The Incandescent, by Emily Tesh

Dr Walden is director of magic at Chetwood School, a cross between Rowling's Hogwarts and Novik's Scholomance, where she is charged with keeping students safe from ravening demons who would like to feast on their burgeoning abilities. When ambitious A-level students summon a demon beyond their powers to contain, Walden has to draw on everything she has to save them and protect the school. Unfortunately this drags up demons from her own past at the school, putting herself and everything she cares about at risk. After a slow and heavily expository beginning this tale develops into an interesting psychological examination of magical teachers and students, with an appropriate British touch of class, wealth and status. The characters and their relationships are well developed and credible. The ending is a little pat, but offers some optimism and the possibility of redemption with a possible sequel.

Her Majesty’s Royal Coven, by Juno Dawson

Her Majesty’s Royal Coven is the official advisory body to the British government on magical matters but is largely a secret unknown to ‘mundanes’. The feminine power of witches dominates the magical world and five women who were inducted into the coven together in their teens are among the most powerful. A civil war sparked by a rebellious warlock has divided the five friends in different ways. Eight years later a new dark threat could draw them tighter again or drive them further apart. Ostensibly a dark fantasy tale, it soon becomes clear that this is actually a highly political novel that cleverly tackles the modern culture war over trans rights. It is a gripping story that occasionally tips into overly educational, while trying give an understanding of all points of view. This sometimes comes at the expense of plot – the total ignorance of mundanes to all things magic is hard to swallow, especially given the official government role.