I would rate this book three and a half stars. I thought the magic system was unique and so was the world. I’ve never read another book with a world like this one. I also enjoyed the writing and the characters. I loved the character development of the main character. How she was selfish in the beginning, but ended up giving up her life and legacy for others in the end was good character development. The reasoning for taking off one and a half stars was because I felt that the magic system was described in a bit too much detail. At times it felt like I was reading a school book because there was so much information. I also would have liked to see more of a build up between the two main characters. I didn’t feel their connection. With that being said I do think that this a unique book that stands out from others.

Thank you to Net Galley and Del Rey for the ARC. Unfortunately this was not the book for me. I love dark academia, but the academia here reminded me of my years in CS and programming, so that was not fun, and the magic system was not my taste, the way it was explained was so infodumpy. I don't mind reading books that tackle sexism and racism, its just that this book felt quite one dimensional while doing so, like this book felt like rage bait. There is so much racism and sexism going on in the book, so I felt mad reading this. And these are things which people definitely should be mad about. Its just not my taste to read books that only make me feel angry and nothing else. I think if I was aware that this book was grim dark, I would not have requested the ARC. I like a little hope and positivity in my reads. Also the dynamic between Sciona and Thomil pissed me off. I hate it when the racist character realizes racism is wrong due to the minority character opening the racist's eyes to the world. In the real world, minorities so often are expected to do the emotional labor of educating people, so I usually don't like seeing this narrative.

This book is so good, I loved every moment of it. This is a dark read and it has some pretty hard subject matter, so be warned and read the content warnings. From the very first chapter I was very much engaged in this story, and it only got better and better as it went along. I am still in shock that it is a standalone because I came to care about these characters and world so quickly. The author was able to get so much detail, world building, themes and atmosphere in such a short amount of time. I cannot give this book enough praise, I will be looking into other books written by this author ASAP.

Thanks to Netgalley and Del Rey for granting me access in exchange for an honest review.

How does one define being a good person? Is it by their intentions? Or by the consequences of their actions?

This story explored this concept and flipped it on its head. It was so raw and heart wrenching, and I loved it. This book is a dark academia fantasy story with a really technical magic system that made me think of a mix of coding and physics. It deals with heavy themes like oppression, misogyny, racism, sacrifice, and family. It was a really compelling story, and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.

Social injustices told through a fantasy novel? Absolutely! Wang weaves a tale of immense importance. There are socioeconomic classes, child labor, racism, and sexism.  No subject is not breached. The magic system is expertly explained fairly early in the story. With a strong female main character and an equally stubborn male main character, the chemistry is the roof. 

5 Stars

easily one of the best books i've read this year, maybe even one of the best books i've ever read. this was my first book by m. l. wang, and i'm so impressed that they were able to tell this story as a standalone with less than 450 pages. the story is incredibly powerful, beautiful, and heartbreaking. the ending was devastating, but also perfect. i have no notes, just praise.


thank you to netgalley and random house publishing group - ballantine | del rey for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!

M. L. Wang has created such an interesting world and magic system in Blood Over Bright Haven - it had me hooked instantly. It was honestly insanely difficult to put this book down. I wanted to know more about Thomil and I wanted to watch Sciona’s discoveries unfold on the page. I got both of those things as well as an incredibly rich and unsubtle commentary on our own world (and when I say unsubtle I mean it positively like Kuang’s Babel).

I think Wang made some really smart decisions when crafting this book that helped get her message across in incredibly frustrating ways. There were so many times while reading this that I got mad at the characters and their choices and their prejudices and that’s kind of the point of putting us in Sciona’s head in the first place. You get to feel every slow stride she takes towards understanding where perhaps her viewpoint on the Kwen and her fellow mages, her world and her magic, are wrong. It takes a long time to get her there, but it’s so nice to watch it happen.

I fully thought this was going to be an easy five-star read for me, but at some point it starts to unravel a little. The narration itself felt almost young adult in nature in a way I fully didn’t expect. The characters don’t act like teenagers, really, but the cadence and flow of the writing felt like it was catering to a younger audience. It also swayed between entirely in-world language that wouldn’t make sense until a second read (or in retrospect) and assuming the reader is a little stupid and over-explaining simple things. While I don’t think either of those things make this a bad book, they did bother me personally while I was reading it.

I also think the relationship that forms between Sciona and Thomil feels a little off. Between the power dynamics and the way that Sciona views not only him but his people for a large portion of this book leaves their relationship in an odd place that was a little uncomfortable to read at times. I don’t know, but I think too much pressure was put on this side plot when it didn’t need to be there in the way that it was at all.

