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DC Icons: Harley Quinn #1
Harley Quinn: Reckoning
In this new launch of a trilogy within the DC Icons universe, experience the origin story of a Super-Villain. This is the Harley Quinn backstory fans have been waiting for.
“Allen’s Harley is a fierce, righteous, brilliant, and preternaturally brace ball of chaos. I loved and feared every single minute with her.” –Dahlia Adler, author of Cool for the Summer
When Harleen Quinzel scores an internship in a psych lab at Gotham University, she's more than ecstatic; she's desperate to make a Big Scientific Discovery that will land her a full-ride college scholarship and get her away from her abusive father. But when Harleen witnesses the way women are treated across STEM departments--and experiences harassment herself--she decides that revenge and justice are more important than her own dreams.
Harleen finds her place in an intoxicating vigilante girl gang called the Reckoning, who creates chaos to inspire change. And when Harleen falls for another girl in the gang, it finally seems like she's found her true passions. But what starts off as pranks and mischief quickly turns deadly as one of the gang members is found murdered--and a terrifying conspiracy is uncovered that puts the life Harleen has worked so hard for at stake. Will she choose her future--or will she choose revenge?
In this refreshingly feminist spin on the story of our favorite villainess, Harley Reckoning traces Harleen's journey from precocious, revenge-obsessed teenage girl to a hardcore justice-seeker on her way to becoming the most captivating Super Villain of all time. This is one story that you won't be able to put down.
“Allen’s Harley is a fierce, righteous, brilliant, and preternaturally brace ball of chaos. I loved and feared every single minute with her.” –Dahlia Adler, author of Cool for the Summer
When Harleen Quinzel scores an internship in a psych lab at Gotham University, she's more than ecstatic; she's desperate to make a Big Scientific Discovery that will land her a full-ride college scholarship and get her away from her abusive father. But when Harleen witnesses the way women are treated across STEM departments--and experiences harassment herself--she decides that revenge and justice are more important than her own dreams.
Harleen finds her place in an intoxicating vigilante girl gang called the Reckoning, who creates chaos to inspire change. And when Harleen falls for another girl in the gang, it finally seems like she's found her true passions. But what starts off as pranks and mischief quickly turns deadly as one of the gang members is found murdered--and a terrifying conspiracy is uncovered that puts the life Harleen has worked so hard for at stake. Will she choose her future--or will she choose revenge?
In this refreshingly feminist spin on the story of our favorite villainess, Harley Reckoning traces Harleen's journey from precocious, revenge-obsessed teenage girl to a hardcore justice-seeker on her way to becoming the most captivating Super Villain of all time. This is one story that you won't be able to put down.
385 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 26, 2022
162 people are currently reading
4068 people want to read
About the author
Rachael Allen
7 books317 followersQuick bio:
RACHAEL ALLEN is a scientist by day and kid lit author by night. She is the winner of the 2019 Georgia Young Adult Author of the Year Award, and her books include Harley Quinn: Reckoning (forthcoming, RHCB ‘22), 17 First Kisses, The Revenge Playbook, The Summer of Impossibilities, and A Taxonomy of Love, which was a Junior Library Guild Selection and was among the 2018 Books All Young Georgians Should Read. Rachael lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband, two children, and two dire wolves. She loves homemade peach ice cream, having adventures all over the world, and stories that make her feel like she’s been poured inside another person.
More stuff about me:
- I love reading and writing YA.
- I'm represented by the fabulous Susan Hawk of Upstart Crow Literary.
- Laurie Halse Anderson once gave me writerly advice on a post-it, and it was the culmination of my being.
- I'm obsessed with football. Playing flag football, watching pro football (Falcons Rise Up!), being a belligerent Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets fan, and playing fantasy football with my family.
- I have held a human brain. (It was during anatomy lab. I'm not, like, a serial killer.)
- I'm such a wuss, I get scared watching the previews for horror movies. Seriously, when a scary commercial comes on, I squeal and frantically jab the fast forward button on our DVR remote.
- I love reading about strong women protagonists, fully imagined worlds, anything STEM, rebellion against the establishment, neurodegenerative diseases, and makeover montages - though probably not all in the same book.
- Some writers I love: Laini Taylor, Raina Telgemeier, Becky Albertalli, Jason Reynolds, Laurie Halse Anderson, Aisha Saeed, Libba Bray, Kara Taylor, Elizabeth Acevedo, Adam Silvera, Nina LaCour, E. Lockhart, Nicola Yoon, Julie Murphy, Sarah Dessen, Stephanie Perkins, I could go on forever.
RACHAEL ALLEN is a scientist by day and kid lit author by night. She is the winner of the 2019 Georgia Young Adult Author of the Year Award, and her books include Harley Quinn: Reckoning (forthcoming, RHCB ‘22), 17 First Kisses, The Revenge Playbook, The Summer of Impossibilities, and A Taxonomy of Love, which was a Junior Library Guild Selection and was among the 2018 Books All Young Georgians Should Read. Rachael lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband, two children, and two dire wolves. She loves homemade peach ice cream, having adventures all over the world, and stories that make her feel like she’s been poured inside another person.
More stuff about me:
- I love reading and writing YA.
- I'm represented by the fabulous Susan Hawk of Upstart Crow Literary.
- Laurie Halse Anderson once gave me writerly advice on a post-it, and it was the culmination of my being.
- I'm obsessed with football. Playing flag football, watching pro football (Falcons Rise Up!), being a belligerent Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets fan, and playing fantasy football with my family.
- I have held a human brain. (It was during anatomy lab. I'm not, like, a serial killer.)
