The Incandescent by Emily Tesh is the dark academia novel I didn’t know I was waiting for. Not because it’s dripping in shadows and secrets (though it is), but because it hands the narrative reins to someone we rarely hear from in these magical school stories: the adult in the room.

Dr. Walden, Director of Magic at Chetwood Academy, is not your usual brooding, brilliant student protagonist. She’s a mid-thirties academic, painfully competent, quietly awkward, and methodically unraveling magical disasters like it’s her job—because it is. And for once in fantasy, it’s not the teen heroes saving the day while the professors conveniently vanish into plot holes. Walden shows up, and watching her navigate bureaucracy, demonic incursions, and her own emotional landscape is weirdly riveting.

This book has the bones of classic fantasy—demons, secret knowledge, arcane history—but it’s clothed in something much more grounded. Think faculty meetings and spellwork, gothic buildings with bad plumbing, magical theory next to mundane course loads. It’s the kind of realism that makes the magic feel all the more earned.

Tesh brings an elegant, dry wit to her writing, and Walden’s perspective offers a refreshing, nuanced critique of academia from the inside. This isn’t your typical chosen-one story… it’s about power, responsibility, institutional rot, and the subtle emotional weight of being a woman in her late 30s trying to keep it all together. The fact that Walden is allowed to be messy, self-reflective, and not have it all figured out is a quiet act of rebellion against the usual tropes.

Narrator Zara Ramm is a perfect match for the character, her voice adds warmth and just enough edge to Walden’s inner monologue. It made the audiobook a joy to listen to and deepened the already richly textured prose.

In short: if you’ve ever rolled your eyes at magical schools where the teens outsmart every adult or if you’re simply craving a fantasy that feels like it grew up a little, The Incandescent is for you. Sharp, thoughtful, and grounded in the real-world logistics of running a magical institution, it’s easily one of the most original takes on the genre I’ve read.

I enjoyed this book very much. Though I was more into the day to day of managing a magical school, and the struggles that come with it. The parts that I didn’t quite enjoy involves a certain male character that is introduced like 30% into the book. I could see red flags coming for miles, and was just stumped the MC, with as smart as she is, did not notice once until it was too late. Other than that, maybe the story would have benefited from having a dual POV with one of the teenagers featured. Overall, I wish we had more time in this world, it was rich and the magic system was interesting. I wanted to study the relationship between the demons and the magical worlds a bit more. Kind of sad it is a stand alone.

It reminded me a bit of The Scholomance by Naomi Novik in that they both really put some thought into the world. Emily Tesh gets better with every book :)

I fell in love with the writing style as soon as the audiobook started. The descriptions and the narrative voice were captivating and I just could not put the book down. On my first listen I went through a whole third in one sitting!
I found the characterization of every character very strong, especially for a main character. She definitely felt like a real person and in fact reminded me of some of my favourite highschool professors. This book made me realize that I do not often read about mature MCs and this is a mistake that I will strive to correct immediately,
You can tell that Doctor Walden cares so much about her students and about the school as a whole, it is truly heartwarming. I really connected with her,
The audiobook was very high quality too. The narrator did a great job and the audiobook was very engaging.

ARC Review of The Incandescent by Emily Tesh

I read an ARC copy from NetGalley and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I LOVED this book, I couldnt put it down, and that is not surprising because I also loved her other book Some Desperate Glory which is also 5 stars.
This book has everything, the atmosphere, the intrigue, the best main character and shes 38 which is almost my age and I loved that a lot instead of another teen or 20 something MC.
AND that twist at the end I should have seen coming but I didnt, Im going to tell everyone to read this. Where can I buy a beautiful special edition for my collection?
Also, the audiobook was fantastic, I just sank into it. 5 stars!

Absolutely hilarious. A must read for any teachers who love fantasy.

Those of us who always really wanted to teach at a magic school but just can’t find the right job listings may be reconsidering that desire after reading The Incandescent.
I strongly suspect Emily Tesh must be a teacher, because the accuracy of some of the jokes in here was just too fantastic! I laughed out loud multiple times, and have already leant it to a colleague at my school.

The characters were well rounded and wonderful, I really loved how Doctor Walden used her own life experiences to help her students, and her humour was absolutely perfect.
The world building was fun and fed well into the story, slowly unveiling itself as the plot developed, and what a plot it was. I loved the twists and turns as day to day life at the school devolved into disaster, and was totally gripped.

