Monday, August 3, 2020

Review - Virtual Unicorn Experience

Virtual Unicorn Experience (Heavenly Nostrils #12)
by Dana Simpson
Date: 2020
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Reading level: MG
Book type: comic collection
Pages: 176
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Marigold Heavenly Nostrils is one magical unicorn—and she knows it! But sometimes it’s harder for humans like Phoebe to understand that they can be magical, too. In the latest Phoebe and Her Unicorn adventure, the pair visits the science museum, tests out an extra-special virtual unicorn reality, and performs in the school talent show. With the help of her best friend and an emergency sparkle transfusion, Phoebe learns about confidence, empathy, and resilience—and even how to live without her cellphone. It’s all part of the very real excitement of Virtual Unicorn Experience.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This series has lost the magic for me. This twelfth volume kind of felt like it was phoning it in. Sure, we have the established characters, but how many times can we see Dakota be nasty, Max be wallpaper (he had so much potential when he was first introduced!), and Marigold be vain? It's getting old.

Marigold also slipped up and used a contraction in this book (shocking!) and there was an uncomfortable passage with a glitching computer and Phoebe talking about the world needing a reset. The timing is awfully suspicous. (Look up "The Great Reset". Finding what looks an awful lot like propaganda in a children's book left a bad taste in my mouth.)

If you're a die-hard Phoebe and Marigold fan, you might enjoy this. I've loved this duo from the beginning... but I think maybe 12 books is enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing a digital ARC.

Writing & Editing: 3/5
Illustration: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 ladybugs

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