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DC Icons #5
Black Canary: Breaking Silence
The Handmaid's Tale meets the DC universe in this breathtaking, thrilling origin story of Black Canary. Her voice is her weapon, and in a near future world where women have no rights, she won't hesitate to use everything she has to fight back.
Dinah Lance was seven years old when she overheard the impossible: the sound of a girl singing. It was something she was never meant to hear—not in her lifetime, and not in Gotham City, taken over by the Court of Owls. The sinister organization rules Gotham as a patriarchal dictatorship, all the while spreading their influence like a virus across the globe.
Now seventeen, Dinah can't forget that haunting sound, and she's beginning to discover that her own voice is just as powerful. But singing is forbidden—a one-way stop to a certain death sentence. Can she balance her father's desire to keep her safe, a blossoming romance with mysterious new student Oliver Queen, and her own desire to help other women and girls rise up and finally be heard? And will her voice be powerful enough to destroy the Court of Owls once and for all?
Dinah Lance was seven years old when she overheard the impossible: the sound of a girl singing. It was something she was never meant to hear—not in her lifetime, and not in Gotham City, taken over by the Court of Owls. The sinister organization rules Gotham as a patriarchal dictatorship, all the while spreading their influence like a virus across the globe.
Now seventeen, Dinah can't forget that haunting sound, and she's beginning to discover that her own voice is just as powerful. But singing is forbidden—a one-way stop to a certain death sentence. Can she balance her father's desire to keep her safe, a blossoming romance with mysterious new student Oliver Queen, and her own desire to help other women and girls rise up and finally be heard? And will her voice be powerful enough to destroy the Court of Owls once and for all?
295 pages, Hardcover
First published December 29, 2020
97 people are currently reading
8148 people want to read
About the author
Alexandra Monir
10 books1,685 followersAlexandra Monir, Iranian-American author and recording artist, has published seven popular young adult novels to date, beginning with her internationally-bestselling debut, TIMELESS (a Barnes & Noble Bestseller and an Amazon.com “Best Book of the Month”). She published the hit sci-fi novel THE FINAL SIX with HarperCollins in 2018, with Sony Pictures optioning the film rights in a major pre-empt deal. A sequel, THE LIFE BELOW, followed in 2020 and the series has been published in numerous countries and languages.
Alexandra was recently selected to write the first-ever YA novel about DC Comics superhero Black Canary, joining global bestsellers Leigh Bardugo, Marie Lu, Sarah J. Maas and Matt de la Peña as the fifth author writing for the New York Times-bestselling DC Icons series, published by Penguin Random House. BLACK CANARY: BREAKING SILENCE was released on December 29th, 2020 to rave reviews from critics and comic book fans alike, and a new paperback edition arrives in December 2021. Alexandra was also selected by Disney to write a historical fantasy YA novel about Princess Jasmine, which will publish in Fall 2022 as the third book in The Queen's Council series.
Alexandra is additionally a screenwriter, recording artist and composer, with both screenplay and musical adaptations of her own work in development. Her musical roots run deep, as she is the granddaughter of the late Monir Vakili, Iran’s foremost opera singer. She is a frequent public speaker at book festivals and literary conferences, fan conventions and schools. Alexandra currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband, toddler son, and one fluffy Shih Tzu, where she is at work on her next novel.
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AUTHOR LINKS:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlexandraMon...
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/TimelessAlex
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AlexandraMonir
Alexandra was recently selected to write the first-ever YA novel about DC Comics superhero Black Canary, joining global bestsellers Leigh Bardugo, Marie Lu, Sarah J. Maas and Matt de la Peña as the fifth author writing for the New York Times-bestselling DC Icons series, published by Penguin Random House. BLACK CANARY: BREAKING SILENCE was released on December 29th, 2020 to rave reviews from critics and comic book fans alike, and a new paperback edition arrives in December 2021. Alexandra was also selected by Disney to write a historical fantasy YA novel about Princess Jasmine, which will publish in Fall 2022 as the third book in The Queen's Council series.
Alexandra is additionally a screenwriter, recording artist and composer, with both screenplay and musical adaptations of her own work in development. Her musical roots run deep, as she is the granddaughter of the late Monir Vakili, Iran’s foremost opera singer. She is a frequent public speaker at book festivals and literary conferences, fan conventions and schools. Alexandra currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband, toddler son, and one fluffy Shih Tzu, where she is at work on her next novel.
---
AUTHOR LINKS:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlexandraMon...
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/TimelessAlex
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AlexandraMonir
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 333 reviews
January 16, 2021
CW:
Well it took a while to get there but I ended up enjoying the last section.
In a futuristic Gotham, where the superheroes are long gone and women have been silenced, Dinah seeks the power to bring true justice back to the city. This was a really really slow burn. There was a lot of wondering and talking about the wonderings and slow unveilings of truths that span the first half of this book. The action doesn't really ramp up until the last quarter. I thought the world building was good but a little bit under developed. Given that Dinah sought to overthrow the controlling regime it warranted a bit more detail. The last quarter definitely saved this from iminent twodom. A solid addition to this series. I am also going to have to say that in my opinion, the books in this series featuring female superheroes are so much more engaging than the others. Just saying.
Well it took a while to get there but I ended up enjoying the last section.
In a futuristic Gotham, where the superheroes are long gone and women have been silenced, Dinah seeks the power to bring true justice back to the city. This was a really really slow burn. There was a lot of wondering and talking about the wonderings and slow unveilings of truths that span the first half of this book. The action doesn't really ramp up until the last quarter. I thought the world building was good but a little bit under developed. Given that Dinah sought to overthrow the controlling regime it warranted a bit more detail. The last quarter definitely saved this from iminent twodom. A solid addition to this series. I am also going to have to say that in my opinion, the books in this series featuring female superheroes are so much more engaging than the others. Just saying.
Want to read
October 3, 2020What did you say? A Black Canary origin story featuring the Court of Owls and Oliver Queen? I simply must have it.
May 10, 2021
I'm such a comic book purist that anytime that I see a novelization of comic book characters I get nervous. This book actually didn't disappoint. 3.5 Stars
Black Canary: Breaking Silence takes place in a future version of Gotham where women and girls are essentially prevented from using their voices. I thought that this was a brilliant idea considering that Black Canary is well-known for the use of her voice as a superpower. This serves as an origin story of Dinah as Black Canary as she grapples with the fact that she's heard a woman sing which should be impossible. There were a quite of few things that I really enjoyed about this book namely the fact that it was a refreshing novelization of Dinah's journey into becoming Black Canary. The writing and plot were both fast paced so I was able to finish this one within a day or so. Because the current version of Gotham in this book is dominated by a patriarchal society, it was important that Monir used the concept of a woman's voice to serve as the catalyst for the manner in which Dinah would come into her abilities. While this is fantastical in a lot of ways, I think that a lot of readers will be able to relate to the core message of the story. There was a major plot twist in the book that actually surprised me. I was viewing a specific character through a very specific lens and I was surprised when I discovered their true identity.
