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Icons (Icons #1)

by Margaret Stohl (Goodreads Author)

3.52 of 5 stars 3.52 · rating details · 747 ratings · 210 reviews

Your heart beats only with their permission.

Everything changed on The Day. The day the windows shattered. The day the power stopped. The day Dol's family dropped dead. The day Earth lost a war it didn't know it was fighting.

Since then, Dol has lived a simple life in the countryside -- safe from the shadow of the Icon and its terrifying power. Hiding from the one truth she...more

Hardcover, 428 pages

Published May 7th 2013 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

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May 05, 2013 Sam rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-or-galley, dystopia-or-post-apocalyptic, dystopian, post-apocalyptic, romance, science-fiction

2.5 stars

Icons is exactly the sort of book that is just a little too late. Despite its flaws (and believe me, there are several), there is enough basic potential for the concepts here to excite and demand attention. Unfortunately for Icons (and Margaret Stohl, given that this is her first venture as a solo author), there are already several other far better books out there that deal with similar ideas.

We’re talking aliens, and yes, I did read this after Rick Yancey’s The Fifth Wave. Icons, howev...more 2.5 stars

Icons is exactly the sort of book that is just a little too late. Despite its flaws (and believe me, there are several), there is enough basic potential for the concepts here to excite and demand attention. Unfortunately for Icons (and Margaret Stohl, given that this is her first venture as a solo author), there are already several other far better books out there that deal with similar ideas.

We’re talking aliens, and yes, I did read this after Rick Yancey’s The Fifth Wave. Icons, however, is a book that has more of a dystopian feel to it than one that screams alien-invasion (though I use the term very lightly). Set years after The Day, where a large number of the world’s population dropped dead following the appearance of thirteen structures known as Icons, we follow Dol and her best friend Ro as they find themselves captured and held as prisoners at the Embassy. It’s here where they meet Tima and Lucas, fellow Icon children, and it’s here where the story takes a plummet into monotonous territory and struggles to resurface. There are moments of promise scattered throughout – mostly in the form of some much-needed scenes of action, a strange computer with a fondness for jokes, and a distractingly amusing Merk named Fortis – but the vast majority of the story is difficult to really appreciate.

Although the world-building is clear enough (for the first instalment, at least), and nicely consolidated by rhymes, correspondence and official documents inserted at the beginning and end of chapters, the so-called Icon children completely destroy any possibility of wholly investing in this book. The group dynamics here are borderline ridiculous. Dol is not an unlikeable main character (well… not exactly), but a lot of her thoughts and actions are eye-roll inducing. There is a slight love triangle present (of course), and while the romance does not at all overshadow the plot, Dol’s attraction to both Ro and Lucas is somewhat exasperating. As expected, Ro and Lucas aren’t overly fond of each other, and Tima, who has feelings for Lucas, is not exactly Dol’s biggest fan to start with. It’s all very pointless and tiring... and hardly adds any substance to their already disappointingly thin personalities.

One thing that did stir my interest here is the shadowing presence of the Lords. Unfortunately, though, this is one area that is still shrouded in a lot of mystery. Other than the hold that the Lords have over the inhabitants of Earth, we find out an insufficient amount about them, much to my disappointment. Icons opts for the least stimulating route in the end, with very little being introduced that could potentially set it apart. It doesn’t help that the only two interesting characters are a bodiless computer and a quick-mouthed swindler. The annoying part is that Stohl’s writing is not poor. This book could have been far more exciting if it was less formulaic and stiff. Maybe then the main characters would have had more of an opportunity to shine, too.

This has turned into a very half-hearted review, which is generally the case when a story fails to draw much of a response from me. Icons is ‘meh’ to the umpteenth degree, and I’ll leave it at that.

(This review also appears on my blog)(less)

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May 19, 2013 Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-release, 2013-reading-challenge, arcs-i-own, mundie-moms-reviews, books-i-own

ICONS has this original feel to it that hooked me from page one. I LOVED this book! It's one of those reads you pick up expecting one thing, and end up with something a little bit different, and oh so addicting. The best way to describe this book is to say it's an exciting, action packed dystopian / science fiction read loaded with twists and turns that will leave you wanting more when you finish it. Having a storyline fueled by action, some sizzling character chemistry, intrigue, betrayal, love...more ICONS has this original feel to it that hooked me from page one. I LOVED this book! It's one of those reads you pick up expecting one thing, and end up with something a little bit different, and oh so addicting. The best way to describe this book is to say it's an exciting, action packed dystopian / science fiction read loaded with twists and turns that will leave you wanting more when you finish it. Having a storyline fueled by action, some sizzling character chemistry, intrigue, betrayal, love, and having me try to figure out what exactly is going on, was perfect! Now add that with some really creditable, layered characters who I got to know just enough of to understand their motives with ICONS, while leaving me wanting to know more about them that I didn't want this story to finish, and you have yourselves a 5 star book!

What really captured my interest and hooked me with this exciting read was they was it was written. Margaret gave me just enough of her story to keep me turning paging, revealed small doses of what was going on to keep me engaged, and left me with a few unanswered questions that make wish the sequel was already in my hands. Despite this book's size, I read it one sitting. Once I started it, there was no stopping. Though I'm a fan of Margaret's writing from the Beautiful Creatures she co-wrote, I have to say that ICONS is her best writing yet! There is something in the way ICONS is written that made me as a reader feel as though Margaret found her niche. ICONS is not like an other book I've read. I can't even begin to compare to another. Having read a ton of YA books, I have to say that in itself seems like an impossible task to accomplish.

