10 Best Books Like The Incandescent
If you loved The Incandescent by Emily Tesh, here are the most similar books our readers recommend.
Quick Answer
The best books like The Incandescent are:
- 1The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon0
- 2Beg The Night by Emily Blackwood4.1
- 3The Witcher: The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski0
- 4Jade City by Fonda Lee0#1
- 5City in Chains by Harry Turtledove4.1
- 6Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett4.3#1
- 7The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie4.5Series starter
- 8The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch4.5#1
- 9Uprooted by Naomi Novik0
- 10The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden0#1
When Doctor Walden, the powerful Director of Magic at England's prestigious Chetwood School, begins consuming magic in ways that blur the line between human and demon, she faces a terrifying possibility. As demonic incursions threaten her school's ancient boundaries and six hundred students, Walden must confront whether the greatest danger to everything she's sworn to protect might be herself. A dark sapphic fantasy where the monsters outside may be nothing compared to the ones within.
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Detailed Recommendations
by Emily Blackwood
Why you'll love it:
This fantasy shares a dark and seductive tone that will resonate with The Incandescent fans.
Jade City
Green Bone Saga #1 (works standalone)by Fonda Lee
Why you'll love it:
This fantasy shares a brutal but intimate tone that will resonate with The Incandescent fans.
by Harry Turtledove
Why you'll love it:
This fantasy shares a gritty but hopeful tone that will resonate with The Incandescent fans.
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries
Emily Wilde #1 (works standalone)by Heather Fawcett
Why you'll love it:
This fantasy shares a cozy yet dangerous tone that will resonate with The Incandescent fans.
The Blade Itself
Start of First Law seriesby Joe Abercrombie
Why you'll love it:
This fantasy shares a darkly cynical tone that will resonate with The Incandescent fans.
The Lies of Locke Lamora
Gentleman Bastard #1 (works standalone)by Scott Lynch
Why you'll love it:
This fantasy shares a witty but brutal tone that will resonate with The Incandescent fans.
by Naomi Novik
Why you'll love it:
This fantasy shares a atmospheric and grounding tone that will resonate with The Incandescent fans.
The Bear and the Nightingale
Winternight #1 (works standalone)by Katherine Arden
Why you'll love it:
This fantasy shares a haunting and atmospheric tone that will resonate with The Incandescent fans.
Quick Comparison: Books Like The Incandescent
| Book | Author | Rating | Year | Pages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Priory of the Orange Tree | Samantha Shannon | 0 | 2019 | — | Closest match |
| Beg The Night | Emily Blackwood | 4.1 | 2025 | 350 | Similar vibes |
| The Witcher: The Last Wish | Andrzej Sapkowski | 0 | — | — | Similar vibes |
| Jade City | Fonda Lee | 0 | 2017 | — | Similar vibes |
| City in Chains | Harry Turtledove | 4.1 | 2025 | 328 | Similar vibes |
| Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries | Heather Fawcett | 4.3 | 2023 | 335 | Similar vibes |
| The Blade Itself📚 Series starter | Joe Abercrombie | 4.5 | 2009 | 624 | Start a new series |
| The Lies of Locke Lamora | Scott Lynch | 4.5 | 2006 | 752 | Similar vibes |
| Uprooted | Naomi Novik | 0 | — | — | Similar vibes |
| The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden | 0 | 2020 | — | Similar vibes |
Authors Who Write Like Emily Tesh
If you enjoy Emily Tesh's writing style, explore these similar authors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What books are most similar to The Incandescent?
The most similar books to The Incandescent are The Priory of the Orange Tree, Beg The Night, The Witcher: The Last Wish.
What should I read after The Incandescent?
After finishing The Incandescent, readers most commonly pick up The Priory of the Orange Tree next.
Who writes books like Emily Tesh?
Authors similar to Emily Tesh include Jessica Townsend, Lisa McMann, Jasper Fforde, Erin Hunter, Andrew Peterson.
What genre is The Incandescent?
The Incandescent is a Fantasy novel by Emily Tesh, published in 2025. It features elements of Magic, Dark Academia.
How long is The Incandescent?
The Incandescent is 432 pages long.
About The Incandescent
Naomi Novik's Scholomance series meets Plain Bad Heroines in this sapphic dark academia fantasy by instant national and international bestselling author Emily Tesh, winner of the Hugo and World Fantasy Awards."Look at you, eating magic like you're one of us."Doctor Walden is the Director of Magic at Chetwood School and one of the most powerful magicians in England. Her days consist of meetings, teaching A-Level Invocation to four talented, chaotic sixth formers, more meetings, and securing the school's boundaries from demonic incursions.Walden is good at her job―no, Walden is great at her job. But demons are masters of manipulation. It’s her responsibility to keep her school with its six hundred students and centuries-old legacy safe. And it’s possible the entity Walden most needs to keep her school safe from―is herself.