#stars and smoke marie lu | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

tracy-warcross · 5 months

Text

Lu series clarity meme pairings (yes i am cursed rn)

Note: this is the falling catching meme

Legend:

Dune, but June catching day cuz he fell off a building doing parkour

Day and Tess, with day catching Tess cuz she stumbled off a tower running from the authorities with day

Eden and Pressa, someone pushed Pressa off the sky town (I forgot what it’s called) platforms. They might both die.

Eden day, days catching his little brother from death once again- and lands in a pile of mud. They look like pigs in a play pin.

June and Tess, june catching again. June catches Tess and lands on her back with Tess in her arms. Tess falls in lo- *insert that sound they use in videos before they rewind clips*

Day and anden, day catching only cuz June would get mad at him.

Scenario 2: Day and Anden again, except mid catch day decides to start doing parkour leaving Anden to die. Jk day isn’t evil like that

Warcross:

Himika, with Hideo catching (Emika physically and himself, feelings). Managed to get her only to get a thank you and Emika runs away. (I’m an epic himika hater.)

Romaine, either catches and gets the other safely NO ONE DIES

(Hammie films them doing this dramatic act over a pool off a springboard and calls them cringe, but secretly loves it (video title: romaine lettuce falls into pool))

Hammer (ham Asher), ummmmmm could happen idk how tho

Sasuke and Jax, Sasuke can’t do shit unless he throws out a web or smth, he’s too heavy for Jax to carry (dudes like 500 kg or something). Just won’t happen cuz they both think it’s stupid

Jaxmika, jax saves Emika (cuz she was doing stupid shit. Jax told me) and saves her but labds herself into the hospital (broken back)

Hamika (hammie Emika), either would save. They’re reenacting what romaine did earlier except Emika sucks at catching and they nearly drown (sorry)

Keimika (keira Emika), they both die. No one’s catching either they’re both trying to save the other and killed themselves in the process. The end.

Skyhunter:

(I don’t remember much, bare with me)

Red and anyone: he catches and saves cuz duh he has wings

(Technically Talin too)

That’s it I forgot everything sorry all

Stars and smoke:

(Only one pairing rn cuz I’m at school and can’t think)

Winter Sydney, Sydney saves cuz winter is oof. Technically he can too but she won’t let him lol

11 notes · View notes

themelodyofspring · 10 months

Text

05.07.2023

There was a clearing in the middle of the woods. It tasted of lightning and magic.

121 notes · View notes

slaughter-books · 5 months

Text

Day 30: JOMPBPC: Read In November

My November, 2023 reading wrap-up! 💜

33 notes · View notes

the-ocean-is-scary · 6 months

Text

Me when Marie Lu announced a new book five days ago coming out on June 11th for a series I have not yet read.

#stars and smoke #icon and inferno #marie lu #marielu #FUCK #am i even really interested in stars of smoke? no #am i still going to hype myself up for another marie lu book? oh fuck yes #marie luniverse

25 notes · View notes

r3d5t0n3 · 2 months

Text

emika and hideo are engaged in icon and inferno also hideo's back in the henka games company

#warcross #emika chen #hideo tanaka #icon and inferno #emika #hideo #marie lu #stars and smoke

15 notes · View notes

someoneontheinternent · 9 months

Text

I'm someone on the internet, obviously...

I'm in the Marie Lu Fandom, which is small here

I may post my own stuff, but due to my art being so bad, I 99% of the time repost

So... beware of that.

Anyway, enjoy my crappy stuff

If your in the Marie Lu Fandom:

Your my cousin

I'm your cousin

We will work together to make the Fandom bigger

If it doesn't get bigger, we still have each other

#if your in the marie lu #fandom ur my cousin #marie lu legend #marie lu #legend trilogy #warcross #warcross marie lu #the young elites #stars and smoke #skyhunter #marie lu epik #legend especially

38 notes · View notes

bangbangwhoa · 1 year

Text

books I’ve read in 2023 📖 no. 040

Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu

“Let yourself think bravely, Winter Young. You may presume that you belong in the spotlight and I operate in a secret world, but perhaps we exist in the same place.”

#books #2023 reads #stars and smoke #marie lu #booklr #lit edit

26 notes · View notes

whumpwillow · 6 months

Text

i read a book a while ago (which had the worst ‘plot twist’ ever but that’s not relevant to this post) about a guy who was the world’s most popular superstar and he was angsting over how he had so many fans yet he could never interact with them because he was always so busy rushing from event to the next so he felt bad that he couldn’t do what he used to when he was a new star and less popular because he used to be able to spend time with the fans and talk to them and that’s what gave him his passion, but now that he’s so popular and famous, all he can do is wave at them as he passes by and he was thinking to himself “what is all this for? what was he even doing all this for?”