The mix of magic and women in STEM and fighting institutional racism all in a dark academia-esque setting felt like this book was built of off buzzwords catered directly towards me and what I’ve been enjoying lately. And to be fully transparent, I really enjoyed reading this most of the time. It was fun. It just also fell a little short of what it could have been.

Huge thanks to Random House and NetGalley for this eARC given in exchange for an honest review.

I totally loved this fantasy book about magic. Along with a completely unique magic system, it also includes oppression, colonialism, and misogyny, enough to anger you. I was angry most of the book, then the end pretty much broke me. No HEA here.

Everything about this book was something to experience, from the well developed characters, the fantastic world building to the incredible storyline. This was my first M. L. Wang book but it certainly will not be my last. This book was just so good. I liked it so much I immediately went and bought my own copy.

I highly recommend to anyone who loves fantasy books, especially about magic, because this one was definitely different.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a problematic read for me in that it is extremely well written with nuanced and very flawed characters but was contrasted with overly heavy messaging about religion, colonialism, and sexism. I guess that in a way, I look to books for escape from those issues, not to be hit over the head with them in a different fantastical setting. This is a stand alone and not a series.

Story: Sciona is very gifted at creating the magic that infuses and runs the City. Unfortunately for her, as a woman the high mage positions have been historically closed to her. But with an influential high mage mentor supporting her application, she now has a chance to show her true skills and attain her goal. She will not be forced to become a man's wife and have no accomplishments of her own. What Sciona finds, though, is that the odds are still stacked against her and skill alone does not offset the disadvantage of her gender. Assigned an immigrant janitor for her assistant as an insult, she knows she has never needed help before and she won't be hindered now as a deadline draws near for her first big magic presentation.

First and foremost, everything is very well explained and full of depth. From the character personalities to the magic system, it all makes sense and is very grounded/organic. Sciona is driven, single minded, and a loner. Her janitor assistant is traumatized, subsisting, and existing only as a relic of the last of his tribe. Where she is idealistic and even simplistic in her single-mindedness, he is realistic and grounded. Their decisions make sense from those viewpoints and it all felt logical and right. Similarly, the magic system is well developed, robust, and not your typical Harry Potter point and say a spell.

Make no mistake, this is a mature novel. Not just for the exploration of the repression themes but also in terms of the characters not being overidealized - you'll cringe at Sciona's naivete at the same time feel the deep despair of her assistant, Thomil. This story really is a blueprint of 1700s/1800s colonialism - from the view of anyone not of their race as being subhuman and disposable to the sexism that forces women into roles of caretaker or wife.

But I cannot rate this 5 star despite the layering and nuance. The blueprint was too close to reality and felt like we are being beat over the head continuously about the ills of white male patriarchy in history. It kept pulling me out of the story in frustration since I wanted a fantasy, not a retelling of European colonization horrors. Also, admittedly, the magic system was a bit too well explained, leading to too many pages dedicated to lecturing or analyzing it.

So yes, this is a very well written book. Your enjoyment may depend more on your tolerance of soapboxing rather than the story or the characters. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

I received an arc of this book and woooowwwww this might be some of the most beautiful writing and story telling I’ve ever read. I was hooked immediately (and how can you not with that opener) and continued to love every moment. This book was not for the faint of heart, the themes were very heavy and just became more complicated as it progressed which created this incredible web of conflict. The character development was beautiful and to see Sciona’s mindset change, I almost want to reread just to fully realize how far she came. All of the characters were incredibly unique and the way that Sciona and Thomil interacted with respect for each others beliefs but pushed their boundaries was beautiful. I don’t have a negative thing to say about this story, I will definitely be reading more book by this author as this was my first. If you want incredible writing, a unique storyline and characters, with a side of emotional damage wrapped in a dark academia fantasy then this is for you.

4/5 ⭐️

Thanks to Del Ray Books and NetGalley for the eARC!

Once again, M.L. Wang has managed to pierce me right in the chest with the unforgiving realities of humanity. The depth of emotion and the rawness of the characters’ experiences left me needing to take a break to stare at my ceiling and reflect.

Thomil, oh Thomil. I found myself completely engrossed in his journey. I couldn't stop thinking about my own family while reading about him. His character felt so relatable showing both vulnerability and strength.

M.L. Wang’s storytelling continues to captivate me, and I will read anything she writes in the future. Her ability to weave complex characters and thought-provoking themes together is truly a gift. Highly recommend this book for anyone looking to experience a blend of emotional depth and social commentary!

I don’t even know what to say about this book! I’m shocked. I wanted to sit with it but I’m still sitting. I don’t know how I feel except I loved it!