One of the major issues that I have with this book is the assumption of prior knowledge. I'm assuming that the DC Icon books are made for those who may or may not have vast knowledge of the DC Universe. With that being said, it would seem fair to assume that there should have been a little more explanation related to the Court of Owls. The Court of Owls holds a level of importance in the comics and that should have been better outlined in this book. I also think that there should have been a little better explanation of characters that are major names in the comics. For example, Commissioner Gordon has a relative pop up in this and, in my opinion, it would have been great for the reader to get a little more explanation of who he was in relation to Gotham City. This same thing applies to the absence of the Justice League as a major force to assist in the defending of Gotham.
Overall, I think that this is definitely a solid read. Monir did a wonderful job capturing the essence of Black Canary. I enjoyed her writing style and her characterization. Days after reading this book I thought about that big reveal and how it directly related to character development and it never ceases to amaze me. If you're a fan of superheroes and want something written in prose, I would definitely recommend checking this one out.
Black Canary: Breaking Silence takes place in a future version of Gotham where women and girls are essentially prevented from using their voices. I thought that this was a brilliant idea considering that Black Canary is well-known for the use of her voice as a superpower. This serves as an origin story of Dinah as Black Canary as she grapples with the fact that she's heard a woman sing which should be impossible. There were a quite of few things that I really enjoyed about this book namely the fact that it was a refreshing novelization of Dinah's journey into becoming Black Canary. The writing and plot were both fast paced so I was able to finish this one within a day or so. Because the current version of Gotham in this book is dominated by a patriarchal society, it was important that Monir used the concept of a woman's voice to serve as the catalyst for the manner in which Dinah would come into her abilities. While this is fantastical in a lot of ways, I think that a lot of readers will be able to relate to the core message of the story. There was a major plot twist in the book that actually surprised me. I was viewing a specific character through a very specific lens and I was surprised when I discovered their true identity.
One of the major issues that I have with this book is the assumption of prior knowledge. I'm assuming that the DC Icon books are made for those who may or may not have vast knowledge of the DC Universe. With that being said, it would seem fair to assume that there should have been a little more explanation related to the Court of Owls. The Court of Owls holds a level of importance in the comics and that should have been better outlined in this book. I also think that there should have been a little better explanation of characters that are major names in the comics. For example, Commissioner Gordon has a relative pop up in this and, in my opinion, it would have been great for the reader to get a little more explanation of who he was in relation to Gotham City. This same thing applies to the absence of the Justice League as a major force to assist in the defending of Gotham.
Overall, I think that this is definitely a solid read. Monir did a wonderful job capturing the essence of Black Canary. I enjoyed her writing style and her characterization. Days after reading this book I thought about that big reveal and how it directly related to character development and it never ceases to amaze me. If you're a fan of superheroes and want something written in prose, I would definitely recommend checking this one out.
May 27, 2023
Stop the world with that voice!
I loved this one, yes its YA, yes it's super heroes, yes it's girly, pink and fluffy..who cares! It was good. I really liked the relationship between Dinah and Oliver. Also liked how the ending had that really good surprise (hint, hint green eyes, dreamy body swoon!)
I think out of all the DC Icon's so far (apart from Harley Quinn as those are next) this book had the most emotion. Dinah is a strong character. With all the joy and happiness removed from Gotham City for women all around, she still rises and uses that brilliant voice. Girls Unite!!
I loved this one, yes its YA, yes it's super heroes, yes it's girly, pink and fluffy..who cares! It was good. I really liked the relationship between Dinah and Oliver. Also liked how the ending had that really good surprise (hint, hint green eyes, dreamy body swoon!)
I think out of all the DC Icon's so far (apart from Harley Quinn as those are next) this book had the most emotion. Dinah is a strong character. With all the joy and happiness removed from Gotham City for women all around, she still rises and uses that brilliant voice. Girls Unite!!
January 30, 2021
This was corny af. I get that Black Canary’s powers are tricky to incorporate into a somewhat realistic plot, but c’mon! You’re telling me that the worst thing a patriarchy can take from women is music and their ability to sing!!!
to-read-so-bad-it-hurts
March 9, 2020HOLY YES, A BLACK CANARY ORIGIN STORYYYY. Set in a near future Gotham City where singing is forbidden? DAMN
Also, apparently the author 'was a teen pop singer. Now, she’s collaborating with the producers behind Christina Aguilera and Lady Gaga, and plans to release original songs featured in BLACK CANARY as singles on iTunes'
Plus, that cover is clearly Jen Bartel's doing eeeep
Source
Also, apparently the author 'was a teen pop singer. Now, she’s collaborating with the producers behind Christina Aguilera and Lady Gaga, and plans to release original songs featured in BLACK CANARY as singles on iTunes'
Plus, that cover is clearly Jen Bartel's doing eeeep
Source
January 4, 2021
I wanted to like this, I really did. For transparency, DNF at about 30%.
I will attempt to edit if I end up going back to it.
Let me preface this by saying I was actually really hyped to read this book, especially when I saw positive reviews on Twitter. I am a huge Dinah fan, and own 90% of her appearances in print, have a ridiculous amount of her merch, run accounts about her, and read everything she’s involved in. I have been waiting for a good Dinah story for a while now. I bought the book last night and read most of it before bed, where I slept on my thoughts.
A non spoiler summary is that this book is a Black Canary meets Handmaids Tale, set while Dinah is still a minor. Yeah, that’s exactly as bad as it sounds, fortunately it appears to stray from the graphic sexual assault in those texts and instead leans on graphic misogyny (police brutality included) and oppressive, patriarchal systems in Gotham. Of which Dinah’s long time comic lover Oliver, is a card carrying member. Her father, Barbara Gordon, and others play a part.
Let’s start with the pros:
- Barbara Gordon as Oracle
- Lady Shiva
The cons:
- Everything else, I wish I was lying
- The choice to make the Court of Owls into Gilead's leadership
- Oliver Queen
- Creating a plot where your LGBT characters literally live in hiding. Woo representation - Not
SPOILERS AHEAD!
I don’t have anything personal against Alexandra Monir, and I really hate having to be so negative about this, but the truth is what I read of this book would have overwhelmed me as a depressed lesbian teen who loves Black Canary. The entire first third is a slog of harm, hurt, and oppression. The only bright spots are supposed to be with Oliver, who is a member of this oppressive regime by nepotism, that Dinah likes without even knowing him. I have read many, many pieces of fanfiction much better than this by young adult DC fans, teens and DC adults.
Girl power stories do NOT require dystopian misogynistic systems to overcome to be good. Dinah Lance, and by extension the Birds of Prey, are badass women with a lot to overcome without the injection of this kind of world. And even if there is no other way to proceed but this kind of dystopian setting, at least create your own narrative that doesn’t include robbing it off older and inarguably greater works that make your introduction to DC fans feel like an off pitch, rejected American Idol cover of Whitney Houston hits.
I will attempt to edit if I end up going back to it.
