A review by louandlife
DC Comics Novels - Harley Quinn: Mad Love by Paul Dini, Pat Cadigan
3.0
What drew me to this book was the cover. It is so beautiful with the split between Dr Harleen Quinzel and Harley Quinn. Then I read the blurb and I had to get it. I mean, it's a Harley Quinn origin story. I've always been intrigued by the character of Harley Quinn, and I am more of a fan of DC than Marvel. I was always fascinated about the fact that Harley Quinn started off as the Joker's doctor. I hoped that this book would give me one representation of Harley's beginning.
I liked this book but it was a bit disappointing. It started off great. I think it could have easily been a 5/5 if the beginning was kept up. But the middle started to let me down with us as the reader, not truly seeing how the Joker broke the doctor and made her into Harley. From the book, it just made it seem like Harley fell in love with the Joker because he was saying the right things to her, but I didn't really see her character break as much as her just fall in love with the Joker. But it was interesting to see that elements of Harley Quinn was always a part of Harleen but the Joker made those traits the more dominant part of her character.
The plot also fell a bit. I liked the fact that it's seen from the start of Harley and the Joker being in the outside world that it wasn't a healthy relationship, but the journey that they go on when they are outside was a bit boring. It wasn't as action packed as the middle of the book. It felt like it peaked a bit too early. The ending was a bit lacklustre too. It was an open ending-ish, which made me enjoy it a bit less. The ending wasn't as good as it could have been.
I would recommend this book if you like DC, or Harley Quinn, or superheroes. It would fulfil any desires you have for those categories. If you wasn't a fan of any of them, then you may struggle to like this book.
I liked this book but it was a bit disappointing. It started off great. I think it could have easily been a 5/5 if the beginning was kept up. But the middle started to let me down with us as the reader, not truly seeing how the Joker broke the doctor and made her into Harley. From the book, it just made it seem like Harley fell in love with the Joker because he was saying the right things to her, but I didn't really see her character break as much as her just fall in love with the Joker. But it was interesting to see that elements of Harley Quinn was always a part of Harleen but the Joker made those traits the more dominant part of her character.
The plot also fell a bit. I liked the fact that it's seen from the start of Harley and the Joker being in the outside world that it wasn't a healthy relationship, but the journey that they go on when they are outside was a bit boring. It wasn't as action packed as the middle of the book. It felt like it peaked a bit too early. The ending was a bit lacklustre too. It was an open ending-ish, which made me enjoy it a bit less. The ending wasn't as good as it could have been.
I would recommend this book if you like DC, or Harley Quinn, or superheroes. It would fulfil any desires you have for those categories. If you wasn't a fan of any of them, then you may struggle to like this book.