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Marvel Press Novels
Gamora and Nebula: Sisters in Arms
The second book in the hit series from New York Times best-selling author Mackenzi Lee!
This three-book series explores the untapped potential and duality of heroism of popular characters in the Marvel Universe. The first book in the series, Loki: Where Mischief Lies, was an instant New York Times best seller and received two starred reviews!
The relationship between teenage adopted sisters Gamora and Nebula is as volatile as ever. When they end up on a deteriorating planet being mined for its valuable resources, the two sisters are faced with a series of events that force them to explore the source of their rivalry-and where their loyalty truly lies. This action-packed yet sincere story will tug on the heartstrings of anyone who has ever had to learn how deeply weird and changeable trust can be.
This three-book series explores the untapped potential and duality of heroism of popular characters in the Marvel Universe. The first book in the series, Loki: Where Mischief Lies, was an instant New York Times best seller and received two starred reviews!
The relationship between teenage adopted sisters Gamora and Nebula is as volatile as ever. When they end up on a deteriorating planet being mined for its valuable resources, the two sisters are faced with a series of events that force them to explore the source of their rivalry-and where their loyalty truly lies. This action-packed yet sincere story will tug on the heartstrings of anyone who has ever had to learn how deeply weird and changeable trust can be.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2021
115 people are currently reading
4360 people want to read
About the author
Mackenzi Lee
20 books8,533 followersMackenzi Lee writes books you might have read. And she no longer uses Goodreads or accepts friend requests.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 281 reviews
June 18, 2021
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.
May 19, 2021
** A R C R E V I E W **
Gamora and Nebula: Sisters in Arms by Mackenzie Lee
RATING: 4/5 Stars
Thanks, @disneypublishers for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was one of McKenzie Lee's best works. The characterization of Nebula and Gamora was on point, as well as their relationship dynamic. The plot of this novel was not just handed to the reader,
it wasn't until I was halfway thru the novel when I realized what was going on. As early as the prologue, I was thrown into the middle of the conflict. There were nonstop action and back-to-back revelations. The plot required my constant
attention and kept super alert, not know where anything was headed. My favorite was Nebula's POV, I love reading about morally grey characters and I've always thought she was an underrated character in the Marvel Universe. So, it was pretty cool to read more about Nebula's history and how her body was replaced with cyber parts. The dynamic between Thanos and the girls was also a highlight for me as it explained a lot in term of his morals and priories. This novel felt more like a prologue to the movies before he and the girls were introduced! A must-read for readers who are into the Marvel Universe.
Gamora and Nebula: Sisters in Arms by Mackenzie Lee
RATING: 4/5 Stars
Thanks, @disneypublishers for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was one of McKenzie Lee's best works. The characterization of Nebula and Gamora was on point, as well as their relationship dynamic. The plot of this novel was not just handed to the reader,
it wasn't until I was halfway thru the novel when I realized what was going on. As early as the prologue, I was thrown into the middle of the conflict. There were nonstop action and back-to-back revelations. The plot required my constant
attention and kept super alert, not know where anything was headed. My favorite was Nebula's POV, I love reading about morally grey characters and I've always thought she was an underrated character in the Marvel Universe. So, it was pretty cool to read more about Nebula's history and how her body was replaced with cyber parts. The dynamic between Thanos and the girls was also a highlight for me as it explained a lot in term of his morals and priories. This novel felt more like a prologue to the movies before he and the girls were introduced! A must-read for readers who are into the Marvel Universe.
Want to read
January 28, 2021OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD IT’S HAPPENING
Update: THE COVER!!!!
Update: THE COVER!!!!
July 4, 2024
"Since childhood, their lives had been nothing but battlefields"
I was really looking forward to this book because I had loved the Guardians of the Galaxy movie and its characters, so I enjoyed this take on Gamora and Nebula's backstory by Mackenzi Lee.
Lady Death's appearance was such a great addition, but I mainly loved how this book was focused on the complicated relationships between siblings (Nebula & Gamora and The Collector & The Grandmaster). Thanos is just such a cruel character and I liked how Lee decided to portray Gamora as his mercenary and showed in a deeper level the control he had over her. But even though Gamora is a great and complex character, I always enjoy the underdog's story a bit more, so seeing Nebula's own complexities and inner thoughts/struggles in this book was a treat.
I believe the story could have been a bit more concise and still have the same impact on the reader. The dialogue overall was convincing and matched the expectations I had for each character.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange to my honest review.
I was really looking forward to this book because I had loved the Guardians of the Galaxy movie and its characters, so I enjoyed this take on Gamora and Nebula's backstory by Mackenzi Lee.
Lady Death's appearance was such a great addition, but I mainly loved how this book was focused on the complicated relationships between siblings (Nebula & Gamora and The Collector & The Grandmaster). Thanos is just such a cruel character and I liked how Lee decided to portray Gamora as his mercenary and showed in a deeper level the control he had over her. But even though Gamora is a great and complex character, I always enjoy the underdog's story a bit more, so seeing Nebula's own complexities and inner thoughts/struggles in this book was a treat.
I believe the story could have been a bit more concise and still have the same impact on the reader. The dialogue overall was convincing and matched the expectations I had for each character.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange to my honest review.
June 24, 2021
All you need in life is love and a book about colorful space assassin sisters.
November 14, 2024
This is a very slow story. It was nice to get a snippet into Gamoras and Nebulas life before guidians of the galaxy and how Nebula came to be how she is
August 18, 2021
"Trust was the biggest lie in the galaxy."
