Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Sciona has one dream. She wants to be the first woman to become a highmage. When her dream becomes a reality, it’s only the beginning of Sciona’s crazy story. Living in Tiran, Sciona has fought tooth and nail to prove herself. She’s worked twice as hard, twice as long, and twice as much as any man. But the men in the magistry will always look down on her because she was born with the wrong chromosomes. The insult continues when Sciona is given an assistant who was the current janitor in her building. Unwilling to back down, she accepts the Kwen man, Tomil, within her ranks. As she works desperately to impress the high magistry, Sciona is assigned to the biggest project in her lifetime; expanding the border of Tiran and protect the people from the ever destructive blight. The further Sciona and Tomil dig to find answers the more their lives begin to change.

This book was tremendously fast paced. Every chapter had me turning to page to the next one with a desperate need to know what happens next. I’ve never hated a main character so much but had to know what happens next. Sciona was so eager to be right all the time. But it really poses a big question; does the main character have to be likable to make a book amazing? I had so many thoughts throughout this book that weren’t directly spoken in the book! When does “helping” go from assisting to saviorism? Is the author’s intent to highlight this for a specific reason? Is Sciona a martyr? I have so many questions M.L. Wang!!! Overall, I give this book a 4.5/5 stars. I love this story and the plot twist made me audibly gasp and put a knot in my stomach to the point I had to stop reading but I’m really questioning what the “between the lines” goal was here.

4.5 stars. I read this in one sitting and want to read it over again. You know that something is deeply wrong in Tiran, and you can probably guess what it is, but the reveal still hurt so much. I've seen lots of comps to Babel, for good reason.

What I liked:
- Sciona's journey. She starts out as a rather unlikeable but ambitious main character, and has a strong growth arc. There's a strong message about propaganda here too.
- The magic system is complicated and at the beginning, confusing, but you kind of go on a journey with Thomil figuring it out.
- Dark academia that's actually a critique of academia!
- The imagery
- Programming as magic

What I didn't like:
- There were so many times I almost felt an allegory to the Roman empire, but it wasn't fully fleshed out. I would love to see a historian who studies frontier zones in the ancient world analyze this book.
- The villains were so villainous. Like there's no redeeming any of them, and it fell flat given how well everything else was constructed.

I expected to like this more than I did, which is a sentiment I shared with The Sword of Kaigen. It's a good book, don't get me wrong, with interesting characters, an engaging plot, and great, thought-provoking commentary, but ultimately I felt something was lacking.

Thank you Netgalley/Del Rey for the ARC.

blood over bright haven was a beautifully written masterpiece of a book. ML Wang is an incredible writer and this book brought out so many emotions in me. i loved it so much and i can't stop thinking about it. thank you for the opportunity to read it!

I have been in a bit of a reading slump, but finally getting the urge to finish Blood over Blood Haven by M. L. Wang. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballentine/Del Rey for this advanced reading copy for my honest review.

I was not disappointed! I finished this with the help of the audiobook, but I will say the struggle was not easy! I have come to notice that I am not an audiobook girlie. I fell asleep too many times to count and lost my place. I read too fast for the narration and kept losing my place and had to reread everything, so I sped it up but felt like it was doing too much. I, myself, was all over the place. I will say the audiobook brought the story to life in a way that I couldn’t. The Scottish accents and the fiery spirit of Carra reminded me of the main character in the movie Brave.

There were so many layers to this book to uncover! Elements of the book remind me of Mortal Engines and His Dark Materials. The author’s ability to be so descriptive with the world-building and idealism of a magical system the individuals in the book cared so much about and didn’t wonder who it harmed. I loved Sciona and Thomlin! I loved how, no matter what Thomlin had been through, he stayed true to himself and his ability to change Sciona’s thought process. Without giving too much away, I highly suggest you pick it up if interested!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for access to this book in exchange for my honest review! I kept pushing this book down on my TBR list since it was a re-release, and I am so upset that I did that because it was SO GOOD! This was somewhere between a 4.0-4.5/5.0 read for me. I really enjoyed the story and was surprised at multiple points in the book. It was a very well written book with a solid plot that kept me interested the whole way through. I read a lot of romantasy novels so it was actually really nice to read something a little different. Would definitely read another one of M.L. Wang's fantasy books again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the e-book copy!

Blood Over Bright Haven is an epic story following the first woman ever admitted to a prestigious order of mages. While there she uncovers a secret conspiracy that could change their magic and the world as they know it. I recently read this author's previous work and enjoyed it so I went into this with high expectations. This did not disappoint at all. The main character, Sciona, goes through the stages of grief as she has to decide how to expose this new information. She knows it could lead to turmoil but is willing to let it happen to seek greater piece. One thing I'm noticing about this author is that they love to cram everything in so the audience won't feel left out. In this setting, I can say less could have been more since a lot that was discussed did not get a proper resolution. Despite that, I do think this novel is worth the read, and it is definitely one of my favorites of the year.

I really wanted to love this book but it just wasn’t for me. It wasn’t bad, just wasn’t for me. The world building was a bit confusing and I just couldn’t get into the story because of it.

