Icon and Inferno is the second book in the Stars and Smoke series. This is a fun spy type story taking a famous pop star and using him as cover to get into places that the Panacea group (Offshoot of the CIA) might not be able to get into. Winter and Sydney get a second chance at both another mission and exploring the feeling they have for each other as they team up again to find a missing agent and try and stop an assassination.

This is a really good follow up story to Stars and Smoke and while I don’t think it was better than the first book, it was a great book for some character growth and overall story development. The chemistry between Winter and Sydney is undeniable and even though both have their exes a bit in the picture for this story it never really felt like a love triangle or square, it just pushed them into really evaluating their pasts and prior relationships to discover what they want in their futures.

The plot to the story was fast paced and fun. There is a plot to assassinate the President of the United States and it is really hard to tell who is on team good or evil in this. In an attempt to thwart the assassination true alliances and huge deceptions will be revealed. It looks like Sydney might also be targeted in this story, which means her cover has been blown and someone in Panacea can’t be trusted. Sydney and Winter will learn that they can only trust themselves and possibly find a bigger bond in that.

The story ties up in the end really well and I think we will get to see more Rock Star Spy stuff in the future. Marie Lu has set this up well for at least one more story to the series. I liked the tone of the story and the nice blend of all the action with the romance between Winter and Sydney. Both were balanced well and never overshadowed the other aspects making it a really fun read. Sure you have to suspend some disbelief in this book, but I think that is known going in based on the concept of the story.

Overall a great YA read with a good blend of both action and romance. Just a fun series so far.

Narration:
My first experience with Becca Q. Co was in Stars and Smoke the first book of the series. She looks to be a relatively new narrator to the scene with only a few titles to her credit so far. I think that will not last long as her performance of all the characters was great. Her diction and voice changes made it easy to tell who was talking and she was able to capture both the fun and solemnity of the characters in various situations. I was able to listen to this at my usual 1.5x speed.

This was a fun story. I love the mystery in this one. I love secret agents. This is book 2. Winter and Sydney are back for another mission. There is awesome chemistry in this story - and the drama and plot and sparks are done perfectly. This was a very entertaining story that I couldn't put down. Character development was done well and it was just so exciting this whole story. Could there be a third book?

Icon and Inferno is the 2nd-book in Marie Lu's fast-paced Spy Thriller series, Stars and Smoke. This romantic YA series features a Pop Star and a Secret Agent. I had a lot of fun with the 1st-book, Stars and Smoke, so I was excited to continue on with these characters and this world. Unsurprisingly, Lu's exceptional writing drew me in from the start and kept me hooked throughout.

In this installment, we are reunited with our MCs, Winter, an international pop superstar, and Sydney, an operative for a mysterious organization known as the Panacea Group. Winter and Sydney were paired together on a mission in London in the 1st-book, but have now, at the start of this, gone a year without any contact between them.

They're about to be thrust together again though, when Panacea calls upon Winter to assist them with a mission in Singapore, where he is set to perform a show. The mission involves a lavish party, an assassination plot, and is the very highest of stakes. Panacea needs their best ops on the job.

The chemistry between our mains is still simmering directly under the surface, but we have their exs in tow as well, so that sets up some interesting tension. Lu excels at character development. I love how well developed these characters are, particularly Winter and Sydney. It's impossible not to fall in love with them and yearn for them to be together. I appreciate the slow burn feel of the development of their relationship. Even the pining isn't overdone. It feels natural and leaves the Reader wanting more.

The action is also gripping and believable. I love the idea of the Panacea Group, the mystery of it all; the operatives and missions. The possibilities for this series are truly endless.

My only small gripe about this is that I wanted more. I feel like the mission went almost too quickly. I could have definitely spent more time in Singapore. That's obviously a personal preference, but I definitely could have done with it being built-out even more.

Overall though, I had a lot of fun reading this. The audiobook narration is fantastic, bringing the story to life. Winter and Sydney compliment each other. Their personalities play off one another so well. He's always in the spotlight, she's always in the shadows. They're like two sides of the same coin and I only want the best for them.

The way this story left off at the end was great. I love that Lu left a bit of mystery. There's obviously more that could be explored, or we could leave it here. Personally, I am hoping for more, but we'll see...

Thank you so much to the publisher, Roaring Brook Press and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. This series is highly underrated!!

