The IncandescentThe Incandescent
What it's about
Doctor Walden is a magic teacher at an elite English boarding school, brilliant, overworked and quietly proud of the dangerous magic she once mastered. When a demon she thought she'd dealt with long ago begins to stir, it threatens her students, her career and the one bright pupil she cares about most.
Why it's worth reading
It was a finalist for the Hugo and the Nebula. Emily Tesh, the Hugo winner for Some Desperate Glory, writes a sharp, funny dark academia fantasy about a teacher, not a student.
You'll love it if you liked
Some Desperate Glory
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
BabelGood to know
It's a slow burn with a queer romance. There's demonic horror.
By the numbers
- Readers21 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics43 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller20 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz100 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #248 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #290 of the 481 new books we rank
- #1677 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Epic
More by Emily Tesh
If you like this, read next
Fourth Wing
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Quicksilver
The Tainted Cup
A Drop of Corruption
AlchemisedExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is The Incandescent worth reading?
Yes. It was a finalist for the Hugo and the Nebula. It ranks #1,677 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 66.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Incandescent about?
Doctor Walden is a magic teacher at an elite English boarding school, brilliant, overworked and quietly proud of the dangerous magic she once mastered. When a demon she thought she'd dealt with long ago begins to stir, it threatens her students, her career and the one bright pupil she cares about most.
How long does it take to read The Incandescent?
About 9 hours (368 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Incandescent?
If you liked it, try Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke or Babel by R. F. Kuang.