💥💥 Book Review 💥💥

Blood over Bright Haven
By M.L. Wang
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars

Blood Over Bright Haven is a great stand-alone fantasy novel. This book wasn’t what I thought which is good. This book is deep in dark academia which bubbles all through the book and pops at the end. The magic system is very interesting in ways the author integrates it in the social commentary of gender and sexism. World building is huge in this novel and everything revolves around it. The beginning of the book was slow. It didn’t pick up until the last 25% of the book. This book works through Sciona Freynan’s emotions- through one self and through everyone else. Overall this was a good book.

I want to thank NetGalley and Del Ray for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

This book had an extremely unique magic system. I enjoyed the focus on the gods and appreciated Sciona's struggle over what the right thing to do is, when that conflicts with her society's religious system. A lot of fantasy books don't include religions, so I appreciated that this highly advanced magical society is also very religious.

Thank you to the publisher for an ARC.

This was a pretty enjoyable book for me. I loved the overall themes of the heavy sexism in the academic environment and also in the patriarchal society, and with the underlying theme of racism that grew and grew until it was the foremost theme by the second half of the book.

The beginning of the book, the sexism was pretty heavy and almost thrown at you. I almost found it to be in poor taste as I like my issues to be more on the subtle side and displayed through interactions rather than the author spelling it out for you, but alas, I held on. After it was dished out to you, there was also heavy info-dumping about the magic system and the different study fields in the High Magistry. It took me a while to catch on, but again, I pushed through. Once we got past these overloading bits, the book went by a lot more smoothly.

We follow Sciona as she's trying to help discover a way to revolutionize their "mapping" system that would help with the overall barrier expansion project going on. She's forced to take on a Kwen as her lab assistant, and while she's irritated by such a move that was most heavily triggered by sexism but also with a bit of racism, she makes the better of her situation and teaches Thomil how their magic system works so that he doesn't hold her back and can actually help her. It's established that the Kwen who come from outside the Tiran barriers are beneath the Tiranish people, and usually work lowly jobs at half-liveable wages with miserable conditions. The racism is implanted through their religious workings which is very much synonymous with the way Christianity/Catholicism worked (in the overall scheme of things) and how they treated others.

Now, someone who isn't religious; who stepped a little in the science environment academia-wise; and comes from a minority ethnic group -- this book was very heavily spot on. Now as a history major, I can spot so many references to different ideologies and events that actually happened, where the author took heavy inspiration from. It was almost like a copy and paste from history itself but with her own twist to make it very much readable.

The one thing I very much liked about this was that it was told from the POV of an oppressor, Sciona. Going into it with all the heavy sexism, you might not think that she would be an oppressor, especially when she's so open to teaching Thomil about the Tiranish magic ways and trying to "educate" him, but I really loved this part. I very much related to Thomil and his way of thinking, how he argued against the Tiranish religion with logic that the Tiranish could not comprehend, a logic that they claimed could only be understood by God and you shouldn't question his ways. I loved watching Sciona discover the truths about what was going on within her home, the way she herself contributed to the issue (even if it was unintentional and unknowingly), and watching her character grow into someone I loved and respected by the end.

The only thing I will say about this book that I didn't exactly love was the, again, very much in-your-face sexism, and Sciona being kind of theatrical. There were scenes where I felt like she was channeling her inner maniac and I wasn't exactly vibing with it, but it's whatever. This was such a good read.

**Dark Academia at Its Finest: Why *Blood Over Bright Haven* Should Be Your Next Read**

Dark, gripping, and unputdownable, M.L. Wang’s *Blood Over Bright Haven* is the kind of book that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. Even if you’re not familiar with the dark academia subgenre, this is a must-read for anyone who loves stories that challenge conventions while delivering edge-of-your-seat storytelling. Beyond its addictive plot, the book fearlessly tackles weighty topics like imperialism, racism, and gender inequality without sacrificing entertainment.