- I'm such a wuss, I get scared watching the previews for horror movies. Seriously, when a scary commercial comes on, I squeal and frantically jab the fast forward button on our DVR remote.
- I love reading about strong women protagonists, fully imagined worlds, anything STEM, rebellion against the establishment, neurodegenerative diseases, and makeover montages - though probably not all in the same book.
- Some writers I love: Laini Taylor, Raina Telgemeier, Becky Albertalli, Jason Reynolds, Laurie Halse Anderson, Aisha Saeed, Libba Bray, Kara Taylor, Elizabeth Acevedo, Adam Silvera, Nina LaCour, E. Lockhart, Nicola Yoon, Julie Murphy, Sarah Dessen, Stephanie Perkins, I could go on forever.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 305 reviews
May 30, 2022
This was a solid entry in the DC Icons series. I have to admit I was a tad bit nervous because Harley Quinn is one of my favorite DC characters and I’m not a huge fan of all the novels that surround comic book characters. But this was a pleasant surprise and I think it will be a great fit for those that are genuinely interested in learning more about her origin story.
The novel takes place in both the past and the present. Readers will enter the story as Harley finds out that her close friend and partner has been harmed by an unidentified individual. As readers continue through the story, they’ll learn more about Harleys home life, her extraordinary capabilities in the sciences, and her deep desire to attend Gotham University. There were some great explorations of Harley’s friendships, her pitfalls, her diagnosis of ADHD, and her aspiration to leave her abusive father behind after losing her mother. I was pleasantly surprised at the extensive character development that readers are privileged to while reading this story. I know quite a bit about Harley, but I will admit that I learned some new things while reading it.
One of the main emphasis of this book is the role of women in STEM while battling misogyny. There is a content warning for grooming and sexual assault. The author spent some time basing some of the scenarios of this book on real life events and the work that women have to do to carve out a space in this field. Harley is the epitome of someone trying to create that space especially with her research on the genetic materials that make someone a villain and someone less likely to be a villain. My only issue with this exploration is that readers never really truly see a single good man in this book. It felt like they were all villains to certain degree and I didn’t like the message that sent.
Overall, this was well written and well paced. Fans of the DC universe, particularly Gotham, will enjoy some the cameos from other characters including the Joker and Poison Ivy. I loved the representation and exploration of Harley being bisexual. I was afraid that we weren’t going to get that. If you’re a fan of DC, this one might actually be worth picking up.
The novel takes place in both the past and the present. Readers will enter the story as Harley finds out that her close friend and partner has been harmed by an unidentified individual. As readers continue through the story, they’ll learn more about Harleys home life, her extraordinary capabilities in the sciences, and her deep desire to attend Gotham University. There were some great explorations of Harley’s friendships, her pitfalls, her diagnosis of ADHD, and her aspiration to leave her abusive father behind after losing her mother. I was pleasantly surprised at the extensive character development that readers are privileged to while reading this story. I know quite a bit about Harley, but I will admit that I learned some new things while reading it.
One of the main emphasis of this book is the role of women in STEM while battling misogyny. There is a content warning for grooming and sexual assault. The author spent some time basing some of the scenarios of this book on real life events and the work that women have to do to carve out a space in this field. Harley is the epitome of someone trying to create that space especially with her research on the genetic materials that make someone a villain and someone less likely to be a villain. My only issue with this exploration is that readers never really truly see a single good man in this book. It felt like they were all villains to certain degree and I didn’t like the message that sent.
Overall, this was well written and well paced. Fans of the DC universe, particularly Gotham, will enjoy some the cameos from other characters including the Joker and Poison Ivy. I loved the representation and exploration of Harley being bisexual. I was afraid that we weren’t going to get that. If you’re a fan of DC, this one might actually be worth picking up.
June 4, 2023
Journey of self-discovery
I thoroughly enjoyed the way Harleen and her companions formed a vigilante team, collaborating to unveil the identity of the individual hunting of girls on campus.
The writing has sharp wit and as the story unfolds and the villain is exposed you can't help but anticipate the next chapter. In my opinion, the dual timelines weren't essential since the prologue already provided enough information.
It was intriguing to see the Joker make a brief appearance, leaving me eagerly anticipating his further involvement in "Ravenous," the second book in this series. I do understand that this first installment serves as an introductory book, delving into the life of Harleen Quinzel during her teenage years.
Dr. Rachel Allen demonstrates her exceptional talent as a writer, and I particularly appreciated her thoughtful afterword.
I thoroughly enjoyed the way Harleen and her companions formed a vigilante team, collaborating to unveil the identity of the individual hunting of girls on campus.
The writing has sharp wit and as the story unfolds and the villain is exposed you can't help but anticipate the next chapter. In my opinion, the dual timelines weren't essential since the prologue already provided enough information.
It was intriguing to see the Joker make a brief appearance, leaving me eagerly anticipating his further involvement in "Ravenous," the second book in this series. I do understand that this first installment serves as an introductory book, delving into the life of Harleen Quinzel during her teenage years.
Dr. Rachel Allen demonstrates her exceptional talent as a writer, and I particularly appreciated her thoughtful afterword.
May 30, 2025
Women in STEM meets revenge feminist girl gangs on campus meets my favorite character ever, Harley Quinn. LOVED AND ADORED!
May 18, 2022
Do I have a new favorite DC Icons book? Because I think that I do.... Also don't mind me SCREAMING at the character who was introduced towards the end.
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September 30, 2022Well, that was delightful!
