Icarus is an insightful and multi-faceted story. The retelling aspect in particular felt so beautiful and immersive talking about ambition, revenge and betrayal as this backdrop to a story about vulnerability and love. I immediately fell in love with Icarus and how he feels so isolated. His story is about opening up, the power of friends to support and cherish us. It’s also a story about love and whether it’s a source of weakness or strength. Whether our love for someone inspires us to fly or is a pressure point against us.

I will literally pick up anything K. Ancrum writes. She is such a powerhouse writer that always gives me all the feels. Her writing is beautiful. A work of art really. I ended up liking this book a bit less then The Wicker King but it still was a must read if you enjoy Ancrum's books or Greek retellings. This was quite a different take on the story of Icarus but I overall enjoyed the story. The author's note at the end of the book is worth the read alone. I wish I had even a miniscule amount of Ancrum's writing ability for this review, but I will try my best.

At it's core this is a book about friendship and the family you find within these relationships. I cannot gush enough about Luca, Celestina, Julian and Sorrel. THEY ARE the friends you want in high school. They were so real and their love and concern for Icarus was such a tangible thing. It reminded me of my own friendships in high school and how some of these relationships have developed into lifelong friendships. I would read this book again just for the parts about Icarus and these people.

Some things I didn't end up enjoying as much:

First you have to go into this book suspending some belief especially with Icarus' extracurricular activities.

The chapters were really, really short. Which usually doesn't bother me because it actually makes this kind of story flow faster. However, I don't think this type of storytelling was ideal for this book---at least when listening to the audiobook. Because each chapter had a title it felt tiresome after awhile and took me out of the story a couple times.

The other thing I felt meh about was the relationship between Helios and Icarus. I loved how Ancrum used the personification of the Sun as the character Helios. I think his and Icarus' relationship was interesting but lacking in development overall. I felt like there was more chemistry between Luca, Celestina and Icarus then Helios most of the time. While I understood the role their relationship played in the story it was just a bit underwhelming in the execution. I think more scenes with them growing closer were needed for me to really feel about these characters the way they were supposed to feel about each other. This was a big part of the story but I felt like I enjoyed the friendship interactions more. I would have also liked more scenes with Angus.


I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Icarus by K. Ancrum is a brilliant retelling of the Icarus legend that is not only a beautiful love story but is emotionally compelling, exploring trauma and grief. It is one of the most intense novels I’ve read with sparse prose and a fast paced narrative that immediately connects you with Icarus and his life. The novel drops you into Icarus’ life and shows you exactly how his life has been impacted by his father’s choices. When Helios is introduced, you see exactly how tangled their lives are.
One of the pieces of the story that I love is how the trauma is explored in this novel, both how Angus’ grief effects Icarus, not allowing Icarus to have friends or really live but we also see how damaged Helios is by his father and by his captivity in his father’s house. I love how the friendship between them is developed and how friendship allows Icarus and Helios both to open up and be more vulnerable. For Icarus, that doesn’t just happen with Helios but he opens up to other friends, other relationships, even his own father. That growth of both characters and how they react to change is beautiful and emotionally compelling.
If you love thrilling love stories that explore trauma and grief, a brilliant modern day retelling of the Icarus legend, then this novel is for you. The sparse prose, the fast pace and the emotional storyline with powerful characters are worth reading, not just for romance readers but for anyone who likes to understand other people and how choices dictate how they behave. This novel explores society, class, gender, and love in ways that are beyond description.

I adored this book! It was fast-paced and easy to read and follow for the most part. I liked the shortened chapters and though that was an interesting take. I loved Icarus as a character and enjoyed getting to see his growth with himself and with other characters as the book progressed. As someone who is disabled, I also enjoyed getting to see disability rep in the book, even if it is self-diagnosed/speculated about. I also like that there was intersex and queer rep in the book. This was my first book by K. Ancrum (though I also own Darling, and that just skyrocketed up my TBR list), and I really enjoyed her writing style and the way that she tells stories. I'm looking forward to continuing to read her works! There were so many lines in this story that really hit me hard and were so beautifully written. I can't say enough good things about this book.