Let me preface this by saying I was actually really hyped to read this book, especially when I saw positive reviews on Twitter. I am a huge Dinah fan, and own 90% of her appearances in print, have a ridiculous amount of her merch, run accounts about her, and read everything she’s involved in. I have been waiting for a good Dinah story for a while now. I bought the book last night and read most of it before bed, where I slept on my thoughts.
A non spoiler summary is that this book is a Black Canary meets Handmaids Tale, set while Dinah is still a minor. Yeah, that’s exactly as bad as it sounds, fortunately it appears to stray from the graphic sexual assault in those texts and instead leans on graphic misogyny (police brutality included) and oppressive, patriarchal systems in Gotham. Of which Dinah’s long time comic lover Oliver, is a card carrying member. Her father, Barbara Gordon, and others play a part.
Let’s start with the pros:
- Barbara Gordon as Oracle
- Lady Shiva
The cons:
- Everything else, I wish I was lying
- The choice to make the Court of Owls into Gilead's leadership
- Oliver Queen
- Creating a plot where your LGBT characters literally live in hiding. Woo representation - Not
SPOILERS AHEAD!
I don’t have anything personal against Alexandra Monir, and I really hate having to be so negative about this, but the truth is what I read of this book would have overwhelmed me as a depressed lesbian teen who loves Black Canary. The entire first third is a slog of harm, hurt, and oppression. The only bright spots are supposed to be with Oliver, who is a member of this oppressive regime by nepotism, that Dinah likes without even knowing him. I have read many, many pieces of fanfiction much better than this by young adult DC fans, teens and DC adults.
Girl power stories do NOT require dystopian misogynistic systems to overcome to be good. Dinah Lance, and by extension the Birds of Prey, are badass women with a lot to overcome without the injection of this kind of world. And even if there is no other way to proceed but this kind of dystopian setting, at least create your own narrative that doesn’t include robbing it off older and inarguably greater works that make your introduction to DC fans feel like an off pitch, rejected American Idol cover of Whitney Houston hits.
March 13, 2021
Black Canary getting a DC Icons novel? It's what she deserves.
gif credit: summers-roberts.tumblr.com
And the premise is Dinah using her voice for social change and empowering women sounds fantastic. Can't wait to read this!
Also look at the cover!
gif credit: summers-roberts.tumblr.com
And the premise is Dinah using her voice for social change and empowering women sounds fantastic. Can't wait to read this!
Also look at the cover!
January 4, 2021
Simply brilliant. A powerful, compelling story about women getting back their place in the society. And Dinah Lance & Oliver (Ollie) Queen being the endgame??? Haaaaaa takes me back to the Arrow TV show days. I kept imaging Stephen Amell as the Green Arrow and Cassidy being Black Canary. Overall it was a really solid read. The plot was gripping, the setting was Gotham city, the bad guys were Court of Owls, i mean c'mon. Not only the main characters but the side characters were also pretty solid i-e Barbara Gordon (the freaking Batgirl), Sandra Wu (Lady Shiva), Chester Cobblepot (the Penguin), (The Birds of Prey) I mean daammmnnnn.
I want more books from DC Icon series because there are plenty more icons that deserve to have a story of their own.
I want more books from DC Icon series because there are plenty more icons that deserve to have a story of their own.
January 3, 2021
Dear Friend,
My first post of the year, featuring a read I waited for months to release!! I'm such a canary fan after Arrow!! I present Black Canary: Breaking Silence by Alexandra Monir @alexandramonir .
I loved this one sooooo muchhhhhh. I went in with only one expectation- to see the Black Canary take the spotlight, and not see her sidelined. And damn, was I rewarded!! 🥺
This is the 5th installment in the DC Icons series- giving us a fresh new origin story about our favourite heroes. (You may remember my post about Catwoman Soulstealer from earlier!)
Some funfacts:
• This is a fantastic piece of dystopian feminist superhero literature.
• The women of Gotham City were silenced under the patriarchal rule of the court of owls. All of them lost the ability to sing. Imagine a world with none of your favourite female singers😨. But, then one girl- our heroine Dinah Lance, in the darkness of the patriarchal ball, manages to sing!! The singer also becomes public enemy no.1, lmao😂(although they didn't know she was the singer)
• The Book features a number of songs and original lyrics written by the author herself. And to get us a more submerging experience, the author even recorded the main song from the book!!! It's called The Black Canary Sings and is through and through, a feminist anthem!
And The Canary cries in the finale, oh my godddd. Black Canary rules.
I can ramble on and on about how much I loved it!!! 🥺🥺
Love Always,
@the.dreamcatcher._
#BlackCanaryBreakingSilence #catwomansoulstealer #wonderwomanwarbringer #batmannightwalker #alexandramonir #supermandawnbreaker #dcicons #dccomics #superheroes #blackcanary #dinahlance #batgirl #breakingsilence #laurellance #saralance #dinahdrake #Bookstagram #readersofinstagram #readersofig #reading #arrow #oliverqueen #greenarrow #miasmoak #ya #feminist #dystopian #batwoman #ladyshiva #gotham
https://www.instagram.com/p/CJgkJdqgO...
My first post of the year, featuring a read I waited for months to release!! I'm such a canary fan after Arrow!! I present Black Canary: Breaking Silence by Alexandra Monir @alexandramonir .
I loved this one sooooo muchhhhhh. I went in with only one expectation- to see the Black Canary take the spotlight, and not see her sidelined. And damn, was I rewarded!! 🥺
This is the 5th installment in the DC Icons series- giving us a fresh new origin story about our favourite heroes. (You may remember my post about Catwoman Soulstealer from earlier!)
Some funfacts:
• This is a fantastic piece of dystopian feminist superhero literature.
• The women of Gotham City were silenced under the patriarchal rule of the court of owls. All of them lost the ability to sing. Imagine a world with none of your favourite female singers😨. But, then one girl- our heroine Dinah Lance, in the darkness of the patriarchal ball, manages to sing!! The singer also becomes public enemy no.1, lmao😂(although they didn't know she was the singer)
• The Book features a number of songs and original lyrics written by the author herself. And to get us a more submerging experience, the author even recorded the main song from the book!!! It's called The Black Canary Sings and is through and through, a feminist anthem!
And The Canary cries in the finale, oh my godddd. Black Canary rules.
I can ramble on and on about how much I loved it!!! 🥺🥺
Love Always,
@the.dreamcatcher._
#BlackCanaryBreakingSilence #catwomansoulstealer #wonderwomanwarbringer #batmannightwalker #alexandramonir #supermandawnbreaker #dcicons #dccomics #superheroes #blackcanary #dinahlance #batgirl #breakingsilence #laurellance #saralance #dinahdrake #Bookstagram #readersofinstagram #readersofig #reading #arrow #oliverqueen #greenarrow #miasmoak #ya #feminist #dystopian #batwoman #ladyshiva #gotham
https://www.instagram.com/p/CJgkJdqgO...
January 10, 2024
This had a perfect pacing: a lot of action. That made this an intriguing read.
