The Incandescent Summary, Characters and Themes
The Incandescent by Emily Tesh is a captivating novel set in a magical universe, where the responsibilities of teaching and managing the arcane collide with the chaos of otherworldly beings. The protagonist, Dr. Sapphire Walden, is the Director of Magic at Chetwood School, an institution with a deep-rooted magical history.
Her job entails managing both the magical education of her students and the dangers posed by supernatural forces. As she navigates the intricacies of her role, Walden also struggles with the dark, powerful demon that resides within her, the Phoenix, while trying to protect those she cares for. The novel skillfully explores the themes of power, self-discovery, and the balance between humanity and the supernatural, offering readers an intense and emotional journey through a world of magic, danger, and personal growth.
Summary
The Incandescent follows Dr. Sapphire Walden, the Director of Magic at Chetwood Academy, a prestigious institution that combines magical education with the ever-present threat of demonic forces.
Walden, a skilled magician, holds a crucial position at the school, where she is tasked with maintaining the safety of her students while overseeing their magical education. Her role is complex, balancing mundane administrative duties with the high-stakes challenges that come with teaching magic.
At the heart of the story is Walden’s internal conflict. She is not just an educator but also a vessel for the Phoenix, a powerful and dangerous demon that has been bound to her.
This dual identity creates tension within Walden, who must constantly manage her human side and the immense power of the Phoenix. As the Director of Magic, Walden faces the difficult task of mentoring young students, teaching them to control their burgeoning magical abilities while keeping them safe from the dark forces that loom over the school.
The story begins with Walden filling out a tedious risk assessment for a practical demon-summoning class. As part of her responsibilities, Walden must ensure that her students are not only taught the principles of magic but also prepared to face the inherent dangers of their craft.
This class, in particular, involves summoning a fourth-order demon, a dangerous exercise in magical control. The students—Will, Nikki, Mathias, and Aneeta—are eager to prove their abilities, but the session quickly turns tense when Mathias’s summoning goes awry, nearly causing a breach in the magical wards that protect the school.
Despite this near-catastrophe, Walden successfully handles the situation, though it raises concerns with Laura Kenning, the Chief Marshal, who fears that Walden’s approach to teaching might put her students in danger, particularly Nikki Conway, who has a tragic past involving demons.
Nikki’s history with demons is a source of much concern. Her family was killed by a demon, an event that left her with deep emotional scars.
Kenning believes that Nikki should be excluded from such lessons due to her past trauma, but Walden refuses to exclude her, believing in Nikki’s potential and the necessity of giving her the chance to learn and grow under careful supervision. This conflict highlights a fundamental tension within the magical community: whether to protect students by limiting their exposure to danger or to trust them with the responsibility of facing it head-on.
As the story unfolds, Walden’s leadership is tested when an ancient and powerful demon known as “Old Faithful” threatens the school once again. Old Faithful is a long-standing threat to Chetwood, and its rare but violent incursions have been contained only through the combined efforts of the magical staff and the Marshals.
When Old Faithful reappears, it causes havoc, and Walden must team up with Kenning and other staff members to contain the threat. However, the demon’s power proves difficult to control, and Walden finds herself struggling to keep the situation from escalating further.
Amid these supernatural challenges, Walden is also forced to confront the personal challenges that stem from her own dual identity. As the Phoenix grows more active within her, urging her to release its power, Walden must maintain control over both her human self and the demon inside her.
Her constant battle with the Phoenix becomes a central part of her journey, as she tries to balance her role as a teacher and protector with the ever-present danger of her own inner demon.
As the students at Chetwood School navigate their own magical journeys, Walden’s protective instincts are put to the test. She watches over them as they try to handle the growing threat of Old Faithful, but their actions, while well-intentioned, often lead to more complications.
Walden’s wisdom and experience serve as a guiding force, although she must also make difficult decisions about how much to intervene in the students’ actions.
The stakes rise when Walden learns that Nikki has been secretly studying advanced summoning spells and is potentially planning a dangerous magical ritual. When an incursion from the demonic plane occurs, Walden must act quickly to prevent the students from making a catastrophic mistake.
Working alongside Ezekiel, a form tutor at the school, and Kenning, Walden uses her magical expertise to protect the students and contain the demonic threat. However, the situation grows increasingly volatile, and Walden is forced to confront Old Faithful directly.
