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

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 <i>stories</i>.)

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 <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/15382/9781839081460">Bookshop!</a>

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

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

Very enjoyable novel and well done in terms of adapting the comic book to a narrative form.
An easy read - "no thoughts, just vibes" - not much to say on this one but I'll be happy to see more tales following Squirrel Girl from this author

DNF after a few chapters. Just was not able to click with this book. May have been the weird way of doing the chapter set up, or the content itself, but I could not find myself gripped by this book.

A charming read for fans of Marvel at its core.

Squirrel Girl: Universe is the latest (6th) installment in the Marvel Heroine series. This one-shot brings together Squirrel Girl (Doreen Green), Koi Boi (Ken Shiga), Chipmunk Hunk (Thomas Lora-Perez), and friends. Set in Earth-616 (which is marvel's primary continuity) Doreen and her university superfriends band together to save New York from its latest impending threat.

With cameos from familiar faces, these lesser-known heroes quickly realize that it's up to them and their unique abilities to not only save Manhattan, but the universe at large.

Whisked into a whirlwind series of events befitting a marvel heroine, Squirrel Girl and co. take the cosmos by storm without compromising their humor or wit.

I would highly recommend this read to anyone who has followed Marvel: Rising, Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, or the MEU. It's quirky, light-hearted, and fun- albeit a little heavy on the larger mythos.

Having been familiar with Squirrel Girl and the Great Lakes Avengers, I thought I was equipped to jump right in. I quickly realized that I was wrong, however, as I found myself frequently having to stop and search names, characters, references that would have otherwise eluded me.

Despite lovable characters, engaging plot, and wonderful pacing I decided in the end to dock two stars for story comprehension and dialogue/inner monologue repetition.

Squirrel Girl: Universe may not have been for me at the end of the day, but if you are looking to level up your Marvel trivia or continue the heroines series don't let me deter you!

[Thank you to NetGalley and Aconyte for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.]

I am a HUGE fan of Squirrel Girl and marvel comics in general so I was super excited to be approved for this. It was cute and quirky and everything I'd hoped!

Super cute book! I loved the writing style & I whipped through this in no time. I think fans of Squirrel Girl will love it.

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.

This was a great read!

I love Marvel comics but my exposure to Squirrel Girl prior to this book was almost non-existent so I wasn't really sure what kind of story or character to expect.

Squirrel Girl is my kind of quirky. She's funny, smart, and resourceful and her best friend is a squirrel. I mean, what's not to like?

The story was interesting and the supporting characters were well-written and actualised. I'm super keen to read more about this team of friends in the future.

This book is perfect for adults and young people and would make for a great family read-aloud.

Thank you to NetGalley, Aconyte Books, and Tristan Palmgren for giving me a free digital copy of this book to 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

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 ⭐⭐⭐

The latest adventure for the ever-popular Squirrel Girl is heading towards bookstores in the not too distant future. I’ve had the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the latest novel in Simon & Schuster’s Marvel Heroines series. Squirrel Girl: Universe by author Tristan Palmgren is scheduled to be released on August 2, 2022.

Squirrel Girl: Universe follows the story of Computer Science student Doreen Green, though best known as the superhero Squirrel Girl, on her latest adventure alongside her best friends as they aim to solve a mystery involving strange occurrences involving New York City landmarks. What they come to encounter becomes a plot larger than they could’ve imagined and brings the characters to numerous unexpected locations beyond their comfort zones. Their journey brings the protagonist face to face with impending massive universal stakes and potential galactic doom. Though while having to deal with such large external stakes, the internal struggles with Doreen could weigh just as large.

Ultimately, Squirrel Girl: Universe was an enjoyable read that has the ability to leave the audience excited for what narrative twists and turns may occur. And this is a novel that certainly places its characters in unexpected situations on multiple occasions. Framed through the literary device of a time capsule, the novel does a strong job in making these events seem like the largest-scale adventure Squirrel Girl faces in her young life as a superhero. Readers will face a major challenge in trying to put down this book based on what may happen after each chapter. In addition, this novel is quite fast-paced and readers are immediately thrown into the crux of the main adventure by the end of the first chapter.

A make-or-break for the reader’s opinion on this book will be its connection to the larger Marvel Universe. This is a story deeply tied into the lore of Marvel Comics, including numerous references beyond the scope of Squirrel Girl’s immediate world and lexicon. It isn’t enough to necessarily dissuade most readers from being able to appreciate the central plot of the novel, but Squirrel Girl: Universe would certainly be most appreciated by those who can understand at least most of the references sprinkled in throughout.

In terms of which character will most likely connect the most with readers, Brian Drayne, aka Brain Drain certainly is the most distinct and unique character that’s part of Squirrel Girl’s ensemble. Especially with how he is framed from a literary standpoint, he will be hard to not connect with when reading the novel.

Though what makes this novel most standout is its thematic messaging. Without delving too deep into the specifics, Squirrel Girl: Universe is a story about internal guilt and how we respond to making the incorrect decision. It’s a challenge often found in humanity, and this novel serves as a resonant way for young readers to have a better understanding of how to deal and move past mistakes made. What makes some of the best young adult novels so powerful is the ability to hold deeper philosophical discussions with the backdrop of some sort of fun action set-piece. And Squirrel Girl: Universe adeptly accomplishes this task with both excitement and heart.

The Verdict: Squirrel Girl Universe is absolutely worth a purchase for any young adult who is an avid reader, and especially one that already has a penchant for the Marvel Universe. The one caveat might be that a reader could be even better served to have at least some understanding of the Squirrel Girl character before jumping into this novel. Though past that, Tristan Palmgren has successfully provided young adults with an exciting superhero adventure worth reading about.

