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.

An absolutely brilliant and unique queer retelling of the myth of Icarus that needs to be on everyone's radar.

“If you're such a good thief, why haven't you stolen me yet?"

This was such a stunning, heartfelt book - which is fast becoming this author's brand.

Incredibly easy to read (due to both the writing and the short chapters), Icarus will pull you in, chew you up and spit you out. It follows our main character, Icarus, the son of a renowned art-thief and forger. He works alongside his father to steal priceless art from their victims, forge/restore it and return a copy, keeping the original for themselves. The job in this book concerns Mr. Black, a rich neighbour who Icarus’ dad Angus has some history with. On one of his reconnaissance missions, Icarus is greeted by Helios - Mr. Black’s teenage son, who is under house arrest.

Icarus and Helios spend the rest of the book learning and exploring each other, feeling out their relationship and plotting to escape - the house, the town, their lives. Their relationship was the main driver of the book, and it was so lovely and delicate, unfurling like a flower in the sun. Icarus was strong, but spent a lot of the book teaching himself that it was ok to want more, to want better for himself, to want in general. I also loved Helios, who was so resigned to living with his abusive father but determined not to let it overwhelm him.

A surprise delight in this book was Icarus’ school friends - particularly Luca and Celestina, with whom Icarus had such different but just as sweet relationships. Celestina in particular exposed him to affectionate touch, and I loved the scenes where Icarus finally relaxed with her. This book is definitely more character-driven than plot-driven, though the plot is fairly strong too (if expecting you to suspend disbelief a little). I liked the nods back to the original myth for which the book is named, through Icarus’ relationship with his father and his actions towards the end of the book.

I really enjoyed this and highlighted a LOT of quotes which will stick with me. Thank you to Harper Collins and Netgalley for the early e-Arc!

Icarus Gallagher has been raised his entire life to be a thief. He steals priceless artwork and replaces it with forgeries his father, Angus, creates. Their only target is the wealthy Stuart Black.

Icarus knows the rules. Don’t draw attention to yourself. Don’t be too good at anything. Don’t join any clubs or sports. Don’t make any friends who might want to hang out after school — and definitely don’t ever invite anyone to your house. Nothing that could lead anyone to pay too close attention to Icarus and his father. To wonder why Icarus is always exhausted after nights sneaking into the Black mansion. Or to see their home filled with paint and priceless stolen artwork. Not that Icarus has time for friends anyway, not with his life caught up in a complex plot for revenge he doesn’t fully understand. So Icarus does as he is told. He takes the art and he keeps to himself. He allows himself one casual friend per class and keeps his head down. And with his eighteenth birthday soon approaching, Icarus bides his time until he can leave home and have a new life.

Then, one night, the unthinkable happens. Icarus is caught mid theft by Helios Black, Stuart’s teenage son. Icarus didn’t even know Helios was living there and he is certain he is about to be turned over to the cops. Instead, Helios bargains: he won’t report Icarus as long as, in return, Icarus continues to sneak in and visit him at the house. As it turns out, Helios is essentially on house arrest, kept at home by this father with an ankle monitor for a year with no phone or computer, as punishment for some misdeed. It is clear that Helios is scared of his father, that he hates him just as much as Angus does. And something about Helios compels Icarus to break all his rules and agree. Not only that, but he keeps their encounter a secret from his father, acting as if he was never caught.

As the weeks and months go by, Icarus continues to sneak into the mansion, visiting Helios. The boys begin to learn more about each other and a bond blooms between them. And as Icarus builds this new, intense connection, it also helps give him the confidence to begin strengthening some friendships with classmates he has always kept at a distance by necessity. The more time Icarus and Helios spend together, the more secrets also begin to come out — why Helios is being kept at home, why Angus hates Stuart so much, how their pasts are all intertwined, and how the mistakes of the parents are impacting their sons. Icarus also realizes the extent of the abuse Helios is suffering at the hands of his father, and is determined to help him. Icarus’ father is fueled by nothing but a need for revenge, but Icarus may be finally able to break free — and find a way to save the boy he is growing to love.

Icarus is a beautiful, haunting story that kept me totally captivated throughout and left me with a major book hangover when it was done. This story is just so intense and well written and engaging and I loved every minute of it. Icarus is our POV character and he is so fascinating. He has been groomed since childhood to be a thief with one purpose — to steal from Stuart Black. It is his entire life, the only life he is allowed to live. While his father, Angus, has a public job as a renowned art restorationist, their secret life of crime means that Icarus needs to keep his head down at all times. He can’t get too close to anyone, can’t do anything to stand out, can’t take a chance on anyone really knowing him for fear of them learning the truth. And Angus is reserved and distant, so focused on his own goals that he has nothing left for Icarus.

