Literature & Fiction
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Stars and Smoke (A Stars and Smoke Novel, 1)
This smoldering enemies-to-lovers novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu puts a superstar global phenomenon and a hotshot young spy on a collision course with danger – and Cupid's arrow – in an electric new series perfect for fans of Nicola Yoon and Ally Carter.
Meet Winter Young – International pop sensation, with a voice like velvet and looks that could kill. His star power has smashed records, selling out stadiums from LA to London. His rabid fans would move heaven and earth for even a glimpse of him – just imagine what they'd do to become his latest fling.
Meet Sydney Cossette – Part of an elite covert ops group, Sydney joined their ranks as their youngest spy with plans to become the best agent they've ever had. An ice queen with moves as dangerous as her comebacks, Sydney picks up languages just as quickly as she breaks hearts. She's fiery, no-nonsense, and has zero time for romance – especially with a shameless flirt more used to serving sass than taking orders.
When a major crime boss gifts his daughter a private concert with Winter for her birthday, Sydney and Winter's lives suddenly collide. Tasked with infiltrating the crime organization's inner circle, Sydney is assigned as Winter's bodyguard with Winter tapped to join her on the mission of a lifetime as a new spy recruit. Sydney may be the only person alive impervious to Winter's charms, but as their mission brings them closer, she's forced to admit that there's more to Winter Young than just a handsome face . . .
Romance and danger abound in this "brilliant, breathtaking ride that will leave you clamoring for the sequel." ― Tahereh Mafi, #1 internationally bestselling author of Shatter Me.
Meet Winter Young – International pop sensation, with a voice like velvet and looks that could kill. His star power has smashed records, selling out stadiums from LA to London. His rabid fans would move heaven and earth for even a glimpse of him – just imagine what they'd do to become his latest fling.
Meet Sydney Cossette – Part of an elite covert ops group, Sydney joined their ranks as their youngest spy with plans to become the best agent they've ever had. An ice queen with moves as dangerous as her comebacks, Sydney picks up languages just as quickly as she breaks hearts. She's fiery, no-nonsense, and has zero time for romance – especially with a shameless flirt more used to serving sass than taking orders.
When a major crime boss gifts his daughter a private concert with Winter for her birthday, Sydney and Winter's lives suddenly collide. Tasked with infiltrating the crime organization's inner circle, Sydney is assigned as Winter's bodyguard with Winter tapped to join her on the mission of a lifetime as a new spy recruit. Sydney may be the only person alive impervious to Winter's charms, but as their mission brings them closer, she's forced to admit that there's more to Winter Young than just a handsome face . . .
Romance and danger abound in this "brilliant, breathtaking ride that will leave you clamoring for the sequel." ― Tahereh Mafi, #1 internationally bestselling author of Shatter Me.
Editorial Reviews
*An Amazon Best Book of the Month!*
*One of Seventeen magazine's most anticipated YAs of 2023!*
"Sexy, funny, action-packed, full of killer characters ready to break your heart and look good doing it. Marie Lu always delivers." ― Leigh Bardugo, #1 New York Times–bestselling author
"At once thrilling and poignant . . . a brilliant, breathtaking ride that will leave you clamoring for the sequel." ― Tahereh Mafi, #1 internationally bestselling author of Shatter Me
"A nail-biting thriller and a breathless romance, a keen character study and a wildly entertaining international caper . . with characters so charming and wounded and well-crafted that you'll want them to walk off the page." ― Sabaa Tahir, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of the Ember in the Ashes series and National Book Award Winner All My Rage
"A classic covert caper from one of YA's brightest stars. If you ever wondered what would happen if a pop star joined Kingsman, this is the book for you." ― Ally Carter, New York Times–bestselling author of Not If I Save You First
"Marie Lu has done it again with an unputdownable, gorgeously written spy caper that will have you rooting for the spies to just kiss already." ― Maurene Goo, acclaimed author of Somewhere Only We Know and Throwback
"A propulsive and thrilling joyride from start to finish . . . The dynamic romance will have your heart racing just as much as the mission itself. I haven't smiled through a mystery like this since Knives Out." ― Adam Silvera, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of They Both Die at the End
"To my mind, Marie Lu can do no wrong and this may be my favorite novel of hers. Stars and Smoke is thrilling and wonderfully romantic and so much more than that. There is wisdom and real emotional depth p...
