Batman: Nightwalker

DC Icons #2

by Marie Lu

The highly anticipated coming-of-age story for the world's greatest super hero: BATMAN by the # 1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu.

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.

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Superheroes, Fiction, Retellings, Science Fiction, Mystery

253 pages, Paperback

First published January 2, 2018

About the author

[Note: Many apologies, but I'm woefully bad at checking my Goodreads emails! If you'd like to send a note/msg, please catch me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Marie_Lu . Thanks!]

I write young adult novels, and have a special love for dystopian books. Ironically, I was born in 1984. Before becoming a full-time writer, I was an Art Director at a video game company. Now I shuffle around at home and talk to myself a lot. :)

I graduated from the University of Southern California in '06 and currently live in LA, where I spend my time stuck on the freeways.

Reviews

[Emily May · Rating 3 out of 5]

“You have a heavy heart, for someone with everything.”

It is these kind of books that perfectly fit the awful (and unhelpful) three star rating. Batman: Nightwalker is a completely fine, average, easy and forgettable read.

It is reasonably well-written, as we would expect from Marie Lu, but I would point new readers towards her The Young Elites or Warcross before urging them to read this one. This new stream of superhero fiction - and we can expect more in 2018 - caters to current market trends, but it's difficult to write a new story in these almost exhausted universes. In my opinion, Bardugo managed it with Wonder Woman: Warbringer. Lu not so much.

Here, Bruce Wayne is a teenager who finds himself caught up in a criminal case that the police can't solve. When his interference in a crime lands him doing community service in Arkham Asylum, he gets up close and personal with some of Gotham's worst criminals. In particular, Madeleine, who is somehow linked to a gang who call themselves Nightwalkers - and are currently picking off Gotham's most powerful and wealthy citizens one by one.

Maybe this book will work for readers completely unfamiliar with Bruce Wayne and the Batman story - though it contains just enough nods to the canon to make me wonder if it will - but for anyone who's seen a few movies or read a few comics, it is not interesting, exciting, or unique enough to elevate itself beyond the fanfiction level.

It's a short book and there are a number of pacing issues. Lu lingers on Bruce's dream sequences and spends too little time building suspense before the action scenes, which are also over too quickly.

Teen Bruce, himself, is too bland, uninteresting, and lacking in common sense. It is a shame that the reader can spot when this teen mastermind is being fooled long before he can. He solves and saves very little, with most answers and solutions being handed to him.

Normally, Bruce Wayne's blandness can be forgiven because it is balanced out by an outrageous and exciting villain, but the Nightwalkers and Madeleine lacked the necessary charisma or delicious villainy to counter a forgettable protagonist. They're not bad but, let's face it, they're not the Joker, or Two-Face, or Catwoman.

This definitely all sounds more negative than positive, but I stand by my decision to give it three stars. It is a super quick, easy read, with just another Alfred to save it from being too dull. Plus, to give credit where it's due, I did not have the teeniest tiniest clue about that twist. Nicely played.

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[Miranda Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

The darkness was his ally, not his enemy.

Whoa Nelly, back up comic books cause Marie Lu has completely revamped this genre.

A teenage Bruce Wayne must deal with:

A) the family fortune
B) his blooming company
C) friendships falling out
D) the cell of Nightwalkers terrorizing the city

All without losing his mind or failing classes.

Bruce watched his friend go. Then he glanced at Alfred. "We need to make a pit stop."
"Where?"
"WayneTech."
Alfred shot him a wary glance. "Lucius would warn you none of those prototypes are ready for use."

Due to a little tousle with the law (due to his hero tendencies), Bruce is forced to spend community service time in Arkham Asylum - part mental hospital, part insane jailhouse - where he meets...a girl?

A really pretty girl.

Who may (or may not) be the ring leader of the Nightwalkers.

Bruce always thought he was pretty good at reading people but this girl is a complete mystery.

And as he circles closer to her web, he can't help but wonder, what would it be like to be caught?

Wow. Seriously, wow.

Marie Lu, you absolutely brought it to the table with this one.

I did not think I would ever enjoy a retelling of Batman so much.

You have a heavy heart, for someone with everything.

She absolutely humanized such a standoffish and alien man for me.

I went in there expecting a "poor-little-rich-boy" complex but she did such an excellent job with his story. Truly.

The only thing that bugged me was that not once does he refer to himself as Batman.

You'd think a quasi-origin story (titled Batman: Nightwalker) that there'd be some sort of mention of....ya'know, Batman? Is it just me?

That and (like most renditions), we never get a concrete answer why Bruce would rather invest in violence and weapons....rather than after-school care, adult education classes, local kids clubs...things that bring together communities and helps prevent further violence. Is it just me??

But who knows, maybe getting new tires for the batmobile is more important....

Kidding aside, I did really enjoy this story - definitely liked this one better than Wonder Woman.

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[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

UPDATE: $1.99 Kindle US 4/4/19

Yes!!! I loved it!



This is about Bruce who is about to turn 18. He's going to be rich. He has his team that are building things. He takes martial arts. He has Alfred. He has friends. And he's starting to have a purpose in life.

When Bruce helps out the police stopping one of the villains in the Nightwalkers gang, well he has to do community service for helping by crashing his car and what not. A simple thank you would suffice!

He ends up cleaning floors at Arkham Asylum. This is where he meets Madeline who is actually with the Nightwalkers prior to Bruce's fiasco. But things are not all they seen with Madeline. They have a sort of friendship.

"You have a heavy heart, for someone with everything."

Bruce could only look on. How did she know that? Had she heard it in his tone, his words? "What do you mean by that?" he asked her, but she was no longer paying attention to him. Her chest rose and fell evenly, as if she had decided to go to sleep.

Bruce is still trying to find out information about the Nightwalkers.

Gotham City--Blame the virus, not the fever. You are not under attack from the Nightwalkers. You are under attack from your own rich, and their corrupt system of blood money. Now they will bathe in blood. Do not try to stop us. Death to tyranny

I would actually like to see a second book but I don't think they are doing one.

Anyway, Happy Reading!

Mel ❤️

MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List

AMAZON: REVIEW

[Natalie Monroe · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Was he good? He had hurt those he loved before; he had disobeyed orders a hundred times over."

Me in response:



Batman, as we all know, is one of the most morally grey superheroes out there. Practically every incarnation of the Caped Crusader inevitably ends up knee-deep in a moral dilemma, struggling to define justice, wrestling with his inner demons, or likely all three at once. Gotham City doesn't have a prison; it has Arkham Asylum, representative of Batman's internal turmoil. Plus, he literally dresses in black and grey.

