Icon and Inferno by Marie Lu earns a solid four stars. The sequel skillfully builds on the first book, delivering electrifying chemistry, pulse-pounding action, and a deeper exploration of relationships. A gem that exceeds expectations, leaving readers eager for more.

I loved this. A great follow-up to the first book that builds the characters' relationships even more and maintains the pacing even while introducing new characters. The action sequences, in particular, were a highlight for me.

Riding the Stars: A Dazzling Sequel Unleashed!

Hold onto your seats, readers, because Marie Lu's latest installment, Icon and Inferno, is a pulse-pounding sequel that takes the brilliance of Stars and Smoke to exhilarating new heights!

Picture this: superstar Winter Young and secret agent Sydney Cossette, thrown together once again after surviving a nail-biting mission in London. Their chemistry is undeniable, and despite a year of radio silence, Winter can't escape the magnetic pull Sydney has on him.

When Sydney reappears at Winter's studio armed with a fresh mission from Panacea, there's no room for refusal. The duo jets off on an urgent mission to rescue a fellow agent, only to discover that this agent is Sydney's snarky and smoldering ex. Cue the drama, the sparks, and a plot far more sinister than it initially appears.

This book is an absolute gem! It effortlessly surpasses the high bar set by Stars and Smoke, delivering on the promise of agents, spies, betrayal, and a romance that's the epitome of a slow-burn delight.

The sequel takes a deeper dive into Winter and Sydney's dynamic, adding new layers to their relationship. Complexities arise as old flames are reignited, jealousy simmers, and the narrative weaves a thrilling tale of love and espionage. The introduction of new love interests for both characters injects fresh tension and excitement into the mix.

Character development is a shining star in Icon and Inferno. Winter and Sydney undergo profound changes, and their romance, portrayed with adorable sincerity, tugs at the heartstrings. The inclusion of the new character, Tems, not only adds humor but also intensifies the narrative tension.

The pacing mirrors the breakneck speed of the first book, ensuring an unputdownable reading experience. Political intrigue adds a layer of complexity, elevating the stakes and keeping readers on the edge of their seats. The rapid pace might leave you breathless, but that's part of the magic of Lu's storytelling.

Marie Lu's writing remains as addictive as ever, compelling readers to devour the book in one sitting. While the rapid pace adds to the excitement, a moment to linger and savor the characters' interactions would have been appreciated.

The ending, a trademark of Marie Lu's style, is both painful and surprising, leaving readers clamoring for a third book. The stunning cover captures Winter and Sydney's longing, providing a visual feast for readers. The emotional impact of the story lingers, making it a fast-paced yet impactful reading experience.

Icon and Inferno solidifies Marie Lu's position as a master storyteller, leaving readers hungry for more of her addictive narrative magic. While Winter and Sydney's story may have reached its conclusion, the thirst for a third installment remains unquenched. In the midst of the holiday season, this book serves as a heart-pounding, fulfilling read, showcasing Marie Lu's exceptional talent for crafting compelling narratives that resonate with readers. Buckle up for another thrilling adventure in the Stars and Smoke universe!

P.S.: We are in desperate need of the third book! Here's to crossing my fingers so tightly that Marie Lu may grace us with it sooner, satisfying the cravings of Winter & Sydney fans once and for all.

A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Roaring Brook Press for generously providing me with the digital reviewer copy of this exhilarating journey in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review (my first one at that, too!).

Hello, bookblr, it's me, lightstar789. I received an ARC of Icon and Inferno by Marie Lu from NetGalley and I have come here to post about my thoughts about the book. Spoilers for the Stars and Smoke Duology, and the Warcross duology below, and without further ado, let's do this!

OVERALL RATING: 2/5

Yeah, I know, bummer. I thought this sequel would out-do its predecessor, given how amped up its stakes were advertised as. But when I went to read the book, I was disappointed, to say the least, the reasons for which I will be listing down below. Regardless of the faults in this book however, it was still an enjoyable read, which is to be expected from Marie Lu, and I do appreciate the effort, creativity, and passion in the book!

Now, moving onto...