#another rambly post #i have escaped the dinner party #this wouldnt have happened if i had my own place but unfortunately i have no money #i mean this as in the dinner party not becoming the worlds greatest superstar #god i would really hate being famous #do not perceive me #i do not wish to be perceived #whump #famous whumpee #the book was called ‘stars and smoke’ by marie lu btw #it wasnt great but it wasnt terrible either

7 notes · View notes

libertyreads · 26 days

Text

April TBR 2024--

This next month is set to be full of rereads, hockey romances, and new to me books. It is also the month I'm starting a certification program so it will probably be a bit of a struggle to get through this month's TBR. I don't even remember the last time I've thought that about a month's TBR. I really hope I have as much fun with this TBR as I'm expecting to. I've really been in the mood for these rereads and these hockey romance so I'm excited to finally get to it.

Silver in the Bone by Alexandra Bracken-- This is just one of a few rereads this month. Book two in the series comes out next month. I originally read this one as an ARC so I definitely need a refresher first. Tamsin Lark is a mortal with no magical talent who was never meant to break into ancient crypts or compete with sorceresses and Cunning folk for the treasures inside. But treasure hunting is the only way she could keep herself and her brother Cabell alive following her thieving foster father's disappearance. Ten years later she's looking for a ring that is supposed to save her brother from a curse. It's based in Arthurian legend.

Teen Titans: Beast Boy by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo-- Another reread before a new book in the series. I remember enjoying this one slightly less than Raven's book, but I still enjoyed meeting a new character and getting their origin story. I also felt like it addressed an issue that isn't brought up a lot: male body image issues. We see it addressed a lot in fiction for girls, but there are boys who also go through this growing up. Plus it's beast boy and lots of green animals.

The Score by Elle Kennedy-- A hockey romance! I've been so in the mood for hockey romances this year. I don't know if it's because I found a few new to me authors and bought some kindle books for Christmas or what. In this one we follow Allie Hayes who is in crisis mode. Graduation is looming and she's dealing with a broken heart thanks to the end to her longtime relationship. Wild rebound sex is definitely not the solution to her problems, but gorgeous hockey star Dean Di Laurentis is impossible to resist. Just one though because even if her future is uncertain it sure as heck doesn't include Dean. It seems like he's going to pursue her after she puts him in the friend zone following their one night stand. I love it when the guy falls first or the guy is pursuing the girl so I'm looking forward to this one.

Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu-- The last of the rereads for this month. I'm so excited for the next book too. In this one we follow an international pop sensation named Winter Young who is brought into the world of spies when a major crime boss gifts his daughter a private concert with Winter for her birthday. Sydney Cossette is a member of the elite covert ops group who is forced to work alongside Winter to infiltrate the crime organization's inner circle. This was such a fun and quick read for me last year and I can't wait to go back into this world of glitz, glam, and spies.

Bad Men by Julie Mae Cohen (NetGalley)-- This one just sounded so good when I saw it on NetGalley. It's unhinged women at its finest. Saffy Huntley-Oliver is an intelligent and glamorous socialite; she also happens to be a proficient serial killer. Over the course of fifteen years, she's dispatched bad men--rapist, murderers, domestic abusers. But leading a double life has left her lonely. Dating's rough when your boyfriend might turn out to be your next victim. Saffy thinks she's finally found a truly good man in Jonathan Desrosiers, a true crime podcaster. This is a feminist thriller that asks if even a serial killer can have a happily ever after. My hopes for this one? Rich people drama and some mad women.

The Hemlock Queen by Hannah F. Whitten (New Release)-- The second book in the series is finally coming out. This series starts with Lore, who has a dark power and a hidden past, as we follow her into the intrigue of the Sainted King's royal court. The king and his priest manipulate Lore and have her spy on the prince in order to determine just who is killing the villages at the edge of the kingdom. We follow on from the events of the first book in this new one.

My Lucky #13 by Piper Rayne (Kindle)-- A hockey player who is going through a scoring draught is worried he's going to get traded before the deadline if he doesn't turn it around. Following a New Year's Eve with a woman, he has a waterfall of goals and knows he has to see her again. She wants nothing to do with him and he feels his has to change her mind. A hero falls first sounding story that I'm so looking forward to. I will say that there's a very obvious hockey error in the synopsis of this one and we all know I'm a little picky about hockey details. But I'll try to keep an open mind on this one.

