This book had adventure, deceit and romance while following Sydney and Winter on a secret covert operation. Proving again that unlikely people can make the best partners. It was a great sequel to Stars and Smoke. I had been looking forward to the release of this book and it did not disappoint. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read every Marie Lu book that’s out there and I rarely rate her less than 5 stars. But this was a case of a not so amazing Marie Lu book for me.

I loved the first book in this series. Secret agents, bodyguard romance, action and adventure! It was so great and I was hoping to continue that theme here.

This book really suffered from the sophomore slump of series for me. It was flat compared to the first book and I got the feeling that this book was teeing up a third book (not confirmed, just a hunch I have) and that made the story a bit lackluster for me.

I did, however, enjoy the narration a lot. I think this was very engaging as an audiobook and I would continue the series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I rounded this one up to 4 stars from 3.5 stars. Even though I enjoyed this sequel, I think I still prefer the first installment of the series. The plot is quite predictable, but it's still entertaining. It seems like there was less of a spark between Winter and Sydney in this one as well. But I really loved the Warcross reference. Overall, anyone who likes spy stories will find it a fun, fast-paced read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the e-arc.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great sequel! I really loved this book so much.

Icon and Inferno is a thrilling return to Winter and Sydney’s world. I had a lot of fun with the first book so I was looking forward to getting my hands on the sequel! This story picks up one year after the ending of Stars and Smoke, with Winter having returned to his life in the starlight and Sydney continuing the Panacea mission. It is much more of a take on a classic spy romance than the first was, and is chock-full of heart-racing chases and the witty dialogue that make Marie Lu’s books such enjoyable and fun reads.

This book retained a lot of the things I loved from the first, but it took us to new breathtaking heights. Man, were the stakes much much bigger! The story goes at a near constant breakneck speed, making it a thrilling quick read. While it made the book hard to put down, I did feel myself aching a little for some quiet time to sit with our characters. We get so much more character development throughout this adventure, especially with Sydney, but we don’t get to slow down and enjoy it as much as I wanted to. I did love seeing Winter and Sydney learn more from each other this go around. It was nice to see them finally open themselves up more, and it added several new layers to their relationship which was fun to see.

Like with Stars and Smoke, we leave this book at a place that is satisfying but leaves room for more. I know I will be crossing my fingers for a third book - I don't think I could ever get enough of Winter. I love his character and the battle he has between his open heart and protecting himself. I liked seeing more of his struggle with the consequences that come with fame. Sydney was also not without struggles of her own - she goes through so much in this book. One event in particular was extremely shocking to me, and my heart hurt for our characters. Icon and Inferno is rife with twists and turns, and I never knew exactly what was coming next.

While I do enjoy these books as the flirty spy mysteries they are - they lack a little of the magic I found in Marie Lu’s previous works (especially the legend and young elite series). That being said, this book is still just a blast to read, especially for anyone craving a book with true mission impossible vibes. If you are looking for a quick and easy read to change things up, filled with mystery, action, and a little romance, look no further than the Stars and Smoke series!

I received a digital ARC from NetGalley and Roaring Brook Press. All opinions are my own.

Dazzling and breathtaking work of pure art and a fun sequel! thanks for the arc, quite respectable work and romance was cute.

While I definitely enjoyed this, I kind of missed the spark of the first book? It all felt a little bland to me, which led to me not fully enjoying the book as much as I'd hoped. All in all it still was a good enough read, and definitely one I can recommend when you've read and enjoyed the first one!

YES YES YES!! I need Marie Lu to write more Spy books. I ABSOLUTELY devoured this book in one day Definitely liked this one better than the first. I think the world building of the first book took me out of the setting. Where it was established here, it was easier to get into the action and follow along with the story. And ooooh man is there action! It never stops!! You think you're out of the woods, but NOPE!! There's another car explosion! Seriously delicious and unexpected read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for providing me with an eARC of Icon and Inferno in exchange for my honest review!

I must admit that Stars and Smoke, while passably enjoyable, wasn't completely my vibe, but I'm glad to say that Icon and Inferno makes for a significantly more compelling sequel in this duology. For one thing, the romance between Sydney and Winter rivets me more this time around. It was all right during the first book, but I still wasn't feeling as much of the genuine chemistry as I'd wanted to. But in this sequel, it builds up authentic love and tension between them as Sydney wrestles with the inherent secrecy and life-threatening risks of her undercover occupation and as Winter contends with the challenges and the lack of privacy that comes with living in a celebrity spotlight. To my surprise, I additionally like the extra tension that a supporting character, Tems, throws into the affair, not quite turning this into a love triangle, but bringing it somewhat close to such a trope. And that says a lot, considering I'm not usually the biggest fan of said trope, but this quasi-example works. Sure, the plot can get predictable, which does detract a little from the thrills of the narrative's spy side, but it generally grips me nonetheless.

Overall, I'm officially rating Icon and Inferno four out of five stars. While this duology may not reach the same level of love that I have for other books by Lu, such as the Legend series and the Skyhunter duology, I'm still glad I went on this journey.

