In this captivating read, the author masterfully weaves a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking. Through a blend of richly developed characters and a meticulously crafted plot, the book offers a unique exploration of its central themes, inviting readers to immerse themselves in the story's depth and complexity. The narrative is paced perfectly, balancing moments of intense action with thoughtful reflection, ensuring that readers are hooked from the first page to the last. The author's ability to evoke emotion and create a vivid, immersive world is truly remarkable, making this book a must-read for anyone looking for an exceptional literary experience.

Beyond its compelling storyline, the book stands out for its insightful commentary on the human condition, weaving philosophical questions into the fabric of its narrative. The author's skillful use of language not only enriches the text but also elevates the reader's experience, offering new perspectives on familiar themes. Whether it's the intricate dynamics of relationships, the exploration of identity, or the confrontation with ethical dilemmas, this book tackles complex issues with sensitivity and intelligence. It's a testament to the power of storytelling to illuminate the nuances of life, making it a valuable addition to any book lover's collection. Regardless of genre, this is a work that resonates on multiple levels, affirming the enduring impact of well-crafted literature.

Loved this. Was shocked to find out it was YA. The writing was so beautiful and mature that it read very much like an adult book with teen characters. While the writing was fabulous but there was also a sense of childlike fancy and whimsy to the premise that made it so hard to put down.

These characters FLEW off the page. They were so vibrant and interesting. Helios and Icarus are gray and human—I could have read 200 more pages of these characters finding themselves and finding each other. The love story was brilliant and hard won. The retelling aspect was just enough that it made sense but still a very creative and interesting approach. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it as retellings are almost never my thing, unless they’re queer, and obviously this VERY much was.

This book brings us back to classic K. Ancrum writing. The kind of writing where it’s a few paragraphs, a few pages at most, where the last line of the section is something ~devastating and profound~. It makes for a really quick reading experience but I just don’t love that kind of writing. I found this to be my reaction to Kayla’s other books as well. I read an advance e-arc of this so maybe it was still in draft form, but a lot of this felt very surface level, as if the author never went back to edit the draft.

The writing is very beautiful and not as purpley as The Wicker King. I enjoyed that it wasn’t so flowery because I often find it difficult to follow the narrative of a book that is written too flowery.

There is a very tender relationship that was delightful to see in YA.

I absolutely adored this book, as soon as I picked it up I was unable to put it down. K. Ancrum has beautifully crafted a world where Icarus must carry out his fathers revenge plot and everything about his life is touched by that expectation. A beautiful exploration about how your parents trauma can infiltrate every moment of your life, and sometimes love isn't a good enough reason to maintain a relationship with someone who hurts you. I've been telling everyone that they're going to need to read this book the second it comes out.

Content/Trigger Warnings: Domestic Abuse, Substance Abuse Disorder, Disease, Death (Prior to Story)

This was a gorgeous and mesmerizing read. Loosely based on the Greek myth of Icarus this story follows Icarus Gallagher's exploits as a cat burglar under his father's tutelage. Everything is fine until he is caught by Helios, the sun of the wealthy Mr. Black, while he is stuck inside under house arrest. Instead of turning Icarus in he asks him to keep him company during his time inside and with that follows a tender story of self-discovery, healing, and mystery.

The story is funny in a sense that it isn't SUPER linked to the original Greek myth but it certainly takes a lot of inspiration. The writing is lush with prose, while having what I call the "John Green" effect (the fact that teenagers absolutely don't talk like poets haha), it's still gorgeous and incredibly satisfying to read. There are quotes in this book so incredible that I can't wait to post them once the final book is out and published!

The nuanced way that Ancrum tackles hard is incredible. This is a book for people who had to be adults way before they actually turned 18. The diverse cast as well as the way they are so tender yet fierce in their care for each other is admirable and had me rooting for all of them throughout. The love story is a little fast but hey, it's a teen romance!

This is a must read.

**minor spoilers ahead**
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”You stole so much from me,” Icarus continued. “Time I can’t get back, friendships I could have had, experiences I can never ever share. She died, and I get that and it was painful and it was horrible, but you never gave me a chance to live.”


5 ☆

i don’t usually start my reviews with a quote from the book because i like to keep them as spoiler-free as i possibly can, but this one really stuck with me. i chose it because, to me, it perfectly sums up what a wondrous thing this book is. a thieving son telling his thieving father that the most precious, the most invaluable thing he ever stole was his own son’s time and youth. how tragically poetic, how poetically tragic is that? it knocked the breath out of me. and everything about this book is just as magnificent. because there are books that are just that, and there are books that remind you of why you love reading so much; there are stories that are just that, and stories that contain entire universes within their words, and icarus is the more we all look for. icarus is everything i could have hoped it to be. icarus is just everything.

thank you to harper teen & netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review. all opinions are my own.

Reviewing as a middle school librarian, these are the things I’d note when book talking this unique, moving story about risking intimacy even when it feels dangerous.

