Icarus is an achingly beautiful story about loneliness, love, trauma, friendship, and growing up.

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

17-year-old Icarus is leading a life parallel to his peers. He's in the world, he goes to school, he talks to a few people in class, but he's always on the periphery. He's not allowed friends, or to do sports. He's not allowed to invite people over, or to tell them why he's always tired. He's lonely, and angry, and sad, but keeps it to himself because he has no other options. Watching Icarus realize that someone sees him, someone cares, someone thinks he's important is both devastating and hopeful. This is a story about Icarus becoming a person, about choices and freedom, about abusive parents, and about humanity - the good and the bad. It's a love story, too, and not only a romantic one.

"He wondered at the picture they made. Icarus dark and small, in the water, head tilted back in devout wonder. Helios, red like the sun, gold in the light, standing above him."

The book had a slow start but once I got past the first 20% ish, it really picked up. As someone on GR said, it's more of a reimagining than retelling. It's beautifully written and has great diverse representation when it comes to disability, sexuality, gender, and race. Specifics might be considered spoilers but my dms are open if you want more info.

"The air is prickly with possibility, but the ground is magnetic and heavy. Going anywhere or doing anything feels like running in a dream. It’s an open-air prison.”

Icarus is reminiscant of Ancrum's The Wicker King in some ways. The short chapters, the ominous and anxious feeling while reading, young boys forming a bond only they can fully understand. However, Icarus felt lighter, more hopeful, and it's a very different book, though I think fans of TWK will enjoy this one, too. As with TWK, the author's note at the end of Icarus made me cry ❤️

"If they tried, maybe it would be okay."

Icarus by K. Ancrum // ⭐⭐⭐⭐ of 5


NOTE: quotes are from the eARC I was provided and may be changed for final publication

In her Author’s Note, Ancrum writes, “Icarus is a strange story about a strong child, with an inexplicable history and night job that requires some suspension of belief.” If you’re prepared to do that, I think you will fall in love with this story.

This was such a joy to read, and I can’t wait to buy the hard copy and reread it when it is published. The characters, the friendships, the diversity, and the descriptions of falling in love all melted my heart. There is one romance scene that may be the hottest thing I’ve ever read, and the characters didn’t even share one single kiss in it. Woah.

I had some points of confusion that did distract me at times. Why are the chapters so, so short? They chopped up scenes that otherwise would have flowed. Why does it feel like everyone has a crush on Icarus and maybe Icarus has a crush on every person he meets, too? What was the deal with the Mozart/Salieri/Haydn reference and the weird grandma? (Some of the friends generally seemed superfluous and disconnected from the plot.)

My only real gripe, though, is that I wanted more. More description of the physical interactions between the characters. More explanation of what Icarus is thinking and feeling. More moments of the friends being friends. More moments with the lovers being lovers. Call me greedy, but the world needs more of this. “You think I’d know art, and not know this?”

Icarus is utterly captivating. Both the novel—beautifully metaphoric with often poetic prose—and the boy—in all of his big complicated feelings about his father, and everything his father has made his life become. I can’t wait to sing this novel’s praises to everyone I know, the message it tells is more than necessary.

Thank you to HarperTeen and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this title.

Icarus is alone in life, but not by choice. His father, by trade an art restorer, is an absent caretaker, forcing a life of crime upon his son to try and heal from his own trauma. Icarus, too afraid to be caught, makes only surface level relationships with his classmates while trying to complete his senior year of high school. He has money saved and a plan to leave as soon as he turns eighteen.
Everything changes when Icarus meets Helios, a boy who seems to be made for him, trapped by his abusive father.

This book is a whirlwind of emotions in the best way possible. This book deals with heavy topics but it also highlights the simple joys of life, joys like being able to sit with the ones you love and just enjoy their company.
The plot of this book is what drew me in, but the characters are what made me love it. While following Icarus through developing relationship with his classmates and with Helios, I grew to love them as much as Icarus does. All of the characters are written beautifully and every one of them is integral to the story. One character is revealed to have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and another is intersex. The representation of these are both very well done, being introduced into the story smoothly and treated with respect.
While there is a lot that happens in the book, the pacing is well timed. Nothing feels rushed and nothing drags. The only downside I feel is that all of the chapters are incredibly short. A few times the short chapters felt jarring where they cut apart what I feel should've been long scenes. Regardless of that the book read quickly, with every page being filled with such strong emotions that I had to take breaks to breath.

Unlike the Greek myth, this book is not a tragedy, not for Icarus. In K. Ancrum's story Icarus gets to soar on his wings safely in the warmth of the sun.

I think this is a thematic sibling to The Wicker King. It has two boys whose parents have failed them, a relationship that is all consuming, and friends who do their best to remedy a situation. What I love about Ancrum is that she very very clearly thinks about who will be reading her books, and what they need to hear. The author's notes at the end of everything are so heartfelt and sincere and truly feel like a love letter to specifically teenagers, and I think that is so important.

An incredibly beautifully written book with one of my favorite romantic tropes, starcrossed love. This is my first by K. Ancrum, but I’ve been wanting to read her previous books for the longest time. I highly recommend Icarus, and I without a doubt will finally be checking out this author’s other books! Highly recommend you add this to your TBR if it is already on it.

A work of art in and of itself, weaving love, grief, hurt, anger, and friendship into a beautiful tale about hope

This book is a work of art. It is heart wrenching and beautiful and I loved every second of it. It is incredibly well written. This is everything. Even though it’s YA, me being 28 did not deter me from reading this.

A fun read for fans of art, mythology, and heists! The relationship between Icarus and Helios was wonderful, and I loved all the representation. I also appreciated the depth and complexities of the various family situations, particularly Icarus and Angus and their wide communication gap. Stuart is terrible, full stop. All in all I really enjoyed it! I would recommend that my library get a copy when it's published.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books and HarperTeen for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

Quick read with a lot of heart, great representation, and fun art references, but was expecting more lyrical language and a faster pace based on the author's previous work.