Though this book is about Dol, her three fellow characters all share her spot light, and their dangerous adventure into finding out more about who they really are, and what exactly their powers can do is an exciting, thrilling journey in itself. This story isn't just told from Dol's point of view. To add to all that's going on with the rebellion, and the mystery behind what's really happening, Margaret has inserted articles and letters between various chapters that only adds to the danger of what these four teens are up against, from those on the "other side". Yes, that just adds more fuel to the conspiracy that's going on here on Earth after the aliens invaded and well, there seems to be a lot more going on than what gets uncovered here in ICONS. I can not wait for the rest of this series to be released.

If you're looking for an action packed book that has some fabulous character chemistry, a rebellion, characters who pull you right into their story & leave you wanting more from them long after you finish it, then I'd recommend picking this book up! Another fabulous thing about this book, is it's one I'd recommend to higher level 11 & 12 yr readers. It's a clean cut read, and one teachers could easily discuss a variety of themes from the book with their students. I LOVED IT! I'd totally recommend this book to anyone and everyone.(less)

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Jun 03, 2013 Mrs. ReaderPants rated it 2 of 5 stars

More reviews at Mrs. ReaderPants.

REVIEW: When I first started reading Icons, I thought it was going to be a five-star book. Crazy-creative world-building is easy to spot, and Icons has unique world-building in spades. I liked Dol and loved Ro, and I enjoyed trying to figure out just exactly what was going on. Ramona Jamona the pig just cracked me up, and I was actually a little sad when the aliens killed her (not really a spoiler--it happened right at the beginning). I love the "Classified" docu...more

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May 14, 2013 Allison is currently reading it

This should be really interesting-after her take on "witches" and "vampires," I can't wait to see Stohl take on "aliens." Good for her. Hope to see a romance and plot just as good as Beautiful Creatures.

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May 29, 2013 Siobhan rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs-received-for-review

I have always loved Margaret Stohl, especially after reading the Beautiful Creatures series. And when I saw that she was going solo with Icons, I knew I had to read it.

Aliens are getting very popular these days in the YA genre, with I am Number Four and the recent release of The 5th Wave, but it can be very hard to get it right, and I am sad to say that this one fell a little flat for me. It took me a long time to figure out why I didn't like this book as much as I wanted to, and to be honest, I...more

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May 24, 2013 Ta§chima Cullen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-wishlist

Icons was a book I was excited for, and I really wanted to like, not because the author wrote Beautiful Creatures (still haven't finished that series) but because of the premise, and let's be honest a little bit because of the cover (I think it looks sick, if that is still a word being used). What ended up happening is that I has to make myself sit down in order to finish it. The beginning was exciting, and held a lot of promise, but once the story was past that first rush of excitement... it ki...more

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May 21, 2013 Brad rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-favorites

Words cannot even begin to describe how much I adore Icons. You know how some people say "I can't even", and some people don't understand it? Well, guess what.
I CAN'T EVEN.

Everything about this book is phenomenal; everything. I was emerged into the world of the Icons immediately, and I never for a second wanted to put the book down. When I would, it was the only thing on my mind. And whenever I picked it back up, I would read 150 pages in one go. Icons is definitely a favorite of 2013 and of al...more

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Jun 15, 2013 Katie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: below-average

I had such high expectations for this book. The concept sounded interesting and I am a fan of the Beautiful Creature series. However, I was very disappointed with this book.
The beginning started off well, and I was interested to see where it would go from there. The relationship between the two main characters was absolutely adorable and I was optimistic that the rest of the book would be decent.
My hopes were dashed after that. The rest of the book was very confusing and I had no clue where it w...more

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Jun 17, 2013 Getty Hesse rated it 2 of 5 stars

Dol lives in the countryside with The Padre and her best friend Ro in a little village community far away from the oppressive power of the Icon. There, she and Ro can hide their special abilities from those who might kill them for it. But then the Sympas find their village, kill the Padre and take Dol and Ro away to the Embassy, where the Ambassador controls what was once Los Angeles with an iron fist according to the wishes of the Visitors who came down from space and conquered the earth in a f...more

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Jun 15, 2013 Jordan Moreland rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This is my first review on a book so bare with me. Hopefully you can follow this review, because I sure as hell couldn't follow this book.

I gave Icons two stars for several reasons. Reason number one being that it was super confusing. I had a hard time following what was going on because there was alot of talking. A lot of talking and most of it was in circles. Stohl might have been trying to explain things to the reader, but her writing style made it hard to follow. She tried too hard to mak...more This is my first review on a book so bare with me. Hopefully you can follow this review, because I sure as hell couldn't follow this book.