•
•
~ Gamora and Nebula, sisters in arms - Mackenzi Lee ~
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•
This book was everything I hoped it to be! It was fast paced, action packed and it fits seamlessly into the MCU movies. I really love what the author did with this story, as well as with Loki. I think these books are great additions to te stories we already know, and I hope there are many more books like this from this author to follow!
The book is a prequel to the MCU storyline where we meet Gamora and Nebula, and off course our great villain Thanos. The story is a complete new addition and sets the stage for how we got to know the characters in the movies.
A real great read!
•
•
~ Gamora and Nebula, sisters in arms - Mackenzi Lee ~
•
•
This book was everything I hoped it to be! It was fast paced, action packed and it fits seamlessly into the MCU movies. I really love what the author did with this story, as well as with Loki. I think these books are great additions to te stories we already know, and I hope there are many more books like this from this author to follow!
The book is a prequel to the MCU storyline where we meet Gamora and Nebula, and off course our great villain Thanos. The story is a complete new addition and sets the stage for how we got to know the characters in the movies.
A real great read!
March 18, 2021
This was overall not really my cup of tea tbh--this kind of sci-fi story isn't necessarily something I'd be drawn to. But I like these characters and I like Mackenzi's other books so I checked it out. I think it is a great insight into Gamora and Nebula's relationship and I looooved the little bits of Grandmaster cameo. I think readers who are more into exploring these characters' trauma are going to enjoy this, also readers who like a more...traditional? ish? sci-fi story.
May 7, 2021
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC. Gamora and Nebula are my second favorite sibling pair in the MCU (second only to Thor and Loki of course) so I was super excited when I was approved for this! RTC
August 15, 2021
”She knew her sister like she knew her own shadow – always there, always with her. Always at her side.”
The titan Thanos's deadliest warrior and daughter Gamora is sent on a mysterious mission to a dying, poisonous planet to retrieve its heart and deliver it to her anonymous employer. What she does not know is that her sister Nebula is following her, determined to get to the heart before Gamora and thus win their mad father's respect and trust. The sisters are eventually thrown together and they are forced to trust each other to survive and figure out who is it that wants the heart, why they want it and what exactly is going on.
Sisters in Arms is Mackenzi Lee's second Marvel novel following the MCU's beloved antiheroes as teenagers. I really liked her book on Loki, despite never having been a major Loki fan. So when I heard she was coming out with a novel about Gamora and Nebula, two characters I love from the films, I was so excited. Unfortunately, this book was a bit disappointing.
There were aspects I really enjoyed. I loved the difficult relationship between Gamora and Nebula and how they struggled to trust despite wanting to and fearing to. They are a very tragic pair and it was horrifying - yet interesting - to read about how they've been raised to fight, to compete and to hate each other by their father. And yet despite all that, they have an unbreakable bond and they know each other so well. The girls' personalities were written well and they felt true to their characters. I especially loved Nebula and how she was written: her mix of violence, bitterness, loneliness and desperation for love and connection is so interesting. Thanos was also well written, as was the dying planet they were on. The atmosphere of the novel was good, and reading about the dust, the sand and the wind and how the air is rotting people's flesh and slowly killing them was impactful and made me, well, desire a glass of clean water. I also enjoyed the MCU easter eggs, and seeing characters the girls have not interacted with in the films - like the Grandmaster - pop up and have a role. And alongside MCU references, I liked how Mackenzi Lee included some famous comic figures into the story, like Lady Death.
Now, onto my disappointments. Despite me liking the sisters and how they were written, I struggled a whole lot to remain interested in the mystery and the actual plot. It didn't feel engaging or particularly surprising: the twists weren't great or mind-blowing. Because you know where the characters will end up, it was difficult to remain on the edge of your seat or for the story to remain intense to read. The story of Loki Where Mischief Lies was more exciting because of it's historical fiction aspect and that most of its major supporting characters were not part of the MCU: comic characters or completely made up. As the story of Sisters in Arms is so built around Gamora and Nebula and because you know their fates, the ending didn't feel high stakes or surprising - though the very last scenes I also don't think the side characters in this book were super great: I didn't really care about anyone and when stuff happened to them or secrets about them were revealed it didn't really matter to me.
I would definitely rather recommend Lee's Loki book, but I wouldn't tell anyone who wants to read this book not to do it. I don't think it's a bad book, it's an okay book. If you love Gamora and Nebula I think you will find something to like about this book - I did - and perhaps, hopefully, you will like the plotline more than I did. I will definitely still be picking up Lee's third Marvel book when it comes out!
The titan Thanos's deadliest warrior and daughter Gamora is sent on a mysterious mission to a dying, poisonous planet to retrieve its heart and deliver it to her anonymous employer. What she does not know is that her sister Nebula is following her, determined to get to the heart before Gamora and thus win their mad father's respect and trust. The sisters are eventually thrown together and they are forced to trust each other to survive and figure out who is it that wants the heart, why they want it and what exactly is going on.
Sisters in Arms is Mackenzi Lee's second Marvel novel following the MCU's beloved antiheroes as teenagers. I really liked her book on Loki, despite never having been a major Loki fan. So when I heard she was coming out with a novel about Gamora and Nebula, two characters I love from the films, I was so excited. Unfortunately, this book was a bit disappointing.
