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Last updated on March 31, 2025
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.
Title: Icon and InfernoSeries: Stars and Smoke #2
Author: Marie Lu
Also by this author: The Young Elites (The Young Elites #1)
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Genres: Mystery, Romance, Thriller, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: June 11, 2024
Rating:
Series Rating:
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.
❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃
Review: Icon and Inferno by Marie Lu
Set a year after Stars and Smoke, this sequel follows Winter and Sydney’s reunion as they are tasked with a new and dangerous mission—rescuing another agent, who happens to be Sydney’s ex. However, when they arrive in Singapore, the situation is more complex than they imagined, and they quickly find themselves caught in a high-stakes assassination plot. With targets on their own backs and their own complicated feelings about each other to unpack, Winter and Sydney must find a way to save not only a life but also the world from a potential war.
❀ Entertaining Characters
I adore both Winter and Sydney, and it is so entertaining to read about them as a team. Like the first book, I find the balance between them with their different lifestyles—one in the spotlight and one in the shadows—so fascinating. This instalment dives deeper into their pasts and vulnerabilities, and I enjoyed getting to see so much character development.
❀ Action-Packed Story
As a story about secret agents, this one really delivers on the action. It is so thrilling to read about the characters’ strategies to gain information as well as their clever escapes when things get out of hand, and I particularly enjoyed the way they use Winter’s star power to find a way out of difficult situations. All of this makes for an entertaining read that kept me on the edge of my seat from the first page.
❀ Perfect for Thriller Fans
Icon and Inferno by Marie Lu is an action-packed spy novel that is perfect for fans of the YA mystery/ thriller genre. I loved the main characters’ dynamic, and I found myself completely immersed in the story. I hope to see a third instalment in this unique series in the future!
About Marie Lu
I write young adult novels, and have a special love for dystopian books. Ironically, I was born in 1984. Before becoming a full-time writer, I was an Art Director at a video game company. Now I shuffle around at home and talk to myself a lot. 🙂
I graduated from the University of Southern California in '06 and currently live in LA, where I spend my time stuck on the freeways.
About The Candid Cover
Olivia ❀ Canadian YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, & professional bibliophile.
I need to try this series. I love Marie Lu’s Legend series!
This sounds like a really fun new series! Thanks for sharing!
Great review, Olivia! It’s always nice to see when a sequel works out because that doesn’t always happen. I haven’t read these books (yet) but I do like the sound of them. Can’t go wrong with a good spy thriller!
never read this author
Good review. Marie Lu writes good young adult books. 🙂
I like this author, but this was a series I was unsure exactly what type of read it was. They do sound good though, so I might have to give them a try. Great review!
Such an amazing cover.
Sounds good
Sounds like my kind of book!
This will be a new to me author. I love thrillers so I’m adding this to my tbr. Thanks for sharing!
A thrilling YA read. Thank you for sharing.
The book sounds like a great read. Thrillers are one of my favourite genres.
I am really excited to check this book out.
This sounds like a great book for the teenagers to read.