Just Do This One Thing For Me by Laura Zimmerman (Library)-- I'm going to pull the synopsis straight from GoodReads since it's a Mystery/Thriller and those are hard to explain at the best of times: "'Just do this one thing for me.' Drew's mother says it more often than good morning. Heidi Hill has been juggling shady side hustles for all of Drew's seventeen years, and Drew knows that 'one thing' really means all the necessary things her mother thinks are boring, including taking care of her fifteen-year-old sister and eight-year-old brother. In fact, Drew is the closest thing to a responsible adult they've ever known. When their mother disappears on the way to a New Year's Eve concert in Mexico and her schemes start unraveling, Drew is faced with a choice: Follow the rules, do the responsible thing, and walk away--alone--from her mother's mess. Or hope the weather stays cold, keep the cons going, and just maybe hold her family together."

#silver in the bone #Alexandra bracken #teen titans: beast boy #kami garcia #Gabriel picolo #the score #elle kennedy #stars and smoke #marie lu #bad men #Julie mae cohen #the hemlock queen #Hannah f. whitten #my lucky number 13 #piper rayne #just do this one thing for me #Laura zimmerman

2 notes · View notes

lightstar789 · 4 months

Text

Icon and Inferno by Marie Lu (ARC Book Review)

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review (my first one at that, too!).

Hello, bookblr, it's me, lightstar789. I received an ARC of Icon and Inferno by Marie Lu from NetGalley and I have come here to post about my thoughts about the book. Spoilers for the Stars and Smoke Duology, and the Warcross duology below, and without further ado, let's do this!

OVERALL RATING: 2/5

Yeah, I know, bummer. I thought this sequel would out-do its predecessor, given how amped up its stakes were advertised as. But when I went to read the book, I was disappointed, to say the least, the reasons for which I will be listing down below. Regardless of the faults in this book however, it was still an enjoyable read, which is to be expected from Marie Lu, and I do appreciate the effort, creativity, and passion in the book!

Now, moving onto...

THE GOOD

THE TONE:

With the shift to the series becoming a full spy thriller, the tone was definitely handled a lot more better. While the book has kind of lost the campiness found in the first, I think it was for the better, considering how the book seemed to get progressively darker and more dramatic. Elements of the campiness, however, are still there, and I think that they were handled a lot better in moderation. It's fascinating to see how Lu weaved elements of Winter's pop-stardom into the plot, and how he used his fame to advance the mission, while also trying to keep a low profile within his team.

THE WORLD-BUILDING:

Yes, you read that spoiler warning correctly, because EMIKA AND HIDEO ARE BACK!!!! Albeit, in a small role with very little dialogue, which, to be fair, was to be expected considering how much the ending of Wildcard was spoiled. This book takes place presumably a couple years after the events of Wildcard, and the Warcross championships still happen, without the whole-city integration of the Neurolink as previously seen in Japan. Panacea also got a lot more exploration, with international branches such as the Blue Cross Charity, the level of coordinance with local and foreign authorities, and new agents and allegiances being added to the mix. I also like how Singapore's diversity and culture was explored, and appreciated the Little India sequence (though they did spell 'dosa' as 'dosai,' which triggered my South Indian Senses™).

THE ACTION:

If there's one thing that I look forward to in all of Lu's books, it's the action sequences, and just like its predecessor, it never fails to miss. While there's weren't as many with Winter as in the case of the first book, this meant that there were more with Sydney (and Tems, but we'll get to that), which I could never complain about. From car chases, to classic beatdowns, and chaotic evacuations, there isn't any more that I could ask for. One thing I did notice, however, is that Sydney's lung problems weren't as prominent as they were before. It definitely wasn't forgotten, as Lu does take care to mention her lungs seizing every now and then, but this makes me wonder whether Sydney received treatment from Panacea given how her condition was revealed by the end of SAS. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure it never gets addressed in either book.

I wish I had more to say in this category, but now it’s time to move on to…

THE BAD

THE ROMANCE:

Oh god, where do I begin? The way Lu handled Wydney in the last book should’ve been the first warning sign that this series wouldn’t be as good as her others. I was expecting more reflection, less apprehension in their relationship and more trust, but instead we got hit with miscommunication, petty jealousy, and an uncalled for sex scene while THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING SURVEILLANCE! I think this is a good time to mention it, but this book is not as Ace friendly as her other series are, and to be fair, I think that was a given considering this is supposed to be campier than her other fare. But as I mentioned, the tonal shift from the first book made it hard to digest the romance and sex this time around (and how much more of it there was this time). There’s also the addition of Tems and Gavi (Sydney and Winter’s respective exes) that were introduced in this book, that I honestly couldn’t care for, and were only mattered character-wise for the romantic tension. I was never given a reason to root for their exes, and because of this overall detachment, the romance suffered greatly in quality.