May 31, 2023
Harley Quinn: Reckoning by Rachael Allen is an original take on Harley Quinn's origin, a rocking feminist revenge plot, and a mystery all rolled up into one. Harley Quinn: Reckoning is part of the DC Icons series which tells origin stories for the young adult audience before the hero or villain has become a superhero or supervillain. So far the DC Icons series has covered, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Catwoman, and now Harley Quinn. I have only read Batman: Nightcrawler before and I had some mixed feelings I like Harley Quinn: Reckoning a lot better. Harley Quinn is one of my favorite characters and represented pretty well here it was a little shaky at the beginning but at the end, I felt she was nailed. The narrative starts with a flash forward then goes back 8 months and catches up to flash forward a little bit after the halfway point. I think it was a good idea to start with the flash forward because the book sets up a lot to get you there then become unputdownable when you get there. This book was paced pretty well. A big part of this book was the mystery, and I was compelled to find out who had done it. There are a couple of really clever plot twists and there is some twist that leads to the mystery that is Harley Quinn. The book dives into the bisexual aspect of Harley and is very LGTBQIA+. I do have small trigger warnings for domestic abuse and unwanted sexual advances. I read this book early thanks to Netgalley and Random House Children's. Harley Quinn: Reckoning is published on April 26, 2022.
The Plot Summary: Harleen Quinzel is a high school student taking part in STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) internship where she gets to work at Gotham University. She discovers a lot of sexism and wants to get even. She finds kinship in other girls and forms a vigilante group called the Reckoning. They take revenge and have fun doing it but they stumble on to something more sinister than sexism when a member ends up in a coma, and the other members are hunted. Harleen goes from victim to aggressor as she takes steps to become Harley Quinn.
What I Liked: The twist in the plot and the ones that are about Harley Quinn are clever and the final one is great. I liked all the references that were worked in about the hyenas, Pamela Isley (Poison Ivy), the stuffed beaver (that one I was shocked but I loved it), the references to the Joker, and the work in of Harley's catchphrases. I liked the plot of the story. I like that the author explains in the acknowledgments that these incidents of sexual harassment are from real-life interactions. I how the iteration with Harley and her abusive father was portrayed and the result of their relationship.
What I Disliked: the added pop culture references, about Tiktok and celebrities in the real world, I rolled my eyes a couple of times. I counted one male character that was decent and not a total pig it would have been nice if there was at least one more. I could not stand the character of Kylie.
Recommendation: If you are a fan of the character of Harley Quinn then this book is a must. Having been a fan of Harley's I've read a lot a not always the best this is one of the better stories about her. This and Harleen by Stjepan Šejić is my favorites which both happen to be origin stories. I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I rated Harley Quinn: Reckoning by Rachael Allen 5 out of 5 stars. This book was right on the nose of 4.5 but the cleverness of it put me over the edge. This book is proposed as a trilogy and I'm so there for the next book in the evolution of Harley Quinn.
The Plot Summary: Harleen Quinzel is a high school student taking part in STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) internship where she gets to work at Gotham University. She discovers a lot of sexism and wants to get even. She finds kinship in other girls and forms a vigilante group called the Reckoning. They take revenge and have fun doing it but they stumble on to something more sinister than sexism when a member ends up in a coma, and the other members are hunted. Harleen goes from victim to aggressor as she takes steps to become Harley Quinn.
What I Liked: The twist in the plot and the ones that are about Harley Quinn are clever and the final one is great. I liked all the references that were worked in about the hyenas, Pamela Isley (Poison Ivy), the stuffed beaver (that one I was shocked but I loved it), the references to the Joker, and the work in of Harley's catchphrases. I liked the plot of the story. I like that the author explains in the acknowledgments that these incidents of sexual harassment are from real-life interactions. I how the iteration with Harley and her abusive father was portrayed and the result of their relationship.
What I Disliked: the added pop culture references, about Tiktok and celebrities in the real world, I rolled my eyes a couple of times. I counted one male character that was decent and not a total pig it would have been nice if there was at least one more. I could not stand the character of Kylie.
Recommendation: If you are a fan of the character of Harley Quinn then this book is a must. Having been a fan of Harley's I've read a lot a not always the best this is one of the better stories about her. This and Harleen by Stjepan Šejić is my favorites which both happen to be origin stories. I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I rated Harley Quinn: Reckoning by Rachael Allen 5 out of 5 stars. This book was right on the nose of 4.5 but the cleverness of it put me over the edge. This book is proposed as a trilogy and I'm so there for the next book in the evolution of Harley Quinn.
August 11, 2024
2.5 What the hell was this?! I thought when I was dipping my toe into superhero comic novels, Harley Quinn seemed like a safe bet. I listened to the Graphic Audio Deadpool book, and I thought this was going to be a superhero action comedy. I could not have been more wrong. I liked the cover art, the name sounded interesting. but the only reason I didn't bail on this on hour two was because I liked all the feminism. It's a nice primer. Harley Quinn: Reckoning is a solid intro to feminism for fifteen-year-old girls. It's actually pretty edgy for that audience! Great for teens, but not good. It's educational! An edgy superhero teenage prequel where she... smooches people and catches a college professor perving on girls.
