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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
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
tandewrites's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
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? Yes
4.5
K. Ancrum is someone who I always describe as a 'once in a lifetime' kind of author, and the release of Icarus continues to prove it.
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
Graphic: Confinement and Mental illness
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual content, Violence, and Cursing
Minor: Drug use, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Cancer
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
ankiaisreading's review against another edition
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
Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Torture, Addiction, Blood, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol, Confinement, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, and Violence
ellariawrites's review against another edition
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.
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
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Confinement
Moderate: Cursing, Grief, Violence, and Addiction
Minor: Dysphoria, Drug use, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Death of parent, and Medical content
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