Characters could have been more fleshed out: Dinah was well-written. She was likable, and it was easy to root for her. But several secondary characters felt a bit flat. And some of them had bigger roles, I would have loved them to get me feel more.
I loved the dystopian world, but it didn't feel that horrifying because this was a YA book. That made me to hope this to be an adult book, this would have been AMAZING. But this was fun & entertaining.
Characters could have been more fleshed out: Dinah was well-written. She was likable, and it was easy to root for her. But several secondary characters felt a bit flat. And some of them had bigger roles, I would have loved them to get me feel more.
I loved the dystopian world, but it didn't feel that horrifying because this was a YA book. That made me to hope this to be an adult book, this would have been AMAZING. But this was fun & entertaining.
May 17, 2023
A very ✨disappointing✨ read
I AM SO SAD THAT THIS WAS THIS BAD
*I can literally name more negative than positive aspects*😭
Sooo let‘s start with some of them:
None of the characters had any depth to themselves, which is sometimes not a surprise *sadly* for the 'side characters', but it was shocking that this applied to the main characters - Dinah and Oliver like bruh-
WHAT
WHY
WHAT WAS THE REASON
*inserts Cardi B‘s voice*
Now, talking about the plot-
U g h
Erm, well,
overall, the plot was nothing special; it felt as if the author wanted to make this feeling of hopelessness (girls/women were not allowed to go to school, work in specific fields, listen/own music, etc. - you get the point) as urgent and grave as possible, but not only was that portrayed in a manner of 'omg let’s just add this to the cart in order make them as maltreated as possible' (what I wanted to say is, is that I feel that the base was not well-established; everything felt artificial and forced), but also the way that this whole problem was resolved was just soooooooo anticlimactic it‘s actually insane-
IT’S THE DISAPPOINTMENT LADIES AND GENTS FOR ME, WHICH IS ✨IMMACULATE✨
I was waiting for this big battle to happen, but when it happened it was just too rushed and-
I am at loss of words lmao😭
Regarding this DC series (all of them are 'Young-Adult' rated) and the books I have read so far from it, this one is definitely the worst one, I‘m really sorry
In this one you can really feel that ✨young-adult✨ vibe, but I mean that in a bad way; as someone‘s review mentioned 'bottom-of-the-barrel' YA novel: boring
And I wholeheartedly agree with that statement
I would definitely advise you NOT to read this book - I‘m sure you will be able to find a read of 300 pages that is going to be far more interesting than this one🤧
Also, this rating is 2 stars (and not 1 star) due to the fact that I love Black Canary‘s character in comics/shows that I had read/watched so far, not due to this book since her character is so poorly written/portrayed🍀
I AM SO SAD THAT THIS WAS THIS BAD
*I can literally name more negative than positive aspects*😭
Sooo let‘s start with some of them:
None of the characters had any depth to themselves, which is sometimes not a surprise *sadly* for the 'side characters', but it was shocking that this applied to the main characters - Dinah and Oliver like bruh-
WHAT
WHY
WHAT WAS THE REASON
*inserts Cardi B‘s voice*
Now, talking about the plot-
U g h
Erm, well,
overall, the plot was nothing special; it felt as if the author wanted to make this feeling of hopelessness (girls/women were not allowed to go to school, work in specific fields, listen/own music, etc. - you get the point) as urgent and grave as possible, but not only was that portrayed in a manner of 'omg let’s just add this to the cart in order make them as maltreated as possible' (what I wanted to say is, is that I feel that the base was not well-established; everything felt artificial and forced), but also the way that this whole problem was resolved was just soooooooo anticlimactic it‘s actually insane-
IT’S THE DISAPPOINTMENT LADIES AND GENTS FOR ME, WHICH IS ✨IMMACULATE✨
I was waiting for this big battle to happen, but when it happened it was just too rushed and-
I am at loss of words lmao😭
Regarding this DC series (all of them are 'Young-Adult' rated) and the books I have read so far from it, this one is definitely the worst one, I‘m really sorry
In this one you can really feel that ✨young-adult✨ vibe, but I mean that in a bad way; as someone‘s review mentioned 'bottom-of-the-barrel' YA novel: boring
And I wholeheartedly agree with that statement
I would definitely advise you NOT to read this book - I‘m sure you will be able to find a read of 300 pages that is going to be far more interesting than this one🤧
Also, this rating is 2 stars (and not 1 star) due to the fact that I love Black Canary‘s character in comics/shows that I had read/watched so far, not due to this book since her character is so poorly written/portrayed🍀
February 5, 2021
I loved this! The comps - Handmaid's Tale meets the DC verse - are spot on. This is everything you love about Dinah - her passion, her willingness to go all out for her friends and community, and her romance with Ollie.
Definitely one of the best in the series and my only complaint is wanting more!
Definitely one of the best in the series and my only complaint is wanting more!
January 19, 2021
This was one of the worst books I’ve read in a while. It played at being feminist, but stank of white feminism and far too much on-the-nose symbolism. It was clumsy and cringe-y, and a disappointment for such a cool super hero. It wanted to be The Handmaid’s Tale and ended up a horrible imitation.
October 31, 2021
Wait... this was actually kind of fire???
Black Canary: Breaking Silence takes place in Gotham years after the evil Court of Owls have taken over. They run it as a patriarchal dictatorship- they banned girls from singing and have taken total control of their lives. When Dinah was young, she heard a girl singing but it couldn't possibly be. They made it physically impossible for them to sing but Dinah knows what she heard. At seventeen, Dinah knows she should stay in her place but she can't help her desire to help other women find their voice in a society that doesn't let them have one.
Sis... what the fuck. I picked this up because it was available at my library and the Jen Bartel cover slaps but I didn'/t actually expect the book to be fire. I flew through it and when I checked I was already at 45% after what felt like 10 minutes because it was zooming. By all reasons I should have hated this book. Girls are treated as second class citizens and eventually can't even go to school. They aren't allowed any agency and it's so frustrating to read because it's not even made up, this shit is real and women are always ground down because of men's fear. This book is written for a younger audience though so it doesn't go as dark as it could have but I'm 1000% cool with that.
I know it's a popular trend in feminist books to have this sort of Handmaid's Tale type beat but it's just too depressing to read about women being treated like shit and to be strong they have to fight back against the shitty patriarchy. But it just weirdly worked for me here, maybe because it also had the superhero flavor. But also if you told me "oh yeah black canary ya book but it's a patriarchal dystopian lol" I would have said pls do less crack. Especially because the other DC icon books didn't go this hard??
I loved how it fit together even though I don't know why it worked so well?? It just makes sense to me that a character that has a screech call power is going to be the one giving voices back to girls and I want to give whoever had this idea a highfive.
I've been lowkey in love with the Birds of Prey and Black Canary ever since the Harley Quinn Birds of Prey movie and this book was just hitting. It had so many of the iconic Gotham characters named, either alive or dead. We had her powers. We had Green Arrow. The fucking PENGUIN? Bet. We even had the oracle like go tf off. Inject this side of DC comics into my veins I am TRASH.