This was a really lovely book! The writing was gorgeous and I adored the love story and the plot. It felt very original while also staying true to the Icarus myth. And had great queer rep too!! Overall an excellent read and a good audiobook. 4.5 rounded up.

🌈Queer rep: MM main relationship. Bi/pan main character (I think? Could have been gay), intersex male-presenting love interest.

Lovely poetic read with a great found family cast and sweet romance. Not 100% sure the short chapter style worked for me because it almost felt a little incomplete but it definitely made it a fast read. Really enjoyed this one!

This book was absolutely fascinating! The short, one-page chapters were unlike anything Ive read before and definitely kept me hooked.
The plot itself was intriguing and well-paced. The main character, Icarus, goes on such a journey throughout the book - I thought his arc was really beautiful. Helios was also a great character and love interest. The chemistry between them felt real and I love the way they help each other out.
This book is very poetic. The story is told as a curation of fragments (one-page chapters) which was a really interesting experience. I think the author showed us just enough to evoke feeling and curiosity without an excessive word-count.
I also loved that this book showed more than just romantic love. The way Icarus made friends, even without meaning to, was so sweet. I loved all the side characters and how they supported Icarus. Once he starts to open himself up. he experiences all of these new connections that he never imagined he would have.
My one criticism is that I thought the ending was quite rushed. A lot happens in a very short space of time, and this was the only point I felt more words could have been beneficial to the storytelling.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it. As always, please be aware of the trigger warnings.

Icarus is the story of two teen boys who are both isolated from their peers to varying degrees by their parents. There weren't supposed to meet, but they did, formed a friendship, and fell in love. As they plot their escape, the secrets of their parents start to come to light and there was so much more to their isolation than they knew.

🎨
Icarus is an artist. However, because of a long-standing family feud, his dad has trained him in the art of stealing. Their main target: Mr. Black's mansion. Because of Icarus' extra-curricular activities at night, he is unable to make lasting connections at school. He must remain aloof, distant, and alone. But, one night when he is stealing something from Mr. Black's mansion, he feels like someone is watching him. Turning around, he meets Helios, and everything changes.

☀️ ☀️ ☀️
To be completely honest, I picked this book because of the title and the references to ART HEISTS!! This made me think that this would be a FAST-PACED ACTION THRILLER, but honestly--it's not. I also picked this up because at my school, 7th graders read the story of Icarus and Daedalus, so I'm always looking for new books to pair with it. However, this is NOT a middle school book! This is a slow-burn romance--a character study on two high schoolers who have been through the worst. At times, the characters felt much older than they are supposed to be, and the reader has to suspend their disbelief at a lot of moments. I really appreciated how the author's note mentioned how she wrote this to show how community is humanity's greatest strength, and the power of love and friendship. While I don't think this book is for everyone, I could see this finding its reader, especially for new adults, or people at a transition period of their life.

I just need to start by saying that I adored this book. It spoke to me in a deep and meaningful way. Reading it felt like I was holding a little piece of the author’s heart, and that’s something I always treasure.

I can’t say this book will resonate with everyone, but it certainly did for me. A large part of why is mentioned in the author’s note. The author mentions how we don’t get as many stories about strong people learning to be vulnerable…and I felt that. The acknowledgment of the work it takes to break down those walls you built to survive…yeah that hit. It hit really fucking hard.

“If you’re such a good thief, then why haven’t you stolen me yet?”

It’s been a while since a book made me feel so many emotions. Icarus destroyed me.

The book introduces us to our protagonist Icarus, the softest cinnamon roll to exist. Actually, this book is filled with soft boys and I love it. Most of Icarus’ life has been spent stealing and replacing artworks with forgeries in Mr. Black’s mansion to exact revenge for the death of his mother. His father has some rules: no friends, don’t get to know others, no social gatherings and never ever inviting people home. So you can only imagine the kind of hell Icarus’ life is. But then he discovers Helios, Mr Black’s son who has been imprisoned in the mansion.

Icarus and Helios were made for each other, it’s a fact and there’s no denying it. Their romance is the sweetest, purest thing and both of them just made me cry with how raw and untethered they were. Except together, they made sense.

“I feel . . . meeting him feels like learning about a part of myself that I haven’t been allowed to understand until now.”

