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.)

When I read The Wicker King, I thought about it for days after finishing it. This one is going to be stuck for months. Icarus is a seventeen-year-old boy who lives for his father’s revenge. He steals the art from Mr Black’s house for a vendetta that goes long back to when Icarus was a baby. He isn’t allowed to have friends, or invite them over; he lives in a closet room and has friends for each class. It’s a carefully made move since they don’t know each other so they won’t want to mingle together and want to hang out. He is always tired in the morning, sleeping in class, not being able to pay attention. Icarus is so sure that no one will notice if he remains average.

I loved how Icarus is all about relationships, romantic and platonic. And especially for teenagers, where most people don’t take things seriously when it comes to them but the truth is they notice the little things about each other. Sometimes one of them can take it upon themselves to get you coffee or a beverage that will help you get through class and pay attention. Sometimes they will let you nap with you because you look like you are ready to pass out. Those are the little things Icarus’s classmate did for him and he slowly starts to open up to the idea that he can have friends and he isn’t alone.

And then there is the boy that Icarus meets sometimes at night when he can visit him. Helios is the son of the man Icarus has been stealing from since he was 12. When Helios catches Icarus one night, all he asks for is his friendship, since he has no one to talk to because he is placed on house arrest. Icarus understands loneliness and what develops from there is a beautiful relationship between two boys. This book would have been a straight 5-star read but the first half was a little boring, I wanted more scenes of Helios and he was not really there leaving 3-4 scenes that make sense since he wasn’t allowed to be out of his house but that sort of made some of the chapters boring and dragged. The good thing with a K. Ancrum book is the chapters are super short (at least for the two books I have read till now) and so they are so much easier to read and get through.

Icarus’s relationship with his father looks troubled since the beginning but in the second half, it starts looking a little abusive and manipulative with all the cooking and other. When he says “Understanding you has been the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do”, it is one of the most heartbreaking scenes in the book.

“We’ll take care of each other. We’re going to figure out how to be happy.” Two teenagers who were subjected to a lot of mental trauma get to heal and have a happy life, that’s why we love stories.

The author note is a must read. “There are so many books written about the weak learning to be strong and not many about the strong opening themselves up to weakness and vulnerability.”

Icarus Gallagher is a thief.

In K. Ancrum’s reimagining of the Greek myth, we follow Icarus as he steals priceless art and replaces it with his father’s impeccable forgeries. For years, one man — the wealthy Mr. Black — has been their target, revenge for his role in the death of Icarus’s mother. To keep their secret, Icarus adheres to his own strict rules to keep people, and feelings, at bay: Don’t let anyone close. Don’t let anyone touch you. And, above all, don’t get caught.

Until one night, he does. Not by Mr. Black, but by his mysterious son, Helios.

☀️ From the first page, I got sucked into Kayla’s prose (+ short chapters!) and the wild ride that is Icarus’ life. The book first came across my radar because a) K. Ancrum b) stealing art and c) an Icarus reimagining, but I honestly recommend going in knowing little more than this! ICARUS is for sure very character driven, and each character — and how whole they feel — is what personally kept me glued to my Kindle the last few days. Kayla has a way of capturing a character without solely relying on what they look like. Instead, she relies on the senses and the little details. It really draws readers even further into the story because we then care even more deeply about the characters — like Icarus and Helios.

❤️ If you love…
Complicated family relationships
Art!
Unexpected friendships and people who know you’re more than what you want others to see
Stories that softly knock on a person’s tough exterior to reveal just how much they’re trying to keep it from all falling apart

Then, take a dive (👀) into ICARUS!

This was my first K Ancrum novel and it certainly won’t be my last. The writing had me hooked from the very first page - short chapters of such beautifully poetic writing that had me flying through the story. But where this novel shines is in its characters — our main characters, Icarus and Helios, yes, but also in the supporting characters. The family that Icarus makes for himself as he learns to love and be loved. The last 30% of the book had me stressed (actual photo of me reading —> 🫣😰) but wrapped up in a way that had me holding back tears. This was a gem and a joy of a story to read and I would absolutely recommend.

