The Incandescent
BOOK BY Emily Tesh
Naomi Novik's Scholomance series meets Plain Bad Heroines in this sapphic dark academia fantasy by instant national and international bestselling author Emily Tesh, winner of the Hugo and World Fantasy Awards. "Look at you, eating magic like you're one of us." Doctor Walden is the Director of Magic at Chetwood Academy and one of the most powerful magicians in England. Her days consist of meetings, teaching A-Level Invocation to four talented, chaotic sixth formers, more meetings, and securing the school's boundaries from demonic incursions. Walden is good at her job?no, Walden is great at her job. But demons are masters of manipulation. It’s her responsibility to keep her school with its six hundred students and centuries-old legacy safe. And it’s possible the entity Walden most needs to keep her school safe from?is herself. A notable aspect of this book is its attention to detail without becoming overly dense. Descriptions are used selectively to enhance atmosphere and context, rather than slow the story down. This allows readers to visualize key moments clearly while still maintaining narrative momentum. Such balance is often difficult to achieve, making this work particularly effective. The story benefits from its well-defined structure, which helps maintain momentum throughout. Each section contributes to the larger narrative arc, ensuring that the story feels purposeful. This structural clarity enhances readability and overall enjoyment.