Then we have Nightwalker's Bruce Wayne, who's considerate and fair-minded and pure... and basically everything Batman isn't supposed to be. (#NotMyChristianGrey #NotMyBruceWayne)

The DC Icons series is intended to show readers what their favorite superheroes were like before they became full-time superheroes. Their teen years. Bruce may not have been as jaded at sixteen, but some brooding would be nice. A splash of the dark, hairline cracks in the psyche. Instead the Bruce here is a run-of-the-mill Hollywood lead who just wants to do the right thing and gets his flirt on with a mysterious gorgeous criminal, who's just vanilla enough to avoid disapproving tongue-tasks from the moms that drove their sons to the theater and decided to buy an extra ticket.

What I'm trying to say is—Nightwalker Bruce is boring. Bland. As interesting as a brick.



The entire narrative is akin to dragging a spoon across a bowl of porridge. Whenever I tried to focus and read instead of skim (which I confess to already doing very early on) I could feel my attention slipping away like grappling with a wet bar of soap.

Maybe it's me. All I know is I felt like I was reading a well-trodden story with little to distinguish it from the competition. Things happen, but nothing lands; there's no personal emotional impact.

Madeline, I have nothing to say about her. She's generic, a cut-along-the-lines doll.

Writing has the same issue as Wonder Woman: Warbringer. Descriptions are delivered as though lifted straight from a comic panel. I want to read a book, not a novelization of another medium.

If it were anyone except Marie Lu, I would've DNF-ed this book. But I persevered. My reward is the sour tang of disappointment and the bitter hope for something more.

[Khurram · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did like this story, I would have given it 3.5 stars but thought is deserved a round up. Though I cannot say if this was because of my bias of Batman being my one of favorite characters of all time. Though this is also the reason I would take off at least one star. As good as the story is this is Bruce Wayne's story, this is not quite an origin but a before he was Batman story.

One of the things that made Batman different from almost every other character is Superman take off his cape and put on the glasses and lives his life as Clark Kent, Spider-man hangs up the mask and faces his unsuccessful attempt to be Peter Parker (I am talking new Marvel Universe Parker here), but Batman is the true identity Bruce Wayne is a resource for him. It is sometimes said Bruce "died" the day his parents did and the creature of vengeance that is Batman took over and everything in his life since them about his mission to stop crime. On the other hand it has also been argued could Bruce Wayne do a better job then Batman, better funding/equipping the GCPD (Gothem City Police Depaetment), or the city in general to remove the root of the problem. This story seems to take the latter apporach, as Bruce has grown up (he is 18 at the start of the book), as a pretty much well adjusted young man. Haunted by the death of his parents but not driven/obsessed by it.

The parts of the book that were done very well is book showed Bruce's intelligence. He is not just some rich kid getting by on his parents money, going to the best schools because of his family name he is an intelligent young man (still a little naive) doing well at school and shouldering the responsibilities of his company, with good people to help him. He is not as well trained as a fighter, but he has great instincts when threatened he does not flinch away from danger but moves towards it. There some familiar characters and couple of new ones, but I was surprised how little Alfred was used in the book.

This is a good modernization of a story taking a different direction to the traditional Batman. It fits in perfectly in the modern world. If I am being honest I thing this story would have suited Terry McGinnis more then Bruce Wayne, especially with Technology making up for training (though as Bruce has gotten older he has had to put more tech in his suit to compensate). However it is a likable and a good story, but it needed Batman!!! I did find it funny in the acknowledgments page the author said part of the reason she wrote this is because she could say "I am Batman", but she does not write it in the book, actually Batman is not mentioned in the whole book apart from the title. This story is more White Knight then Dark Knight but good.

[High Lady of The Night Court · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Fear clears the mind. Panic clouds it."

This book is exactly what I expected from this series. I have previously expressed my displeasure with the execution of the last book in my review of Wonder Woman:Warbringer as the book felt dragged out and most of the plot happened at the end of the book, but this book was everything I hoped in terms of writing, plot, and characters.

Marie Lu strikes again with her amazing execution of a rather perfect retelling of Batman. I have been fascinated with Marie Lu’s writing ever since I read The Young Elites (and yes, I have yet to read the Legend trilogy) and the writing of this book had all the dark allure of Gotham with a rather charming version of 18 year old Bruce Wayne.

The gist of the book is that a criminal group called the Nightwalkers are killing the high class personalities of Gotham and stealing all the money to their name supposedly in order to give back to the poor and end tyranny. And of course Bruce Wayne is on the list. As the blurb says after an unfortunate run in with the police bruce has to do community service at the Arkham Asylum which hold all the worst criminals in Gotham. In Arkham, Bruce meets Madeline Wallace, who happens to be the most scarily beautiful girl with a penchant for slitting throats (also a part of the Nightwalkers).

The infatuation that we all know will ensue takes place and even that is written very well, without overtaking the plot or making the impossible possible in a cliche that would have bored us all to death. Madeline is a very mysterious person with all the charm in the world, but she refuses to speak a sentence without twisting to the stars and back and admits to not being trustworthy, confusing poor Bruce way more than he deserves. The chemistry between them is undeniable but it might just be a relationship that has no way of working out.

As expected from Marie Lu, the plot was written flawlessly. Every inch of every chapter had something to add the book and nothing was done without any reason. All the characters in the book added complexity to both Gotham city and to Bruce Wayne’s world.
We see Bruce deal with being stuck in the spotlight ever since he was a child and watching him cope with that reveals a different side of Batman that we never really got to see in the movies. We see him deal with having his every move tracked and judge by cameras and we also get to see it overwhelm him.

I loved revisiting Alfred in this retelling because, come on, what’s not to love about Alfred. We only see him a few times in the book but we do get to see him act as not only Bruce’s guardian but also one of Bruce’s friend’s guardian because his father is not a good man. We see him attend Bruce’s Graduation and it is adorable.

Alfred frowned at him. "Where do you inherit all this sarcasm from, Master Wayne?"
"I don't know." Bruce learned forward and hung an arm over the side of Alfred's seat. "Maybe it's from you."
"Me? Sarcastic?" Alfred sniffed, the barest hint of a smile appearing on his lips. "It's as if you think I'm British."
Despite the long day, Bruce couldn't help but grin at the retort."

I loved everything about it and promptly finished it in one sitting. I would recommend reading this even if you hated the last one as they are completely detached. I give this book 5 stars.

[Virginia Ronan ♥ Herondale ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

”Gotham City was broken in many ways, but it wasn’t beyond repair. He would find a way to fix it. It was the mantle he’d been handed.”