It is clear that Icarus yearns for connection, even as he tells himself that he doesn’t need it. One of the things I loved about this story is the slow unraveling of all that control, of Icarus letting himself go bit by bit, and finding his way to happiness. It is like meeting Helios opens that door for him for the first time. Not only does Icarus form a tight friendship and ultimate romantic connection with Helios, but he starts to tip toe over that hard line within which he has always lived. It starts by not telling his father that Helios caught him in the house. Then it is ever so slowly deepening the friendships with a few people from school. Of letting them actually know him, and even more, letting them be there for him. It is like this slow blossoming; the more Icarus lets go, the more he starts to find a life and people who care about him. It is really lovely how things build throughout the story and we really see Icarus come to life.

I also loved watching the developing relationship between Helios and Icarus. Things start out cautious, Icarus having no real idea what Helios wants from him, or what he wants in return. But the bond between them grows, and soon even stronger feelings. There is a lovely connection between them, two young men who are on the cusp of adulthood in lives dictated by their neglectful and abusive parents. I just adored Icarus and Helios together and couldn’t help but root for them. The relationship between Icarus and his father is also so interesting. Angus is so singularly focused on himself and his desires for revenge that he sees Icarus more as a tool than a son. He has raised Icarus to excel in the specific things Angus needs from him and forced him into this small version of himself that takes away any hope Icarus has for real happiness. It’s hard to say Angus loves Icarus, as any father who truly loved his son would not treat him as he does. But Angus is also honestly shocked when Icarus finally confronts him, clearly never realizing he has been hurting him all these years. Angus has moments of kindness, times when the fog clears and he seems to remember he has a child who he should think about. But most of the time, Angus can’t think past his own needs. Yet at the end, when he really needs it, Angus manages to come through for Icarus.

The web of the mystery slowly untangles as we learn about what is really going on between the families to cause this never ending conflict. I think Ancrum times it all really well in terms of how the secrets are revealed. At first, there is so much unknown as to what is really going on or why. It builds the tension nicely and gives the story this haunting air. But we get the reveals at just the right time, keeping the mysteries from dragging on too long and bringing the reader in on all the secrets. There is a nice twistiness here as the truth finally comes out, bit by bit. We also get an intense and exciting ending that is a huge adrenaline rush, especially compared to the more steady pace of the rest of the book. It just comes together so well and I loved it all.

This book is obviously rooted in the story of Icarus from Greek mythology. I thought the connections were well done, particularly with regard to the dynamics between father and son that run throughout the book. In mythology, Icarus’ father, Daedalus, is imprisoned, along with Icarus, and Daedalus builds them wings of feathers and wax by which to escape. Daedalus warns Icarus against complacency and hubris. Don’t fly too low or the wings will get sodden from the water. Don’t fly too high or the sun will melt the wax, causing the wings to fall apart. In legend, Icarus flies too close to the sun. He reaches for too much and it is his downfall. Here, however, Icarus reaches for that sun and it is his savior. Meeting Helios changes Icarus’ life for the better, giving him the chance to really live. And through Icarus, Helios finds his own salvation.

This is really such a beautiful, engaging story, I am not sure I am even beginning to do it justice. I was just so captivated by these characters and watching all these secrets unfold, learning the truth about what has led these two sets of fathers and sons into this situation. It is haunting and rewarding and fascinating and I just loved every minute of this one.

Ancrum was written such a haunting, beautiful story about a young man forced to live in isolation, existing on the edge of society. Icarus is his father's apprentice to art, thievery, and revenge. Upon meeting Helios, his world is expanded, allowing friendships to form and love to blossom. It's a story of self discovery and forging your own path, freeing yourself from the confines of your parents. It hard to describe how this made me feel. It does touch on tough topics, such as discovering you have a chronic illness, death of a parent through illness, and child abuse, but the care given to the writing lessens the punch while still giving the moment the seriousness it deserves.

Icarus by K. Ancrum was probably the most unique book I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. From the poetic writing style to the one page chapters, this book was unlike anything I’ve ever read.

Ooooh wow this book. This book. I don't even know how to accurately sum up all of my feelings for this book. It's angsty and painful and romantic and so so so beautiful. Admittedly, I am behind the times on reading K. Ancrum's works, but I'll be remedying that immediately if they are even half as stunning as Icarus is.

This book has so many strong points. My favorite, and the reason my friends kept getting 2 AM semi-coherent messages, is the amazing amount of representation fit into this book:
- lead characters with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (and treated with impactful and genuine care, unlike other books that will not be named)
- substance abuse and recovery (again, handled carefully and respectfully)
- an intersex LI (when do we get this?! when do we ever get to read this written so beautifully?!)

But also Ancrum has such a way with prose, creating short, meaningful chapters that all feel like individual painful gut punches. Each moment in Icarus's life, each school period spent with these people he can't quite consider friends as much as he wants to get attached, are all so powerfully written that even the most quiet moments feel like they could bring me to tears.
And the relationships are... perfect. They're messy and beautiful and perfect. Icarus and Helios grow and learn save each other. Icarus learns to trust the people around him, and learns to be saved in turn.

(And Ancrum's beautiful author's note at the end of the book is one of the best I've ever read. I'd pick the book up for my classroom shelves for that alone.)