I gave Icons two stars for several reasons. Reason number one being that it was super confusing. I had a hard time following what was going on because there was alot of talking. A lot of talking and most of it was in circles. Stohl might have been trying to explain things to the reader, but her writing style made it hard to follow. She tried too hard to make it sound so poetic and emotional because that is what the character are essentially, emotions, but all it does is confuse the hell out of the reader.There were several scenarios were the characters are having long conversations while there needed to be some action going on. For example, when Ro and Dol are leaving to go blow up the Icon, Dol stops and has this long conversation with Lucas, while Ro just keep walking up the hill without a clue. Which leads me into another reason why I am not a fan of this book.There was no dynamics between the four main characters.
Stohl leaves you with the feeling that its every man for themselves when you put all four of them together, but then when you pair them off, Dol with Ro, Lucas with Tima, they'd die for each other. You have four teenagers who all share similar markings all of them but Lucas have lost thier parents. All of them have no idea why they are the way they are, yet they can't find any common ground to be friends or even civil with each other. Ro hates Lucas because he sees Lucas as a threat to is relationship with Dol. Tima hates Dol for the same reason Ro hates Lucas. Dol is just a clueless confused Grassgirl,the whole time. I hated to read the way they worked together because all they ever really accomplished was someone getting into a fight with the other. Truthfully, when they conversed in the book, it annoyed me. It took all I had within me not to just skip over their whole conversations. It wasn't till the end that I got the satisfaction of seeing them bond. I would have liked to see that sooner, it would have made reading their conversations and interactions a lot more pleasant.

One thing I didn't get was the whole love triangle between Dol, Ro, and Lucas. Correct me if I am wrong, but I could not find a single line in the book before the ending where Dol expressed any desire to be in a relationship with Lucas. She was always about Ro. Dol stated several times in the book she loved Ro or that Ro was her family. She even wouldn't let Lucas touch his markings to hers because she didn't want to betray Ro. So tell me then why she kisses Lucas at the end of the book, and feels no guilt? She doesn't even think about Ro till she sees that Ro watched them kiss from a meadow, while her and Lucas are in a barn. Dol never really talks about her feelings about Lucas at all in the book and then she kisses him and tells him she likes him. Same with Lucas. Except for the time when he tried to touch his markings to hers, he never even showed an interest in Dol. This love traingle was barely a love traingle, because no one even knew that Dol had feelings for Lucas or that Lucas had feelings for Dol.

I could go on, but I dont have the time, so over all i felt like the book was pretty thrown together and not well thought out. Half way through the book I was done, but I finished it because I was curious about how it would end. I will give Mrs. Stohl some credit, the book has a good plot, but thats all Icons has going for it. (less)

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Jun 09, 2013 Kyle Patrick rated it 2 of 5 stars

Beautiful Creatures (co-written by Margaret Stohl) was definitely something. Unfortunately, on her first work as a solo author, things didn't quite work out.

I really do hate it when I don't like/love a book. As for the case of Icons, I already broadened my discernment on it, but it still fell short with several things. I did my part—I wanted so badly to like it that I might have actually forced myself too much already—but Icons didn't do its. I don't believe that there's something such as a ba...more Beautiful Creatures (co-written by Margaret Stohl) was definitely something. Unfortunately, on her first work as a solo author, things didn't quite work out.

I really do hate it when I don't like/love a book. As for the case of Icons, I already broadened my discernment on it, but it still fell short with several things. I did my part—I wanted so badly to like it that I might have actually forced myself too much already—but Icons didn't do its. I don't believe that there's something such as a bad piece of literature, so I prefer to put it this way: this book wasn't just for me.

To make it simple and to be honest, I was disappointed. I started this book with a very open mind, without any expectation at all. Still, it didn't manage to amuse me. I know this book has tons of potential, but sadly, it wasn't executed fairly. Yes, many alien-invasion-themed books are rapidly rising to the surface these days, but Icons still had a couple of facets that could make it stand out—that is, again, if it was performed better. In contrary, I also thought it pulled (knowingly or not) a few elements from other dystopian books.

Upon beginning this book, the first thing that bothered me was the writing. It was dry and lacked enough character affection (very ironic, once you knew the ability of the protagonist). I also felt that it was choppy—suddenly jumping from a certain thing to another. The pacing didn't have a smooth transition. Sometimes I needed to reread a passage to confirm where I already am in the story because, honestly, it was confusing. It had depth, though. I'd give it that.

That wasn't the only thing that confused me. The characters' individual personalities also did*. One moment I admire Doloria's mentality and actions, the next I want to slap her. I think that's the reason I found it hard to connect with her. Also, for a first-person POV narration, Dol was still too reserved. It seemed like there's a wall built between the main character and the reader, making it hard for me to empathize/sympathize with Doloria. Doc, the virtual AI, was frankly better and was my favorite character.

There weren't tons of making out scenes and too-cheesy lines (thankfully), but the love interests were the problem. The best way to describe them is they're like 5-year-old kids. Their attitudes were just agonizing—very childish and immature. Ro and Lucas were like 2 children always fighting over a small toy for no reason (just that they want to).

The world Stohl had created was supposed to be terribly horrifying, but it lacked the elements it should have. I didn't really shudder at the thought that the Lords and Icons were just there, always watching. I felt no suspense until the very last parts of the book, and even then, it was only minuscule. It was hard to lose myself between the pages of this book. I wasn't absorbed in the story until it was too late already.

One (and probably the only) thing I'm happy about Icons was the format. I love the transcripts, excerpts, letters, etc. in between each chapter. They gave hints and bits related to the whole story without really giving away something. It answered a few questions while leaving more. At least it engaged and intrigued me a little to continue on with the book. (Although I think it overdid the mystery-leaving part. Margaret Stohl seemed to know it's okay if Icons didn't necessarily do good as long as it left many questions unanswered, because it'll really make me crave for more. It's like she discovered my weakness.)

