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Cover of A Wild Radiance

A Wild Radiance

by Maria Ingrande Mora

🌶️fade to black·spoiler

Why Read This?

You'll be left with radical hope and a renewed belief in fighting corrupt systems through community and love.

Synopsis

A searing and romantic fantasy adventure about an oligarchic state on the verge of a magical industrial revolution—perfect for fans of Arcane, Wicked , and Iron Widow ! Mora captures the diverse and richly developed world around Josephine—a red-haired girl, who’s “pale as bone” and cued neurodivergent— through lush prose. . . . This fast-paced, romantic, abundantly queer, historical fantasy explores the intertwined pain, fear, joy, and beauty of self-discovery in defiance of oppression from an authoritarian society. Alluring and electrifying magic. —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) An exciting story chock-full of world building, character development, and queer romance, executed with the perfect pacing. . . . Every aspect of the narrative and world is the perfect size for this shining self-contained novel. —Booklist (starred review) Josephine Haven is about to find out exactly where she fits into the march of Progress. Her outbursts are infamous at the House of Industry, the school for children who can wield radiance, an electricity-like magic. She’s tried to follow the rules, but her fiery nature is at odds with the core tenet of the House: Never form attachments. If she is meant to feel nothing, why are her emotions so volatile? No one is surprised when, upon graduation, Josephine is banished from the city to a remote Mission. In Frostbrook, she must work under standoffish Julian, the former golden boy of the House of Industry who seems determined to watch her fail. And then there’s Ezra, the flirtatious stranger who’s a little too curious about how the Mission operates. But there are bigger problems than Julian and Ezra’s secrets. A deadly disease is spreading across the countryside, and in Frostbrook, not everyone is eager to embrace Progress. As Josephine questions the system that raised her—and gives in to desire she’s been taught to suppress—she must decide what she’s willing to sacrifice to expose not just corruption within the House, but the devastating truth about the radiance in her core. An epic and romantic fantasy that reimagines the War of the Currents, A Wild Radiance explodes with the same queer chaotic tension, magical industrialization, and class revolution themes that made Arcane a #1 Netflix sensation. Perfect for readers who love Queerplatonic and Poly Relationships, Anti-Capitalism, Hurt/Comfort, Sunshine/Grump/Gremlin Dynamics, Messy Exes, and Fantasy Road Trips!

At a Glance

4.32 ★ Goodreads
Spice Level🌶️fade to black
Endingspoiler
PairingWHY CHOOSE / REVERSE HAREM
Romance Pacingslow burn

Top Tropes

bet/wager romancehidden past revealedroad trip romance

Mood

romanticadventurousdarkhopefulemotional

Book Details

Goodreads Rating

4.32 ★

Page Count

368 pages

Published

2026

Primary Genre

Young Adult

Pairing

WHY CHOOSE / REVERSE HAREM

POV

First Person

Romance Pacing

Slow Burn

Audiobook

Available

Yes

Format

Standard

Narrator

Unknown Narrator

Narrator Count

Single

Tropes

RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

Mood

sign in to see writing style, pacing & more

Characters

FMC: reluctant hero sign in to unlock

Spice Details 🌶️

N/A

deathchild deathviolencemedical traumacolonialismwar

World & Setting

steampunk / gaslamp sign in to unlock

Reading Context

perspective shift sign in to unlock

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