1. The pacing is sophisticated- short vignettes reveal elements of Icarus’s life in no particular order at first-his fears, his acquaintances, his habits. Then about halfway the vignettes build into more of a linear plot with purpose.


2. The characters and dialogue are fresh, real and yet timeless. I felt the same way I did reading Catcher in the Rye about the universality of teen experiences and encounters.

3. The romance is, yes, erotic without being explicit. Exquisite and prolonged descriptions of touch (which matter even more for Icarus) are unusual in YA.

Would definitely recommend for high school libraries.

Gorgeous romance with lots of aueernesss and a lot of heavy discussion of friendship and how to help peeps. Thanks for the arc

I really enjoyed this book! It was a unique story that is unlike any books I have read previously. The characters were interesting and easy to understand. I really enjoyed reading from Icarus’ perspective and how he interacted with so many different characters and types of people. The romance aspect of this story was also very sweet! Icarus and Helios seemed immediately comfortable with one another (because they were made for each other, literally). They have these sweet soft moments, but you know outside of the dark bedroom, everything is kind of dull and grim. I felt on edge while reading because I knew something horrible was going to happen. I was honestly expecting something much worse to happen before the end of the book and was happy with the actual outcome.

There were several small things I did not care for when reading this book. Firstly, I thought the character names were a bit too dead on. Icarus, a reference to Icarus who flew too close to the sun and died, was an obvious foreshadow to the end of the book. Helios is literally the Greek god of the sun (the sun that melted Icarus’ wings, duh). Not to mention, they’re not very believable names, is anyone really naming their son Icarus or Helios? (Not that any other aspect of this book was that believable). I also was unsure when or where this book was set. Some of the descriptions throughout the book made me feel like I was reading a historical fiction but then characters would pull out a cell phone. Additionally, I felt there were a lot of small details in this book that were not necessary. Many odd interactions or scenes could have been taken out entirely and would not have affected the story at all.

Overall, I would recommend this book for romance readers! It had nice character interactions and a few great messages!

This definitely had a lot of promise! Ever since I read The Song of Achilles, I've been on a lookout for good greek mythology retellings, and this definitely hit the spot. It's not perfect, but quite intriguing and engaging. Happy to add this to our collection for mythology fans.

The Wicker King absolutely changed my life when I read it back in 2018, and now as I finish Icarus, I feel my life changing once more. K. Ancrum is a gem whose works really tap into areas of the teenage experience that are often pushed under the rug or not considered. She depicts teenagers with remarkable kindness and tenderness. The consistent theme of her works is that teenagers take care of each other in the face of things they can't really control, and it breaks my heart every time. I love this book, and I cannot recommend it enough. The author's note alone left me crying uncontrollably. If you haven't read anything by K. Ancrum, this is not just a recommendation, but a requirement.

An aching, lyrical novel that depicts its characters with such tenderness. Ancrum has once again crafted a masterpiece that will have you feel so deeply, you'll forget where you are.

retellingsssss i love greek mythology and i think this was a great ya retelling to get people into mythology! it was done so tastefully and just amazing

I really enjoyed this book! I think it captured loneliness and longing for new things so well. I really appreciated. The book started slow for me but picked up so much I couldn’t put it down! I loved watching the relationships develop throughout the story

This was an interesting storyline around a famous myth. I loved the characters and the writing style. Something was missing though, but I do not know what. It was a good book overall, a little slow. 3 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

i finished icarus 3 hours ago as of writing this and have been sitting in quiet contemplation ever since.

there are very very few books i love from the first page and then forever onwards but icarus fell into that little niche category. a book i will forever adore and always always think about.

icarus, is a story of a thief, fuelled by a parents desire for vengeance and a misguided boys endless desire to be what was wanted of him. icarus is a story of resilience and vulnerability and the opportunity to be more and less than what’s expected of you - and icarus gallagher, the namesake of it all, is easily one of my favourite characters ever.

unlike the usual vulnerable learning to be strong, icarus is strong and learning to be vulnerable. this book hits you with all of its tenderness and gentle touch, it hits you in learning to have friends for the first time and being hugged and cherished for the first time and it hits you in the way all first loves do.

icarus is a thief, of paintings mostly, but icarus has to learn how to be a thief of people too in order to save the boy trapped inside his home, helios. helios - the sun. and just like the myth, in a poetic justice, icarus will forever fly too close to his sun.

this story is for the touch-starved, the healing, the wonderful and all those that find love between pages. the romance is so sweet, there’s intersex rep with the love interest and hEDS rep for the mc! and it’s gorgeous and gorgeous, full of all the fluidity of both a dancer and a painter. i would love this book tattooed on my soul. i will love this book forever.

the relationships, both platonic and romantic are what you yearn for. something sweet and hopeful and as gentle as anything could ever be. this story is a romance in the sense that isn’t everything romantic when you’re given just a slip of freedom? that chance at something more.

if you can’t tell, i love this book. and i’m amazed i found my favourite book of the year 4 days before the year ends. i want to immediately annotate a physical copy but alas i will have to wait till march.

and icarus, i hope you get the world you fought so hard for.