Let’s get it right out there before confusion even gets a chance to root. This was NOT the dark and revengeful Batman we’re used to from the comics and movie adaptions, but considering that he’s a teen in this book and still so very young I actually liked that particular approach.

I mean in “Batman: Nightwalker” Bruce Wayne just got a grip on his funds and is still a little innocent and naïve. He grew up with Alfred and Lucius at his side and he somehow managed to become the sweetheart of the press. Guess that’s what a lot of money, dead parents and good looks will do to you. They make for a good story and the fact that he interfered with the GC police while they hunted a criminal makes for an even better one. ;-P

”So many of his classmates had been afraid of the dark, as if it could hurt them. But Bruce knew the darkness hid him as well as it hid anything or anyone else. The darkness was an advantage.”

But this doesn’t necessarily mean that this book isn’t good. It is! In its own way. You won’t find a broody and angry Batman in here or an awful lot of action, what you will find is an idealistic teen that has a dream for his city and tries to do the right thing by playing it mostly nice. Bruce is aware of the crimes that are committed on Gotham’s streets, he knows that it gets worse and worse but he also realizes that there’s only so much money can do. If the system is already corrupt your money certainly won’t make a difference.

”Those eyes. They didn’t just appear dark – there was something more in those depths, something lurking and guarded, calculating. They were windows into an intelligent mind, and right now they were analyzing Bruce. He had the strange sensation that she was memorizing everything about him, that she could read his thoughts.”

AND even more importantly he discovers that “playing it nice” won’t do the trick as well. I mean even though assigning an 18 year old rich kid to Arkham Asylum was probably the most stupid thing Draccon could do, Bruce still accepts his penalty. Instead of teaching him a lesson this assignment only gets him closer to the root of the problem though. Bruce comes across Madeleine and the more he gets involved with her the more he becomes aware of how much the justice system in GC … well, sucks. *lol* He was punished for helping the police and whenever he tries to aid them through official ways they don’t listen and tell him not to meddle in their affairs. So naturally he reaches a point when he decides that it’s best to investigate on his own. ;-)

”So early this morning, Bruce, and so upset,” she said. “You’ve been thinking about me.”

Which leads us back to Madeleine! I loved their cat and mouse game! Their mind-games were very entertaining and yes, I admit it, I quite enjoyed how this young girl was messing with Bruce’s head! *lol* She managed to get under his skin and I suppose in some way Bruce achieved the same thing. Still, Madeleine definitely was a force to be reckoned with and even though our boy is very intelligent, he still couldn’t keep up with her cunning and manipulative nature. ;-P

”That was their first mistake, acting like the prey before they were even caught. But this was Bruce’s home – his parents’ home. They were on his turf now.
And on his turf, he was the predator.”

In short: Our morally grey hero has a lot to learn. Personally I thought that this was refreshing because the general impression you get when you read or watch the Batman comics or movies is that Bruce has always been embittered, broody, angry and some sort of elusive misanthrope or at least a solitary person. In this version he gets a chance to be a normal teen with friends and a loving guardian, which I found much more realistic than a kid that’s been angry at the world ever since his parents were murdered. Because let’s face it: Before Bruce Wayne became the adult Batman he was a scared kid that lost his parents way too early.

”You are a man now, albeit a young one who somehow manages to find trouble … but you’ll always be my ward, and I will always look out for you. Just as you’ll do for me.”

Conclusion:

I really wish there would have been more scenes with Alfred, but since this book was pretty short I suppose that this was okay. All told I really enjoyed this, not because of the action (we really don’t get a lot of it in here) but mostly because of the dark, insistent and gloomy atmosphere. If you like books that lean more towards clever mind-games instead of a lot of action I’m pretty sure you’ll enjoy this one as well! ;-)

___________________________________

You don’t know me if you don’t know that Batman is one of my fave superheroes ever!
Well, next to Spiderman and Iron Man, of course! I love those two! *lol*

So after reading “Wonder Woman” about a month ago I was lucky enough to get a copy of “Batman” into my greedy hands as well! (Thank you universe and library! ;-P)

The fact that this seems to be pretty dark and was written by Marie Lu only makes it even more appealing! Let’s see if this can live up to my rather high expectations! XD
(If it’s creepy it might even count as a good Halloween read! *lol*)

[♛ may · Rating 4 out of 5]

growing up with older brothers means:
1. always having someone to drive you around
2. being perpetually obsessed with superheros (mainly batman) until like the age of 14

I think I was a batman stan from the very beginning (superman is so boring and predictable, fite me on this
(ง •̀_•́)ง) so I was SUPER excited and also terrified to read this book. Thank goodness marie lu is a queen and loves to slay my existence


- This book was a precursor to bruce wayne’s life //before// he took on the alias of batman
- AND I LOVED IT
- I really enjoyed the insight it gives us into his life and honestly I felt so much more connected to him as a character for it.
- THOSE LITTLE DETAILS OF ISH WE KNOW FROM THE MOVIES THAT GET INCORPORATED YESSSSSSSS
- The characters were fantastic, they were dark and gritty and sometimes they acted like spoiled brats but I’ve adopted them all already, too late
- I think bc it’s such a well known brand there doesn’t need much building on the world or characters but marie lu didn’t cut corners here, I feel like she really gave each part their due time and paced it really well
- I think I even like this better than leigh’s wonder woman (which was soooo long and slightly boring until the end)
- The writing is gripping and action packed. There was even a scene that gave me honest to goodness chills. THAT’S how invested I was in the book
- I listened to the audiobook and even that was fantastic, the narrators were gREAT
- ALFRED BEING DAD GOALS ON EVERYONE I LOVE HIM SO MUCH
- I’M EVEN ATTACHED TO LUCIUS WHY AM I LIKE THIS
- My only complaint will come from the ending
- It threw me off for //spoilery// reasons and I felt like it could have been done SO MUCH BETTER but the fact that madeline lived?? I felt like that served no purpose bc it would have been a devastating ending if she died like we all thought. Her living just takes away from the intensity of it
- Anywho
- I liked a book!! Yay me!

“You have a heavy heart, for someone with everything.”

4.5 stars!!

[Chelsea Humphrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

But looking out, all he saw was an ocean of light, the shimmering heart of Gotham City spread out before him. He didn't know everything his future held for him, not yet, but he knew that whatever it was, it would remain here.

It looked like a place worth protecting.

It looked like home.

It's rare that I start reviewing with a quote pulled directly from the last page of a book, but in this case I found it appropriate for multiple reasons. First, this book is nothing new; we all know the basics of the Batman saga, and for those like me who are limited to just the simplest of details, you will find this book more enjoyable than those fully educated in the comic series. Second, because we are mostly told in the jacket cover what's going to happen in this book, I'm not spoiling anything. We all know who Bruce Wayne grows up to be and so it's all hunky dory and fine.

