The Incorruptibles

Starred review from April 15, 2025
A hundred years in the future, an orphaned tailor's apprentice joins the resistance to fight sorcerers who wield unchecked power over the former United States. Fiora's parents were killed by sorcerers, but she doesn't believe that the resistance group known as the Incorruptibles are real until she meets one of them in person. After a fight against the Radiance, the "nameless, faceless group" that rules over the sorcerers, Captain Quinn whisks Fiora and her uncle Randal to safety, but Fiora begs to join Inc Academy and earns a place on a trial basis--until the results of her background check come in--to mixed reactions from her new squad, the Thistles. When problems begin plaguing the Incs, Fiora promises herself that she'll find the spy in their midst. Readers will wonder, as Fiora does, who she can trust, even as she builds relationships with the other Thistles, and her understanding of the world becomes more nuanced as she questions long-held ideas. The sorcerers and Incs ultimately clash in a high-intensity, fast-paced action battle that forces Fiora into making a big decision and sets up for the sequel. Immersive worldbuilding, strong characters, and excellent pacing make for a breathless series opener with a big scope. Curly-haired Fiora is "tall and plump," is attracted to girls, and has Jewish heritage. Other characters are diverse in skin tone, ability, sexuality, and gender identity. A lightning blast of a futuristic fantasy.(Fantasy. 10-14)

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May 27, 2025
Grades 5-8 Magaziner begins a new academic-fantasy series in this tale of sorcerers versus resistance fighters, set in a not-too-distant future. When orphan Fiora clashes with an elite group of malicious sorcerers, she is saved from harm by a pair of freedom fighters from the famous Incorruptibles Academy. Taken back to the safety of the academy, Fiora is made a probationary student, causing much speculation. Soon, strategic security breaches lead to failed missions, with suspicions falling on all students but especially newcomers. Who is the mole? A final battle exposes all manner of feelings and truths, and it concludes with the promise of adventure and romance to come. Readers will appreciate the wide spectrum of abilities and gender identities represented in the book's characters. While the use of floral house names and some stereotypical characterizations seem incongruent with the reading level this book aspires to, upper-middle-grade readers looking for a fast-paced, suspenseful series will be on the hook for book 2.

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June 1, 2025

Gr 5 Up-A magic school fantasy with strong themes of belonging and found family. Thirteen-year-old Fiora hates any bully, and the sorcerers who rule Barrowburgh are the biggest bullies of them all. Fiora confronts two of the Radiance, the most powerful sorcerers in the realm, and has to be rescued by Incorruptibles, the rebel fighters resisting sorcerer rule. Fiora convinces them to take her to Inc Academy, the Incorruptibles' training school, is put on the Thistle squad on a trial basis, and spends her trial period trying to prove she belongs at the school. While she is attending, missions are constantly sabotaged, and Fiora figures she can land a permanent spot on the squad if she can find the infiltrator. Fiora becomes a Thistle through sheer grit, and readers will need the same grit to get through the book. The Incorruptibles are always one step behind the sorcerers and Fiora's higgledy-piggledy attempts at uncovering the spy are ineffective with such a large cast of characters. Fiora's desire to belong to a found family is relatable, but her relationships progress in fits and starts, and the plot feels more impulsive than deliberate. Queer representation is prominent in this book. Fiora is attracted to girls, Captain June and squadmate Leo are trans, and Ringer, one of the Radiance sorcerers, is gender fluid. VERDICT A chaotic start to a new middle grade fantasy series.-Maria Martin

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