This is five hundred pages? It's a melodrama about a poor high school graduate interning at a local college in hopes of finding a scholarship. She is ridiculously industrious, an ambitious scientist studying the origins of powers in supervillains but she's also a gymnast and wanna-be crime fighter. Her home life is terrible however and her dad is an emotionally abusive drunk. Harleen Q has it pretty rough ultimately. But, boy, is she laser-focused on securing her scientific degree. The author was actually in sciences herself originally because it's very detailed. This would be a great book for teen girls who are interested in science degrees actually because she is no-holds-barred, fighting to the teeth just to get a shot at her path to graduate school. But, she has other sides, she also has to have a feminist murder mystery when teenybopper Birds Of Prey stand-ins. Reckoning was torture until the last 20 percent, where it ramped up to a satisfying conclusion. I was really not the target audience. This is a 500-page, horny children's book about going to college and learning that no means no. This is not what I expected a superhero book to be.
This is five hundred pages? It's a melodrama about a poor high school graduate interning at a local college in hopes of finding a scholarship. She is ridiculously industrious, an ambitious scientist studying the origins of powers in supervillains but she's also a gymnast and wanna-be crime fighter. Her home life is terrible however and her dad is an emotionally abusive drunk. Harleen Q has it pretty rough ultimately. But, boy, is she laser-focused on securing her scientific degree. The author was actually in sciences herself originally because it's very detailed. This would be a great book for teen girls who are interested in science degrees actually because she is no-holds-barred, fighting to the teeth just to get a shot at her path to graduate school. But, she has other sides, she also has to have a feminist murder mystery when teenybopper Birds Of Prey stand-ins. Reckoning was torture until the last 20 percent, where it ramped up to a satisfying conclusion. I was really not the target audience. This is a 500-page, horny children's book about going to college and learning that no means no. This is not what I expected a superhero book to be.
April 26, 2022
The complex evolution of Harley Quinn has always been fascinating to me. When I saw that this book dealt with her origin story, I was very excited to read it. With many writers, she feels misunderstood and not necessarily taken seriously. Her relationships with the Joker and Poison Ivy are often debated. (Personally, I love Poison Ivy and Harley!) However, Rachael Allen makes it clear from the first page that she deeply understands Harley, her bisexuality, her intelligence, and how conflicted between good/evil she is.
In Harley Quinn: Reckoning, Harley must decide whether she is a hero or villain, or someone in between. Allen does an incredible job of including real-world issues such as sexism, sexual abuse, and misuse of power- all with a focus on STEM. The play of power dynamics that takes place in the books is all too real, forcing Harley and her friends to make difficult choices about who to trust. While much of the book deals with serious topics, there is also plenty of witty banter and funny, heartfelt moments.
I loved how Harley and her friends ended up forming a vigilante group and working together to discover who is hunting the girls on campus. The writing is witty and razor-sharp, seamlessly chilling as the plot comes together and the villain is revealed. I also appreciated the cameos from later parts of Harley’s life. I hope Allen can write more of Harley’s story! I really enjoyed Allen’s take on Harley’s origin story and found it very creative and nuanced. I can’t wait to see what Allen writes next!
Harley Quinn: Reckoning is available now. Thank you so much to Rachael Allen, Random House Children’s, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
In Harley Quinn: Reckoning, Harley must decide whether she is a hero or villain, or someone in between. Allen does an incredible job of including real-world issues such as sexism, sexual abuse, and misuse of power- all with a focus on STEM. The play of power dynamics that takes place in the books is all too real, forcing Harley and her friends to make difficult choices about who to trust. While much of the book deals with serious topics, there is also plenty of witty banter and funny, heartfelt moments.
I loved how Harley and her friends ended up forming a vigilante group and working together to discover who is hunting the girls on campus. The writing is witty and razor-sharp, seamlessly chilling as the plot comes together and the villain is revealed. I also appreciated the cameos from later parts of Harley’s life. I hope Allen can write more of Harley’s story! I really enjoyed Allen’s take on Harley’s origin story and found it very creative and nuanced. I can’t wait to see what Allen writes next!
Harley Quinn: Reckoning is available now. Thank you so much to Rachael Allen, Random House Children’s, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 3, 2023
I was really excited to read this, and have loved a lot of the series, so far. The villain stories were definitely my most anticipated, but unfortunately I struggled to enjoy this one. The story was interesting, but didn't keep my attention very well, as it took a while for anything to happen.
The overall writing was quite childish, and a lot of the dialogue between the friends felt awkward. I liked parts of the modernisation of gotham, but a lot of it was difficult to imagine, especially the pop culture references and modern artists being named. I mean, could you imagine a Lizzo concert in arkham asylum?? or a bunch of ghost busting youtubers doing an overnight challenge?
I thought the book had a great overall message, and it was refreshing to see, but for me the young narrative, and way Harley was written wasn't my personal favourite of the series. Regardless, I am excited to see which character is next.
The overall writing was quite childish, and a lot of the dialogue between the friends felt awkward. I liked parts of the modernisation of gotham, but a lot of it was difficult to imagine, especially the pop culture references and modern artists being named. I mean, could you imagine a Lizzo concert in arkham asylum?? or a bunch of ghost busting youtubers doing an overnight challenge?
I thought the book had a great overall message, and it was refreshing to see, but for me the young narrative, and way Harley was written wasn't my personal favourite of the series. Regardless, I am excited to see which character is next.
July 1, 2022
True steminism is falling in love with a murderous clown, getting a mentally ill girlfriend, and taking science classes with comically evil misogynistic men.
January 15, 2023
This was a great book. Every chapter had something interesting! Can't wait for book two!!!
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October 17, 2022
TW: misogyny, sexual harassment, sexual assault, grooming, parental abuse, death
Okay DC icons go off!!! After I really enjoyed Black Canary: Breaking Silence last year, I thought it was a one-off but this one was also super feminist and it ate. I think I just really like Harley Quinn.
