A review by babsreads18
Icon and Inferno by Marie Lu

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

 Icon and Inferno is the second book in the Stars and Smoke series by Marie Lu. It picks up about a year after Stars and Smoke. Winter is struggling with family secrets and drama, Sydney is still a secret agent, and neither of them have been able to stop thinking about the other. Sydney and Winter are reunited for another top secret mission, full of danger, and the threat of war.

Icon and Inferno is full of drama and action, all happening at a fast and pace.  To counter the fast paced action, there’s a slow burn romance, complete with jealousy and old flames. I think both Winter and Sydney had some solid character growth in this one which I loved. The political intrigue was also really engaging for me. This one definitely felt like the stakes were higher and it was more intense. Marie Lu does such a great job creating an engaging storyline, and I couldn’t put this one down.

I listened to the audio while reading along and found it really enjoyable. I think it could have benefitted from dual narrators, but Becca Q. Co. did a fantastic job embodying the emotions and drama of the story. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for the advance copies.