There were aspects I really enjoyed. I loved the difficult relationship between Gamora and Nebula and how they struggled to trust despite wanting to and fearing to. They are a very tragic pair and it was horrifying - yet interesting - to read about how they've been raised to fight, to compete and to hate each other by their father. And yet despite all that, they have an unbreakable bond and they know each other so well. The girls' personalities were written well and they felt true to their characters. I especially loved Nebula and how she was written: her mix of violence, bitterness, loneliness and desperation for love and connection is so interesting. Thanos was also well written, as was the dying planet they were on. The atmosphere of the novel was good, and reading about the dust, the sand and the wind and how the air is rotting people's flesh and slowly killing them was impactful and made me, well, desire a glass of clean water. I also enjoyed the MCU easter eggs, and seeing characters the girls have not interacted with in the films - like the Grandmaster - pop up and have a role. And alongside MCU references, I liked how Mackenzi Lee included some famous comic figures into the story, like Lady Death.
Now, onto my disappointments. Despite me liking the sisters and how they were written, I struggled a whole lot to remain interested in the mystery and the actual plot. It didn't feel engaging or particularly surprising: the twists weren't great or mind-blowing. Because you know where the characters will end up, it was difficult to remain on the edge of your seat or for the story to remain intense to read. The story of Loki Where Mischief Lies was more exciting because of it's historical fiction aspect and that most of its major supporting characters were not part of the MCU: comic characters or completely made up. As the story of Sisters in Arms is so built around Gamora and Nebula and because you know their fates, the ending didn't feel high stakes or surprising - though the very last scenes I also don't think the side characters in this book were super great: I didn't really care about anyone and when stuff happened to them or secrets about them were revealed it didn't really matter to me.
I would definitely rather recommend Lee's Loki book, but I wouldn't tell anyone who wants to read this book not to do it. I don't think it's a bad book, it's an okay book. If you love Gamora and Nebula I think you will find something to like about this book - I did - and perhaps, hopefully, you will like the plotline more than I did. I will definitely still be picking up Lee's third Marvel book when it comes out!
June 10, 2021
*CHAPTER TITLE CIPHER TRANSLATIONS BELOW*
This book was nuanced and engaging and painfully beautiful and it gutted me like a fish. It also features Mackenzi Lee doing her best to singlehandedly make up for the lack of lady representation in all of sci-fi, a feat as refreshing as it is impressive. The plot thickens, the Grandmaster grandmasters, and the events of the story are viscerally rendered. The incorporation of Lady Death and Lee's balancing of space western, inexplicable-yet-emotionally-resonant Marvel cosmic magicalness, and aesthetic flair were big highlights to boot. (If you're not a superfan, this might not be your cup of tea. If you're interested in a traumatic Guardians of the Galaxy prequel, this is exactly up your alley). If you need me, I'll be cry-re-watching the four MCU movies that feature these two and securing my status as the #1 member of the Thanos hate club.
A=26 B=25 C=24 D=23 E=22 F=21 G=20 H=19 I=18 J=17 K=16 L=15 M=14 N=13 O=12 P=11 Q=10 R=9 S=8 T=7 U=6 V=5 W=4 X=3 Y=2 Z=1
Prologue: Death Be Not Proud
Chapter 1: Born Lucky
Chapter 2: Lucky to Be Born
Chapter 3: Aggressive Negotiations
Chapter 4: The Everlasting Arm
Chapter 5: On The Edge of The Devils Backbone
Chapter 6: You Probably Didn't Recognize Me Because of The New Arm
Chapter 7: Were Going to the Green Place
Chapter 8: The Night Has a Thousand Eyes
Chapter 9: Don't Be Suspicious
Chapter 10: The Mine The Mill The Machinery
Chapter 11: The Young + The Reckless
Chapter 12: I've Made a Huge Mistake
Chapter 13: Battle Dress
Chapter 14: It's Not Easy Being Green
Chapter 15: I Once Loved
Chapter 16: We Are Not Broken Things
Chapter 17: Let's Be Bad Guys
Chapter 18: Like A Madwoman
Chapter 19: I Know How to Blow Things Up
Chapter 20: You've Been Fighting Far Too Long
Chapter 21: I Hear The Revolution
Chapter 22: The Pointy End Goes In The Other Guy
Chapter 23: Everyone Has Heard Stories of Women Like Us
Chapter 24: You're in a Cult Call Your Dad
Chapter 25: If You Please
Chapter 26: I'm Coming With You
Chapter 27: A Contender
Chapter 28: I Wish I Could Make Your World Want You
Chapter 29: Too Late To Die Young
Chapter 30: She Aims Her Pistol at The Sky
Chapter 31: I Got A Skyful
Chapter 32: Death Thou Shalt Die
This book was nuanced and engaging and painfully beautiful and it gutted me like a fish. It also features Mackenzi Lee doing her best to singlehandedly make up for the lack of lady representation in all of sci-fi, a feat as refreshing as it is impressive. The plot thickens, the Grandmaster grandmasters, and the events of the story are viscerally rendered. The incorporation of Lady Death and Lee's balancing of space western, inexplicable-yet-emotionally-resonant Marvel cosmic magicalness, and aesthetic flair were big highlights to boot. (If you're not a superfan, this might not be your cup of tea. If you're interested in a traumatic Guardians of the Galaxy prequel, this is exactly up your alley). If you need me, I'll be cry-re-watching the four MCU movies that feature these two and securing my status as the #1 member of the Thanos hate club.
