book. I'm not sure who the audience for this book would be, kids? Older teens? Fans of the Squirrel Girl comics? Marvel fans?
In the end, I found the book mildly entertaining but wishing it would get to the point already.
July 16, 2022
I received a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
I was Unfortunately not a huge fan of this book. I think that it would've been better suited as a graphic novel, and not an actual novel. Tere were these really annoying footnotes, which felt clunky and just weird, and would've suited a graphic novel format a lot more.
I also have no idea what age this book is targeted towards to. Kids? Teens? Adults? none of those feel right.
Also for a superhero book, there wasn't much action scenes. The book really seemed to drag on and on at times. Overall I was not a fan of this one, and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
I was Unfortunately not a huge fan of this book. I think that it would've been better suited as a graphic novel, and not an actual novel. Tere were these really annoying footnotes, which felt clunky and just weird, and would've suited a graphic novel format a lot more.
I also have no idea what age this book is targeted towards to. Kids? Teens? Adults? none of those feel right.
Also for a superhero book, there wasn't much action scenes. The book really seemed to drag on and on at times. Overall I was not a fan of this one, and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
June 28, 2022
Synopsis
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl is on a wild cosmic adventure to save the galaxy, in a Marvel Heroines action novel that is totally out of this world!
Squirrel Girl is in a pickle and a jam, a metaphor that mixes about as well as it tastes. She and her friends are lost in outer space, where there is a conspicuous absence of oxygen and, even more troubling, a shortage of squirrels. After hitching a ride on a passing space whale, Squirrel Girl and her trusty companions find themselves on a free-merchant space station and on the front line of a looming interstellar war. The stakes have never been so high, and trillions of lives are at risk! Luckily for the universe, Squirrel Girl is here to stand up against the odds and set things right across the galaxy.
Review
Where do I start? Well first and foremost I suppose with the usual disclaimer. Firstly, I was kindly given access to this ARC for review and as always my review is felt voluntarily and is completely honest. Secondly, beyond a few character names and vague outline I never like to spoil full plots in my reviews whether it is an arc or already published. I am happy to discuss more in depth via dms or email.
Now on to the actual review. Tristian Palmgren is becoming one of my favourite authors in the world of tie-in fiction. With several marvel titles under their belt including my personal favourite Outlaw: Relentless and Siege of X-41. Squirrel Girl: Universe is no different. A Perfect rip-roaring space adventure with equally funny and serious moments and a host of memorable characters this is sure to become a firm favourite of Doreen’s fans!
Palmgren manages once again to merge the world of comics and prose fiction perfectly in that their story reads like a comic in terms of action and adventure but has the wonderful add on of wider character development (we get to see what characters are thinking and feeling more clearly than in the comic verse) and the superb and frankly hilarious footnotes by our heroine, Squirrel Girl and her wonderful editor, whom I won’t name but lets just say don’t make them too angry! I can’t remember laughing so much (unless I was reading a Deadpool comic or playing You Are (Not) Deadpool). That isn’t to say there is no seriousness to this novel because there is.
I also want to say a massive thank you to Palmgren for including Koi Boi, honestly one of my favourite superheroes who doesn’t get as much love as he should. But enough of that what about the story? Well it almost flawless. That isn’t to say it’s an easy journey for our heroes but it keeps you engaged, thinking and laughing as you follow the group through the universe to try and find a way home, all thanks to the Mad Tinker (another thank you for Palmgren for giving this villain a wonderful arc in the story!). Never one to be beaten even when seeming to be stranded in the midst of space Squirrel Girl and her group of trusty friends manage to hitch a ride of a space whale (who may have become my favourite character at TippyToe) and then end up in the middle of a potential interstellar war. All right before their finals!
But heroes aren’t easily beaten, with a host of wonderful characters including the smart but sometimes pessimistic Brain Drain, laid back Koi Boi, practical Chipmunk Hunk, Weapon crazed Mary, somewhat sensible fangirl Nancy, the cynical and rather unhelpful Mad Tinkerer and of course the amazing TippyToe Squirrel Girl and her friends are sure to find a way out of this mess while stopping the looming war along the way.
The way Tristan Palmgren manages to capture each characters personality so perfectly is a real testament to their skills but more so their understanding of their characters. Even the new ones we meet along the way like the space whale and the mysterious alien whom the gang meet along the way (sorry but I told you, no spoilers!). It is nearly impossible to not become invested in not only the characters but the growing issues around them. The links to both Squirrel Girls comics, helpfully explained by the editor or Doreen herself, along with events that may have happened only in passing. It is a refreshing to see a pseudo aware heroine who is not as full on as Deadpool but still self aware to some extent and I think it’s clear Palmgren had a lot of fun with this which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Needless to say this is a must read for a Squirrel Girl fan but also marvel fan in general or just enjoying the Marvel Heroines series. I would also recommend to fans of fun, rip-roaring space escapades, you don’t need to be a die hard fan to enjoy this and I honestly adore that about it as well.
The book will be out in August in ebook and I will definitely be getting a hard copy.
About the Author
Please note Tristan Palmgren uses They/Them pronouns
Tristan Palmgren is the author of the critically acclaimed genre-wrapping blend of historical fiction and space-opera novel Quietus, and its sequal Terminus. They live with their partner in Columbia, Missouri.
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
For more information visit marvel.com. © 2022 MARVEL
#Marvel #MarvelEnt #Aconytebooks #review
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl is on a wild cosmic adventure to save the galaxy, in a Marvel Heroines action novel that is totally out of this world!
Squirrel Girl is in a pickle and a jam, a metaphor that mixes about as well as it tastes. She and her friends are lost in outer space, where there is a conspicuous absence of oxygen and, even more troubling, a shortage of squirrels. After hitching a ride on a passing space whale, Squirrel Girl and her trusty companions find themselves on a free-merchant space station and on the front line of a looming interstellar war. The stakes have never been so high, and trillions of lives are at risk! Luckily for the universe, Squirrel Girl is here to stand up against the odds and set things right across the galaxy.
Review
Where do I start? Well first and foremost I suppose with the usual disclaimer. Firstly, I was kindly given access to this ARC for review and as always my review is felt voluntarily and is completely honest. Secondly, beyond a few character names and vague outline I never like to spoil full plots in my reviews whether it is an arc or already published. I am happy to discuss more in depth via dms or email.
Now on to the actual review. Tristian Palmgren is becoming one of my favourite authors in the world of tie-in fiction. With several marvel titles under their belt including my personal favourite Outlaw: Relentless and Siege of X-41. Squirrel Girl: Universe is no different. A Perfect rip-roaring space adventure with equally funny and serious moments and a host of memorable characters this is sure to become a firm favourite of Doreen’s fans!