This book was really confusing that even my thoughts about it I find bewildered. I sincerely don't know if I'm recommending or not recommending this book. I still have mixed emotions about it. I also am not sure yet if I'll be picking up the next book. I just hope Stohl will improve and the next one will be a lot better than this. (less)

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Jun 03, 2013 Wendy rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Goodreads Recommendation

Recommended to Wendy by: a decision

Shelves: scify

"Icons" by Margaret Stohl is a science fiction thriller set on an earth suffering from the invasion of a powerful, faceless enemy called the Lords who unleashed thirteen icons on the mega-cities of earth. The electromagnetic field they radiated not only stopped all electrical power but killed more than a billion people. After the death of her mother Doloria lives a simple existence in the country, far from the shadow of the icon. She and another orphan at the mission, Ro, forge a powerful bond t...more

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May 27, 2013 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Contains several spoilers. Read at own risk.

ICONS.

What a massive potential.

Icons carries such an intriguing premise: On The Day, the Icons came and destroyed Earth and took over their world, controlling their electricity. Now the Embassy, run by humans, obey the House of Lords' commands. On the day of Dol's birthday, she is whisked into the Embassy and she and three others must discover what is just so special about them that could potentially destroy the Icons.

While there is so much good in her...more

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May 25, 2013 Katy rated it 2 of 5 stars

also posted at http://ablightedone.wordpress.com/201...

There’s so much about Icons that I wanted to love. The concept is really interesting and aliens are always a plus. Unfortunately, the book felt disconnected and slightly messy to me.

Icons is set in the future and aliens are in charge. They came on 6/6 or “The Day” and dropped Icons into thirteen major cities which killed most of the residents. These cities are now known as Silent Cities. The aliens, known as the House of Lords, are mysteriou...more also posted at http://ablightedone.wordpress.com/201...

There’s so much about Icons that I wanted to love. The concept is really interesting and aliens are always a plus. Unfortunately, the book felt disconnected and slightly messy to me.

Icons is set in the future and aliens are in charge. They came on 6/6 or “The Day” and dropped Icons into thirteen major cities which killed most of the residents. These cities are now known as Silent Cities. The aliens, known as the House of Lords, are mysterious. Nobody has seen them or knows much about them. They use the Icons to control the earth with electric pulses. Most of the human population lives in a concentrated area surrounding mega-cities or in the country.

Doloria, also called Dol, was found by Padre in the ruins, a lone survivor in a silent city. Ro, her best friend, was found soon after. For some reason, the alien pulse that killed everyone else didn’t kill them. They both have strange dots on their wrists and strange abilities. Dol knows that she is different, she knows that she can feel things and there’s a reason why she’s still alive when so many aren’t. She knows she’s a Weeper and she can feel what others feel and read their minds. What she doesn’t know is why.

On her 17th birthday, Padre gives her a book. However, as with all stories, when one important thing happens, there’s a domino effect and this is when guards known as Sympas show up. They take Dol and Ro to former LA, now called “the Hole.” Along the way they meet Fortis, a merck/shady guy and Lucas, another dotted survivor who also happens to be the Ambassador’s son. The Ambassador is connected to the House of Lords.. They arrive at ambassador HQ and meet a scarily demented military official that is probably evil and wants to kill them all. There’s also Timora, the final dotted one and Icon Child.

Our dotted friends have abilities that make them insusceptible to the alien technology. Dol is a Weeper, Ro is a Rager,Ti is a Freak, and Lucas is a Lover. They all have powerful abilities. The Ambassador has been looking for them, there’s anti-Embassy propaganda about them, and the Rebellion believes they might be the answer to taking back Earth.

One thing that really bothered me was the timeline. I had no idea how much time passed in this book. I felt like Dol left and got to the Embassy then they were leaving and I never realized a day had passed. I didn’t really buy into any of the connections in the book, romantic or friendship. Dol and Ro grew up together, so it made sense that they were friends. The same goes with Ti and Lucas. At first Ti hates the new kids, but Lucas and Dol are drawn to each other. Dol doesn’t like Ti, but later, for no real reason, Dol and Ti are friends. They want the same things, but there wasn’t anything that helped them bond. The romance felt empty to me and in my opinion, there were more reasons against it than for it.

There is so much going on in this book, but it kind of felt like nothing actually happened. It felt like a lot of setup. I didn’t love any of the characters, but I probably liked Ro the most. Out of everyone, he seemed the most honest. I wasn’t inspired by the resistance. I was interested in the Icon Children’s actual abilities and the aliens, but there wasn’t much information about either of those things. I understand the (silly) need to withhold details so you can spring them at readers later on in the series, but there wasn’t enough in book one to make me care about finding out later. I wouldn’t say this book was a complete waste of time, but I wouldn’t recommend it and I don’t plan on reading the rest of the series.(less)

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May 24, 2013 Kayla rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, books-with-characters-i-want-to-mar, covet-these-covers, dystopia, fiction, future, not-sure-about, read-in-2013, review-copy, romance, science-fiction, series, young-adult

I was really excited to get the chance to read this book because I've heard so much about this coauthor of the Beautiful Creatures series that I just needed to read her own start to a series as well. Unfortunately, in a genre that is too often overdone these days, Icons simply fell flat for me.
I really liked the pacing of the book. It kept me hooked, even when plot points and characters frustrated me to no end. The writing wasn't something that I noticeably loved but it didn't detract from my en...more

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May 11, 2013 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2013, r2r-complete

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction/Blue Door, Voyager and Netgalley.)
16 years ago, 13 strange metallic ‘Icon’s’ dropped from the sky, and situated themselves in the largely populated areas of the world, killing millions of people, and turning others into slaves.

