Bishop takes king

Kate Bishop must save herself before she can save the world. Kate Bishop is Hawkeye, a New York City superhero who claims to be the best archer in the world. When E.L. Albright, the enigmatic author of a well-loved children's book series, is killed at a bookstore's author event, Kate springs into action, ready to find the killer. Kate quickly learns that a villainous mob boss named Kingpin is searching for rare copies of Albright's books. Kate must team up with Milo, the author's grandson, to recover the volumes before the secrets held within them are used for evil; she also enlists the help of her best friend and fellow superhero, America Chavez. What should be a simple mission for one of the world's greatest heroes becomes complicated when Kate herself begins to feel the effects of the mysterious books' power. In a race against time, she confronts her greatest nightmare while attempting to save the world. Kate is a snarky yet lovable protagonist whose witty comebacks provide comic relief to the dark and twisted plotline. While the characters feel underdeveloped at times, the appeal of the Marvel universe pervades this action-packed volume, and fans will enjoy this refreshing take that showcases Kate Bishop as Hawkeye. Racial diversity is named in the supporting cast; Kate reads white. A clever murder mystery with all the charm one expects from the Marvel universe. (Mystery. 12-16) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.