Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu is a book that I had very high hopes for, since I enjoy Batman’s story and Marie Lu is one of my all-time favourite authors, and I can definitely say that I was not disappointed. This book is an action-packed Batman origin story, and the main characters are so developed. It is also well-written and does the franchise justice. I would say that this fantasy story is definitely worth the read, and I can’t wait for the rest of the series to be released.
Title: Batman: Nightwalker (DC Icons #2)Series: DC Icons #2
Author: Marie Lu
Also by this author: The Young Elites (The Young Elites #1)
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: January 2, 2018
Rating:
Series Rating:
Before he was Batman, he was Bruce Wayne. A reckless boy willing to break the rules for a girl who may be his worst enemy.
The Nightwalkers are terrorizing Gotham City, and Bruce Wayne is next on their list.
One by one, the city's elites are being executed as their mansions' security systems turn against them, trapping them like prey. Meanwhile, Bruce is turning eighteen and about to inherit his family's fortune, not to mention the keys to Wayne Enterprises and all the tech gadgetry his heart could ever desire. But after a run-in with the police, he's forced to do community service at Arkham Asylum, the infamous prison that holds the city's most brutal criminals.
Madeleine Wallace is a brilliant killer . . . and Bruce's only hope.
In Arkham, Bruce meets Madeleine, a brilliant girl with ties to the Nightwalkers. What is she hiding? And why will she speak only to Bruce? Madeleine is the mystery Bruce must unravel. But is he getting her to divulge her secrets, or is he feeding her the information she needs to bring Gotham City to its knees? Bruce will walk the dark line between trust and betrayal as the Nightwalkers circle closer.
Review: Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu
This book is so different from what I was expecting, in a good way. It is a Batman origin story in which a teenage Bruce Wayne is sentenced to community service at Arkham Asylum for interfering at a crime scene. Inside the prison, he meets a dangerous young girl with a manipulative personality and learns about a gang targeting the rich people in Gotham City. Determined to save the city (and himself), he undergoes his own investigation with inside information from Madeleine and even finds himself falling for her. I wouldn’t say that you need to be a super fan to understand this story, but I would recommend a bit of prior knowledge of the original, just because of certain characters’ cameos.
❀ Bruce Wayne is a Complex Character
I really enjoyed Bruce Wayne’s character in Batman: Nightwalker. He is your classic privileged, rich boy who has a good amount of angst. Bruce is independent and clever, although he does make a few rash decisions, and I loved reading his interactions with the other characters. Madeleine’s character is also very intriguing. With her, everything is cryptic, and you can never tell if she’s being honest or not. Her complexity and the air of mystery surrounding her add a lot of suspense to the story, and her little hints kept me hooked until the end.
❀ Incredible Writing
As always with Marie Lu, the writing in this book is absolutely incredible. The descriptions of Gotham City are bang on, and the atmosphere of the story perfectly complements the excitement. There is so much action in Batman: Nightwalker, as one would expect in a retelling of a superhero story, and I would say that it is non-stop, since the book is pretty short. I actually enjoyed the length of this book because everything is relevant, and it is to the point. I am so glad that this book stayed true to the original Batman while also providing original ideas.
❀ Fast-Paced
Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu is a fast-paced pre-Batman story filled with complex characters. As expected, the writing is commendable. I would definitely recommend this story, even if you are unfamiliar with Batman’s story and have not yet read Leigh Bardugo’s instalment in the series.
Book Quotes: Batman: NightWalker by Marie Lu
No one might ever know that he stood there, a silent sentinel watching over his city.
You have a heavy heart, for someone with everything.
Trust nothing. Suspect everything.
About Marie Lu
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.
About The Candid Cover
Olivia ❀ YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, novice New Yorker, & professional bibliophile.
Wow, Leigh Bardugo wrote an installment too? That’s awesome!
I’m a fan of the cover. Not familiar with the series at all but it sounds like something I would enjoy. Lovely review!
I am really enjoying this series a lot and I am not a huge fan of super heroes, so it says something about the writing. 🙂
I’m so going to put this on my TBR.
Incredible Review.
Marie Lu’s definitely my go-to author for action and kick-ass descriptions! I’m so glad you loved this. <3 I'm not a big fan of Batman, but since this is Marie Lu, it's already on my TBR. Awesome review!
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I know exactly how you feel! I actually watched some old Batman movies just so that I would have a better understanding and I amazed myself with how much I enjoyed them. I hope that you love it, too! 🙂
I finally bought it this month, I can’t wait to dig in after reading your review!! The plot and the character development both sound awesome. Loved your review!
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I have a feeling that you are going to enjoy it! I can’t wait to find out your thoughts. 🙂
I’m glad this was such a pleasant surprise! I am admittedly not a huge DC comic fan but I enjoyed the movies and various portrayals. So I think I’ll like this one as well. A younger Bruce and some romance thrown in sounds pretty cool 🙂
I’m also not familiar with Marie Lu’s work but I’m looking forward to getting to know it!
Amazing review 🙂
I hope that you enjoy it! A good understanding of some of the backstory of Batman really helped me and I wouldn’t say that I am a huge fan of the franchise, either. Marie Lu is amazing, so I knew that she would turn this one into something fantastic. 😉
I am so glad you enjoyed this! I liked this one a lot too, even though I knew absolutely nothing about Batman before going into it. I thought it was really interesting as an origin story, though, and I loved Marie Lu’s writing. Wonderful review!
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I ended up watching a few of the older films just to get my bearings. It is such a cool concept and Marie Lu is one that can turn me into a fan of anything! 😉
I’ve been going back and forth about wanting to buy and read this book because I don’t want to be disappointed like I was with Wonder Woman by Leigh Bardugo. But I think you concinced me now! ^_^
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I forgot that you didn’t enjoy Wonder Woman. I hope that Marie Lu doesn’t disappoint. I am not a huge fan of the DC Icons, so I didn’t really go in with any expectations. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this one. 🙂
I seriously have to read something by Marie Lu…I have had her books on my wishlist forever! Great review! I so want to read this now!
Mary
Great review! I’ve been hesitating to pick this up because of the mixed reviews but I’m so glad to hear that you loved it. I can’t wait to read it! 🙂
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I was actually surprised at how much I enjoyed this one. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on it. 🙂
I love books with a good pace!
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I am a fan of batman, liking the darkness