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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Violence
Minor: Death, Sexism
Her father is emotionally abusive, and she forms a sort of girl gang to "punish" offenders who keep getting away with harassment and such.
There is also a teacher/student relationship where the teacher is subtly grooming and preying upon the student.
adventurous
medium-paced
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
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
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
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
What an original and enjoyable book, I wasn’t sure what to expect but this surprised me.
Such a strange mixture of light and heavy, with moments of feeling very YA/teen and funny then the next moment flipping to serious and heartbreaking. A lot of focus on different issues, sexual assault, mental health, ptsd, panic attacks, abuse and violence.
I can relate to every insecurity, worry and problem she has, with absent/abusive parents, no support system, finding her own family and just all of it.
Of struggling to be able to afford things and being embarrassed for your classmates/friends to find out about what your problems and home life are like.
It fills my heart so much Harleens reaction to having supportive and loving friends for the first time in her life, being able to look for people in a crowd and actually having someone being there in your corner.
The forboding and tension in the present tense chapters made me need to keep reading so fast to get to the end and find out what happened.
At times this was a little simplistic with consistent quirky, somewhat hyper narrative, which did a good job capturing the personality we know and love as Harley. An interesting modern twist on a well known character, fun to figure out the similarities and twists.
Very feminist and inclusive with lots of LGBTQ characters, sapphic relationships, ADHD, different classes, black and Latina characters.
Lots of modern slang which does irritate me personally.
I would have loved this even more as a teen, but it was still great, I can’t wait for the sequel!
—————————————
‘I am so sick of it. All of it. I'm sick of my dad and his it's-
your-fault-for-wearing-a-skirt-that's-too-shortBS. I'm sick
of people acting like I'm crazy. Anytime a woman gets mad
or sad or emotional, boom, let's put a big stamp on that feeling that says it isn't valid. That it's maybe even pathological.
You know as many as 70 percent of women got diagnosed
as hysterical by certain doctors back in the day? But what
if none of them were Crazy Bitches? What if they were
just tired? Tired of pretending everything was okay when it
wasn't, and living in a world that was designed to be against them, and being told to smile through the knife wounds.
Maybe pretending to be okay in the middle of a tornado is
the truly crazy thing.’
‘They're terrified. No one messes with him. No one says anything to him. No one approaches.
And I think, There is power in becoming a persona.
And I think, There is power in laughter.
And I think, There's something darkly gorgeous about him.’
Such a strange mixture of light and heavy, with moments of feeling very YA/teen and funny then the next moment flipping to serious and heartbreaking. A lot of focus on different issues, sexual assault, mental health, ptsd, panic attacks, abuse and violence.
I can relate to every insecurity, worry and problem she has, with absent/abusive parents, no support system, finding her own family and just all of it.
Of struggling to be able to afford things and being embarrassed for your classmates/friends to find out about what your problems and home life are like.
It fills my heart so much Harleens reaction to having supportive and loving friends for the first time in her life, being able to look for people in a crowd and actually having someone being there in your corner.
The forboding and tension in the present tense chapters made me need to keep reading so fast to get to the end and find out what happened.
At times this was a little simplistic with consistent quirky, somewhat hyper narrative, which did a good job capturing the personality we know and love as Harley. An interesting modern twist on a well known character, fun to figure out the similarities and twists.
Very feminist and inclusive with lots of LGBTQ characters, sapphic relationships, ADHD, different classes, black and Latina characters.
Lots of modern slang which does irritate me personally.
I would have loved this even more as a teen, but it was still great, I can’t wait for the sequel!
—————————————
‘I am so sick of it. All of it. I'm sick of my dad and his it's-
your-fault-for-wearing-a-skirt-that's-too-shortBS. I'm sick
of people acting like I'm crazy. Anytime a woman gets mad
or sad or emotional, boom, let's put a big stamp on that feeling that says it isn't valid. That it's maybe even pathological.
You know as many as 70 percent of women got diagnosed
as hysterical by certain doctors back in the day? But what
if none of them were Crazy Bitches? What if they were
just tired? Tired of pretending everything was okay when it
wasn't, and living in a world that was designed to be against them, and being told to smile through the knife wounds.
Maybe pretending to be okay in the middle of a tornado is
the truly crazy thing.’
‘They're terrified. No one messes with him. No one says anything to him. No one approaches.
And I think, There is power in becoming a persona.