I loved being back in the world of spies meets pop stars in ICON AND INFERNO by Marie Lu after having the time of my life in STARS AND SMOKE. Even though a year has supposedly passed since pop star Winter and secret agent Sydney Cosette last went undercover, it feels like they haven’t been out of each other’s lives. The banter is back with full steam ahead on the “I was not staring at you; I was just doing my job” train, which happens so often and well, haha.

The stakes of the mission are much higher in this book, too! So, if you read the first book and thought, like me, that you were glad you were reading Sydney and Winter’s mission, have a cup of tea and a cozy blanket while you curl up with this one. This mission is so cool! If you are a vivid reader and see things as you read, it’s a total action movie in your head! I was going to put emojis here, but I want you to experience the thrill for yourself 🤓

I listen to it on audiobook, like I did with the first one. I love Becca Q. CO’s narration for ICON AND INFERNO. It’s excellent, just like it is in STARS AND SMOKE. I'm a big fan of her character voices and how she draws me into the story, which makes me unwilling to stop listening until I finish!

But loving the audio does not stop me from owning these gorgeous books. I have the OG hardcover and new cover paperback of STARS AND SMOKE, and I can’t wait for my preorder of ICON AND INFERNO to come in with the matching cover to the paperback! The artwork is done by @ velinxi. So gorgeous, right?

I’ve read them with ears, but they will be an equally good time to read with your eyes. The books are just a pleasure to read. My only wish is that the world will read them and fall in love like me, forcing Marie Lu to write another book because I really do need more of these two silly yet talented spies in my life!

Thanks, Macmillan Audio, for ALC!

ICON AND INFERNO out 6/11.

Content Warnings: familial death, grief, gun violence

It's been more than a year since superstar Winter Young was recruited into the Panacea Group - an elite covert ops group - to bring down a major crime boss.

Winter has gone back to his superstar status, but with the threatening release of a new tell-all book about him by some unknown person - although undoubtedly someone close to him - Winter longs for the excitement of being an agent. Longs for something slightly dangerous, yet also helpful and, in a way, something that's just his.

As fate would have it, the group needs Winter's help once again. One of their agents has gone missing in the middle of a mission and Sydney has been tapped to find him and bring him home. This includes travelling to Singapore and attending an exclusive gala. Who better to gain entry than the most famous pop singer in the world?

As Winter and Sydney team up again, the mission soon turns from a straight-forward extraction to thwarting a hit on the President.

This was the first time I've listened to this series on audiobook. I thought the narrator did a good job of giving each character their own voice. Honestly, I especially loved the vulnerability the came through in the quieter moments. However, sometimes I felt like there was a lot of whispering dialogue. I understand it's to give the effect of spying and being quiet and, you know, generally whispering, but sometimes it was actually difficult to hear even though my headphones/speakers were at a good volume. Overall, I am tempted to go back and listen to the first book now because I really liked what the narrator did for the characters. She really brought them to life.

I was not ready to be finished with Winter and Sydney from the first book, and was super excited that we get this second one. I low-key loved how Marie Lu ended the first one with them being separated because I knew the meetup again would be **chef's kiss**. Coupled with the fact that the agent they're sent to extract has a history with Sydney and Winter has become entangled again with an ex-girlfriend in the interim, and there's plenty of lovely angst. Now, normally I don't have time for the angst, but I felt like Marie Lu built these two up so well in the first book and built their tentative partnership up that I didn't really feel like there could be a true divide between them in this sense, but it made for some really great tension and also brought up contrasts and comparisons between those others relationships and the one they have with each other. This book felt a lot more emotionally involved than the first one, which makes sense because we are more familiar with the characters and the setup. That was dealt with in the first book, so it makes sense we would delve more into the emotional side of things.

I felt like this time around there's a lot of slow winding build-up until we get to the pulse-pounding intense mission. I didn't mind the slow build, at a certain point when things turn I just did not want to put down the book. Unfortunately, there are also some revelations that come about after the halfway mark that felt too rushed.

Regardless of these, I adore how Marie Lu handled Sydney and Winter.

I don't know what the future holds for this series, but I feel like there's plenty of possibilities for continuation and more ways to explore the characters.

I received a copy of this audiobook from netGalley for a honest review.

I loved this look into Winder and Sydney's next case. So much happens that I can't talk about because it gives away too much of the story. Just know you're in for a hell of a ride!

