3.5 stars

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.