A review by ghada_mohammed
Icarus by K. Ancrum

dark emotional hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

You were made the same way as the angels ... You think I'd know art, and not know this?”

A tender and bittersweet exploration of art, (found) family, intimacy, and the fatality of single-minded obsessions.

With its lyrical prose and falsely relaxing pace, Icarus is humanity in the raw; the best and the worst of people grapple with each other throughout the narrative: friends who are closer than family, family that is only a touch better than strangers, and two unlikely strangers who upend each other's lives for no more than the reckless conviction that other deserved better. It sheds light on how a father's expectations can morph into abuse, how revenge can poison one's life, and how small acts of kindess can bridge the cracks of one boy's battered heart.

All in all, a vivid and bittersweet portrayal of youth, trauma, and relationships. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in art, angst, and or stories about messed-up teenagers doing their best to survive.