Maybe it was a case of perfect timing, but I had an absolute blast reading this novel! I picked this up right in the middle of moving house, as I knew I needed something to keep me entertained but that would expect little to no engagement from myself in the process. This. Was. Perfect. I didn't have to work at solving a mystery; I was able to just mosey on along with Bruce Wayne via Marie Lu's imagination. I'm a sucker for delving into characterization from multiple author's viewpoints which may be why this appealed to me. It's almost a comparison of "What did she think vs this previous author? What did they pick up that others may have missed?" While I can't say anything completely unheard of was brought to the table, it was that aspect of crawling inside the author's imagination that really did it for me, and I also didn't see a particular twist coming which was an added bonus.

Two kinds of people come out of personal tragedy... You're the kind that comes out brighter.

If you're looking for a fun, quick read meant for pure entertainment, definitely pick this one up. I think those readers who, like myself, enjoy dabbling in comic series and superhero fiction as a side hobby will really enjoy Batman: Nightwalker. I love that Random House has brought our favorite superheroes to the forefront of mainstream reading and tailored them towards a younger crowd. Rotating these retellings with current, in demand authors is a fantastic idea and I'm truly looking forward to the rest of the standalone series.

*Thanks Random House Kids for sending me my copy.

[Mizuki · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rating: 1-angry-this-is-not-my-Batman-star. The existence of this book is quite an insult to Batman and this book reads like it was written by some third-ranked comic-script-writer who doesn't know enough of a thing about Batman and what he stands for.

I have a feeling that if Bruce Wayne's parents were killed by a young pretty girl, this version of Bruce would have forgiven her too.

How insulting.



I just won't forgive Marie Lu or whoever else is responsible for reducing Bruce Wayne into a hapless young man who thinks with his dick instead of his brain (I know he is only 18 years old in this story, but it is still unforgivable), and the whole mother fucking nonsense about people doing community service in the fucking Arkham Asylum.



Plus, if the whole Bruce/Madeleine thingy is supposed to be a nod to Silence Of the Lambs then double shame on you, Marie Lu.



Honestly, if you wanted some decent Batman's origin story, try Frank Miller's Batman: Year One. It's for your own good.

edited@08/05/2019: Guess what........I've been soaking myself in Batman online fanfics for months and I swear to the BatGod that I'd read plenty of better written, closer-to-canon-fanfics with better-constructed characters, better-plotted romances and much deeper understanding to the characters' mentalities than this... and those good fanfic writers have never charged me anything for their good works.

edited@08/11/2018: *angry rant* ONLY STUPID PEOPLE WOULD BELIEVE BRUCE WAYNE BEING SENTENCED TO DO COMMUNITY SERVICE IN *ARKHAM ASYLUM* IS A REALISTIC, BELIEVABLE IDEA! THAT'S JUST STUPID, STUPID!



Plus it turns out the girl didn't kill those people it is her evil older brother who did these? How convenient!

Pre-review:
Sorry about this, Marie Lu. But I just don't believe you can outdo and outshine Frank Miller, Jeph Loeb, Grant Morrison, Alan Moore, etc.

Plus, the mother freaking Arkham Asylum is an asylum for the criminally insane, not somewhere for a young rich deviant to do mother freaking community service in. Please don't insult the readers.

People doing community service in the goddamn Arkham Asylum? Does it even make sense? For me, a reader who began her serious Bat-reading with Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth , it feels like a mother freaking slap in the face.

Can we have some good-old 'grim and gritty' B-man instead of a YA one?



And here is some more good-old Batman/Black Canry's down and dirty...'action' scene: https://moviepilot.com/posts/2552441

PS: Frank Miller's All-Star Batman & Robin, the Boy Wonder series is just so full of 'Goddamn Batman' and funny meme-worthy panels! LOL

PSS: I can't spam this 'I'm the Goddamn Batman' joke enough: http://jsos.deviantart.com/art/I-am-t...



PSSS: Sorry to be harsh, but i'd just heard rumors about an upcoming Nightwing book, so...would someone please keep Nightwing and his nice butt away from this Marie Lu person?

PSSSS: a review by fellow comic fan Chad: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was gifted to me by my amazing, talented, and beautiful friend, Imogen, who I'm forever thankful for!

Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo ★★★

“I can’t think of a story where the billionaire and the murderer end up happily ever after.”

I am not the biggest superhero fan, but I will admit I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for Batman. And you all? I honestly loved this. Also, I’ve never read anything by Marie Lu before (I know, I can’t believe it either, honestly) but now I plan on devouring everything, because I completely connected with this writing style and I never wanted to put this book down.

This is a new take on Bruce Wayne’s origin story of becoming the one and only Batman. Bruce and his friends are finishing up their senior year in high school, he is still heavily impacted by the loss of his parents at such a young age, but he is trying to live a life they would be proud of. That all changes on his eighteenth birthday when he ends up in trouble with the law after trying to help them catch one of the elusive Nightwalkers who have started to plague the streets of Gotham City.

And his punishment requires him to do community service in none other than Arkham Asylum. And there he meets a girl that is his age, that is being held with the most dangerous villains that have been captured. Madeleine Wallace is harboring many of her own secrets from her own past and refuses to talk to any of the officers or investigators. That is, until she meets Bruce Wayne and they both realize that they may have a lot in common, even though they handled their situations very differently.

“You have a heavy heart, for someone with everything.”

You all, I was losing my damn mind over this romance. This is a relatively short book, and a standalone, yet I was literally hooked from the chemistry between Bruce and Madeleine. I was so in love with the romance in this book. Like, I need more. Please!

And Madeleine beautifully makes Bruce check his privilege. From being white, healthy, well-educated, and immensely rich, she lets him know that others don’t have that luxury or the free-passes he has received his entire life. This book also talks about how prisons are honestly an industry in the United States. As horrible as that sounds, that’s a reality. And it’s a chain that is never ending, and honestly just another name for slavery. And privately-owned companies are profiting. This book also touches on the shitty healthcare we have in the United States and how much privilege comes with even getting decent treatment. Bless Marie Lu for somehow weaving this all into a damn action-packed, YA, Batman origin story. Seriously.

“If you weren’t so rich and white and famous? Would you be the same person you are today? Or would you see justice differently? Do you think we all walk through the world with the same privileges as you?”

