Ok after reading this and loving sword of Kaiden ML Wang is now a must buy author!!! Her writing is EVERYTHING!!!!

The magic system in this book is fascinating and the PATRIARCHY and the OPPRESSION … my gaaawwwddd .. I ate this book up

10 stars!!!!!

I really enjoyed this book! I love the world building and the unique vibe of it. It definitely fits the essence of what I want in a vampire book. Overall, highly recommend.

This was an all around really good read! I loved how the magic system was organically explained throughout the book. I loved the social commentary, even when it made me angry. I appreciate the way in which it was used to make a point that be applied to current times, and while I do love a happy ending, I'm glad this book didn't wrap everything up neatly in a little bow. It was real, it was raw, and it made me feel. I really couldn't ask for more from a book.

This book was brilliant to read. Absolutely adored it and especially adored how much I got to loathe Sciona. She fully embodies what so many allies behave like and it's infuriating as much as it is affirming to see this character this way. Left me wanting more because the world was so immersive and I cared deeply about Thomil, Carra and their people. I can see this being read quite differently from folks with different experiences, levels of privilige. I'm excited to read her other works.

I picked this up on a whim—and it completely blew me away. Blood Over Bright Haven is everything I love in fantasy: a complex magic system, political intrigue, morally grey characters, and a haunting, immersive world. Think Leigh Bardugo meets Fullmetal Alchemist with a sharp, literary edge.

Sciona’s ambition and desperation make her an unforgettable protagonist, and the dark academia vibes are executed perfectly. It’s a story about power, legacy, and the cost of ambition—and it reminded me what truly great fantasy can be.

M.L. Wang is the real deal. I started The Sword of Kaigen immediately after and I’m officially a fan for life.

I definitely had to take some time to reflect after reading this book.
There is a lot of good discussion about classism and racial discrimination.
I feel like this is one of those fantasy books that should qualify as extra credit in a history class (even though it's fiction).
I didn't find our FMC very likeable, there are attributes that I enjoyed. However I think it was supposed to be written this way. To push the line between what's good and bad.
I will definitely pick up this author's previous works!

Thank you so much to Saga Press Books and NetGalley for an e-arc!

Sciona is overjoyed when she passes the test to become a highmage, the first woman to do so. When working to expand the magical protection of her utopian city, she unearths a dark conspiracy. Well-developed characters and an intricate plot make this tale of sexism and racism an unputdownable choice. For fans of dark academia mixed with imperialism like Babel.

This is a book that can remind readers of all the reasons to love dark academia books. The magic was very interesting, unique but simple enough to understand. The world building was intricate enough to make me feel like I really understood the background for the different characters. The characters were very well written, the romance was PG, nothing graphic but a TW for attempted sexual assault could be helpful. A great standalone that left me wanting more but not wondering.

✨5 stars (infinite stars)✨

This book grabbed me by the throat and took me for a ride. This was my favorite book of 2024 and one of my top 3 of all time. No one writes like M. L. Wang.

This was the most devastating book I have read in a long, long time. A phenomenal work of art, ESPECIALLY in a standalone fantasy novel with a complex magic system. A truly outstanding book, I really cannot emphasize that enough!! If you’re ready to be destroyed, go read this book lol. Some heavy themes of colonialism, feminism, oppression, and good vs. evil are explored, and it definitely does not shy away from the repercussions.

🌈Queer rep: none

Five stars. Wow! ML Wang has a way with words that keeps me hooked. The plot was amazing, and the world building is superb. I cannot wait to read more by her in the future!

I wanted to read this as soon as I heard it was dark academia fantasy & heard the earl praise/reviews. I went into this with such high expectations and I think that overall, I was underwhelmed. This did feel slightly more YA than I typically read. The themes in here, which are very important and real, did feel heavy handed at times and less nuanced. The plot, setting, characters - all worked well for me though. In the end I felt super conflicted about it as a whole.

This book was incredible. I was sucked in by the unique plot and characters. I absolutely loved both main characters and wanted them to succeed. I also enjoyed that it wasn't the happiest ending but I felt satisfied by the conclusion. It was an amazing story and I will absolutely be recommending this book to others that enjoy fantasy books!

I really liked this book, even though a lot of my friends didn't -- most people didn't like the main character, which was not a problem I had. It did make me feel weird about being in grad school though.