Palmgren manages once again to merge the world of comics and prose fiction perfectly in that their story reads like a comic in terms of action and adventure but has the wonderful add on of wider character development (we get to see what characters are thinking and feeling more clearly than in the comic verse) and the superb and frankly hilarious footnotes by our heroine, Squirrel Girl and her wonderful editor, whom I won’t name but lets just say don’t make them too angry! I can’t remember laughing so much (unless I was reading a Deadpool comic or playing You Are (Not) Deadpool). That isn’t to say there is no seriousness to this novel because there is.
I also want to say a massive thank you to Palmgren for including Koi Boi, honestly one of my favourite superheroes who doesn’t get as much love as he should. But enough of that what about the story? Well it almost flawless. That isn’t to say it’s an easy journey for our heroes but it keeps you engaged, thinking and laughing as you follow the group through the universe to try and find a way home, all thanks to the Mad Tinker (another thank you for Palmgren for giving this villain a wonderful arc in the story!). Never one to be beaten even when seeming to be stranded in the midst of space Squirrel Girl and her group of trusty friends manage to hitch a ride of a space whale (who may have become my favourite character at TippyToe) and then end up in the middle of a potential interstellar war. All right before their finals!
But heroes aren’t easily beaten, with a host of wonderful characters including the smart but sometimes pessimistic Brain Drain, laid back Koi Boi, practical Chipmunk Hunk, Weapon crazed Mary, somewhat sensible fangirl Nancy, the cynical and rather unhelpful Mad Tinkerer and of course the amazing TippyToe Squirrel Girl and her friends are sure to find a way out of this mess while stopping the looming war along the way.
The way Tristan Palmgren manages to capture each characters personality so perfectly is a real testament to their skills but more so their understanding of their characters. Even the new ones we meet along the way like the space whale and the mysterious alien whom the gang meet along the way (sorry but I told you, no spoilers!). It is nearly impossible to not become invested in not only the characters but the growing issues around them. The links to both Squirrel Girls comics, helpfully explained by the editor or Doreen herself, along with events that may have happened only in passing. It is a refreshing to see a pseudo aware heroine who is not as full on as Deadpool but still self aware to some extent and I think it’s clear Palmgren had a lot of fun with this which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Needless to say this is a must read for a Squirrel Girl fan but also marvel fan in general or just enjoying the Marvel Heroines series. I would also recommend to fans of fun, rip-roaring space escapades, you don’t need to be a die hard fan to enjoy this and I honestly adore that about it as well.
The book will be out in August in ebook and I will definitely be getting a hard copy.
About the Author
Please note Tristan Palmgren uses They/Them pronouns
Tristan Palmgren is the author of the critically acclaimed genre-wrapping blend of historical fiction and space-opera novel Quietus, and its sequal Terminus. They live with their partner in Columbia, Missouri.
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
For more information visit marvel.com. © 2022 MARVEL
#Marvel #MarvelEnt #Aconytebooks #review
August 9, 2022
A meta verse of her own
Squirrel Girl and her friends get lost in the far reaches of the galaxy. They deal with poets and storytellers who make their lives more interesting than most of them would like.
Squirrel Girl and her friends get lost in the far reaches of the galaxy. They deal with poets and storytellers who make their lives more interesting than most of them would like.
August 9, 2022
Tristan,
You had me at "quantum".
I never walk away from omelets. Unless they've got chilis.
In grad school, I never read footnotes. In "Squirrel Girl", I always read footnotes.
Say hi to your squirrel girl.
Going now to listen to Audioslave's "Black Hole Sun".
You had me at "quantum".
I never walk away from omelets. Unless they've got chilis.
In grad school, I never read footnotes. In "Squirrel Girl", I always read footnotes.
Say hi to your squirrel girl.
Going now to listen to Audioslave's "Black Hole Sun".
July 15, 2022
Squirrel Girl has the powers of a squirrel AND a girl. She has the strength, speed, instincts, and hyperactivity of a squirrel. She also has the kindness, friendshipping, bravery, and knowledge of orbital mechanics of a girl. Squirrel Girl is a STEM student in New York, and this book isn't afraid to spend pages talking about New Yorkers or how interstellar travel works to prove it.
My video review: https://youtu.be/FECvX3A3Yro?t=72
If you love the quirky, happy, dramatic Unbeatable Squirrel Girl comics, you'll probably like this book. It has the same chaotic and wholesome energy.
After short and inconsequential scenes with Iron Man and Doctor Strange, this novel kicks it into high gear by sending Squirrel Girl (and friends! And enemies (probably future friends)!) to space. In this adventure, they debate philosophy, encounter telepathic space whales, and meddle in galactic wars.
With Squirrel Girl's boisterous energy, this feels like a middle grade novel. However, with the main characters in college and the deep discussions on science and philosophy, it feels more like older YA. In the end, I think the audience isn't any particular age bracket. I think the people that will love this book are the type of people who love Squirrel Girl, and the unique vibe she brings to the Marvel universe.
Thanks to Aconyte Books and Netgalley for giving me a copy of this to review. All opinions are my own.
My video review: https://youtu.be/FECvX3A3Yro?t=72
If you love the quirky, happy, dramatic Unbeatable Squirrel Girl comics, you'll probably like this book. It has the same chaotic and wholesome energy.
After short and inconsequential scenes with Iron Man and Doctor Strange, this novel kicks it into high gear by sending Squirrel Girl (and friends! And enemies (probably future friends)!) to space. In this adventure, they debate philosophy, encounter telepathic space whales, and meddle in galactic wars.
With Squirrel Girl's boisterous energy, this feels like a middle grade novel. However, with the main characters in college and the deep discussions on science and philosophy, it feels more like older YA. In the end, I think the audience isn't any particular age bracket. I think the people that will love this book are the type of people who love Squirrel Girl, and the unique vibe she brings to the Marvel universe.
Thanks to Aconyte Books and Netgalley for giving me a copy of this to review. All opinions are my own.
July 29, 2022
I. Was. Thrilled.
My daughter loves Squirrel Girl and has read a few of the comic novels for her character. When I was gifted the opportunity to read this one I could have cried. I will say it's not for everyone. I'd recommend it more to the Spiderman type fans who love the more intelligent side of the heroes. It's definitely got some science business going on in it's pages and I love that aspect. It also helps teach young readers about said topics, so that is a serious big win for me.
On other notes, the plot felt... scattered. But I guess space will do that? And if you are also a lover of all things Doctor Who, the wibbly wobbly bits don't bother you quite as much. The characters are classic set ups for a comic with complex stories that you only get little snips of unless you know how to read between the lines. There wasn't nearly as much action as one might like from a comic, but for a story? It's balanced out in the end.
