OMG I loved this book!!!

WHAT IT IS ABOUT:
In a city protected by magic and ruled by male mages, Sciona is determined to prove that women can also weld high magic and be part of the council. However, she quickly finds out that the high council of mages have been keeping secrets for years. Secrets that make Sciona question her own use of magic which she has devoted her entire life to.

WHAT I THINK:
OMG, I LOVED everything about this book! I was hooked in just the first chapter - people are running across ice for their survival and I had no idea what was happening or why. BUT I really wanted to know! The FMC gives me Hermione after Hogwarts vibes and is complex, introspective, and has faults she tries to overcome/accept. But, the magic system in this book is like none other. The spells are written in what we would describe as “code” and then the mage has to “source” the power for the spell. The ending is surprising, devastating and yet hopeful. I am sad this is not a series!

I am deeply conflicted over this book. There’s a lot of interesting and compelling things being done here, but there are also weak points that I really struggled with. I landed somewhere between 3 and 4 stars, rounding up because I think the highs were high enough that I’m inclined to be generous.

What I liked: this book was extremely compelling from start to finish. Our lead Sciona was very interesting to follow. She’s fiery and stubborn and makes a captivating POV. At every step, I was asking myself if she was really going to go there, and then she did. The secondary lead Thomil was an even more interesting character to me and I wish we had more of him - he added a unique perspective and was a good character foil to Sciona with his own narrative journey. Both characters were strong in their own ways and I enjoyed reading about them. The plot and pacing was good, and the sense of escalation was fantastic.

Then there’s the themes, which is the part of the book I’m most conflicted about. Honestly, the feminist themes were pretty basic. I am a female presenting person in STEM, and I’m just a bit tired of sexism being depicted in such a bland, obvious way. I’m not saying sexism like that doesn’t exist, especially in a secondary world that clearly has much stricter gender roles, but for me it’s no longer that interesting to read blatant examples of sexism with women being excluded from roles. It’s much more interesting to talk about the nuances of misogyny - women being pit against each other, feminism being co-opted for capitalism, subtle forms of aggression and systemic barriers that keep women out even if the rules are technically equal. The book hints at some of these things, but it focuses on the overt, sexism-in-law side of things. It’s a fine choice, but a less interesting one. I think the themes of class, race, and worker exploitation are much stronger. It’s here where you really feel the anger of the book and it absolutely refuses to pull its punches in depicting the truth of the exploitation taking place. It’s written really well and the way it works with the worldbuilding is fantastic. However…I have to question why this story is written from the POV of Sciona instead of Thomil. It’s a secondary world, but essentially, the choice here was to tell the story from the POV of a white woman who learns that her whole society is racist and genocidal, instead of telling the story from the POV of the person from the marginalized race. It just left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth, and I get that Wang wanted to highlight the feminist themes, but again those were just less interesting to me. And the story does have some nods towards needing both groups to work together to bring down the system, but well…in the end it basically is (view spoiler). There’s probably a way to tell this story by emphasizing unity and allyship amongst marginalized groups, but I don’t think this story went far enough in that direction either. It was almost there for me, but just fell a bit short of the mark.

Overall, I’d be fine recommending this as a compelling, angry story especially if you like cool magic systems and are okay with being hit over the head with the themes. This is the second time I’ve felt conflicted on one of Wang’s books, so while I hope she grows as a writer, I’m not sure she quite writes books that are for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Del Ray for an ARC of this book for review

Got the ARC from Netgalley

Holy crap. Where do I start? I'm still wiping the bittersweet tears. What drew me into this story was the complexity of the world created by M. L. Wang. The details she put into this unique blend of magic and technology made me wonder if she had training in computer science. In most magic systems, magic is simply that, magic. However, our FMC Sciona composed algorithms to perform magic using if/then statements.