17-year-old’s Dol and Ro live in the wilds outside of one of these epicentres, away from the Embassy and the ‘Sympas’ (sympathisers who have become...more

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May 08, 2013 Megan Bacchus rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a really enjoyable book. I haven’t read many sci-fi books and I found this book to be really good. I could very much see this book as a movie. At first the terminology was a bit confusing, such as the Day, the Icons, and the Lords. The plot involves the Lords which are essentially aliens (never have been seen) have come to earth and using Icons (giant structures that possess a power to kill) they have taken over the earth on the Day. Not everyone is dead and the rest have been allowed t...more

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May 07, 2013 Jon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Icons is original. Complicated. Emotional. Powerful. And sometimes difficult.

And entirely worth the read.

Here's the hook for me - it's not the alien invasion, although that's pretty well done, in a fresh way. It's not the love triangles or squares or whatever. Icons is great because of Stohl's portrayal of four real kids who have real, messy, confusing feelings that are more powerful than they know how to deal with.

Sound familiar? That's because it describes every young person on the planet. And...more

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May 07, 2013 Dark Faerie Tales rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-by-bridget

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.

Quick & Dirty: Interesting story with a mix of Sci-fi/dystopian elements weaved in. There was good action, but I had a hard time connecting to the characters.

Opening Sentence: One tiny gray dot, no bigger than a freckle, marks the inside of the baby’s chubby arm.

The Review:

Doloria Maria de la Cruz is special — she survived The Day. When she was a baby there was an attack on Earth from an extraterrestrial life form called the Icons. On that day the power s...more

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Apr 25, 2013 Kristin rated it 4 of 5 stars

First, I have to get this out of the way: is Icons anything like Beautiful Creatures? No. Did I expect it to be? Okay . . . maybe I’ll admit that having Margaret Stohl’s name on the book, even with Kami Garcia’s missing, led me to believe it would be in a similar style, even if the topic was entirely different. It was undeniably different . . . but that was okay, too. Icons goes straight to science-fiction, blending aliens (other rather, extra-terrestrial life of some sort) and mythology. It’s a...more First, I have to get this out of the way: is Icons anything like Beautiful Creatures? No. Did I expect it to be? Okay . . . maybe I’ll admit that having Margaret Stohl’s name on the book, even with Kami Garcia’s missing, led me to believe it would be in a similar style, even if the topic was entirely different. It was undeniably different . . . but that was okay, too. Icons goes straight to science-fiction, blending aliens (other rather, extra-terrestrial life of some sort) and mythology. It’s a short and easy read, and while there are some slower scenes, the second half of the novel builds quickly, leaving the reader eager for the sequel.

To backtrack slightly, Icons takes place about a century from now, in a world where aliens have taken over on the “Day” that wiped out entire cities and now keep everyone controlled through fear and powerful Icons. Just babies, Dol and her best friend Ro somehow survived that day and end up wanted by the Embassy for emotion-driven powers they didn’t even recognize. At the Embassy, they are thrown together with another hostage, Tima, and the Ambassador’s son, Lucas. Only together can the four begin to understand what happened on that Day, who they are, what they can do, and how their world can be saved.

Now, I tend to find that most love triangles are uneven, clearly pushing the reader to prefer one mate, since we can tell that by the end of the trilogy, or quartet, or series, who the heroine will undoubtedly be picking. For a change, though, I found both romantic interests to be incredibly compelling. They’re both fairly likeable, but with enough of flaws to remind you they’re “real” – it’s difficult to weigh Ro and Lucas against each other. Icons’s fascinating plots unravels from Dol’s perspective, with interesting material (like autopsy reports and revolutionary propaganda) wedged between chapters. A fun and refreshing read, I would recommend Margaret Stohl’s new series to anyone looking for a dystopian read this summer.
(less)

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Apr 25, 2013 Julie-anne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Dol lives in the countryside with Ro and some other survivors. Survivors from when the Lords landed and the Icons dropped - no one has seen the Lords or know why they're here, no one knows the purpose behind the Icons. But Dol and Ro, along with Lucas and Tima, were all born on the exact same day and they all survived The Day ..... for a reason.

I really enjoyed this new YA from Margaret Stohl. Having only ever read a short story by her, this was my first time to see her world and character build...more

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Apr 23, 2013 Valentina rated it 2 of 5 stars

I wanted to like this; I really did. It sounded like such a good story, I mean, aliens and a post-apocalyptic world? Fabulous. Sadly, though the premise is good, the story falls quite short.
The main issue is the pacing. This book is SLOW. I know that when you have a bit of world-building to do the pacing will slow down, but throughout the whole book it doesn’t feel like much happens until the last sixty pages or so. For a YA book, this is not good. It doesn’t help that the characters themselves...more

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Apr 23, 2013 Jen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Icons is an excellent novel full of 'big feels' Icons is based primarily on fear. Humans live in a post-invasion world were the the aliens only deal with the Ambassadors and can wipe out entire cities with a single pulse. The cities are remnants of the some of the most inhabited cities in the world. The landscape, described in vivid detail, is a character all its own.

