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!

Icon and Inferno is the second book in the Stars and Smoke series by Marie Lu. It picks up about a year after Stars and Smoke. Winter is struggling with family secrets and drama, Sydney is still a secret agent, and neither of them have been able to stop thinking about the other. Sydney and Winter are reunited for another top secret mission, full of danger, and the threat of war.

Icon and Inferno is full of drama and action, all happening at a fast and pace. To counter the fast paced action, there’s a slow burn romance, complete with jealousy and old flames. I think both Winter and Sydney had some solid character growth in this one which I loved. The political intrigue was also really engaging for me. This one definitely felt like the stakes were higher and it was more intense. Marie Lu does such a great job creating an engaging storyline, and I couldn’t put this one down.

I listened to the audio while reading along and found it really enjoyable. I think it could have benefitted from dual narrators, but Becca Q. Co. did a fantastic job embodying the emotions and drama of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for the advance copies.

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 Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners, 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

I gave the first book in this series 4 stars and I liked it a little better than this one, so I guess it's like a 3.75.
This book starts a year or so after the first one. Winter and Sydney have both gone their own ways and gotten back to their separate lives. They think about each other often, but try not to admit that to themselves. Then comes a mission where Winter would fit in nicely, so he is asked to come along once again.
I liked the characters, none of them stuck to me, but they all did their jobs well. Winter and Sydney are convinced they need to stay apart because they live in such separate worlds, but they are still able to work together. In this one they each have kind of someone else. Winter has Gabby, his ex, come along as his plus one and Sydney has another agent, Tems, who she had a fling with in the past. I did like how the romance ended up.
The plot was pretty action packed (I mean it is a spy book!), but also had a good mix of character development along with it. There were a lot of things that happened that I really wasn't expecting. There was double crossing and deaths (yes, I teared up). At the end, we were left with a sense of closure, but also the possibility of more.
The audiobook narrator had a great voice. Her voice was so bright and she really made the story pop.

While I didn’t enjoy book 2 as much as book 1, I did have a good time! We get more of Sydney and Winter as their relationship builds and they take on another secret mission. As to be expected, they find themselves in some high (speed) action! The chase scenes were fantastic!y heart was pounding thinking “are they gonna make it?!” There’s also a lot of new characters & some of the twists really caught me off guard & one that really broke my heart 🥹 while I did enjoy book 2, the problem I had was this wasn’t as fun as the first one. The stakes were just as high but the first was a little more silly & unserious, while this one was slightly darker in tone. I think that’s what the author was going for but not what I wanted. also, I think the first works so good as a stand alone! but I would read more in the series so take that for what you will

Marie Lu has launched one of my favorite series and this book doesn’t disappoint. After the first book, which I loved, I had doubts about the dreaded sequel slump. This book combines action, adventure, and romance which my young adult readers are in the hunt for. I will be adding this to my classroom library.

Pop star Winter Young and secret agent Sydney Cosette have teamed up again to save the world. A year ago in London, they stopped a crime lord, but now, the stakes are much higher.

I've been reading Marie Lu for years. I love her world-building skills in her fantasy and sci-fi novels. This novel had great character growth, believable characters and plot, and a fantastic setting! I really appreciated the nod to her Warcross novel. I was able to guess who the villain was but only shortly before it was revealed in the story itself so I stayed on my toes the whole time. The villain was believable, and the ending, while not what I wanted for the main characters was also very realistic. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that there is a third book! I listened to this entire audiobook in a single day. The narrator was great! I typically prefer when there is dual narration, but this narrator made me not care. 4.5 stars! For those who prefer no to low spice, this is perfect for you.

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.

I love the Young Adult spy/thriller subgenre that's become popular in the last few years - having new authors take a crack at stories that have been in desperate need of innovation, diversity, and modernization has really breathed new life in ways that have even influenced books in the more traditional adult spy space. The clever ways that authors incorporate teenagers and those in their early twenties into espionage and how they use their youth to their advantage has been great fun to read.

I've also enjoyed Marie Lu's Warcross books - they strike a great balance of plot and fun. So it seemed like this Stars and Smoke series would be the perfect blend for me.

I was wrong.

Let's start with the good news - if you made it through Stars and Smoke, this one is better. The "mission" is at least clear enough to provide some semblance of a path for the characters to follow. There is also an all-too-limited brush against the world of Warcross, although that mostly makes you wish you could jump over into their story.

The basic ongoing issues of repetitive dialogue, lack of clarity in basic elements like setting, timelines, character traits, etc. are still there - but there is some slight improvement to the point that this one feels less like it was entirely AI-generated than the first one. But even the narrator of the audio version seems to question herself at times about whether she's already read a paragraph when the same information is repeated, often using the same words in the same order, in the following paragraph.

While nobody expects a spy thriller to be a social studies course, the lack of understanding of even the most basic structures of government, the entertainment industry, and even geography are constantly distracting. As are the vague and impossible timelines - these characters are 19 in the first book and 21 in this book, yet they all have years (and I believe one is even described as having "decades") of experience in their fields, plus familial and romantic histories that do not in any way align with the established timelines of their lives. All of which would be completely avoided by leaning into the characters' ages as a foundation of the plot rather than attempting to shoehorn teenagers into an airport bookstore level middle aged thriller.

