Marie Lu always delivers. I love the fast-paced, high stakes that we tend to find in her books and Icon and Inferno doesn't disappoint. I love Winter and Sydney's dynamic, I loved the setting, and I love their adventures. Can't wait to see what Lu does next!

Marie Lu is an auto-read author for me. This book was a great young adult (YA) read. If you love spies, fight scenes, and car chases, this is the series for you. The characters are likable and fun to read about. The story was action-packed and full of adventures.

I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley.

I picked up the first book in this series becuase it was flying off the shelf in the library I work at. It set a high expectation for this one that it was thankfully able to live up to. Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for granting me early access to it!

I loved this second entry in the Stars and Smoke series and hope the author will continue writing in this world. The chemistry between music superstar Winter Young and secret agent Sydney Cossette is off the charts, and their joining forces for a new mission in Singapore leads to multiple twists and turns and increasing danger, along with relationship complications. Highly recommended.

The first book wasn’t bad, if a bit far fetched with the young FMC…. I appreciated the ARC of this, and overall it was an enjoyable read, just not anything that stood out

Marie Lu is such an outstanding author. Book two is better than book one which is CRAZY! Because Book one was outstanding! The character development was OUTSTANDING. This book was one I just couldn't put down

What a wild ride! I loved this sequel, maybe even more than book one! The plot kept me intrigued the whole time and it was so fun! Overall, I am excited to continue this series and really enjoyed this book!

It was an enjoyable read but I liked the first one much better. I love the world that's created in this series and the characters in it. this book was surprisingly sad at points too.

Marie Lu is back with the second installment in her Stars and Smoke series starring Secret Agent Sydney Cossette and pop superstar Winter. Once again, they need to team up together to save the world. I love the idea of a pop superstar being a secret agent because obviously someone like that can get in anywhere, and his star power is used heavily in this book to get out of tight situations. It has been a year since Sydney and Winter have seen each other and they have thought a lot about each other, not that they will admit that to anyone. Their relationship is very angsty in this book. We are also introduced to Tems, Sydney''s ex, although I'm confused how a two day relationship makes someone an ex. This book fits neatly into the young adult category and fans of the first book will be happy to follow along with these characters. I don't recommend reading these books out of order.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan for an early ecopy. My opinion is my own.

After reading Marie Lu's Stars and Smoke in 2023, I was on the edge of my seat waiting for its sequel. And Icon and Inferno did not disappoint! I love Sydney and Winter, and the progression of their relationship in this book compared to the first was top-tier. I hope that there is another book in the series, it's so entertaining!

This was an amazing sequel to follow book one. Full of action and surprises! I love the characters Sydney and Winter! The writer handles the spy and action like a master storyteller. I so hope there will be more in this series. It was left with the perfect setup for more. The concept of a Rock Star and a Spy working together is original and yet oh so fun. Well done Marie Lu!!! Thanks to #NetGalley for this amazing read!

In a sequel to Stars and Smoke, we see Sydney and Winter reunited on another mission. They are tasked with rescuing an agent that went missing in Singapore. Their cover will be Winter's already planned tour there. When they get there, Sydney realizes the agent is her ex, who follows the rules even less than her.

I enjoyed this one a lot! I don't think I liked it ~quite~ as much as the first one because I loved the chemistry between Sydney and Winter so much in that one. There is still some of that here, but since they weren't enemies anymore (like the enemies to lovers trope from the first book), it didn't have as much zing. This one also felt a lot more action-y than spy-y, kind of like how a lot more recent James Bond movies are more action than true spy work. Also, all the big plot things that happened I thought were predictable, but not in a bad way - just not unexpected. I still enjoyed it a lot though! It also left off in a way that seems like there could be more if Lu wants to revisit this series. I think it would be interesting to have a little time lapse (with of course Sydney and Winter trysts in between) so that they are a little more grown up as I think that would bring a new dynamic to it that could be interesting.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A HUGE thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan for providing an eARC and advance audio book one of my most anticipated releases of 2024.

*Internal screaming*

Icon and Inferno by Marie Lu is a YA fantasy spy novel set after the events of Stars and Smoke. And boy do you need to read this one immediately A year has passed since superstar Winter Young last saw secret agent Sydney Cossette. After barely surviving their first assignment together in London -- and their intense chemistry – the two haven’t spoken at all. Though they’re never far from the other’s thoughts, or fantasies. So when Syndey shows up at Winter’s studio one day with a new mission from Panacea, he has no choice but to accept. With the clock ticking, the duo prepares to head to Singapore to rescue an operative in danger -- only to learn he’s none other than Sydney's ex, a rogue agent known as the Arsonist. Of course, nothing is ever simple when it comes to Winter and Sydney. Especially not with the glamorous Gavi Ginsburg, a globe-trotting socialite and Winter’s one-time girlfriend, in the mix. Is she back for Winter’s heart – or does she have her eye on another prize?