The story follows Dol a grass girl who leads a simple life away from the Hole, what used to be Los Angeles. Dol is not a normal te...more

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Apr 14, 2013 Susan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Icons
A YA dystopian novel by Margaret Stohl of Beautiful creature’s fame. This was without a doubt a book that stands own its own merit, it has no familiarity to any other book in this genre, and it is well thought out, well written and extremely readable.
I really enjoyed this book, it took a little while to relate to the characters, and as yet we still don’t fully understand just how special Dol, Ro, Tima and Lucas are, but that does not matter, because I have been swept along on an adventure t...more

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Apr 10, 2013 Alice Liu rated it 4 of 5 stars

In a post-alien invasion apocalyptic future, there is no need for the aliens to show their faces. Fear of further change, makes people perpetuate the same horrors on each other and the aliens need only sit back and enjoy the show. Dolly and her cohorts are immune to the Icons that have killed over one billion humans. There are secrets and conspiracies that they uncover, and the book is peppered with creepy official directives and memos. The story moves along nicely, but it is a bit like droplets...more

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Jun 01, 2013 Alexa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Dol and Ro, two teenagers closer than close, find themselves at the heart of a conspiracy they know nothing about, at the will of alien invaders and human traitors.

Firstly, this is an extremely clever and unique idea. The "Lords"--the aliens--have been seen by no one and scarcely make an appearance in this book; I think this sets the book apart, in that the enemy is not the invaders as of yet. In every major city, there is something called an Icon--though I am still not completely clear on what...more Dol and Ro, two teenagers closer than close, find themselves at the heart of a conspiracy they know nothing about, at the will of alien invaders and human traitors.

Firstly, this is an extremely clever and unique idea. The "Lords"--the aliens--have been seen by no one and scarcely make an appearance in this book; I think this sets the book apart, in that the enemy is not the invaders as of yet. In every major city, there is something called an Icon--though I am still not completely clear on what it is, other than an extremely powerful transmitter of energy. The Icons, in some cases, killed entire cities. They help control the remaining humanity and ensure that humans cooperate and obey, because they cannot survive otherwise. Well, mostly: some live on their own, at their own risk, and they are called the Grass. Sometimes, Grass people are taken into the cities against their will and used as slaves in the Projects, or huge factories that produce, well, no one knows.

The world building is very in-depth and well thought-out. I found it a bit complicated, in the beginning, but that is to be expected. The juxtaposition of the Mission--Dol and Ro's home--and the Embassy--the link between the Lords and the people--is interesting. Class differences and slang are also used well.

On to characters.

It is clear, almost from the beginning, that Dol and Ro are different. What they are revealed to be--Icon Children--is so creative to me, and I love the idea. I also love Dol and Ro's relationship; it's sweet, overwhelming, and warm.

Then we meet Tima and Lucas, two other very important people. Tima, I almost did not comprehend; she was either extremely complex or badly characterized. Lucas, to be honest, was not my favorite at all. I found him whiny, inconsistent, immature, selfish, and manipulative. I do not like him as a love interest at all, and I don't like him as a person. He's just not likable, no matter how much he "wants to be loved."

However, there are really great characters too. Doc, the computer who loves jokes and always has a sassy retort. Fortis, an ambiguous character who remarks on everything as if it's just a change in the weather. They provide great comic relief.

The roles that these characters play, especially the Icon Children, are fantastic. And creative! So cool. I just love it. And the interplay of Ro, Dol, Lucas, and Tima is great. You scarcely ever see a small team of people working towards a common goal in YA--it is almost always one person or one joined with a larger group--so it was refreshing.

The plot, I liked. Sometimes the characters made poor decisions--cough, cough, Lucas--but it was well planned. It moves slowly, but in a way that doesn't make you realize nothing is actually happening. The ending was, in a different way, unclear, but I like that somehow.

Overall, I would recommend the book. It is a unique read. However, I only liked it; it didn't inspire a fever in me, and I don't know if I will continue the series. (less)

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May 21, 2013 Celeste_pewter rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Two-second recap: After finding international success as one of the co-writers of The Beautiful Creatures series, Margaret Stohl has written an intriguing, solo debut novel about an ordinary girl finding her destiny in the aftermath of an alien invasion.

***

Full review:

After several years of vampires, angels and demons, and mermaids flooding the YA market, it seems like this will be the year of the alien.

In the next several months, books like Demitria Lunetta’s book:In the After|16075990] and...more

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May 30, 2013 Katheryn rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

So I was a little nervous about what the co-author of such a brilliant YA series could bring on her own. I mean, how can you top, or equal, Beautiful Creatures? To me, it'd be hard. So when Margaret Stohl announced Icons, I HAD to read it. And I did. Oh DID I!
At first I found it a little...slow, but sometimes that's natural. You're learning about the characters, etc. I had ultimately read the first few chapters online when they were released, so I got an idea if I'd like this. I did. Well, I di...more So I was a little nervous about what the co-author of such a brilliant YA series could bring on her own. I mean, how can you top, or equal, Beautiful Creatures? To me, it'd be hard. So when Margaret Stohl announced Icons, I HAD to read it. And I did. Oh DID I!
At first I found it a little...slow, but sometimes that's natural. You're learning about the characters, etc. I had ultimately read the first few chapters online when they were released, so I got an idea if I'd like this. I did. Well, I did and I didn't.

