Thanks to Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Marie Lu is an author I automatically read. I enjoyed Stars and Smoke, but not to the extent I've enjoyed her other series. Marie Lu is a fantastic science fiction and fantasy writer. This is her first mystery book, and while it was good, it wasn't anything that stood out to me as unique and remarkable.

Sydney works for a secret government agency that works outside the lines of government red tape. When she is sent on a mission to find ledgers on a criminal tycoon transporting and selling a dangerous drug, she is partnered up with someone who has no training. The agency has paired her up with pop star Winter Young and is using him as a front to get close to Eli Morrsion, the criminal tycoon. They believe their best shot is for Winter to attend his daughter's birthday party to give a private concert as she is his biggest fan. From there, Sydney and Winter attempt to find any proof they can of Eli's dealings.

The pop star and spy angle was different and the plot was interesting enough. I'll say that I did not expect the twist which was pleasantly surprising. I wish the characters were a little more fleshed out in their backgrounds. We do get some of the storyline, but I think I was hoping for a little bit more. I loved their handlers Niall and Sauda, but I also wished for more background on them.

All of that being said, I will likely read the second one as I enjoy books that are mission oriented and end within the book, yet have over arcing storylines that carry from book to book.

If you're looking for a quick and fun read, this is a good choice. It's just not a book that stands out against other books I've read.

This was such a fun ride. A little suspended disbelief at times with some very complex characters. I’m glad this is the first book in a series because I definitely want more of Sydney and Winter. They both have a lot of story to tell and I feel like we touched the surface of it. They struggle internally with things happening with their family, and I found both of their stories a little sad, though I also think Winter and Sydney both have a true "found family." There's not really a character within their circle that I didn't like. Marie really has a way of pulling at your heartstrings and that was definitely the case here. Winter's story is so heart-wrenching and you can tell he puts up a bit of a façade for certain people. You want things to be better for him but at the same time, you definitely think he deserves better.

For once I can finally say I knew how things were going to end in that I knew who was behind everything. It was a pretty good cover and twist to the story but also really brutal at the same time. It makes you question if Eli Morrison, the "major crime boss", really did what they said he did. I also found myself questioning the relationship between Penelope and Connor and even now I'm sure it was genuine.

While I did think the romantic relationship between Sydney and Winter developed a little too quickly, I found it enjoyable nonetheless. They seemed to be drawn to one another even though I desperately tried to convince themselves otherwise.

I found myself really devouring this novel. Marie has a clear writing style that easily draws you into the world she's created. She's a well-rounded author who writes well-rounded, thoughtful characters. It's one of the reasons why she is one of my favorite authors. I really felt like I was stepping into something familiar and comforting, a book that has the classic Marie Lu-style.

3.5 stars, rounded up here. Overall, Stars and Smoke was a really fun read! The story moved quickly and the pop star/spy combo was entertaining. I do think teen readers will love this, especially those who want their stories with a side of romance rather than it being the central focus. Though there was tension between Winter and Sydney throughout the story, the mission took precedence most of the time. There were some things that seemed a little off with this book. It is billed as enemies to lovers, but I never really felt like Winter and Sydney were enemies. Sarcastic people who just met each other, yes. Enemies with a long-simmering feud, no. Their ages paired with the maturity level also threw me. They are 19-20 but that seemed like a choice designed to just get them out of school/living independently versus how old they acted. This isn't a bad thing and will make the book great for younger teens, but the romance felt more like that of two 14 year-olds instead of actual adults. I did enjoy the action scenes and the twists at the end, and will be picking up a copy for my classroom library.

I loved the Stars and Smoke! It’s a nuanced, YA version of a Bond movie…if 007 had a pop star as a partner! The storyline is fast paced and interesting, the characters have depth, there is a bit of glitz and glam, and a budding romance! Definitely pick this up if you want an escape!

Here we have the story of Winter, a pop superstar, and the Panacea Group wants him to infiltrate a crime lord's inner circle. Enter Sydney, an up and coming spy. In order for this mission to work, she's going to pose as Winter's bodyguard. There's only one problem. She can't stand the guy.

Oh I wanted to like this book so bad. I mean what a cool premise, right? A pop star and a spy! Unfortunately, this book fell flat for me. First of all (ignoring the fact that I couldn't stand the name Winter), I felt like there was no chemistry between these two. Just zero. Not even a spark. And this is supposed to be enemies to lovers right? Aside from that, I had a hard time caring about any of these characters. They were just so one-dimensional. Because of all this, the story just didn't vibe with me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC. Unfortunately, this book was just not for me.

