A fun tie-in/universe expanding novel; not as enjoyable to me as Lee's other MCU work on Loki. but a solid book with solid writing

I felt this one was a bit of a slow start while I was trying to figure out what was going on. However once it got going I couldn't wait to see how it was going to end, I was surprised when there was 20 minutes left and plot twists were still happening! I really liked the writing in this one, you really got to learn more about these characters and see their past.
I feel both comic book and marvel movie lovers will enjoy this as it brings in elements from each but not matter which one you love you will still be able to follow the story.
Over all I really loved the story between the two sisters and how they started to connect and think about their upbringing. Obviously if you've seen the movies you know they can't walk out of it hand in hand since this takes place before guardians, but it was great to see the ground work for them changing and thinking for themselves outside of their toxic upbringing.
The narrator did a great job of distinguishing between characters, and at times sounded a lot like the actors who play the characters in the movies.
Action packed and fast paced, this book gave a great expansion to the marvel universe and its stories.

Gamora and Nebula: Sisters in Arms looks at teenage versions of two popular characters in the Marvel universe. Both of them end up on a deteriorating planet competing in a Gamemaker challenge to find the heart of the planet.

I wasn’t sure how I would feel about this book because it was my first novel in the Marvel universe and I wasn’t sure if it would fit into the movies or just be a standalone. I ended up enjoying this book. I liked seeing a young Gamora and Nebula working so hard to overcome the psychological abuse their adoptive father puts them through and just be sisters. It was full of action but also looked closing at the scares family can leave and the importance of trust.

I was provided with an advanced reader's copy of the audiobook from Netgalley. I loved the reading of this book. Since I already had an idea of what these characters looked and sounded like, because of the movies, I was a little worried that I wouldn’t like listening but I was amazed at how much the readers sounded like the actors from the movies. Especially with Nebula, a lot of the inflections and verbal stresses sounded just like how the actor speaks in the movies. I also loved how the beginning chapters were interspersed with the security footage from the Gamemaker’s meeting about the challenge.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable read. The action of the challenge kept the plot moving while also giving lots of psychological insight to the characters. It was also fun to see all of these characters outside of the movies and shows. The benefit of these books is that we get to see more fully developed characters than what we get to see in a 2-hour movie.

I was excited to delve more into the complex relationship of Gamora and Nebula with Mackenzi Lee's new title. While I enjoyed the title and even hints at other happenings within the Marvel universes, I had a hard time following the Grand Master's section. While that part was of the unfolding tension as to what was happening and why the two sisters found themselves on the same planet at the same time (not a coincidence). It may have just been the script style shift of the narrative for that part, which likely translates better in actual text since it plays to the theater of the Grand Master and sort of video game vibe that is his insanity. Readers Amber Lee Connors, Kamali Minter, and Erin Yvette all did well respectively and while I don't get the impression there will be a continuation of the sisters in novel form, I'd certainly be along for the listen again.

Big fan of Mackenzi Lee. I wish she had written the Guardians sequel so that it actually felt like these women spoke to each other like women. The problem is that this is a prequel and that took away all of the stakes. We knew how it would end and that isn’t nearly as much fun. Still, Lee is a great writer and did a bang up job.

DNF @ 25%. I’ve loved every Mackenzi Lee book before this, but I just couldn’t get into this one. A shame, because I really connected with her Loki book. I had high hopes for this one even though I’m not a huge Gamora or Nebula fan— but it just felt like things were happening and I had no investment in them. I couldn’t even tell you what the plot exactly is because it just seemed like I was thrown into the middle of something. I think this had the potential to be gripping, but something just didn’t work for me. I hope I enjoy Lee’s third Marvel book more than this one! 2.5/5 stars.

I’m a huge Marvel fan, so I did quite enjoy this. Not my absolute favorite but it was good. Reading about Nebula and Gamora’s past was quite interesting.

Excellently narrated book that gives the back story between the Gamora-Nebula relationship in the Marvel universe. The push and pull between the two sisters and the development of their relationship keeps you on the edge of your seat until the last moment of the book.

Gamora and Nebula have always been rivals, pitted against each other by their father. But through it all, they are sisters. Now, they are each trying to get the heart of the planet Torndune. It is a dangerous task. Just breathing the air can kill, and they must travel deep through the unstable mines to the center of the planet to find the heart. It is a test of strength and trust. This action-packed adventure still takes time to look at trust and family, overmining and workers’ rights. This is a fun story, especially for Marvel movie fans.

