Stars and Smoke is another solid addition to Marie Lu's written works. Fans of her previous novels will not be disappointed by this newest series, and newcomers will be drawn in by the polar opposite main characters, tense subterfuge, and slick gadgetry employed by the Panacea group and its agents. You don't have to be a k-pop fan to appreciate Winter Young's character, a global music superstar with a wholesome vibe, supportive team of backup dancers, and yearning to find a deeper meaning in his starstruck life. Contrasted with Sydney Cossette, an undercover agent who is intent on keeping her secrets and personal history under even deeper wraps, they make a wonderfully conflicting team. When they are whisked away to London, readers are launched into a high stakes adventure filled with glamorous parties, dangerous terrorists, and billionaires with dirty secrets tucked behind their philanthropic facades.