★ 3.5 / 5

Ever since Rebel I've had a weird disconnect with Marie Lu's books. I've been reading her work since Legend released, so she's been an insta-buy author for quite a long time. But something happened between Kingdom of Back all the way to Steelstriker when it comes to my enjoyment of her books. The characters felt flatter and less alive. The books were much more serious than most of her previous work too, but I did not love them anywhere near as much as The Young Elites, Legend, or Warcross.

But Stars and Smoke brought me back to that previous feeling. I'm not the biggest thriller/ spy fan, but I'll try anything by Marie Lu. S&S reminded me of my reading experience with Warcross and Wildcard because the world is extremely similar to our own with just a couple key differences. I was laughing and shaking my heading smiling during multiple scenes, and don't even get me started on the flirty scenes between our two leads. These moments were what I was missing beforehand.

Now the genre itself was my biggest issue because I don't hardly ever read books like S&S. I'm not a huge celebrity/ pop star fan either, so I was not the target audience. I think fans of BTS, Taylor Swift, or other big singers would love this book because it leans a lot into fan culture and the expectations that come with it for the celebrity. Moreover, the book felt extremely fast-paced and short. The sky elements were extremely fascinating, but it felt as if we never got to see Sydney fully in her element. We bypassed a ton of possibly badass scenes, and I wanted more details. One of the scenes that made me feel adrenaline and the high stakes was when Sydney follows Eli after his daughter's party/birthday celebration. The motorcycle imagery and her spying on the tension between the villains were just TOP TIER. I wanted more like that. Obviously, Winter is going to be a novice at spying, so I wasn't thrown off by his lack of action, but I was craving more.

Marie Lu is a representation queen. She's always been one of the best authors at writing characters for everyone. Talin was deaf. Day/ June are both mixed race (something not common in books via early 2010s), and LGBTQ+ identities are all around. S&S was no different, but specifically for this book I loved that Sydney had a lung health condition. When more intense health issues arise, I find no representation whatsoever is the norm. The fact that Sydney has breathing problems but continues to work in an active, dangerous work environment was great. Sydney shows the nuances of health issues in that she doesn't have to give up her career, but she does alter her life a bit with breathing exercises or "work smarter, not harder" mentality. It was refreshing because I don't think many people would ever give someone with a health condition a chance in spy work. The trauma of also losing her own mother to lung health problems is another added depth to her characterization.

Overall, S&S was a step in the right direction for me. I will definitely read the sequel to see what other spy shenanigans the duo encounter, and I'm hopeful for the future of Marie's books.

While usually a Marie Lu fan, I found Stars and Smoke disappointing. This enemies-to-lovers YA novel about a wildly popular boy band star (Winter) and his would-be girlfriend/bodyguard (Sydney) who team up on a CIA-type mission to thwart Mr. Evil falls flat. Uncharacteristically for Lu, the romance is overwrought, and the descriptions of the protagonists' sufferings (Winter, over his mother's lack of love; Sydney, over her mother's untimely death) are just too angsty for me. These characters are 19 year olds with the emotional maturity of 15 year olds doing work that would challenge 30 year olds. But I'm not the target audience. Teens will likely eat this one up, so we'll be ordering it for our high school media center.

Sydney works for a secret espionage organization that does jobs outside the parameters of the CIA. When a London tycoon harbors a deadly chemical weapon that he’s going to ship overseas, the organization recruits rock star Winter Young. The crime boss’s daughter is an avid fan and has invited him to do a concert for her birthday. Sydney goes undercover as his bodyguard. Things don’t go as planned, and soon the pair are dodging the father’s goons, the buyer’s henchmen, and multiple assassination attempts. Can they trust anyone? Their growing feelings for each other compound the situation. How can a spy and a superstar be together? This enemies-to-lovers tale is a fast-paced, fun adventure. It gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse at rock stardom along with spy gadgets and protagonists whose emotional wells are filled with depths of anguish. Being vulnerable leaves them open to their enemies and puts their survival in question. Stars and Smoke is a fun-filled escape with a pulse-pounding pace that will keep you turning pages well into the night.

Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu is a fun romantic thriller. It exists purely for entertainment and distraction purposes, and I am okay with that. There is little character development and a simple plot, but it reads like the most engaging movie you will ever watch. The interactions between the main characters are priceless, and the action is impressive. For sheer entertainment alone, Stars and Smoke rates high.

Spy stories are always fun with the gadgets and the sleights of hand necessary to trick people, and Ms. Lu makes sure to include plenty of devices for her two spies. Then there is all the sneaking, hidden rooms, and danger. And secrets. Lots and lots of secrets. While the plot may be a tad predictable, the story itself is too much fun for the predictability to become an issue.

Meanwhile, Winter and Sydney are a terrific pairing. Winter is sexy as hell with his natural grace and ability to charm everyone he meets. Sydney is the curmudgeon, and I love her for that. While Winter has some of the best lines, I adore Sydney for distrusting others and putting the mission first. It is an attitude I understand and respect.