The narrator was flawless and really added to the story. I found myself drawn in by the way she portrayed Walden particularly and helped give life to this already vibrant character.

Overall, I absolutely loved The Incandescent and can’t wait to read more by Emily Tesh in the future!

The Incandescent was empowering, mystical and unique. Imagine Harry Potter but from the professor's POV. Set in a modern London, this magical surrealism novel takes you on a journey following a very powerful professor who is independent, self-aware and incredibly selfless. The audio narration is beautifully done and truthfully made the experience for me. I would recommend this to lovers of Blood Over Bright Haven.

I am DNF'ing this book 75% of the way through. The pacing was just off. The tension didn't stay consistent, and after the kids were saved in the first act, I felt like the whole book was done, and then I had to keep reading? Furthermore, this was billed to me as a sapphic romance, but 75% through, the love interest has barely appeared. I don't feel like I know her at all.

I really wanted to love this book, but it's just not working for me. I needed more consistency with the tension, and better development with the characters. I liked the premise, but it just fell flat.

The Incandescent is a truly unique fantasy novel. Even as it is magic focused, Tesh is able to capture the feeling of being a teacher and the feeling of surprising romance. Every character feels real, and, even as the setting a distinct departure from Tesh’s Greenhollow Duology, the yearning undertone of her writing is present and makes the work really shine.

Dark academia at its finest! I went back and forth from the physical book to the audiobook and it made for a great experience! I’m a huge fan of Harry Potter so this was very entertaining with a simple enough world-building element. I loved Dr. Walden and her no-nonsense mentality.

I really enjoyed this book, and it may become of of my top books of 2025.

Adult women are so rarely featured in fantasy. They tend to fade into the background. This book did a great job of representing an under represented demographic, and I ate it up.

I listened to the audiobook, and I loved it. The vibes were immaculate, but I am looking forward to buying a print copy! Both to keep on my shelf, and to reread the bits I loved!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ALC.

Dark academia isn't normally my cup of tea but this was so good!! I liked the slower pace and the way that the story just flowed. I enjoyed Saphire as a character and found her interactions with her students and the other staff to feel genuine and enduring. I did have to get myself to stop giggling every time Old Faithful's name was brought up but that's a me problem and after a while I got used to it in relation to a demon and not the place that I visit every fall. The second half of the book was a bit predictable at times but I really don't feel that it took away from the overall enjoyment of the book. This is one I will definitely go back for a re read at some point.

The Incandescent
By Emily Tesh
Narrated by Zara Ramm
4 ⭐️

I’m 10/10 in love with the concept of this book. A 38 year old, academic professor to her core, suddenly finds herself dipping her toes into dating for the first time in a decade or so, straddling the line of what it means to be 40 professionally and personally, and balancing her confidence in her intellect with her social insecurities. I am here allll day for this. Overall, I had a good time with this book. The first third of it kind of meanders around building what it means to be a professor and student at this prestigious magician boarding school. The middle third is where the romance entanglements come to play. And, the third is where most of the main plot lives. For anyone who adores dark academia, go in with tempered expectations. I’d call this “academia goes awry” more than dark academia myself. Still a worthwhile read but likely won’t end up being what you’re thinking of when you see the description. The audiobook was a solid listen. I thought Ramm did great. They kept me in the story throughout.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Emily Tesh, and Macmillan audio for this audiobook ARC.

This book had incredible writing. Emily Tesh is very talented at writing atmospheric books where you feel immersed in the setting and story. I also loved the narration and found it fit with Tesh's writing style exceptionally well.

I enjoyed this a lot, though it is most definitely not a “sapphic dark academia fantasy” as described.

The romantic subplot isn’t a big driver of the narrative, which was fine by me as I’m not a fan of Romance, but something to know depending on why you might be interested in the book.

It’s also more Light Academia than Dark, despite the demons figuring centrally to the story. I wish this had been labeled more accurately by its publisher, but the product is still a good one.

What I really loved about this is the tone, sharp and a bit flippant, very academic and consistent with the setting. This is a well-rendered campus novel of sorts. A fantastical campus to be sure, but one that I think will resonate with readers who love the setting and atmosphere of a school and the academic tone and content that goes with it.

The story also has a solidly imagined and written magical system, and I loved the magi-academic discussions of it between the characters.