One of my other favorite parts of this book were all the cameos! Alfred, Harvey, Lucius, and more I'm sure! Especially Harvey Dent, like what a perfect and important way his character was depicted in this rendition. And it just warmed my heart each time these characters were in a scene. And I think in general the tone of this book is perfect. Like, Marie Lu seriously made everything feel so “authentic” and I constantly felt like I was truly teleported to Gotham City.

Okay, so, why four stars and not five after I fangirled so hard? Honestly, it’s because the basic premise is just too unbelievable for me. Like, this book has so much good, and I truly loved this origin story more than words. But, like, there is no way that an eighteen-year-old, especially a rich, white, boy, would be sentenced to do community service in a place like Arkham Asylum! Like, I can’t. But if you ignore that, this is honestly a five star read for me.

Overall, this book was one of the most fun reads I’ve had in 2018, and I’m so happy I picked it up before Catwoman: Soulstealer, that comes out next month! Seriously, friends, don’t sleep on this. Also, Marie Lu not only solidified that Batman is seriously one of the best superheroes out there, she has made a new fan for life.

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Trigger and content warnings for a lot of blood depictions, loss of parents, suicide, talk of parental abuse, talk of alcoholism, violence in general and murder.

Buddy read with Alexis at The Sloth Reader! ❤

[Ben Alderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to start by saying that Batman is my LEAST favorite superhero.
BUT... Marie Lu has made him a new favorite for me.
I loved this story so much. The writing was clear, well paced and the dialogue fantastic. I flew through this book, dying to know the twists and turns. I adore this world, It really paints Gotham in that cloudly, dark mood that we all know. Marie Lu really knows how to weave a story and make it her own.
I cried... laughed and also screamed in horror at some parts. I loved loved loved it.

[Grace (kanej & evajacks' version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly didn't expect to like this that much- I mean, I don't particularly like Batman (no offense) and I'm also not a Marie Lu superfan like some others out there. But OH MY GOSH!! How was this actually so good??!! It was such a fun, enjoyable read and I liked it so much more than I thought I would! 😁🙌

“You have a heavy heart, for someone with everything.”

This story is about Bruce Wayne, who later turns into the legendary Batman- except this book isn't about his adventures as Batman, it's about what happens beforehand and possibly something that leads him to becoming a superhero. Anyway, the story opens with Gotham City, Bruce's home, being plagued by a series of attacks by a mysterious group called the Nightwalkers. Madeleine Wallace, a deadly killer and part of the Nightwalkers, is currently being held in Arkham Asylum and may be Bruce's only chance to save the city. But can she be trusted and what are the Nightwalkers' true intentions?

Starting with the characters. I'm actually really glad Marie Lu didn't go down the route of just making this Bruce's adventures as Batman, as that would've seemed veryyy unoriginal. Instead, it was an incredibly fresh spin on Batman and portrayed Bruce as just a normal, albeit gifted, teen. Bruce as a character was very well-developed and really easy to root for throughout the book. I really liked him 😁👍

However, even though Bruce is a good character, he doesn't hold a candle to Madeleine Wallace. Madeleine was such an intriguing character and SO well-developed. I loved learning more about her as the story progressed and the tiny snippets of her past displayed throughout were so interesting. You could also never tell where her true intentions lay or if she was lying or not, which definitely made the book more compelling. I honestly wish we could've gotten her perspective as well as Bruce's. This would technically spoil some of her secrets, I guess, but I still would've loved being inside her head.

Moving onto the writing. I really enjoyed Marie Lu's writing in this and I think this book showcased her ability to write an entertaining and enjoyable story. It was very smooth and easy to read and made the story fly past. After enjoying both this and the Warcross duology, I'm really interested in picking up some of her other works in the future 🙌

The plot was also really good. It was very fast-paced and there was lots of action and surprising twists that meant I was never bored. I must admit that the start was a little slow, but it soon picked up and it got REALLY interesting at the end. But, seriously, all the twists in the climax-- 🤯🤯 I saw NONE of them coming!! Like, Marie Lu TOTALLY fooled me!!
I also like how the book is very short, as this made it easier to read. Some readers may be bothered that it is SO short (it's only about 250 pages), but I think this worked really well for the story.

Overall, this was a really fun read! It was quick, easy and entertaining and a great addition to the DC Icons series. I would definitely recommend this series if you are looking for a fresh and entertaining spin on iconic superheroes 😃 Really enjoyed this!

~ 4 stars


DC ICONS SERIES:

- Catwoman: Soulstealer- 4 ☆
- Wonder Woman: Warbringer- 3.5 ☆

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This was actually SUCH a fun read! Marie Lu definitely didn't disappoint 😌😌🎊🎊 RTC!

[Jessi ❤️ H. Vojsk [if villain, why hot?]]

Killing this buddy read with the lovely Lily 💕

[emi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everytime I finish a book, I just wanna announce to all of Goodreads THAT I'M BACK BITCHES

But obviously that's a lie. I just have to admit to myself that I am not back yet, as much as I want to be. I still have two seasons left of Keeping of With The Kardashians to binge watch before I return to reading full time.

But anyways, I finished a book! And I have some feelings about it. I will definitely be writing a review in between Kardashian episodes, so keep am eye out for that.

Prereview:
This cover



This might just be my favorite cover of all time? I'm obssessed.

I am so here for all these superhero novels.

A little mad that I have to move it from my 2017 releases shelf to my 2018 but I think I can get over it

[Deborah Obida · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buddy read with Taylor, my Feb tbr twin.

Just another average read, its way too predictable and it being a retelling didn't really help much, we already know that Batman will save the day, a little more suspense would have been better.

The world building is great, Marie Lu did an amazing job depicting Gotham city, I've read the comic, watched animations and movies about Batman and I have to admit she left nothing out, everything fits.

The writing is okay, a major fast read and very comprehensible, the book is written in third person POV of Bruce Wayne.

The characters in this book are bland and one dimensional, I get that this is teenage Bruce but I expected more from him, even the Alfred was not well portrayed, he was way too bland. Only Madeline was a bit fun but her predicability ruined that.

The plot was a major disappointment, I expected more from the book, like its Batman. It had so much potential but the story went off the rails. What ruined it is that the author pulled the same stunt she did in Warcross, by mentioning the villian and someone else in passing, with that it wasn't hard to figure out who is behind the Nightwalkers murders.

[Wren (fablesandwren) · Rating 2 out of 5]

As I previously said, I'm not that big of a DC fan. I am a Marvel Girl 100% through and through. In fact, until I started reading Wonder Woman Comics and watching the movie that came out on repeat (hello, women power), I kind of could care less about DC? I mean, I like Arrow and the Flash and Legends of Tomorrow is okay I guess, but none of them were as spectacular as any of the comics, shows and movies that I watched with Marvel. Wolverine, Loki, Captain America, Ms. Marvel, Kitty... well, you get the picture. I feel Marvel has a stronger character-driven company.

