Did you know that there are Guardians of the Galaxy novels? Well, there are actually a few!
Here's a brief review / breakdown of the gotg books in my collection. (Not including children's books, retellings of the movies, comics, or books that aren't novels.) I love them all and would recommend any of them.
And if there are more out there, I will find them and add them to this list.
The Pirate Angel, The Talking Tree, and Captain Rabbit.
Written by Steve Behling.
A book read from teen Groot's point of view, for the most part, taking place during the flight to Nidavellir with Thor, (during Avengers Infinity War.) It focuses on the dynamic between Thor, Rocket and Groot, while Groot sneakily reads Rocket's journal. Through the journal we get to see Rocket go on missions with the original Groot, with Rhomann Dey and with the Guardians. We see him being the badass he is but also get plenty of insight into Rockets thoughts.
It also includes a short epilogue from Rocket's point of view during the battle of Wakanda.
It's fun and it's humorous with a couple of emotional beats, and an overall enjoyable read which acts as an interlude between Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
This one is aimed at a younger audience (teens I suspect) but I still found it enjoyable.
206 pages, although it would be less if the font wasn't so large.
Marvel Wastelanders: Star-Lord.
Written by Sarah Cawkwell and adapted from the scripted podcast by Benjamin Percy.
This one is a novelization of the audio drama 'Marvel Wastelanders', (which I recommend listening to if you haven't.) It's based on the Marvel Wastelanders comics but is an original take on the stories. Includes many comic book characters and comic references but can be read/listened to without prior knowledge of the comics.
It features an old man Star-Lord and Rocket Raccoon as they fight to save Earth from Doctor Doom's takeover. The story is told as a recount of events from a Rigellian Recorder whom they team up with along the way. Rocket and Star-Lord bicker like an old married couple and it's great. It's a good read, and has an interesting plot with a lot of fun characters. However it does have a tragic ending that the story never hid it was always leading up to. It's bittersweet. You might cry, but it's worth the tears.
The voice acting during these emotional scenes in the audio drama makes it worth listening to over reading but both options are good. Personally, I read the book first and then listened to the audio drama on Spotify. Sidenote, the characters in this are not voiced by their movie counterparts.
348 pages of the book, or 10 episodes around half an hour long each of the Star-Lord centric story of the audio drama.
Guardians of the Galaxy: No Guts, No Glory.
Written by M. K. England.
This is an official prequel to the Marvel Guardians of the Galaxy video game, (which is an incredible game that takes aspects from both the comics and movies.) Like the game, it's read from Peter Quill's perspective.
It switches between the 'present day' which is a time where the Guardians are only newly formed and struggling as a group, and 12 years before that during the Galactic War where Peter is a young ravager first meeting Nova officer Ko-Rel on Mercury as they battle a Chitauri invasion.
I really enjoyed this book. It's funny, heartwarming and action packed, and embodies the characters very well. I'd recommend it to any fans of the video game. It gives us a great preview of the relationship that Peter and Ko-Rel formed, and on the early dynamic of the Guardians.
If you haven't played the game yet, I highly recommend doing so and then going right ahead and giving this a read. Although in saying that, it'll still make sense if you read it without playing the game prior, it'll just make the experience more enjoyable if you have already played the game.
307 pages.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Collect Them All.
Written by Corinne Duyvis.
This novel is based on the comic versions of the Guardians.
The point of view jumps around between all members of the Guardians, so you get an insight on each of them throughout the story.
In this novel the Guardians embark on a quest to save Groot by collecting all the pieces that have splintered off him and scattered around the galaxy.
Gamora has her own significant arc in this story.
Another solid Guardians tale.
383 pages.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Rocket Raccoon and Groot Steal The Galaxy.
Written by Dan Abnett.
This novel is also based off of the Guardians of the Galaxy comic versions of the characters and was actually written by comic writer Dan Abnett who has written numerous Guardians of the Galaxy comics, along with many other notable comics.
In this novel, Rocket and Groot find themselves teaming up with a Rigellian Recorder on a quest to save the Galaxy. Gamora also pops in for a bit.
The book is read from the point of view of 'Recorder-Dude' as Rocket calls him, with a few interludes read from the pov of other characters.
This book was quite enjoyable. Would read again.
359 pages.
Apologies that the last two weren't as detailed as the other reviews, it's been a while since I've read them. Will have to give them a re-read and edit.
