Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
dark
funny
reflective
slow-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I thoght I would like it. I was interested in it and it just...fell off I feel like. The writing isn't where I was thinking it would be.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm still deciding what I thought of this book overall, but I found it engaging the whole way through.
dark
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“Thank you, teachers” I say as I finish this book.
I loved this concept, and following Dr. Walden, the Director of Magic, was a unique twist on a typical magic school premise. My only qualms were with the pacing and obvious villain.
I loved this concept, and following Dr. Walden, the Director of Magic, was a unique twist on a typical magic school premise. My only qualms were with the pacing and obvious villain.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief
Minor: Religious bigotry
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you thought you'd seen it all when it comes to 'magic school' books, you better think again. The Incandescent is a dark academia fantasy that somehow felt comfortingly nostalgic and uniquely refreshing all at once, and it's just one hell of a fun ride from start to finish.
I mean, the entire plot can basically be summed up as: a snarky, bisexual Director of Magic in her late 30s teaches A-level invocation, plods through bureaucratic nonsense, and protects the school from demons that are attracted to technology. Also, there's a frustratingly stubborn and unfairly attractive butch lesbian Chief Marshal who keeps meddling in her business, and they will have to find a way to work together to protect the school to their best abilities.
Now, the pacing is quite odd, with a big climactic showdown that you'd expect in the final act happening before the halfway point of the book, and then the whole story also just has a bit of a quiet slice of life vibe to it, yet at no point did I find myself bored. I just loved following Saffy so much, especially because is both so competent and brilliant but also relatably flawed and messy (even if she likes to pretend she has everthing totally figured out). Also, she makes even the most mundane events (so far as life at a magical boarding school plagued by demon incursions can get mundane) inexplicably funny with her charmingly deadpan thoughts and comments.
Tesh honestly does a wonderful job of capturing the exhausting drudgery of working in education, the frustrating awkwardness of aging, and the unflattering reality of dating 'past your prime', while also infusing the narrative with equal parts magic, emotion, humour and heart. Moreover, I was pleasantly surprised by how deeply invested I became in these characters in such a (relatively) short time, and much as I appreciate how satisfying this standalone adventure is, I would honestly love to return to this world for more someday.
The Incandescent was just everything I didn't know I needed, and I would highly recommend it if you are in the mood for a fun and refreshing dark academia fantasy with a dollop of demons and a sprinkle of sapphic romance. Also, the audiobook narrator really captured the vibe of the story and the understated humour of these characters so well, so definitely give that a shot if you like audiobooks! What a delight.
I mean, the entire plot can basically be summed up as: a snarky, bisexual Director of Magic in her late 30s teaches A-level invocation, plods through bureaucratic nonsense, and protects the school from demons that are attracted to technology. Also, there's a frustratingly stubborn and unfairly attractive butch lesbian Chief Marshal who keeps meddling in her business, and they will have to find a way to work together to protect the school to their best abilities.
Now, the pacing is quite odd, with a big climactic showdown that you'd expect in the final act happening before the halfway point of the book, and then the whole story also just has a bit of a quiet slice of life vibe to it, yet at no point did I find myself bored. I just loved following Saffy so much, especially because is both so competent and brilliant but also relatably flawed and messy (even if she likes to pretend she has everthing totally figured out). Also, she makes even the most mundane events (so far as life at a magical boarding school plagued by demon incursions can get mundane) inexplicably funny with her charmingly deadpan thoughts and comments.
Tesh honestly does a wonderful job of capturing the exhausting drudgery of working in education, the frustrating awkwardness of aging, and the unflattering reality of dating 'past your prime', while also infusing the narrative with equal parts magic, emotion, humour and heart. Moreover, I was pleasantly surprised by how deeply invested I became in these characters in such a (relatively) short time, and much as I appreciate how satisfying this standalone adventure is, I would honestly love to return to this world for more someday.
The Incandescent was just everything I didn't know I needed, and I would highly recommend it if you are in the mood for a fun and refreshing dark academia fantasy with a dollop of demons and a sprinkle of sapphic romance. Also, the audiobook narrator really captured the vibe of the story and the understated humour of these characters so well, so definitely give that a shot if you like audiobooks! What a delight.