This was so good, i absolutely loved the short, sharp chapters that gave the book an almost choppy feel but worked perfectly for this book. I loved the concept and though it was a really interesting storyline. Icarus was a really great main protagonist and I also though Helios was an interesting love interest with a complex storyline of this own.
I absolutely flew through it and I loved the found family element that was created by Icarus and his mishmash of casual acquaintances turned best friends. Highly recommend.

I really enjoyed Icarus. I loved the writing and the characters (main and side both). The story was intriguing and kept me on my toes as I read as well!

Icarus is in high school. He is social, athletic, and all-around well liked, but he has a secret that keeps him from truly ever becoming close with anyone. He has been stealing priceless art from his neighbor, Mr. Black, and replacing them with his father's impeccable forgeries for years. We follow Icarus as he struggles with being the dutiful son to his distant, grieving father and what he truly wants: freedom. But Icarus has a plan: Turn 18, take all the cash he has saved, and run. Helios demolishes all these plans. Helios, the mysterious son of Mr. Black, with his sienna hair and puppy dog eyes. Who dances like an angel, and may truly be one for all Icarus knows. A thief and a prisoner learn to lean on one another and support each other. Icarus can't leave Helios behind, but is this new, tender romance worth risking everything he has ever dreamed of? Or will he choose to risk it all just to fall?

Icarus is a heartwarming, YA story. You feel for Icarus and his struggles and you feel anger an Helios' behalf. They are two products of broken men, but perhaps together they can finally put all their pieces together and become whole. I highly recommend Icarus to fans of YA and LGBTQIA+ stories. I look forward to what K. Ancrus writes next!

Thank you to HarperTeen and NetGalley for early access to this title!

Previous to this, my only K. Ancrum title was The Wicker King, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and so I was really looking forward to Icarus when I heard about it! Reader, it took me over five weeks to finish. And in fairness, I had class and other things to read for work and projects, but still, a 400 YA book should never take me (or really anyone) that long to read. I got through the first 25-40% in short order, and then any time I had the option to pick it up, I just... didn't.

The prose was phenomenal, no doubt about that, and I was initially invested in Icarus and his breaking into the Black house, and then I just found myself caring less and less as I continued reading? Characterizations felt like they were jumping around a lot, and while the people Icarus interacted with at school were important as a foil to him and his actions and home life, ultimately, almost none of them mattered or had any real resolution? To that end, it felt as if the book could maybe have been cut by around 50 to 100 pages and the pacing might have been tighter.

Relatedly, the short chapters made me feel as if I was flying (ha, get it?) through the book at first, but then the more I read, the more I wanted to be done starting a new chapter every other page. Chapter titles probably had deep meaning for the page they were on, but it got to the point where quantity did not make up for quality.

Will I pick up more from this author? Almost certainly, but unfortunately this wasn't quite what I had been hoping for from this title.

Teenage Icarus has been stealing art and replacing it with his dad's forgeries for years. However, that changed when he discovered Helios, the son of the man he had been stealing from. Helios has been kept prisoner in his home and every night Icarus returns to him as they strike up a relationship. Icarus sees how wrong their parents are and decides to break Helios out and both of them will start fresh elsewhere. Overall, a poetic take on the myth of Icarus. The plot itself was a bit discombobulated at times, but the writing was well done and the short chapters made it a quick read. The author's note at the end really helped tie the theme together and highlight the issue of teens who have to deal with familial situations that can become a burden.

This was such a fascinating contemporary take on the Icarus myth.

I’ll admit I found it quite a strange read, but not in a bad way. It doesn’t read like a typical young adult romance story and I really appreciated that it’s a bit different.

The style was unusual - easy to read, but also quite poetic. It almost had a literary feel at times. The story is somewhat farfetched, however I think that perfectly reflects the essence of classical myths - using exaggerated allegorical stories to illustrate and highlight human nature and morality.

Was great to read a young adult story that portrayed teenagers in such a loving caring way. I like YA books, but sometimes struggle with the level of teen drama and angst. The young characters in this book are strong, notice when someone is struggling and look out for each other. I loved that and I want to see more like it.