### A City Shrouded in Magic and Secrets

Welcome to Tiran, a city encased in a magical Barrier that shields its privileged citizens from the chaos beyond. Inside, magic fuels industrialization, offering comfort to those fortunate enough to belong. But refugees from the outside world—driven to Tiran by the deadly Blight, a horrifying force that dissolves bodies to blood—are relegated to factory drudgery and treated as disposable. Beyond the city walls? Survival is all but impossible.

At the heart of this intricate world is Sciona Freynan, a fiercely ambitious woman determined to become Tiran’s first female highmage. Her brilliance and single-minded dedication should make her a shoo-in, but in a world that devalues women’s potential, her gender becomes an insurmountable obstacle. Sciona’s journey is a masterclass in ambition clashing with systemic injustice, and her drive to succeed makes her a protagonist you’ll alternately root for and fear.
Expect the Unexpected

Without spoiling too much, Wang’s storytelling shines as she peels back layers of Tiran’s seemingly perfect façade, exposing the sinister truths behind its magic and the mysterious Otherrealm it draws from. The book revels in dark academia’s signature blend of intellectual intrigue and moral ambiguity. Just when you think you’ve figured things out, *Blood Over Bright Haven* delivers twists that leave you reeling.

Complex Characters, High Stakes

Sciona isn’t the only standout in this tale. Thomil, a Kwen refugee, provides a compelling counterpoint to her ambition. Through his eyes, readers see the stark inequities of Tiran’s society and the high cost of the privilege Sciona so desperately craves. Their dynamic is charged with tension, potential romance, and a deeper exploration of power imbalances—making every interaction between them crackle with intensity.

And let’s not forget the magic system. Wang’s approach feels as logical and structured as coding, yet it remains infused with wonder. It’s one of the most elegant and satisfying systems I’ve come across, blending creativity with precision to complement the story’s themes perfectly.

Bold, Unforgiving, and Emotional

This isn’t just a book about magical exams and societal change—it’s an emotional rollercoaster that doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable truths. The second half, in particular, burns with righteous anger, propelling both characters and readers toward a breathtaking conclusion. The ending is bold, unexpected, and utterly unforgettable, proving once again that M.L. Wang isn’t afraid to break hearts in the service of her story.

A Few Quibbles

No book is perfect, and *Blood Over Bright Haven* has its share of minor flaws. Some characters, particularly one antagonist, feel a bit underdeveloped, and certain narrative shortcuts might bother more critical readers. That said, these issues pale in comparison to the sheer emotional weight and narrative daring of the book as a whole.

Why You Should Read It

Clocking in at a concise yet powerful 120,000 words, *Blood Over Bright Haven* delivers a complete story packed with suspense, drama, and action. It deftly weaves themes of gender injustice, racism, and faith into a plot brimming with twists and moral complexity. If you’re looking for a story that challenges expectations while keeping you glued to the page, this is it.

So go ahead, dive into the magical, brutal world of Tiran. But fair warning: you won’t come out unscathed. And that’s the beauty of it.

This is the book that I wanted Babel to be.

“In order to avoid being a stepping stone, she has made herself into a boot.”

This is a terrific referendum on the corruption of power and on culpability for transgressions committed in ignorance rather than malice, laid atop a well-plotted piece of Dark Academia.

The atmosphere here is more dystopian than Dark Academia-ish, but I loved the academics of the actual magic, and of the characters’ training and application. Even the moral quandaries of the story are presented and debated academically, and, I think correctly navigated ethically without becoming preachy and idealized.

It’s an interesting study of who has access to power and how they wield it, as well as of the multi l-layered implications of trying to be ethical and weighing the greater good vs. the personal good.

It’s a smart rendering of all of the above, plus it’s just a darn good story. Wang’s writing and world building somehow made this brutal and thought-provoking plot feel cozy in a way, and I loved the highly academic spirit of the characters’ work and ethics.

Brilliant! I read this book with zero expectations and wow, I was just blown away. I don't want to say too much, because I feel this is a book that one should come in knowing the least about, in order to experience the full impact, but I truly enjoyed this one. And will definitely be getting it for our collection!

Thanks to Del Rey for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!!