As someone who loves the Icarus myth, this book is interesting but ultimately I feel like the execution does not do the synopsis justice. I'll start with the positives.

Icarus is an unusual character. I've read quite a few young adult books but very few successfully capture the thoughts and feelings of an a teenager. Most young adult books fall into the trap of applying labels to their main characters (i.e. outcast, wallflower, etc). Icarus is neither an outcast nor a wallflower and despite being popular is not shallow and vain. I liked the duality of his character - how in spite of his social status, he was philosophical and imaginative as some teenagers can be.

Despite the artificial nature of Icarus's ventures into Mr. Black's house (which evidently encourage suspension of disbelief), they were fun to read and were some of the best parts of the novel. I also enjoyed many of Helios and Icarus's earlier interactions.

The message was an important one, and I feel it is very applicable - not only to teenagers but universally.

The parts I struggled with in this book:

The parts where Icarus interacts with his school friends are mostly boring. I understand the purpose of these scenes, but in comparison to the thieving bits, they felt out of place. Every time, I would find myself waiting impatiently to see Icarus again interact with Helios.

The book moved a little too quickly, so I never felt I could adequately grasp Helios's character. He was interesting in the beginning and I loved him at first, but then the plot accelerated a little too fast; then I no longer cared much to know more. Therefore, the romance also fell a little flat for me.

Without getting into specifics, some of the descriptions were strange to read and felt entirely unrealistic (not regarding Icarus's thieving).

Also, now knowing the book's message, I'm not quite sure I see why necessarily the book follows the Icarus myth motif. The message the book strives to present feels more detached from the myth.

Overall, the book has a wonderful message, but I simply think the story could be restructured a little better perhaps to illustrate that message.

This is a great book for many people, I just don’t think it was for me. Some points were too slow, others too fast, I actually put this down for a while and was reluctant to pick it back up. Icarus’ character arc felt like it changed very quickly, I do love queer romances but I just feel like what he built up for so long fell so much faster than I anticipated given the original pace of the plot. The twist between Icarus and Helios also felt a bit off, almost a bit forced. I can definitely see a lot of people loving this book, I personally just wasn’t a fan.

Thank you to NetGallery for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this! It's my first book from this author and it was just so pretty.

I'm usually not a literary reader, but something about the prose here drew me in and didn't let me go. I loved getting to go along for the ride. There's an obvious allegory in Icarus/Helios being the Icarus and Sun of the original story, but I love that the author grounds the story in rich detail by developing the father figure and giving him reasons to be sending his son so close to the metaphorical sun.

There's also a lovely authors note about how sometimes the best person to notice a problem is a teenager, because they do notice when their friends seem to be running on the lowest energy. And despite what media wants to say, they aren't always catty about it, but more often than not are capable of great caring.

I would definitely recommend this book to those who run high school libraries. It would be a great source for teens that are looking for a relatable character in rough situations.

There's so much to like here, and ultimately I wanted to like it more than I did. But it's a solid book tho flawed in execution. Icarus is a fascinating character, and his school friends are equally entertaining. But there's some confusing wording in places, which obscures meaning in unintended ways. And the payoffs were perhaps not what I hoped they might be (trying to be vague and spoiler free there, lol).

So I liked it, and would definitely recommend it, but wasn't blown away by it.






I received a free copy of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

ICARUS is a loose retelling of the myth, where Icarus is a teenage art thief working alongside his father, an art forger, with one target in mind. During one of his excursions, he's caught by the son of their target, Helios, a boy in captivity. The two see each other in more than just a literal sense. His entire life, Icarus has stayed unseen through his own life at school, distant but aching to be known, and Helios wants to know him. So starts a story of the rawest, most desperate, biggest hope I've ever read.

This book changed my life, and that isn't something I say lightly. I read the full novel in about 3 hours, cried, read chapters again, cried more, then cried off and on for the next two days, and by the end of it, I felt so profoundly seen. ICARUS examines the complexities of both neglect and care, absence and nearness, and danger and safety.

It's binary-defying. It challenges the concept of family. It tackles the multitude of ways parental abuse can manifest.

It's about friendship and romance, and how those aren't necessarily opposites. It's about being noticed for the first time in your life, and the danger and thrill of letting people in.

It's hurt. It's love.

Many books take the approach of story first, details after, but not Kayla Ancrum, who builds a story /from/ the details—a technique so masterful I felt every featherlight touch, every breath, every brush of fabric, and every beat of this book's powerful heart. Written in short, accessible chapters, I think this book will reach exactly who needs to read it, the way I needed it.

Thank you for the digital ARC.