Harleen Quinzel gets an internship in a psych lab at Gotham University. There she wants to make a big scientific discovery so she can get a full ride scholarship and get away from her abusive father. When she faces harassment and then sees how other women are treated in STEM, she decides to take revenge and justice into her own hands along with a group of other girls.
Okay first I think this could have been unrelated to DC and the character Harley Quinn at all. Like I did really like the connections to the world and other DC characters but this would have hit without that and with brand new characters.
BUT honestly I really liked her characterization in this. She's a tiny bit different but she still felt like she had the energy of Harley Quinn to me. A spunky, violent, but smart and bubbly girl. The characterization of Harley that I love is chaotic and cute girl and not you know, the Joker's dumb hot girlfriend who exists only for him. When she's her own character completely unrelated to him, yes. She's also super young in this though and you can see the path that is going to lead her to becoming Harley Quinn. This book leaned so hard into her bisexuality and was so gay. Loved that.
Some of the references to other DC characters really had me going like I didn't think we would see the taxidermied beaver but here we are?? Subtle moments like her working on a catchphrase or dyeing her hair were so good tbh. Then Poison Ivy??? Yes book 2 can we just-
There was a LOT of gross misogynistic men in this and it was truly infuriating to listen to all the nasty things that happened but as the author said in her author's note, a lot of it was from real interactions. Women face the absolute worst in male dominated fields and I could rant for a long time how simply unfair that and the world is. Women get harassed and have to carve out a place in STEM and other fields and it makes me want to get a baseball bat and go ham ngl.
I loved the girl squad and I loved how they fought back against the misogyny together. Feminist rage books go HARD. Along all this there is a mystery and I was invested. I listened to the audiobook and it was really good. I really loved the narrator they got- she sounded so YOUNG but so Harley without being overdone.
September 19, 2022
CW for SA ***
This is a YA adventure that tackles some important issues. But the writing is at times too juvenile for the subject matter and it can be jarring. Aaaandd I'm sorry to say I found myself cringing at the dialogue and melodramatic tone quite often.
The characters were ok. I think Allen is very comfortable writing about Harley and she gives us a new take on her that is different from most other iterations. However, I found all of the other characters very surface level.
The story itself is a little boring and repetitive and everything is kinda obvious.
Anywho I am not the target audience for this story so I could be judging it too harshly which is why I gave it 3 instead of 2 stars. This is on the younger end of YA and I think it's amazing that there is a story like this for young folks. Allen talks about rampant misogyny in science and the disgusting acceptance and normalization of sexual assault in and out of the workplace.
Honestly if I had read this aged 11-15ish it would probably be my favorite thing in the world and I still think it's a pleasant if somewhat slow read.
This is a YA adventure that tackles some important issues. But the writing is at times too juvenile for the subject matter and it can be jarring. Aaaandd I'm sorry to say I found myself cringing at the dialogue and melodramatic tone quite often.
The characters were ok. I think Allen is very comfortable writing about Harley and she gives us a new take on her that is different from most other iterations. However, I found all of the other characters very surface level.
The story itself is a little boring and repetitive and everything is kinda obvious.
Anywho I am not the target audience for this story so I could be judging it too harshly which is why I gave it 3 instead of 2 stars. This is on the younger end of YA and I think it's amazing that there is a story like this for young folks. Allen talks about rampant misogyny in science and the disgusting acceptance and normalization of sexual assault in and out of the workplace.
Honestly if I had read this aged 11-15ish it would probably be my favorite thing in the world and I still think it's a pleasant if somewhat slow read.
June 3, 2022
This is an incredible book! I think it may be my absolute favorite Harley Quinn story. Great characters, great plot, great storytelling. There's just nothing at all I can find wrong with this book. I'm super super super excited that it's going to be a trilogy. I can't wait to read more!
August 2, 2022
As a biromantic woman with ADHD in a STEM PhD program, I cannot fully express how cathartic reading this book was. I'm all for strong female friendships and smashing the patriarchy. I'd love to have seen a tad more queer rep, but I love the casual queerness 💜💜💜
June 28, 2023
Fun read! Favorite quote:
“…Because I am strong. I’m a survivor. I am made of electricity and laughter, and no one will ever hurt me again.”
“…Because I am strong. I’m a survivor. I am made of electricity and laughter, and no one will ever hurt me again.”
Read
February 20, 2023Buddy-read this w/my 12-year-old cousin and I can report that kids lit is hitting way harder in the steminism department than it did a decade ago♦️
May 20, 2023
I love Harley, in all of her forms
February 26, 2025
This was such a fun 4 star read! It follows a teen version of Harley Quinn and has a satisfying feminist storyline. Definitely geared towards teen readers who love and read Harley Quinn comics, it’s written simply and clearly, which makes it easy to consume at a rapid pace, but it’s also got a considerable amount of depth to it! The author is a neuroscientist, which is awesome, and the plot focuses on Harleen’s STEM internship. It’s got plenty of diversity, LGBTQ+ rep, and ADHD rep.
I absolutely loved the idea of “The Reckoning,” a vigilante group of girls exacting revenge on awful, sexist men! I recognized so many situations in the plot that I, or women I know personally, have encountered, and Rachael Allen did an amazing job writing about them with sensitivity and depth. The cherry on top of this book, for me, was Harleen’s violent impulses that she plays out in her mind but doesn’t actually go through with! That was such a clever way to work her impending supervillain future into the plot. A solid read all around, and definitely planning on reading more in the series!