The friendships were my favourite, but the love story is also stunningly beautiful. Seeing both Icarus and Helios learn to open up, be vulnerable and allow someone else to take care of them was so heartwarming.

…and their dads’? Well they can just take a running jump.

Fascinating read and one of the more original approaches to a Greek myth retelling that I’ve come across.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced digital copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

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.

Icarus is a 17-year-old high school student and part time art thief. Trained by his dad, his thievery skills are unmatched. That is, until he gets caught by the son of the person he’s stealing from.

Helios Black is also a teenager, but has essentially been imprisoned in his home by his father, Mr. Black, due to past struggles with substance abuse. Mr. Black is a cruel and abusive man who has a cynical history with Icarus’ family. As Icarus and Helios spend more time together, it becomes clear that Helios’ life is in danger. And Icarus will do everything in his power to save him.

This book is about letting your guard down and allowing yourself to be vulnerable. It’s about forgetting everything you’ve been trained to feel. It’s about chipping away at your Suit of Armor and trusting others. It’s about ✨feeling✨ and embracing human emotions. I loved watched Icarus’ journey unfold and the author’s incredible rep, which included a character with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome as well as an intersex character.

Also, if you’re not someone who regularly reads the author notes in books, you’ll want to with Icarus 🥹

Thank you to Epic Reads and NetGalley for the chance to review this book!

A tragic story of two boys named for each other. A love story written in the stars that they flew to close to on wax wings. This book will rip you into a thousand little pieces, piece you back together, and leave filled with tears and love.

I was sent this eARC by HarperCollins. I can't even begin to describe how much I loved this book. The prose was lovely and the quick, short nature of the chapters really lent an almost poetic feeling to the story. I knew this book would be interesting, but was not expecting such a powerful story about friendship and rising from abuse and toxicity. This was absolutely stellar and I highly recommend it.

Rep: Ehler's Danlos Syndrome, Addiction, MLM relationship

thank you so much to netgalley and colored pages blog tours for gifting me an early copy in exchange for an honest review!!

i finally read a kayla ancrum book and OMG, ARE ALL HER BOOKS LIKE THIS??? BECAUSE I'M 😱😱😱
i wasn't expecting this complex story about a strong boy who wants to help someone he just met, and in the meantime he finds our more about himself. i think what settled it for me was the author's note because it's true: when we are younger we wanna help everyone and save the world in a small capacity. and i could really see that in the way the MC was able to open himself slowly to other people, how he started to understand himself and how it's not a bad thing to trust in other people. his relationship with Helios was soooo interesting, at times i thought it was going too fast but then i got used to it. the rep is just amazing, i loved reading and finding out more about everything.
overall, it was really good and fast paced, the short chapters made it easy to read and i even learned more about art and restoring it. i enjoyed it a lot, and i need to read more from the author 💜

Icarus by K. Ancrum was such an enjoyable and entertaining story.
I loved the writing! It was engaging and compelling. Held my attention from beginning to end.
This retelling was done so well. And I can’t wait to read more of this authors work in the future.

Thank You NetGalley and HarperTeen for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This is going to the top of my fave reads shelf! Once I started reading Icarus, I couldn't stop. The short chapters and engaging narration hooked me in, and as the story unfurled and the stakes got higher, I got completely sucked into the book. Icarus is a great character to spend time with - he's exceptionally talented but is fettered by a life of intense secrecy and crime. He goes through his school days trying to stay off everyone's radar but isn't as successful as he thinks he is. I love that his classmates all care about him and show their care in different, meaningful ways. Icarus find himself relaxing his guard and letting people in - first is Helios, the son of his father's enemy. Though Icarus doesn't want to trust him, he realizes that Helios is also trapped by his circumstances, and he begins to plan an escape for both of them. This story got to my feels in a big way. It's beautifully told and full of yearning, aching loneliness, desire and survival, unexpected kindness, hiding and secrets, heartbreak and hope. I can't wait to read it again and again.