Once again, Wang succeeded in drawing the rawest emotions from her characters onto the pages. She introduced the oppression experienced by different people in the story. First, Sciona fought to succeed in a male-dominated magic world. A lot of us are familiar with the struggles experienced by women in STEM in our world. Then, we were introduced to the working class dominated by the Kwens, the so-called uncivilized heathen. We already know from many stories (like Pocahontas), that these "savages" have different wealth of knowledge to share. When the truth about the magic source in this world was finally revealed, we had to ask ourselves whether the ends truly justify the means. What would you have done if you were in Sciona's shoes?

If you had read <i>Sword of Kaigen</i>, you would not be surprised at how this book ends. It was no happily ever after but there was still hope on the horizon.

Poignant, layered and deeply resonant. Very masterfully written, a story that hits all the notes perfectly and leaves you feeling raw inside.

4.25 stars

This book was great. I was hooked by the first chapter. It's such a dark and heartbreaking first chapter; it really sets you up for the story you will be reading. This did not get a higher rating because the first third, after chapter one, was super slow for me. It felt bogged down by some of the detailed explanations that had to be given to set up the magic and society. Despite this, I ended up loving everything after that first third, and it is one I plan on purchasing. I may not have been in the right mindset for the beginning chapters, so my rating may change when I do a re-read in the future. 

Sciona is not a good person. That is well established from the beginning. She's not very likable other than the fact that she is a woman in a man's world. But despite this, you are rooting for her to win and stick it to these men who rule over their society. As Sciona learns more about the world she lives in and has her eyes opened to some hard truths, you see her trying to change and make the world a better place. Her actions have serious consequences, and they don't always turn out well. The realism within this book is impressive. 

Thomil's introduction is where the story picks up for me, and it really begins to explore various themes that are so relevant to our society. There are so many themes packed in, such as feminism and misogyny, religion, racism and bigotry, colonialism, (white) privilege, good and evil, impact and intent, guilt and forgiveness, and probably others. These things really hit home for me, and it makes me extremely glad that a traditional publisher picked this up so it can get the recognition it deserves. 

I have not stopped thinking about it since I finished it. The ending was unexpected yet extremely satisfying. I highly recommend this book. Even if it has a slower start, it's so worth the read. Dark Academia at its finest. 

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC.

What does your convenience cost? "Blood Over Bright Haven" uses a fantasy setting where magic is typed up in fantasy computer code to shine a light on the patriarchal, post-colonial world we're living in. It's an excellent read, fast-paced and engaging. The biggest issue with the book is that the similarities between that world and this are not at all subtle, sometimes veering from metaphor into allegory.

I've been putting off this review because I'm pretty sure I will not be able to do this book justice.

Quite simply, it's one of the best books I've ever read.

I'm going to start with the things that would normally make me not like a book:
- the magic system is fairly complex and discussed in detail for long passages
- there are really strong religious themes
- it felt more sci-fi than fantasy to me

For whatever reason, not only was I fine with those things here, I actually found them important and part of why I enjoyed it so much.

I started this book prepared for a fun, thoughtful story about magic and academia. I had no idea what I was in for.

Somehow this story tackled feminism, theology, the nature of good vs evil, impact vs intent, racism, colonialism, privilege, white woman tears, environmentalism, parenthood, and more — all while staying completely entertaining and compelling. I was hooked from the first chapter, and it never once lost its grip on me. I fell in love with these characters, despite (and maybe because of) their flaws and egos and mistakes. M.L. Wang is truly gifted at writing deep emotion with nuance and depth, and there are some truly gut-wrenching moments here. I cried multiple times, which is rare for me with a book.


I found myself thinking of George Orwell as I read this, because this captures the same intense mix of hopefulness and helplessness that I felt when reading his work. I truly believe this will be a classic in the same vein as Orwell's.

There is so much depth to this book, I will carry it with me for a very long time. I can't recommend it highly enough, even if the themes I mention above don't normally draw you in. The story itself is so engaging, so entertaining, and you'll find yourself not wanting to put it down.

Do NOT sleep on this book, you'll miss out on a truly incredible experience.

