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lycanslament's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Violence, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Chronic illness, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Medical trauma
arcadiabaes's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Drug abuse and Violence
j_the_human's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Drug abuse
tandewrites's review against another edition
- 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
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
- 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
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Physical abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Death of parent and Alcohol
melaschnie's review against another edition
4.5
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
melissafelicia's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
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.
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Drug abuse
ankiaisreading's review
- 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
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
booking_along's review against another edition
- 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
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!
Graphic: Grief, Confinement, Child abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Blood, Violence, Physical abuse, and Drug abuse
Minor: Sexual content
bookishmillennial's review
- 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
“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
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Violence, Confinement, Addiction, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Abandonment, Chronic illness, and Domestic abuse