THE GOOD

THE TONE:

With the shift to the series becoming a full spy thriller, the tone was definitely handled a lot more better. While the book has kind of lost the campiness found in the first, I think it was for the better, considering how the book seemed to get progressively darker and more dramatic. Elements of the campiness, however, are still there, and I think that they were handled a lot better in moderation. It's fascinating to see how Lu weaved elements of Winter's pop-stardom into the plot, and how he used his fame to advance the mission, while also trying to keep a low profile within his team.

THE WORLD-BUILDING:

Yes, you read that spoiler warning correctly, because EMIKA AND HIDEO ARE BACK!!!! Albeit, in a small role with very little dialogue, which, to be fair, was to be expected considering how much the ending of Wildcard was spoiled. This book takes place presumably a couple years after the events of Wildcard, and the Warcross championships still happen, without the whole-city integration of the Neurolink as previously seen in Japan. Panacea also got a lot more exploration, with international branches such as the Blue Cross Charity, the level of coordinance with local and foreign authorities, and new agents and allegiances being added to the mix. I also like how Singapore's diversity and culture was explored, and appreciated the Little India sequence (though they did spell 'dosa' as 'dosai,' which triggered my South Indian Senses™).

THE ACTION:

If there's one thing that I look forward to in all of Lu's books, it's the action sequences, and just like its predecessor, it never fails to miss. While there's weren't as many with Winter as in the case of the first book, this meant that there were more with Sydney (and Tems, but we'll get to that), which I could never complain about. From car chases, to classic beatdowns, and chaotic evacuations, there isn't any more that I could ask for. One thing I did notice, however, is that Sydney's lung problems weren't as prominent as they were before. It definitely wasn't forgotten, as Lu does take care to mention her lungs seizing every now and then, but this makes me wonder whether Sydney received treatment from Panacea given how her condition was revealed by the end of SAS. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure it never gets addressed in either book.

I wish I had more to say in this category, but now it’s time to move on to…

THE BAD

THE ROMANCE:

Oh god, where do I begin? The way Lu handled Wydney in the last book should’ve been the first warning sign that this series wouldn’t be as good as her others. I was expecting more reflection, less apprehension in their relationship and more trust, but instead we got hit with miscommunication, petty jealousy, and an uncalled for sex scene while THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING SURVEILLANCE! I think this is a good time to mention it, but this book is not as Ace friendly as her other series are, and to be fair, I think that was a given considering this is supposed to be campier than her other fare. But as I mentioned, the tonal shift from the first book made it hard to digest the romance and sex this time around (and how much more of it there was this time). There’s also the addition of Tems and Gavi (Sydney and Winter’s respective exes) that were introduced in this book, that I honestly couldn’t care for, and were only mattered character-wise for the romantic tension. I was never given a reason to root for their exes, and because of this overall detachment, the romance suffered greatly in quality.

THE CHARACTERS:

Now I’m REALLY upset, considering that this is the category I normally consider Lu’s strongest, and what I also considered the strongest in the Stars and Smoke review. While some characters were well-fleshed out, many, unfortunately, seemed to fade into the background, or were unnecessary for the narrative.

WINTER: Winter stayed mostly the same from the ending of the last book, which was to be expected, since this book was more focused on Sydney, so no complaints here.

SYDNEY: Though I was a bit iffy about her in the last book, I absolutely adored her in this book! I love how her motivations were emphasized this time, and I love how her longing for love was very similar to Winter's, even if she didn't always show it. I also like how Niall and Sydney's father-daughter relationship was touched upon more, and how his death impacted her behavior for the rest of the novel.

LEO: Leo’s gone this time, because of the events of the previous book (good for him, he needs that break!) and I was a bit bummed out, because I was really looking forward to how he’d cope from Penelope and Connor’s machinations, and how he’d find out Winter’s allegiance with Panacea, but sadly, he was put on a bus.

DAMEON: His character unfortunately remained static, and we didn’t really get much focus on him, which is a shame considering that I was most excited for him to find out, and try to help Winter and Sydney in his own way, but instead, we are treated to an infodump about how he found out Sydney was a spy, and then he proceeded to have no bearing on the plot after that. There is just SO much missed potential with Winter's crew and I wish that we spent more time with them, instead of adding more characters and struggling to fit them all.