A=26 B=25 C=24 D=23 E=22 F=21 G=20 H=19 I=18 J=17 K=16 L=15 M=14 N=13 O=12 P=11 Q=10 R=9 S=8 T=7 U=6 V=5 W=4 X=3 Y=2 Z=1
Prologue: Death Be Not Proud
Chapter 1: Born Lucky
Chapter 2: Lucky to Be Born
Chapter 3: Aggressive Negotiations
Chapter 4: The Everlasting Arm
Chapter 5: On The Edge of The Devils Backbone
Chapter 6: You Probably Didn't Recognize Me Because of The New Arm
Chapter 7: Were Going to the Green Place
Chapter 8: The Night Has a Thousand Eyes
Chapter 9: Don't Be Suspicious
Chapter 10: The Mine The Mill The Machinery
Chapter 11: The Young + The Reckless
Chapter 12: I've Made a Huge Mistake
Chapter 13: Battle Dress
Chapter 14: It's Not Easy Being Green
Chapter 15: I Once Loved
Chapter 16: We Are Not Broken Things
Chapter 17: Let's Be Bad Guys
Chapter 18: Like A Madwoman
Chapter 19: I Know How to Blow Things Up
Chapter 20: You've Been Fighting Far Too Long
Chapter 21: I Hear The Revolution
Chapter 22: The Pointy End Goes In The Other Guy
Chapter 23: Everyone Has Heard Stories of Women Like Us
Chapter 24: You're in a Cult Call Your Dad
Chapter 25: If You Please
Chapter 26: I'm Coming With You
Chapter 27: A Contender
Chapter 28: I Wish I Could Make Your World Want You
Chapter 29: Too Late To Die Young
Chapter 30: She Aims Her Pistol at The Sky
Chapter 31: I Got A Skyful
Chapter 32: Death Thou Shalt Die
June 2, 2021
The Guardians of the Galaxy movies are my favorite in the Marvel Universe, so I was *extremely* excited to read a story starring Gamora and Nebula. I had high hopes, but this book fell flat for me.
I loved that this was set sometime before the first GotG movie and gave more backstory behind Gamora and Nebula's animosity towards each other. I feel like I understand and can empathize with them both more.
I really did not like the "Gamemaster" segments -- they broke up the flow of the story and felt like quirk for quirk's sake -- and (bear with me, this is not usually something I would ever complain about) there was random swearing that didn't add anything to the story but made me hesitant to recommend this for kids at school in the event they have parents who care about language -- I get that these movies are PG-13 and I don't personally care if my kids read/hear swear words, but it felt unnecessary and thrown in for no reason and limits the audience a bit.
Overall, if you are a Marvel/GotG fan, you'll get something out of this book, but it's not quite what I was expecting.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review arc — available 6.1.21
I loved that this was set sometime before the first GotG movie and gave more backstory behind Gamora and Nebula's animosity towards each other. I feel like I understand and can empathize with them both more.
I really did not like the "Gamemaster" segments -- they broke up the flow of the story and felt like quirk for quirk's sake -- and (bear with me, this is not usually something I would ever complain about) there was random swearing that didn't add anything to the story but made me hesitant to recommend this for kids at school in the event they have parents who care about language -- I get that these movies are PG-13 and I don't personally care if my kids read/hear swear words, but it felt unnecessary and thrown in for no reason and limits the audience a bit.
Overall, if you are a Marvel/GotG fan, you'll get something out of this book, but it's not quite what I was expecting.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review arc — available 6.1.21
March 9, 2021
NETGALLEY ARC
Okay. Wow. Just...holy shit, was that fantastic. Engaging and insightful and heartbreaking, peppered in with some hilarious moments ala the Grandmaster (of course). The story is exceptionally well-written (I lost count of how many lines I highlighted) and has a wonderful flow to it. It's inclusive and, in my opinion, very progressive with its treatment of the intended target audience (from casual swearwords to the lowercasing of 'god'). I didn't have one g-dang complaint, unless the fact that the book ended counts? xD I cannot recommend it enough to Marvel fans, to space opera fans. If there are more stories to follow, I will jubilantly purchase and consume them, but I am also content with this gem. That's what the comics and films are for - though this was special for the in-between moments that the mentioned avenues can't always allow time for.
Okay. Wow. Just...holy shit, was that fantastic. Engaging and insightful and heartbreaking, peppered in with some hilarious moments ala the Grandmaster (of course). The story is exceptionally well-written (I lost count of how many lines I highlighted) and has a wonderful flow to it. It's inclusive and, in my opinion, very progressive with its treatment of the intended target audience (from casual swearwords to the lowercasing of 'god'). I didn't have one g-dang complaint, unless the fact that the book ended counts? xD I cannot recommend it enough to Marvel fans, to space opera fans. If there are more stories to follow, I will jubilantly purchase and consume them, but I am also content with this gem. That's what the comics and films are for - though this was special for the in-between moments that the mentioned avenues can't always allow time for.
May 29, 2021
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Gamora and Nebula: Sisters in Arms by Mackenzi Lee is a delightful addition to the Marvel Universe. I don't really know all that much about their comic book iterations, but I've enjoyed getting to know Gamora and Nebula of the MCU. Lately, Nebula has really earned a special place in my heart as we've had a great chance to see her grow. Either way, it was good to see them at the teenage stage in their lives. One character I didn't expect to see at all was the Grandmaster, but every one of his scenes were absolutely delightful. I could practically hear Jeff Goldblum's voice and everything! Even Topaz had a little cameo. The Grandmaster is the real scene stealer in this novel, that's for sure.
