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bookobsessedmommy's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Icarus tries to live as inconspicuously as possible to keep his home life a secret, but is startled to realize that more people notice him and care about him than he could have imagined. I have never read a book quite like this before, with its combination of poetry and prose and dash of Latin. (Initially this threw me off, but the context, spirit of the language, and my remedial spanish made it knowable in a strange way.) The short chapters make the story go by quickly, and even though it jumps around a bit I rarely felt lost. Icarus is on this epic journey, and I rooted for him and everyone connected to him so hard. His friends are the absolute best, even the school associates who were ready to move heaven and earth for him. (Or one crappy dad.) Angus' arc, even though we don't hear much from him, is a complex mix of heartbreaking and infuriating. I think my biggest complaint is that I wanted more explanation on one specific situation. I cannot understand how the Helios situation persisted. Did he not need to be enrolled in school? Maybe the dad paid them off. Didn't his mom have calls? She never came to see him? She knows the dad is abusive, so why would she let him take him? Yes, this entire book is far fetched for a ton of reasons, but this one is like dust in my eye. I just can't ignore it. Elements of the resolution felt rushed to me, but this is one of those books I can see myself reading over and over because there is just so much meat on the bones. The author's note nearly made me cry, so I'm definitely looking forward to reading more from K. Ancrum.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Drug use, and Physical abuse
corrina919's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Child abuse
pastlifetragedy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, and Child abuse
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Death of parent, Alcohol, Grief, and Domestic abuse
brep23's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse and Child abuse
Moderate: Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Cancer
samanthachen's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
What a unique writing style. I loved this book. It was a challenging read in parts (see TW), but so beautiful. To me, it all comes down to love. In any form. This book represents love and what it means to have loving support.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Confinement, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcohol
pjthom's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Physical abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Death of parent and Alcohol
melaschnie's review
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Chronic illness, and Drug abuse
Minor: Cursing, Sexual content, and Death of parent
melissafelicia's review
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
An Icarus myth retelling about a traumatized queer art thief/forger? Sign me up!
This was such a sweet story about healing friendships, young love and standing up to abusive parents. The dedication immediately made me feel things and definitely don't skip the author's note either, I've rarely read such a beautiful ending to a book.
This was such a sweet story about healing friendships, young love and standing up to abusive parents. The dedication immediately made me feel things and definitely don't skip the author's note either, I've rarely read such a beautiful ending to a book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Drug abuse
dubious_little_creature's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Confinement
Moderate: Addiction
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
“If you’re such a good thief, then why haven’t you stolen me yet?”
I absolutely adored this young adult, contemporary coming-of-age story about Icarus Gallagher, a 17-year-old thief who steals exorbitant art from Mr. Black's home, and replaces it with his father Angus's forgeries. Due to their lifestyle, Icarus has to keep a distant profile, meaning he doesn't have many close friends at school, and they certainly have never come to his home, full of stolen art and forgeries! One day, Icarus is caught by the son of Mr. Black, Helios, but instead of exposing Icarus, Helios simply asks for him to stay and to befriend him. Helios is confined to the Black house, and is not allowed outside, so Icarus continues to climb up to Helios's window and visits him, developing the deepest connection he's ever had.
Icarus and Helios' unraveling of their generational trauma, and why Mr. Black has been Angus Gallagher's target for so long is paced perfectly alongside the buildup of Icarus and Helios's romance, a slow and beautiful burn. They discover exactly what led to this hatred, jealousy, and need for revenge. The teens also explore their chronic illnesses and other parts that make up their identities, parts that they hadn't particularly shared so openly and bravely with anyone else.
I appreciated how as Icarus's relationship with Helios grew, so did his friendships with Celestina, Luca, and Sorrel. It was like ... once Icarus opened himself up to one person, it became a muscle he began to more comfortably flex with others. Once he was brave, vulnerable, and hopeful with Helios, it allowed him to try it out with others in his life. Platonic love and friendship is such a beautiful part of life; Icarus discovers this as he lets himself be loved and cared for, in ways he hadn't known were possible. Growing up with his spiteful and vengeful father Angus, -who didn't physically hit him, but also never showed him softness or unconditional affection- this was Icarus' only frame of reference for connection, companionship, love.
To be shown the love you never knew you craved? That's one of the most unique yet universally humbling feelings in the world. To be fully seen, wanted, and encouraged as you are? How wildly freeing and magical. I'm sure so many of us could remember the first moment we felt wholly and unconditionally supported or loved. It's an illuminating moment, to realize that you had been lied to when subscribing to the idea that you had to be stronger, smarter, quieter, etc. When you realize you actually never had to make yourself smaller, palatable, a "good" kid; and you were indeed always worthy of being loved or cared for, it's something words just don't do justice.
The chapters were short, so I felt incredibly accomplished each time I picked up this book and finished a *few* chapters hehe. K. Ancrum is an author I will continue to read from, and Icarus is a story I will return to. The author's note had me sobbing, and was just the reminded I needed about how we show up for each other, and how powerful and impactful such small moments can be.
representation: I don't want to spoil the journey for yall, but there are characters with Ehlers Danlos syndrome, a character navigating addiction, and an intersex character. There is achillean romance and a Black side character.
see content warnings below & take care while reading <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Violence, Confinement, Addiction, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Abandonment, Chronic illness, and Domestic abuse