Marie Lu is an author that is on my automatic "must read" list for years. When I heard that Stars and Smoke would receive a sequel, that was all I had to know. A huge thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Roaring Brook Press for providing me with a digital review copy of this highly anticipated thriller of a sequel in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Sydney Cossette and Winter Young are thrown back together for an even higher stakes mission than before which brings them in the midst of political plots, treason, heartbreak, and Singapore.

I typically keep my reviews spoiler free. However, I knew that one character was a bad egg long before the reveal. I did wish that one character's death was faked, sadly it was not.

The stakes and the stunts were higher in this book and it did not disappoint. Anytime Sydney and Winter share the page, you can feel the electricity between their characters. Even new characters, such as Gavi, were well crafted, something that Lu is a master of.

I thoroughly enjoyed this fast pace spy thriller. I believe this is the end of of the road for Winter and Sydney, but if Marie Lu ever decides to return to this world, I am game for reading about one last mission.

I love Marie Lu so much 😭 Her books never cease to amaze me. Her writing style and characters and plot are always amazing! I love Sydney and Winter so much. They have a wonderful dynamic and the contrast to being a super star and a spy is so cool to read. I loved the Warcross cameo!! That is my favorite Marie Lu series and getting to visit Emika and Hideo again was so amazing 😍 This book was a whirlwind and I enjoyed every second of it. I’m sad that we don’t have any more planned stories for Sydney and Winter but I hope we visit them again someday!

Marie Lu has done it again. I would read her grocery list at this point, everything she writes is just so addictive and this was no different. This book met the expectations that were set by the first and surpassed them easily. I love Winter and Sydney and it was great getting to see the added depth to their relationship and explore who they are on a more complex level. The characterization is the star of the show not to say that the plot wasn't absolutely addictive. Also, talk about slow burn romance, oh my lord this one really does make you wait and I loved every second. The story was fast paced and the plot is so much more than it initially seems. You'll finish this book clamoring for more!

Winter Young and Sydney Cosette are back for more spycraft and suspense! This time, Winter's been invited to perform at a huge e-sport event in Singapore, and can get Sydney and her team from Panacea into the country to extract an agent in trouble. But when they arrive, their plan goes sideways as Tems, the agent they've been sent to rescue, reveals that someone is planning to assassinate the U.S. President at a banquet the night after the concert. In order to save the President, Sydney and Winter have to disobey their orders and bend the rules. But is it worth the risk they will take? And if they don't take it, are they ready to live with the consequences?

Winter and Sydney continue to be enjoyable characters to follow on their high-stakes, thrilling spy adventures. Although Ms. Lu claimed that she wrote the first Winter and Sydney book, "Star and Smoke" during the pandemic for something fun to do, I think she undersold her skill to write this type of story a little bit. The plot for "Icon and Inferno" is, if anything, more intense making the first book feel like a warm-up. More is revealed about Sydney's past. She and Winter explore their feelings more, and lay themselves bare and vulnerable to each other. Where all this will lead, only time will tell, but I know I'm not alone in wishing that both Winter and Sydney return soon in their next adventure. Also - shoutout to any Warcross fans, you'll get some fun cameos in this book.

I definitely enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next, so four out of five stars for me. Thank you to Netgalley, Marie Lu, and Macmillan's Children Publishing Group for the free advance reader's copy. This is a voluntary review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed Stars and Smoke, and was disappointed by this sequel. Winter and Sydney are back, and heading to Singapore. The plot was flimsy and the writing was poor compared to Lu's other works. I would recommend the first installation but perhaps not this one.

This story was so good. I really enjoyed book one, and I'm glad that I was able to read book two early as well. It was interesting and I was so invested. Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book.

Winter and Sydney's explosive reunion in this thrilling sequel is a masterclass in action-packed storytelling and sizzling chemistry. The intrigue of international espionage is perfectly blended with deep personal stakes, as Winter's yearning and Sydney's perilous mission intertwine against the backdrop of a politically charged America. The stakes are higher, the danger is more imminent, and the twists are utterly gripping. A must-read for fans of high-octane romance and suspense!

gonna be honest: i literally have too much to read and too much work to do but i will read it eventually. (sry winter ilu)

In the year since superstar Winter Young last saw secret agent Sydney Cossette, they haven't kept contact. Their connection had been intense and they continually think about each other but don't meet until there's a new mission from Panacea. They head to Singapore to rescue an operative in danger, who turns out to be Sydney's ex, a rogue agent known as the Arsonist. On top of that is the addition of Gavi Ginsburg, socialite and Winter’s former girlfriend. Is she back for Winter, or does she want something else?

Icon and Inferno is the second novel in the Stars and Inferno series. While it isn't quite necessary to have read the first novel, it's lots of fun and makes the relationships make more sense. We have Sydney and Winter’s relationship here, as well as their prickly and frankly obnoxious exes in the story. Faced with an assassination plot, of course, they all go ahead to stop it rather than send Tems home as planned. There's danger in this, as Sydney's targeted by an assassin as well, and someone is planning a tell all book about Winter. There are so many little details to keep track of, and everything falls apart with devastating consequences.

As ever, Sydney and Winter work best when together and can read each other well. There's tension between them because they don't know where they stand emotionally, and there's a larger picture to keep in mind. But as much as they both were put into positions where they are in danger, they pull through and manage to prioritize each other and the mission. This is a wonderful follow-up to the first novel, and hopefully, there are more in the series.

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.