Reviews with content warning for Violence - Icarus

This is the story of Icarus Filiformis Gallagher, named after the plant rather than the Greek figure, the loneliest boy Ancrum has ever written, and Helios, the sun in his sky. It's an intimate reimagining of the tale of Icarus as a star-crossed love story between a young art thief and the son of the man he's been stealing from. It's part suspenseful thriller and part contemporary romance, and it's a return to the unconventional vignette chapters and sparse lyrical prose that made many of us fall in love with Ancrum through The Wicker King. This book is presented with such sincerity, consideration, and a deep understanding of our relationship to history and art. It's about found family, neglect, generational curses, and figuring out a way to escape your circumstances and chase the freedom you deserve.

The most distinct #OwnVoices representation from Icarus in comparison to Ancrum's other works is the intersex character, and he's seen through the eyes of someone who loves and understands him instantly without explanation, cowardice, or confusion. Representation in love interests is so valuable and important to me, seeing all the odd and ugly parts of yourself turned into something beautiful because someone loves you anyway, someone saying that you were made the same way as angels. There's also a reference to an intersex statue without a known creator within the book, and Ancrum says she chose it because it belongs to humanity now, and she liked the idea of a pivotal piece of art in the story being an artist unknown. It's also the acknowledgement that there have been people who exist outside of the sex binary longer than we have had the words to describe them, and instead, they have been documented in art.

Icarus's character also suffers from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which I believe is also #OwnVoices representation. He complains of pain throughout the entire book and abuses his hypermobility to be good at sports (and breaking and entering). He's spent his life watching his father essentially breaking down and has begun to wear braces himself, inheriting it. Both are in complete unawareness of the root of their problems and both use insufficient coping mechanisms and physical supports. Helios noticing these symptoms and simply telling Icarus that EDS is a thing that exists circles back to one of the key themes in the novel: the act of noticing. Teenagers always notice, and they're the first to see when something is wrong with their friends. Icarus notices what Helios refuses to say, and Icarus's friends notice the bruises under his eyes and see through his jokes about his tiredness. Icarus tries to save Helios, without knowing a rescue mission is brewing for him too.

Ultimately, Icarus is a book about opening yourself up to weakness and vulnerability. There are so many books written about the weak learning to be strong, and less so about how hardening yourself to survive has a cost, and the bravery of beginning to remove that protection and allowing yourself to grow. But this one is a love letter to the value of emotional intimacy and human connection, as all Ancrum books are, and it never gets less heart-wrenching to read about. Icarus gives his time and companionship to a boy in a cage, and he nearly gives his life, and he does so without hesitation. He's also a character who has to learn about tenderness and how to hug people for the first time in his teens from his friends, and they choose to love him over and over again, no matter how many times he tries to push them away.

I think BookBrowse said it best: "...flying too close to the warmth of the sun, to the unique light offered by each person, is not a matter of gross overreach but is, in fact, a necessity, a basic condition of humanity and interconnectedness, even at the risk of violent crash and burn."

Content Warnings

pjthom's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

melaschnie's review

Go to review page

4.5

Content Warnings

melissafelicia's review

Go to review page

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.

Content Warnings

ankiaisreading's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Content Warnings

booking_along's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense fast-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

5.0

can’t even formulate the words for this right now.

beautifully written, impactful story and memorable characters!

filled with heartbreak and hope, love and loss and hate and grief and dreams.

a story that has LGBTQ+ characters, chronic illness rep and so many other representations and moments that are beautiful!

Content Warnings

bookishmillennial's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

ellariawrites's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful mysterious 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? Yes

4.5

ARC sent to me by the author. 4.5 stars

The thing I adore about Ancrum's writing is that her books are healing to read. They touch you gently, soothe your soul, and leave you feeling a bit more hopeful about the world. Icarus is no exception. Taking place in a small town, we follow the story of a teen who steals arts, and yet has had so much stolen from him. This story was soft, gentle, breathtaking, and filled with a kind of grief that made me want to hug our main characters and cry with them. But this story is also bursting at the seams with hope, love, and kindness, and is an amazing testament to the beautiful bonds of friendship. I deeply enjoyed unravelling the plot and learning how all of the characters came to be who they are. Many parts had me on the edge of my seat, holding my breath as I eagerly turned the page to see what happened next. I highly, highly recommend reading it! You won't be able to put it down!

SPOILERS BELOW:

My only wish is that we got to spend a bit more time with Helios, especially when all was said and done. I would've like to see more of him and Icarus interacting once both of them were no longer confined. Who are they once they're free? Did they move in together after all? Did Icarus get to meet Helios' mom? What was Paris like? I would've liked to see a bit more of that.

Content Warnings

More...