The friendships in Icarus were the shining light, they made me feel warm and happy and reminisce about my college days. Celestina, Luca, Julian and even Sorell add so much light and life to Icarus’ life. Time and time Icarus does his best to push everyone away but they find a way to make him a part of their lives.

If you’re looking for a retelling, I’d say this was a rather loosely based retelling but I loved it all the same. All in all, I’d highly recommend this book.

I read this book as part of my work on an YA award committee, so, unfortunately, I am unable to give a review due to the rules of the committee.

I will be giving this book 5 stars because that is the standard rating I am giving for all books I read for the committee.

I do want to thank the publisher for this copy of the book. Please know that I did read it and consider it for my work on this committee. I will be sharing this book in my job with my students and promoting it in my library!

Thank you so much to the publisher for the earc!

Oh, how much I loved this book! Years ago I read The Wicker King, so I wasn’t entirely unfamiliar with the author. Still, I was surprised by this book.

I loved the short chapters! It’s something that I really enjoyed in the previous book, but if it’s possible it felt even more right here. You can fly through half of the book, before you even realize. This makes it seem the book is an easy read, something light and not-too-serious. Well, you’d be wrong to think that. It deals with chronic illness, parental abuse, death, loneliness, addiction, just so many things.

I loved Icarus’ character, he was really interesting. He learnt to steal, to lie, to keep a low profile all before his 12th birthday. He’s now 18 and it’s as easy for him as breathing. He keeps his acquaintances away from each other, and he thinks it’s working. I was seriously shaking my head at this, did he really think he could do it? It’s a small town, with a small school, it never crossed his mind that just because they aren’t in the same class it doesn’t mean they don’t know each other? I don’t live in the US, but I’ve read enough books set there, to know it doesn’t work like that. But I loved the moment when his friends told him, just because they don’t ask, it doesn’t mean they don’t notice. It shows that even when you think you’re alone, you really aren’t. It was a hard lesson for Icarus, to accept that there are people who care about him. And I loved his group of friends. They were amazing.

For some reason I wasn’t a fan of Helios’ character. He was well written, had a fantastic personality, I just couldn’t connect with him.

Another thing I loved was the arts. It was so interesting to see how they made replicas down to the exact damages, all the things and techniques Icarus and his father used. Now I want to read more about this part of art restoration, and I was never interested in this side of the arts.

Overall, I loved it, and would highly recommend it if you want a heartbreaking story.

Absolutely love this book. Queer books need more praise because they are out here doing the best work of any genre around. Everyone I begging you to go out and read this book.

My ratings of Ancrum's books have run the gamut from 5 stars to 1 star. This one falls somewhere in the middle. Icarus is a very frustrating book, because a lot of the elements are really great, but they don't quite manage to cohere in a satisfying way. Ancrum's writing style is engaging as always, and I appreciate how she takes a lot of care to reach and represent teens that too often fall through the cracks, but this plot was a mess.

I think this book will work better for a teenager—which is, after all, who it is for—but I couldn't suspend my disbelief or reconcile the dangling plot threads enough to really enjoy the story in the end. Icarus is two books in one: a contemporary story about a lonely, neglected, secretive boy who allows himself to be vulnerable and find friends for the first time when observant classmates begin to reach out to him; and, a heightened reality suspense novel about a teenaged art forger/cat burglar carrying out his father's mission of vengeance who becomes distracted by the target's son who is locked away in his mansion, and determines to rescue him. They're both cool ideas, but in execution did not mesh well.

The latter storyline was given a lot more attention in the narrative, but still fell flat for me. I think the chief reason for this was that there wasn't enough context provided. For example, we learn very little about Helios's father, Mr. Black, other than that he is cruel. He didn't even have the depth of a cartoon villain; he was more like (I'm so sorry for this stupid comparison) a Bokoblin in Legend of Zelda. Icarus and Helios have to sneak around Mr. Black's periphery (where he apparently spends most of his time watching re-runs of Seinfeld alone in the living room of his giant mansion?) because if he notices them he'll stomp over and beat them up. For... no real reason? Making noise? But he's also extremely hands-off otherwise, so he's not, like, sadistically cruel. I just don't feel like I ever understood him and his role in Helios's life enough to be convinced that he was a real threat. Also, where the hell is Helios's mom and why is she not fighting to get her kid out of the house of a man who once broke her arm for painting in the middle of the night? Where is CPS wondering what happened to the kid who almost died from drug overdose and hasn't been to school since? Is Mr. Black incredibly powerful? What does he do? Why does his giant house have no staff or guards? Nothing about this scenario actually makes any sense. And I'm okay with suspending my disbelief and treating this almost like a fairytale... except that Icarus's school life is so grounded that it tugs me right out of that space. This book needed to pick a tone.

