Superstar Winter Young and secret agent Sydney Cossette reunite after surviving a high-pressure mission in London. Their chemistry remains firmly in place, despite a year of silence. When Sydney reappears at Winter's studio with a new mission from Panacea, they embark on an urgent mission to rescue a fellow agent, who turns out to be Sydney's snarky and attractive ex. Drama ensues as they uncover a plot far more sinister than anticipated.

This book offers a gripping mix of agents, spies, betrayal, and a delightful slow-burn romance. The sequel delves deeper into Winter and Sydney's relationship, adding complexity. Old flames reignite, jealousy simmers, and the narrative weaves a thrilling tale of love and espionage. New love interests for both characters inject fresh tension and excitement. Winter and Sydney undergo significant changes, and their romance, depicted with sincerity, pulls at the heartstrings. The new character, Tems, adds humor and intensifies the narrative tension (I was NOT a fan of Tems…).

The pacing mirrors the breakneck speed of the first book, ensuring an unputdownable reading experience. Political intrigue adds depth, elevating the stakes and keeping readers engaged. The author’s writing remains addictive, compelling readers to devour the book in one sitting. While the rapid pace heightens excitement, moments to savor the characters' interactions would have been appreciated. The ending is both painful and surprising, leaving this reader eager for a third book. We NEED a third book…these characters will stay with me for a long time…

Is Icon and Inferno as good as its predecessor, Stars and Smoke?

No.

Does that matter?

Not really.

This dual point of view sequel is fast-moving and full of action, but it misses out a little bit without that initial spark that permeated through Stars and Smoke.

That spark might have gone a bit dormant, but that’s to be expected in an ongoing relationship, and it’s nice to see both characters working through different emotions. There’s not as much growth but enough to satisfy.

Lu’s pacing, however, is spot on, and her cinematic prose really moves the story forward — I could easily see both books as movies.

The ambiguous ending leaves room for Lu to re-enter this world in the future, and I hope she does.

Icon and Inferno is the second installment in the Stars and Smoke series. In this installment we have our cast of characters return as a rescue mission is assigned to Sydney. The rescue mission is to save her ex-fling, Tems. Panacea decides to bring back the super pop star Winter Young as they expect to find the missing agent in Singapore. During the mission, it becomes known that there’s also an assassination planned. Someone is attempting to assassinate the US president. It’s up to the steamy duo to save the day. Will they be successful once again?

This book was fun. It’s very YA, as expected but it certainly ups the ante with a little bit more romance. The characters are the same as the first book and there isn’t much character growth but we are given more of their backgrounds on who makes them the people they are. I would’ve loved this book and its predecessor when I was in my teens and for that I give it 4/5 stars.

It’s no secret that I love Marie Lu’s writing style. If she’s publishing a book, I’m going to be reading it. Icon and Inferno is a fun spy thriller that takes place one year after Stars and Smoke. Follow superstar Winter and secret agent Sydney in an all-new, high-stakes mission. Government conspiracies, spy tech, and slow-burn romance, oh my!

The sequel gives juicier backstory details and complicates Winter and Sydney’s reunion by also pairing them up with old flames: Winter’s on-again-off-again ex-girlfriend, Gavi, and Syndey’s fellow secret agent and one-night-stand hookup named Tems. The mission starts out simple: rescue Tems. He has missed his last couple of check-ins and his cover in Singapore is assumed to be compromised. Yet when Sydney, Winter, and Gavi arrive in Singapore they quickly have targets on their backs as they are pulled into a plot to assassinate The President of the United States.

This was such a fun read! Using a singer’s access and star power to navigate the difficulties of their missions was what drew me into book one, and book two does not disappoint. Winter uses his fame quite creatively! The two main characters have a great dynamic, the Singaporean setting was super descriptive and immersive, and the spies have lots of cool high-tech gadgets to work with! I'd definitely recommend this to fans of YA mysteries and thrillers.

International musical artist Winter and secret agent Sydney are team up once again. This time they are on a mission to rescue a fellow agent, but complications arise as soon as they arrive at their destination.