I like how Ms. Lu left the end open for potential sequels, as I would love to see more of Winter. However, a sequel would not be half as entertaining without the romantic tension and the will-they-or-won't-they aspect of Winter's and Sydney's relationship. While a sequel, if done correctly, would be fun, because the world of spycraft is always fun when observed from the safety of your home, leaving Stars and Smoke as a standalone novel is perfectly okay. There is enough to love within its pages to satisfy the pickiest reader.

Stars and Smoke is an exciting spy/mystery story with interesting characters, an exciting plot, and a great twist that will keep teen readers riveted.

I thought Lu did an excellent job developing her characters. Both were vulnerable and likable, with just enough sass and snark to be relatable. Sydney's back story was initially harder to believe ,but as I got to know her and her abilities, they ceased to be important. It was refreshing to have teen characters that didn't use the "f-word" in every sentence, take extreme political stances, or have frequent sex (although there are brief references to previous sexual encounters). Rather, they focused on their mission,took it seriously, and took extreme risks to fulfill their responsibilities. There was still plenty of action, romance, and split-second decisions to keep reader interest high. I did think the evolving romance between the two main characters seemed believable. They parted at the end of the story, then were reunited in the Epilogue, eliciting  delicious roller-coaster emotions from this reader.

The plot is not intended to explore significant social issues like some of Lu's previous books. Rather, it is a fun, action-packed story with some details left unresolved at the end for a sequel. The twist near the end was great- I did not anticipate it at all. It gave the story a whole new perspective and upped the exceitment. While connecting a famous pop star and a street savvy orphan might seem unlikely, Lu made it believable.

Lu's often lush, descriptive writng was not evident in the book. However, the more terse , active style  was entirely appropriate for a James Bond type spy thriller. The style kept the story moving. 

Thanks to Roaring Brook Press and Netgalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.



--
Dr. Amy A. McClure
Emerita Rodefer Professor

Winter had made it big with sold-out shows in major cities. He is now on the radar of The Panacea Group, a covert ops organization that has been around since the Revolutionary War. Why are they interested in him? Penelope is the daughter of a criminal billionaire and she wants Winter to give her a private concert for her birthday. The Panacea Group wants him to say yes … and spy for them. They have never had a chance to get this close and they want him to join their team. The mission goes sideways and Winter and his Panacea partner must decide what they will do next.

Stars and Smoke is the first book in the series by the same name. I can’t put this in one genre, but if I need to … I believe the best place is an adventure book. There is a little bit of a mystery, but that is not the overarching theme. There is romantic tension, but this isn’t a romance. This is the first book in the series, but the major plot points are wrapped up and there is no cliffhanger. This was a wild ride of a book and I look forward to the sequel.

Winter and Sydney. What a fantastic read and fun read this was. Marie Lu makes a smooth transition into to contemporary YA lit in this novel. When the world's biggest pop star is recruited to help fight a crime with a top-secret spy group - things get exciting. I couldn't put this down and it was great! Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Winter Young is a world famous musician, but he feels like something is missing from his life. When he is recruited to be part of a spy organization even more secretive than the CIA, he feels like he has no choice but to say yes. He is paired with gruff young Sydney, who desires to become a full agent. This gig for her has the promise to make that happen. Their mission is to infiltrate a rich billionaire's shipping scheme under the guise of being there for his daughter's birthday party.

I enjoyed this one so much!! It was a lot of spy with a touch of romance, which I found to be the perfect combination! I loved Winter and Sydney's chemistry, and cannot wait to see what the next caper brings. I would highly recommend this one!

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

Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu is a ya rockstar turned spy story and I really liked it.
 
The Legend Series is one of my classic favorites and I’m always looking forward to new books from the author. And this one is totally so different from her previous works and the concept of the book is just unique and unexpected.
 
Winter Young is a famous musician and idol to many. He is at the peak of his career with selling out stadiums and having a BTS like status. I really liked how the fame didn’t get to his head and he was a very genuine person who is just living his dream. One day he is approached by agents who want to recruit him for a secret mission. After all, who would suspect a superstar to be a spy?
 
The plot of this book is thrilling, and you just want this mission to succeed. But it’s not that easy and Winter obviously can’t complete it alone. By his side is Scarlet aka The Jackal and she is ruthless and such a badass and I liked her as well.
 
Overall, this book is perfect to just dive into and to fall in love with the characters while being glued to the pages. 4 stars.
 
(ARC kindly provided in exchange for a review.)

I took a big chance on requesting this book. I did it entirely because Marie Lu is an (almost) Always Read It author. She grabbed me with The Young Elites, almost lost me with the Legend series, then got me back with Warcross.