I'll be posting my review on TikTok at a later date, and will come back and add the link to it then,

I received an ARC from netgalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a great standalone fantasy novel. I feel like it has recently become a trend for SFF authors to label their book “dark academia” simply just based off vibes and with no consideration for the elements that actually make a book dark academia, such as criticism of the way institutions of higher education uphold and perpetuate inequality (cough cough an education in malice by ST Gibson). This book is not that and blows other books in the “dark academia” genre out of the water. Sciona’s growth was incredible to read over the course of the book, and I thoroughly enjoyed the interactions between her and our other main character, Thomel. Similar to the Sword of Kaigen, Wang has crafted and emotional and thoughtful story.

4.5/5
Feels a bit like a magical Hunger Games. The story is a powerful telling of a woman seeking the truth and a man seeking his destiny. Would highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was insane and will be one of my top reads this year. I recommend going in blind, but if you want something more here it is:

Sciona is the first woman admitted into a prestigious mage order in an Industrial Age, 19th century-esque city. Here she endures hardship and isolation as the academic institution she dearly values attempts to crush her brilliance under its archaic traditions. But this story isn’t just that; Sciona is a deeply flawed character, deplorable, privileged, and fractured all at once, both a victim of an oppressive system and a propagator of the corrupt system itself. It is an honest dissection of the spectrum of privilege/oppression, of racism, of white feminism, and most importantly, refuses to depict tidy moral binaries in favor of nuanced characters you view with both fury and tenderness. And such a needed discussion on weighing good intentions vs. impact. Also, it’s a disservice I center this mostly around Sciona, but I have to leave some surprises.

This book has drawn natural comparisons to R.F. Kuang’s Babel; both are dark academia, fantasy novels that explore racially oppressive systems, insulated in their lofty ivoried towers looming over the disenfranchised below. Babel is an immensely important work to the genre, but was missing thematic nuance and deeper character work to ballast its messaging. Blood Over Bright Haven is intrinsically more character-driven, tackling less explored discomforts of oppression and the ways it festers across society. To be clear, although I have a favorite, both are worth reading.

Starting in the indie-published space, Blood Over Bright Haven has since been bought by a traditional publisher and will release on October 29, 2024. I know Hardcovers are expensive, but I highly recommend you pick up a copy. This is an important work that I hope is received with the attention it deserves.

One of the best books I have read in 2024!!

So disturbing dark it’s beautiful. What a roller coaster story line.

Powerful story and not super long. Must read!!

I don't have words to explain how amazing this book is. If I could, I would give this book 10/5 stars and my friends will never hear the end of me raving about this book. After I finish this review, I am going to preorder the physical book as well because I love it that much.

This book does an amazing job of paralleling Tiran with the real world with its sexism and racism that runs rampant throughout our world.
The character development of Sciona finding her feet and breaking out of the mold that she didn't realize she was a part of was done so elegantly and never felt forced. Thomil's character development of finding hope and how he did not fail his people had me in actual tears towards the end of the book. The pacing and natural progression that M. L. Wang wove into her book made me question if I should call out of work just so I could finish this book in one sitting because it was just that good.
M. L. Wang's ability to capture the microaggressions and the extremely blatant sexism and racism within her dialog that we can see on a day-to-day basis was insane. The characters and even side characters in this book encapsulated and demonstrated the complexity that we face in a first-world country and how many people deal with the knowledge that everything we have is usually built upon the blood, sweat, and tears of someone we consider below us, whether that be in race, status, or gender.

First and foremost thank you to Random House Publishing Group for giving me an early copy to read!
"Blood Over Bright Haven" by M.L. Wang is an amazing standalone that pulls you in from the very first page!
The story kicks off with a very intense start! From there, we're introduced to an intriguing magic system, and a test that gave me Full Metal Alchemist flashbacks in the best possible way.
Admittedly, the first few chapters can be a bit challenging to get through due to the complexity of the magic system.
However, once you grasp the intricacies and the first big reveal occurs, the story begins to flow seamlessly!
As a mood reader, I found myself grappling with the heavy subjects addressed in the story: xenophobia, sexism, sexual violence, and suicidal thoughts to name a few. While I don't shy away from sad or challenging topics "Blood Over Bright Haven" delves into some of the hardest subjects to read about. Yet, M.L. Wang's skillful storytelling keeps you hooked, eagerly anticipating how it will all unfold.
Overall "Blood Over Bright Haven" is a thought-provoking and engaging read that, while difficult at times, showcases Wang's talent for crafting compelling narratives. If you're looking for dark academia (and I mean DARK) while keeping you on the edge of your seat, this is it!