With Lu's fast-paced writing, Icon and Inferno was nearly as fun as the first book While I do not normally read spy thrillers, I do enjoy watching them so the book was a little predictable. Nevertheless, I was still engrossed in the story and invested in Winter and Sydney. I relished in their individuals struggles about their feelings for the other person. Having their exes in the picture along with their moments of jealousy helped increase the tension. It was great. Even when my attention started to stray, the romance would bring me back.

I recommend this for individuals who enjoy fast-paced spy thrillers fused with a "will they or won't they" romance.

Title: Icon and Inferno
Author: Marie Lu
Genre: YA
Rating: 4 out of 5

A year has passed since superstar Winter and secret agent Sydney Cossette went undercover - on a dangerous mission to bring down the baddest man in London.

Winter hasn't stopped thinking about Sydney since, and she's been trying not to think about him

Family secrets and nasty newspapers has Winter desperate to re-enter the secret world. And it's not long before he gets his chance.

Sydney is back, and this time the mission goes right to the heart of the United States of America. A rescue gone wrong, an assassination attempt - and the return of an old flame - puts Winter right back into the action . . . and into a country on the brink of chaos.

And when a murder accusation has Sydney on the run, suddenly it's not just a life at stake, but all-out war.

I hadn’t read the first book in this series, but that didn’t really cause a problem—although I think it would have been better to read it. I enjoyed these characters and everything they had going on and loved the chemistry between Winter and Sydney. Lots of action, of course, and a bit of mystery about what was happening. This was a quick, fun read.

Marie Lu is a bestselling author. Icon and Inferno is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Macmillan in exchange for an honest review.)

So far I’m disappointed. I’m 38% in and I feel like nothing has happened besides annoying miscommunication (leading to an annoying ex-girlfirend being there that hasn't helped the plot at all) and jealousy between the supposedly bada$$ spy and the super star. Both read like naive high schoolers and I’ll come back if I can power through this not action spy, save the world book.

Edit: Nope I'm done. I am having to many problems with this book and it just isn't worth my time to trudging along.

I really enjoyed this second installment to another Marie Lu banger! As an educator, I would definetly house this in my classroom library and reccoommend it to students.

Winter has not been able to stop thinking about Sydney for the past year. He may be a superstar, but that feeling is nothing like when he went undercover to take down one of London’s bad guys. Now that rumors are flying about a tell-all book, Winter would like nothing more than to get away into Sydney’s secret world. His wishes come true when Sydney and Winter are paired up for an extraction mission; an assassination goes wrong and now they are on the run. Who is undermining their mission?

Icon and Inferno is the second book in the Stars and Smoke series. Currently, this romantic adventure is listed with only two books, but the “log” at the end of the book leaves these characters open for more adventures and maybe a little more romance. Although it had been over a year since I read the first book, I was easily able to jump into this story without feeling confused at all. The adventures felt natural and the book had a can’t-put-down feel the entire time. I will read the next book … if it is ever written.

This definitely was a strong second book in this series. I enjoyed book 1, and this definitely didn't disappoint. I didn't really have any expectations, but I'm always down for an action packed secret mission. If there isn't a book 3, that's okay, but I'd definitely read a book 3 if Marie Lu writes it.

The spy duo are back, this time in an attempt to retrieve a rogue Panacea agent, who happens to be an ex-fling of Sydney's (he was mentioned very briefly in the previous book.). Of course to do this, the agency has to use Winter's fame and connections to get where they need to be, and he needs a date (which leads to one of his ex-girlfriends being involved). Add to that the stress of someone releasing a tell-all book, Sydney's mentor/father figure retiring, and the chemistry between the two, and it spells a whole mess of trouble.

The second book wasn't as long, but it was a deeper contemplation of relationships and the costs that many of the characters had to make for various reasons. Was it all happy? Of course not, but there was plenty of hijacks to soften a few of the blows even as their echos reverberated through the book.

Will there be another Winter/Sydney adventure in the future? Perhaps but also perhaps not.

Winter and Sydney are back, and I am so excited! Stars and Smoke, the first book in the series, swept me away with its romance and danger. I knew I’d be back for more. I love the contrast between these two characters. When he’s with people he trusts, Winter is wide open with his heart totally available. Sydney, however, never opens herself that way. That kind of vulnerability terrifies her, which makes sense for someone with a life as a secret agent. For her, letting people in is literally dangerous.