Gamora and Nebula: Sisters in Arms by Mackenzi Lee is a delightful addition to the Marvel Universe. I don't really know all that much about their comic book iterations, but I've enjoyed getting to know Gamora and Nebula of the MCU. Lately, Nebula has really earned a special place in my heart as we've had a great chance to see her grow. Either way, it was good to see them at the teenage stage in their lives. One character I didn't expect to see at all was the Grandmaster, but every one of his scenes were absolutely delightful. I could practically hear Jeff Goldblum's voice and everything! Even Topaz had a little cameo. The Grandmaster is the real scene stealer in this novel, that's for sure.
December 19, 2021
not entirely sure that there was enough new info in this one for me to care all that much. I was bored and wanted to DNF this one but I forced myself to finish
November 19, 2021
Reading this book only served to remind me just HOW MUCH Thanos sucks.
May 27, 2021
This book was received as an ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.
I am a huge fan of Guardians of the Galaxy and Gamora is one of my favorites so I was very interested in this story and was pretty much addicted from beginning to the end.
If you haven't been associated with the fandom you might be confused sometimes and need refreshing. Though if you are up to date and know the fandom this will be super fun and also very enjoyable I think.
It has an amazing plot and character-driven parts and the world is something you can vividly imagine.
Definitely recommend this!
I am a huge fan of Guardians of the Galaxy and Gamora is one of my favorites so I was very interested in this story and was pretty much addicted from beginning to the end.
If you haven't been associated with the fandom you might be confused sometimes and need refreshing. Though if you are up to date and know the fandom this will be super fun and also very enjoyable I think.
It has an amazing plot and character-driven parts and the world is something you can vividly imagine.
Definitely recommend this!
September 3, 2023
Further evidence that Mackenzie Lee should just write all the Marvel movies from now on.
January 23, 2023
Before I get into the review, let me just say that Gamora is one of my favorite Marvel characters and I was so excited to have a book about the sisters!
This book opens right up and throws us directly into the story with little warning. Gamora has arrived on a dying planet with a mission to retrieve an object from the center of the planets core. Unknown to her, her sister has also arrived with the same mission.
This book was interesting for me. I loved the plot and the interactions between the sisters, but I struggled with the side characters and the setting. I felt like Lee had to spend so much time explaining the world, how to move about it, how to breathe in it, how to dress in it, etc, that there was little left over for the actual plot. There were just pages and pages of how a rig digs through the earth's core. It became repetitive at times that I found my mind drifting away from the story.
What I did love, however, was the dynamic between Gamora and Nebula. I thought that Lee captured their essence extremely well and these characters felt like they came from the Marvel Universe seamlessly. Gamora with her strength and inner turmoil over being with Thanos. And then Nebula who struggles with being accepted when deep down she just wants her father to love her and her sister to see her. Nebula broke my heart here. I felt for her, even though she tends to go about things the wrong way, she's doing it because she knows no other way to be seen.
Another thing I loved was seeing other known characters - Thanos, the Grandmaster. And that ending, how it just flowed right up to Infinity War. It makes me want to go watch the movies but I don't know if I can take that heartbreak again.
This book opens right up and throws us directly into the story with little warning. Gamora has arrived on a dying planet with a mission to retrieve an object from the center of the planets core. Unknown to her, her sister has also arrived with the same mission.
This book was interesting for me. I loved the plot and the interactions between the sisters, but I struggled with the side characters and the setting. I felt like Lee had to spend so much time explaining the world, how to move about it, how to breathe in it, how to dress in it, etc, that there was little left over for the actual plot. There were just pages and pages of how a rig digs through the earth's core. It became repetitive at times that I found my mind drifting away from the story.
What I did love, however, was the dynamic between Gamora and Nebula. I thought that Lee captured their essence extremely well and these characters felt like they came from the Marvel Universe seamlessly. Gamora with her strength and inner turmoil over being with Thanos. And then Nebula who struggles with being accepted when deep down she just wants her father to love her and her sister to see her. Nebula broke my heart here. I felt for her, even though she tends to go about things the wrong way, she's doing it because she knows no other way to be seen.
Another thing I loved was seeing other known characters - Thanos, the Grandmaster. And that ending, how it just flowed right up to Infinity War. It makes me want to go watch the movies but I don't know if I can take that heartbreak again.
July 6, 2021
I think this is the first Mackenzi Lee book I don't like. I kept on reading because it wasn't so bad as to dnf it, but it wasn't good either. I just couldn't get engaged in the story and the characters where quite 2D
May 31, 2021
Gamora & Nebula: Sisters in Arms is the latest installment in Marvels hero series. The other notable addition to this series (so far) follows Loki, so you just know that this will be a fun ride! What made me so eager to pick up this read, in particular, is a combination of the characters (I adore Nebula) and the author – Mackenzi Lee.
The relationship between Gamora and Nebula has always been rocky – and that's putting it kindly. Their adoptive father was (and still is) always pitting them against one another to make them stronger (so he claims).
The end result? One daughter is his favorite, and both sisters tend to resent each other more often than not. Still, there are times when they can work together when their sisterly bond rises up and gets them through even the worst situations.
"Her father courts Death. He pulls her close and kisses her hair as he breathes deep her woody perfume."