In the midst of this chaos, Walden reflects on her own vulnerabilities and the burdens that come with being both a teacher and a protector. As she battles to maintain control over the magical wards that keep the demon at bay, she realizes that the conflict with Old Faithful is far from over.
The demon’s power is too great to be easily defeated, and Walden understands that the safety of her students and the future of Chetwood depend on her ability to navigate the complex and dangerous world of magic.
In the final moments, Walden faces a critical choice: continue to protect her students by keeping the demon at bay, or take a more aggressive approach in confronting the powerful entity. Her decision will have lasting consequences not just for the school but for her own sense of self.
Through it all, Walden’s character is shaped by the constant tension between her human vulnerability and the immense power of the Phoenix. In the end, she emerges as a stronger, more self-aware figure, having learned valuable lessons about trust, responsibility, and the true cost of power.
Throughout The Incandescent, Walden’s journey is one of self-discovery, as she comes to terms with her inner conflict, her responsibility as a teacher, and the dangerous forces that threaten both her and her students. The novel’s exploration of power, control, and the balance between magic and humanity makes for an intense and deeply emotional reading experience.
Characters
Dr. Sapphire Walden
Dr. Walden is a central figure in The Incandescent, whose role as the Director of Magic at Chetwood School highlights her balance of administrative tasks and hands-on teaching.
As an experienced and capable magic practitioner, she is responsible for overseeing the safety of both students and magical practices within the school. Her meticulous nature is apparent in her daily duties, from filling out tedious bureaucratic forms to supervising dangerous magical practices such as demon summoning.
Though she maintains a professional demeanor, Walden’s internal struggles with her responsibilities and relationships are often evident. She is committed to her students’ safety and education, yet this commitment is often tested by external pressures, such as the political dynamics with other school staff and her concerns for students like Nicola Conway, who has a tragic past involving demons.
Her ability to manage both practical and theoretical aspects of magic speaks to her high level of skill, though she is also shown to be a reflective character who often doubts her approach. Walden’s leadership qualities come to the forefront when the school faces dangerous situations, such as the summoning of Old Faithful, a demon with a long and troublesome history.
Through these crises, Walden’s expertise in magical wards and invocation magic proves invaluable. Despite her calm and methodical approach to magic, she faces emotional tension with other characters, especially Laura Kenning, the Chief Marshal, whose more cautionary stance on magical safety often clashes with Walden’s more trusting approach.
This friction highlights Walden’s internal conflict between wanting to protect her students and giving them the freedom to learn from their mistakes. Over the course of the story, Walden evolves into a more introspective and compassionate leader, reflecting on her personal struggles while ensuring the safety of her school and students.
Laura Kenning
Laura Kenning is the Chief Marshal at Chetwood School, a character defined by her sense of duty and her willingness to confront the dangers posed by demons and magical threats. As a Marshal, Kenning is primarily concerned with the safety and security of the school, a responsibility that often places her at odds with others, especially Dr. Walden.
Her protective nature is rooted in her past experiences with demons, and she has a deep-seated belief that some students, like Nicola Conway, are too dangerous to be trusted with high-level magical education.
Kenning’s concern for Conway stems from the young woman’s tragic past involving a demon incursion that resulted in the death of her family. While Walden is determined to give Conway a chance to prove herself, Kenning is more cautious, reflecting her underlying fear of repeating past tragedies.
Kenning’s role in the school extends beyond mere administration; she is a formidable combatant with a magical sword, which she uses in situations where her martial prowess is needed, such as during the battle with Old Faithful. Her no-nonsense attitude and ability to act decisively in dangerous situations showcase her strength and authority.
However, Kenning’s relationship with Walden is complex, as both women navigate a fine balance between professional rivalry and mutual respect. While Kenning believes in maintaining strict control over magical practices, Walden trusts her students to learn from their mistakes.
This ideological divide highlights the tension between caution and the freedom to explore, a theme that runs throughout their interactions.
Despite her tough exterior, Kenning is not without vulnerability. Her protective instincts often come from a place of personal loss and the fear of further tragedy.
Her views on magical safety and her strained relationship with Walden reflect her internal conflict between duty and the desire to protect those she cares about. Over time, Kenning’s relationship with Walden becomes more layered, as both women navigate their shared responsibility for the safety of the school while dealing with their own emotional burdens.
Ezekiel
Ezekiel is a teacher at Chetwood School who is particularly skilled in the subject of Invocation. As a form tutor, Ezekiel plays a crucial role in guiding his students through the ethical complexities of using magic, particularly regarding consent and its implications in different contexts.
