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dxrcxx's review
5.0
The book was fun and easy to follow. I actually laughed out loud in a few parts. Overall, it was a great read.
studio_rat04's review
3.0
I've been getting really into DC stories lately and I really enjoyed reading this one. But I felt weird reading it because there were elements of the psychology that just irked me the wrong way, like I could just feel them aging poorly as I read along. And the writing style was very messy, which I guess made sense since it was in Harley Quinn's perspective but it still frustrated me at multiple points. I felt like it could have used another round of editing and maybe cleaned up the side notes. I think the writing style could have reflected Harley's chaotic mind without the prose being compromised, it read as a 2016 daily vlogger going out of their way to make everything they say be rediculous and funny with a ton of pop culture references rather than a tragic ordinary person trying to live their life fall to a scary place and embrase a full on villain role. It was goofy, but in a way that made me sigh rather than laugh along. But regardless of that, I loves seeing these familiar characters and I love reading stories set in Gotham so I still had a great time. That being said I didn't realize this was a sequel until mid way through the book so take everything I say with a grain of salt because I went in pretty clueless.
indominusalex's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.5
definitely a faster read than Reckoning, i love the style and the humor and Harley's POV and finally having Ivy join the story was a cherry on top!!! can't wait for part 3
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 abusemaxalotl_xl's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
chantalsbookstuff's review against another edition
4.0
College girl
Another stellar instalment in the DC Icons series. I thoroughly enjoyed Harleen's college journey and her relentless efforts to maintain a virtuous persona.
Rachel Allen has once again done a marvelous job in capturing the earlier years of Harley Quinn, before her transformation into the infamous "bad girl."
Another stellar instalment in the DC Icons series. I thoroughly enjoyed Harleen's college journey and her relentless efforts to maintain a virtuous persona.
Rachel Allen has once again done a marvelous job in capturing the earlier years of Harley Quinn, before her transformation into the infamous "bad girl."
time_travel_tragedy's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I rated the first book five stars and this sequel did not disappoint. I got the Harlivy I wanted and I cannot wait for the sequel which sounds like we might be getting a road trip?? Which has happened many times in DC canon & this sounds like it'll be one of the good versions.
Harley is just so. . . I love her dearly. She's incredibly relatable and also in other ways incredibly badass.
We got that plot thing that's like hero has amnesia & has a good feeling about the bad guy and that scene was absolute GOLD.
I'm sad this is only supposed to be a trilogy I could read Rachel Allen's version of Harley's story forever. Someone extend her contract for more Harley (& Ivy) books stat. Lol
Harley is just so. . . I love her dearly. She's incredibly relatable and also in other ways incredibly badass.
We got that plot thing that's like hero has amnesia & has a good feeling about the bad guy and that scene was absolute GOLD.
I'm sad this is only supposed to be a trilogy I could read Rachel Allen's version of Harley's story forever. Someone extend her contract for more Harley (& Ivy) books stat. Lol
clichemarker's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
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
4.25
Really good, not as fun as the 1st. The villain was obvious from the first time we meet them. Super excited for the 3rd book
ramenlasagna's review
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
littlerachael16's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
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? No
3.5