The story begins with a bit of miscommunication or maybe bad assumptions between Winter and Sydney, where she thinks he’s seeing someone and is disappointed but trying not to show it. And he’s hurt that she’s not disappointed, etc. It’s not my favorite romance trope, but the story doesn’t lean into it too heavily since the romantic tension between Sydney and Winter is secondary to their assignment from Panacea.

I like that the task gets layered with complications, though. Winter has to manage the expectations of his ex, whom he invited to a social event as his date. Sydney must find and rescue her own ex, the guy who ended their last tryst by stealing her passport and stranding her overseas. So, yeah, she’s really looking forward to that. Mr. To-Be-Rescued has his own agenda as well, and Sydney and Winter have to decide whether to listen to him or stick with the original plan.

One thing I absolutely loved is the way the story uses Winter’s fame to achieve objectives in his work as a secret agent. It seems like being internationally celebrated and recognized would be a setback for someone on a secret mission, but he makes it work. I love how he uses his position as an asset for Panacea on their missions.

I think even more than the first book, Icon and Inferno leans more into adult fiction. The characters have full-time careers. They’ve had adult relationships. They have adult independence. It’s marketed as YA, and I think will have a fair amount of crossover appeal. Fans of Chloe Gong’s Foul Lady Fortune will enjoy this.

Once again, I am obsessed and this story of a spy and her unlikely pop-star partner was *chef's kiss*

I loved being thrown back into the high stakes and fast paced world and this second installment was absolutely just as amazing as the first story.

The mission was exhilarating and the romance was SWOON. We were in Singapore and the setting was almost a whole other character. Speaking g of characters, we are introduced to a few new people who we can’t tell if we can trust. In fact, WHO CAN WE TRUST?

There is a lot of love and a lot of loss and so much high stakes drama and I couldn’t get enough. The audiobook and narrators were phenomenal and I hope we get more in this series!

Title: Icon and Inferno
By:Marie Lu

Genre:
Fiction, Romance, Mystery,


Summary/Review:
Welcome back to Marie Lu’s talented work portrayed in book two, Icon and Inferno, of the series “Stars and Smoke”. The book opens with the one and only superstar celebrity, Winter Young and his secret agent/crush, Sydney Cossette. After their mission in London, the two parted ways and now over a year later, Winter and Sydney are fighting the undeniable chemistry that resides between them on another dangerous mission. Sparks only begin to reignite between the two, when Winter and Sydney discover who they are on a mission to rescue, a few old flames enter the scene. Hold onto your seats as the drama driven plot takes off and throws unexpected twists and turns in this young adult, fast paced, romantic adventure. If you loved book one, “Stars and Smoke”, you will not regret reading book two, “Icon and Inferno”.

I started this novel on my kindle, and switched to the audiobook! The Narrator does a phenomenal job telling the story. Highly recommend it if you enjoy listening.

Thank you to Marie Lu, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, Roaring Brook Press, and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#reluctantreaderreads
#marielu
#starandsmokeseries
#Iconandinferno
#netgalley
#advanced reader editions

After a year apart from their last mission, world famous pop star Winter Young is reunited with the one girl he can't get off his mind, secret agent Sydney Cossette for another mission... to rescue her spy ex. Not exactly the reunion he had in mind and can he and Sydney finally confront their feelings for each other or are their worlds too different? Winter Young is a famous pop star, he's just released his new album and but he has only one thing on his mind: Sydney Cosette. Winter can't stop thinking about the time he spent with his bodyguard/secret agent while working on a mission and the kiss they shared... and now it's been a year without her. He doesn't know if or when he'll ever see her again. With the news that someone close to him is writing a tell-all book about him without his permission and the fact that his own ex has showed up at his door asking to spend time... his life is messy.. and to add on top of that Sydney is back in his life and he has been called to do another mission with her.... to help her rescue her ex. When Sydney shows up at his door with a new mission from Panacea, he has no choice but to accept... and the mission requires that he have a date for the public event and with Sydney pushing that it cant be her and that he take his ex... he now has to bring her along too. Winter is not looking forward to bringing along his ex when he just wants to be with Sydney and he definitely is not looking forward to spending time with Sydney's own ex, Tems, a fellow spy. Yet the mission only gets more complicated when Tems shows up definitely not needing to be rescued but on a separate mission of his own... and now Sydney and Winter will have to find a way to stop a sinister group of traitors, save each other, and try and make it out alive and finally face the feelings they have for each other. Can a pop star and a spy really make it or are they too different from the beginning? When I had first read Stars and Smoke I loved it and definitely did not think it would be getting a sequel but oh boy did I have a blast with this sequel and I adored that ending for these two characters. I would love love LOVE a third book with Sydney and Winter and to get to see their relationship grow even more. I love that despite how different their lives are, they truly love and support one another no matter what. I had fun with all the twists and turns in this book and I just adored the relationship between the two main characters. This was such a fun series and I sincerely hope these characters get another book!