BUT Bardugo, Maas and Lu were writing DC Icons, so how could I not read this series? And de la Pena, but I have never read anything by him.

On top of my lack of love for DC, I feel like Batman is overrated. I know I know, most people are obsessed with him because he is an orphan and he is such a good guy and he has cool gadgets and he is super rich and chill and has a cave and talks in that raspy voice and stuff; but I guess, to me and strictly my opinion, I feel like he is some rich dude who got really bored with his heritage and decided to be a vigilante without "the call" to be one. I don't know; I respect everyone's opinions on him and I don't hate him, but he isn't close to my favorite either.

So why did I say all of that? I felt it was important for you to see where my mind is when I was reading this book.

To me, this book was very underwhelming and with that eye-roll worthy of an ending, I couldn't bring myself to rate it any higher than a 03 star. Don't get me wrong, it was an enjoyable read and I do actually own the book willingly, but I do not find myself actually picking it up and reading it again.

"I can't think of a story where the billionaire and the murderer end up happily ever after."

So there is a group of vigilantes that are pulling a Robin Hood and trying to take all the money from the rich to provide for the poor. They catch one of the members of the Night Walkers (hey look the title), and she ends up in Arkham. Madeleine (that's the "she" from the Night Walkers... keep up) won't talk to anyone but the boy who is there because he got in the middle of a cop investigation... oh that's Bruce, btw. Bruce is low-key trying to stop the Nightwalkers under the law's noses, while also finding Madeleine very... interesting.

Things I really liked about this book is the premise (superheroes are amazing), the technology (hello cool gadgets), the murder mystery (I have a thing for murder mysteries), and the name drops (Alfred is the main reason to read this book). Things I didn't really like about this book the lack of character development (characters were kind of flat), the predictability (that ending, the romance (I cannot), the thrown in characters (his two best friends can't even be called supporting roles), and the unrealisticness of it all (Bruce would never be put in this kind of situation). Also, I thought Batman was supposed to be dark? Isn't he also called The Dark Knight? This felt very middle-ground to me and I was expecting it to be a little darker.

Now Bruce himself, he had some interesting things about him. He seemed drawn to the people who have a little darkness in them, which is completely expected with Batman.

Moral of the story, if you are a big batman fan you will probably enjoy this more. Personally, I'm only here for Wonder Woman and Catwoman. I literally can't wait for Catwoman. But Batman,

"He didn't know everything his future held for him, not yet, but he knew that whatever it was, it would remain here.
It looked like a place worth protecting.
It looked like home."

I still have some hope for you and me.

About what I expected. RTC.

- - -

I’m not a huge Batman Fan BUTTTT I’m a sucker for origins and super heroes in general, and I loved Wonder Woman and I love this author so... HERE WE GOoOoOoOoOo!

- - -

THAT COVER THO

[the burning dreamer.]

I'm sorry Marie, but expectations will be going waaay beyond the roof for this one particularly coz Batman is luv, Batman is lyf.

[Kai Spellmeier]

"I can't think of a story where the billionaire and the murderer end up happily ever after."

This was decent. Kind of exactly what I expected. Gotham City, Arkham Asylum, Tall Handsome Dude With Nice Jawline And Unbearable Need To Save Everybody.
This is already my second Marie Lu novel this year - I read Prodigy earlier this month - and probably not my last either.

I have a confession to make: until last year's releases of Wonder Woman and the Black Panther trailer I had no interested whatsoever in this Marvel/DC-related franchise. I don't care for Superman. I really don't care for Iron man. And I also don't care if I get Marvel and DC heroes mixed up. They're all the same to me.
My problem with all of this? I mean, how often can the world end just to be saved by some dude in a special suit? The clichés that make up a Superman movie are uncountable.

BUT then we have Wonder Woman, who rules. We have Leigh Bardugo who also rules and who wrote a novel about Wonder Woman. So I thought, why not give Batman another chance?

To be honest, this book didn't surpise me much. The main character was a pretty normal, hot but not very interesting dude. At least the characters around him made up for him. Alfred is classy as always, Draccon was perfect, Dianne was amazing and even though Madeline was also a bit of a cliché, she was nevertheless intriguing.
Apart from that, the story was quite predictable. Guy falls for mysterious and dangerous girl. Girl toys with him but also likes him back. Guy must save people from getting killed. Lips touch. The end. This isn't even actual spoiler material.

Still, it was a fast-paced and entertaining read. I already bought a copy of Wonder Woman and I really can't wait to read about another DC Icon.

Huge thanks to Penguin Random House International for kindly providing this book in return for an honest review.

Find more of my books on Instagram

[Irena BookDustMagic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like most of my generation, I grew up with Batman movies and cartoons. I loved watching them even when I was too little to understand them, and his partner Robin was my first love.

I always knew Bruce Wayne had a great tragedy in his life, saw his parents murder when he was a child, but I have to admit, never in my life have I wondered how he was like when he wasa teenager.
Thanks to Marie Lu, I got a glimpse of his adolescent life.

Now I know he was smart, well educated, builted his first laptop and had an interesting group of friends. He was also brave and always fought for justice (who’d say, right?).

Batman Nightwalker was a perfect entertaiment. I read my copy during Christmas and it was the last book I read in 2017. I am so happy to say I finished a year with a great book in my hands.

I liked almost everything about it. I had fun reading scenes with Bruce and his friends, I enjoyed exploring Gotham city, but most of all, I liked scenes with a mysterious girl, Madaleine Wallace, who was our main villain.

I have to say that Madaleine was one of the best villains I came across lately (read “for the longest time”), and that includes not only books, but movies and tv shows too.

I was satisfied with the whole story, including the very end of the book too, even though I guessed one part of the book, the one that should have been a shocking moment (at least I think so).

Overall, I had a blast reading Batman Nightwalker, and a big reason for that is Marie Lu’s compelling writing.

I would recommend this book to everyone who likes superhero stories and to all Batman fans.

Read this and more reviews on my blog https://bookdustmagic.com

[Hamad · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 2.25/2.5 stars

"People get bored with your grief. They want something new to talk about. So you stop bringing it up, because you don't want to bore anyone"

I can't say that I am satisfied nor that I am disappointed, I went into this not knowing what to expect except that it is a Batman story, and as mentioned before I am not a huge fan, I used to watch the cartoon show back in the days and always liked Alfred more than Batman...
This only approved my love for Alfred and I dedicate this review for him!