Gamora & Nebula is everything that I had hoped for in this novel, and then some. It's fun, fast-paced, and puts two sisters through the wringer. It also ended up having at least one major pun, I've come to realize.
Moving on, I really did enjoy this read. I knew I would, given the characters we're talking about. To be clear – these are not the same exact versions we see in the movies or even the comics. By that, I mean that their history and personalities are the same, but their current events are open to change.
Then again, there will always be a constant element for these two powerful women. They will always be fighting. Fighting against one another. Fighting together. Fighting for their freedom, and for the right to love each other as sisters.
It's complicated and messy, and that is why we love them. All of that was so beautifully captured in Lee's writing; it was perfection. I also adore that she included Thanos' obsession (I'll give you three guesses). That was a nice touch and helped to show how messed up he is.
I could happily spend all day writing about these two characters. But I won't. Other than to say: I really hope that both sisters get a sequel and that we get a chance to see them happy. That's always my hope for these two (Nebula especially, that girl needs a win!).
Thanks to Disney Publishing and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
The relationship between Gamora and Nebula has always been rocky – and that's putting it kindly. Their adoptive father was (and still is) always pitting them against one another to make them stronger (so he claims).
The end result? One daughter is his favorite, and both sisters tend to resent each other more often than not. Still, there are times when they can work together when their sisterly bond rises up and gets them through even the worst situations.
"Her father courts Death. He pulls her close and kisses her hair as he breathes deep her woody perfume."
Gamora & Nebula is everything that I had hoped for in this novel, and then some. It's fun, fast-paced, and puts two sisters through the wringer. It also ended up having at least one major pun, I've come to realize.
Moving on, I really did enjoy this read. I knew I would, given the characters we're talking about. To be clear – these are not the same exact versions we see in the movies or even the comics. By that, I mean that their history and personalities are the same, but their current events are open to change.
Then again, there will always be a constant element for these two powerful women. They will always be fighting. Fighting against one another. Fighting together. Fighting for their freedom, and for the right to love each other as sisters.
It's complicated and messy, and that is why we love them. All of that was so beautifully captured in Lee's writing; it was perfection. I also adore that she included Thanos' obsession (I'll give you three guesses). That was a nice touch and helped to show how messed up he is.
I could happily spend all day writing about these two characters. But I won't. Other than to say: I really hope that both sisters get a sequel and that we get a chance to see them happy. That's always my hope for these two (Nebula especially, that girl needs a win!).
Thanks to Disney Publishing and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
June 19, 2022
(CW: Violence/death, abuse/neglect, also kind of spoilers if you haven't seen any Marvel flix from 2017 onward).
"Gamora stared at her sister's outstretched hand. She knew the scars on her knuckles from being whipped as children - she could have mapped her sister's body by all the hurt she had caused her."
This was both painfully beautiful and heartwarming as well as gut-wrenchingly heartbreaking to read. Throughout the majority of the plot, Gamora and Nebula spend most of the time being enemies, and throughout both of their perspectives, you so badly want them both to make up, manage their shared trauma together and act as sisters again. Mackenzie Lee strikes again in making me feel feelings for Marvel characters way more than I ever expected to. Nebula might honestly be one of my favorite characters of all time and I never would have thought that just from watching the films, they don't give her character nearly enough screen time. I think this book did an amazing job on elaborating on both of their characters and their relationship with each other and others.
The entire plot of this book, from start to finish, is phenomenal and action-packed. There is honestly never a dull moment, and the only reason it took me so long to read the book itself is due to a lot of personal things going on in my life, or else I sense I'd have likely finished this book in a week or less.
Anyways, if you already hated Thanos, you're in for some sweet validation. I can't say that I felt any particularly bad way about him before despite being a genocidal maniac, but after reading this I have such a newfound hatred for him.
The grandmasters' security logs had me LOL pretty much every page.
The characters and motives for every one is just so amazingly three-dimensional and there's so much character and relationship development, you almost feel like you came away having watched an entire film because the reading experience was just that enjoyable.
When you reach the end of this book, not only will it be the most painful experience of your life, you will also be sitting there like; WAIT A DAMN MINUTE.
WHAT.
WAIT.
I KNOW THAT.
I KNOW WHAT HAPPENS.
It all comes full circle.
Enjoy nerds ;)
"Gamora stared at her sister's outstretched hand. She knew the scars on her knuckles from being whipped as children - she could have mapped her sister's body by all the hurt she had caused her."
This was both painfully beautiful and heartwarming as well as gut-wrenchingly heartbreaking to read. Throughout the majority of the plot, Gamora and Nebula spend most of the time being enemies, and throughout both of their perspectives, you so badly want them both to make up, manage their shared trauma together and act as sisters again. Mackenzie Lee strikes again in making me feel feelings for Marvel characters way more than I ever expected to. Nebula might honestly be one of my favorite characters of all time and I never would have thought that just from watching the films, they don't give her character nearly enough screen time. I think this book did an amazing job on elaborating on both of their characters and their relationship with each other and others.
The entire plot of this book, from start to finish, is phenomenal and action-packed. There is honestly never a dull moment, and the only reason it took me so long to read the book itself is due to a lot of personal things going on in my life, or else I sense I'd have likely finished this book in a week or less.
Anyways, if you already hated Thanos, you're in for some sweet validation. I can't say that I felt any particularly bad way about him before despite being a genocidal maniac, but after reading this I have such a newfound hatred for him.