THE CHARACTERS:

Now I’m REALLY upset, considering that this is the category I normally consider Lu’s strongest, and what I also considered the strongest in the Stars and Smoke review. While some characters were well-fleshed out, many, unfortunately, seemed to fade into the background, or were unnecessary for the narrative.

WINTER: Winter stayed mostly the same from the ending of the last book, which was to be expected, since this book was more focused on Sydney, so no complaints here.

SYDNEY: Though I was a bit iffy about her in the last book, I absolutely adored her in this book! I love how her motivations were emphasized this time, and I love how her longing for love was very similar to Winter's, even if she didn't always show it. I also like how Niall and Sydney's father-daughter relationship was touched upon more, and how his death impacted her behavior for the rest of the novel.

LEO: Leo’s gone this time, because of the events of the previous book (good for him, he needs that break!) and I was a bit bummed out, because I was really looking forward to how he’d cope from Penelope and Connor’s machinations, and how he’d find out Winter’s allegiance with Panacea, but sadly, he was put on a bus.

DAMEON: His character unfortunately remained static, and we didn’t really get much focus on him, which is a shame considering that I was most excited for him to find out, and try to help Winter and Sydney in his own way, but instead, we are treated to an infodump about how he found out Sydney was a spy, and then he proceeded to have no bearing on the plot after that. There is just SO much missed potential with Winter's crew and I wish that we spent more time with them, instead of adding more characters and struggling to fit them all.

GAVI: When she got set up as Winter's scheming ex, I hoped that her character would be expanded upon a bit so she wasn't entirely one-dimensional, and while she did have a "redemption arc," that was it. While she did try to serve as a foil to Winter's craving for love and adoration, it didn't really work, because she was never explored apart from her reputation and her personality.

TEMS: Okay, look, I'm just gonna be honest here: I can't fuck with this guy. At all. You're telling me that Sydney was supposed to be this hung-up about a two-night stand? Not only that, I saw everything about Tems coming from a mile away, from him being a traitor, to his motivations for betraying Panacea, from him trying to save Sydney last-second. And I never normally see these twists coming! I just...I can't, every time I see him I think about Tim Hortons (his full name is Tems Bourton) and I can't stop laughing. I feel as though this twist was very last minute (or I've just become very genre aware, who's to say) and seems unplanned, even though I know Lu had probably tried to put her best into this character and the plot, but I feel like it'd be better off without him (even though the book would literally lose the majority of the climax without him).

Niall and Sauda were the only saving grace of the characters not being a total drag. I appreciated how Niall and Sauda's relationship was used as a parallel to Sydney and Winter's, as a sort of "warning" or "what-if," that forced the two to rethink the plausibility of their relationship. I also appreciated how Niall's family and motivations were explored, and how his death was never brushed off, unlike the other elements in this plot.

I wish there were more redeeming qualities to this book, considering that it was a very enjoyable and suspenseful read, but after letting it simmer for a while, I realized that I couldn't really vibe with a lot of the aspects in this book. That being said, just because I didn't like something doesn't mean that you will too. Perhaps this book is up your alley, and if that's the case, then go ahead and read it! This book was not for me, but I'd still definitely encourage others to check it out! Feel free to leave your thoughts about this book in the reblogs or comments below, and I'll see you next time for another review!

Take care, and Happy New Year!!

#bookblr #marie lu #stars and smoke #icon and inferno

6 notes · View notes

jessread-s · 1 year

Text

It still doesn’t feel real that I met @marielubooks on April 4th 🫣 but I have the pictures to prove it! In honor of meeting the author the changed my life forever, I am reposting my review of her latest novel.

✩🔎🎤 Review:

Marie Lu’s spy romance is thrilling and impossible to put down!

Lu gets creative with “Stars and Smoke,” drawing inspiration from famous celebrity secret agents throughout American history. In her fictional world, Winter Young is a global pop phenomenon that has been breaking records left and right. His rising star status catches the eye of the Panacea group—a private company hired out by the CIA to infiltrate criminal tycoon Eli Morrison’s security. Sydney Cossette, Panacea’s youngest spy, is chosen to be Winter’s partner while he charm’s Morrison’s daughter at her birthday party. She reluctantly shows him the ropes while pretending to be his bodyguard. But when things go wrong and their target becomes the lesser of two evils, they realize that something far more sinister is at play.

