#icon and inferno

[richincolor]

Interested in adding to your summer reading list? Check out these five books that are out today:

The Color of a Lie by Kim Johnson Random House Books for Young Readers

In 1955, a Black family passes for white and moves to a “Whites Only” town in the suburbs. Caught between two worlds, a teen boy puts his family at risk as he uncovers racist secrets about his suburb. A new social justice thriller from the acclaimed author of This Is My America! Calvin knows how to pass for white. He’s done it plenty of times before. For his friends in Chicago, when they wanted food but weren’t allowed in a restaurant. For work, when he and his dad would travel for the Green Book. This is different. After a tragedy in Chicago forces the family to flee, they resettle in an idyllic all-white suburban town in search of a better life. Calvin’s father wants everyone to embrace their new white lifestyles, but it’s easier said than done. Hiding your true self is exhausting — which leads Calvin across town where he can make friends who know all of him…and spend more time with his new crush, Lily. But when Calvin starts unraveling dark secrets about the white town and its inhabitants, passing starts to feel even more suffocating–and dangerous–than he could have imagined. Expertly weaving together real historical events with important reflections on being Black in America, acclaimed author Kim Johnson powerfully connects readers to the experience of being forced to live a life-threatening lie or embrace an equally deadly truth.

Dancers of the Dawn by Afzal Zulekha Rock the Boat

Dancer. Warrior. Executioner. Deep in the desert a storm is brewing. Under the blazing sun, an elite troupe of dancers are trained to harness their magic. They are the queen’s most formidable assassins. Aasira has one of the rarest talents – for she is a flame-wielder. Feared by all and envied by some, she uses her power to execute enemies of the crown. Aasira’s greatest wish is to serve her queen. But on the eve of her graduation, with tensions rising among the dancers and secrets stirring in the shifting sand dunes, she begins to question whether she was truly born to kill…

Hearts of Fire and Snow by David Bowles and Guadalupe Garcia McCall Bloomsbury YA

Award-winning authors David Bowles and Guadalupe García McCall reimagine a beloved Aztec tale of star-crossed lovers with one last chance to reunite. Blanca Montes wants to make a difference in the world, to do more than her wealthy godfather and spoiled boyfriend think her capable of. So when Greg Chan shows up as a new student at her Nevada school, she is more than intrigued by this handsome, brilliant stranger. But Greg and Blanca are drawn to each other by something stronger--their fates entwined centuries ago. In his first life, Greg was Captain Popoca, and Blanca is the reincarnation of Princess Iztac, who took her own life after believing her beloved Popoca was sent to his death in battle. Greg has spent a thousand years searching for his lost love, and now the fates have given them one more chance to reunite. Will their hearts finally beat as one?

Icon and Inferno (A Stars and Smoke Novel, 2) by Marie Lu Roaring Brook Press

Spies meet romance meet popstars in this thrilling follow up to Stars and Smoke by bestselling author Marie Lu. 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.

Seasick by Kristin Cast & Pintip Dunn Delacorte Press

There's a killer on board a luxury yacht, and two former friends must team up to figure out which of their privileged classmates has a penchant for murder before they become victims themselves. Don't miss out on this gripping thriller from New York Times bestselling authors Kristin Cast and Pintip Dunn! Ex–best friends Naya Morgan and Yana Bunpraserit have always felt like outsiders in their small Oklahoma town. But this year, everything changes when they’re inducted into an exclusive society of Yatesville High’s top recent graduates. Unimaginable opportunities await them, starting with a celebratory yacht trip to Bermuda. Despite the likely onslaught of microaggressions and backhanded compliments from their peers—in addition to their own rocky past—Yana and Naya are ready for an epic voyage. Then one of their classmates is brutally murdered, leaving them stuck at sea with a killer. Yana and Naya may have avoided each other for years, yet as the body count rises, rekindling their friendship might be the only way they’ll both survive.

[r3d5t0n3]

emika and hideo are engaged in icon and inferno also hideo's back in the henka games company

[razreads]

Love is something you don’t need to explain. When it’s there, you just know.

Marie Lu, Icon and Inferno

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 4.5/5

Book Blurb:

Perfect for fans of Nicola Yoon and Ally Carter, the dazzling sequel to #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu's Stars and Smoke, is “a brilliant, breathtaking ride" - Tahereh Mafi, #1 internationally bestselling author.

New sparks. Old flames. And a mission that's playing with fire.

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?

