About the Book
Title: A Wild Radiance
Author: Maria Ingrande Mora
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 368
Edition Read: NetGalley ARC
Dates Read: January 19 – 31, 2026
Blurb: 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.
Review
This one was quite fun! It had been a while since I had gotten an ARC from NetGalley, and this was a good way to jump back in. I was first drawn in by that cover – it’s absolutely gorgeous – and didn’t really have expectations. I love jumping into books like that!
The story world was interesting, especially the “magic” system that Mora used. They call it “radiance” and it’s basically electricity that resides inside certain people. If young children manifest radiance, they are taken to the House of Industry. Conveniently, most of them are orphans, where their parents have died from a sickness called wasting that is rampant. I liked how this magic system was based more in science than nature. Jo’s skills basically make her an engineer of a sort, just one that uses radiance to work on the machines, and I found that a very refreshing take.
There is natural “wild” magic as well, but those people are not trusted and usually hunted down.
There are environmental tones to the story as well. Not everyone is happy about the rule of Progress and the House of Industry, as Jo learns at her first post in a rural town. It was definitely a fish out of water story. Her task is to help the Mission to expand their resources in order to receive radiance in their town. Think Industrial Revolution vibes. What Jo doesn’t know is that radiance comes with downsides, something she didn’t see living in the bigger city and has to quickly come to terms with. I really liked Jo. She was strong and spunky but with a compassionate heart. She has to be strong in the face of fighting against everything she’s ever known.
This story was an adventure, fantasy with a modern twist. It was just published on January 20th, so it’s out now. Definitely check it out!
GoodReads rating: 4 stars
Categories: Books I've Read
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