Blood Over Bright Haven stands out as a stand-alone fantasy that hits all the marks. Sciona is the first woman to be admitted to the High Magistry after years of studying and working under other mages. She hopes to make even more history with her attempts at expanding the barrier that surrounds their city - to be the one out of all the men around her to succeed. Once Sciona begins working within the Magistry she faces sexism from her male colleagues, whispers behind her back implying she did not earn her spot through merit or that her rank was done to appease politicians. They assign her the floor's janitor to be her assistant instead of a traditional assistant who is studied in magic - through this Sciona meets Thomil, a member of the Kwen who made the dangerous journey through the Blight into the city. She is exposed to more of the classism that exists in her city and learns about the dark secrets that have allowed the Magistry to rule for so long.

This is my first time reading M.L. Wang but after this I want to read everything they put out. The story that we get in just under 350 pages is outstanding and touches on many themes including classism, sexism, faith, violence, family, anger and vengeance. As the story moves towards it's climax Sciona must look at her entire belief system and learn of the consequences of years of action - if while reading at the beginning Sciona's academic mind may be a bit frustrating give her a chance. This story will make you experience so many emotions but for me it was anger in the last third of the book.

This is how you write dark academia.
I wish it had been spooky season or even just cooler weather when I had read this and not 80 plus degrees-- because this was PERFECT for moody vibes. Despite the weather being crap and not delivering, ML Wang was polar opposite.
Being able to set up world building, describe a magic system, have intriguing characters, and touch on important subjects ALL in a standalone novel that isn't the size of a dictionary is a near impossible feat, but Wang showed they are the one for the job. And in all of it, delivering a moral of not standing against evil, is overall allowing and abetting evil to occur.

This book was nothing short of extraordinary. The magic system was intricately crafted, and the world-building was unparalleled. The characters were multifaceted and relatable, facing real-world struggles that are all too familiar to women or persons of color. The story was a powerful blend of hope and heartache. However, I must warn readers that the ending may leave them emotionally gutted. While some may find satisfaction in it, I am personally quite sad that I picked up this book and had to experience such bittersweet emotions. I don't regret it, though.

Wooh.. this is some story. So many layers here.

The victors get to rewrite history. Slavery. Misogyny. Violence. Destruction of homelands. Governments acting shady.

But mostly: what are your convictions? Do you value truth over comfort or are you willing to let things lie so you can have your life the way it is and never acknowledge who sacrifices for it? Do you truly believe in fairness? To me that's the crux of the book and the uncomfortable realities that generally things fall apart when you threaten someone's belief system - both faith and their feeling of where they belong/what they are owed.. Sciona is rare in that, and she's both infuriating and impressive in equal measure. Great book.

This book was pretty good, I would definitely recommend

~This was given by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

M. L. Wang has created a world that immediately sucks you in. This book pulled me out of a reading slump, and I just couldn't put it down. The magic system is new and refreshing. The characters have you sitting on the edge of your seat as they unravel the mystery at the heart of this tale. Their internal conflict felt so realistic and more human than you normally see in the fantasy genre. This is a Dark Academia story that deals with religious prejudice, misogyny, and racial persecution. These topics are handled masterfully and are written in a way that does not feel heavy-handed. Wang had already proved their writing talent with their popular work The Sword of Kaigen. Blood Over Bright Haven just shows they are here to stay as a heavy hitter in the fantasy world. So far this is the best book I have read in 2024.

This book was a brilliant dark academy story, and it is a standalone!

I really enjoyed the magic system in this and the characters were amazing!

This is such a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating!!!