Reviews tagging 'Death'

Harley Quinn: Reckoning by Rachael Allen

7 reviews

kylieqrada's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad 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

4.5

This was fun and hard-hitting at the same time. Teen Harley is super well developed, and the author wrote this novelization so it would fit with her canon backstory without romanticizing some of the more unsavory aspects. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexism, and Misogyny

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, and Sexual assault

Minor: Rape, Death, and Mental illness

harleyc's review against another edition

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Death and 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.

imstephtacular's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

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

littlewishling's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A super fun take on Harley Quinn with lots of badass female characters taking on misogyny and the patriarchy. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Child abuse, and Sexism

Moderate: Death, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Death of parent

ivybean's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Murder, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Sexism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Rape, Death, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Injury/Injury detail

notabookseller's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny 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

5.0

Harley Quinn: Reckoning is one of the best science/mystery/girl gang/origin stories I’ve ever read. Ever. 

 

Basically, Harleen Quinzel is participating in a prestigious science program at Gotham University where she meets peer and fast friend Bernice; after they were both assaulted at a Gotham U frat party they decide that if the university won’t do anything then it’s up them to protect each other and all other women silenced by violent men and the systems that keep those men in positions of power. 

 

Throughout this novel we get to learn so much about Harley’s life and her childhood; we get to see what her home life is like and watch her fall in love and find her family and her purpose all while battling the darkness that she knows exists inside of her, but she refuses to let get in the way of her dreams. The events of this novel ring so true with what it means and feels like to exist as a woman in today’s society and what it’s like tone a woman/non-male person working in STEM/STEAM fields. 

 

The cast of characters is full and varied and complex and they work together in the best ways to create a story that you can really lose yourself in and also provides potential for future stories in this universe. The mystery aspect is intriguing and engaging and it is woven together with the antics and adventures of a vigilante girl group in a way that does not detract from either aspect. I highly recommend this book to fans of Harley Quinn and other DC comics and readers who are looking for stories about queer love, mysteries, found family, and vengeance. 

 

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Harley Quinn: Reckoning is now available for purchase and at your local libraries. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Confinement, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual assault, Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Rape

mxbenjaminrose's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

5.0

Harley Quinn is such an interesting character, when written well. The version of Harley portrayed in the animated series is a particularly good characterization.

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....

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Physical abuse, Murder, Death, Misogyny, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Stalking, Forced institutionalization, Alcoholism, and Kidnapping