Batman: Nightwalker (DC Icons Series #2)

Author: Marie Lu

Genre: YA, Fantasy

Publisher: Penguin

Publication Date: January 4th 2018

Format: Paperback (288 pages)

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Synopsis:

Returning home from his lavish eighteenth birthday party, Bruce Wayne stops a criminal’s getaway – disobeying the police and crashing his car during the chase.

Sentenced to community service in Gotham City’s Arkham Asylum, he encounters some of the the city’s most dangerous and mentally disturbed criminals. Among these, Bruce meets the intriguing Madeleine who has ties to the Nightwalker gang that is terrorizing Gotham City.

She’s a mystery Bruce has to unravel but can he trust her? The Nightwalkers target the rich, and Bruce’s name is next on their list.

My Rating: ★★★.5

As someone who has never read a book by Marie Lu and also has only ever indulged in Batman movies, I wasn’t really sure what to expect from this book but it really did surprise me in a pleasant way.

I expected lots of action and that’s what I got. The book was really plot driven and full of twists and turns. The first half of the book is definitely much slower but you can feel the anticipation building and the last 100 or so pages were just phenomenal and really fast paced. It took me a little while to remember that the things I’d seen in the movies hadn’t happened to adorable, teenage Bruce yet but that didn’t stop me from quickly being drawn into the book. There were definitely several completely unbelievable elements to the book, for example, teenage Bruce being sent to the top security prison for his community service? But then we have to remember this is a book about Batman so literally anything goes!

I really adored the characters, especially those recognisable names such as Harvey Dent and good old Alfred (whom I could only read with the voice of Michael Caine!). There was something comforting about having those characters to anchor Bruce’s world on these pages. Madeleine absolutely terrified me. She was scary as hell and all those moments when Bruce is talking to her in her cell had me on the edge of my seat that she was about to completely flip out. I absolutely loved her character, despite the creepiness!

 Overall this was an entertaining read with great characterization and a fast paced plot. Not quite up there with Wonder Woman: Warbringer but a great addition to the DC Icons series!

Thanks to Sarah at Penguin UK for my copy in exchange of a fair and honest review.

Have you read Batman: Nightwalker? Is it on your TBR?

Who is your favourite superhero?

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