THE INCANDESCENT

In this queer dark academia fantasy, narrator Zara Ramm is so committed that it's hard to know where she ends and Chetwood Academy's Director of Magic, Dr. Walden, begins. Walden is a magician in her late 30s, a powerful demon wrangler, and an excellent teacher. She's equally responsible for managing teenage angst in the classroom and keeping the demons that infiltrate campus in check. Walden quickly realizes that she'll require the help of her crush, Laura, if she wants to keep her students safe from the strange moving phoenix tattoo on her arm--a symbol of something lurking within herself. Ramm's narration is like watching a film, conjuring images of demons and humans alike. It's funny, it's dark, and it's some of Ramm's best work. A.A.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2025]