I have no other words except, go read this book right now.
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Thank you, NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Roaring Brook Press, for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

It's been a years since Winter Young saw secret agent Sydney Cossette, after a first assignment togethere and a rollercoaster of emotions and feelings. When Sydney shows up at his studio, one day, with a new mission, Winter's world is again turned upside down. In order to rescue an operative in danger in Singapore, Winter and Sydney soon learn he's one of Sydney's ex, a rogue agent called the Arsonist. And, of course, nothing is easier for Winter, since his one-time girlfriend and socialite Gavi Ginsburg is back in the mix.

Filled with twists, secrets and exciting moment, Icon and Inferno is the unique and incredible sequel of Stars and Smoke and if you loved the first, you can't miss this one. It's even more exciting, intriguing and filled with tension, love, secrets and missions
I loved the first book and I love how, now, Winter and Sydney keep building their intense and complicated relationship, trying to follow their assignment and to resist, or not, to the romantic tension between them. I love their relationship, it's written so beautifully and I really loved how they are with one other.
If I could give more than 5 stars, I would. Go read this book!

This book had adventure, deceit and romance while following Sydney and Winter on a secret covert operation. Proving again that unlikely people can make the best partners. It was a great sequel to Stars and Smoke. I had been looking forward to the release of this book and it did not disappoint. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read every Marie Lu book that’s out there and I rarely rate her less than 5 stars. But this was a case of a not so amazing Marie Lu book for me.

I loved the first book in this series. Secret agents, bodyguard romance, action and adventure! It was so great and I was hoping to continue that theme here.

This book really suffered from the sophomore slump of series for me. It was flat compared to the first book and I got the feeling that this book was teeing up a third book (not confirmed, just a hunch I have) and that made the story a bit lackluster for me.

I did, however, enjoy the narration a lot. I think this was very engaging as an audiobook and I would continue the series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I rounded this one up to 4 stars from 3.5 stars. Even though I enjoyed this sequel, I think I still prefer the first installment of the series. The plot is quite predictable, but it's still entertaining. It seems like there was less of a spark between Winter and Sydney in this one as well. But I really loved the Warcross reference. Overall, anyone who likes spy stories will find it a fun, fast-paced read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the e-arc.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great sequel! I really loved this book so much.

Icon and Inferno is a thrilling return to Winter and Sydney’s world. I had a lot of fun with the first book so I was looking forward to getting my hands on the sequel! This story picks up one year after the ending of Stars and Smoke, with Winter having returned to his life in the starlight and Sydney continuing the Panacea mission. It is much more of a take on a classic spy romance than the first was, and is chock-full of heart-racing chases and the witty dialogue that make Marie Lu’s books such enjoyable and fun reads.

This book retained a lot of the things I loved from the first, but it took us to new breathtaking heights. Man, were the stakes much much bigger! The story goes at a near constant breakneck speed, making it a thrilling quick read. While it made the book hard to put down, I did feel myself aching a little for some quiet time to sit with our characters. We get so much more character development throughout this adventure, especially with Sydney, but we don’t get to slow down and enjoy it as much as I wanted to. I did love seeing Winter and Sydney learn more from each other this go around. It was nice to see them finally open themselves up more, and it added several new layers to their relationship which was fun to see.

Like with Stars and Smoke, we leave this book at a place that is satisfying but leaves room for more. I know I will be crossing my fingers for a third book - I don't think I could ever get enough of Winter. I love his character and the battle he has between his open heart and protecting himself. I liked seeing more of his struggle with the consequences that come with fame. Sydney was also not without struggles of her own - she goes through so much in this book. One event in particular was extremely shocking to me, and my heart hurt for our characters. Icon and Inferno is rife with twists and turns, and I never knew exactly what was coming next.

While I do enjoy these books as the flirty spy mysteries they are - they lack a little of the magic I found in Marie Lu’s previous works (especially the legend and young elite series). That being said, this book is still just a blast to read, especially for anyone craving a book with true mission impossible vibes. If you are looking for a quick and easy read to change things up, filled with mystery, action, and a little romance, look no further than the Stars and Smoke series!

I received a digital ARC from NetGalley and Roaring Brook Press. All opinions are my own.

Dazzling and breathtaking work of pure art and a fun sequel! thanks for the arc, quite respectable work and romance was cute.