Oh, man, was that intense.

Blood over Bright Haven by ML Wang is a masterclass in world-building and character depth. From the outset, the story introduces a plethora of names that I initially struggled to keep straight. I even took a few notes to help me track the characters. As it turns out, every name is important, and Wang does a phenomenal job of keeping each one fresh in the reader’s mind.

Each chapter is carefully crafted, sprinkling hints of the past and offering glimpses into the character's inner workings. These elements gradually build a bigger picture of the heart-wrenching future awaiting them.

Central to the story are the newly minted Highmage Sciona in the patriarchal utopian city of Tiran, and Thomil a lowly Kwen janitor turned assistant. Sciona, driven by ambition and ego, often makes ignorant off-handed comments about Thomil’s people that creates a hostile wedge and very little sympathy from the reader. It's a bitter irony, given that Sciona frequently comments on the perceived inferiority of others, all the while complaining that others do not see her as a scientist but as “just” a woman. This book navigates a world where sexism, xenophobia, colonialism, and conspiracy run rampant, and affects everyone in its path.

This book was not a quick read for me. The unexpected depth of conversations and intricate sections required moments of reflection. I found myself going back to reread paragraphs and conversations to fully grasp their deeper meanings. There were times when I held my breath as I turned the pages, engrossed in the intense narrative only to come to a section where the author weaved in a moment of humor, to allow me to catch my breath.

Blood over Bright Haven is a standalone novel that tackles themes, analogies, science, philosophy, and hard truths. It’s the kind of book that will have your head spinning for weeks, if not months, afterward. Every word and ridiculous situation captivated me, making this a memorable and thought-provoking read.

M.L Wang truly brought back the magic of a good book. Blood Over Bright Haven was so enthralling and unique that it reminded me of how it felt to be a kid, reading classics like Harry Potter or The Lightning Thief for the first time.

Sciona was masterfully written, her rage relatable. She was fully fleshed out and multi-faceted. I could not get enough! Aiming to become the first woman Highmage in a highly patriarchal society, she experienced many disheartening moments that I believe most women can relate to.

Wang's storytelling was nothing short of masterful, Blood Over Bright Haven deserves a total 5 stars!!

This ARC has been sitting in my queue for a while and I finally found the time to start it and boy did I pick the perfect time! This is a dark academia with a unique magic system and only a touch of romance. This story really focuses on Sciona and her single, minded focus on her goals and dreams, to become the first female high mage. This sounds like an achievable goal until you see the absolute crap show of a misogynistic patriarchy to overcome. To complicate matters further, Sciona discovers a long covered up secret that could destroy their entire world or at the very least get her and her janitor turned lab assistant killed.

This story is such a great example of women overcoming all odds and doing what they feel is right, not just what they’re told to do. The way the author shows the struggles of natives, in a world that seems to hate them, is also fascinating. Thomil is a wonderful example of a loving, caring male, determined to take care of the people around him. When presented in contrast to the rest of the society around them, its startlingly reassuring to know there are still good ones out there. This whole story was a quick, hard to put down, fast moving story that you should definitely add to you list.

Read this if you like:
➡️ Unique Magic System
➡️ Girl Boss Energy
➡️ Positive Native Representation
➡️ Dark Academia
➡️ Low Spice
➡️ Neurodivergent Representation
➡️ Stand Alone

⭐⭐⭐⭐

#BloodOverBrightHaven #MLWang #DarkAcadamia #StandAlone #Romantasy #NetGalley

After reading this I immediately went to my local book store and bought a copy. ML Wang has done it again! This was a complete masterpiece. This had a dark academia vibe but the magic system was chefs kiss. The story telling and plot was perfectly paced. 4.8 stars!!!

Blood Over Bright Haven is, on its face, a story of magic - a magic controlled by equations. But this story is much deeper than that. Sciona is a mage in training, preparing for the test that will make her a highmage - a member of the ruling council of mages. She lives in Tiran, a walled city designed to keep its residents safe from the Blight, a bright white light that literally disassembles those it touches, but which can't get through the city's wards. The Tiranese society is tiered, with men at the top, then women and children, and finally the Kwen - people from outside Tiran, who fled from communities decimated by the Blight, allowed into Tiran as the working class, the lowest-class citizens in the city, derided for their different culture and religion.

The novel begins with Sciona being tested for a place in the High Magistry, an organization of 100 highmages, all currently male, who conduct research, control the flow of magic, and direct the course of Tiran - for the benefit of the city, they say, but really for their own benefit and advancement. But there is a dark secret at the heart of their magic, a secret that is shared with those in power - one that Sciona will discover on her own, too quickly to be able to assume the blasé attitude toward this secret that the rest of the High Magistry and the other rules of the city hold, a secret that will upend her society and its class system. Recommended for teens and adults.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a pretty good fantasy book that weaved in really deep subjects, like: women’s rights, religion and spirituality, social equality, and right versus wrong. The magic in this book is really complicated, utilizing both math and science. I had a hard time following, because of this. I have science-based degrees, but I like to not think while I read. That being said, I was drawn to Sciona and Thomlin. I enjoyed the twists and turns. I enjoyed Sciona’s character development and spiritual journey. Without adding spoilers I was shocked with the ending and can’t wait for book 2.

