This third installment of the DC Icons series tells the story of Selina Kyle, also known as Catwoman. As a teenager in Gotham City, Selina supports herself and her younger sister, who has a severe form of cystic fibrosis. Eventually, Selina is recruited by the League of Assassins, where she is trained to become a deadly weapon. After two years, Selina returns to Gotham City, disguising herself as a socialite, where she goes on crime sprees with pals Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn. All the while, she toys with Batman's protégé, Batwing (aka Luke Fox). Selina is a flawed, complex character; even while she commits crimes against the wealthy people of Gotham City and teases authorities, she shows a vulnerable side. Diverse characters are featured throughout, from Luke, who is black, to Poison Ivy, who is in love with Harley Quinn. The story starts out gritty, becoming less so as it unfurls, but readers will not forget where Selina started. The staccato writing style nicely matches the occasionally bleak setting. Ideal for fans of the TV show Gotham.--Suzanne Temple Copyright 2018 Booklist

"When the Bat's Away, the Cat Will Play."A child of Gotham City's slums, almost 18-year-old Selina Kyle has a rap sheet that includes robbery, gambling, and maintaining her title as the undefeated champion fighter for the Leopards, a girl gang. But everything she does is for her younger half sister Maggie, who suffers from cystic fibrosis. Apprehended by Talia al Ghul, leader of the infamous League of Assassins, Selina agrees to go with her to Italy on the condition that Maggie is well cared for. Fast-forward two years. Selina returns to Gotham as Holly Vanderhees, a blonde-haired billionaire socialite, and moonlights as Catwoman, the city's newly-christened Queen of the Underworld. Cue Luke Fox, son to Wayne Industries' CEO, a semipro boxer and an ex-Marine suffering from PTSD. He protects the city as Batwing and is determined to prove himself when Catwoman teams up with Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn while Batman is out of town. Maas (Tower of Dawn, 2017, etc.) has a gift for crafting fierce female protagonists. Selina is physically skilled, wickedly smart, and inhabits morally gray areas, making her a complex yet admirable antiheroine. Action-packed fight scenes, racial and sexual diversity (Harley and Ivy have history, Luke is black), and a dollop of romance will engage current and soon-to-be Catwoman fans.An epic shoutout to all the bad girls who know how to have fun. (Superhero fantasy. 12-18) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Gr 9 Up-Selina Kyle is back in Gotham two years after giving up everything to see her sister safely out of the city's slums. She is no longer the desperate, starving gang member. Now she is Holly Vanderhees: rich, beautiful, and cold. Holly has no sister, no family, no ties. She pretends to enjoy public fundraising galas in the evenings as Holly, while executing high-stakes clandestine heists after hours as Catwoman. She is an undefeated fighter and meticulous schemer. Best-selling Maas expertly brings DC's classic super-villain to a modern-day Gotham City. The action-packed writing and intricate world-building will both satisfy die-hard Batman fans as well as entice new readers. Maas's Catwoman has the perfect amount of talent, cunning, and drive to make her a delicious protagonist surrounded by strong, well-known characters like Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, and Batwing. VERDICT Containing light romance, feminism, and a diverse cast, this is a delightful and welcome addition to the franchise and an solid addition to any library.-Ariel -Birdoff, New York Public Library © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Eighteen-year-old do-gooder Bruce Wayne lands in community service mopping Arkham Asylum and becomes obsessed with a young female inmate (Batman). Selina Kyle steals from Gotham City's rich and powerful, encountering other female criminal powerhouses as well as steamy Luke Fox, a.k.a. Batwing (Catwoman). These classic dark superhero tales are full of the expected action, intrigue, and tangled romance. Maas's characters are especially woke. [Review covers these DC Icons titles: Batman and Catwoman.] (c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.