
A Wild Radiance
Candlewick Press · Hardcover · January 20, 2026
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!
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- Who it’s for
- A romantic fantasy where industrial magic, class revolt, and unruly desire spark against a rigid system.
- Themes
- Magical industrialization, Class revolution, Anti-capitalism
- Genres
- YA Fantasy Romance, YA LGBTQ+, Epic YA Fantasy
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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! 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.
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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!
Progress Has Teeth
A romantic fantasy where industrial magic, class revolt, and unruly desire spark against a rigid system.
Come here for
- Electric magic and a society straining toward revolution
- Romance tangled with secrets, corruption, and suppressed desire
Expect
- A sharp-edged adventure with queer romantic tension
- Clashes between rigid rules and messy, volatile feelings
Where it sits
| YA LGBTQ+ | 83% |
|---|---|
| YA Fantasy Romance | 80% |
| Epic YA Fantasy | 29% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- YA Adventure
- Dark YA Fantasy
- YA LGBTQ+
- Authors
- Maria Ingrande Mora
- Publisher
- Candlewick Press
- Published
- January 20, 2026
- Format
- Hardcover
- Theme
- Magical industrialization · Class revolution · Anti-capitalism
- Reading lane
- YA Adventure