by Tracy Hickman
Publisher: It Books
Release Date: June 26, 2012
Source: sent by publisher My Rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Summary from goodreads.com:
Two men separated by murder: Thomas, the rebellious doctor and heir to the vast Wayne empire, and Bruce, his son, whose life is forever altered by witnessing his parents' murder. The slaying of Thomas and Martha Wayne is the torturous point on which Bruce turns to become Batman.
The Dark Knight's file on the case has long been closed, the foundations of Bruce Wayne's secret life secure in the simple genesis of a mugging gone horribly wrong.
These foundations are shaken, however, when an unexpected guest invades the grounds of Wayne Manor, raising questions about the event that ended the lives of the mother he loved and the father he worshipped, and sparked his unquenchable drive to protect and avenge.
To discover his real family history, Batman must face down old foes, his only confidant, and the evil heart of Arkham Asylum, and shoulder the new burden of a dark legacy.
My Review:
There are certain aspects about Batman that the author really got right, but then the actual plot here isn't really that exciting, which makes the book move a little slowly. As for the overall tone of the book, I think the author was spot on. The book feels very melancholy and sad, which I feel like describes the Batman 'world' very well. Another aspect that was done very well was the description of the cars and gadgets. Batman always has some fantastic gadgets and they were all described in detail here. So if those are the aspects that you enjoy about Batman stories, then you will probably like reading this novel, too.
I think the actual story was a just a little too slow for me. I also wasn't really sure if Bruce Wayne was old, or if he just felt old. His age wouldn't have bothered me at all, but he seemed to be really sad about being old, so it didn't really translate well. It would have been nice if he had been older but defied norms or boundaries about age.
Main Characters: 3/5
Supporting Characters: 3/5
Setting: 3/5
Uniqueness: 3/5
Cover: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Bottom Line: Overall, the story was a little slow, but I think Batman fans would like to add this to their collection.
I'm not that keen on reading sad stories & certainly when Bruce Wayne feels/or is old and sad about it. A bit depressing! ;(
ReplyDeleteEh. This doesn't sound like something I would read. Based on the cover, it looks like something geared to younger readers. But if the MC seems old and sad... I have no idea.
ReplyDeleteSounded like it could be really interesting but yeah, the plot sounds a little slow.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review.
Is this a graphic novel or an actual novel? I didn't know they made Batman novels. Cool!
ReplyDeleteKM, it's a regular novel, not a graphic novel :)
ReplyDelete