Speaking of trash, I am the garbage queen of Black Canary x Green Arrow romance now and they were so cute here what the fuck. Oliver's characterization in this was so pure and we love a feminist king.
I want to go outside and screech at men after reading this ngl. Dinah was so powerful.
December 28, 2020
Rating: 7.0 / 10
Thanks to the publisher and author for an advance reading copy of Black Canary: Breaking Silence for review consideration. This did not influence my thoughts or opinions.
Monir’s origin story for the most powerful voice in the DC Universe is, at times, thrilling and exhilarating, while also being truly heartfelt and extremely personal. The fact that the author took direct inspiration from her Iranian roots during the 1979 revolution brings an extra element to the story that gives it new wings to soar on.
While I am was not familiar with the DC Icons series up to this point, I did see big names attached to it when I was originally contacted with this opportunity. Names like Bardugo, Maas, and Lu tend to intrigue even the most casual of readers so I had to see what the series was all about. I’m also not the most well-rounded individual when it comes to the DC Universe, not having grown up reading the comics and only really being interested in the Batman films over the years. Having picked up and read Black Canary: Breaking Silence, it shows that I have a ton more to learn about the universe as a whole (especially about Lance, Queen, and the Court of Owls).
I will say this: YA is still a hit or miss genre for me. I can definitely get behind characters, enjoy solid world-building, and tear through pages of intense action, but romance bogs down my pace immensely. The love interest bits of YA novels tend to just, well, bore me to tears and it was no different here. Lance and Queen’s glances started early on and continued well into the end, and while I get that it works for a majority of audiences, it just isn’t my thing. Having said that, the story was definitely built around their relationship, alongside Dinah’s friendships and family, so I could look past the teenage drama to enjoy a solid story.
While I am probably not the intended audience for this novel or the rest of the series, I thought Monir did a wonderful job bringing Lance to life, and I really enjoyed learning her backstory. I also really need to get the lowdown on the Court of Owls because those Talons are not to be messed with.
Q&A with the Author
1. Tell me a little bit about yourself (i.e. growing up, schooling, etc)
I grew up in Marin County, the suburbs outside of San Francisco, and fell in love with books from the second I discovered them: basically, before age 2! English and Creative Writing were always my favorite subjects, along with Drama, and my childhood was filled with books, writing my own stories for friends and family, and performing in school plays and community theater. Basically, I was all about literature and the arts!
2. What sort of career were you pursuing prior to writing?
I was equally fixated on writing and performing in elementary and middle school, but in my freshman year of high school, I wrote my first song- and from there, I spent the rest of my teens completely focused on becoming a recording artist. I wrote and recorded many songs and got to spend my 17th and 18th summers opening up for pop stars like O-Town, which was surreal. But as much as I love music, there was a lot I didn’t love about the recording industry, so when I sold my first book at 23, I was very happy and relieved to find a place where I felt much more at home, which was publishing.
a. Do you still have a full-time job outside of being an author?
I am a full-time author! But I still write and record music on the side and love incorporating music into my books.
3. When did you start writing? When did you start writing seriously?
I started scribbling stories in notebooks at age 6 and then typing them up and sending them to friends and family at around 8. Years later, when I was immersed in the recording industry at 16, I came up with a TV series idea about a young singer trying to make it, and from there I wrote a proposal and started pitching it around LA a year or so later. While that project never sold, it led to me getting my first literary agent and some other really integral industry relationships.
4. How do you combat writer’s block, or do you simply not acknowledge it?
I don’t get writer’s block so much as I just get stumped on what should happen next in a story or scene, at which point it always helps to take a break and consume other media unrelated to what I’m working on, something that just gets me feeling inspired and excited to create again. I remember when I was feeling stuck with THE LIFE BELOW, a sci-fi sequel I published in 2020, watching the Battle of Winterfell episode from Game of Thrones totally revitalized me! The two were wildly different genres, but seeing something that impressive onscreen had me itching to get back to my computer.
5. Who are some of your writing influences?
I read a lot of the classics growing up and when I was starting out as a writer, and two that made a big impact on me were Daphne du Maurier and Edith Wharton. Nowadays, I’m very inspired by the YA fantasy geniuses Sarah J. Maas and Dhonielle Clayton.
6. Did you read growing up? If so, what genres really struck you?
Oh, yes! I read pretty much everything I could get my hands on, and was particularly fond of two totally different genres: historical fiction and contemporary teen fiction, like the Sweet Valley books. It’s the Gemini in me!
7. Tell me about your writing process. Has it changed over the years?
I think the biggest change is that I now actually have a specific process, rather than just sitting down and letting myself write freely. As my books have grown more complex, I’ve found outlining to be really crucial. The last book I wrote without a game plan was THE GIRL IN THE PICTURE (published in 2016), which I am really proud of, but that was also when I realized how stressful it was to face a blank page every day while drafting. I wrote a very detailed outline for THE FINAL SIX, my 2018 book that followed, and that’s been my process ever since- though I still start out free-writing the first couple of chapters before outlining, to get myself into the story and make sure this is an idea I definitely want to spend a year or longer with!
8. Can you tell the audience a little bit about Black Canary: Breaking Silence?
BREAKING SILENCE is my original take on the DC superhero Black Canary, and it’s set in a near-future Gotham City where a patriarchal dictatorship known as the Court of Owls rules over them all. Under the Court, women have been stripped of their power and their rights–including the power to sing, which is something 17-year-old Dinah Lance wants to do more than anything in the world. So when she discovers a secret power within her own voice, it sets her world ablaze- and leads to a whole new alter ego. The book is filled with action/adventure, twists and turns, original music, and a dash of romance with Oliver Queen- who comic book fans know as the Green Arrow!
9. What was it like writing your grandmother into the story?
It was incredibly meaningful for me, and made this book feel like my most personal novel to date. My grandmother was tragically taken from us too soon, so I never got to meet her, but I’ve always felt connected to her, and I know she was with me in spirit while I was writing this.
10. Tell me about how the story was directly inspired by your roots amidst the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
I was born long after the Revolution, once my parents had escaped to the U.S., but it still had a formidable impact on my life. My parents did an amazing job of instilling my brother and me with our culture and history, and they were very honest with us about the trauma of the Revolution and their escape, so it was always there in the background of my life. When it was first suggested to me that I would be a good fit to write a Black Canary story, I immediately imagined a world where women and girls are forbidden to sing, and how Dinah Lance could be a beacon of hope in an oppressive patriarchy. The reason I thought of that is because of what happened after the Iranian Revolution, when women could be jailed for singing publicly. It’s a cruelty that exists to this day there, and something I wanted to wrestle with on the page.
11. How did your time as a former teen pop singer/songwriter help you bring Dinah Lance to life?
I think my former teen pop singer life was crucial to me writing Dinah’s story. It allowed me to write three original songs into the book, but also to tap into those feelings I experienced when I was her age and when life felt so intense that words alone weren’t enough to express myself with, I had to put it into song.
