Catwoman Soulstealer

(DC Icons #3, By: Sarah J Maas)

SUMMARY:

When the Bat's away, the Cat will play. It's time to see how many lives this cat really has. . . .
Two years after escaping Gotham City's slums, Selina Kyle returns as the mysterious and wealthy Holly Vanderhees. She quickly discovers that with Batman off on a vital mission, Batwing is left to hold back the tide of notorious criminals. Gotham City is ripe for the taking.
Meanwhile, Luke Fox wants to prove he has what it takes to help people in his role as Batwing. He targets a new thief on the prowl who seems cleverer than most. She has teamed up with Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn, and together they are wreaking havoc. This Catwoman may be Batwing's undoing.
Published August 7th 2018 by Random House Books for Young Readers

REVIEW:

I gave this book 4 stars. SJM brought her signature character building to this story, packing it full of characters with sass, wit, and loads of personality. The plot allowed for a quick dive into the world of Gotham City (full of crime, heroes and villains) without the need for any background.

Please note, my knowledge of the DC series is minimal, so I am reviewing this book as a stand alone outside of the DC canon. That being said, I really enjoyed how Maas’ version of Selina pulled the curtain back to show a vulnerable and human side behind a strong criminal character. Selina was easy to stand behind and that made her rags-to-riches character arc that much more fun.

The girl tribe that bonded to become the Gotham City Sirens was quirky and amazing. Poison Ivy was possibly my favorite character in the entire book. It was refreshing to see females that could have easily be pitted against one another choose to team up and create true friendship. While the romance was obvious, and not as fiery or explicit as most SJM books, the unique character profiles made it intriguing and it felt appropriate for the story.

The setting of Gotham City, as expected, served as a perfect playground for conflict. The plot stayed true to those roots, ramping up the stakes with fighting scenes and too close for comfort encounters. However, at points, the character and relationship development overshadowed the action. Banter and dialog were inserted in places that seemed unrealistic (like in the middle of a fight scene) which diluted the drama of the moment.

Overall, the story drew me in for a quick immersion into the DC world which I enjoyed. It was an easy, yet dramatic read with intriguing characters and a fast paced plot.