I personally recommend this to any and everyone... But if you are the type that prefers to see Hulk smash and Hawkeye volleying arrows? Maybe stick to that.
My daughter loves Squirrel Girl and has read a few of the comic novels for her character. When I was gifted the opportunity to read this one I could have cried. I will say it's not for everyone. I'd recommend it more to the Spiderman type fans who love the more intelligent side of the heroes. It's definitely got some science business going on in it's pages and I love that aspect. It also helps teach young readers about said topics, so that is a serious big win for me.
On other notes, the plot felt... scattered. But I guess space will do that? And if you are also a lover of all things Doctor Who, the wibbly wobbly bits don't bother you quite as much. The characters are classic set ups for a comic with complex stories that you only get little snips of unless you know how to read between the lines. There wasn't nearly as much action as one might like from a comic, but for a story? It's balanced out in the end.
I personally recommend this to any and everyone... But if you are the type that prefers to see Hulk smash and Hawkeye volleying arrows? Maybe stick to that.
May 28, 2022
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Aconyte Books for an advanced copy of this super heroine adventure novel.
"Squirrel Girl, Squirrel Girl does whatever a Squirrel Girl does. Inspires their friend of any size, catches thieves just like..nuts." The song needs work but, it does show my love and enjoyment of the continuing adventures of Doreen Green known to the world as Squirrel Girl. Being a comic reader of a certain age and gender I should not like Squirrel Girl as much as I do, but her adventures always remind me of what it was like reading comics that my grandmother brought me at the newstand (yes I was a fan before direct markets became a thing), full of adventure, fun and lessons on how to be a better person. And fun. Tristan Palmgren in Squirrel Girl: Universe, part of Aconyte Books Marvel Heroines line, captures this feeling of fun, footnotes, and feats of fortitude and fearlessness and College finals, in this adventure that spans that galaxy and fiction itself.
Doreen is with her roommate and Nancy and her squirrel companion Tippy Toe,when parts of New York seem to go ghostly and being to float away or so it appears, . Soon she is joined by her comrades and friends Chipmunk Hunk and his girlfriend, Koi Boi and the ex- supervillain Brain Drain. After a trip to the masters of the mustache Tony Stark and Doctor Strange proves of no use, Squirrel Girl vows to find and stop what is going on. The investigation leads to Empire State University Doreen's school where the master mind Mad Thinker has a plan to steal parts of New York take it across the galaxy and rule as King, or something. Stopping him is only the start of the adventure which finds all these characters trapped on the other side of the universe maybe, involved in an interstellar war, space whales, poetry currency smuggling, and the laws of fiction breaking around them.
Doreen Green is a great character, and the author has the voice of the characters down. Heck I have not thought of Mad Thinker in years, and found him a character I wouldn't mind seeing more of. The adventure is big and sciencey, maybe sometimes a little too big, but still moves forward well. The cast might be a tad big, but everyone is interesting and brings their own view and spin on situations, so that can be forgiven. There are footnotes, with helpful science and biographical facts, and asides from the Hulk, who freelances as an editor in this adventure. There is plenty of story left for a sequel which might involve a certain trickster god sometime in the future and there is still a question about returning in time for college finals. Overall a fun adventure.
The book that Aconyte are doing are some of the best representations of Marvel characters that I have read in a long time, and that includes the books and especially the movies which give the characters not time to breathe or even live before the next CGI thing appears. I have not read one that I thought was just ok, or didn't like in any series, and I really enjoyed this one. Squirrel Girl is a great character with everything a hero should be, inspirational and someone you want to emulate. From being a friend, being nice, and kicking butt, this was a very good. I've not read anything by Tristan Palmgren, but I can't wait to read more. Another reason why I like these books, I find authors I might never have read, and I love discovering great authors.
"Squirrel Girl, Squirrel Girl does whatever a Squirrel Girl does. Inspires their friend of any size, catches thieves just like..nuts." The song needs work but, it does show my love and enjoyment of the continuing adventures of Doreen Green known to the world as Squirrel Girl. Being a comic reader of a certain age and gender I should not like Squirrel Girl as much as I do, but her adventures always remind me of what it was like reading comics that my grandmother brought me at the newstand (yes I was a fan before direct markets became a thing), full of adventure, fun and lessons on how to be a better person. And fun. Tristan Palmgren in Squirrel Girl: Universe, part of Aconyte Books Marvel Heroines line, captures this feeling of fun, footnotes, and feats of fortitude and fearlessness and College finals, in this adventure that spans that galaxy and fiction itself.
Doreen is with her roommate and Nancy and her squirrel companion Tippy Toe,when parts of New York seem to go ghostly and being to float away or so it appears, . Soon she is joined by her comrades and friends Chipmunk Hunk and his girlfriend, Koi Boi and the ex- supervillain Brain Drain. After a trip to the masters of the mustache Tony Stark and Doctor Strange proves of no use, Squirrel Girl vows to find and stop what is going on. The investigation leads to Empire State University Doreen's school where the master mind Mad Thinker has a plan to steal parts of New York take it across the galaxy and rule as King, or something. Stopping him is only the start of the adventure which finds all these characters trapped on the other side of the universe maybe, involved in an interstellar war, space whales, poetry currency smuggling, and the laws of fiction breaking around them.
Doreen Green is a great character, and the author has the voice of the characters down. Heck I have not thought of Mad Thinker in years, and found him a character I wouldn't mind seeing more of. The adventure is big and sciencey, maybe sometimes a little too big, but still moves forward well. The cast might be a tad big, but everyone is interesting and brings their own view and spin on situations, so that can be forgiven. There are footnotes, with helpful science and biographical facts, and asides from the Hulk, who freelances as an editor in this adventure. There is plenty of story left for a sequel which might involve a certain trickster god sometime in the future and there is still a question about returning in time for college finals. Overall a fun adventure.
The book that Aconyte are doing are some of the best representations of Marvel characters that I have read in a long time, and that includes the books and especially the movies which give the characters not time to breathe or even live before the next CGI thing appears. I have not read one that I thought was just ok, or didn't like in any series, and I really enjoyed this one. Squirrel Girl is a great character with everything a hero should be, inspirational and someone you want to emulate. From being a friend, being nice, and kicking butt, this was a very good. I've not read anything by Tristan Palmgren, but I can't wait to read more. Another reason why I like these books, I find authors I might never have read, and I love discovering great authors.
August 18, 2022
8/16/2022 Full review tk at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.
8/18/2022 Y'all know I'm all in for any Marvel superheroine named Doreen (even if I don't like squirrels. Shocking, I know, but my brother and I have stories.)
Animal-animosity regardless, the best part of the Squirrel Girl titles has always been, for me, how Doreen Green's positive attitude ensures that she truly is unbeatable. This novel does an amazing job of illustrating that despite being entirely prose, and I loved it so much.