I absolutely loved the idea of “The Reckoning,” a vigilante group of girls exacting revenge on awful, sexist men! I recognized so many situations in the plot that I, or women I know personally, have encountered, and Rachael Allen did an amazing job writing about them with sensitivity and depth. The cherry on top of this book, for me, was Harleen’s violent impulses that she plays out in her mind but doesn’t actually go through with! That was such a clever way to work her impending supervillain future into the plot. A solid read all around, and definitely planning on reading more in the series!
May 2, 2024
"Maybe helping all of the women who come after is the best way to heal."
Honestly, if I were a woman in Gotham, I too would become a vigilante superhero who chases rapists out of town.
Honestly, I don't know how we're not all that already in the real world.
Honestly, if I were a woman in Gotham, I too would become a vigilante superhero who chases rapists out of town.
Honestly, I don't know how we're not all that already in the real world.
April 28, 2023
Super crazy and the ending was very unexpected
June 8, 2022
Let me start by saying I'm a big fan of Harley Quinn ever since she first appeared in Batman: The Animated Series. I really enjoyed reading about the early life of Harleen Quinzel. This reimagining of her backstory is quite great and I love all the Easter eggs the author sprinkled throughout the tale. Harleen was extremely well written and this story shows how she persevered through a horrible childhood and still came out on top. It highlights her intelligence and athleticism as well as that outrageous personality we love. I really wish I could give this a full five stars but I had some gripes with it that I'll go into.
The next part of this review will contain spoilers, so if you're not ready for that just know that in my opinion I believe the author tried to push a certain agenda too far.
While this story was obviously written to not just tell us the story of a young Harleen Quinzel and her journey into becoming Harley Quinn but to also shine light on the difficulties that women have in the STEM fields, in my own opinion I think this story takes it too far. I find it very hard to believe that every single male Harleen has interacted with in this story to be a piece of shit human being. Literally every male character, except for perhaps one classmate is some kind of sex offender asshole, EVERYONE! If this is a true representation of what it's like to be a woman, than I sincerely apologize, but for me, with everyone being such a trash human being and all the women being such amazing characters, it's just a hard pill to swallow.
The next part of this review will contain spoilers, so if you're not ready for that just know that in my opinion I believe the author tried to push a certain agenda too far.
While this story was obviously written to not just tell us the story of a young Harleen Quinzel and her journey into becoming Harley Quinn but to also shine light on the difficulties that women have in the STEM fields, in my own opinion I think this story takes it too far. I find it very hard to believe that every single male Harleen has interacted with in this story to be a piece of shit human being. Literally every male character, except for perhaps one classmate is some kind of sex offender asshole, EVERYONE! If this is a true representation of what it's like to be a woman, than I sincerely apologize, but for me, with everyone being such a trash human being and all the women being such amazing characters, it's just a hard pill to swallow.
July 5, 2022
I've read all the other young adult origin books in this series as, although they're not aimed at someone my age, I've still enjoyed them being young at heart.
I was very excited to see Harley Quinn added to the series, a trilogy no less, but sadly I won't be bothering with the rest.
We find a young Harley going to, what must be, the worst college in the world. At a party both she, and a friend, have bad experiences with young men, who won't take no for an awnser, and decide to get revenge.
Now this happening to one of them is bad enough but both of them? This is the first problem with the book, all men, it seems, are bad. Now I have no problem with Harley and her gang getting revenge on bad guys, it actually sounds pretty cool, but if it had been them going after, say, a gang of guys who treated them badly, it would've worked but a whole college packed with nothing but nasty sexist men? I don't think so. I do get, and even like, the message of girls fighting sexism but it's so ham fisted and preachy it starts to grate pretty soon.
This also isn't a particularly funny book, I've always enjoyed Harley's humour, it doesn't feel much like Harley at all if I'm honest and I could forgive the flaws of the book if it had at least entertained me, but it didn't, it was a real slog and I can't beleive they're stretching it over another two books.
Dissapointed.
I was very excited to see Harley Quinn added to the series, a trilogy no less, but sadly I won't be bothering with the rest.
We find a young Harley going to, what must be, the worst college in the world. At a party both she, and a friend, have bad experiences with young men, who won't take no for an awnser, and decide to get revenge.
Now this happening to one of them is bad enough but both of them? This is the first problem with the book, all men, it seems, are bad. Now I have no problem with Harley and her gang getting revenge on bad guys, it actually sounds pretty cool, but if it had been them going after, say, a gang of guys who treated them badly, it would've worked but a whole college packed with nothing but nasty sexist men? I don't think so. I do get, and even like, the message of girls fighting sexism but it's so ham fisted and preachy it starts to grate pretty soon.
This also isn't a particularly funny book, I've always enjoyed Harley's humour, it doesn't feel much like Harley at all if I'm honest and I could forgive the flaws of the book if it had at least entertained me, but it didn't, it was a real slog and I can't beleive they're stretching it over another two books.
Dissapointed.
