Icarus by K. Ancrum
Icarus is a new queer YA romance novel from K. Ancrum, critically acclaimed author of The Wicker King. Filled to the brim with vibrant imagery, vivid detail and vivacious characters, it pulled me in from the very first page! Icarus reimagines the classic myth of Icarus into a queer, star-crossed story of love and life, presenting the reader with an exploration of human relationships, emotions, trauma and abuse, greed and grief, love and joy and so much more.
Icarus, our titular protagonist, is a cat burglar. A sleepy high school student by day, and a meticulous, talented art thief by night, he is forced to keep friends at arm’s length, barely able to call them friends, for fear that they will learn too much and become a liability.
Icarus and his father only steal from one man — Mr. Black, a man who cost them much — and each theft is just as perfectly planned and executed as the last. That plan is destroyed when Icarus encounters Helios, Mr. Black’s son, in the house one night. As Helios’ story unfolds before Icarus, and their relationship threatens all that he has known before, what will he do?
Poetic, Elaborate, Exquisite
K. Ancrum has a wonderfully poetic writing style. I absolutely devoured each and every page of this book, from the beautifully honest depictions of friendships to the elaborate descriptions of the art replication and restoration processes. Each chapter is titled with one or two words reminiscent of a collection of poems, each label evoking another layer of meaning from the pages that follow.
Everything about this story, with all its facets, is exquisite. There is so much truth in Ancrum’s work — in the characters, their expressions of the world around them, their experiences — and it is all conveyed through a lyrical voice that cradles their lives in a supportive lattice of strong dialogue choices, detailed backstory and dynamic scenes.
Dynamic, Intricate, Honest
Icarus is a very compelling character. He is different from his peers, and yet he seeks solace in his limited relationships with them. He recognizes the issues with his upbringing, but there’s also a part of him that prides himself in his skill set and his abilities.
The way that he experiences the world is fascinating. Human touch is an overwhelming experience for him, and the way that Ancrum explores this is intriguing. At times it’s exhilarating, at times it’s heartbreaking, and when Helios enters the picture and gives a name to what Icarus is feeling, it adds a whole other layer to the piece that is riveting to watch unfold.
Icarus is a title that came across my TBR by chance, and it was the book that I didn’t know that I needed right now — but need it I did. I absolutely fell in love with this story, and it’s one that I will definitely be reading again. If you love a book with dynamic, intricately crafted characters, beautiful relationships and honest storytelling, then Icarus is for you. Perfect for fans of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe!
About K. Ancrum:
K. Ancrum is an author of award-winning contemporary YA, notably The Wicker King, Darling and most recently the triple-starred Icarus. K. is a Chicago native passionate about diversity and representation in young adult fiction. She attended Dominican University to study Fashion Merchandising, but was lured into getting an English degree after spending too many nights experimenting with hard literary criticism and hanging out with unsavory types, like poetry students. She currently writes most of her work in the lush gardens of the Chicago Art Institute.
