Icon & Inferno by Marie Lu

The quick cut: A pop star finds himself playing spy once again when one of their own disappears during a mission. 

A real review:

 Thank you to Roaring Brook Press for providing the arc for an honest review. 

 Playing a spy once is unbelievable enough but what if you were asked to do it again? Would you be willing to risk it one more time? This is a question for Winter. 

  A year has passed since he last saw secret agent Sydney, but she's still on his mind. Even if their last mission was more dangerous than he agreed to, he can't ignore the powerful chemistry they had together. He thought he'd never see her again until another agent disappears and his help is needed to find their agent again. Will he be able to make the chemistry happen again with Sydney? 

 Sequel stories can be tricky because sometimes the buildup from the first can create unachievable expectations. I was very excited to read this one and even knowing that, I still loved this story. It takes all the elements of the first and builds on them, including creating problems that added to the characters' development this time. 

 Winter is a pop sensation who was trained only out of necessity the first time. The thrill was supposed to be a one and done, but the right combination of scenarios created a second opportunity. His development is about figuring out what he wants, especially when his status means he can't have it all. Is he ready to give up the public life? 

 Sydney knows her life isn't built for relationships, but she has Winter on her mind. Can she deny their chemistry again when they're paired up together a second time? That's easy to do when your mission involves saving your ex. I loved how the ex being the mission really played an element in her journey. 

 A fun sequel spy thriller that builds on the first. 

My rating: 4.5 out of 5