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gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
<i> Narrated by
Unabridged </i>
I loved this imagining of of Harley Quinn. It had great representation of women in STEM, and of various personality traits too, dismissing this stereotype that 'the hot blonde' can't be intelligent too.
I loved getting a glimpse into an idea of what her earlier years building up to her career (both as a psychiatrist and as a villan) and getting more of her personality and identity outside of the Joker.
The relationships between the girls in the reckoning was so varied and real. I adored how they grew, became tense and fractured, and then realigned again.
I throughly enjoyed this story and can't wait to read the next one.
The note at the end was very poignant into how women in STEM are treated even still to this day. This whole story was so inspiring.
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Sexism, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Confinement, Death of parent, Sexual content, Stalking, Violence, Torture, Death, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Kidnapping, and Toxic relationship
itaby's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse
christikb's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
imstephtacular's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Sexual assault, Classism, Sexism, Misogyny, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Torture, Terminal illness, Stalking, Medical content, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Murder, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Death, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, and Cursing
Minor: Grief and Bullying
mxbenjaminrose's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What Rachael Allen does here, however, was fantastic. The DC Icons series takes larger than life superhero characters and places them in more realistic settings to tell YA stories. Allen has really biting and meaningful commentary here on young women in STEM fields, issues of harassment and abuse cover-ups in higher education, family trauma, and more. In some ways it's a murder mystery, while also being a queer coming-of-age story for a brave young woman who has all the cards stacked against her.
At the same time, it's also an origin story for the anti-hero we know and love, Harley Quinn, and it feels close enough to her characterization in (recent) comics and TV that it *feels* like Harley Quinn. I was honestly impressed and surprised at how well fleshed out and engaging this was! I'm so glad it will be a trilogy, and thrilled to read Allen's take on the character introduced in the epilogue....
Graphic: Sexism and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Physical abuse, Murder, Death, Misogyny, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Stalking, Forced institutionalization, Alcoholism, and Kidnapping