April 26, 2022
so happy to find a book about Harley Quinn's origin.
loved it
this author did an amazing job at getting Harley and letting you seem all of her
her sexuality, her thoughts, her brain aka intelligence her ADHD lol and her fight with good vs bad
you get to decide if she is a hero or a villain and its a hard decision (by the way)
the group the reckoning kinda feels like a birds of prey type of group
I have so much more to say but I think it might give away some spoilers and I don't want that
so last thing is you are just gonna have to read this book for yourself
FYI this book is part of a series (origin stories of other DC characters) that I cant wait to read
I would like to thank NetGalley for giving me the ARC so I was able to read this book and then give a voluntary honest review. :)
loved it
this author did an amazing job at getting Harley and letting you seem all of her
her sexuality, her thoughts, her brain aka intelligence her ADHD lol and her fight with good vs bad
you get to decide if she is a hero or a villain and its a hard decision (by the way)
the group the reckoning kinda feels like a birds of prey type of group
I have so much more to say but I think it might give away some spoilers and I don't want that
so last thing is you are just gonna have to read this book for yourself
FYI this book is part of a series (origin stories of other DC characters) that I cant wait to read
I would like to thank NetGalley for giving me the ARC so I was able to read this book and then give a voluntary honest review. :)
December 23, 2022
i liked the themes in this book but i felt like the writing was really cringy and the plot points were predictable. as soon as i met the person who ended up becoming the main villain i knew he was the villain. i also think that it was really unbelievable that every single man (with the exception of one side character) was an awful human being. also why was this college so messed up?
July 19, 2023
"Harley Quinn: Reckoning" is a great book. I grew up watching Batman: The Animated Series and have been reading a lot of Batman comics in recent years, so I was intrigued when I found out about a new book series with Harley (Harleen) as the main character. I am not disappointed. While her story is different than the other stories I've seen her in, I actually like Rachael Allen's portrayal of Harleen better than most of the portrayals I've seen of her.
In this story, Harleen is a teenager and intern at a psych lab in Gotham University who lives with an abusive father. She and her friends - and many other women at the university - are harassed and assaulted. The university does nothing and sweeps atrocities under the rug. Harleen and her friends (Bernice, Jasmin, Bianca, Kylie) form a vigilante group to fight against the injustices and misogyny. As the story progresses, they are targeted and threatened.
The plot is well-written and the characterization is solid. I was hooked from the beginning and the story kept me engaged throughout. The stakes remained high. There is some good social commentary and the book is realistic. I also really felt for Harleen and her friends and was invested in their characters from the start. Indeed, Harleen is a very well-written character and has a great character arc with solid character development also. Allen did a great job in writing from her POV - especially in showing Harleen's struggles, voice, intelligence, and strengths - and captured the essence of her character. She also did a great job in writing Harleen's relationships with Bernice (especially with how their relationship developed throughout the book), Kylie, Bianca, and Jasmin.
I also like how Allen wrote Bernice, Kylie, Bianca, and Jasmin. While there are a lot of characters in this book, and although most of the book is focused on Harleen (particularly since it's written from the first person POV of Harleen), Allen fully develops each of them and they all have their own distinct voices, personalities, and motivations. Their relationships with each other and Harleen are well written also.
Plus, I like the way that Allen references characters in the DC Universe. There are some references to existing characters, like the Joker and other ones that I will not name to avoid spoilers, but they're not overdone (though I will say that I'm very happy to see the character who showed up in the epilogue). They're great for fans of DC (especially Batman fans), but they don't get in the way of the story and are not out of place either.
With that said, I have mixed views of how Allen used capital letters and explanation marks to show Harleen's dialogue. But, it's more of a personal preference and, as mentioned earlier, Allen does an excellent job in capturing the essence of Harleen's character. A couple of the reveals were a bit predictable, but I didn't see many of them coming and the story stayed intriguing throughout.
Overall, this is a very good book. The story and characterization are solid and the pacing is consistent. It is a powerful and well-written book as well. I recommend it for any fan of Harleen and anyone who is a fan of the DC YA novels. I've read a few of them (some in graphic novel format and one - Nightwalker - in both graphic and prose novel formats) and they're good. Reckoning is no exception and is one of the better DC YA novels.
In this story, Harleen is a teenager and intern at a psych lab in Gotham University who lives with an abusive father. She and her friends - and many other women at the university - are harassed and assaulted. The university does nothing and sweeps atrocities under the rug. Harleen and her friends (Bernice, Jasmin, Bianca, Kylie) form a vigilante group to fight against the injustices and misogyny. As the story progresses, they are targeted and threatened.
The plot is well-written and the characterization is solid. I was hooked from the beginning and the story kept me engaged throughout. The stakes remained high. There is some good social commentary and the book is realistic. I also really felt for Harleen and her friends and was invested in their characters from the start. Indeed, Harleen is a very well-written character and has a great character arc with solid character development also. Allen did a great job in writing from her POV - especially in showing Harleen's struggles, voice, intelligence, and strengths - and captured the essence of her character. She also did a great job in writing Harleen's relationships with Bernice (especially with how their relationship developed throughout the book), Kylie, Bianca, and Jasmin.
I also like how Allen wrote Bernice, Kylie, Bianca, and Jasmin. While there are a lot of characters in this book, and although most of the book is focused on Harleen (particularly since it's written from the first person POV of Harleen), Allen fully develops each of them and they all have their own distinct voices, personalities, and motivations. Their relationships with each other and Harleen are well written also.
Plus, I like the way that Allen references characters in the DC Universe. There are some references to existing characters, like the Joker and other ones that I will not name to avoid spoilers, but they're not overdone (though I will say that I'm very happy to see the character who showed up in the epilogue). They're great for fans of DC (especially Batman fans), but they don't get in the way of the story and are not out of place either.
With that said, I have mixed views of how Allen used capital letters and explanation marks to show Harleen's dialogue. But, it's more of a personal preference and, as mentioned earlier, Allen does an excellent job in capturing the essence of Harleen's character. A couple of the reveals were a bit predictable, but I didn't see many of them coming and the story stayed intriguing throughout.
