Jeff

I was provided an advanced readers copy from Goodreads for an honest review

While I enjoy Hopkins writing style, this books wasn't as good for me as some of her others. I didn't care for the character of Ariel. I just found her annoying and unlikable. I was more excited to read Maya's parts and I definitely got more invested during her parts of the book. I just didn't get get as emotionally involved in this story as I have some of her other works.

Weird, but good enough to finish.

The book is very basic, but did have value in reading. I was put off by the gender biased way the author used he/him as the gaslighter and she/her as the gaslightee.

While I found this novel to be a page turner and an escapist romp, I felt the author went over the top on plot devices and tropes to fill several books. The scene changes were abrupt, almost like watching a movie. Perhaps this is the best description of the book I can give... a movie script written as a novelization.

I received this copy from First Reads and DC Comics for an honest review.

This graphic novel reprints The Death of the Family storyline featured in Nightwing #13-18, Batman #17 and a Nightwing story first printed in Young Romance #1.

The story follows Dick Grayson, the first Robin now Nightwing, through the events of the Joker's reappearance in Gotham. The Joker is capturing the Bat Family and is now after Nightwing. I found the story smart and fast paced. The artists that contributed to this volume know how to tell a story with minimal text and gives the visuals of the Joker just the right “creep” factor.

The climax to the story reprinted from Batman #17 had me on the edge of my seat and wondering to myself if the Joker really did what it looks like he did. Add a very good Batman/Joker confrontation that only these two characters could have makes for an excellent tale.

There are also two aftermath stories that were a nice touch and really makes me want to read the other Death of the Family volumes.

The only downside to this volume is the story reprinted from Young Romance #1. It has nothing to do with the main story and seems to be a “filler” story for page count. Don't get me wrong, it was a nice story, but for me, detracted from the rest of the book.