This was the perfect amount of high fantasy that was digestible and not intimidating. I have a habit of wanting to dive into fantasy, but never reach for it, for fear I will lose any key points that matter down the line. The book hangover I have been craving for a long time. 6 stars.

Whewwwwwww, Jesus.

I don’t know if I can even leave a review.

This is a gorgeous, uncomfortable, strange, haunting book. The plot structure is so unusual and interesting, like you can’t really predict where it’s gonna go. I cried 5-7 times, minimum. I can’t emphasize enough how much this is like, 70% atrocities. (Not in a gross trauma porn way, but like, it’s still really rough). The “main character” is ultimately lovable, but says (and does) some really messed up stuff.

Moira Quirk is so good at devastating audiobooks!

I will definitely be reading more M.L. Wang, but give me like, 48 business days.

I absolutely adored this book. It was so smart and thoughtful while also being well-written and engaging. It was one of my favorite books of the year. I really appreciated the main character's struggles and the political and social commentary throughout the book. On par with Babel and The Will of the Many.

Made me think constantly about my own privilege and the way that I take for granted things like my phone and computer. The magic system may have been completely messed up but it was also soooo interesting.

This is one of the best books I have read. The story is so good and even with its bitter sweet feeling it’s great. Even for fiction you can really feel the way that class, race , and gender all play into how this world was built and how it effects academia.

I may not have the most eloquent review but I simply enjoyed the journey of this book so much I had to have it on my shelf. The story development, characters growth, belief system, and the magic had me hooked.

4.5, rounded up. I absolutely LOVE the world-building here and wish M.L. Wang had more time to delve into it; however, I am satisfied with this as a standalone novel. Without getting into too many spoilers, I'm glad that Wang wrote the irredeemable characters as such so that the story wouldn't get tied up with a neat little bow. I do wonder, however, if she would write another book set in this world with a focus on the Kwen.

Blood Over Bright Haven deserves all the hype that it's gotten. It's incredibly well written with a fascinating magic system & underlying lessons that are more than relevant to our current society. I'm giving it 4/5 only because I was craving a happier ending, rather than a realistic one.

“It’s much easier to tell yourself you’re a good person than it is to actually be one.”

This is what it looks like when a fantasy novel tackles systemic rot with both teeth and nuance. Blood Over Bright Haven is sharp, unsettling, and thoughtful — a story that isn’t interested in easy answers but still dares to hope.
The setting is richly built, the magic system is genuinely inventive (magic via coded typewriters? amazing.), and the characters are captivating. Sciona’s arc is all grit and jagged growth — not a clean transformation, but a slow, furious awakening.
Wang isn’t afraid to dig into power, complicity, and consequence. The question of what matters more — intent or impact — weaves through the story without ever being reduced to a slogan. It lingers, gnaws, and forces you to look twice at your own logic.
This book is for readers who want their dark academia with bite — and brains. Wang doesn’t write to impress. She writes to interrogate.

Thank you NetGalley, RHPG-Del Rey, and M. L. Wang for my advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Incredible world-building and really interesting and believable characters and arcs. The writing was also really immersive and you had emotional stake in the story. Deserving of all the hype

Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This dark academia fantasy blew me away.
Sciona Freynan is the first woman admitted to the High Magistry and her journey is as brilliant as it is brutal. As she rises through a patriarchal magical university, she uncovers the dark truths behind the power structures holding her world together.

This book dives deep into themes of power, privilege, and systemic oppression but it never stops being gripping. Sciona's growth and her dynamic with Thomil (a former nomadic hunter turned janitor) added powerful layers about class, culture, and gender.

The world-building? Impeccable. The magic system? Complex and fresh.
The ending? Absolutely unforgettable.

If you love dark academia, morally grey magic, and fantasy that makes you think, this one is for you.

This one had an amazing start - and I was really enjoying the story in the first half. I was rooting for the characters and how they were tackling issues like racism, misogyny and sexism. But I felt like it lost steam in the second half and went a bit off track because that's a bummer. Also, I was super disappointed by that ending - while I don't always expect a happy ending in my reads, I'm not sure whether the actions of the protagonist matched her character.

I REALLY liked this one. The themes of racism, outsidership, & prejudice with a team of underclass folks working together to change their classist society through magic & mystery was exactly the kind of book I was looking for. A good one to read alongside NINTH HOUSE, LEGENDBORN, & BABEL.

Unfortunately, I did not finish this book. I had such high hopes for this book when I read the description, but it ultimately wasn't the story for me. I just couldn't connect with the main character, Sciona. Connecting to the protagonist is a big aspect of what keeps me reading. That being said, I think the writing itself was great and I understand why many people love this book.

Blood over brighthaven wrecked me in the best possible way. This is the book that breaks your heart but makes you fall in love with the torment and has you recommending it to all of your friends.

4.75 ⭐️

🤯🤯🤯

What an unforgettable story. Such an original magic system and world building and a tense. Truly makes you think especially during these times. I feel like there was just SOMETHING missing from this that kept me from a 5 star. But it was still my favorite read of the year.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing, and the author for a copy of this book.

This books was fantastic! Dark Academia? Check! World building? A 10/10! I can’t wait to read other books by M.L. Wang!

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.