Welcome to book #2 of the Stars and Smoke series by Marie Lu and gosh, is this book fun?!

I read book #1 incredibly quickly and was so excited when I was approved for an advance reader copy through NetGalley. So this review will represent my honest review of Icon and Inferno.

When we last left Winter and Sydney, each was going their separate way and trying to continue their individual life after a fairly disastrous mission in London. A year later, each is still thinking about the other and now Panacea has realized they need Winter's influence on another mission which is on a grander scale than the previous.

This book has lots of action and exciting moments. The chemistry between winter and Sydney continues to grow but there are also a couple of relationship roadblocks such as ex's and old flings. Though our characters have now crossed the threshold into the 20's now, each has a bit of growing up and maturing when it comes to expressing feelings and matters of the heart. I am so excited to interview this author for the podcast Books are Magical. Please tune in to your favorite podcasting platform on the release date to hear us speak with her about this next installation.

"con and Inferno is a thrilling and captivating sequel that masterfully blends action, romance, and suspense.
A year has passed since the electrifying duo of superstar Winter Young and secret agent Sydney Cossette barely survived their mission in London. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and their reunion sparks off a high-stakes adventure that keeps the pages turning, but will they allow their feelings to come through??

Lu skillfully brings Winter and Sydney back together with a new mission from Panacea, thrusting them into a perilous rescue operation that involves major players. The emotional tension is palpable, as old flames and new jealousies add layers to their already complex relationship. The character development is superb, with Winter and Sydney navigating their feelings while trying to trust each other again.

The plot is intricately woven, full of unexpected twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. The action sequences are vivid and dynamic, making it easy to visualize the high-adrenaline scenarios. Despite the intense pace, the author manages to delve into the characters' internal struggles and growth, balancing the action with heartfelt moments giving us a glimpse into what they’re truly feeling.

One minor critique is that some readers might find the romance aspects slightly predictable, but the overall execution and the depth of the characters more than make up for it. A solid 4.5-star adventure that delivers on every front.

James Bond as Black Widow, but she struggles to save the world while falling for a BTS version of Bieber.

I finished this one on audio and really liked it. It was dual narration and really well performed, but the story was the best part.
It was fun and complicated with plenty of twists, some I saw coming from a mile away but many that took me by surprise.
It was incredibly sad though, I swear every character had a tragic backstory and went through a wealth of trauma.
⚠️ The book is marked as YA, but there are some vaguely smut like scenes. Like there are very clear instances where the characters go to pound town, and the author gives a sort of vague explanation of their emotions. Basically it isn’t explicit but it’s still there. Now, I love smut so I rather enjoyed this, but if you’re not a fan of this then just beware it’s in there. I would also not recommend listening to it in the car if you’re with other people and they don’t like steamy books.
Don’t let me confuse you, this might be a steamy romance, but most of the story is about spies, espionage, and violence (explosions, guns, knives, fists, car chases, motorcycle stunts, the whole nine yards). So this is like an action thriller with Bond style heroes.
Sydney, the FMC, reminded me of The Black Widow. She had that tough as nails, scarry good at being a bad ass, hidden talents, and analytical mind thing going that I associate with Romanov.
Now Winter was more like a k-Pop boy bander. I just kept picturing BTS, but he was a super star on the world stage backed by an American label so we got a lot of relationship drama.

✨Note✨Book 2 in the series.

Stats📊
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨🌶️💙💙💙💙💙
YA Romance/ Action Thriller: Spies, Pop Star, Stopping a War, Nasty Bad Guys, People Die
Dual POV & Narration

Icon and Send inferno is the Sequel to Stars and Smoke. It is YA spy/ rockstar action/romance and is already well-loved by many teen-lit readers. My favorite work by Marie Li will always be Kingdom of Back, but I have enjoyed and will be recommending this series.

Narrated by Becca Q. Co

Genre: contemporary romance, YA
*technically futuristic, set in the same universe as Warcross

Picking up a year after Stars and Smoke, agent Sydney and pop music superstar Winter are back on a mission together - this time to extract another agent from Singapore, one who is trying to prevent an assassination and global war, but who can't get out on his own. Problem? The other agent is Sydney's ex. And to get into this exclusive event they'll be using Winter's Rockstar power, and on his arm will be his own spotlight claiming ex.