The smoldering sequel to New York Times bestselling Stars and Smoke follows Winter and Sydney on yet another treacherous mission that grows more sinister with each twist and turn. To make it out alive, they'll have to figure out how to be partners again -- and if they can resist the burn of something more.

Review:

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*

[libertyreads]

One of the orders I placed with my birthday gift cards has come in.

[krista-hands]

The Hardest Reading Challenge - Non U.S / U.K. / CAN (#1)

Going through my TBR for this challenge really highlighted how U.S.-centric my reading is, so I'm hoping to branch out to a more world-wide reading range in the future. The first book I found to fulfill a non U.S. / U.K. / CAN setting or author home country is Icon and Inferno, the second book in the Stars and Smoke series by Marie Lu. I received an early paperback copy of Stars and Smoke earlier this year (2024) from BookishFirst and it became one of my favorite YA reads so far. The first installment has a large part of the plot take place in London, England, but Icon and Inferno follows (now full) secret agent Sydney Cossette and international pop sensation Winer Young to Singapore in order to foil an assassination attempt on the United States president. While I can't say much due to spoilers, the book is full of twists and turns, surprises that made my head spin, and reveals that I called from early on but loved the follow-through for. I was originally under the impression this would be a duology, but Marie Lu definitely leaves the ending open for more of this duo's adventures. I, for one, hope to see more of them soon. Final rating: 4/5

[jessread-s]

Thanks to @fiercereadsya and @marielubooks for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

✩🔥🎹Review:

Lu delivers on a thrilling and romantic follow up to “Stars and Smoke”!

“Icon and Inferno” follows Sydney Cossette and Winter Young as they reunite to rescue a compromised agent, uncover an assassination attempt, and prevent a war from happening. To make it out alive, they’ll have to figure out how to be partners again—and if they can resist something more. 

The stakes are higher in this book with the threat of a world war on the horizon. I found myself holding my breath at all times as I tried to anticipate what would happen next and what forces would tear Sydney and Winter apart. The action sequences, fast-paced narrative, and jaw-dropping cliffhangers made it impossible to put this one down. What’s more, with Sydney and Winter having grown attached to each other after their mission in London, there is an added layer of pressure as they try not to let their feelings get in the way of their objective. The introduction of both Sydney and Winter’s exes only amplifies the tension between them. Their partnership is tested, but they ultimately come out stronger than ever in the end. Despite how different their lives are with Winter in the spotlight and Sydney in the shadows, they can’t help but gravitate towards each other and I could not get enough of their relationship. 

I should have known better than to think I wouldn’t shed a couple tears…this is a Marie Lu book after all. I’ve grown so attached to Sydney and Winter as characters across both serials, so watching them experience hardships and undergo growth made me so emotional. In this book, we get more on their respective backstories with Winter’s manipulative father trying to blackmail his way back to into his life and Sydney reflecting on her own abusive father as her father figure prepares to retire from Panacea. Marie Lu handles tough subjects with care and manages to mold her characters into real people. 

The Warcross easter eggs in this book made me so happy, but perhaps not so much as the ending! I hope another installment is in the works. Keep them coming!

Cross-posted to: Instagram | Amazon | Goodreads | StoryGraph

[lightstar789]

Icon and Inferno by Marie Lu (ARC Book Review)

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!!

[atlasllm]

for your entertainment by adam lambert and one more night by maroon 5 are both winter young playlist songs as a reader who has never listened to kpop

[raine-ydays]

FUCK YEEEESSS

[acourtofpaperandink]

Book Review: Icon & Inferno By: Marie Lu

Post by: Jessica Stars & Smoke (book 1) Icon & Inferno (book 2) By: Marie Lu Cover: I don’t like this cover as much as the first one. It’s just not as pretty or eye-catching. It’s fine I just wanted more I guess.  Story: ★★★ Again not my normal read but as I said in my review for the first book, Marie Lu is one of the authors I will always read. This book picks up a year after the end of the…

[jessryno]

Book Review: Icon & Inferno By: Marie Lu

Post by: Jessica Stars & Smoke (book 1) Icon & Inferno (book 2) By: Marie Lu Cover: I don’t like this cover as much as the first one. It’s just not as pretty or eye-catching. It’s fine I just wanted more I guess.  Story: ★★★ Again not my normal read but as I said in my review for the first book, Marie Lu is one of the authors I will always read. This book picks up a year after the end of the…

[candidcover]

(via Review: Icon and Inferno by Marie Lu)

Icon and Inferno by Marie Lu is a high-stakes thriller that transports readers to the world of secret agents. Set after the events of Stars and Smoke, this one delves into the main characters’ pasts and doesn’t disappoint with the action scenes. This is a fun addition to the thriller genre that fans of the author’s previous work will love.