We open in New York City, home to Squirrel Girl as well as her superpowered friends (and college classmates) Chipmunk Hunk and Koi Boy, as strange things start happening to the city. Every supe is on high alert, but it's SG and co (and their closest companions, including the adorable squirrel Tippy Toes, SG's roommate Nancy and CH's trigger-happy girlfriend Mary. Oh, and another superhero collegemate of theirs, Brain Drain) who figure out whodunnit and where first, and go to confront the bad guy. Trouble is, stopping him involves accidentally transporting themselves to an unknown alien planet.
After hitching a ride on a cosmic whale, they find themselves held captive aboard an abandoned spaceport turned holding facility, where their captors are working the prisoners for... poetry? Turns out that an impending war has increased the demand for heroic verse, and SG and friends are trapped in the middle. But you know SG! Despite being (rightfully) accused of being a meddlesome Earther, she decides that she needs to free the prisoners, stop the war and get her roommate home in time for the finals Nancy will not stop stressing about. All in a day's work for the Unbeatable SG! Trouble is, will saving the universe mean sacrificing far more than she ever bargained for?
I did not expect this book to be as sci-fi as it was, but wow, did I enjoy the whip smart treatment Tristan Palmgren gave to both the science and arts discussions that permeated the novel. Whether it's discussing orbital mechanics or the power of narrative, the book presents its arguments and theories rationally and clearly, with no attempts at grandeur or obfuscation. Better still, these concepts and their philosophical underpinnings are presented as a natural part of the unfolding story. As a polymath, I was greatly impressed by this.
And overall, it's such a warm, witty story. While I personally don't think SG should feel guilty about her choice in the end, I can see how someone as empathetic as she is would feel badly about it. This is an excellent SG novelization that fans of hers shouldn't miss, and that anyone with an appreciation for quality sci-fi that isn't afraid to grapple with bigger multidisciplinary ideas should check out, too.
Squirrel Girl: Universe by Tristan Palmgren was published August 16 2022 by Aconyte and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
Obligatory legalese: #Marvel #MarvelEnt #Aconytebooks #review. This book was given to me for an honest review.
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
For more information visit marvel.com. © 2022 MARVEL
8/18/2022 Y'all know I'm all in for any Marvel superheroine named Doreen (even if I don't like squirrels. Shocking, I know, but my brother and I have stories.)
Animal-animosity regardless, the best part of the Squirrel Girl titles has always been, for me, how Doreen Green's positive attitude ensures that she truly is unbeatable. This novel does an amazing job of illustrating that despite being entirely prose, and I loved it so much.
We open in New York City, home to Squirrel Girl as well as her superpowered friends (and college classmates) Chipmunk Hunk and Koi Boy, as strange things start happening to the city. Every supe is on high alert, but it's SG and co (and their closest companions, including the adorable squirrel Tippy Toes, SG's roommate Nancy and CH's trigger-happy girlfriend Mary. Oh, and another superhero collegemate of theirs, Brain Drain) who figure out whodunnit and where first, and go to confront the bad guy. Trouble is, stopping him involves accidentally transporting themselves to an unknown alien planet.
After hitching a ride on a cosmic whale, they find themselves held captive aboard an abandoned spaceport turned holding facility, where their captors are working the prisoners for... poetry? Turns out that an impending war has increased the demand for heroic verse, and SG and friends are trapped in the middle. But you know SG! Despite being (rightfully) accused of being a meddlesome Earther, she decides that she needs to free the prisoners, stop the war and get her roommate home in time for the finals Nancy will not stop stressing about. All in a day's work for the Unbeatable SG! Trouble is, will saving the universe mean sacrificing far more than she ever bargained for?
I did not expect this book to be as sci-fi as it was, but wow, did I enjoy the whip smart treatment Tristan Palmgren gave to both the science and arts discussions that permeated the novel. Whether it's discussing orbital mechanics or the power of narrative, the book presents its arguments and theories rationally and clearly, with no attempts at grandeur or obfuscation. Better still, these concepts and their philosophical underpinnings are presented as a natural part of the unfolding story. As a polymath, I was greatly impressed by this.
And overall, it's such a warm, witty story. While I personally don't think SG should feel guilty about her choice in the end, I can see how someone as empathetic as she is would feel badly about it. This is an excellent SG novelization that fans of hers shouldn't miss, and that anyone with an appreciation for quality sci-fi that isn't afraid to grapple with bigger multidisciplinary ideas should check out, too.
Squirrel Girl: Universe by Tristan Palmgren was published August 16 2022 by Aconyte and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
Obligatory legalese: #Marvel #MarvelEnt #Aconytebooks #review. This book was given to me for an honest review.
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
For more information visit marvel.com. © 2022 MARVEL
April 19, 2023
I have been provided with an advance copy of the new Marvel Heroines book Squirrel Girl: Universe by Tristan Palmgren and published by Aconyte Books, so here is the honest review I promised in exchange for the book.
So here is an important disclaimer which is always important to put out there first. I have a casual work contact with Asmodee to demonstrate board games for them in stores and at conventions. Asmodee being the parent company of Aconyte the publisher.
I am going to try my best to not let these things cloud my judgement in this review, but I accept that subconsciously it might.
Also, I won’t lie, I have looked at other reviews to see what others think, so there may be some influences from them in this book review. If I am going to quote them, I will attribute them. But if I forget to, or something is highly influenced by them, and you think I ought to attribute someone, let me know so that I can.
What is Marvel
Look at this point I would bore you with a bit of background to the game/universe, but lets not, you all know the Marvel Universe, if you don’t have you been living under a rock!
The Marvel Heroines series focuses on the female hero’s of the Marvel universe, the other books in the series so far have all be very very good!
The Story
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl aka Doreen Green, the heroine with the powers of a squirrel AND a girl, is one of Marvels most beloved modern characters, she is quirky, bubbly and fun, something which Tristan captures so well.
And above all else, she is a selfless hero who puts others before herself, and that’s where this story begins, as the Mad Thinker tries to relocate her adopted home of New York to the other side of the universe!
Taking action to prevent the entire city being moved, she takes action, but this ends up moving herself along with her trusty side squirrel Tippy Toe, fellow heroes Chipmunk Hunk, Koi Boy and Brain Drain, along with friends Nancy and Mary to a strange new world along with the Mad Thinker!
Hitching a ride on a passing Space Whale, turns out Koi Boy can communicate with stellar aquatic lifeforms too, and head to an alien space station, where they find themselves taken hostage on the frontline of a looming interstellar war that could claim the lives of trillions!
So just a perfectly normal week for THE UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL!!!!
