1.23k reviews for:

The Incandescent

Emily Tesh

4.17 AVERAGE

kyber_ghost's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

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I was really excited to read this, but it didn't live up to my expectations. In reality, I rate this 3.5 stars. Spoilers ahead!

The plot twist about Mark was fairly predictable. From the moment he's introduced as an "insufferable wanker," I was apprehensive of him being a character without ulterior motives. And the fact that he's meant to be Laura's replacement? Not a plus.

Also? Laura leaving after what, 12 chapters? Totally unfair. Definitely wanted to see more of her. I'm glad she came back at the end, but I needed more of her and Safftly to really believe in their interactions and interests in each other.

cahypa's review against another edition

4.0

mysterious reflective medium-paced

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

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Even though they’re both very different books, I often found myself comparing this book to Some Desperate Glory. I think I liked SDG more because there was strong character development and the plot/themes were more interesting to me. 
 
The Incandescent felt… dryer, slower, more adult, had lower stakes

(even though people could’ve died multiple times).

I almost dropped it after reading 1/3 of the way through. I became a lot more invested

during the Old Faithful fight

. The payoff at the end after all the world and tension building was mildly satisfying. I wish there was more with Laura, more info about how magic integrates into their lives, and more time with the phoenix. 

The narrator for the audiobook was great! :)

raneyc's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional hopeful 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

laranela's review against another edition

3.25

adventurous dark medium-paced

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

peachy_reads's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous informative mysterious 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

laurenseeto's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous emotional mysterious 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

leonorvm's review against another edition

4.75

dark emotional funny slow-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

charmj's review against another edition

2.0

slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

katiew5's review against another edition

4.75

dark funny hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

tea_and_naps's review against another edition

2.5

adventurous medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Eh, this was just ok. The romance subplot had a lot of page time, putting this in the fantasy romance for me. If it wasn't so poorly done and juvenile I wouldn't have minded. Story is pretty pedestrian. 

There are some moments of action, but we spend most of the time, about 60%, following a teacher around a magical school, seeing a lot of her day to day, and seeing her interact with her love interests.

The last 60-70% of the book speeds up, but enough enough to save it for me. For being adult, it's written very YA.