GAVI: When she got set up as Winter's scheming ex, I hoped that her character would be expanded upon a bit so she wasn't entirely one-dimensional, and while she did have a "redemption arc," that was it. While she did try to serve as a foil to Winter's craving for love and adoration, it didn't really work, because she was never explored apart from her reputation and her personality.

TEMS: Okay, look, I'm just gonna be honest here: I can't fuck with this guy. At all. You're telling me that Sydney was supposed to be this hung-up about a two-night stand? Not only that, I saw everything about Tems coming from a mile away, from him being a traitor, to his motivations for betraying Panacea, from him trying to save Sydney last-second. And I never normally see these twists coming! I just...I can't, every time I see him I think about Tim Hortons (his full name is Tems Bourton) and I can't stop laughing. I feel as though this twist was very last minute (or I've just become very genre aware, who's to say) and seems unplanned, even though I know Lu had probably tried to put her best into this character and the plot, but I feel like it'd be better off without him (even though the book would literally lose the majority of the climax without him).

Niall and Sauda were the only saving grace of the characters not being a total drag. I appreciated how Niall and Sauda's relationship was used as a parallel to Sydney and Winter's, as a sort of "warning" or "what-if," that forced the two to rethink the plausibility of their relationship. I also appreciated how Niall's family and motivations were explored, and how his death was never brushed off, unlike the other elements in this plot.

I wish there were more redeeming qualities to this book, considering that it was a very enjoyable and suspenseful read, but after letting it simmer for a while, I realized that I couldn't really vibe with a lot of the aspects in this book. That being said, just because I didn't like something doesn't mean that you will too. Perhaps this book is up your alley, and if that's the case, then go ahead and read it! This book was not for me, but I'd still definitely encourage others to check it out! Feel free to leave your thoughts about this book in the reblogs or comments below, and I'll see you next time for another review!

Take care, and Happy New Year!!

4/5 stars.

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC!

The sequel to Stars and Smoke follows super star Winter Young and secret agent Sydney Cossette as they’re forced to partner up for a second mission. This time, they’re more familiar with each other (and the feelings they’ve kept hidden). Things are a little more complicated on this trip.

Okay, so I loved this book!! It’s the perfect sequel to Stars and Smoke (I didn’t think it was even possible to top that book). It promised agents, spies, betrayal, romance, slow-burn, all of it and absolutely delivered.

It was even more entertaining now with the addition of a second love interest for each of them, whom they both have histories with. This book focused a lot more on who Sydney and Winter were to each other, how being together made them better people—and of course, why it would never work out.

I won’t spoil, but the ending doesn’t disappoint! I really loved this book and had a blast with the characters. I hope there’s more to this series, but if not, this was a great conclusion.

* Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. *

I really liked the first Stars and Smoke book, and Icon and Inferno is a great follow up. Marie Lu nearly always delivers - she’s a great author, and all of her books manage to walk the fine line between overly emotional and extremely fun. Like her other series, this one definitely delivers. Icon and Inferno, like its previous book, is a fun, sexy thriller about international super pop star Winter and super secret spy Sydney who team up to fight bad guys and save the world.

I do recommend this series to anyone who likes action packed spy thrillers that are both fun and a tiny tiny bit sexy. If there’s another book in this series, I’ll definitely be picking it up to see where the story goes.

This felt JUST like the first book, but a different plot. I really enjoyed it! Marie Lu's writing style is so addicting, I could not put this down. It had high highs and low lows, and I was there for it the whole time.

The character development was one of my favorite parts. Winter and Sydney come a long way, and their development is so beautifully pushed along by each other, and it's so sweet to watch. Their romance was adorable as well. There was also the addition of a new character, Tems, and I really loved him! He added so much tension and goodness, and I loved the hilarious interactions between him and Sydney.

This sequel had the same fast pacing as the first book, and at times, it was too fast. I really wish it slowed down at parts and just let the reader fully take in the characters and their interactions. It also had much more political intrigue, and however unbelievable it was, it was very entertaining and the stakes were made much higher.