His teaching style is structured and methodical, yet he maintains a strong, engaging presence that encourages critical thinking and active participation from his students.
Dr. Walden, who observes one of Ezekiel’s lessons, admires his ability to foster a disciplined yet thoughtful classroom environment. He ensures that his students not only understand the magical concepts but also engage with them on a deeper ethical level, reflecting his own strong sense of responsibility as an educator.
Ezekiel’s approach to teaching contrasts with Walden’s more hands-on, risk-taking methods, and his calm, measured demeanor provides a sharp contrast to her often intense and emotionally charged personality. He is less concerned with the immediate dangers of magic and more focused on its theoretical implications, particularly the moral aspects of magical practice.
His lessons about consent and responsibility provide a necessary balance to the more practical aspects of magical education that Walden oversees. While Ezekiel’s character may not face the same personal turmoil as Walden, his role as a teacher offers insight into the philosophical side of magic, emphasizing the importance of understanding the consequences of one’s actions.
Nicola Conway
Nicola Conway is one of the more complex students at Chetwood School, and her tragic past involving a demon incursion forms a significant part of her character. Nicola’s parents died in a magical disaster related to a demon attack, an event that left her scarred both physically and emotionally.
Despite this traumatic history, she possesses extraordinary magical talent, which makes her a subject of both fascination and concern. Her potential to summon and control demons is unquestioned, but her emotional baggage and her history with demons make her a risk in the eyes of some of the staff, particularly Laura Kenning.
Nicola’s journey throughout the story is one of self-discovery and healing, as she grapples with the trauma of her past while also seeking to prove herself as a capable and responsible magician. Her internal struggle is magnified by the skepticism and fear that others, like Kenning, have towards her.
Despite the heavy weight of her past, she is determined to move forward and embrace her magical abilities, even if it means confronting the very forces that destroyed her family. Nicola’s character arc explores themes of redemption, responsibility, and the complexity of forgiveness, both from others and from herself.
As the story progresses, Nicola’s relationship with Dr. Walden deepens, as the latter acts as both a mentor and protector, guiding her through the difficult path of learning to control her magic while also dealing with the lingering trauma of her past.
The Phoenix
The Phoenix is a significant, though enigmatic, presence within the narrative of The Incandescent, embodied by Dr. Walden herself.
The Phoenix represents a demon-like force that has been bound to Walden, its power and influence a constant part of her existence. Once a destructive force in her life, the Phoenix now exists in a delicate balance with Walden, who must continually manage its power.
The Phoenix’s influence is both a source of strength and a source of conflict, as it continually urges Walden to release it, a temptation that she resists. This dynamic highlights Walden’s internal battle between her human side and the immense power she holds within.
The Phoenix is not simply a passive entity; it plays an active role in the narrative, influencing events and shaping Walden’s decisions. Its presence complicates Walden’s relationships, especially her interactions with other characters, as it serves as a constant reminder of her dual nature.
While Walden uses the Phoenix’s power to protect those she cares about, she is also wary of the consequences of unleashing its full potential. The Phoenix is both a metaphor for Walden’s struggles with her own identity and a literal force that shapes the course of the story, adding an additional layer of complexity to Walden’s character and her journey of self-discovery.
Themes
Self-Identity and Duality
The internal conflict faced by Sapphire Walden, the protagonist of The Incandescent, revolves around the tension between her human self and the Phoenix demon within her. This duality is central to her character arc and the narrative’s exploration of self-identity.
Walden’s journey involves reconciling these two sides of herself, each representing different aspects of power, responsibility, and vulnerability. The Phoenix, a force of immense destruction and power, is both a curse and a source of strength.
Walden’s struggle lies in maintaining control over the demon while also embracing her humanity. As she reflects on her past and her rise to a position of influence, she confronts the realization that the power she has gained is constantly at odds with the need for emotional connection and self-acceptance.
The delicate balance between these two forces is not just about external control but about accepting and understanding her own complexities. This theme of duality is further illustrated in her relationship with the students she teaches—particularly her role as a mentor.
While she imparts wisdom, there’s also an undercurrent of emotional distance, driven by her fear of being consumed by her Phoenix side. Ultimately, her growth as a character comes from her ability to acknowledge both her human vulnerabilities and her immense magical potential, understanding that they are not mutually exclusive but rather parts of a whole.