This was my first M.L. Wang novel, and I had a solid time with this one. I have a love-hate relationship to Sciona: her optimistic view of the world was both endearing and irritating, and her strong racist remarks about the Kwen people made my blood boil. It was quite slow in the beginning in terms of explaining the world, its magic, and history; plus, it took a while for me to truly warm up to Sciona. I decided to trust M.L. Wang's process to see what she had in store for Sciona, and it was mostly worth it in the end. The themes of white feminism, racism, patriarchy, and colonisation were told to us than shown, which was the weakest part in this story (minus the pacing). Such themes are important and well-written, but it was tiring to be spoon-fed this over and over again, especially since it took Sciona a while to wrap her head around humanizing the Kwen.

Nonetheless, it worked out in the end and wraps up quite well as a standalone. This is definitely meant for fans of BABEL but with more fantasy and less linguistics. Check it out if you haven't already.

This was a truly wonderful standalone novel. I needed a standalone to break up reading long series after LONG series, and I really enjoyed The Sword of Kaigen when I read it a few years ago, so I decided this could be exactly what I was looking for (and it was).

This book deals with a lot of heavy and socially charged themes such as legacy, family, sacrifice, patriarchy, and prejudice like gender injustice and misogyny. Ambition, social status, and racism are some other key themes explored in this book, and ML Wang handles them with mastery.

There is intense world building throughout the book, and a truly unique and complex magic system that gives me extreme Fullmetal Alchemist vibes.

All in all this was a solid standalone Dark Academia and I would definitely recommend it to those that enjoy Adult Fantasy without a strong romance factor!

4.5 stars! I loved The Sword of Kaigen, so I was really excited to read this one! I thought the magic system was really well fleshed out and unique. I appreciated how there wasn’t much info dumping when it came to the magic system and world building. Sciona infuriated me most of the book, but I thought her character development was really well done by the end. Thomil’s silent rage throughout the book was palpable. Wang is really good at writing deeply flawed characters. I did predict the major plot twist, but I didn’t predict anything that would happen after. I did struggle quite a bit with the pacing, it definitely dragged in the middle for me. I finished this one in two days because it got to the point where at the 65% mark I could not put it down!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

ML Wang has secured herself as an auto-buy author for me for sure. I can’t wait to see what she produces next.

As for this novel, in the state of US politics and the chaos that is ensuing, this book could not have been more relevant. ML Wang has an amazing talent of making you really hate the villain and aligning with the MC even when the morals may be a little undefined. The way she blended magic into this world with racism, feminism, misogyny, violence, religion and politics was truly amazing.

The question here is did all the bad guys die? Or did one of the good ones die? Food for thought for sure.

SPOILER ALERT——

I only rated this 4.5 and not 5 stars bc of the fate of the MC. I understood the creative nuance but the vengeful human in me wanted her to be able to watch her destruction occur in full and be standing on the other side victorious. That isn’t life though is it?

A dark academia fantasy rife with corrupt racist, classist, mysogynistic & sexist political/religious intrigue. A unique magics system. Perfect for fans of Babel, although I found this book much more enjoyable and easier to follow.

Blood Over Bright Haven is the first book I've read by M.L. Wang, and it blew my mind. Dare I call it a masterpiece?

Blood Over Bright Haven is a standalone dark academia fantasy that brilliantly tackles themes of systemic prejudice - particularly, institutionalized racism and misogyny and their intersection with capitalism and class hierarchies, settler colonialism, and the danger of letting a corrupt system corrupt you - of becoming the very thing you hate. Our main characters are Sciona, the first female highmage in Tiran's history, and Thomil, a janitor from outside the bounds of Tiran, who belongs to a race the Tiran call the "Kwen" and deem to be inferior. Sciona is sidelined by her sexist male peers, and instead of being given her own assistant, is assigned Thomil instead. The unlikely pairing delves deep into the bowels of Tiran's magic, and in the process discover an incredibly dark and horrifying secret.