Overall, 4/5 stars. I highly recommend this series.

First of all, thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Roaring Brook Press, and NetGalley for an advance copy of Icon and Inferno. Greatly appreciate the opportunity to read and review ahead of the book's publication.

Now, on to the book....

To start, I really, really enjoyed Stars and Smoke. I was lucky to receive an ARC of that book at Yallfest and was really blown away by how much I enjoyed it. To say that I was excited about receiving an ARC for the second part of the duology would be an understatement.

Unfortunately, Icon and Inferno was a mess to me. Simply all over the place in a really bad way. I think the biggest issues I had with it were: 1) too much unnecessary secondary plots going on that eventually fizzled out into nothingness, 2) the stakes were WAY WAY too high for a pair of ... maybe...19 year olds, like there is suspending disbelief to be entertained and then there is a plot too bonkers to suspend disbelief for... and lastly 3) the predictability in the chaos. Without giving anything away, you could see the twist a mile away. I was hoping and hoping it was a red herring but alas... negative.

So what DID work in Icon and Inferno? Sydney and Winter, of course. Their scenes together (which weren't honestly all that much in total) were really really great. I really, really wished there was a better story for them than what we got in Icon and Inferno.

All in all, this was a big miss for me, which is sad. If you loved the first book, perhaps give this one a shot but beware. It definitely isn't nearly as good as Stars and Smoke.

PS I usually love easter egg kind of things that writers drop in for their dedicated readers. The easter eggs dropped in this book were..... awkwardly placed and felt somewhat forced.

thanks to netgalley and macmillan publishing group for the free earc in exchange for a fair and honest review!

i've always loved marie lu. when warcross references were made in this book, it made me really happy. overall, this book's pacing was a little quick for my taste, but it was such a fun read. i love the characters like crazy and the drama was top tier. overall i'd consider this a good book if you just want something fun and silly and sweet, and enjoy marie lu's other books. very solid characters and dilemmas, and worth a read if you're interested.

Thank you to Roaring Book Press for the eARC! I really enjoyed Stars and Smoke so I was super excited to pick up the sequel, Icon and Inferno. While I do think that the first book was better, this was still a fun read and I couldn't put it down! It was equal parts thrilling and jaw-dropping and I absolutely adored seeing the two main characters Sydney and Winter again. Honourable mention to Claire because my girl does not get paid enough to clean up all the PR messes.

Overall a 4/5 stars! ICON AND INFERNO is out JUNE 11 2024 and you don't want to miss it!

the insane rapid of this book had me devouring the book in one sitting. if you enjoyed stars and smoke crazy plot and the tension between winter and sydney you will love icon and inferno. (and like the 1st book you just gotta squint and not question the politics and the insanity of pancea)

i do desperately wish we got more of the characters backgrounds, winter and sydney but also the side chronicles as well. i feel like every time we start getting more we get interrupted, move on, and never come back. the amount of trauma baggage to unpack would have been nice to dive more into.

i can not figure if we going to get a 3rd book? similar way where the first book where it felt like its a possibility or just a open to interpretation type of ending.

i still absolutely loveedd the book, its not perfect and probably not going to reread it but marie lu writing is so addicting to just absolutely devour all at once.

THANK YOU NETGALLERY AND ROARING BOOK PRESS FOR THE E-ARC

In “Icon and Inferno,” Marie Lu returns to the world of superstar, Winter Young, and Panacea agent, Sydney Cossette. This time, the couple is tasked with retrieval of an agent in Singapore, who just happens to be an ex lover of Sidney’s. They quickly become embroiled in a plot to assassinate the American president who is in the country to attend the Warcross games gala. This time around, there is a bit mor4 sexual tension between Winter and Sidney and thrown into the mix is Winter’s on and off again girlfriend. We get a little further peek into Winter’s background, but unfortunately, it’s just a peek. It would be nice if we could get more of a character background into these two protagonists to root for them even further. Despite this, the story moves at a rapid pace and through it all, Sydney and Winter must come to grips with what they mean to each other and what their future holds. Thank you to NetGalley and Foaring Brook Press for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Definitely a worthwhile read.