Lu goes to great lengths to immerse the reader in the high stakes environment associated with the Panacea group, which I appreciated. She creates cool gadgets for her characters, going into detail about what role they play in their mission, and walks the reader through Winter and Sydney’s necessary training.

I also absolutely loved being able to read from alternating perspectives! Winter and Sydney’s backstories made my heart ache, though I should have anticipated the feeling because Lu’s words often bring tears to my eyes. In Winter’s case, all he wants is to be loved after living his whole life believing that he is unwanted. Sydney wants to put the years of abuse behind her and find the place where she belongs. Both characters seemed to be lost souls unsure of their place in the world until they met each other. I loved watching the two barely tolerate each other at the beginning of the novel, bickering the first chance they could get. However, the more they fought, the harder they fell for each other and their forbidden romance tugged at my heartstrings.

I cannot wait for Sydney and Winter to reunite in the next serial standalone!

➤ 4.5 stars

Cross-posted to: Instagram | Amazon | Goodreads | StoryGraph

@fiercereadsya

9 notes · View notes

tracy-warcross · 8 months

Text

Winter: do not

Sydney: *grabbing a macaron from the snack table* what? It’s not like they can see me

———————

Sydney: do not. That is going to ruin our mission

Winter: okay *obeys*

#stars and smoke #marie lu #winter young #sydney cassette #stars and smoke Marie Lu

7 notes · View notes

bookloveravenue · 1 year

Photo

Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu

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 . . .

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61796738-stars-and-smoke

********

April 8, 2023

My Review: 5/5 Stars

Another great story by Marie Lu! No surprises there. Marie's latest world leads us to the lives of spies. Sydney is part of an elite cover ops group. When there is something that needs to be done and the government can't do it, they are called in. And in her latest mission she is required to go undercover as a bodyguard and work with an international pop start, Winter Young. Winter may have this famous life, but it's not all that it is cracked up to be. At moments, he wonders if there is something more he can be doing. And when he is recruited by Panacea, he is at first reluctant to be some sort of spy, but is soon convinced that he can help. Especially when they have information on the death of his brother. Sydney and Winter are an unlikely pairing. But both surprise the other in so many ways. Their chemistry is full of banter and snark that you can't help but love. Their mission is to infiltrate a crime organization's boss and get the proof to finally put him away. There will be plenty of twists and turns, and revelations that will keep you one your toes. As always in Marie's books, there is lots of action and romance, and a great story line. It took me a bit to get into the story but once I hit a point, I was hooked and couldn't put it down! Hoping to see more in this world. And definitely more of Winter and Sydney.

#book #books #i love books #my review #book review #stars and smoke #marie lu

7 notes · View notes

slaughter-books · 6 months

Text

Day 1: JOMPBPC: TBR This Month

My immediate TBR for November, 2023! 💙

#justonemorepage #jompbpc #tbr this month #immediate tbr #november 2023 #fake dates and mooncakes #sher lee #you're not supposed to die tonight #kalynn bayron #terciel & elinor #garth nix #stars and smoke #marie lu #beautiful books #amazing authors #lgbt+#tiger #i love books

8 notes · View notes

the-ocean-is-scary · 2 months

Text

So I picked up Stars and Smoke a couple weeks ago and frankly wasn't a huge fan for a couple reasons so I put it back down after a couple chapters (sorry). But would it be funny if I actually finished the book and bought the next...just because there's characters from Warcross in the second and I'm desperate for more Warcross....

#to the sas fans....my bad #i feel like i can predict a lot of character development stuff and plot things right off the bat and i don't like that #and i feel like the main romance is gonna be harder to ignore this time (yeah i ignore every main romance in all of marie's bookswhat of it #you see the icon and inferno post made me really excited because there's emi and hideo so like. warcross.#gonna scream #stars and smoke #marie lu #warcross

9 notes · View notes

candidcover · 1 year

Photo

(via Review: Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu)

Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu is a fast-paced thriller that kept me entertained from page one. While I was hesitant about the premise of a pop star turned secret agent at first, this one ended up being a lot of fun, and the main characters have such an entertaining dynamic. Fans of the spy genre, superstar characters, and the enemies to lovers trope will not want to miss this first instalment in Marie Lu’s latest series.

#stars and smoke #marie lu #books #reading #ya books #book review

7 notes · View notes