*One of Seventeen magazine's most anticipated YAs of 2023!*
"Sexy, funny, action-packed, full of killer characters ready to break your heart and look good doing it. Marie Lu always delivers." ― Leigh Bardugo, #1 New York Times–bestselling author
"At once thrilling and poignant . . . a brilliant, breathtaking ride that will leave you clamoring for the sequel." ― Tahereh Mafi, #1 internationally bestselling author of Shatter Me
"A nail-biting thriller and a breathless romance, a keen character study and a wildly entertaining international caper . . with characters so charming and wounded and well-crafted that you'll want them to walk off the page." ― Sabaa Tahir, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of the Ember in the Ashes series and National Book Award Winner All My Rage
"A classic covert caper from one of YA's brightest stars. If you ever wondered what would happen if a pop star joined Kingsman, this is the book for you." ― Ally Carter, New York Times–bestselling author of Not If I Save You First
"Marie Lu has done it again with an unputdownable, gorgeously written spy caper that will have you rooting for the spies to just kiss already." ― Maurene Goo, acclaimed author of Somewhere Only We Know and Throwback
"A propulsive and thrilling joyride from start to finish . . . The dynamic romance will have your heart racing just as much as the mission itself. I haven't smiled through a mystery like this since Knives Out." ― Adam Silvera, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of They Both Die at the End
"To my mind, Marie Lu can do no wrong and this may be my favorite novel of hers. Stars and Smoke is thrilling and wonderfully romantic and so much more than that. There is wisdom and real emotional depth p...
Readers Top Reviews
KyuuketsukiNiko
When I first read the description of a superstar singer being recruited to be a spy, I thought it sounded a little cheesy. The first few chapters changed my mind because they so beautifully captured the emotions of what Winter was going through having lost his brother and being emotionally disowned from his mother. Unfortunately, it did get cheesy again. This story requires you suspend reality in quite a big way. Secret spy agency, sure. 19 year old top spy? Maybe... an entire secret spy complex in a walk-in freezer of a very popular hotel in downtown Seattle complete with underground garage that is large enough to house multiple cars and jets? Uhm. And not to mention said cars and jets are all able to convert into different vehicles with a clap? It was utterly fantastical and not in a good way. Add in a chronic and fatal illness that one of them is hiding from the agency and it starts feeling like Spy Kids meets Telenovela. The main characters are well developed, but I could not reconcile the ridiculousness of everything else in order to enjoy the story.
Delta High School
Present time in America, Winter is a famous performer who is being recruited by the Panacea Agency to help take down a dangerous criminal, Eli Morrison. Eli has invited Winter to perform at his daughter Penelope’s birthday celebration in London. This is why Panacea wants Winter’s help, because he can infiltrate Eli’s life with little suspicion. Sydney Cosette works for Panacea and poses as Winter’s bodyguard. The two seem to come from very different backgrounds but they discover they have commonalities. Winter and Sydney get hit with a few surprises on their mission and they’ll have to rely on their wits and trust each other to make it through alive. Likes/dislikes: Winter and Sydney are interesting characters with unspoken depth. I like the mystery, action and setting of the story. I love the ending. Mature Content: PG-13 for bisexual relationships mentioned, off-page kissing; sex alluded to by stating, “ended up in bed together”; drinking, transporting drugs, kissing. Language: R for 49 swears and no f-bombs. Violence: PG for kidnapping, killing mentioned, death by choking on a chemical weapon, hand to hand combat, shot in the chest. Sydney’s mother Killed by father in domestic abuse rage. Ethnicity: The ethnicity of the main character is Chinese American, other characters are Black, white, brown-skinned, mixed.
NaliniDelta High
Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu, the first novel in a new series, is a thrilling, action-packed, young adult novel. It’s a Mission: Impossible meets Hannah Montana story in all the best ways possible. Superstar Winter Young has been recruited by The Panacea Group to help collect evidence to put away a notorious and brutal smuggler. He’s been paired with the bristly Agent Sydney Cossette in accomplishing the covert ruse. What danger will they encounter along the way? Was it a terrible idea to enlist a superstar rookie? This novel was a thrill of a ride that I couldn’t put down. It’s quick paced and intriguing that will keep you guessing. The characters are complex and I think it will be very interesting to see it unfold in future books. Lu writes from both Sydney and Winter’s point of views. She also utilizes flashbacks to slowly unwind their pasts, which I thought paired well with the plot. The seemingly inevitable romance storyline in the novel was a delightful slow-burn. Overall, I give this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Roaring Book Press (Macmillan) for providing this arc.
