# Marvin SxS – eBooks and comics — user reviews > 26 indexed App Store user reviews of Marvin SxS by Appstafarian Limited, rated 4.29/5 from 35 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marvin-sxs-ebooks-and-comics/id1092838007/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marvin-sxs-ebooks-and-comics/id1092838007.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 22 · 4★ 9 · 3★ 0 · 2★ 0 · 1★ 4 ## Newest reviews (6 of 26) ### 4/5 — Even better. *2018-03-02, version 3.1.2* 03/03/18 update: the developer seems to have given up on the app. Despite multiple attempts to reach out to him, I get no response. For now, I will downgrade this to 4 stars because of the iPhone X issues. Hopefully, there will be a future update. 11/26/17 update: the App needs some margin adjustments for the iPhone X. I’ve reached out to the developer in several ways, but I have not heard back. I hope he is just busy and that he is working on an update. The app is usable in the iPhone X, but the margin issue is distracting. __________________ I loved the older Marvin, and love this one even more. Considering that this is the first iteration, it will become even better with subsequent updates. Highly recommended. ### 4/5 — Good but missing features *2017-07-28, version 3.1* Audiobook support, local or streaming via home network or cloud, would be much appreciated. ### 4/5 — Great app *2017-05-31, version 3.1* I've been using the old Marvin app for while now and I just downloaded this one. The layout and graphics are very clean and aesthetically pleasing and the app functions just as well as, if not better than, the previous, but the one thing I'd like to have is the visible markers showing whether a book has been read or unread or marked as as new. There seems to be an option to do so, but you can't see any kind of visual indicator on the book. ### 4/5 — It's almost the best. It's a work in progress. *2017-02-20, version 3.1* Need guided speed reading as the one in outreads or quick read or Litz. The ability to sync highlights and notes across devices. It has the ability to sync page numbers. But not the highlights or notes. Which is disappointing. It has a very pretty export notes and highlights. It can be exported as PDF or ePub. I will find it very useful. karaoke (I.e. Spritz style speed reading is good.) but it can learn from KyBook or outreads. In kybook text rolls in from right and disAppears on the left side of the screen. Or you could choose to have just one word at a time. I like the former. In litz, you can see the entire content while you are speed reading. This is really helpful. Because at times you get lost while karoaking (spritzing). And you need to see the bigger picture. I.e. The whole page to connect the dots. So this would be helpful. ### 4/5 — Seriously? *2016-08-03, version 3.0.5* Update: In my initial review I mistakenly believed the in-app-purchase color scheme was for the actual reading, but it turns out it's only for the UI, which I couldn't care less about, so the rating has been adjusted accordingly. Still one point deducted for the "tip", which is something people give to show their appreciation, no strings attached. A payment to unlock functionality in a paid App is NOT that... So I thought I'd actually spend some money to get a really good ebook reader rather than a crippled "free" one and I ended up with this. It's late, I install a couple of books to read, want to tweak the color scheme a bit and instead am sent to a "tip jar" to PAY EXTRA to enable this AFTER I paid for what I thought was a full-priced app... If you want more money, be honest and charge an extra buck upfront, but to play this ridiculous nickel & diming game in a paid "pro" app is frankly pathetic, whatever its other merits may be. I was going to give it 1 star for this behaviour but since it may turn out to have benefits over store apps (Kindle, Nook etc.) I'll raise it by 1... At least anybody else who feels similarly about these practices deserves a heads-up before plunking down their money to support this. ### 5/5 — Best in category *2016-06-20, version 3.0* This is easily the best epub reader available. It does comics very well and you can get your books into it very easily with or without iTunes. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — iOS 16 bug *2022-11-15, version 3.1.2* Please please please update this app to be compatible with iOS 16. Especially the annotation function. When selecting an area and trying to mark it, can’t find the mark icon!!! And can’t choose the color as well. The icons are all gone. It’s different from what I used before. Please fix the bug!!! ### 1/5 — Watch-out, not compatible with iOS 16! *2022-10-27, version 3.1.2* I’ve loved using Marvin for years, but iOS 16 broke Marvin. The pages freeze, and only reboot when you reboot the iPad. This behavior is especially noticeable when looking up a word by pressing on the word for a definition. The developer has been MIA for years, but Marvin has been OK till know. The last update was 5 years ago, Marvin needs work! Bring back the developer to make an update! ### 1/5 — Backups *2019-12-15, version 3.1.2* How are we supposed to backup/restore with the removal of iTunes from macOS? Developer, give us another way man. Don’t take my money and run. 😒 ### 1/5 — Can't open PDF *2017-06-19, version 3.1* Well, this is a waste. Can't open PDF's for school. Ugh. ### 1/5 — FORCED TO TIP FOR COLOR SCHEMES ... REALLY?!? *2016-07-06, version 3.0.3* MOVING ALONG, NOTHING TO SEE HERE. For an e-reader (what should be a SIMPLE app), this app is overly complicated. And they REQUIRE you to "TIP" to access the color schemes (they use "tip" to mean "give us MORE MONEY AS AN IN-APP PURCHASE if you want the FULL APP FUNCTIONALITY"). I disdain this kind of bait-and-switch nonsense ... WHY DOES APPLE TOLERATE THIS ON THE APP STORE?!? ### 2/5 — App keeps force closing *2016-12-03, version 3.0.9* Would be a great app if it didn't keep force quitting or not opening at all. ### 4/5 — Ammar Al asady *2022-03-16, version 3.1.2* This application is wonderful, but the most important thing for me is the searching inside the book especially I merge several parts of books in one folder, which makes the searching somewhat take a long