The Incandescent

The Incandescent is a contemporary fantasy novel by Emily Tesh set at Chetwood, a centuries-old English school where magic is part of the curriculum. Doctor Walden is the school's Director of Magic and one of the most powerful magicians in England. Her days are a steady round of meetings and lessons, including advanced invocation classes for a small group of gifted, unruly senior students, all while she keeps the school's boundaries strong against demons trying to break through. She is very good at her job. But demons excel at manipulation, and keeping six hundred students safe may require Walden to look hard at the danger she herself could pose. The novel offers a grown-up take on the magical school story, told from the side of the staff room, and was a 2026 Hugo Award finalist for Best Novel.