Conclusion
This book took me ages to read, but that’s largely down to my brain injury giving me issues, but over the past couple of days I utterly devoured it, its an amazing book and captures the spirit of Squirrel Girl just right, as she sets out to prevent the war that to most seems inevitable.
That Squirrel Girl will stop this war against all odds, is never in question, its what she does, but how she gets there is fun!
The book is boisterous, fun and chaotic as well as super wholesome, and part of me wonders if this would be better targeted at young adults, but its juts as awesome for humans and squirrels of all ages!
There is literally nothing wrong with this book, its perfect, it has captured the spirit of the character perfectly and is a great example of what prose can do that comics can’t, especially in its beautiful descriptions of black holes and other stellar phenomena!
Also the Warhammer 40,000 and other sci-fi references are just *chefs kiss*!
I already bought the eBook to read again and Megan has gotten the paperback!
5 out of 5
So here is an important disclaimer which is always important to put out there first. I have a casual work contact with Asmodee to demonstrate board games for them in stores and at conventions. Asmodee being the parent company of Aconyte the publisher.
I am going to try my best to not let these things cloud my judgement in this review, but I accept that subconsciously it might.
Also, I won’t lie, I have looked at other reviews to see what others think, so there may be some influences from them in this book review. If I am going to quote them, I will attribute them. But if I forget to, or something is highly influenced by them, and you think I ought to attribute someone, let me know so that I can.
What is Marvel
Look at this point I would bore you with a bit of background to the game/universe, but lets not, you all know the Marvel Universe, if you don’t have you been living under a rock!
The Marvel Heroines series focuses on the female hero’s of the Marvel universe, the other books in the series so far have all be very very good!
The Story
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl aka Doreen Green, the heroine with the powers of a squirrel AND a girl, is one of Marvels most beloved modern characters, she is quirky, bubbly and fun, something which Tristan captures so well.
And above all else, she is a selfless hero who puts others before herself, and that’s where this story begins, as the Mad Thinker tries to relocate her adopted home of New York to the other side of the universe!
Taking action to prevent the entire city being moved, she takes action, but this ends up moving herself along with her trusty side squirrel Tippy Toe, fellow heroes Chipmunk Hunk, Koi Boy and Brain Drain, along with friends Nancy and Mary to a strange new world along with the Mad Thinker!
Hitching a ride on a passing Space Whale, turns out Koi Boy can communicate with stellar aquatic lifeforms too, and head to an alien space station, where they find themselves taken hostage on the frontline of a looming interstellar war that could claim the lives of trillions!
So just a perfectly normal week for THE UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL!!!!
Conclusion
This book took me ages to read, but that’s largely down to my brain injury giving me issues, but over the past couple of days I utterly devoured it, its an amazing book and captures the spirit of Squirrel Girl just right, as she sets out to prevent the war that to most seems inevitable.
That Squirrel Girl will stop this war against all odds, is never in question, its what she does, but how she gets there is fun!
The book is boisterous, fun and chaotic as well as super wholesome, and part of me wonders if this would be better targeted at young adults, but its juts as awesome for humans and squirrels of all ages!
There is literally nothing wrong with this book, its perfect, it has captured the spirit of the character perfectly and is a great example of what prose can do that comics can’t, especially in its beautiful descriptions of black holes and other stellar phenomena!
Also the Warhammer 40,000 and other sci-fi references are just *chefs kiss*!
I already bought the eBook to read again and Megan has gotten the paperback!
5 out of 5
August 21, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley, Aconyte Books, Aconyte, Marvel, and Tristan Palmgren for the opportunity to read Squirrel Girl Universe in exchange for an honest review.
This book is as flavorful as the Squirrel Girl comics, written in the perfect voice complete with squirrel companion Tippy-Toe and fun footnote commentary.
Squirrel Girl, with friends Mary and Nancy in attendance, along with Koi Boi and Brain Drain, attempts to take on the Mad Thinker. When the duel goes awry and their physics facility at their college ends up somewhere in outer space, they really find themselves in a pickle of a bind.
Having to work together with the enemy, Squirrel Girl and company discuss the greater physics of the universe...and the multiverse. Who knew it would be a massive space whale that would come to their rescue? This whole catastrophe is like Squirrel Girl's own version of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
After some technicalities with space pirates, the group ends up on a colony where war is imminent. They encounter Hadrian, someone whose narrations become reality. As Squirrel Girl learns of a worm hole and a history between two similar alien races, she knows she must try to help, all before returning to Earth to take her physics final.
This book is a bit convoluted at times and I would suggest for an older teen or adult reader, but it is full of crazy twists and turns that resonate with the craziness of Squirrel Girl's existence. This is a great book for fans, though might be a bit hard to get into for readers who are unfamiliar with the character.
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
For more information visit marvel.com. © 2022 MARVEL
This book is as flavorful as the Squirrel Girl comics, written in the perfect voice complete with squirrel companion Tippy-Toe and fun footnote commentary.
Squirrel Girl, with friends Mary and Nancy in attendance, along with Koi Boi and Brain Drain, attempts to take on the Mad Thinker. When the duel goes awry and their physics facility at their college ends up somewhere in outer space, they really find themselves in a pickle of a bind.
Having to work together with the enemy, Squirrel Girl and company discuss the greater physics of the universe...and the multiverse. Who knew it would be a massive space whale that would come to their rescue? This whole catastrophe is like Squirrel Girl's own version of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
After some technicalities with space pirates, the group ends up on a colony where war is imminent. They encounter Hadrian, someone whose narrations become reality. As Squirrel Girl learns of a worm hole and a history between two similar alien races, she knows she must try to help, all before returning to Earth to take her physics final.
This book is a bit convoluted at times and I would suggest for an older teen or adult reader, but it is full of crazy twists and turns that resonate with the craziness of Squirrel Girl's existence. This is a great book for fans, though might be a bit hard to get into for readers who are unfamiliar with the character.
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
For more information visit marvel.com. © 2022 MARVEL
August 4, 2022
An intergalactic Squirrel Girl adventure narrated by Doreen herself should be a guaranteed winner, right? A joyful blast from first page to last, right? Unfortunately, no.
There are certainly funny moments, and plenty of imaginative ideas, and - at least as far as I could tell, not being an expert - rock-solid science throughout, and one or two decent bursts of action, but it lacks sorely in arguably the most important department for Squirrel Girl: the spirit. It simply doesn't have the energy and vibrancy expected of her, and that's mostly because it's far, far too reliant on exposition and dialogue and expositionary dialogue.
It kills the pace, bogs everything down, makes things drag on for way too long. Entire chapters go by with little to nothing of note happening. It has no real momentum or propulsion. Even the footnotes, not implemented that well in the Kindle version, go overboard in explaining things. Yes, Doreen's a Queen of Geeks, but that doesn't remotely justify this much talking and detailing, and the dearth of plot and character.