The only thing I didn't like so much was that I wasn't quite so...attached to the characters as I get with most books I like. Other than that, the storyline, plot, dialogue, interaction...all great. I wanted to find out what these people were, what they were made for. Dol was a good character, and I liked that she can read peoples emotions. I had no idea upon starting this, that there would be "powers" involved. I thought it was just a typical dystopian with alien spaceships taking over the world. Boy was I wrong!

There's more to it than meets the eye, and I think that's what intrigued me to read more. And more. Until, oh woops, the end. I just... Ro. RO! Poor boy needs a freaking hug! Lucas was great, yeah. Sure. Every hot Ambassador son is gonna be interesting. But RO! Seriously, he's just...angry all the time, and Dol is the only one who can settle him. And then she goes and does...

No spoilers.

So anyway, the dot thing on their wrists confused me a bit, and other than each having 1, 2, 3, and 4 dots, I still don't understand it. But hopefully, maybe, that'll be more explained in the sequel, which I've been told is out next Spring. Great. So we have like, another year to go. Woopee. *taps nails with impatience*

I couldn't tell if there was a love triangle in this, or whether it just...seemed like there was. Because you have Ro, and him and Dol seem pretty close. But it's hard to get a hold on their...relationship status, as it were. Then other people come into play and I'm left thinking..."what the hell?!" with the drama. Ha.

My favourite character has to be the "Merk" Fortis. He was brilliant! Now, I'm not sure if he was supposed to be "British" or if the way of his speak was...i dunno, for fun. But either way, I liked his style. He was fun, quirky, brave, snarky. I mean...Just all around. And what was more, he wasn't even a main character, he had no main lead, yet he was like...stealing the spotlight. When he was on, I just couldn't look at the others. I cheered whenever he came on the page. Yes. Cheered. I love underdogs.
Tima is a nice bit of conflict and the gradual respect she and Dol gain for each other after a while, even if they're not buddies, is admiring to say the least. I found myself torn between like and dislike for Tima, because she just acted really...annoying? In some parts. Maybe that's just me.

I need to find out who or what the Icons are. And how they can control everyone. It's one of those things where...some detail was given, but just enough to keep you wondering and now I'm left both intrigued and confused. But in a good way...I think.

Over all, a nice new series and I'm not usually down with the whole "alien" scenario things, but I seem to be reading a few of them lately. Maybe they're becoming more popular, but all I can say is you should DEFINITELY check this one out!(less)

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May 12, 2013 Isamlq rated it 3 of 5 stars

2.5-3/5

It’s the last quarter of ICONS that is its saving grace. But dear lord! Getting to that bit was difficult. Now, let me lay things out as simply as I can: There’s Dol and there’s Ro. We don’t quite know who they are or what they are to each other, but neither is it clear to them (to Dol especially), but it’s implied that somehow, somewhere they’re something different, something special. In between, we’ve got these super secret texts between so-and-so, revealing what kind of world they live...more 2.5-3/5

It’s the last quarter of ICONS that is its saving grace. But dear lord! Getting to that bit was difficult. Now, let me lay things out as simply as I can: There’s Dol and there’s Ro. We don’t quite know who they are or what they are to each other, but neither is it clear to them (to Dol especially), but it’s implied that somehow, somewhere they’re something different, something special. In between, we’ve got these super secret texts between so-and-so, revealing what kind of world they live in. And it’s not a pretty one. It’s post Day, and they live in a world controlled by the Lords through an Embassy and a people of Sympas. But it all begged the question: who were these kids to them?

We find this out slowly because in the mean time, we slog through passage after passage of her being him and him being her and ‘all of them being so-and-so’… and me slowly but surely losing ~~my mind! My patience?!~~ my interest. But it’s with the sudden entry of a boy who’s different but not really, that things shake up. My main issue there after is difficult it became to buy into anything that was happening, as each character felt so little developed to me. Bad guy was bad guy, mysterious guy was mysterious and scary/crazy girl was scary/crazy. There’s simply this convenience to how everyone kept popping out of nowhere and falling into place. A lot like Scooby Doo and his gang, you know? Scooby and tall hairy dude must solve some mystery? Don’t fret there’s always this other dude who comes out of nowhere to explain how things are and what needs doing!

Yet another inexplicable thing: the ease by which connections were made,( and I’m not just talking instant love here). Convenient. It all felt convenient how he’s there and she could do this, and she just knew, so why the hell not? Then due to some disaster, they’re caught but due to some other convenience there’s another ‘presto’ moment.

In between the I am sorrow and he is rage and I am him and he is me things going on, I will say that Stohl’s built a pretty interesting world of Icon Children and Icons, Sympas and the Grass, Sympas and Remnants, and embassies in Silent Cities… except instead of ICONS feeling like a new different YA with an alien vibe? All it felt like was same old same old, just another post apoc/ dystopian. I’ve read way too much of the same of people under control, wanting out from under it, just needing someone to light a fire under them to get things going. And it did get going… eventually, like maybe three quarters in. But it is because of said quarter that I’m still picking up the next one.

