The Incendiaries

by R.O. Kwon
The Incendiaries cover
Good Books rating 4.23
Literary Fiction
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  • ID: 11163
  • Added: 2026-02-21
  • Updated: 2026-02-21
  • ISBN: 9780349011868
  • Publisher: Hachette UK
  • Published: 2018-07-31
  • Reviews: 3

The Incendiaries is a powerful novel that delves into the complex themes of love, faith, and the destructive power of obsession. Set at a prestigious university, the story follows Phoebe Lin and Will Kendall, two students from vastly different backgrounds who fall in love. Phoebe, a glamorous girl grappling with guilt over her mother's death, and Will, a misfit scholarship boy from a Bible college, find solace in each other. However, their lives take a dark turn when a charismatic former student draws Phoebe into his extremist cult with ties to North Korea. The novel explores the dangerous allure of extremism and the devastating consequences of blind faith. /n/n As the cult's actions escalate to violence, Phoebe disappears, and Will becomes obsessed with finding her. The Incendiaries is a haunting exploration of how far we can go when we lose what we love, and the fine line between faith and fanaticism. The novel has been praised for its electric prose and has drawn comparisons to Donna Tartt's The Secret History.

Reviews
1 Girl 2 Many Books · 2021-05-31
brilliant 4.00

The novel is a fractured love story and a brilliant examination of extremist minds. It's a powerful exploration of what can happen to people who lose what they love most.

The reviewer praises the novel for its deep exploration of extremism and the psychological impact it has on individuals. They find the love story compelling and the characters' struggles with faith and loss particularly moving. The reviewer also appreciates the novel's ability to delve into the complexities of human emotions and the consequences of extremism. They find the writing to be brilliant and the story to be both haunting and intense.

Quick quotes

    The Incendiaries is a fractured love story and a brilliant examination of the minds of extremist terrorists.

    It's a powerful exploration of what can happen to people who lose what they love most.

    The writing is brilliant and the story is both haunting and intense.

The Guardian · 2018-10-06
urgent 4.20

The novel is a startlingly assured debut that explores class, loss, and the consolations of devotional ferocity. It's a powerful and urgent story that delves into the complexities of faith and extremism.

The reviewer is impressed by the novel's assured debut and its exploration of class, loss, and the consolations of devotional ferocity. They find the story to be powerful and urgent, with a deep dive into the complexities of faith and extremism. The reviewer also appreciates the novel's ability to evoke a sense of longing and loss, making it a compelling and thought-provoking read. They highlight the characters' struggles with belief and identity, which they find particularly compelling.

Quick quotes

    In this startlingly assured debut exploring class, loss and the consolations of devotional ferocity, a young college student is indoctrinated into a religious cult.

    The Incendiaries is a powerful and urgent story that delves into the complexities of faith and extremism.

    The novel's ability to evoke a sense of longing and loss makes it a compelling and thought-provoking read.

Chicago Review of Books · 2018-08-15
haunting 4.50

The novel is filled with longing and loss, with every sentence beautifully crafted. It's a haunting exploration of faith, love, and the consequences of extremism.

The reviewer is captivated by the novel's emotional depth and the way it blurs the lines between love and loss. They appreciate the beautiful prose and the way the story delves into the complexities of faith and extremism. The reviewer finds the characters' struggles with belief and identity particularly compelling, making it a powerful and thought-provoking read. They also highlight the novel's ability to evoke a sense of longing and loss that lingers long after the last page.

Quick quotes

    The story is told through a lens blurred by longing and loss, and every sentence is filled with it.

    Kwon seems to breathe beautiful sentences, each one a testament to her skill as a writer.

    The Incendiaries is an extraordinary novel that explores the complexities of faith, love, and the consequences of extremism.

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