Scan barcode
sicilyjoy's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Spoiler Alert: This book is a fun time for a Harley Quinn Fan.
Basically, Harley Quinn goes to her dream school: Gotham Academy and becomes an intern for Arkham. She also pledges a sorority, gets into a love triangle and has to solve a case of who is experimenting on the patients at Arkham.
What I loved about this story are the characters. All the main characters are well written and developed. Harley Quinn’s characterization makes her a person I would want to read about even if she wasn’t a DC character. Her backstory, her existential crisis, and her personality make her a loveable and related character. The love triangle between her, Winn, and Ivy was believable because the relationships were written well. If I was torn between sweet Winn and understanding Ivy, then it made all the sense that Harley was too.
I also love a moment in the book where Harley rejects patriarchy and the idea of being “not like the other girls.” Harley is truly a girl’s girl in this novel. The novel also quickly addresses biphobia and challenges the false narratives about who is really bisexual. There is a social justice theme throughout that questions policing and prison culture and the idea of who are criminals and who are heroes.
Unfortunately, this book isn’t quite a 5 star read for me. I think the gen z slang used in the book will eventually date the novel in a bad way. Also, the slang was actually AAVE and sounded weird coming from Harley Quinn. But the bigger issue is the amnesia (this is in the beginning chapter, therefore not a spoiler) trope was unnecessary. This book could have been told completely from a present day perspective and it would have been more thrilling. The memory loss angle made the story drag on. It felt like a trick to extend the word count when a shorter book would have been more enjoyable.
But I really enjoyed the characters, the plot (minus the amnesia), and the messages about social equity. Therefore, I give Ravenous four out of five stars.
Basically, Harley Quinn goes to her dream school: Gotham Academy and becomes an intern for Arkham. She also pledges a sorority, gets into a love triangle and has to solve a case of who is experimenting on the patients at Arkham.
What I loved about this story are the characters. All the main characters are well written and developed. Harley Quinn’s characterization makes her a person I would want to read about even if she wasn’t a DC character. Her backstory, her existential crisis, and her personality make her a loveable and related character. The love triangle between her, Winn, and Ivy was believable because the relationships were written well. If I was torn between sweet Winn and understanding Ivy, then it made all the sense that Harley was too.
I also love a moment in the book where Harley rejects patriarchy and the idea of being “not like the other girls.” Harley is truly a girl’s girl in this novel. The novel also quickly addresses biphobia and challenges the false narratives about who is really bisexual. There is a social justice theme throughout that questions policing and prison culture and the idea of who are criminals and who are heroes.
Unfortunately, this book isn’t quite a 5 star read for me. I think the gen z slang used in the book will eventually date the novel in a bad way. Also, the slang was actually AAVE and sounded weird coming from Harley Quinn. But the bigger issue is the amnesia (this is in the beginning chapter, therefore not a spoiler) trope was unnecessary. This book could have been told completely from a present day perspective and it would have been more thrilling. The memory loss angle made the story drag on. It felt like a trick to extend the word count when a shorter book would have been more enjoyable.
But I really enjoyed the characters, the plot (minus the amnesia), and the messages about social equity. Therefore, I give Ravenous four out of five stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma
Moderate: Violence and Misogyny
Minor: Biphobia
medical abuseimstephtacular's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Violence, Torture, Sexism, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Gaslighting, Classism, Trafficking, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Misogyny, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Blood, and Abandonment
Minor: Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Police brutality, Kidnapping, Infidelity, Biphobia, Body horror, Bullying, and Sexual harassment
m_winnike's review
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
5.0
I got an ARC of this book through work and I am so
excited for it to be released so I can start
recommending it to customers! I thought the first book
was really good but this sequel blows the first one out
of the water!
So many great villains are introduced in this book, King
Shark, Talia Al Ghül, Riddler, and Scarecrow. King
Shark is definitely a huge stand out character and after
this one I'm definitely going to need a book about him.
He's an adorable cinnamon roll of a murder machine.
Even better is the Pamala Isley making an appearance.
She and Harley's friendship/possible romance made
me so incredibly happy. It's incredibly refreshing to read
a book with a bisexual main character who's sexuality
is actually understood and not uncomfortably fetishized.
excited for it to be released so I can start
recommending it to customers! I thought the first book
was really good but this sequel blows the first one out
of the water!
Shark, Talia Al Ghül, Riddler, and Scarecrow. King
Shark is definitely a huge stand out character and after
this one I'm definitely going to need a book about him.
He's an adorable cinnamon roll of a murder machine.
Even better is the Pamala Isley making an appearance.
She and Harley's friendship/possible romance made
me so incredibly happy. It's incredibly refreshing to read
a book with a bisexual main character who's sexuality
is actually understood and not uncomfortably fetishized.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical trauma, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, and Violence
More...