The grandmasters' security logs had me LOL pretty much every page.
The characters and motives for every one is just so amazingly three-dimensional and there's so much character and relationship development, you almost feel like you came away having watched an entire film because the reading experience was just that enjoyable.
When you reach the end of this book, not only will it be the most painful experience of your life, you will also be sitting there like; WAIT A DAMN MINUTE.
WHAT.
WAIT.
I KNOW THAT.
I KNOW WHAT HAPPENS.
It all comes full circle.
Enjoy nerds ;)
September 8, 2021
A very enjoyable insight into the lives of Gamora & Nebula from before the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie. (My apologies to all fans of the comics; I have only read one featuring Gamora.) Now I'm going to have to go back and watch the relevant movies to see the relationship through a new lens. Honestly laughed aloud during all the chapters with the Gamemaster because his essence was captured so perfectly.
June 29, 2021
I’m genuinely impressed with the amount of research Mackenzi Lee puts into her Marvel books. The lore, the references, everything about it is just *chef’s kiss* excellent. Seeing Lady Death with Thanos was also great. The humor was also very entertaining. Perfect set up leading into Guardians of the Galaxy.
unfinished
January 31, 2025Much more violent and dark than I was expecting. The emotional abuse and body horror were too much for me. I was still curious about the plot, so I skipped through to the end, but ultimately not what I was expecting.
January 21, 2021
If you loved any of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, then this book is for you. This would be a great parent/child read, taking turns reading the pages.
November 20, 2024
i always overthink wether or not I’m a bad person, but then I remember at least i’m not Thanos🤷♀️
January 26, 2021
This book was received as an ARC from Disney Publishing Worldwide - Marvel Press in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
I am a huge fan of Guardians of the Galaxy and Gamora is one of my favorite characters so I was super ecstatic to preview this book. I was hooked from the very beginning. The language used was perfect for engaging readers and sparking their interest. The storyline was brilliant and the struggle of family bonds between Gamora and Nebula were so passionate and dramatic that I absolutely could not stop reading the book. Secrets unveil themselves that take a whole new turn that will leave your heart pumping lots of blood and your jaws dropped wide open. I know this will be in demand with our teen book club and I can't wait to see their reactions.
We will consider adding this title to our YA collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
I am a huge fan of Guardians of the Galaxy and Gamora is one of my favorite characters so I was super ecstatic to preview this book. I was hooked from the very beginning. The language used was perfect for engaging readers and sparking their interest. The storyline was brilliant and the struggle of family bonds between Gamora and Nebula were so passionate and dramatic that I absolutely could not stop reading the book. Secrets unveil themselves that take a whole new turn that will leave your heart pumping lots of blood and your jaws dropped wide open. I know this will be in demand with our teen book club and I can't wait to see their reactions.
We will consider adding this title to our YA collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
July 23, 2021
i don’t really know what to say about this one..definitely preferred Loki, didn’t like the first half at all i was tempted to just stop it but pushed through. the ending was good and i liked one of the plottwists but i wasn’t interested in anything happening to be honest. so yeah i don’t know.
May 26, 2021
"We're a force, Gamora. Warriors in our own right, yes, but together...Maybe the reason Thanos has kept us from fighting side by side for so long is because he know the moment we do, we'd be unstoppable. Stronger than him."
THIS BOOK, Y'ALL.
Not normally what I go in for -- my husband will read any and all of the Star Wars tie-in books and know exactly where they fit into the canon.
Me?
I'm a casual MCU fangirl, but I don't pretend to have any extensive comics knowledge and even I've forgotten exactly where Gamora and Nebula are when we meet them in Guardians of the Galaxy. (Thanks, MCU Wiki for filling in the gaps for me.)
BUT. I adore Mackenzi Lee's writing and devour anything she writes, so I thought I'd give this a go. And I'm *so* glad I did.
This is a non-stop, action-packed, sci-fi thriller that's heavy on the thriller/action and light on the sci-fi (all things considered). Not a complaint, BTW -- just an observation. And when I say "non-stop," I mean *literally* non-stop. The twists are well-executed, we don't linger too long in any stalled plot points, and the kicker: there were 10 minutes left in the book and we were in the middle of something and I had no idea how we were going to finish with, like, 3% of the book left.
But those last few pages? Y'ALL. I loved them. And those last lines...sheer perfection.
Okay. Here's what worked for me:
✔︎ -- First and foremost: almost every character in this book is female. And I don't just mean the main characters -- because, obviously, Gamora & Nebula -- but all the other ones.* When there's a generic guard or important prisoner or the fighting force of the Black Knights -- they're all female. When you might normally see "the guard dropped his blaster," all those masculine pronouns are now feminine and it is, quite frankly, a g*d damn delight. I don't know if the whole planet of Torndune is female and if there are male characters just floating around somewhere, but I don't really mind. What matters is that the default of "male" is consciously overturned and I am here for all of that. (In a novel about sisterhood, I would hope so.)
✔︎ -- *There are a few male characters, namely Thanos and the Grandmaster. I wasn't expecting the Grandmaster to be a character, but I LOVED HIM AND ALL HIS SASSY DIALOGUE.
Exhibit A: "Gamora, sweetheart, put down the pointy thing. Then we can verbally assault each other like civilized adults. Your Exalted Creepiness, please, control your champion."