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 love Squirrel Girl! She's one of my fav superheroes and it's nice to finally get to see her getting some of the recognition she deserves.

I love Squirrel Girl, she's been one of a recent favorite of mine. She has a fun concept and I really related to her and is amazing to see the evolution of her being a joke character to being who she is now and still have the charm she did in her first appearance.

The book Squirrel Girl; Universe is the newest edition to the Marvel Heroines series, and it has the great storyline as the other books. She and the other Marvel characters felt true to themselves in this book and it was a joy to go on this adventure. Tristan Palmgren has a great way of creating the Marvel Universe and I enjoyed how well it is written.

"Or the space around the black hole was gorgeous, at least. The black hole was, well, a black hole. That name was simpler than “singularity,” if less cool. Like the “big bang,” it accurately described the thing in question while, at the same time, enormously understating its weirdness."

Not exactly what I expected. I wanted something whimsical and light, and whereas this was, it was still a little disappointing as a fan of the character. There are great points: the overall plot and the characters. But the writing was messy and vague. I think the story would've been better suited for a graphic novel instead.

DNF review

1 July 2022

I'm sorry to say but as much as I tried to enjoy Squirrel Girl: Universe, it eventually just made me lose interest. The story about the titular heroine's intergalactic adventure may grab fans as well as those who like sci-fi books. Squirrel Girl and her friends find themselves lost in space with a shortage of oxygen. Luckily, they find a space station. Unfortunately, they come across a war where they might be the only ones to stop it.

Thank you Netgalley and Aconyte Books for letting me give this book a try anyway.

Even if you've never picked up a Squirrel Girl comic in your life there's a good chance that you'll have heard of the character. Whether it's her popping up in other books, or simply stories about how she's managed to defeat foes like Thanos and Galactus, a lot of comic readers will be familiar with the character. And as someone who had heard the tales, but never experienced a Squirrel Girl story I was very interested to see just what this character was like; and Squirrel Girl: Universe proved to be the perfect opportunity.

This story begins when strange anomalies begin to happen across New York, with space seeming to be folding in upon itself. It seems like the entirety of the super hero community is on the lookout to discover the source, but it's Squirrel Girl and her friends, including the heroes Coy Boy, and Chipmunk Hunk, who find the one responsible. The Mad Thinker has developed some technology that will rip the city out of its place on Earth, and send it into the furthest reaches of the universe.

Squirrel Girl steps in to save the day, and the city, but in doing so she, her friends, and the Mad Thinker, find themselves transported to a barren alien planet. With no way home, and dwindling supplies, survival looks pretty bleak. But when a sentient space whale arrives and offers them a ride to a nearby space station things begin to look up for the stranded earthlings; but little do they know that this will lead them to encounter some truly strange aliens, and a war that could change the very fabric of reality itself.

Squirrel Girl: Universe is not your normal super hero story. Other than the inclusion of some super heroes, I wouldn't even include it in that genre. Instead, Tristan Palmgren has tried to do something different, and has crafted a weird and wonderful science fiction story that at times feels like it has more in common with something like The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy than it does your average Spider-Man adventure.

A lot of this comes down to the the worlds and people that Palmgren fills this story with. We spend relatively little time on Earth, and the majority of the story is set out in space, meeting increasingly odd people. We come across an asteroid station where pirates are keeping people held captive so that some unseen power can steal away poets, and all commerce is made in lines of poetry. There are sentient space whales who change their name from moment to moment. There are aliens who narrate their lives in the third person and can alter reality around them based upon what they say. We get future and past echoes speaking to each other. It's all a bit weird, but quite often delightfully so.

And considering that this is all set around a super hero who has always been seen as a bit weird anyway, it works.I don't think that this story would have worked with a lot of the other heroes in Marvel; they'd be too serious and grounded for this to flow the way it does and not feel too ridiculous. But Squirrel Girl feels like the perfect fit here. It also helps that she's incredibly smart and has some extensive scientific knowledge that she's able to bring into play here to help the reader to keep up with some pretty big concepts. These are often given in the form of asides and footnotes that allow her to break the fourth wall in her story, and to give the reader some info-dumps that would otherwise slow the flow down a bit. These footnotes are sometimes used for comedic effect too, and we sometimes get interruptions from the books editor, the Hulk.

There are a few times that the book references other parts of Squirrel Girl's adventures, and they often come with footnotes telling you exactly which comics to check out. These can sometimes add a little bit of depth, especially in character interactions, but there are also times where it feels like you'd be getting more out of this story if you'd read her comics. It's clear that Palmgren has read the books, and they're going out of their way to include parts of it to appeal to long time fans and readers; and whilst I can't say whether or not fans of the comics will enjoy the book or not, I do think that you'll find a lot here that's familiar. This book doesn't have to stand on its own, and feels like it could be part of the rest of Squirrel Girls adventures.

As someone new to this character I found a lot of fun things to discover in this book. I got to get to know a character I'd heard about for years but never experienced. I learned about her extended cast of characters, their adventures, and got to discover a whole new part of the Marvel galactic stage. To me Squirrel Girl: Universe was a book of discovery, not just the amazing and wonderful things that the characters got to discover, but what I got to find too. There was never a dull moment reading it.

I am personally a fan of the Squirrel Girl comics and this channels Ryan North's run *hard*. That is definitely meant as a complement. Palmgren even made the constant footnotes still work, which is impressive and delightful. It is packed with the fast paced dialog and characters talking themselves out of situations that I have come to expect from this particular hero. It's joyful, a little ridiculous, and everyone chitters away like a squirrel after three espresso shots.

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