And I think, There is power in laughter.
And I think, There's something darkly gorgeous about him.’
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So nice to read a story about one of my favorite characters growing up with such progressive and inclusive characters and themes. I’ve never really watched or read anything with a bisexual main character (at least that includes a character in the mainstream media) and as someone who is bisexual, that representation was awesome. I flew through this book and cannot wait to read the rest of the trilogy. This taught me that I love reading and have just always struggled to find the right book. Highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment
Landing an internship in a psych lab at Gotham University is Harleen Quinzel's first step to getting a full scholarship to college and getting the hell away from her abusive father once and for all.
But it turns out the path to Big Scientific Discovery and girlbossing her way through college is also paved with sexism, mysognyny . . . and murder?
Harleen isn't entirely surprised to see the way women (both professors and students) are treated in Gotham U's STEM departments. But she also knows someone has to speak up and, well, no one has ever accused Harleen of being too quiet.
Joining up with a vigilante girl gang called the Reckoning seems like a great way to lean into her own chaotic nature while also fighting back against harassment, assault, and injustice on campus. Until what starts as a series of conscientious pranks leaves one member of the Reckoning dead and Harleen as both a potential suspect and target.
Working with the remaining members of the gang, Harleen will have to act fast to find the culprit before anyone else gets hurt. But with so much at stake, Harleen isn't sure justice is enough. She might have to risk her future at Gotham U to try and get revenge in Harley Quinn: Reckoning (2022) by Rachael Allen.
Harley Quinn: Reckoning is the first book in Allen's trilogy that explores the origin story of everyone's favorite unhinged villain (no, not the Joker). It is also the latest installment in the DC Icons series which reimagines classic DC comic characters as teens in YA novels. Harleen's first person narration is as chaotic as fans of her character would expect filled with frenetic tangents, righteous anger, and an abiding love of science. Allen expertly teases out Harleen's quirks and personality to create a complex and nuanced character whose penchant for mayhem makes it hard to know how far to go when fighting for what she believes in. Harleen and her female love interest in the story are white, there's a lot of diversity among the supporting cast and thoughtful discussions about the income barriers Harleen and other characters face while contemplating college options.
Harleen's story is steeped in Allen's own experiences as a woman in STEM and real instances of sexism and discrimination faced by female scientists (all detailed in an author's note at the end of the novel). The story plays out on dual timelines with the present where Harleen is at the center of a murder investigation and flashbacks to the genesis of the girl gang. Harleen's snappy narration and short chapters with suspenseful endings move this story along and make what could be a long read (464 pages in the hardcover) feel like a breeze.
While Harleen manages to stay on the right side of the law for most of this story, readers familiar with her character will catch numerous nods to her future villainous self including references to her costume preferences and more.
Harley Quinn: Reckoning is a fun introduction to the girl who will become Harley Quinn that delivers a satisfying mystery with plenty of feminist themes; a great introduction for readers unfamiliar with Harley and the Batman universe but also a welcome return for the fans.
Possible Pairings: The Supervillain and Me by Danielle Banas, Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo, Don't Cosplay With My Heart by Cecil Castellucci, Super Adjacent by Crystal Cestari, The Extraordinaries by TJ Klune, Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu, Renegades by Marissa Meyer, Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson, The Refrigerator Monologues by Catherynne M. Valente and Annie Wu, Zeroes by Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan and Deborah Biancotti
But it turns out the path to Big Scientific Discovery and girlbossing her way through college is also paved with sexism, mysognyny . . . and murder?
Harleen isn't entirely surprised to see the way women (both professors and students) are treated in Gotham U's STEM departments. But she also knows someone has to speak up and, well, no one has ever accused Harleen of being too quiet.
Joining up with a vigilante girl gang called the Reckoning seems like a great way to lean into her own chaotic nature while also fighting back against harassment, assault, and injustice on campus. Until what starts as a series of conscientious pranks leaves one member of the Reckoning dead and Harleen as both a potential suspect and target.
Working with the remaining members of the gang, Harleen will have to act fast to find the culprit before anyone else gets hurt. But with so much at stake, Harleen isn't sure justice is enough. She might have to risk her future at Gotham U to try and get revenge in Harley Quinn: Reckoning (2022) by Rachael Allen.