12. What are you working on now?
It’s been a year of getting to write my dream characters- first with Black Canary, and then I recently signed with Disney to write a historical fantasy YA about Princess Jasmine!! It comes out in Fall 2022, so I’m about to dive into work on that manuscript!
13. Do you have any book recommendations for the audience? Maybe something you have read recently?
My favorites of 2020 were SUCH A FUN AGE by Kiley Reid in adult fiction, and LOBIZONA by Romina Russell in YA. Both are absolutely amazing!
Thanks to the publisher and author for an advance reading copy of Black Canary: Breaking Silence for review consideration. This did not influence my thoughts or opinions.
Monir’s origin story for the most powerful voice in the DC Universe is, at times, thrilling and exhilarating, while also being truly heartfelt and extremely personal. The fact that the author took direct inspiration from her Iranian roots during the 1979 revolution brings an extra element to the story that gives it new wings to soar on.
While I am was not familiar with the DC Icons series up to this point, I did see big names attached to it when I was originally contacted with this opportunity. Names like Bardugo, Maas, and Lu tend to intrigue even the most casual of readers so I had to see what the series was all about. I’m also not the most well-rounded individual when it comes to the DC Universe, not having grown up reading the comics and only really being interested in the Batman films over the years. Having picked up and read Black Canary: Breaking Silence, it shows that I have a ton more to learn about the universe as a whole (especially about Lance, Queen, and the Court of Owls).
I will say this: YA is still a hit or miss genre for me. I can definitely get behind characters, enjoy solid world-building, and tear through pages of intense action, but romance bogs down my pace immensely. The love interest bits of YA novels tend to just, well, bore me to tears and it was no different here. Lance and Queen’s glances started early on and continued well into the end, and while I get that it works for a majority of audiences, it just isn’t my thing. Having said that, the story was definitely built around their relationship, alongside Dinah’s friendships and family, so I could look past the teenage drama to enjoy a solid story.
While I am probably not the intended audience for this novel or the rest of the series, I thought Monir did a wonderful job bringing Lance to life, and I really enjoyed learning her backstory. I also really need to get the lowdown on the Court of Owls because those Talons are not to be messed with.
Q&A with the Author
1. Tell me a little bit about yourself (i.e. growing up, schooling, etc)
I grew up in Marin County, the suburbs outside of San Francisco, and fell in love with books from the second I discovered them: basically, before age 2! English and Creative Writing were always my favorite subjects, along with Drama, and my childhood was filled with books, writing my own stories for friends and family, and performing in school plays and community theater. Basically, I was all about literature and the arts!
2. What sort of career were you pursuing prior to writing?
I was equally fixated on writing and performing in elementary and middle school, but in my freshman year of high school, I wrote my first song- and from there, I spent the rest of my teens completely focused on becoming a recording artist. I wrote and recorded many songs and got to spend my 17th and 18th summers opening up for pop stars like O-Town, which was surreal. But as much as I love music, there was a lot I didn’t love about the recording industry, so when I sold my first book at 23, I was very happy and relieved to find a place where I felt much more at home, which was publishing.
a. Do you still have a full-time job outside of being an author?
I am a full-time author! But I still write and record music on the side and love incorporating music into my books.
3. When did you start writing? When did you start writing seriously?
I started scribbling stories in notebooks at age 6 and then typing them up and sending them to friends and family at around 8. Years later, when I was immersed in the recording industry at 16, I came up with a TV series idea about a young singer trying to make it, and from there I wrote a proposal and started pitching it around LA a year or so later. While that project never sold, it led to me getting my first literary agent and some other really integral industry relationships.
4. How do you combat writer’s block, or do you simply not acknowledge it?
I don’t get writer’s block so much as I just get stumped on what should happen next in a story or scene, at which point it always helps to take a break and consume other media unrelated to what I’m working on, something that just gets me feeling inspired and excited to create again. I remember when I was feeling stuck with THE LIFE BELOW, a sci-fi sequel I published in 2020, watching the Battle of Winterfell episode from Game of Thrones totally revitalized me! The two were wildly different genres, but seeing something that impressive onscreen had me itching to get back to my computer.
5. Who are some of your writing influences?
I read a lot of the classics growing up and when I was starting out as a writer, and two that made a big impact on me were Daphne du Maurier and Edith Wharton. Nowadays, I’m very inspired by the YA fantasy geniuses Sarah J. Maas and Dhonielle Clayton.
6. Did you read growing up? If so, what genres really struck you?
Oh, yes! I read pretty much everything I could get my hands on, and was particularly fond of two totally different genres: historical fiction and contemporary teen fiction, like the Sweet Valley books. It’s the Gemini in me!
7. Tell me about your writing process. Has it changed over the years?
I think the biggest change is that I now actually have a specific process, rather than just sitting down and letting myself write freely. As my books have grown more complex, I’ve found outlining to be really crucial. The last book I wrote without a game plan was THE GIRL IN THE PICTURE (published in 2016), which I am really proud of, but that was also when I realized how stressful it was to face a blank page every day while drafting. I wrote a very detailed outline for THE FINAL SIX, my 2018 book that followed, and that’s been my process ever since- though I still start out free-writing the first couple of chapters before outlining, to get myself into the story and make sure this is an idea I definitely want to spend a year or longer with!
8. Can you tell the audience a little bit about Black Canary: Breaking Silence?
BREAKING SILENCE is my original take on the DC superhero Black Canary, and it’s set in a near-future Gotham City where a patriarchal dictatorship known as the Court of Owls rules over them all. Under the Court, women have been stripped of their power and their rights–including the power to sing, which is something 17-year-old Dinah Lance wants to do more than anything in the world. So when she discovers a secret power within her own voice, it sets her world ablaze- and leads to a whole new alter ego. The book is filled with action/adventure, twists and turns, original music, and a dash of romance with Oliver Queen- who comic book fans know as the Green Arrow!
9. What was it like writing your grandmother into the story?
It was incredibly meaningful for me, and made this book feel like my most personal novel to date. My grandmother was tragically taken from us too soon, so I never got to meet her, but I’ve always felt connected to her, and I know she was with me in spirit while I was writing this.
10. Tell me about how the story was directly inspired by your roots amidst the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
I was born long after the Revolution, once my parents had escaped to the U.S., but it still had a formidable impact on my life. My parents did an amazing job of instilling my brother and me with our culture and history, and they were very honest with us about the trauma of the Revolution and their escape, so it was always there in the background of my life. When it was first suggested to me that I would be a good fit to write a Black Canary story, I immediately imagined a world where women and girls are forbidden to sing, and how Dinah Lance could be a beacon of hope in an oppressive patriarchy. The reason I thought of that is because of what happened after the Iranian Revolution, when women could be jailed for singing publicly. It’s a cruelty that exists to this day there, and something I wanted to wrestle with on the page.
11. How did your time as a former teen pop singer/songwriter help you bring Dinah Lance to life?
I think my former teen pop singer life was crucial to me writing Dinah’s story. It allowed me to write three original songs into the book, but also to tap into those feelings I experienced when I was her age and when life felt so intense that words alone weren’t enough to express myself with, I had to put it into song.