Marie Lu is one YA author I continue to read consistently long after leaving most of the genre behind. (These main characters may be closer to their early twenties, but it is closed door.) Her characters are well rounded, age appropriate, and have inner monologues that suit their personalities and plot, making this an enjoyable reading experience. It's a fast paced spy adventure, second chance bodyguard romance, and if that sounds like a mouthful, it’s actually not. Lu has the skill to deliver concise plot and her side characters are all well-rounded and important enough to be able to keep track of them (even if some of them were not spelled the way I’d imagine based on the audiobook narration!).

Becca Q. Co brings an enjoyable pitch to the narration, adding excitement where needed.
I recommend reading this series in order, starting with Stars and Smoke, to get a better sense of the characters. And while you don’t have to read Warcross, there are some fun easter eggs if you’re familiar with that duology.

This is a fun YA/New Adult spy thriller series from Marie Lu. I do enjoy her Sci Fi more, but I also lean toward reading sci fi before thrillers personally. I read these since I know I enjoy her as a writer and she did not disappoint with this series. But it does not make my personal fave list. If you want a YA/NA spy thriller series, look no further, there's not a ton out there in this category. Thanks Marie Lu for giving the younger audience some great transition books before heading head first into the adult thriller scene.

I was so excited for book two. I love this secret agent/ pop super star duo!

In this one, which is a year later than book one, Agent Sydney teams back up with Winter to rescue an agent in Singapore and probably have to help stop an assassination (even though they were directed to not help with that…lol)
The only thing… the agent they are rescuing is Sydney’s ex and Winters Ex is coming along too to help keep his cover.

I love this series. I think it’s fun. I like the tech. I loved the Warcross references. Is it super believable. No does it need to be? I don’t think so. I’m very excited for the next book.

Thanks to netgalley and Macmillan audio for an advanced listening copy. The narrator was great.

Another great addition to the incredible "Lu" universe!!!

I absolutely LOVED Stars and Smoke. Sydney is so cool and Winter is sooooo dreamy!!

In this book, they're back at it again, and better than ever. I really enjoyed reading about how Sydney and Winter navigated high stakes situations while also grappling with feelings for each other.

The balance of suspense, action, and romance was the perfect combination.

Since I listened to the audiobook I have no idea how to spell the character names, but I thought Tems was also a very great character. I enjoyed his dashing charm and learning bits and pieces about him.

I hope there is a book 3 and that we get to learn more about Winter's family!!!!!!!!

Sydney and Winter are back and better than before. While they live a tragic tale I love them, their dynamic, just everything them.

I will however be devastated if they turn out living a forever long drawn out life full of regret. I am okay reading a few of these stories but will be very against them not ending up together and living a life of what ifs, constantly apart.

And because I know everyone is dying to hear my casting of Winter, Ross Butler is it. He is Winter. I can’t be convinced otherwise.

I enjoyed the first one so much, but i think it should have just stayed as that. I didn't get the same vibe it just felt like a forced sequel.

♡𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 & 𝐞𝐀𝐫𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰♡
4 🌟
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𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 :
•second chance romance
•agent | spies vibes
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I am a sucker for a book with chapter names, which means I am a sucker for this book. Icon and Inferno is book two in the Stars and Smoke series. From the start of this book, it had me hooked. Book one did a lot of world building, while this book Icon and Inferno went straight to the point, and I was here for it. Highly recommend
♡𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 June.11♡
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Thank you, Netgalley, MacmillanAudio for the (ALC)-Audiobook, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the (eArc)-eBook for my honest review.

Marie Lu is an excellent Teen/YA author, and it was great to listen to this second book after having read Stars and Smoke. The dynamics of the book will have your students intrigued from the beginning and begging for a third one to come out.

Thank you netgalley for an audio of Icon and Inferno by Marie Lu

Thanks for this audio, didn’t notice this is a second book. So I went ahead and read it anyway, it feels like it can be read as a stand alone and im very grateful about it. The story is engaging, fun and very entertaining, definitely enjoyed. The whole twist had me on suspense. Like I seriously was watching a live action movie on full swing 😅. The ending makes me hope for a third because I would love more. But overall happy with it .

Pop star turned spy and his grumpy partner attempt to get an asset out of a dangerous situation. What could possibly go wrong?
Everything. Everything could go wrong.
I really enjoyed this follow up to Stars and Smoke. There were some surprises and plot twists. Overall it was a fun book. And I enjoyed the narrator as well.