But. But but but. This is New Adult.

This is Contemporary.

This is ROMANCE.



But again, this is Marie Lu. Whose writing really drags me in and takes me places. So, I took a chance on a suspenseful new adult espionage featuring the male Taylor Swift going on a mission with a secret agent who looks like Taylor Swift to take down evil Elon Musk.

Well. Evil-er Elon Musk.

And I enjoy espionage. A good thriller. Secret agents, secret agent gadgets, near death experiences, no matter how fluffy the overall genre.

And this?

This is REALLY good.

There is fluff, plenty of fluff to satisfy the average New Adult reader. Tingly feels, "why can't I stop thinking about"s, S/He is so much deeper than I expecteds, all the genre staples.

But the road to get there is just so enjoyable. This cast of characters, from the World's Most Famous Popstar to the Super Spy with a Super Tragic backstory. The backup dancers, the manager, the Paris Hilton heiress and her Seemingly Kind But Obviously Nefarious Richer than God father who can kill you with a wag of his pinky finger.

The fight scenes are so good, so well choreographed and explained. I wish we'd gotten some good training montages, especially since this is the Exposition book, where it all begins. But really, her showing how Winter's abilities lend themselves to super sleuth training really was a nice touch.

And this is only book one in a series. I'm not sure if I will keep going with it, but honestly, this was so damn enjoyable I can't see any reason I wouldn't.

So fun. So so fun. Give me more.

This was such a super quick read me; I loved this and forgot to eat my lunch so absorbed in reading “just one more chapter”. I wish we had more background info on certain things, and that we got some follow up to other things, but what a zippy read. I cannot wait for book 2!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Steam Level: 🔥 (kissing only)
Trigger Warning: murder; brief mentions of breathing disorder, death of a loved one recounted, depression, abuse, and divorce

Ever since a viral video made him famous, Winter Young has been selling out concerts as one of the top performing pop stars. Now he's been selected to take on a different role as an undercover agent for Panacea- a secret organization taking on cases that even the CIA has struggled to solve. Winter has been hired to perform for billionaire Eli Morrison's daughter's birthday, and while he's there he must get evidence of Morrison's link to criminal activity. But Winter won't be working alone. He's been paired with Sydney Cossette- a young thief recruited by Panacea- who will pose as his bodyguard and help him carry out his mission. As the case becomes more complicated than these two anticipated, so do their feelings for one another. Can they stop a criminal and also keep their hearts guarded?

I don't read much romantic suspense, so the premise of this book had me hooked from the beginning. I loved the idea of a famous pop star being recruited to stop a criminal. And the added romance made this even more intriguing. While the first half of the book did have some slow parts, the end really brought the action and suspense. There were some unexpected twists along the way that I wasn't able to predict, and I was eager to see how it all would play out. The romance between Sydney and Winter could have used a bit more build up, but I definitely felt the chemistry in the end. There was a bit of an enemies to lovers feel, and I enjoyed watching Sydney's opinion of Winter change throughout their time together. I'm looking forward to book 2 in the series and seeing how the romance progresses, as well as the mission these two will be sent on next!

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I have read some of Ms. Lu's novels and this one did not disappoint! A wonderful novel that involves spies and a famous entertainer and how their lives intertwine to stop a ruthless businessman. Winter, a famous singer, is recruited to gather information on illegal operations. Winter is skeptical at first, until they dangle something in front of him, something rather important to him. Winter has his own issues, stemming from his childhood, but hides it rather well, and he is perceptive. Sydney came from a difficult home life and looked for an escape. A rather interesting talent got the attention of an organization and Sydney began her training as a spy, also with her own secrets and skeptical of having a famous singer as her partner. Together, Winter and Sydney need to find enough evidence to stop a wealthy crime lord without getting caught or killed. A great read for those who enjoy spies and adventures!
I received this novel from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It’s like a young adult version of James Bond and this book was so much fun! The plot is an exciting adventure from start to finish. Readers are going to love this new series and long-time fans of this author will not be disappointed. It is definitely very different genre-wise from what she has written before, but it's no less enjoyable. Getting to know our MMC, Winter, we see an intimate look into what his life is like behind the scenes and backstage, plus the negative side of being a superstar and that industry. I really felt for Winter’s personal inner struggles. Both of their childhoods were so tragic. And our MFC, Sydney, is an absolute badass. These two together are gold. The sarcasm and witty humor abound and I was loving every minute of it.

This is a different kind of story coming from Marie Lu. We are used to her dystopian adventures, but this one is more of a high stakes mystery. This book is perfect for the middle school setting. I found the enemies to lovers, while undercover, story very slow. Things did not pick up until the end.