Huge thank you to Random House and NetGalley for an eARC of this title. All opinions are my own.

Wow. Just wow. Sciona is one of the best female main characters I have ever encountered. She’s confident/borderline cocky and can be stubborn (overplayed characteristics of FMCs lately in my opinion), but at the same time relatable in so many ways that I could not help but love her!! Her character development throughout the story is amazing.

This story is heavy on social expectations/“normalcy” of the world in which the story takes place that easily translate into real life.

The magic system is SO different than anything I’ve ever read and was a big part of what drew me in. It gets laid on a little thick in the beginning but it was so unique and interesting that it didn’t bother me.

This is a story about hope, courage, love, sacrifice, and doing what’s right in the face of ignorance and evil. It’s about paving the way to a better world. We’re all just human, right?

This book is easily one of my favorites of the year so far. Highly recommend!!!

In the industrial utopia of Tiran, Sciona’s goal is to become the first female highmage in history. Thinking this would be the hardest part, she is shocked by the misogyny of her colleagues in the High Magistry. To make sure she knows she is unwelcome, they make a Kwen janitor be her lab assistant instead of a more qualified Tiranish person. The janitor, Thomil, is the second main character. Sciona and Thomil must work together to make discoveries and uncover the truths of Tiran’s magic.

This is a dark academia standalone fantasy and it was done so well. There was strong character development and growth throughout the book. The writing, plot, and themes were well thought out and executed. I couldn’t put it down and probably won’t be able to stop thinking about it for a long time. Highly recommend!

This is a dark standalone fantasy by the author who wrote the Sword of Kaigan, A bit of a famous book if you haven’t heard or read it. I highly recommend! This author has planted her name in this fantasy space for good reason. This one is following a woman who is the very first to be attending a prestigious order of mages but she comes face to face with a secret conspiracy that could change the practice of magic forever. Dark academia, magic. A feast for the eyes, this one is going to be big.

I do not know how M. L. Wang does it. Last year when I read her first, award winning, novel, “The Sword of Kaigen,” I was left in utter awe of how she created such depth in her characters and such an immersive world. It was a 4.5 star book for me but upon reflection, I should probably bump that up to a five star.
Back to the book at hand.
When I discovered that her next book, a book coming years after “The Sword of Kaigen,” was an academic fantasy, I knew that I had to read it. I knew that the book would work for me and boy did it work. She first drew me into this academic world, an academic world built around magic, and then started pulling back the layers as the main character learned more about things that she always took for granted. I also highly appreciated how she developed the main character herself. She comes from a life of partial privilege, a place where she has long fought against misogyny but is blind to the racism endemic in her culture. She has imperfect but highly realistic reactions to her world getting rocked to its core. She hurts people around her but also learns from her mistake and how to truly make whatever change that she can.
Wow.
What a book.

I would like to thank Random House and NetGalley for an eARC of this title

ML Wang created a story of xenophobia, sexism, colonialism that was hard to read at some points but was an intriguing story that I am glad I had an opportunity to pick up. Sciona has such a drive to prove herself and such a love for magic and the worlds religion that it was all consuming in her life. I think the portrayal of those items unraveling for her are well done. I wish there had been more of a POV for Thomil, but this also a very well done portrayal.

I really enjoyed this story and I really appreciate how ML Wang had the story progress and how it is wrapped up in the end. The story is messy and heartbreaking and will sit with me for a long time. My only gripe is I struggled with, what I felt, was a slog of very specific magical training. This was extensive and felt much more of a 'telling' than a 'showing'.

Would recommend, but reader beware, this is not a feel good story.

Blood Over Bright Haven drew me in from the beginning. The opening of the book is a "hold your breath" type moment that will immediately have you wondering what comes next. I felt the world building was just enough to not be overwhelming and made space for the character development and progression of the plot. I thought the magic system was unique and I loved that there was similarity to Coding. I appreciated the intelligence and wit of the FMC. Her beliefs were challenged and she was beginning to grow. I felt the way the story wrapped up was authentic to the characters. This book felt exciting to read, stirred emotions and thoughts, and the pacing felt just right. I typically read a few books at a time and this book was the one I reached for over the others. Thank you to Net Galley and Del Rey for the opportunity to read the e-arc. Above was my honest review in exchange.

This was beautiful and very exciting. This book had me hooked and I didn't want to put it down! It is high fantasy that explores themes of racism, classism, sexism, and colonialism. It was a very entertaining read!

An amazing read that explores themes of race, class, and bigotry. This is an exciting and thought provoking fantasy novel about realizing everything you've been taught isn't what it appears to be. Its an amazing read for fantasy readers.