A truly beautiful and brilliant way to go about the issues of racism and sexism that is found in the world. The magic system is definitely different from what I’m used to, I’d say that it’s similar to Deadly Education by Naomi Novik. I like how this book explains how the magic works (I mean Sciona is literally teaching Thomil). All around I loved this book. I got teary eyed every so often because I feel what Sciona is going through. My daughter is half Native American and half white, I never realized before (I’m white) how different the world is for those of color till I had my daughter. I’m learning and doing what I can to protect and let those of color be seen and heard the same as Sciona is for Thomil and his niece. I wasn’t prepared for this book making me feel seen and it is and will be one of my favorites for years to come.

This standalone fantasy has a solid magic system and a strong start, but it lost some momentum for me as it went on. The writing leans pretty heavily into explanation, which might work for some readers, but I had a hard time staying engaged after taking a break. The themes are meaningful, but they felt a bit overdone, and the romance subplot did not quite work. There were a few great moments, especially at the end of Sciona’s storyline, but overall I just did not feel that emotional pull. If this is one of the first books you are reading with this kind of story, it might have a bigger impact. For me, it missed the mark.

After Sword of Kaigen, I was expecting a little more if I’m being honest. While not an objectively bad novel (good pacing, multifaceted characters, clear themes), it did not evoke the emotion or the connection that Wang’s previous work did for me.

I think my biggest gripe is that the writing is very literal, the themes & lessons translated in a very heavy-handed way. And while I think that the FMC’s naïveté and density were purposeful and symbolic, that did not make her any less frustrating. Anyone with half an awareness of modern racial/colonialist issues will find the politics of this world extremely transparent, and while skin color was never explicitly mentioned, the FMC was obviously meant to represent a White Woman.

It felt like Wang was trying to make a statement about every single conceivable kind of oppression that’s ever existed, when it would have been more impactful with a slightly tighter focus. Obviously, the White Man™️ is the sole catalyst for all suffering - this point was beaten & emphasized over and over and over again. Let me be clear - I AGREE! But the writing lacked eloquent prose and graceful exploration of this. For example, <spoiler> was the attempted sexual assault scene necessary? It’s obvious that in a patriarchal society, sexual assault will be an intrinsic issue and could have been kept off-page. Secondarily, the conversations between FMC and Thomill/Carra were so blatant - like Wang took conversations of race and White guilt directly off of TikTok and placed them on the page.

ASLO, I am desperately begging authors to stop writing FMC’s whose first instincts are to either cry or vomit. Why do I have to read about you sputtering and spewing chunks?? </spoiler>

I guess I was holding out for creative prose and the je ne sais quois that I felt in SoK. Unfortunately, BOBH left me feeling like I had read “The Impacts of White Colonialism 101.”

This was rich, intense, and absolutely gripping. The worldbuilding was detailed and layered, with a dark academic twist that gave everything a sharp edge. The characters were compelling, and the themes hit hard in all the right ways. It felt smart and powerful, with a story that stuck with me. Dark, magical, and unforgettable.

Blood Over Bright Haven is a standalone dark academia fantasy by M. L. Wang. Released 29th Oct 2024 by Penguin Random House on their Del Rey imprint, it's 448 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook format. Paperback due out in early 3rd quarter 2025 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

There are some problematic mechanics in this narrative. There's a redemption arc which relies very heavily on a "white savior" character's magnanimity fighting the racist/misogynistic structure from within. The entire book is undeniably very well written, but the conflict is off, the romantic subplot between the oppressor and oppressed is off, and the denouement and resolution feel off.

Comparisons abound to Kuang's Babel, and though both are beautifully written, this book suffers by comparison because of the fundamental power structure problems and unresolved dynamics.

For sensitive readers, the book is full of blood and violence, sexual assault, deep/violent misogyny and racism, horrifying colonialism, slavery, rough language. Despite the aforementioned issues, it really is wonderfully well written and the world building is original with an impressively intricate magical system.

Four stars. It would be a good choice for public or home library, buddy read, or possibly as an SF/Fantasy book club selection. (*LOTS* of meaty discussion material here).

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

An intriguing world and magic system. Complex characters with a polarizing female main character. Overall well written and engaging. Any epic fantasy