That's another issue. For all the ideas, there's not adequate coherence or strength in the plot tying them together. This is especially ironic given story-telling itself is a major plot device. The cast is large, and while there's fun to be had with the familiar faces, they're all muted, some way off their best, Squirrel Girl included. The new characters, such as the Mad Thinker, don't really engage, either, and neither do the big emotional beats.
A novel that expends far too much energy on ideas, and talking about its ideas, sometimes repetitively, and far too little on actually telling a story with those ideas, and arguably gets too meta for its own good toward the end, all of which undercuts the characters, and results in a reasonably enjoyable but hollow read. There are also quite a number of typos in this edition, which undoubtedly contributes to sometimes awkward sentence costruction.
There are certainly funny moments, and plenty of imaginative ideas, and - at least as far as I could tell, not being an expert - rock-solid science throughout, and one or two decent bursts of action, but it lacks sorely in arguably the most important department for Squirrel Girl: the spirit. It simply doesn't have the energy and vibrancy expected of her, and that's mostly because it's far, far too reliant on exposition and dialogue and expositionary dialogue.
It kills the pace, bogs everything down, makes things drag on for way too long. Entire chapters go by with little to nothing of note happening. It has no real momentum or propulsion. Even the footnotes, not implemented that well in the Kindle version, go overboard in explaining things. Yes, Doreen's a Queen of Geeks, but that doesn't remotely justify this much talking and detailing, and the dearth of plot and character.
That's another issue. For all the ideas, there's not adequate coherence or strength in the plot tying them together. This is especially ironic given story-telling itself is a major plot device. The cast is large, and while there's fun to be had with the familiar faces, they're all muted, some way off their best, Squirrel Girl included. The new characters, such as the Mad Thinker, don't really engage, either, and neither do the big emotional beats.
A novel that expends far too much energy on ideas, and talking about its ideas, sometimes repetitively, and far too little on actually telling a story with those ideas, and arguably gets too meta for its own good toward the end, all of which undercuts the characters, and results in a reasonably enjoyable but hollow read. There are also quite a number of typos in this edition, which undoubtedly contributes to sometimes awkward sentence costruction.
August 15, 2022
The plot is very creative and galactic in scale. The creativity that went into mapping out the extraordinary adventure that Squirrel Girl and her friends embark on is impressive and should be applauded. I was constantly surprised and delighted by what Palmgren came up with.
Sadly, this one's low rating is completely on me and not on the great plot by Palmgren. I had forgotten how little I actually like Squirrel Girl's personality until I was halfway through the book and low-key hating every scene she's in. Her peppy optimism and Scooby gang of friends annoy me 3 out of 5 times and this was lamentably one of the 3. I get that her jump first and never worry attitude is a big part of her charm, but I only like it in short doses when there's someone more serious (or crazier, as in Deadpool's case) to even her out. Surrounded by friends that are as peppy and 'quirky' as her is just too much.
Ultimately, it's a great story that suffers from an unlikable character. But if you're a fan of SG, then you're going to freaking love this because it really is an amazing story. I would actually love to read more Marvel stories by this author with pretty much any other character.
Happy thanks to NetGalley and Aconyte Books for the early read in exchange for an honest review!
#Marvel #MarvelEnt #Aconytebooks #review
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
For more information visit marvel.com. © 2022 MARVEL
Sadly, this one's low rating is completely on me and not on the great plot by Palmgren. I had forgotten how little I actually like Squirrel Girl's personality until I was halfway through the book and low-key hating every scene she's in. Her peppy optimism and Scooby gang of friends annoy me 3 out of 5 times and this was lamentably one of the 3. I get that her jump first and never worry attitude is a big part of her charm, but I only like it in short doses when there's someone more serious (or crazier, as in Deadpool's case) to even her out. Surrounded by friends that are as peppy and 'quirky' as her is just too much.
Ultimately, it's a great story that suffers from an unlikable character. But if you're a fan of SG, then you're going to freaking love this because it really is an amazing story. I would actually love to read more Marvel stories by this author with pretty much any other character.
Happy thanks to NetGalley and Aconyte Books for the early read in exchange for an honest review!
#Marvel #MarvelEnt #Aconytebooks #review
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
For more information visit marvel.com. © 2022 MARVEL
May 20, 2023
Another gem from the Marvel Heroines series! Taking more obscure superheroines and bringing them to life - and I love it.
I really didn't know much about Squirrel Girl before I dove into this, but I assumed a lot from her look and name. And I wasn't wrong! But as with all of the ladies in this series, there's a lot more than just a cute rodent-based hero.
That sounds so odd when I say it like that :D
The Unbeatable Squirrel girl and her random assortment of low-tier companions find themselves hitch-hiking on a passing space whale, before being caught up in an intergalatic fracas as they try to get home to Earth... yeah, ok, this is well into the realms of the weird, but in a hugely fun, Douglas Adams-style way.
Squirrel Girl is immensely likeable, the story is told so well, and I honestly have never encountered such a well-told story that pokes gentle fun at superhero tropes.
There are parallels to the recent Guardians of the Galaxy movies, but largely in the sense that this is a motley crew in space. Squirrels are fun but also practical, and we sympathise with our heroine's frustrations and hopes as she just wants to get home and have a quiet day for once!
The only minor issue was that I needed to do a little Google-surfing to get details on some of the characters - perhaps the publisher could add a little Who's Who in the front of the book to get non-comic-readers up to speed?
I hugely enjoyed this and am glad to recommend.
I really didn't know much about Squirrel Girl before I dove into this, but I assumed a lot from her look and name. And I wasn't wrong! But as with all of the ladies in this series, there's a lot more than just a cute rodent-based hero.
That sounds so odd when I say it like that :D
The Unbeatable Squirrel girl and her random assortment of low-tier companions find themselves hitch-hiking on a passing space whale, before being caught up in an intergalatic fracas as they try to get home to Earth... yeah, ok, this is well into the realms of the weird, but in a hugely fun, Douglas Adams-style way.
Squirrel Girl is immensely likeable, the story is told so well, and I honestly have never encountered such a well-told story that pokes gentle fun at superhero tropes.
There are parallels to the recent Guardians of the Galaxy movies, but largely in the sense that this is a motley crew in space. Squirrels are fun but also practical, and we sympathise with our heroine's frustrations and hopes as she just wants to get home and have a quiet day for once!
The only minor issue was that I needed to do a little Google-surfing to get details on some of the characters - perhaps the publisher could add a little Who's Who in the front of the book to get non-comic-readers up to speed?
I hugely enjoyed this and am glad to recommend.