Personally, I preferred the other part that focused on Icarus's mundane school life, and was disappointed when it fell to the wayside in the end. Many of Icarus's classmates who are introduced don't come to mean much, and therefore just cluttered the narrative. (I even kind of started shipping Icarus with Luca and Celestina and rooting for a polyamorous relationship between the three of them, which didn't help me feel the connection between Icarus and Helios.) I think that these two storylines could have come together in a really meaningful way if Icarus had allowed other people in his life to help him rescue Helios rather than insisting on doing everything himself. While his stubborn independence is realistic for his character, it would have been very moving and emotionally triumphant if Icarus had learned to reach out to and trust others. (Not to mention good modeling for teenage readers.) Icarus spends the entire book angry at his father for being too reticent and isolated, yet he consistently exhibits those same behaviors right up until the end. It would have been nice to see some growth instead.

Additionally, Icarus and Helios's romance wasn't developed enough for me. I was really put off by the "He's like my birthright" aspect. Again, that could have worked better for me if the story had stayed in that heightened, fairy-tale space, but the uneven tone just made it feel weird. But I think the overarching reason that the romance didn't land for me is that Helios never felt like a real person. The intersex representation was nice to see, but overall I just didn't buy his character.

All that said, I did quite like Icarus's character and I was rooting for him to pull off all his plans and be happy. (I don't want to forget to mention that Icarus also has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, so that's more neat representation.) Ancrum's signature short chapters kept the pace moving, but the shifts in tone weren't my cup of tea. I'll be thinking about Icarus, Luca, and Celestina (and Julian, and Sorrel, and Akeem, and Aspen) longer than I will about Helios. I wish I could have suspended my belief a bit more to enjoy the heist aspects as much as I wanted to.

TW: child abuse and neglect, child labor, past death of a loved one to terminal illness, substance addiction (opioids) and past overdose, description of injuries, hospitalization, touch starvation/sensitivity, forced confinement, mention of religious self-flagellation

Where do I even begin? It may be pitched as a romance, but this book is far more than the relationship between its central couple (which unfolds quickly and intensely, but still maintains emotional plausibility, largely because of the trauma-informed connection the two share). Icarus is a story about softening your edges and learning to trust those around you. It has a lovely found family that develops between Icarus and some of his classmates as, for the first time in his life, he lets down his guard and allows others to really see him and care for him. It’s also a story about reckoning with past trauma–both ours and our parents’–facing demons from without and within, confronting the blurry edges between past and present, especially when trying to forge a new future. And it is a YA story that holds true to one of the most central features of YA novels: figuring out who you are and what kind of person you want to be.

The book also features a main character realizing he has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which is obviously exciting rep for me to read as a fellow EDS zebra (and makes this the second YA book coming out this year featuring EDS rep!). I will say, I didn’t love the way he was just given an armchair diagnosis and immediately accepted it; EDS diagnosis is more complicated than just having hypermobile joints and pain (though those are two major symptoms of it), and though the book does acknowledge that there are other connective tissue disorders, this character seems to disregard that possibility. It also felt like the symptoms were presented a bit too subtly at times–for example, this character says during one scene that he experiences lots of pain all the time, but outside of that scene, the pain rarely comes up. I suppose that could be a commentary on how we internalize and don’t always notice pain, but it still didn’t quite sit right with me as an authentic portrayal. That said, the use of EDS was an effective literary choice, as it physically mirrors the internal struggles the character also faces: physically, he is very strong, and he is flexible, but his wrists aren’t always stable and he feels constant pain; mentally, he withstands very challenging circumstances and contorts himself into whatever sort of person people need him to be, but he is also living with the constant hurt of his distant father and his need to not let anyone get too close.

