Review Detail

I flew through A Wild Radiance, and honestly? Here are all the reasons you should read it. First, Josephine Haven is a phenomenal protagonist angry, emotional, messy, and powerful in a world that demands obedience and emotional detachment. Her radiance and electricity-like magic is tied so closely to her feelings that every outburst and quiet moment crackles with tension. I loved watching her push back against the House of Industry, a rigid magic school obsessed with progress, control, and never forming attachments.

Second, the setting and stakes are right on point! Being exiled to a remote Mission, navigating a mysterious disease, clashing ideals between tradition and progress, and uncovering corruption gave this story serious dystopian fantasy vibes with a thoughtful edge. Add in Julian’s cold disapproval, Ezra’s intriguing curiosity, and the slow unraveling of everything Josephine thought she knew about her magic and I was completely hooked. This is thoughtful YA fantasy, magic systems with meaning, rebellion, and just enough romance to make everything deliciously complicated.