Starred Review ALA Booklist (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Starred Review Seventeen-year-old Icarus is a cat burglar, stealing art from a wealthy neighbor and replacing the stolen items with forgeries by his artist father. On one of his forays, he is discovered by a boy his age named Helios, who, it turns out, is the son of the house's owner. Icarus flees but must come back and is discovered by Helios a second time. Helios promises not to turn him in if Icarus talks to him. Icarus learns that Helios is virtually being kept prisoner by his father, wearing an ankle monitor and denied access to human contact. Icarus agrees to converse and return, and as the two boys get to know each other, their feelings grow and, maybe, turn to love. Icarus dreams of escaping his own father, and Helios agrees to go with him if he can escape his father. There is a great deal more in this superb, plot-rich novel, especially in how the boys' relationship grows and deepens. Ancrum does a beautiful job of developing the two originally enigmatic characters. Moreover, the book is beautifully written (red hair is "violent, sanguine," eyes are "lilac with lack of sleep"). Psychologically acute, subtle, and sophisticated, the story promises a crossover readership that will find the novel a gift, as will its intended audience.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Seventeen-year-old Icarus Gallagher is his own kind of art thief; he only steals pieces from the collection of the wealthy Mr. Black, all under his father’s instruction as part of a decades-long revenge scheme. He’s never been noticed, but that all changes when Icarus enters the supposedly empty mansion for another heist, only to discover Mr. Black’s son is there under house arrest. Helios Black, also 17, strikes a deal with the burglar: he won’t turn Icarus in, as long as Icarus returns to keep him company. Soon, Icarus finds himself opening up to the homebound teen, and he in turn learns of the physical abuse that Helios has endured from Mr. Black. As Helios’s homelife worsens, Icarus determines that he cannot stay beholden to his father’s vengeful ploys forever; he plots to get both himself and Helios out before their situations come crashing down on them. Via lyrical language that winningly captures the magic and dreamlike aura of young love, Ancrum (Murder of Crows) expertly weaves together brief, propulsive chapters brimming with riveting action, powerful emotion, and deeply felt romance. In this intimate poetic reimagining of the Icarus myth, Ancrum crafts a subversive triumph that is a love letter both to healing from trauma and to the importance of connection and empathy. Characters are intersectionally diverse. Ages 13–up. Agent: Eric Smith, P.S. Literary. (Mar.)

School Library Journal (Wed May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Gr 10 Up —Ancrum offers a compelling narrative that will undoubtedly resonate with many YA readers. In this gripping tale, readers are introduced to Icarus, a seemingly ordinary high school student harboring a complex double life. By day, he maintains a facade of casual indifference, but by night, he assumes the role of a skilled cat burglar, aiding his father, Angus, in an illegal art forgery operation. Icarus breaks into the wealthy Stuart Black's home and photographs the expensive art collection for his father to make replicas for his son to later replace so he can sell the art on the black market. On a chance break-in one night, Icarus discovers a captive named Helios, Stuart Black's child. This sets the stage for a captivating story of intrigue. Helios and Icarus forge a friendship, and later a romance, that blossoms with Stuart's frequent absences from home. The romance and love become complicated with layers of backstory between Angus and Stuart, as well as Helios's past. Ancrum crafts a story that captivates on many levels. The sparse yet fastpaced chapters keep the narrative engaging and relatable, ensuring that readers will find themselves eagerly turning pages to uncover the next twist in the plot. Ancrum weaves themes of socio-economic class, love, gender, and revenge, making this a compelling read. VERDICT A poignant exploration of family, identity, and self-discovery, offering late teens a thought-provoking journey as they navigate the complexities of emerging into new adulthood.—Roy Jackson