Catwoman: Soulstealer by Sarah J. Mass

When the Bat's away, the Cat will play. It's time to see how many lives this cat really has. . . .
Two years after escaping Gotham City's slums, Selina Kyle returns as the mysterious and wealthy Holly Vanderhees. She quickly discovers that with Batman off on a vital mission, Batwing is left to hold back the tide of notorious criminals. Gotham City is ripe for the taking.
Meanwhile, Luke Fox wants to prove he has what it takes to help people in his role as Batwing. He targets a new thief on the prowl who seems cleverer than most. She has teamed up with Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn, and together they are wreaking havoc. This Catwoman may be Batwing's undoing.

I loved it! Honestly, the DC Icons series seems amazing so far, and it’s easy to see why these authors are loved far and wide. They are able to take characters that we have been hearing about for ages and make them seem fresh and new.

Selina/ Holly’s story is as wild as it is exciting. The trials and adventures that she goes through are thrilling and jarring, and the adrenaline never really dies down.

Throughout the story line, Mass kept me on my toes, with surprises coming from all sides. The ending was a complete surprise, and Holly’s character has so many sides that you don’t get to see until later on. While she is initially portrayed as a villain, you slowly begin to realize that her life’s goal is not simply attacking other people. There’s something bigger at play here. Her sacrifices speak volumes, and her entire story is full of twists and turns.

Holly is a good person at heart, but her mission requires her to put on a façade. She ends up hurting people, because she can’t sacrifice her goals. She slowly learns how to let people help her, and whom to trust, and it’s interesting to say the least. The story brings in a plethora of characters to dissect, from Luke Fox, to Poison Ivy, to Harley Quinn and the Joker. No one is there just for name recognition, and they all serve as vital parts of the novel.

As far as superhero stories go, Catwoman shows that they can be complicated and nuanced. There are fights, but the book doesn’t rely on them, and the plot is powerful. The time jump midway through the novel also serves a stark before and after, while the story slowly fills in the missing years through flashbacks and revelations.

Overall, I loved this view of Gotham city, and Selina’s growth as a character; can’t wait to dive into more of these!