[razreads]

Grief is love. It’s the price we pay for the gift of someone meaningful in our lives.

Marie Lu, Icon and Inferno

[lilibetbombshell]

[libertyreads]

May 2024 TBR--

Connor Cow and I are excited to talk about the books we're planning on reading in May. (AKA look at my cute stuffed cow because my physical TBR is TINY.) I have three Kindle books and three NetGalley ARCs I plan on reading during the month so the physical TBR for the month is small. I'm so excited for my reading plans for the month. I've already started one of the Kindle books and I am INVESTED.

Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo-- I'm continuing my reread of the Teen Titans graphic novel series. Up next we see Beast Boy and Raven meet and we see them starting to put the pieces of the puzzle together. This isn't my favorite of the series (that one's next month), but I still enjoy the Teen Titans graphic novels so much.

Aesop's Fables by Aesop-- I found this beautiful collection of Aesop's Fables when visiting a small bookstore in San Antonio a few months ago and I decided this would probably be a good choice for May since I am back to school and I need some light reads to help me push through the month. There are more than 200 short fables (less than one page per) that use animals to discuss human problems. Some are as short as two sentences. Some are as long as five or six sentences. I'm hoping to finish this one early on in the month.

Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang (Kindle)-- Okay. So this is the one I'm already SUPER invested in. I started it at the end of April and I'm 100 pages in. All of the people who said this book made them angry were so right. This was sold to me as a standalone dark academia novel featuring a woman trying to survive the magic school as the first woman admitted to the High Magistry. She has the janitor forced upon her as her assistant as a cruel joke by others in the High Magistry. And we follow them as they try to make it in this magical school. The absolute rage I've felt in the first 100 pages is astounding. I can't wait to dive deeper into it.

Faking It with Number 41 by Piper Rayne (Kindle)-- This is the next book I'm picking up in the Hockey Hotties series. In this one we follow Ford who is the heir to Jacobs Enterprises, but with a career in the NHL, he doesn't want to fall into the family business. His father agrees...with one condition. He fakes a relationship with the family's PR rep. But do things stay pretend? Or does Ford find himself in an even bigger pickle than he was in before? I liked Ford in the other book I read in this series so I'm excited to read his story.

Pacific Rim by Alexander C. Irvine (Kindle)-- Did I really buy a novelization of a movie I watched last month? Am I really about to read it...despite having watched the movie two times now? Yes and Yes. Hey. Hi. Hello. Have you met me? The Resident Hyperfixation Expert is here to continue the hyperfixation. Pacific Rim follows a former Jaeger pilot and an untested trainee as they attempt to push back a giant Kaiju and keep the world from the edge of defeat in their war against the Kaiju.

Icon and Inferno by Marie Lu (NetGalley)-- This is the second book in the series which follows a spy and a pop star as they team together to take down a very bad man. I reread book one recently and remembered how much I love Winter and Sydney. In the first one, we saw Winter brought into the agency and trained up as he joined Sydney on a mission to bring a rich, and bad, man to justice. I was so worried reading book one the first time that this would be a one and done situation with their partnership, but in book two we've got the gang back together and I'm so excited. This time things get a little more personal for Sydney which I think will really up the stakes (and possibly the romance).

The Calculation of You and Me by Serena Kaylor (NetGalley)-- The GoodReads pitch is as follows: "A calculus nerd enlists her surly classmate's help to win back her ex-boyfriend, but when sparks start to fly, she realizes there's no algorithm for falling in love." I'm excited to meet this moody musician and this math nerd and see how they inevitably fall in love. I've read from this author before so I'm excited to dive on in to a new one.

The Stars Too Fondly by Emily Hamilton (NetGalley)-- When I heard Kayla from BooksandLala talk about this one, I had to request it. This is going to be a genre mash-up that could be everything for me: Sci-Fi/Romance. It's pitched as "part space odyssey, part sapphic rom-com." Four twenty-somethings accidentally steal a spaceship and as the ship travels deeper into space, the laws of physics start twisting and old mysteries come crawling back to life. I'm going to try to go into this one without knowing too much, but I was so excited to get an ARC for this one.

I do want to clarify that reading all of these is my goal for the month of May. But I started a class in April and if I need to then I will start pulling things off of my TBR in order to keep up with my coursework. I'm hoping that having a couple of short and easy reads for the month will make it easier to hit my daily page goals.