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May 03, 2013 Diayll rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Dystopian fans, Fans of novels with a "different" feel

Shelves: arc

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/Writer
Rating: 5 Controllers
Review Source: Publisher
Reviewer: Me

ICONS was an EPIC hit for me! I don’t know if it’s because I’ve been stuck in a romance/paranormal rut or because I just freaking love aliens, but I loved it. Read it in a day and a half. And then decided to re-read it to see if I felt the same emotional high. Thankfully, I did. Honestly, I had no clue how this book would turn out, nor what to expect from the characters. So I dove in, wide-eyed an...more Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/Writer
Rating: 5 Controllers
Review Source: Publisher
Reviewer: Me

ICONS was an EPIC hit for me! I don’t know if it’s because I’ve been stuck in a romance/paranormal rut or because I just freaking love aliens, but I loved it. Read it in a day and a half. And then decided to re-read it to see if I felt the same emotional high. Thankfully, I did. Honestly, I had no clue how this book would turn out, nor what to expect from the characters. So I dove in, wide-eyed and patient. And let the narrative take me away. After the first chapter, I was HOOKED. DROWNED. Submerged by the connection between the main characters and the world they lived in. Most often, I was shocked, in love, teary-eyed, and over-the-moon. Every word breathed onto the pages drew me in and kept me there until I finished. And it is a looooong book. But gosh it was so WORTH it!

This novel is told from Dol’s perspective. Though it is mostly about Dol, we also glimpse into the lives of Ro, Tima and Lucas. Each teenager is identifiable and very well written. At no point did I feel one character out shined the other. Each character had their own personal hardships and it was easy for me to fall in love with them for their personalities, struggles, and their constant need to survive. And how each chose to survive. Some made decisions that broke my heart and made me want to curl into a ball and cry myself to sleep. Others made decisions I loathed. But, I still rooted for them. Cheered them on until the last sentence. This shows the authors true talent. Making someone love characters they should hate, and root for two people to be together who shouldn’t, is an amazing feat. And yes, there is a LOVE TRIANGLE. One that I actually cared for, though I’m still not certain which fantastic boy I want to win the girl. Both Ro and Lucas are great in their own way. Though Ro is just so dang beautiful on the inside. Neither is the “typical” swoon worthy character but in this type of setting and with their upbringing, it works in their favor. There is nothing I would change about them, and you’ll see why if you read it.

Overall, I HIGHLY recommend ICONS to anyone looking for a Dystopian fix with a different style of characters. They are awkward at times, but they are lovable complex teenagers trying to survive in an unlivable world. The novel is VERY different. Rough around the edges with its own unique spark. Make sure you buy this one when it comes out May 7th. Trust me, you won’t regret it!
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About Margaret Stohl

Margaret Stohl is the #1 New York Times, PW, USA Today, LA Times and Internationally bestselling co-author of the BEAUTIFUL CREATURES NOVELS (Fall 2009-2012) and author of THE ICONS SERIES (Spring, 2013.)

From the author:

Goodreads Peeps! Please note I no longer review the books on my shelf, "stars"-wise. I do list books I read, and they're all automatically marked as 5 stars. That's because a) I d...more Margaret Stohl is the #1 New York Times, PW, USA Today, LA Times and Internationally bestselling co-author of the BEAUTIFUL CREATURES NOVELS (Fall 2009-2012) and author of THE ICONS SERIES (Spring, 2013.)

From the author:

Goodreads Peeps! Please note I no longer review the books on my shelf, "stars"-wise. I do list books I read, and they're all automatically marked as 5 stars. That's because a) I don't list books that I didn't like enough to finish and b) I didn't want to delete the ratings I had already given. If I particularly love a book and feel inclined to comment, you'll still see the comments here. Sadly, I have to ask: please don't reproduce these comments on book jackets, websites, or in any other medium for the marketing of books. They're only meant for fellow goodreaders. Thanks so much!

ABOUT ME:

Writing has gotten me in and out of trouble since I was 15 (back then, mostly just in trouble.) For 10 years, I designed &/or wrote for lots of video games, one of which was nominated for “Most Innovative Game Design,” but I lost to a rapping onion. If you know games you get why my two bad beagles are named Zelda and Kirby.

School: I spent more years in it than a person ever should, because let’s face it, reading books is so much better than having a job. I fell in love with American literature at Amherst and Yale, earned an MA in English from Stanford, and studied creative writing under the late great poet George MacBeth at the University of East Anglia, Norwich. I taught Intro to Film as a TA at Yale and Romantic Poetry as a TA at Stanford. Don’t tell the people at Yale but sometimes I taught the section before I’d seen the movie it was about...

I live in Santa Monica, CA, with my family, most of whom were enslaved into working with me in one form or another on my first YA book for Little, Brown. I’m not kidding; when my daughters wanted to go to school I said “Why are you so selfish? Get back in there and edit,” and by said I mean yelled and maybe threw things, it’s all a haze. Now the Beautiful series has wrapped, but you can see the movie on February 13, 2013 or read my new book ICONS on May 7th. Nothing gold can stay, Ponyboy.

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Books by Margaret Stohl

Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles, #1)

Icons FREE PREVIEW Edition (First 6 Chapters)

Beautiful Darkness (Caster Chronicles, #2)

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Quotes from Icons

“I am powerful because of who and what I am. Not because of who I am not.” — 8 people liked it

“Furo Costas. The Rager. You, my friend, are an imbecile. You could have killed me twenty times, on the Tracks. I'm surprised you're not dead."
Ro shrugs, happily. It's nothing he hasn't heard before, and nothing he doesn't see as a compliment.” — 1 person liked it

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