Release Date: June 11,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Roaring Brook Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

What a great second book in this series! Marie Lu kills it time and time again. I loved the Warcross reference. It was great to sew our MCs work on trying to sift through these issues of where they go from here. I loved seeing more of their histories and can't wait until book 3!

4 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

This was a fun YA Mystery/Romance. I didn't realize this was book 2 of a series, but this book is a stand alone mystery so I didn't feel too lost.

Sydney is a spy and Winter is a popstar. They had a fling a year ago on an undercover mission and went their separate ways, not expecting to see each other again. But now, the agency needs cover that only Winter can provide, so Sydney makes contact again. The timing couldn't be better as damaging secrets of Winter plays out in the tabloids and he's ready to get away for a bit. Their mission is dangerous and doesn't go as expected, but that's when their training kicks in.

This was a fun book, where Winter falls hard and isn't afraid to show his feelings for Sydney. She's devoted her adult life to being a spy and knows she can't commit to a relationship, especially to someone that lives their life in the spotlight. Getting through her tough exterior won't be easy, but Winter is willing to put in the work.

I thought Sydney was a bit too uptight and closed off and wouldn't even throw Winter a bone. In one moment that any other girl would be swooning over, she got pissed and went off on Winter. I realize it was consistent with her character, but she's not a robot. She could at least show a bit of humanity. But, I guess I'm a big softy and would not be a great spy. :-)

Winter has very few people he can trust, and has to put on a show and keep his image up whenever he's out. Not only is Winter in love with Sydney, she's one of the only people he can trust and be himself with. When you live a life like Winter, that is something money can't buy. I liked that he never gave up on Sydney and let himself be vulnerable with her. I also liked how he treated his ex-girlfriend. There were a lot of reasons why he should have show her the door and would have been justified in cutting her out of his life. But he could see through her facade and treated her with understanding and kindness instead.

I've liked this author's books since the Legend series. I like her writing style and she always includes interesting elements to her books. I didn't like this book as much as I did the Legend and Warcross books, but I appreciate she is trying out new genres. I'm sure writers get bored writing the same thing over and over, so I don't mind it when they venture out. I just hope her next series is another YA/Fantasy series.

I was given a complimentary e-copy and audio of this book from NetGalley and MacMillan. All opinions are my own.

Previous Marie Lu's books have not disappointed, so I knew this one was going to be a great next book. I was right!!! The romance, the connections between worlds... everything! I can't wait to see what Marie Lu writes next!! Definitely recommend!!

Marie Lu never disappoints and this sequel was even better than book 1 with the sizzling tension, new characters and a plot that has you intrigued until the very end!!

I’ve waited so long for Icon and Inferno and I was definitely not disappointed. When I saw it on NetGalley, I requested immediately and I’m so happy that I did. This is so action packed (exactly like the first one) and I loved reading everything unfold. The new characters that were introduced in this book irritated me but I loved how detailed they were and how much backstory we got, especially for them being new. I love how we dive even more into Winter and Syd’s relationship. All of the losses (ifykyk) hurt me so bad and the way it was written made me so emotional. The first half of the book basically sets up the second half but once the action hits, it hits hard. I read the second part of this so quickly because it was addicting. I need a third book now.