time 6-7 minutes if the folder has involved in 26 texts book to complete searching in all these texts books. In another hand there is a pros one feature in this searching has to excel on searching in the pocketbook app. That is the results of searching has consequent in the list hasn't prevent you from paging the different parts of the folder without this list has disappeared, and you still able to ### 4/5 — Developer still here? *2020-12-04, version 3.1.2* Its a great app but seems developer abandoned it years ago. Latest updates were more than 3 years ago. This app has potential to be even greater as iOS updates change. Developer please don't abandon this app ### 4/5 — Great app, just one bug. *2019-04-01, version 3.1.2* My go-to e-reader. Excellent. Tons of features. Just one bug: When I highlight some text, sometimes the text disappears. I need to close the app and re-open to see the highlighted text again. ### 4/5 — Has a bug *2019-02-03, version 3.1.2* Works better than apples built in ebook program. But i did find a bug where it skips a couple paragraphs when using the tex to speech function. It will do this at the beginning of new chapters. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Love it *2021-12-13, version 3.1.2* This is best reader. I can easily, wirelessly transfer from Mac my collections. Get it! ### 5/5 — Still the best. *2021-09-20, version 3.1.2* No updates usually means the app has been abandoned. With Marvin it means the app is just perfect. ### 5/5 — Epub Perfection! *2021-09-06, version 3.1.2* Being an ebook nerd, i’ve never seen any software with proper integration and equal support for PDF & Epub. This one focuses on Epub, and you may need to install a secondary app for the sake of compatibility with PDF files. But as a former blind Apple fan, i must confess that Marvin more than solves the foolish functionality incompetence of Apple Books, while having a better overall UI design from my point of view. The only thing that worries me is that the developer calls it Marvin 3, which raises the question on wether one can own a lifetime usage license of it with a onetime purchase or not. Assuming the developer stays content with the current payment policy, i would give it 5 of 5, because it is in many aspects really close to an Epub perfection. Thank you! ### 5/5 — The best e-reader since Stanza *2020-02-03, version 3.1.2* I love this app. Easy. Functional. Classic layout. Intuitive design. Fast. Any book seems to load flawlessly and effortlessly. I am mystified as to why there are only 14 reviews. I saw where one person said the developer had given up on the app. I can only say that I very much hope that is wrong and that the developer is very much still involved. I’d hate to think this app might not work eventually. I run this app on an iPhone XS MAX and also on a first year iPad Pro. The app runs flawlessly on both. I used Stanza long long ago when us early adopters knew every app in the tiny app store. I’ve used other apps since Stanza’s demise. I used iBooks a lot, but this last iOS was the final straw that pushed me to no longer use iBooks except to import web stuff as a pdf. iBooks constantly loses every book when updated. It no longer allows you to copy things from it in iTunes. Instead of getting broader and more open, iBooks gets more and more limited. I’ve searched for what feels like eons for an app that I fully trust and love. Fir me, that’s this app. If the developer keeps the app updated, I’d happily pay $9.99 for this. Yep. It’s that great. ### 5/5 — Pleasantly surprised with OPDS support *2019-03-05, version 3.1.2* I can pick books from my calibre server from anywhere with an internet connection! ### 5/5 — Great app! a few small changes would be nice *2018-11-25, version 3.1.2* This app is awesome! I use it to read fanfiction that I download from AO3 as epubs. Works great and i love the dark mode. One thing that would be nice to change is, when you finish reading a epub, the main screen still shows 99% complete, or sometimes 98% or less if its a really short epub. It'd be nice if it said 100% or Finished (since i got to the end and marked it as finished). Just a little thing :) Also the tag system is kind of confusing and im not sure how to add tags to a book. I ended up just using Subjects to add tags, since they show up in the "Subjects and Tags" view, and thats basically what I needed. I couldn't find instructions anywhere on how to use the tags, that would be super helpful. Thank you for making this app, I really love it! ### 5/5 — Yeeeeeeees! *2017-04-02, version 3.1* Pump fist! Backflip! Cartwheel! Gorgeous ui. Gorgeous! This guy thought of everything! I'm bouncing of the walls! Bravo sir! I want an app for OS X ! Seriously... the cleanliness of everything. Really well done. Cheers ### 5/5 — Just wow! A must for any avid reader. *2017-02-21, version 3.1* Hands down the best eBook reader. Packed with tons of features, but not overwhelming. Really love the way it keeps track of word definition lookups, speed reading (karaoke mode), sort by book series, and tons more nice to haves. Thanks! ### 5/5 — MARVIN SxS - BEST EPUB READER TO DATE *2016-07-15, version 3.0.4* Marvin SxS is not complicated. It is sophisticated, flexible, customizable, and beautiful. One reviewer complained about being “required” to pay extra for color schemes. How much were you gouged? About the price of a cup of coffee? The custom themes are not required to use Marvin SxS. However they do add a nice touch. I have zero connection with the developer and I would have gladly paid triple for this app and its themes. Developers who produce elegant and powerful apps (like Marvin SxS) deserve to be supported. Look at the current state of apps in the app store. So many are for children and suckers. When an app like Marvin SxS appears, where it is clear the developer put his/her soul into it, I am grateful. …..If you appreciate a digital book beautifully displayed no app currently does it better then Marvin SxS. ### 5/5 — Still the best . . . *2016-07-05, version 3.0.2* Marvin has always been the best ePub reader head and shoulders above the rest. This release just continues to maintain that high standard. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*