And if you know me well, you would know that I previously read all of Marie's works (All 9 books including this one) and they got pretty much high ratings from me. So where did things go wrong?

I went into this thinking that Batman is an already established hero and he will be fighting some villains in this book, then I realized that this is actually supposed to be the story of his origin! Unfortunately enough the book actually ended with the word "Batman" mentioned zero times!

So this could have been a story of any rich man with a sense of justice and some martial arts, nothing too special... what I am saying here is that Lu did not use the full potential of the Batman character.

The writing style was good as usual, the characters were kind of fleshed out properly, the usual Marie Lu style in short! But another problem I faced here was the story-line and the twists; a few chapters into the story and I guessed everything and how will it proceed (I am not exaggerating here, I got all the twists right and had the courage to add one more twist that Marie didn't.. lol)

So in short: this was a typical Marie Lu book that could have been better were it not about Batman as the potential of the story was lost, if you have some free time, it would not hurt to read this as it was actually a pretty fast read...

[lucie · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Two kinds of people come out of personal tragedy... You're the kind that comes out brighter.”

More like 2.5 stars

Who'd say a story about Bruce Wayne/Batman could be so boring..
I loved Wonder Woman: Warbringer and I had really high hopes for this book then because.. duh.. BATMAN.

This story is about pre-Batman Bruce Wayne. The plot felt highly unrealistic and was predictable af. Because Bruce Wayne gets community service in Arkham Asylum. You see my problem here? He's a kid who does community service in the most dangerous place in the whole Gotham.

Okaaaaaay.

And then he meets a girl of his age locked there, who refuses to talk to anyone but Bruce.
And she's pretty.
And even if he's told that she's a manipulative bitch, do you think he stops talking to her? Or at least doesn't trust everything she says?



No.

So.. this book was less than an average. Flat and definitely not as action packed as I thought a story about Batman will be.

***

My Batman-bedsheets, -pyjamas, -socks, -mug and cape are ready!

[Chad · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'll just start with this story has nothing to do with Batman. This is a YA Romance novel with an action sequence thrown in at the end. Bruce Wayne is still in it and his parents were murdered as a child. Alfred is barely in here as his guardian. Those are pretty much where the similarities end.

Bruce Wayne has just come into his trust fund as he turns 18. He's constantly hounded by paparazzi. One night he decides to chase down a criminal in a souped up car that the cops can't catch causing the criminal to crash. Bruce gets in almost as much trouble as the crook and is sentenced to probation as a janitor at Arkham Asylum. Yeah, there's no way that would happen. There he meets a recently captured assassin and begins a Silence of the Lambs type relationship with her with some young love thrown in. Why, she's in an insane asylum instead of prison, who knows? That's the majority of the story until the big finale.

Bruce's friends and family are just there to be captured to force Bruce's involvement. They are otherwise shallow uninteresting characters. Missing is Bruce's drive to become Batman. Here he has the skills of someone training for MMA and just muddles through everything. He has no detective skills or even any smarts. He's constantly being played and led around like a love sick puppy. He's not even inspired at the end of the book to go become Batman. He's just going to college. I understand that this is a YA novel and a new origin, but this just takes the essence of Batman and tosses it out the window.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

If this wasn't a Batman book, it was okay. But being that it was I was a little disappointed in it especially since Marie Lu is the author.

[Brooke — brooklynnnnereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading and loving "Wonder Woman: Warbringer" (the first in this DC Icons series), I didn't know what to expect with this one. I loved the first book in this series and part of me wondered if this novel would be able to live up to that experience. Also, Batman is my favourite 'superhero' (is he a superhero though?) so I was apprehensive and worried that I would have unrealistic expectations or be critical of this story. Luckily enough, all of those worries were for naught! I enjoyed this novel equally as much as I enjoyed Wonder Woman and it was all that I could hope for in a story about Batman.

This was a perfectly action packed, gripping, and heart wrenching read that is a wonderful representation for this classic hero. In all honesty, I am not a Batman 'purist' that knows the history of him intensely and exclusively through the original comics. My knowledge of Batman is what I have seen throughout all of the movies I watched while growing up. Due to that lack of knowledge when it comes to the original comics, I can't say if this novel meshes well with those comics. However, I CAN say that this was such an original story that had me racing through the pages. I loved it! It was a wonderfully written novel and it evoked all of the emotions, seriously, all of them. This was a one day read and I had an incredibly hard time putting it down! Even now, I'm happy (questionable word choice?) with the ending but I'm left wanting more. More of Batman's story and more of the DC Icon novels as a whole.

I'm incredibly impressed with this story as well as how they have executed this creation from the DC Icons in general. I have anticipated each of these releases and can now fully say that I'm extremely excited to read "Catwoman" as these two predecessors have blown away all of my highest expectations. Also, let it be known that I would also be behind novelizations of Marvel characters as well because this DC series has truly been a success.

***Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for sending me a physical copy in exchange for an honest review***

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Batman: Nightwalker was a good book and I definitely enjoyed it, but it just couldn't keep up with Leigh Bardugo's Wonder Woman. What I loved the most about the first book in this series was how unique the story was and how Bardugo had just managed to glue me to my book because it was so grippig. I'd expected the same from this novel but instead many parts of the book were rather slow and nothing really surprised me at all.

But don't get me wrong, I still liked the book even though it couldn't keep up with the first one. I especially loved Marie Lu's writing style. This book was so well written and I definitely have to read some of her other books now!

So all in all, I think this book is pretty much what I'd give someone if they wanted to know what a 3-star book has to be like for me.

[Katie.dorny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Batman is supposed to be a morally ambiguous superhero - not some prissy 18 year old.

And did we have to have a fucking forced relationship here for no reason and it didn’t add to the bloody plot!?!

Bruce Wayne is about to turn 18, but then he gets probation at Arkham Asylum for doing, but also not doing the right thing. Go figure.

The other 2/3 of the book rescued this from being a 2 star read. The story just felt bland when it was discussing anything but the case and his conversations with Madeline. All of that intrigued me.
Woefully lamenting being a billionaire and college life did not rescue him as a character for me. Nor did it add anything to the story except make him normal because we had to be reminded every chapter he was a normal but genius and rich boy BUT a self aware normal boy. I was over it.

I think this will be my first and last book by Marie Lu.

[l. · Rating 3 out of 5]

“You have a heavy heart, for someone with everything.”

✨ buddy read (cont.) with this girl 💕

[Isa Cantos (Crónicas de una Merodeadora) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The world would always have the liars and traitors and thieves, but there were still those who were good at heart”.