Reading this book is like watching a five-star chef use artisanal ingredients to reproduce a White Castle slider that's somehow worse than the original.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC - my high expectations are not your problem.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

I've been eagerly awaiting this and it didn't disappoint! Such a fun, engaging read. I did predict most of what happened but still enjoyed it despite that. I would definitely read more if there ends up being a third in the series! The narrator was perfect.

The authors brought these amazing characters to life so perfectly. This story was amazing to begin with and listening to the audio made it so much better.

i really did enjoy this book! as someone who never read anything by this author before i really liked this book and the characters as well!

I thought that this title, Icon and Inferno by Marie Lu, was a good sequel to Stars and Smoke. I enjoyed the narration and the storyline. I think the open-ended nature of the story will bring more titles to the series, which could be interesting. I think there was enough romance--the balance between feelings and spy thriller was good. I really enjoyed it!

Icon and Inferno is the second book in the Stars and Smoke YA spy thriller series. It’s been a year since their first mission and secret agent Sydney Cossette and pop star Winter Young are teaming up again. This time they are tasked with bringing home a fellow agent who Panacea has lost contact with. When nothing goes as planned and the world is on the brink of chaos, Sydney and Winter may be the only ones able to stop a full out war.

I enjoyed the first book in this series and it was nice to be pulled back into this world again. I enjoyed seeing Sydney and Winter in action again. This is a world that is easy to get lost in and the story takes you on twists and turns along the way. I was hooked from the beginning and really enjoyed how this story wrapped up at the end. Overall this was a good thriller read that answers some questions but left you with more and the chance for another book in this series. If this series doesn’t continue and this was the last book, I still feel like enough was resolved that I’m happy with where we stand now. If you are a fan of spies and pop stars, this book and series is worth checking out. This second book is better after reading the first, but I do think it could be read as a stand alone if you’re okay with missing or playing catch up on some background info.

Icon And Inferno:⁣
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Thank you @macmillan.audio #MacAudio2024 for my gifted copy!⁣
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“A little like the sun and the moon aren’t we?Never in the sky at the same time.” But sometimes the sun and the moon were visible together. Sometimes they were.”⁣
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What’s that quote that’s like “If they have a million fans, I’m one of them. If they have one fan, it’s me. If they have zero fans, I’m dead?” That’s actually (actually) how I feel about Sydney and Winter. I will ride for this series until the breaks fall off. I loved Stars and Smoke and Icon and Inferno was just as good!⁣
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Winter’s back to help his Panacea friends in making sure no one tries to off the literal IS President. All while starting his tour, dealing with a tell-all book that’s coming out without his permission, saving another agent, and trying to figure out his feels for Sydney. Easy, right? ⁣
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Can we get a live recording of the song please Marie Lu? Like.. let’s get that bonus footage on the audiobook?! Just asking. The audio was amazing as always. I loved that Becca Q. Co whispered when they whispered and really gave me the shocks I needed. Highly recommend.⁣
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Overall, another hit for me. It’s a hill I’ll die on with this series. Please let us have more Winter and Sydney! Out June 11th!⁣
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QOTD: What’s a band or artist you like? Or, name a song you like?

This book was everything that I could have hoped for in a sequel. I enjoyed Stars and Smoke and I absolutely adored this sequel. Sydney and Winter were wonderful. They work together again after a year of separation - not without having thought of one another, of course - and their chemistry sizzles in this one. The story is action-packed with some great twists and turns in the mix - maybe even a little heartache, it is Marie Lu, after all…
It did not take me long to get through the audiobook as I was heavily invested from the first chapter. The narrator, once again, did a great job portraying the characters, keeping me engaged over the course of the entire story.
I am really hoping for more adventures with Sydney and Winter in the future, fingers crossed. I really am a sucker for some spy action story and the dynamics between these two make it extra fun.
Many thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an audio-arc of the book. The opinions expressed are honest and my own.

Icon and Inferno by Marie Lu is the follow-up to Stars and Smoke.

" Pop superstar, Winter Young is surprised to see Sydney in his studio. It's been a year since they worked together on a Panacea mission - one they barely survived. Winter can't stop thinking about Sydney and agrees quickly to a new mission. They head to Singapore to extract an operative in danger. But nothing is ever simple with Sydney and Winter."

Lu has an easy-to-read writing style. This is a YA action/suspense with a hint of romance. There's lots of tension between the characters and plenty of action. Since this has a spy agency element, there are some cool gadgets.
Lu is not afraid to kill a character so you never know who's going to make it. There is a Warcross appearance. Readers of Lu's previous books will recognize it.

The narrator, Becca Q. Co, does a great job with all of the characters. There are several, but not so many it's hard to follow.

This is the 2nd book with these characters. It can be read as a standalone. Many of her series are written in pairs. I hope that we get more stories with Sydney and Winter.

It has been a year since super rock star Winter has seen secret agent Sydney. But here she is and he can’t say no to the Panacea plan of kind of teaming the two up again to rescue an operator in trouble. However, he is bringing his on and off again girlfriend Gavi who might have other plans in Singapore. This is another wonderful book in the series and it even brings in a bit of the Warcross series which if you have not read, hurry and read it it is also a mind-blowing series. I love this new series and this book as well and can’t wait for the next.

I enjoyed being back with these characters. They always find themselves getting into tough situations. I also liked the development of the relationships in this installment. The ending left us open for more books and I will be interested in picking them up.