Has anyone seen my words?

I can’t seem to find the right ones necessary to express my feelings about BLOOD OVER BRIGHT HAVEN.

I was blown away by the storytelling, the way the plot builds into something that almost leaps off the pages, the character development, and the emotions it all elicits. I loved how deeply layered this story is, the depth, and the magnitude.

I want to talk about all the things, but all the things are spoilers. So, where words fail, throw all the stars.

*I received a free eARC from Del Rey, via NetGalley. But I also pre-ordered the hardcover for my shelf. I alternated reading between the two.*

I LOVED this book. The story of a woman fighting for her dream in a male dominated world and discovering that her dream wasn't quiet what it seemed while developing a connection with a similarly marginalized group was very compelling and I poured over this book till the very last page. There are a few things that I wish could have been explored further such as the MC's family dynamics as well as more about life outside of the city. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I really enjoyed the world building in this stand alone, dark fantasy. M. L. Wang keeps readers engaged with this engaging and interesting story.

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own. In full transparency, I had previously purchased the kindle version prior to this book being acquired by Del Rey and republished, but I hadn't read it yet.

This was fantastic. I had heard great things from the book community about how awesome ML Wang was, and I'm so glad I finally got to experience it for myself. This follows Sciona, a talented mage, where women are not permitted to rise past certain stations. Her mentor sees her abilities and has petitioned the council to allow her to become the first female highmage. Her acceptance as highmage is not well received, despite her talent, but she is determined to show her peers and elders what she can do. Saddled with an inferior assistant on her first day, she begins working on a revolutionary spell that expand magic use and cement her place as a mage.

Thomil is a janitor, and now Sciona's assistant. He is a refugee from land outside of the "barrier". His people have come to Tiran to escape the blight and are looked at as less than human. He is the last of his family and the last of his tribe. He has done what was needed to survive since crossing the barrier, but as he works with Sciona they uncover the secrets of the barriers and the cost of the magic.

This is really hard to review without spoiling. This was so engaging. It had wonderful world building and character development. Sciona was such a great character. She was stubborn and focused. When faced with information that was devastating or contrary to her expectations or beliefs, she raged then as any good scientist would she investigated and confronted that information. She learns and grows, and she has emotions not like a woman but like a human. I appreciated that she had sounding boards in her aunt and cousin and in Thomil. They didn't hesitate to call her out when she was being ridiculous. Thomil also has to learn and grow, but he has to hide his true nature to survive in a place that hates his existence. There is alot of great social commentary in this book and I thought it was really well done and balanced by the fantasy elements. We get a good explanation of how the magic system works, and I really thought it was very creative. We also get to understand how it effects those outside of the barrier and the moral implications of magic use. It was kind of brilliant on the author's part.

I appreciated that this is a standalone instead of a drawn out series. It is a bit on the long side but I never felt like the pace dragged. I was invested for the entirety of the book. I don't mind a long book when the pacing and plot keep me invested, which this did. I thought this book was incredibly well balanced, and I was always trying to find a moment to get back to it around life's other responsibilities. I absolutely loved this book!

And the winner for most traumatizing opening chapter I've read this year goes to... this book! No spoilers of course but oof this one tries to get waterworks out of people from the get-go.

Sciona and Thomil as protagonists are well rounded and realistic. There is no shying away from character's saying ugly and awful statements. In that way, Wang creates realistic depictions of people without the veneer of kindness that authors who want their characters to be liked often employ.

The setting here is my favorite style: a fusion of magic, technology, and high academia (hence this book's length).

Casual xenophobia, racism, and culture erasure are rife in the world of this book. Rhetoric that is beyond depressingly similar to that of our reality tossed around.

So make no mistake, this isn't a fun read but it is a necessary one nonetheless. I was blindsided by how horrific the structure of this world is- but of course no spoilers.

I can see why this book got so many raving reviews! The characters were unique and relatable, the story touched on relevant topics, and the magic system was unlike anything I've seen before.

Sciona grew up in a world of men telling her she couldn't, only to be welcomed into the highest ranks of mages. Thomil escaped the magic blight imposed on his homeland and squashed down all of himself to fit into the society around him and survive while being persecuted for something he had no say in. And together they made up the fiercest magic team that ultimately remade the world around them.

The world of Blood Over Bright Haven does something few authors have done: scienced magic in a way that gives the whole story a more real-world feel. Not to mention the sociopolitical foundations that feed the entire plot. From racial to gender to religious inequality there were so many criticisms on today's world that it shows just why reading is a political venture.

I will say that this book throws a lot of information your way very quickly that you might need to stop several times and digest everything the same way I did. The story as a whole was quite captivating. I loved the world-building and the brief hints of romance that we got to see between the main characters. I even loved the bittersweet ending that kept the characters true to themselves.

I will recommend this book with the warning that this book will make you think about the world around you in the big picture! So please go read it!