Overall, this is a very good book. The story and characterization are solid and the pacing is consistent. It is a powerful and well-written book as well. I recommend it for any fan of Harleen and anyone who is a fan of the DC YA novels. I've read a few of them (some in graphic novel format and one - Nightwalker - in both graphic and prose novel formats) and they're good. Reckoning is no exception and is one of the better DC YA novels.
May 18, 2022
I’ve consistently struggled with this series. I find myself drawn back to them because of the characters, the icons of the DC universe. As I have done with several other books in this series I found myself struggling to connect what I was reading with the characters that I know. There are some aspects of Harley that are seen throughout the book, at the same time it wasn’t Harley and it did not feel as if this was a book about Harley Quinn. I know each author has their own take on each character at the same time it was so divergent from whether being the animated series, suicide squad, new 52, or any other representation of Harley it did not feel as if it was her. Aside from the characterization I did like the message and I did like the idea of pushing women up an ending a male dominated profession, I like the idea of a woman vigilante group defending other women and righting the wrongs that had been done to them.
My biggest issue with this series though is that it is too Batman heavy. 2/3 of the books in the DC icon series reference a bat character or even the bat himself. My question is then what about the other characters, the other icons, the big seven, they have such a huge history. What about a story of the original star sapphire, how about Wally West as he copes with the loss of Barry Allen and his powers and has to re-discover himself not his kid flash but as the flash, that sounds like a good storyline. Move away from Batman and look at the other heroes and villains in the DC universe build the icon series with other great characters that are not directly related to the bat.
My biggest issue with this series though is that it is too Batman heavy. 2/3 of the books in the DC icon series reference a bat character or even the bat himself. My question is then what about the other characters, the other icons, the big seven, they have such a huge history. What about a story of the original star sapphire, how about Wally West as he copes with the loss of Barry Allen and his powers and has to re-discover himself not his kid flash but as the flash, that sounds like a good storyline. Move away from Batman and look at the other heroes and villains in the DC universe build the icon series with other great characters that are not directly related to the bat.
April 27, 2022
Harley Quinn: Reckoning is an origin story that goes back father than most HQ stories. Harleen is an 18 year old intern at Gotham University. But it's hard being a woman in STEM. She's got to deal with the disgusting daily misogyny that forces her to find solace in a girl gang The Reckoning. When one of the women end up dead, the women set out to bring her to justice.
I really liked this refreshing feminist take on one of Batman's most loved villains. It was entirely believable that Harley would end up the way she did because of how she was treated as a teen. One thing I didn't like was that Gotham was too reminiscent of our modern world with coconut cold brews and social media influencers. Perhaps that was to draw new fans in, but I'm an old school animated series HQ fan and I've always thought of Gotham as anomalous and not really very much like our world.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC. All in all this was a good take on a Batman favorite.
I really liked this refreshing feminist take on one of Batman's most loved villains. It was entirely believable that Harley would end up the way she did because of how she was treated as a teen. One thing I didn't like was that Gotham was too reminiscent of our modern world with coconut cold brews and social media influencers. Perhaps that was to draw new fans in, but I'm an old school animated series HQ fan and I've always thought of Gotham as anomalous and not really very much like our world.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC. All in all this was a good take on a Batman favorite.
April 26, 2022
so happy to find a book about Harley Quinn's origin.
loved it
this author did an amazing job at getting Harley and letting you seem all of her
her sexuality, her thoughts, her brain aka intelligence her ADHD lol and her fight with good vs bad
you get to decide if she is a hero or a villain and its a hard decision (by the way)
the group the reckoning kinda feels like a birds of prey type of group
I have so much more to say but I think it might give away some spoilers and I don't want that
so last thing is you are just gonna have to read this book for yourself
FYI this book is part of a series (origin stories of other DC characters) that I cant wait to read
I would like to thank NetGalley for giving me the ARC so I was able to read this book and then give a voluntary honest review. :)
loved it
this author did an amazing job at getting Harley and letting you seem all of her
her sexuality, her thoughts, her brain aka intelligence her ADHD lol and her fight with good vs bad
you get to decide if she is a hero or a villain and its a hard decision (by the way)
the group the reckoning kinda feels like a birds of prey type of group
I have so much more to say but I think it might give away some spoilers and I don't want that
so last thing is you are just gonna have to read this book for yourself
FYI this book is part of a series (origin stories of other DC characters) that I cant wait to read
I would like to thank NetGalley for giving me the ARC so I was able to read this book and then give a voluntary honest review. :)
May 13, 2022
At first did this not feel like a Harley Quinn story. However, this is a prequel. This story is about Harleen, and the events in her life that eventually lead up to her being Harley Quinn.
Instead of majoring in psychology, she is studying neuroscience, but it works well because her fascination of the Joker's mind remains.
This is a story about a girl with an abusive father, and the explorations of sexism, especially in STEM, and about women in STEM trying to change the system by doing illegal things.
There were also a few things mentioned in the book that piqued my interest that I will be googling later about the warrior gene, some studies on schizophrenia, and some sexism from real life that the book took inspiration from.
I am excited for the following books in this series! If you are a DC fan, I'm sure you will be excited by the tease of future storylines/characters.
Instead of majoring in psychology, she is studying neuroscience, but it works well because her fascination of the Joker's mind remains.
This is a story about a girl with an abusive father, and the explorations of sexism, especially in STEM, and about women in STEM trying to change the system by doing illegal things.
There were also a few things mentioned in the book that piqued my interest that I will be googling later about the warrior gene, some studies on schizophrenia, and some sexism from real life that the book took inspiration from.
I am excited for the following books in this series! If you are a DC fan, I'm sure you will be excited by the tease of future storylines/characters.
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