War on Whimsy

Space Brigade #3

by Liane Moriarty, Shannon Bonatakis (Illustrator)

Now that they've saved two planets from destruction, Nicola and her Space Brigaders must take care of Shimlara's family. So they travel to Whimsy - a beautiful, pink haloed planet where the people lie around in meadows making up poems, playing harps, and creating sculptures. There, they parachute, scuba dive, and white water raft their way to a prison camp, where they rescue Shimlara's family and help the people of Whimsy wage war against the evil, red-scaled beings from Volcomania.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

Paperback

First published October 1, 2009

About the author

Liane Moriarty is the author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers Big Little Lies, The Husband’s Secret, and Truly Madly Guilty; the New York Times bestsellers Apples Never Fall, Nine Perfect Strangers, What Alice Forgot, and The Last Anniversary; The Hypnotist’s Love Story; and Three Wishes. She lives in Sydney, Australia, with her husband and two children.

Reviews

[Sean Harding · Rating 2 out of 5]

Third and seemingly final book in the Nicola Berry series is again not one that is for me. I struggled with this one, indeed the entire series, made it through, but certainly won't be looking back with any great fondness. Fairly dull.

[Kali Braithwaite · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicola Berry and the Wicked War on the Planet of Whimsy is one of those rare books that feels like it’s winking at you the entire time—clever, chaotic, and surprisingly heartfelt beneath all the glitter and absurdity.

I loved this book as an adult. Liane Moriarty absolutely leans into whimsy here, but never lets it drift into emptiness. The Planet of Whimsy is delightfully bonkers (in the best way), packed with over-the-top rules, dramatic conflicts, and a sense that anything—even the most ridiculous thing imaginable—could happen on the next page. I found myself laughing out loud at the satire while also being genuinely invested in what was at stake.

Nicola herself is a fantastic protagonist: curious, stubborn, brave in that very human “I have no idea what I’m doing but I’ll try anyway” way. Her journey through the Wicked War balances humor with emotional weight, and Moriarty does a great job sneaking in big ideas about power, responsibility, and courage without ever feeling preachy.

What really makes this a five-star read for me is the voice. It’s sharp, playful, and confident, trusting the reader to keep up while still delivering pure fun. This book doesn’t just entertain—it invites you to enjoy the absurd, question authority, and believe that cleverness can be just as powerful as strength.

Perfect for readers who love imaginative worlds, sly humor, and stories that don’t take themselves too seriously while still having something meaningful to say. I flew through it and would happily return to Whimsy anytime.

[Matthew Hodge · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always with the Nicola Berry stories, they're breezy fun for the 8-12 year olds, but not anywhere near as memorable as Liane's adult stories.

The most amusing thing about this story is the conflict between the pragmatic Volcomanians and the occupants of the planet Whimsy, who are all arty and impractical. If you've ever leant one way or the other, you will probably find this amusing.

[Ana Lucia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great science fiction book full of science and excitement! :)

[Vita Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

cover very weird they were all showing their teeth aparrently there are diffrent covers but the book was good

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun series for tweens.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moriarty writes another entertaining adventure of The Space Brigade. Clever plot line and solutions, as expected and thoroughly enjoyable.

[Moira · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was the third in the Space Brigade series and it follows them through another journey to a different world. Shimlara is in need of help and so is the planet of Whimsy as they are fighting a war against Volocomania.