This book is written in an incredibly fast-paced manner, with a dark and action-packed prologue that grips you from the start and doesn't let go until the explosive end. The characters are complicated, at times ugly (especially Sciona), and always real. While the themes may seem on the nose or obvious at first, as the narrative continues, there are more and more layers of commentary that unfold, and more shades that are revealed of the experience of existing within such corrupt systems. The only thing I would have changed is making the "traitor mage" they reference from the past a woman instead, and this perhaps being the reason no female highmages have before or after been admitted into the Magistry (until Scinoa). If you read this, you'll understand why this would have thematically really tied things together even more, but I'll say nothing more than this at the moment to avoid spoilers.

All in all, I cannot recommend this book more highly. Blood Over Bright Haven was an absolutely brilliant book that had me in a chokehold the entire time I was reading it and still hasn't let go of me. Bravo to M.L. Wang. I will definitely be picking up The Sword of Kaigen soon.

Blood Over Bright Haven is a standalone fantasy that absolutely deserves its immense hype! It is a magical, thought-provoking, and deeply emotional book that explores how cultures can be stolen and crushed by those in power. It also addresses sexism, racism, toxic academia, and our role in perpetuating cruelty to keep the status quo.

It’s rare that a standalone fantasy novel can have a fully realized setting, complex and layered characters, AND a compelling plot. What this book does in less than 450 pages is truly remarkable!

The city of Tiran is a beautiful, bustling center of wealth and prosperity, a technological marvel made possible by magic. It is an island of light and warmth surrounded by the freezing, deadly outerlands plagued by Blight.

Sciona is determined to become the first woman ever accepted into the High Magistry at the University of Magics and Industry. She finds herself forming an unlikely friendship with her assistant, a man who was born outside of Tiran’s magical barrier. Together, they will uncover a secret that has been hidden from the people of Tiran - one that challenges everything Sciona believes.

I thoroughly enjoyed M.L. Wang’s Blood Over Bright Haven. It was not an easy read, but a thought provoking one. If you’re looking for a light read, I would not recommend this. But I do highly recommend this book. I recommend it for people wanting to fight, especially after what has happened in the US.

My favorite aspect of this book is how thought provoking it is. I do not often read books with main characters as heavily flawed and honestly unlikable at times as Sciona. However, her story arc brings up the question of whether people can truly be redeemed/change as a person. Also, I am not a religious person nor have I ever been, so I could not entirely resonate with the religious themes of the story, but I did find them very intriguing.

How do you handle your belief in your religion crumbling? How can something so wrong be “God’s will?”

Overall, this was an amazing read. I loved the world building and the plot.

Thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Blood Over Bright Haven follows Sciona who wants to be admitted to the High Magistry as the first female highmage. Upon admission, she is treated horribly by her peers and assigned an assistant who her peers view as low in class. The assistant, Thomil, is Kwen which is a race who live in the slums, suffer from various stereotypes, and are seen as cannibalistic inbreds. While devising a spell to expand the borders of Tiran, Sciona discovers the horrible truth of how the city siphons its energy for power. She works closely with her assistant on how to handle the truth and fight for those who need it.

THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD!!! I could not put it down. I loved the world of magic and the author's storytelling. You really feel for Sciona and Thomil. I was enraged at how the Kwen and Sciona were treated. You find yourself really rooting for them. I can't recommend this book enough.

Thank you to Random House Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Everything that I want to say about this book feels like it's not enough. The very first chapter, when I had spent all of four minutes getting to know the characters, had me bent over, crying in rage. This book very eloquently depicts so many relevant issues that can be hard to contextualize in real life. M. L. Wang accurately describes the issues with a vertical moral system, that even the worst crimes can be justified for someone delusional enough to believe they have the divine approval to do so. There are so many parts of this story that we can see echoed in our own lives in a horribly painful way. This story is invaluable, and is without a doubt one of the best and most moving books I have ever read. I will recommend this book to everyone I know, and I will be talking about it for years to come.

