As a long time both comic and MCU lover who has never read any of the novels I was not sure what to expect going into Doctor Strange: Dimension War beyond knowing what comic arc it was a retelling of. As such I had set the bar pretty low and while this was an enjoyable novel, it still somehow didn't quite meet the bar of what I expect with a novel off one of my favorite in the comics.

While all the characters who were involved in the comics in some way played a role in this story about Doctor Strange, from Wong to Dormammu, somehow they all felt a bit flat. As if the dialogue and descriptions had not been fleshed out in advance, and each chapter or situation was being written individually of the rest of the novel. This often lead to the early stages of the novel, I would say about the first half, feeling disconnected from the chapters surrounding it. At about the half way point things started to tie together and the novel at last started to feel as if each chapter was part of a novel and not a standalone serialization of a story.

On the flip side I will add that the story held my despite me knowing, per the comics, the outcome of this story and each characters part in it. The descriptions of magic and places were well done, and the narration from the POV characters when they were just thinking to themself was decently written.

I would pick this up if you love:
- Doctor Strange
- Marvel
- Prefer a novel to Comics
- Have not already read this story in the comics

Over all a novel I would recommend to those I know who love the MCU but don't read comics as a way to learn more about the characters stories.

I received an advance review copy of this book and I am leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts and opinions are wholly my own and unbiased. ( )