12. What are you working on now?
It’s been a year of getting to write my dream characters- first with Black Canary, and then I recently signed with Disney to write a historical fantasy YA about Princess Jasmine!! It comes out in Fall 2022, so I’m about to dive into work on that manuscript!
13. Do you have any book recommendations for the audience? Maybe something you have read recently?
My favorites of 2020 were SUCH A FUN AGE by Kiley Reid in adult fiction, and LOBIZONA by Romina Russell in YA. Both are absolutely amazing!
Read
June 5, 2022Tengo que decir que sabía poco sobre Dinah Lance/Black Canary. Me encanta cómo Monir ha sabido coger toda la mitología de Batman e introducirla en una atmósfera distópica. Nos presenta un Gotham sumido en la oscuridad impuesta por los Cobblepot y una sociedad secreta de hombres poderosos.
En ese mundo encontramos a Dinah, una joven que no sabe ni mucho menos que en ella reside la única oportunidad de cambiar las cosas. Lo que más me gusta es que la autora no construye a una protagonista impecable llena de virtudes, sino que la hija del agente Lance, como buena adolescente, es una chica que está desarrollando su personalidad, que es terca y que cometerá errores a lo largo de la historia.
En esta reinterpretación de Canario Negro no podía faltar su mítico compañero sentimental: Oliver Queen. En este caso, es un James Dean de la generación Z marcado por un trágico pasado y que oculta más capas de las que se podría esperar. Además, su relación no es la típica historia de amor adolescente, sino que sus sentimientos cambian y su relación no es idílica, sino que pasan por diferentes fases.
Esta novela me parece estupenda para que los adolescentes se acerquen a la distopía y reflexionen sobre cómo los pensamientos totalitarios pueden provocar la pérdida de derechos humanos.
En ese mundo encontramos a Dinah, una joven que no sabe ni mucho menos que en ella reside la única oportunidad de cambiar las cosas. Lo que más me gusta es que la autora no construye a una protagonista impecable llena de virtudes, sino que la hija del agente Lance, como buena adolescente, es una chica que está desarrollando su personalidad, que es terca y que cometerá errores a lo largo de la historia.
En esta reinterpretación de Canario Negro no podía faltar su mítico compañero sentimental: Oliver Queen. En este caso, es un James Dean de la generación Z marcado por un trágico pasado y que oculta más capas de las que se podría esperar. Además, su relación no es la típica historia de amor adolescente, sino que sus sentimientos cambian y su relación no es idílica, sino que pasan por diferentes fases.
Esta novela me parece estupenda para que los adolescentes se acerquen a la distopía y reflexionen sobre cómo los pensamientos totalitarios pueden provocar la pérdida de derechos humanos.
didnt-finish
April 15, 2021DNF at 34%. I can't do it. I can't keep reading. The set up for this world is just so fucking bonkers and unbelievable that it's ruining the entire story for me.
This future Gotham is a Handmaid's Tale patriarchal society run by the Court of Owls, and the reason they were able to make society regress to this point is because they defeated all the superheroes and then somehow had a biological weapon that TOOK AWAY WOMEN'S ABILITIES TO SING SO THEY COULDN'T MAKE PROTEST MUSIC? DID I UNDERSTAND THAT RIGHT??
I can't care about Dinah or the slow burn reveal of our favorite DC characters littered in this world or her budding growth into a revolutionary when I just cannot wrap my head around the very premise this world is built upon.
At least there's one thing I can thank this novel for: Jen Bartel's INCREDIBLE cover. Look at that gorgeous work of art!
This future Gotham is a Handmaid's Tale patriarchal society run by the Court of Owls, and the reason they were able to make society regress to this point is because they defeated all the superheroes and then somehow had a biological weapon that TOOK AWAY WOMEN'S ABILITIES TO SING SO THEY COULDN'T MAKE PROTEST MUSIC? DID I UNDERSTAND THAT RIGHT??
I can't care about Dinah or the slow burn reveal of our favorite DC characters littered in this world or her budding growth into a revolutionary when I just cannot wrap my head around the very premise this world is built upon.
At least there's one thing I can thank this novel for: Jen Bartel's INCREDIBLE cover. Look at that gorgeous work of art!
January 1, 2021
I was very scared about reading this one as I haven't really cared for the others in this series. But this one OMG!!! I fell hard for it!! I could not put it down and I need more! I should have known that this was going to be good because I die hard loved The Final Six!! If you are a lover of Black Canary and the DC universe well then check out this one because Monir made this one come alive and it sucked me in!
December 24, 2020
Such an amazing origin story and enjoyed this one a lot!! Great fun reading this one!
June 8, 2021
I’ve loved the DC Icons series (hello, origin stories) from book one and am always there for another installation. Especially when they’re female-centered. Set in dystopian Gotham City, Black Canary: Breaking Silence follows high-school student Dinah Lance (of Green Arrow association). Dinah hasn’t quite discovered her own place in the world or her voice, but she’s about to step it up and take on the evil Court of Owls. The patriarchal Court of Owls has taken over Gotham City. There are no more superheroes, and women have been suppressed. They can talk but not sing. They may be seen but not heard. It’s all very Handmaid’s Tale, not very pleasant (obviously), and the exploration of social issues is expertly done and incorporated into the plot by Monir. Dinah is strong and independent, but not without her teen follies. In short, she’s a relatable and believable character. And for those who love a superhero story, this book is a must.
August 3, 2021
First off, what a sensational cover! I picked it up just for that, and when I knew it was a DC Icons book, I was sold.
⚖️ Plot: This was a great coming of age superhero story for the younger generation of fans. Whilst my perfect cup of tea is more Warbringer and Soul Stealer, I enjoyed this nonetheless. Some really insightful inclusions of themes that we should all consider and care about.
🗺 World: Being so attached to music myself, I cannot imagine a world where dancing is prohibited. This was very well and realistically portrayed throughout the book. I only wish the villains were developed a little more to instill their threat and fear in us.
💑 Characters: Dina is delightful! A truly inspiring modern day teen hero we could all aspire to be. Once more, I wish the other characters were elaborated upon more so we could truly differentiate between them but that’s always a issue with a book this size.
⚖️ Plot: This was a great coming of age superhero story for the younger generation of fans. Whilst my perfect cup of tea is more Warbringer and Soul Stealer, I enjoyed this nonetheless. Some really insightful inclusions of themes that we should all consider and care about.
🗺 World: Being so attached to music myself, I cannot imagine a world where dancing is prohibited. This was very well and realistically portrayed throughout the book. I only wish the villains were developed a little more to instill their threat and fear in us.
💑 Characters: Dina is delightful! A truly inspiring modern day teen hero we could all aspire to be. Once more, I wish the other characters were elaborated upon more so we could truly differentiate between them but that’s always a issue with a book this size.
December 30, 2020
Being on top only means you can fall. But you need to remember to get back up again.