Amazing. 5/5 Stars. I loved the atmosphere of this book, and the characters. The characters were so likable even though they were flawed, which was so nice to see. I think the romance had an amazing pace and felt so right for the way those two were portrayed and I was rooting for them the whole book. I loved how it switched perspective when it came to the phoenix, it felt like such a creative way to show that it wasn’t our regular main character, but like it was pretending to be. I didn’t want to stop reading.

Review: The Incandescent by Emily Tesh

The Incandescent is a thoughtful, introspective dark academia fantasy that turns its gaze not on the students of a magical school, but on the faculty. At its center is Doctor Walden, a brilliant and flawed professor whose internal monologue forms the beating heart of the novel. Tesh builds a magic system that is rich and detailed, yet wisely refrains from letting world-building overshadow character work.

I loved how much of the story lives in Doctor Walden's mind. Her reflections-on teaching, duty, loneliness, and aging-give the book a philosophical weight that lingers long after the last page. Tesh writes with what feels like lived experience when it comes to the complexities of teaching, particularly the emotional labor involved. There's a sense that Tesh knows what it's like to be responsible for young people's growth while being quietly unraveled by your own unspoken griefs.

Doctor Walden is not always the most likable, but she is compelling. We see her pride, her fatigue, her fierce protectiveness of her students, and her slow, vulnerable attempts at connection. The narrative doesn't ask us to forgive her flaws; it just lets us see them clearly, and from that clarity, empathy follows.

This is a rich, memorable read. I’d recommend The Incandescent to anyone who enjoys a magical school setting but is more interested in the inner lives of the adults than the escapades of students.

Thank you to Net Galley, Tor Books, and the author for providing me with this ARC in exchange for a review.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook.

While I'm not a posh bi Director of Magic and teacher of advanced Invocation at an English boarding school, I am a high school teacher and so many moments in Dr. Walden's thoughts in The Incandescent resonated with me and made me laugh. Imps don't possess my students' cell phones but the phones are still a nuisance! Students' education and safety are our top priorities. They sometimes remember us, but yes, so often they mostly forget us. And whether it's magic or math, formal observations go neatly into a professional development folder and are never referred to again.

Being Director of Magic at Chetwood School, of course, means Dr. Walden has many administrative responsibilities beyond meeting with new teachers and preparing students for exams. She's responsible for the school's magical wards and precautions that protect Chetwood's students from demonic incursions and possessions -- demons love technology and the wild magic that teens are brimming with. She's a great magician and great at her job, but as someone who works with teenagers knows, teenagers will always try to find a way around the rules. As the threat of demonic incursions rises, Dr. Walden must come to terms with her own shortcomings.

Zara Ramm was a great narrator, bringing to life Dr. Walden's dry British humor and view on the world. I was immediately hooked by The Incandescent, and it did not disappoint throughout.

There were genuinely moments in this where I thought it could be a new favourite. I love the system with the demons, I love the introspection of a clever person who got into academia and teaching because they truly love the kids and what they're doing and is constantly striving for the very best for their students all while taking an active role in their decision-making and not becoming complacent with how things are.

Unfortunately I think that's where my praises end. I found the ultimate directions and conclusions to sap my interest and investment, the characters and their relationships to simplify, the world-building to lessen, the narration to spell things out too much (often making me question how much this falls into YA prose and nuance).

The queer rep was good. Phoenix on the cover was kinda neat.

Thank you Macmillian Audio and Netgalley for the ARC!

Have you read the Incandescent by Emily Tesh? If not, and you're a fan of dark academia, then you're missing out!

If you have been longing for a book that has a magic school setting, a really cool bisexual headmaster, demons, snarky teenagers, and people making choices that have long-term consequences, then this is the book for you!

This book is an actual critique of academia and the system, how it is racist, classists, and corrupt. It shows how it puts too much on teachers, lacks support for students, and is designed to keep people out. Throughout this book we get to see the FMC actual struggle with the systems within the academia system and try to support her students while dealing with that. I loved how it was a love letter to those who love dark academia while being a critique of the system itself.

In addition, the magic system was so cool, the characters were complex and mostly lovable, and we got to see the everyday decisions of the FMC. I mean yeah, she had to battle demons but she also has paperwork and lesson plans to write.

Seriously, y'all gotta check this one out.

Thank you Macmillian Audio and Netgalley for the ARC! Copy of the book photographed here is the Goldsboro edition, bought with my own money.


Ahh, this was such a breath of fresh air.

The book was enjoyable loved reading about a bisexual character in her 30’s the ending was a bit of a letdown but hopefully there will be another book to finish the love story.