Power and Responsibility
The concept of power and the responsibility that comes with it is another major theme in The Incandescent. Walden’s magical abilities, enhanced by the Phoenix demon within her, place her in a position of significant authority.
However, with this power comes an overwhelming sense of duty. She must constantly guard against the destructive potential of the Phoenix, even as she uses its abilities to protect others.
Her role as a teacher and protector is laden with moral and ethical dilemmas, especially when it comes to her students’ interactions with dangerous magic. Walden’s understanding of power is not just about wielding it effectively; it is also about the consequences of its misuse.
Her relationship with her students, particularly those involved with dangerous magical practices, illustrates the tension between providing freedom for exploration and ensuring safety. The battle with Old Faithful, a powerful demonic entity, further exemplifies this theme.
Walden must face the demon’s power head-on, while also confronting the limits of her own control. The struggle for power, and the constant need to balance it with caution, forces Walden to examine the very nature of responsibility.
Can one truly wield such power without losing oneself in the process? This theme resonates throughout the narrative as Walden tries to protect Chetwood School from the chaos that both her and the students’ magic can provoke.
Mentorship and Human Connection
At the heart of The Incandescent lies a profound exploration of mentorship and the complexities of human connection. Walden’s role as a teacher is far from simplistic; she is not just imparting magical knowledge but also helping her students navigate the intricacies of their own identities and powers.
This theme is particularly evident in her interactions with the students, such as Will, Nikki, Mathias, and Aneeta, who are grappling with their magical abilities and the dangers they pose. Walden is more than just a figure of authority—she is a guiding force, someone who has lived through the challenges they face and can offer them insight.
However, her own emotional distance, largely due to her internal struggles, complicates her relationship with them. Walden is a reluctant mentor at times, aware that her involvement in their lives might blur the line between guidance and overreach.
The dynamic between Walden and her students evolves as she learns to balance her protective instincts with the need to allow them space to make their own mistakes and grow. Through her mentorship, the novel highlights the importance of human connection, not only in terms of magical instruction but also in fostering emotional support and trust.
The complexity of these relationships mirrors Walden’s own need for connection, something she often suppresses out of fear of being overwhelmed by her inner turmoil. In the end, her students represent both her professional success and her personal growth, as they force her to confront her own emotional needs and the importance of accepting help and connection from others.
Risk and Caution in the Magical World
The theme of risk versus caution is a central conflict in The Incandescent, particularly in the context of magical practice. Dr. Walden’s position at Chetwood School places her in the unique position of managing both the risks inherent in teaching high-level magic and the bureaucratic measures meant to mitigate those risks. The practical lessons, like demon summoning, highlight the tension between allowing students to experiment with magic and ensuring their safety.
There is an ongoing debate between Walden and other figures like Laura Kenning, the Chief Marshal, who is more inclined toward caution, especially regarding students with traumatic magical experiences like Nicola Conway. The disagreement between these two characters reflects a broader ideological split in the magical community: should young, talented magicians be allowed to make mistakes and learn from them, or should every precaution be taken to avoid disaster?
The dangerous encounters with demons, particularly Old Faithful, underscore the unpredictable nature of magic and the constant need for vigilance. However, Walden’s willingness to trust her students and allow them to take risks serves as a reminder of the importance of growth through experience.
In the end, this theme highlights the balance that must be struck between encouraging exploration and managing the potential fallout from the risks associated with magical practice.
The Burden of the Past
The Incandescent also explores how the past can shape and burden the present, particularly through Walden’s character. Her history with the Phoenix demon and the traumatic events that led to its bonding with her are a constant weight on her shoulders.
This burden of the past affects her interactions with others and her decision-making process throughout the story. She is deeply haunted by the choices she made when she was younger and the consequences of those choices.
Her past experiences with loss, destruction, and her struggle for control over the Phoenix influence her approach to both teaching and dealing with her colleagues. The presence of the Phoenix within her is a constant reminder of her previous mistakes and the personal sacrifices she has made.
This theme of the past’s influence is also reflected in the students’ lives, particularly in the case of Nicola Conway, whose tragic past with demons threatens to shape her future. The novel suggests that the past is not something easily escaped, but something that must be confronted in order to move forward.
Walden’s journey is, in many ways, about finding peace with her history, acknowledging the weight it carries, and learning to live with it, rather than being consumed by it.