Exhibit B: "Is there some sort of partnership-slash-fealty-oath here that I'm missing? You make quite the disorganized pair of emotionally shattered beings, I'll give you that."
And I could go on, but it would basically just be quoting every line the Grandmaster has. Seriously, Disney Publishing, if we could get a spin-off about the Grandmaster where it's just Mackenzi Lee writing snarky, witty banter, I would read the crap out of that.
✔︎ -- I would love to know if Mackenzi Lee had a favorite sister to write....the book is split between Gamora and Nebula's POV, but getting a look into Nebula's thoughts was the more fascinating part of the book. I am a Karen Gillan fan, and I think it's easy -- especially early on -- to dismiss Nebula as a side character, but I think her journey is as fascinating and emotionally complex as Gamora's, given Thanos' repeated emotional abuse and constant denigration of her. And Lee did an excellent job in giving Nebula a voice and showing some of that complexity and she gets to where we meet her in GotG. (Totally going back to rewatch now.)
✔︎ -- Obviously, this book is set before any of the events in the MCU, and knowing what happens to each sister enriches the emotional complexity of their storylines, especially when Gamora repeatedly refers to her future death (which she knows will happen because of Thanos, if not the specifics).
﹅ -- Bit confused on Nebula's and Gamora's history and their home planets. In the book, it makes it seem as if Nebula and Gamora are both the last of their kind and that Thanos killed EVERYONE on their planets. But I feel like I'm having Infinity War/Endgame memories where Thanos only kills half of the people on Gamora's planet? (Because that's his thing.) Again, I can't remember the specifics -- casual fangirl -- but maybe Gamora just thinks they all die because Thanos takes her away. *shrug* A minor thing in the grand scheme of it.
MANY thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
THIS BOOK, Y'ALL.
Not normally what I go in for -- my husband will read any and all of the Star Wars tie-in books and know exactly where they fit into the canon.
Me?
I'm a casual MCU fangirl, but I don't pretend to have any extensive comics knowledge and even I've forgotten exactly where Gamora and Nebula are when we meet them in Guardians of the Galaxy. (Thanks, MCU Wiki for filling in the gaps for me.)
BUT. I adore Mackenzi Lee's writing and devour anything she writes, so I thought I'd give this a go. And I'm *so* glad I did.
This is a non-stop, action-packed, sci-fi thriller that's heavy on the thriller/action and light on the sci-fi (all things considered). Not a complaint, BTW -- just an observation. And when I say "non-stop," I mean *literally* non-stop. The twists are well-executed, we don't linger too long in any stalled plot points, and the kicker: there were 10 minutes left in the book and we were in the middle of something and I had no idea how we were going to finish with, like, 3% of the book left.
But those last few pages? Y'ALL. I loved them. And those last lines...sheer perfection.
Okay. Here's what worked for me:
✔︎ -- First and foremost: almost every character in this book is female. And I don't just mean the main characters -- because, obviously, Gamora & Nebula -- but all the other ones.* When there's a generic guard or important prisoner or the fighting force of the Black Knights -- they're all female. When you might normally see "the guard dropped his blaster," all those masculine pronouns are now feminine and it is, quite frankly, a g*d damn delight. I don't know if the whole planet of Torndune is female and if there are male characters just floating around somewhere, but I don't really mind. What matters is that the default of "male" is consciously overturned and I am here for all of that. (In a novel about sisterhood, I would hope so.)
✔︎ -- *There are a few male characters, namely Thanos and the Grandmaster. I wasn't expecting the Grandmaster to be a character, but I LOVED HIM AND ALL HIS SASSY DIALOGUE.
Exhibit A: "Gamora, sweetheart, put down the pointy thing. Then we can verbally assault each other like civilized adults. Your Exalted Creepiness, please, control your champion."
Exhibit B: "Is there some sort of partnership-slash-fealty-oath here that I'm missing? You make quite the disorganized pair of emotionally shattered beings, I'll give you that."
And I could go on, but it would basically just be quoting every line the Grandmaster has. Seriously, Disney Publishing, if we could get a spin-off about the Grandmaster where it's just Mackenzi Lee writing snarky, witty banter, I would read the crap out of that.
✔︎ -- I would love to know if Mackenzi Lee had a favorite sister to write....the book is split between Gamora and Nebula's POV, but getting a look into Nebula's thoughts was the more fascinating part of the book. I am a Karen Gillan fan, and I think it's easy -- especially early on -- to dismiss Nebula as a side character, but I think her journey is as fascinating and emotionally complex as Gamora's, given Thanos' repeated emotional abuse and constant denigration of her. And Lee did an excellent job in giving Nebula a voice and showing some of that complexity and she gets to where we meet her in GotG. (Totally going back to rewatch now.)
✔︎ -- Obviously, this book is set before any of the events in the MCU, and knowing what happens to each sister enriches the emotional complexity of their storylines, especially when Gamora repeatedly refers to her future death (which she knows will happen because of Thanos, if not the specifics).
﹅ -- Bit confused on Nebula's and Gamora's history and their home planets. In the book, it makes it seem as if Nebula and Gamora are both the last of their kind and that Thanos killed EVERYONE on their planets. But I feel like I'm having Infinity War/Endgame memories where Thanos only kills half of the people on Gamora's planet? (Because that's his thing.) Again, I can't remember the specifics -- casual fangirl -- but maybe Gamora just thinks they all die because Thanos takes her away. *shrug* A minor thing in the grand scheme of it.
MANY thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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