That apt parallel isn’t the only impressive literary element here. On a purely prose-focused level, Ancrum’s writing pulses with an aching undercurrent of emotion, poetically mapping the internal life of this strange, perceptive teenager. And on an intertextual level, the book also plays with the myth of Icarus, both leaning into it and subverting it by turns. Here, we have a boy molded in his father’s image, growing too close to the “sun,” Helios–and yet the melting of his metaphorical wings (i.e., the dissolution of the persona learned from his father) looks more like freedom than a death knell. There are falls of all kinds, from falling in love to falling from heights. And there is also a sense that, in some ways, perhaps Icarus actually did learn to come back down, and his father’s quest for revenge is actually the more dangerous flight. There’s even a sense of self-awareness, as Icarus and Helios both acknowledge the grand irony of their names (which may be less coincidental than they initially think). Other Greek myths (and various academic phenomena–Boötes Void, anyone?) are called to mind through cleverly chosen chapter titles. And truly, the whole book is artfully crafted, seamlessly marrying plot-based tension (heists, escape attempts, family secrets, and so on) with the emotional complexity of its characters, even when that plot asks us to suspend our disbelief.

I don’t have much more to say, besides to reiterate that this is an artful, tender read: part retelling, part wholly unique, all worth reading. This was my first read by Ancrum, but it will certainly not be my last.

Representation: Achillean MC with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Achillean intersex MC, Black SC
Trigger/content warnings: abusive parents (emotional and physical, depicted on-page), addiction, death of a parent (in the past)

I love every single book by K. Ancrum and yet again, this one didn't disappoint. At the centre of all of Ancrum's stories is a cast of characters who make you feel so much, and you want to reach into the pages and give them a hug and tell them you'll be their friend. Icarus is a story of mystery, of incredibly dysfunctional families, but also of love, friendship, and belonging. Ancrum always manages to weave these themes together into something that feels beautiful and makes you think about it for days, if not weeks, afterwards. I'm already excited to get a physical copy to add to my K. Ancrum collection, so I can read it again!

I ended up DNFing ICARUS at 41%. I was going to try and push through to the end, but after careful deliberation, I've decided to shelve this.

This novel follows Icarus Gallagher, a thief who spends his days muddling through high school and his nights replacing pieces of the wealthy Mr. Black's art collection with his father's masterful forgeries. Across tightly woven short chapters, Icarus meets Mr. Black's son Helios, imprisoned in the manor and desperate for a friend, and against his better judgment accepts a deal that could upend everything he's been working towards.

I enjoyed the first inklings of their relationship, the layers and metaphors surrounding them, and I greatly enjoyed the prose. But overall, ICARUS felt... well, I'm not sure how else to put it other than shallow. It certainly had breadth, with a large cast despite Icarus' inner focus, and I have a multitude of screenshots of great lines, but I didn't feel any tension or draw to the story. I also found the book startlingly slow-paced despite the short length of the chapters which eventually turned the reading experience into a drag. I wanted to care about Icarus and Helios and their situation, but I didn't miss them or think about this book during my break from it. The story is missing something for me, but I can't quite put my finger on what it is.

I would still recommend this if you're into more slow-paced stories, heists & thieves, and gay relationships with a delicious sprinkling of religious metaphors. There are several quotes I'll be holding to my chest even though I had to give up on this one (and who knows, maybe I'll return to try again if Libby ever gets the audiobook). K. Ancrum is still an author I greatly admire, and I am looking forward to the other books on my list from her.

I'm always a fan of K. Ancrum's writing and Icarus is no different! Icarus reminded me of a character I love from another book series so I was immediately drawn to him. I loved his squirrely nature around making friends and connections despite already having those and how loyal and dedicated he was to those throughout. There are so many wonderful intricate details about this book that make it amazing. From the succinct chapters to the simple ways atmosphere is created to the descriptions of just a single touch. This book is wonderfully devastating and I will definitely be reading it again!

An absolutely wonderful novel. Icarus is both a skillful retelling of a well-known myth and an entirely new story that made me both laugh and cry. I will be recommending it to everyone I know.