Review - Unicorn vs. Goblins

Unicorn vs. Goblins (Heavenly Nostrils #3)
by Dana Simpson
Date: 2016
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC
Reading level: MG
Book type: comic collection
Pages: 176
Format: e-book
Source: library

School’s out! That means no more teachers, no more books, and lots of time to compliment Marigold Heavenly Nostrils on her good looks. In this third volume, Phoebe and her obligational best friend, Marigold, learn that summer still has plenty of surprises for the both of them. All of our old friends are back—Phoebe’s part-time “frenemy” Dakota, upon whom Marigold has bestowed sentient hair, Phoebe’s goofy parents, and even Lord Splendid Humility (but please, ignore his magnificence if you can)! Have fun as Phoebe and Marigold continue the “Phoebegold Detective Agency,” spend a week at Wolfgang Music Camp, and find themselves in more misadventures, thanks to Marigold’s enchanted sparkles! Along the way, Phoebe makes some new friends, such as Sue—her unique clarinet-playing bunkmate, Florence Unfortunate Nostrils, Marigold’s estranged sister, and Camp Wolfgang’s lake monster who enjoys tacos and Wi-Fi. When school resumes, read along as Phoebe enjoys (or suffers from) a brief case of popularity, mentally catalogs her grievances against dodge ball, and, with Marigold’s help, rescues Dakota and her hair from the queen of the goblins. Through these wacky adventures, Phoebe and Marigold learn that their friendship is the second most magical thing of all, after Marigold’s beauty, of course.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This collection seemed to go faster than the previous two. I enjoyed it well enough, though.

In this installment, we see Phoebe go to music camp, we get to meet Marigold's sister, and Dakota has a run-in with some goblins at the local burger joint. I wasn't really a fan of the whole music-camp experience... or, rather, I wasn't a fan of Phoebe's bunkmate. She was supposed to be funny, but I don't find little psychopaths-in-the-making particularly funny. Meeting Marigold's sister, Florence Unfortunate Nostrils, was pretty fun, though (and once you find out why she has that last name, you'll never be able to forget). The storyline with Dakota and the goblins felt a little tacked-on and too easily resolved, but the magical-hair storyline was fun while it lasted.

The back matter in this one consists of a trail mix recipe and instructions on how to draw some supporting characters. For those who are practicing drawing Phoebe and Marigold and their friends, it's a nice touch.

Overall, this probably isn't my favourite of the books so far. But I'm definitely going to keep reading. I just love these two characters and their unusual friendship!

Quotable moment:

Writing & Editing: 4/5
Illustration: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall Rating: 3.6 out of 5 ladybugs