Harley Quinn: Reckoning is the first book in Allen's trilogy that explores the origin story of everyone's favorite unhinged villain (no, not the Joker). It is also the latest installment in the DC Icons series which reimagines classic DC comic characters as teens in YA novels. Harleen's first person narration is as chaotic as fans of her character would expect filled with frenetic tangents, righteous anger, and an abiding love of science. Allen expertly teases out Harleen's quirks and personality to create a complex and nuanced character whose penchant for mayhem makes it hard to know how far to go when fighting for what she believes in. Harleen and her female love interest in the story are white, there's a lot of diversity among the supporting cast and thoughtful discussions about the income barriers Harleen and other characters face while contemplating college options.
Harleen's story is steeped in Allen's own experiences as a woman in STEM and real instances of sexism and discrimination faced by female scientists (all detailed in an author's note at the end of the novel). The story plays out on dual timelines with the present where Harleen is at the center of a murder investigation and flashbacks to the genesis of the girl gang. Harleen's snappy narration and short chapters with suspenseful endings move this story along and make what could be a long read (464 pages in the hardcover) feel like a breeze.
While Harleen manages to stay on the right side of the law for most of this story, readers familiar with her character will catch numerous nods to her future villainous self including references to her costume preferences and more.
Harley Quinn: Reckoning is a fun introduction to the girl who will become Harley Quinn that delivers a satisfying mystery with plenty of feminist themes; a great introduction for readers unfamiliar with Harley and the Batman universe but also a welcome return for the fans.
Possible Pairings: The Supervillain and Me by Danielle Banas, Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo, Don't Cosplay With My Heart by Cecil Castellucci, Super Adjacent by Crystal Cestari, The Extraordinaries by TJ Klune, Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu, Renegades by Marissa Meyer, Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson, The Refrigerator Monologues by Catherynne M. Valente and Annie Wu, Zeroes by Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan and Deborah Biancotti
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Okay this book. I'm very familiar with Harley Quinn and the different origins people have created for her in the past. This one takes the cake though. We get her first run in with the joker. We get her first taste of vigilante justice. Of her grappling with the darkness inside her and what lines she's willing to cross to protect herself and the people she loves. Also at the end we get a reveal of her love interest for book 2 and when I tell you I am the most excited I have ever been for a sequel. I literally put a hold on the second book immediately with my library. I had thought to myself a couple times ah I wish this character was included, but I still adore this origin story. And NOW THAT CHARACTER IS BEING INCLUDED. Cannot wait.
I also adore Harley. I think she would have been an idol for me as a teenager had I read this book then. (Not that this book even existed when I was lol). I also feel so seen with her character because she does this thing where she's taking an abnormal psych class and their talking about exposure therapy as it relates to fears and PTSD. And she went , mmm I'm gonna do that. And she did and kinda "solved" for a lack of a better word, her issues with small spaces. They never really go away but she is able to cope with it so much better by the end. And that's such a realistic take. And also something I actively do myself. She gets me.
I loved their entire little Reckoning crew. Bernice became more and more badass as the novel went on. She's definitely a dark horse in a way. You don't expect her to have as much bite as she does. I loved Oliver he was such a good mentor figure for Harley. Like someone kind of in charge that was genuinely good and looking out for her. Bless him.
Just reading over the summary again, and I realize this is a trilogy??? Ahhh words cannot explain my joy in this information. Literally cannot wait to read the second book and the third book. Thank you Rachael Allen for an excellent revitalization of the Harley Quinn character.
I also adore Harley. I think she would have been an idol for me as a teenager had I read this book then. (Not that this book even existed when I was lol). I also feel so seen with her character because she does this thing where she's taking an abnormal psych class and their talking about exposure therapy as it relates to fears and PTSD. And she went , mmm I'm gonna do that. And she did and kinda "solved" for a lack of a better word, her issues with small spaces. They never really go away but she is able to cope with it so much better by the end. And that's such a realistic take. And also something I actively do myself. She gets me.
I loved their entire little Reckoning crew. Bernice became more and more badass as the novel went on. She's definitely a dark horse in a way. You don't expect her to have as much bite as she does. I loved Oliver he was such a good mentor figure for Harley. Like someone kind of in charge that was genuinely good and looking out for her. Bless him.
Just reading over the summary again, and I realize this is a trilogy??? Ahhh words cannot explain my joy in this information. Literally cannot wait to read the second book and the third book. Thank you Rachael Allen for an excellent revitalization of the Harley Quinn character.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
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