The Incendiaries by R. O. Kwon

The Incendiaries is a novel about a young woman who becomes involved with a cult tied to North Korea and the subsequent unraveling of her relationship with her boyfriend as he tries to understand what's happening. The narrative alternates between the perspectives of the two main characters, exploring themes of faith, love, and loss, and the destructive power of extremist beliefs. The novel is set in a prestigious university and offers a nuanced exploration of the complexities of belief and the human capacity for self-deception.

The 9934th greatest book of all time


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Total Points: 55

Since this book was first published in 2018, there is a penalty of 70.4%. The age adjusted score is 16.28.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.