August 27, 2022
This is a fun and thrilling story. I just had to read this book in one day. I loved the pace of this book switching from medium to fast pace. I really enjoyed the humour that the book had it really made it more exciting to read. I loved that this book was aimed more for the YA market means that all ages can enjoy this story. I have never heard of squirrel girl before and felt like I got to know her well enough but still felt like I was missing something so I didn't fully connect with the character. It maybe more likely that she had a few annoying traits. I found her slightly annoying at times and somewhat flighty, ditty and inconsiderate. Maybe this was on purpose due to the younger audience. I did however enjoy the story line as it was quirky, exciting with some great adventures with some twists and unexpected events. The pace and excitement of this book definitely kept the pages turning. I thought it was well wrote with plenty of atmosphere. I really enjoyed the setting and description of this in the authors writing. I also thought it was great that there was a variety of different personalities and how well it all went together. I definitely recommend this book if you are a fan of marvel novels or sci-fi books based on quirky characters.
Many thanks to the author and publishers for bringing this interesting marvel comic book character to life.
Many thanks to the author and publishers for bringing this interesting marvel comic book character to life.
September 6, 2022
Squirrel Girl "Eats nuts and kicks butts" as she likes to say. She has all the agility of a squirrel, an irrepressible positive attitude, a tail, and the ability to talk to squirrels. She's in college studying Computer Science with her other goofy superhero friends. She mainly wins by thinking things through and winning opponents over. This is based on the comic by Ryan North and takes place after its end. I do think this is better written than the comic though.
After an opening threat to New York City, Squirrel Girl gets transported to the other side of the galaxy with her friends and the Mad Thinker and must find their way home. This book was a lot of fun. I love how it incorporates real science like relativity and the fact that hydraulics don't work in zero gravity. There is a reality bending character that at times may make your brain hurt if you think about it too hard. Squirrel Girl just doesn't know how to quit, even when things seem hopeless. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked this one.
Received a review copy from Aconyte Books and NetGalley.
#Marvel #MarvelEnt #Aconytebooks #review
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
For more information visit marvel.com. © 2020 MARVEL
After an opening threat to New York City, Squirrel Girl gets transported to the other side of the galaxy with her friends and the Mad Thinker and must find their way home. This book was a lot of fun. I love how it incorporates real science like relativity and the fact that hydraulics don't work in zero gravity. There is a reality bending character that at times may make your brain hurt if you think about it too hard. Squirrel Girl just doesn't know how to quit, even when things seem hopeless. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked this one.
Received a review copy from Aconyte Books and NetGalley.
#Marvel #MarvelEnt #Aconytebooks #review
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
For more information visit marvel.com. © 2020 MARVEL
June 1, 2022
If you want to read a book that perfectly captures the energy of reading a comic (specifically the comics of the character you are reading) then look no further!
One of the things I loved reading was how it felt like reading an arc of comics. It also captured the genre awareness of squirrel girl perfectly. One thing I love about squirrel girl is how different her adventures are. It's right in her name she's unbeatable! So how do you as a writer add any suspense? In this case, you give her a conflict that is just as genre aware as her!
Another thing that his book captures perfectly is comic book science. While I'm a life science person and know nothing about physics, it all made enough sense to me. Palmgren never fell for the pitfall of over-explaining the science that doesn't make sense, and only explaining what she could. That's what comic book science is about, knowing the rules and then breaking them all! I love when you are not supposed to understand the science and just accept it. Hearing a character that understands the science and explains some science to you, just go and this will just break the rules of physics don't worry about it, is just fantastic!
Thank you to Aconyte Books and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
One of the things I loved reading was how it felt like reading an arc of comics. It also captured the genre awareness of squirrel girl perfectly. One thing I love about squirrel girl is how different her adventures are. It's right in her name she's unbeatable! So how do you as a writer add any suspense? In this case, you give her a conflict that is just as genre aware as her!
Another thing that his book captures perfectly is comic book science. While I'm a life science person and know nothing about physics, it all made enough sense to me. Palmgren never fell for the pitfall of over-explaining the science that doesn't make sense, and only explaining what she could. That's what comic book science is about, knowing the rules and then breaking them all! I love when you are not supposed to understand the science and just accept it. Hearing a character that understands the science and explains some science to you, just go and this will just break the rules of physics don't worry about it, is just fantastic!
Thank you to Aconyte Books and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
November 27, 2022
Squirrel Girl Universe has a very light-hearted, upbeat feel to it. The writing style is very conversational and easy to read. Even the heavy scientific concepts are shared in a way that makes them surprisingly easy to understand. I enjoyed the book a lot but I think the real target audience is probably the younger crowd. Middle school to high school-age kids will go nuts for Squirrel Girl. It is a perfect entry book for the Marvel novels.
Now that’s not to say that adults won’t enjoy the book. I did. I was literally laughing out loud at some parts. It’s a great escapist book to just relax with and it was a really quick read. But it might be a little too sweet for some readers who want more grit with their heroes. I would still suggest giving Squirrel Girl a chance though, it’s nice to laugh!
Read the full review at: https://www.thecosmiccircus.com/book-...
Now that’s not to say that adults won’t enjoy the book. I did. I was literally laughing out loud at some parts. It’s a great escapist book to just relax with and it was a really quick read. But it might be a little too sweet for some readers who want more grit with their heroes. I would still suggest giving Squirrel Girl a chance though, it’s nice to laugh!
Read the full review at: https://www.thecosmiccircus.com/book-...
February 2, 2023
Squirrel Girl: Universe by Tristan Palmgren
I adore Squirrel Girl. Ryan North’s run on the Unbeatable Squirrel Girl is the epitome of what comics should be, and I am still so sad that it ended. I have read it through multiple times and read it with my oldest daughter. We also loved Shannon and Dean Hale’s Squirrel Girl novels. So I was very excited to get an eARC from NetGalley and the publisher of this new Squirrel Girl novel in exchange for an honest review.
I was so very disappointed by this book. It’s not bad, it’s just so, so boring. The author only briefly captures the joy and delight of the title character. Most of the story is a paint by numbers slog of a cosmic comic story where most of the characters are cyphers. With the possible exception of Brain Drain, none of Squirrel Girl’s supporting cast sounds like themselves at all, and they add nothing to the narrative. Maybe my expectations were too high? Perhaps, but that doesn’t make this book any less dull.
I adore Squirrel Girl. Ryan North’s run on the Unbeatable Squirrel Girl is the epitome of what comics should be, and I am still so sad that it ended. I have read it through multiple times and read it with my oldest daughter. We also loved Shannon and Dean Hale’s Squirrel Girl novels. So I was very excited to get an eARC from NetGalley and the publisher of this new Squirrel Girl novel in exchange for an honest review.
