Thanks to NetGalley for providing a review copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

The latest instalment in the Marvel Heroines prose novel series, <em>Mockingbird: Strike Out</em> reunites fan favourite characters Bobbi Morse and Lance Hunter from the <em>Agents of SHIELD</em> TV show in their first adventure together in the UK.

Being familiar with Bobbi and Lance from comics and TV, this book was a fun ride that cherry picked interesting elements from Marvel canon to mix through, without descending into an easter egg slog. Adriana Palicki and Nick Blood from AoS would be right to demand royalties from this book, given how their voices come across in the dialogue in a major boost to the story's main relationship.

The mystery itself is only a little convoluted but this felt a bit more polished than several other Marvel prose novels I've read so I'm excited to see what Maria Lewis does next in this space.

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

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Mockingbird is one of my favourite characters in all of Marvel, and it's so good to see her again in her very own adventure. Even greater that on the first pages my darling Jennifer Walters makes an appearance, as well as Matt Murdock and Tigra. It's like diving into a world that feels like home.
In the comics, Bobbi Morse has always been torn between her (ex-)husband Clint and her sometimes-partner Lance Hunter. It's no different in this book. Which is exactly where my criticism starts. While the story is engaging, the sass is sassy and the tension is palpable, it also seems as if the author wanted to hit every note that is expected from Marvel: name-dropping all the institutions with weird abbreviations, using HYDRA and the super-soldier-serum, the charming Brit with an accent, and throwing in a will-they-won't-they scenario. All of this is engaging and entertaining to read, but it's also a bit generic.

3/5 stars

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Thank you so much @netgalley and @acolytebooks for the eARC in exchange 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

I read this thinking it was a comic. I saw the cover, saw the name and thought Mockingbird, sounds interesting. Marvel and DC to me are graphic novels, films or TV shows. What first started as visual art on paper became visual art on screen. So I was surprised when I downloaded the story and found it was a novel. I am no stranger to these types of books, but I am also wary. Who created Mockingbird? Len Wein and Neal Adams in 1971. They were the original designers and creators and I am always hesitant to dive into a character or series, story... whatever it may be, which has gone away from the original creator and taken on a new one. (Of course time passes and should characters be left to gather dust in sealed crypts? That's a debate for another day) Maria Lewis probably did a lot of research, but in my eyes they do not own Mockingbird, Len and Neal do. So when reading it, I was skeptical.

This book reads more like a movie than a story, I would say for people who are fans of marvel, Mockingbird and like their reading with a big side of movie action, pick this one up. Unfortunately, that is not for me. Too often the book relies on already preconceived notions. This is definitely for fans of the series.

It's told in a inner monologue style, with the character often talks to themselves. We see Mockingbird become fragile and empathise towards her, all super heroes wear masks and we see the character underneath as she traverses through a difficult divorce with Hawkeye. But with every sentence I could not escape the want for a comic. I like the art, the design, the words matched with pictures that blow you away. Reading a super hero novel was new for me, and I certainly understand why the normal method is comics, because superheros should be seen. Their action, their colours, their stories are visual and I believe a comic to be the best method for superheros.

Action-packed, consistently exciting and full of girl power - words I can use to describe “Mockingbird”. I really love the Marvel "Heroines" series. She introduces us to new, powerful heroines who impress with their abilities. Of course I had to read Mockingbird: STRIKE OUT right away! And it got me excited!

I read the entire book in just a few hours ! Bobbi makes it very easy for me. She's just a personable woman who knows what she wants. Her humor and strength makes her a great character with her skills. I love her and hope to read or maybe even see more of her. I also really liked Lance.

Maria Lewis has an inviting writing style. She tells the story in an exciting way, so that there are no boring passages. Her dry sense of humor made me smile a few times. But she also wrote the emotional passages just superbly.

There were some plot twists that really surprised me. Straight towards the end.

My only criticism: I don't really like what has been made of Clint. He's pretty roasted in the book. That's not how I perceive him outside of the book. He's too selfish here. 😕

Mockingbird: Strike Out by Maria Lewis is the latest in the Marvel Heroines series. Aconyte Books provided an early galley prior to the June 6, 2023, release date in exchange for an honest review.

The cover by Anna Astrid of this novel perfectly portrays the heroine. My first exposure to Mockingbird (Bobbi Morse) was from the 1983 four-part Hawkeye mini-series. She became an instant favorite with her superior fighting skills and no-nonsense attitude. She was the perfect partner to the cocky, self-assured archer. While I hated to see this couple break up (which is how we find them as the novel opens), that allowed the character to grow on her own and not be tied perpetually to the "Hawkeye and..." label.

I found myself reading the narration in the voice of Adrianne Palicki, the actress who played Bobbi Morse for several seasons on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. I enjoyed the cameos of other Marvel characters; Lewis has a good grasp of the much-loved Marvel continuity and uses it to support her tale. Also, as a music person, I appreciated the author interjecting many references to 80's British new-wave and alternative acts.

The only minor quibble I have with the story is how soon Bobbi finds herself falling for another man. I get that her marriage was a major weight and the impending-divorce was a release, but I was disappointed that she so quickly rebounded to another man. It cheapened her characterization for me. If it had stopped at just flirting or with her rebuffing his flirtations, I think the narrative still would have worked.

I absolutely loved this Novel! Really.

I am a big fan of Marvel and I was so happy, that I got the Chance to read this Novel as a ARC.

Guys, read this Novel! I can heartily recommend it. It got such a good action adventure with a really good marvel character.

Thank you to NetGalley, Maria Lewis, Marvel, and Aconyte Books for allowing me to read an advanced copy of Mockingbird: Strike Out in exchange for an honest review.

I was browsing through NetGalley looking for my next request and came across this stunner of a cover. I started reading graphic novels and comic books a few years ago. I've known about Mockingbird, but I didn't really know her know her. Ya know?

Anywho, this was a fun read. I only wish Tigra was featured more in the story. She was written with such sass. It was great. The character of Bobbi/Mockingbird was developed well. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about her through print and not just an image.

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Disclaimer:

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

I think the Marvel: Heroines series has been some of my favorite books that have come out, I've enjoyed the characters that has been chosen for this series. The characters felt like the same characters from the comics, I enjoyed getting to read this tale and get to enjoyed what was happening. Maria Lewis does a great job in writing this story and creating the characters in the story. I look forward to read more from Maria Lewis and Marvel: Heroines.

"When I looked back, there was something that had changed in his face, in his gait, that gave me pause. He jerked his head, indicating that I should follow him. I trailed back to where he came to a stop, standing in front of one of the shelves that had a pair of bright blue kicks positioned on it with a slash of orange that cut up from the sole. He was staring at them like they were the Mona Lisa."