"Keep me in your songs."

Why are Marie Lu's endings always so PAINFUL?!

I can't accept that this is how Winter and Sydney's story ends?! Why?!? Please, please, please surprise us with a third book.

I don't know what else there is to say?!

I love the gorgeous cover! Winter and Sydney are looking beyond glamorous gazing into each other's eyes with an intense sorrowful kind of longing. It is giving me so much FEELS. Feels that would sustain me for the rest of my days.

This was a fast-paced read. And it felt so short? Why did it feel so short?! I'm still in denial that it's over.

Icon and Inferno has me desperate for more.

I don't know if anyone would find this review helpful in any way. I apologize. But it's the middle of the holidays and this book hurt me in the best way and there are a million things going on in my head. I just know this book isn't even out yet and I already miss Winter and Sydney so impossibly much.

I will give up a good night's sleep ten thousand times for a third book. I'm not kidding.

4.5 ⭐️ 0🌶️ 13+
Spoiler free!
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review! I loved book one and received an ARC of Stars and Smoke in February, and was so sad I’d have to wait so long for book two! And then I got Icon And Inferno early! I think that the plot was slightly more muddled on this book, that it would benefit from more sharp details and refinement (obv Ik it’s an arc) but still. I think I enjoyed book one more! I still definitely enjoyed this book but I think that the whole “my ex, your ex” plot was… fine? I never love all the ex drama but this seemed unnecessary. I think they either need more significance (mostly winter’s ex) or change it to friends. I did you enjoy the plot twist with Sydney’s ex at the end! That was unpredictable for me but maybe others might pick up on it. I think the presidential plot needed more. I love it and it was so incredibly interesting!!! I definitely don’t think this should be marketed as NA. Books that are NA would be Fourth Wing, ACOTAR, etc. There was only one fade to black scene. I have nothing against it at all and I don’t think spice would have added that much, however I have an issue that it is marketed as such. I think the series seems more like those middle grade books that have the same characters but they just go on different adventures? If you have read things like that when y’all were young? I would have preferred a cliffhanger more. That makes me want to keep reading so much, and I get attached to them more! I think that is truly where this book shines. I love all the characters (even if I don’t like them yk) because they are so interesting and the inter-character relationships, and that was where this book pulled out on top. That epilogue- MADE ME CRY, and THAT is the reason I will want the next book. You HAVE to market it through that and scenes that hit deep because that is what is making me come back. This book, although it has it’s definitely flaws, made and impact on me and that is real and rare that I say that. Everything with Niall made me cry, and I genuinely felt my own heart crack a little, esp the relationship with his daughter and Sydney. Obviously I have a lot more to criticize since I have two arcs, but overall I am definitely recommending this. While I hope changes are made before it’s release- I still will be buying a physical copy once again.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for accepting my request for an ACR of this book!
4/5
Loyalty to a secret, above all else. Above emotions, above human bonds, above love. Loyalty to duty, to making the world a safer place.
I have always loved Marie Lu’s books. This book brought me back into how much of a fan I was of her books. The action in this book was amazing. It was like I was watching a mission impossible. I loved Sidney and Winter. The twists and turns in this book kept me turning the page, never knowing what to expect. The mission itself was really fun to read. Marie Lu has done it again!

Okay seriously what stars aligned for me to receive an ARC of this?! I AM SHOOK

On another note, this is my first time reading a Marie Lu book and WHAT? HOW DID NO ONE TELL ME LU'S BOOKS ARE THIS GOOD AND ADDICTIVE?!

I went into the second book expecting mysterious, romantic and an all and all happy vibe but what the heck? Please, someone explain to me why I was sobbing in my bed at 4 in the morning? The first book had me crying too but I thought the crying was over after book one, but boy was I wrong.

This book continues from book 1 and shows our two MC’s going on another spy mission together. Like the first book, it’s fast paced, thrilling, and super easy to read especially if you have a short attention span, like I do. We get to see a little bit more about Winter’s pop star life than we did in book 1 which I found really nice. There were a few mysteries in this book that all kind of tied together but I liked how one of them specifically dealt with Winter’s life as a pop star and some of the public issues that happen. Sydney of course takes the cake, again, for being an absolute icon. She went through SOOO much in this book, and honestly she just needs a happily ever after from all she had to endure in this book in particular.