I was so very disappointed by this book. It’s not bad, it’s just so, so boring. The author only briefly captures the joy and delight of the title character. Most of the story is a paint by numbers slog of a cosmic comic story where most of the characters are cyphers. With the possible exception of Brain Drain, none of Squirrel Girl’s supporting cast sounds like themselves at all, and they add nothing to the narrative. Maybe my expectations were too high? Perhaps, but that doesn’t make this book any less dull.
June 3, 2022
*Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review*
I love squirrel girl, and was so excited when I saw this book, so it was a huge disappointment when it didn't quite deliver. There's a lot of good parts, the tone and basics of the plot are spot-on (it also takes place canonically after the ending of the unbeatable Squirrel Girl run), the characters are instantly recognizable, and they even included the footnotes like the comics had. But, the plot was a bit of a mess and vague, they spend a lot of time wandering through space, so there's not a lot of the action I was expecting from something based on superheroes. I really wish this had been a graphic novel instead, it would've been much more success in that format, in my opinion.
I love squirrel girl, and was so excited when I saw this book, so it was a huge disappointment when it didn't quite deliver. There's a lot of good parts, the tone and basics of the plot are spot-on (it also takes place canonically after the ending of the unbeatable Squirrel Girl run), the characters are instantly recognizable, and they even included the footnotes like the comics had. But, the plot was a bit of a mess and vague, they spend a lot of time wandering through space, so there's not a lot of the action I was expecting from something based on superheroes. I really wish this had been a graphic novel instead, it would've been much more success in that format, in my opinion.
June 14, 2022
This book was okay. I wasn't thrilled with all of the over-sciency explanations of black holes and other things. I do enjoy Squirrel Girl as a character and enjoyed meeting new to me characters. This book was given to me for an honest review.
#Marvel #MarvelEnt #Aconytebooks #review
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
For more information visit marvel.com. © 2022 MARVEL
#Marvel #MarvelEnt #Aconytebooks #review
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
For more information visit marvel.com. © 2022 MARVEL
June 21, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up- Squirrel Girl: Universe stays true to innate goodness that comes alive in comic books. When super villain Brain Drain sends himself, Squirrel Girl, and her friends accidentally into deep space, Squirrel Girl starts on a Douglas Adams-sequel jaunt through space filled with new alien friends and a few enemies while trying to bring peace to the galaxies and swelling of the brain with the amount of science facts your smacked upside the head with. This story is a wild ride through space with an air of randomness and intelligent fun with the best hearted superhero in the Marvel Universe. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.
July 16, 2022
Until I read this I had no idea that Squirrel Girl existed in the MCU. Maybe this is why I couldn't relate to the story as much as I have those featuring the more commonly known characters.
I did find the footnotes a fun addition, but found I couldn't invest into the story, I think I would have preferred this one as a graphic novel, being able to visualise the scenes more clearly.
Don't get me wrong, it's a well written story and has an exciting plot. Author Palmgren takes us on a race through space as Squirrel Girl and her alien friends fight their enemies to bring peace to the galaxies.
Many thanks to The Book Network for my tour spot.
Rating ⭐⭐⭐
I did find the footnotes a fun addition, but found I couldn't invest into the story, I think I would have preferred this one as a graphic novel, being able to visualise the scenes more clearly.
Don't get me wrong, it's a well written story and has an exciting plot. Author Palmgren takes us on a race through space as Squirrel Girl and her alien friends fight their enemies to bring peace to the galaxies.
Many thanks to The Book Network for my tour spot.
Rating ⭐⭐⭐
July 18, 2022
I like Squirrel Girl as a character, I find her really interesting. In this novel She finds herself in space and in the middle of a war. I found the science explanations a bit much and hated the annotations as they had taken me out of the story. On the other hand I loved two characters, first is Hadrien their alien race is really interesting as has such a cool skill. I could have done with more of the book being about them. I also loved the space whale who changed their name everyday, they were so loveable. In conclusion its a good and a quick read.
I received a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
I received a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
August 27, 2022
I love Squirrell Girl, full stop, so I’m up for anything that has anything to do with her. The author stays true to the tone of the comics - hooray! - which is SO fun. Lots of jokes, killer footnotes (hulk is my favorite part) and interesting fun facts. The plot itself involves a really complex adventure through space and maybe time? That kind of confused me but involved all of Squirrell Girl’s buddies - Nancy, Chipmunk Hunk,Koi Boi, Tippy Toe and even Brain Drain! I felt like I didn’t need to understand it to enjoy it. Thanks heaps to NetGalley for the advanced digital review copy, this was a treat! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 9, 2022
Squirrel Girl: Universe is a difficult story to digest, even considering that it is a science fiction book. It's full of detours, digressions, pseudo-scientific facts, in short, it's like unleashing a pack of cats in a room full of balls of wool... In the end what you have is a tremendous mess.
The story could be better developed, but the truth is that with so many twists and turns I got lost along the way, and in the end I'm not sure if they managed to save the Earth or in the end everything went to hell.
I thank the author, publishers, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book, and declare that the opinion I have expressed above is based solely on what I think of this book.
The story could be better developed, but the truth is that with so many twists and turns I got lost along the way, and in the end I'm not sure if they managed to save the Earth or in the end everything went to hell.
I thank the author, publishers, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book, and declare that the opinion I have expressed above is based solely on what I think of this book.
August 28, 2022
Fans of The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl will love this book, which welcomes back Doreen Green and her lovable crew of friends, lost in the far reaches of space. The author is clearly a big fan of Ryan North & Erika Henderson’s series, which shows in how faithfully the characters are rendered.
This book leans hard into SciFi, and I’m here for it. It’s Star Trek TNG x The Expanse x Doreen Green. While the writing style was a little dry for my taste, overall I found the story clever and the ending gratifying.
Definitely would recommend. 👍
This book leans hard into SciFi, and I’m here for it. It’s Star Trek TNG x The Expanse x Doreen Green. While the writing style was a little dry for my taste, overall I found the story clever and the ending gratifying.
Definitely would recommend. 👍
April 16, 2023
I'm a huge Squirrel Girl fan, but this book just didn't do it for me. The plot was underwhelming, hard to follow, and a little too out there, even for the world of superheroes. The footnotes and geeky science explanations that were funny in the comics bogged down the storytelling in this format. The characters were a little flat and missing that humor and spark that made the comic and the previous novels special. Squirrel Girl herself was especially missing that sparkle. I did finish the book, but overall, it was a bit of a letdown.
Read
May 30, 2022DNF: I couldn't get thru this. I tried. I did. I feel like the book required too much previous knowledge and jumped immediately into the conflict. So much into the conflict that it felt rushed, chaotic and smothering. Trying to wrap your head around so many characters at once with no backstory, introduction or buildup caused an ADHD claustrophobia mix that made the book frustrating. After a week of finding no joy in the reading. I quit.
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