Review – Catwoman: Soulstealer by Sarah J Maas

Author: Sarah J Maas

Genre: YA Fantasy/ Crime

Published by: Penguin

Publication date: 09/08/18

Pages: 384

My rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

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.

I will admit I’m not familiar with the finer details of the Catwoman and Batman comics/ graphic novels so I wouldn’t necessarily pick up on any changes. That being said, it didn’t hinder my enjoyment in any way. I had to force myself to put the book down.

Soulstealer is the third book in the DC Icons series. Set during Selina Kyle’s teenage years. Starting from when Selina looks after her sister with cystic fibrosis, through her time with the Leopards, the League and as the elusive Catwoman. It’s told from the perspective of Selina and Batwing, she robbing from the rich while posing as socialite Holly Vanderhees, he’s trying to hunt down Catwoman, and upping the ante when she brings in Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy to help wreak havoc across the city. Throughout the book familiar faces make an appearance, joining in the chaos that Gotham City is renound for.

The last third of the book is full to the brim with action and chaos, revealing Selina’s motives, wrapping the plot up nicely. I love that the Ghul’s were brought in and were mostly female. The friendship between Selina, Harley and Poison Ivy was one of my favourite part of the whole book. Their character development is brilliantly written (though I do wish Harley was in it a little more) – Batwing was a great addition, one I much preferred to Batman, especially knowing Luke Fox is behind the mask.

This book is proof that Sarah J Maas can do anything. I loved it from beginning to end, like I said at the start, it took all my willpower to not rush through it and take my time. It was so worth it, I didn’t want it to end. I would happily read another one, it left me eager to know what happened after the events in the book.

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