I could go on but let me just skip to THE ENDING?!

GIRL WHAT?! DON’T LEAVE US HANGING LIKE THAT I NEED MORE!!!

Currently will be dying inside because the third book (if we get one) probably won’t be out for over a year and a half. I shall sleep until then.

All safety info is on my review from book 1 but here is safety info for book 2:

Both Winter and Sydney’s ex’s are in this book and are side/ main characters.
- They don’t have feelings for their ex’s anymore and if they did it was shot down at the end of the book (iykyk)
- Winter’s other ex fling is also in this story since they are still best friends but no romantic feelings between them anymore. It seems like they both moved on.
- No kissing ex’s but Winter’s ex did kiss his cheek a few times when he took her as his date to a gala.
- It wasn’t stated if they were with others during the separation so I'm not sure about that

A huge thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for this ARC! Now I need book 3 ASAP!

Just like the first book in the series, I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading Icon and Inferno! Also, can we take a moment for the cover?? Stunning.

Once again, the character banter was a lot of fun. The characters still had depth, and I loved the themes and life lessons that were woven into the book. The plot was pretty good, but it felt half-baked at times. Some of the points needed more explanation, and sometimes the plot did not make a lot of sense. The book seemed to be pretty driven by character relationships, which is totally fine. It was just not what I was expecting, given the first book was more detailed and understandable plot-wise in my opinion. However, I think Icon and Inferno is still such a fun read! I would definitely recommend it.

** Thank you so much to Roaring Brook Press for an Advance Readers Copy of Icon and Inferno in exchange for an honest review! The thoughts above are entirely my own.**

I think this series is like fine wine… as it ages, it gets better. Seriously, I found myself hooked into this one way more than the first.

Marie’s writing is always captivating, but the world she’s creating here is very unique in my opinion. Obviously we’re used to the dystopian worlds which are usually created by a post world war, but what about pre world war? That’s the story that’s essentially being set up and because of that, I’m craving so much more.


Sydney and Winter’s takes a little bit of a deeper dive into this one and the ending proclamations had me jumping up and down!!! Book three where are you?! How long do I have to wait!?

Overall, this series is only getting better. I even sobbed like a little baby at one point in this story. Can’t wait for more!

4⭐️ | 0.5🌶️

although I didn’t love the first book in the series, I was so excited for the sequel because I knew the potential the characters and the plot had, and this book definitely lived up to it! it flowed like a good action movie, and made it nearly impossible for me to put down!

Marie Lu has this ability to make me cry and laugh and feel jealous and swoony and sad. Just all the emotions her characters are feeling, she has the ability to transfer to me and make me feel them too, and this book is no different from the many other Marie Lu books I've read. This book DESTROYED me. After reading Stars and Smoke I fell in love with Winter Young and Sydney Cossette. A spy and a pop star? HOOKED. Their little enemies-to-lovers situation had me obsessed, and the tension, pining, and longing stares continue in Icon and Inferno. Nothing makes the heart want what it can't have like seeing someone else with the person you secretly want to be with. Bringing their exes into the picture? It's the perfect storm for continued pining, longing and a bit of jealousy. The action scenes in this book were INTENSE. Had me sitting on the edge of my seat, feeling like I just jumped out of an airplane without a parachute kind of intense. And while I found Stars and Smoke to be a bit predictable, Icon and Inferno really threw me for a loop. I didn't see the twist coming, which was refreshing! (spoiler alert?!) The death of one of the characters I did NOT see coming, and it left me sobbing very real tears over a very fictional character. Irrational? NOPE NEVER. Kinda mad at Lu for making me love this character only to kill them- this is why I have trust issues! The ending wasn't necessarily an easy, clean positive outcome which I appreciate. It felt very real-world rather than just a fairytale with the perfect happy ending. I'm obsessed and will forever and always welcome the hurt that Marie Lu inflicts upon my emotional psyche. Thank you to Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!