Me estoy volviendo muy fan de esta serie de libros. Leigh Bardugo dejó mis expectativas altísimas con Wonder Woman: Warbringer y tenía un poco de miedo porque, en primer lugar, no soy la más fan de Batman y, en segundo, nunca había leído a Marie Lu. ¡Y debo decir que el libro me gustó muchísimo!

La historia empieza con Bruce Wayne a punto de cumplir 18 años, heredar toda la fortuna de sus padres y tener que asumir toda la responsabilidad de la compañía de su familia. Ah, y, como cosa rara, también empieza con él metiéndose un poco en problemas. Bruce siempre ha tenido un sentido de la justicia tremendo y le encanta estar conectado a los radios de la policía de Gotham City... y en una de esas ocasiones escucha algo y decide intentar detener al criminal, pero las cosas no acaban como lo planea: estrella su carro y, como castigo, lo obligan a cumplir servicio comunitario en el Arkham Asylum. Cuando Bruce piensa que sus días de verano serán solo limpiar los baños, conoce a una de las internas de Arkham: Madeleine, una chica que está allí por tener lazos con los Nightwalkers, los criminales más buscados de toda la ciudad. Muy pronto, Bruce empezará a tejer una relación tremendamente peligrosa y fuera de lo común con Madeleine... y la policía intentará usarlo, pues Bruce es la única persona a la que Madeleine le ha hablado desde que entró en Arkham Asylum.

Y así es como surge una historia llena de crímenes, de personas perdiendo todo su dinero, de ataques cibernéticos de los Nightwalkers, de traiciones, de advertencias veladas y, sobre todo, de una relación tan confusa como peligrosa entre Bruce y Madeleine.

Creo que Marie Lu creó un libro que, en mi opinión, es perfecto para las personas que no hemos leído los ochocientos millones de cómics que hay sobre Batman, que no hemos visto las películas y que no somos fans acérrimos de este superhéroe del universo DC, pero que aún así tenemos medianamente claros los conceptos básicos y podemos reconocer los guiños. Me refiero a que sabemos que los padres de Bruce murieron, que heredó una compañía multimillonaria, que no tiene ningún poder sobrehumano, que invierte su dinero en tecnología, que combate el mal, tiene archienemigos y su leal compañero es Alfred. Creo que sabiendo esas cosas básicas el Batman: Nightwalker se disfruta un montón. Ahora, y esta es una teoría, creo que las personas que sean ultra fans de Batman y conozcan absolutamente todos sus arcos se van a aburrir un poco con esta historia, pues precisamente hay muchos puntos de eco y repeticiones para que los "no iniciados" se enganchen al libro y al personaje.

Dejando eso de lado, adoré la personalidad de Bruce. De hecho, Bruce aún no es Batman. Es un adolescente que está procesando todo el peso que le está cayendo sobre sus hombros, está intentando lidiar con una red criminal que está apuntando a los hombres más ricos de la ciudad y, encima, se está enamorando de una persona que bien podría ser la mente maestra detrás de todo lo que está sucediendo en Gotham City. Me gustó muchísimo cómo Marie Lu nos mostró a un Bruce Wayne decidido a hacer el bien, pero aún inseguro de sí mismo, sus capacidades y su posición en el mundo. Batman: Nightwalker es un libro con un viaje iniciático, es esa historia que nos muestra el origen de un héroe, que no siempre es brillante, sino turbulento, con dudas y con más traiciones de las que querrías tener en tu vida.

Quizá mi elemento favorito del libro fue, precisamente, Madeleine. Esa chica misteriosa, tremendamente inteligente y que, con un par de frases y miradas, hace que el mundo de Bruce Wayne se ponga de cabeza. Y es que no solo la amé por la tensión románticamente peligrosa que creaba, sino por lo hábil que es. Madeleine es ese tipo de personajes que no sabes muy bien si son villanos, si merecen una redención o si sencillamente están ahí para confundirte y dejarte en una zona gris de la que no sabes muy bien cómo salir. Es fantástica. Y, por supuesto, amé muchísimo que los sentimientos que tenía por Bruce también la cogieron un poco por sorpresa. Para una chica que lo calcula absolutamente todo, el sentir algo por quien debería ser su enemigo es tremendo.

Así que si quieren un libro rápido de leer, con muchísima acción, juegos mentales, personajes moralmente ambiguos y un final explosivo, les recomiendo Batman: Nightwalker.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy to participate in a blog tour.

Thanks to JM @ Book Freak Revelations and the wonderful Penguin Random House, I was able to read Batman: Nightwalker months before its release date! Just like Wonder Woman: Warbringer, Batman: Nightwalker is an alternate origin story of Bruce Wayne and we read about his life as he comes of age, inherits billions and WayneTech, and fall in love with someone who may only be using him.

Marie Lu is a masterful writer especially when it comes to urban fantasy. With similar dark themes as her Legend series, I was not surprised at how sublime the world building was for Batman: Nightwalker.

With this, I am going to explain why I only gave it 4 out of 5 stars, with a mix of personal biases and objective critique.

Personal biases

I am not a fan of urban fantasy. I tend to prefer high fantasy that’s away from an urban setting because urban fantasies are typically dark–the kind of dark that I do not like.
I am not a fan of Batman. I never bothered to watch any of the movies (don’t hate me!) I grew up as a Marvel fan.
However, this book did surprise me along with Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo so I’m liking how these novels are changing the way I see DC.
I loved the Filipino representation in this book. I was borderline squealing when I learned that Dianne–one of Bruce’s best friends–is Filipino!

Objective critique

The overusing of words. Maaaan, the word “illuminate/d” is overused in all kinds of literature, and I’m disappointed to see that Marie Lu is a victim of this. She used the word “illuminate/d” more times than I can count in this book to the point that I got annoyed whenever it was mentioned and slightly negatively affected my reading experience.
The novel is only 250 pages. I don’t know whether to see this as a good or bad thing. On the one hand, it’s amazing how Marie Lu was able to create an intricate story with only 250 pages and knew that it was sufficient. On the other hand, it almost feels like the story of Bruce Wayne felt unimportant because normally, novels would be within the 350-500 page range. Again, maybe I’m overthinking it, this is just an observation.
This book is perfect especially to those who love stories that feature asylums, as most of the story revolves around Bruce’s interaction with one of its inmates.

Overall, I was satisfied with my reading experience of Batman: Nightwalker and am super excited for the upcoming books in this series. Once again, I’d like to thank JM and Penguin Random House for choosing me as a part of this blog tour. I hope to participate in many more!

Review originally posted on https://bookallure.com/2018/01/03/nig...