I have deep dove into a full blown fantasy in a while. I forgot how immersed you can feel. This story was so well rounded, so well thought out, the magic system, the religion, the mage system, the oppression of woman, the oppression of classes of people. Maybe this was a super weird time for me to read this with the political climate the way it is but dang did some of Sciona's issue just hit hard. Her trying to make her way in a man's world., her learning her neat and tidy world isn't really what she thinks it is. When I first started reading I thought this was going to be quick and easy "go girl" fantasy where she was going to fix all the wrong in the world and get the guy. (you know per romtanacy with a kick ass girl mage). The story didn't go that way though.
Sciona's character had not growth, she was a kick ass female mage with a static iron view of magic and wanting to make her name known. She never changed and she did exactly what she wanted at every turn for better or for worse. That takes a certain type of person. I am not sure I really connected with her. She seemed very rigid in her thinking; she seemed set in her ways. I am not saying I don't agree with what she did, but what a way to end a book.
I loved Thomil. I love his bravery, the way he loved his family, his niece. He was so smart which made him such a great ally for Sciona. I loved his story arc, and I love the ending with his story.
I am not really sure who to recommend this book too. It was a very unique fantasy but not for the epic fantasy lovers that want to be apart of every part of the world. this was a one and done story. It isn't a romance, it doesn't' have the adventure, found family vibes that happen in other fantasy stories. It almost reads like a history novel Full of details, and complex magic systems, tons of history but very little character Developpement... It didn't have whimsical or magical feeling. it felt dark, almost depressing to read, and teh ending was over the top crazy.
The book deserve a high rating for the really well done story.and that is what my star rating is on.

When a fantasy novel or series makes you pause and think about real world issues without being too overt about it, I’m always a fan. Fantasy is usually a genre people look to for an escape from reality, but I think we can also use it as a mirror for real world issues. Blood Over Bright Haven does that effectively and elegantly. I think this is one of the most timely books I’ve read in 2024. I felt swept away to this fantasy world while also thinking and feeling deeply about my own.

Sciona is the first female mage ever to be admitted to the high magistrate in Tiran’s history. In her city of Tiran, which they call “God’s Bright Haven”, mages are responsible for using their powers to keep the city safe and the lights on. Outside the city’s magical barrier is a barren wilderness where humans fight for survival against The Blight. Thomil is one survivor from beyond the barrier, and now serves the city’s mages as a lowly janitor. But when he is promoted to Sciona’s lab assistant, the two of them begin to uncover a conspiracy that could collapse their world as they know it.

This standalone story packs a punch with themes like morality, sexism, classism, feminism, colonialism, and the pursuit of knowledge and truth. Wang artfully draws you in immediately and by the end of the second chapter I was fully invested in the story and the world. I’m impressed with how succinctly she was able to accomplish this when other books take multiple chapters to achieve this. The pacing was excellent, especially for a 400-page novel! And the plot twists! I had my jaw on the floor at one point and I feel like I was kept guessing until the final pulse-pounding chapters. How refreshing to read a fantasy novel that tackles timeless themes while staying original and exciting.

The cast of characters is just the right size and perfectly developed. Sciona is a complex, flawed, yet brave character that I couldn’t help but fall in love with. Thomil is also a character I couldn’t help but love, and I was pleased to see that he did not fall prey to some of the more trope-y cliches.

Bottom line: this is a book I could go on for days about. But I think it’s best to go in with just a little bit of information about the book. This is a fantasy book that anyone and everyone can and should read. 10/5 for being one of the best books of 2024

Deepest gratitude and thanks to the publisher Random House and NetGalley for the wonderful opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang is a gripping fantasy with rich world-building and complex characters. The story blends magic, politics, and personal struggles, keeping you hooked with its vivid writing and emotional depth. The characters are well-developed, each with their own flaws and growth, making them feel real and relatable.

The pacing is just right, balancing action with character development. If you love high-stakes fantasy and intriguing plots, this book is a must-read and a fantastic start to an exciting series.

This book was perfect. It had female rage. It had classism. It showed how even the most well intentioned people will uphold a system that benefits them, even if they feel guilt about it. Everything about this is perfection.

I loved the relationship between Sciona and Thomil. The balance of power between the two, the complexity of both of them having privilege of the other was so beautiful explored.

Seriously, people need to read this ASAP.