The narration is just right for this book -- voice and pacing.

A fascinating spinoff novel! I would have eaten this up as a kid. And I'm always always ALWAYS here for more sister stories.

Great story inspired by Marvel characters. The audiobook was fantastic. The production reminded me of the Illuninae Files.

First line: The Grandmaster is seated on his throne. His hair is perfect. His clothes, tailored. His makeup, flawless. All cameras have been placed in this room according to his specific instructions to capture his best angles.

Summary: Gamora and Nebula are the adopted daughters of the mighty Titan, Thanos. Their whole lives they have been pitted against each other. With each loss Nebula’s anger with her sister and need to please her father grows. When Gamora is sent on a mission to a mining planet to retrieve an artifact, Nebula follows her. As each of them get closer to acquiring the artifact things become more twisted on this mission and secrets are revealed.

My Thoughts: I was really disappointed in this book. I like MacKenzie Lee. I enjoyed the Loki story. But this one was just long and boring. I was excited to read a story about the lives of Thanos’ daughters before the events of The Guardians of the Galaxy and get some more insight into their characters. This gave a little but it seemed to just be the same thing over and over. They compete. They don’t trust each other. They try to hurt each other. It was not something I was really invested in. Hopefully the last book in this trilogy does a better job than this one.

FYI: Book two of a Marvel trilogy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this Disney Marvel audiobook about Gamora and Nebula! They are two great characters who were brought to life by excellent narration in this audiobook. It's an adventure story perfect for teens and young adults.

Thanos’ abuse shapes Gamora and Nebula throughout the book. It’s heart wrenching to see how they are betrayed by him time and again. Will they learn to trust each other?

I will definitely recommend it to my Marvel-loving students. I hope to read more of these novelizations in the future!

I enjoyed the story but wasn’t a fan of the audio version. Would recommend it but as a print edition

An instant recommend for fans of the MCU (and, honestly, good books in general). I bet about sisters sisters, sustainability, and trust with a hefty dose of all the best of Lee’s hallmarks: wit, charm, and heart.

I did not finish this title. The narrator was too edgy with their annunciation. The story felt forced and it just didn't flow. I would rather read something else.

The evolution of the relationship between the sisters is explored for its complexity. The author examines the manipulations of their father and how he complicates the daughters relationship to each other. This book is engaging in how the storyline reveals current and past events making the reader empathetic to both of the sisters. This is a very good read.

This book was a lot of fun! The Grandmaster was lowkey the best part, haha. I really enjoyed getting inside these characters heads. There was a LOT of action, which isn’t really my thing, but I know a lot of people will absolutely love that. A fun read for Marvel fans for sure!

Gamora and Nebula have been pitted against each other since Thanos stole them and adopted them as his "daughters". Gamora is always the golden child and Nebula is always the casted away one. Thanos plays them against each other to the point that they don't even think of each other as sisters at times. Gamora and Nebula get caught up in all his tests and games. Nebula literally had to saw her arm off to survive and Thanos wouldn't let Gamora free her. It's intense. But when Gamora and Nebula get caught up in the Grand Master's game... things get even more complicated. The game plays out on Torndune: a planet that has been stripe mined to the point where most of the population works for a pittance in the mines and they've almost drilled to the core of the planet. The game: steal the heart of the planet. Oh man. The politics and social commentary of this novel are not a game - it's real life. And I appreciate that.

Origin stories for these two sisters? Sign me Up!

Appeal Terms:
Character: brooding, complex, sarcastic
Storyline and Pace: plot-driven and fast-paced
Tone: bleak and dramatic
Writing Style: engaging and gritty
Audio Characteristics: multiple narrators, well-characterized

Starting off, I can't talk enough about the narrators--especially the one who voiced Nebula! I swear she sounded so much like Karen Gillan! In the story, it switches between Gamora's and Nebula's perspectives in the third person which then gives great insight into some of the difficult situations they are going through.

I thought the story was interesting and I loved getting a bit more insight into Nebula'a and Gamora's past relationship. Apparently, Loki: Where Mischief Lies is the first book by Lee, but I don't think they are related. However, since I enjoyed this title so much I will definitely go read this title too.


~NetGalley Arc~