Dinah's secret wish is to sing, but women rights have been limited under the new regime the Court of Owls. The mayor stole their singing voices, breaking their will to fight back. Superheros are from the past. But Dinah's determined to keep the small parts of music she can find, an illegal act, punishable by death.
But when she's pushed to her limit and can't stay silent toward the injustice againt women any longer. She just might find a voice louder than the Court of Owls victim's screams.
Dinah's secret wish is to sing, but women rights have been limited under the new regime the Court of Owls. The mayor stole their singing voices, breaking their will to fight back. Superheros are from the past. But Dinah's determined to keep the small parts of music she can find, an illegal act, punishable by death.
But when she's pushed to her limit and can't stay silent toward the injustice againt women any longer. She just might find a voice louder than the Court of Owls victim's screams.
January 21, 2021
"The Handmaid's Tale meets the DC universe..." SOLD! To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of The Handmaid's Tale (or the sequel... zzzz) but to revamp it into the DC world? My curiosity got the best of me. Now, I'm not tooooooo familiar with the DC world outside of what I know from movies and very little research when I would want to deep dive every once in a while (which wasn't very deep tbh) but it was fun to recognize some of the names from this universe and to learn about Black Canary (who I really had zero familiarity with).
Gotham is now ruled by the Court of Owls and they have killed all superheroes in their sleep. Women have little to no rights and marginalized communities are in hiding. Now, I read somewhere that the author brings inspiration from her Iranian background w/re to the Iranian Revolution (also called Islamic Revolution) into this story, which is very interesting. But back to Dinah, our Black Canary...
The story starts off fairly slow and ramps up towards the final quarter.. and while I found some things didn't *quite* make sense, who doesn't love women empowerment and having their voices heard? But don't forget this is also a YA novel so hello insta love... lots of looks and thoughts and well... you get the gist. And this felt familiar within that genre but with DC characters (which I am A-OK with).
I may not be quite the right audience but I wanted to dive into this world and see what Monir was bringing to the table with this origin story. I did enjoy it but I do think I may need to learn more about this world to appreciate it a bit more. Entertaining? Yes. I loved the message within and if you like your YA with a superhero? Here's your book.
Gotham is now ruled by the Court of Owls and they have killed all superheroes in their sleep. Women have little to no rights and marginalized communities are in hiding. Now, I read somewhere that the author brings inspiration from her Iranian background w/re to the Iranian Revolution (also called Islamic Revolution) into this story, which is very interesting. But back to Dinah, our Black Canary...
The story starts off fairly slow and ramps up towards the final quarter.. and while I found some things didn't *quite* make sense, who doesn't love women empowerment and having their voices heard? But don't forget this is also a YA novel so hello insta love... lots of looks and thoughts and well... you get the gist. And this felt familiar within that genre but with DC characters (which I am A-OK with).
I may not be quite the right audience but I wanted to dive into this world and see what Monir was bringing to the table with this origin story. I did enjoy it but I do think I may need to learn more about this world to appreciate it a bit more. Entertaining? Yes. I loved the message within and if you like your YA with a superhero? Here's your book.
June 15, 2022
To be honest, I don't know anything about Black Canary. So this was a really fresh look at the universe for me! However, my ignorance on the source material may explain why certain characters were so prominent in a story I felt they had no need to be in. You see, this is a fight the patriarchy story set in a dystopian Gotham where the super heroes are dead and women have literally been silenced by a gas Penguin created. Well, silenced as in they can't sing. Which is significant for Black Canary but kind of ridiculous overall...but Gotham is run by the Court of Owls now and Dinah has a rebel heart.
The discovery of her mom being Black Canary was a little late in the game for me and I hated the love interest because the heart of this book is a fight the patriarchy, girl power story and it's dampened having a boy tell her to fight and be the motivation to actually get things done. Overall though, a surprisingly well-written feminist book.
The discovery of her mom being Black Canary was a little late in the game for me and I hated the love interest because the heart of this book is a fight the patriarchy, girl power story and it's dampened having a boy tell her to fight and be the motivation to actually get things done. Overall though, a surprisingly well-written feminist book.
December 8, 2025
In our current political climate feminine rage just feels right. The book could have used more of it.
For the most part, the book is a fun and easy read. The world is a bit silly, but it is just a set piece for the plot and should be treated superficially. The high school drama and romance was cute.
However, the build-up was too slow. For being a superhero book, there should be more heroics. I thought her defiant attitude was perfect, but her actions were too passive. Maybe that was on purpose to show the helplessness under oppression, but I would have preferred seeing her act more as a hero before her powers as evidence that she deserves them.
The book did well in stoking my ire at the oppressive patriarchal society. My anger however wasn’t properly satiated. Maybe it is because the book is PG or young adult, but it did not give me the visceral vengeance that I craved.
Still, I had a good time in Gotham rubbing elbows with the villains and heroes. 3 Canary Cries against the patriarchy out of 5.
For the most part, the book is a fun and easy read. The world is a bit silly, but it is just a set piece for the plot and should be treated superficially. The high school drama and romance was cute.
However, the build-up was too slow. For being a superhero book, there should be more heroics. I thought her defiant attitude was perfect, but her actions were too passive. Maybe that was on purpose to show the helplessness under oppression, but I would have preferred seeing her act more as a hero before her powers as evidence that she deserves them.
The book did well in stoking my ire at the oppressive patriarchal society. My anger however wasn’t properly satiated. Maybe it is because the book is PG or young adult, but it did not give me the visceral vengeance that I craved.
Still, I had a good time in Gotham rubbing elbows with the villains and heroes. 3 Canary Cries against the patriarchy out of 5.
August 19, 2022
3⭐ - it was enjoyable
Like, it was better than Batman or Superman....
But I expected this to be my favorite next to Catwoman....
It was a bit boring, and Dinah was so young...
I do like her "powers", but they felt a bit underwhelmed in this book....
But it wasn't too bad honestly.
My friend who's big into music and loves singing and song writing, would have enjoyed this more I'm sure 🤭
Like, it was better than Batman or Superman....
But I expected this to be my favorite next to Catwoman....
It was a bit boring, and Dinah was so young...
I do like her "powers", but they felt a bit underwhelmed in this book....
But it wasn't too bad honestly.
My friend who's big into music and loves singing and song writing, would have enjoyed this more I'm sure 🤭
February 9, 2021
Want to see more...
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This was cute and I love the world but the characters and pacing of the book fell really sort for me
But stunning cover right?!?!
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This was cute and I love the world but the characters and pacing of the book fell really sort for me
But stunning cover right?!?!
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December 23, 2023
A pretty cool take on Dinah's origin story! I didn't expect the Silencing twist and how close to home that would hit Dinah, but the way Monir developed that was wonderful. I wasn't a big fan of the romance, though, and thought the final action scenes/resolutions were a bit too rushed.
July 30, 2024
A post-justice league twist on an incredible girl with the voice of an angel!! Loved this book so much, what an amazing story!!!
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