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

Wow! This book was so different and interesting. It’s touted as dark academia but I really loved how it blended magic with science in a way reminiscent of a good science fiction novel.

This book was very technical. It wasn’t magical in the way of witches and cauldrons, but I really enjoyed the unique perspective. I felt like the story was powerful and had a lot that you could relate to real world issues.

Without giving anything away, I just want to say that I really appreciated the ending.

Blood Over Bright Haven

By far, one of the best fantasy standalone books I have ever read (certainly top 5). This story follows Sciona, a brilliant mage, fighting to become the first female highmage in the history of Tiran, a city of industrial marvels.

“Women are always told to be kind, be forgiving, be nurturing.” Sciona glared down the walk ahead. “As far as I know, it’s never gotten them anywhere. The men of Tiran, who have the real power, won’t return the favor when it matters.”

We also follow Thomil, a lowly Kwen janitor, hailing from the blighted wasteland beyond the city limits. Both of these characters are outsiders in their own city due to the underlying racism and misogyny of the city’s residents. They come together in this dark academia story, where they unveil devastating and horrific secrets behind the magic of Tiran. Sciona is committed to finding and exposing the truth, no matter the cost.

“She wouldn’t use God to ease her guilt when reason screamed otherwise.”

I honestly could see where this story was going pretty early on, but I was so invested in the characters and enthralled by the writing, I could not put it down. The themes of colonialism, love, legacy, vengance and faith are woven into the story so effortlessly and subtly.

A must read for any lover of fantasy, and especially dark academia.

Thank you to @netgalley and @delreybooks for this Advanced Reader Copy for review.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for their ARC for an honest review. This book was fine. I figured out the shocking reveal in the first chapter and even after the reveal I just didn’t care about the characters or the story. I felt like it brought nothing new to the fantasy genre as a whole and to the actual story itself. I felt like it was missing something and I can’t quite explain what it was. Which is upsetting coming from after reading Sword of Kaigen I was so excited to read this book

This book was EPIC. Truly could not put it down. The plot twist had me gasping. So, so good and so very well written. I love dark academia and this did not disappoint.

My heart hurts.

This was so beautifully written. I’m going to do this review with no spoilers.

Let’s start easy…
I loved the magic system.
It’s basically magical coding. That seems so unique to me.

Now to the meats and potatoes of this book.
The characters are wonderfully written.
I believed in each character and the role they were assigned to play.
I loved seeing the progression of Sciona. Her growth was beautiful.

The themes of the book is such a nod to todays society and what is going on.

I could not put this book down.
It surpassed my expectations.

————- potential spoiler. Personal comment ———————

This book made my heart hurt so bad.
Both of my parents came to the US when they were older. They didn’t know English and they left all their friends and a lot of their family to come here.

They had to learn English and put themselves through school. They both worked factory jobs while doing so in the hopes of doing better.

Like all of that sounds so hard to me already.
I cannot imagine leaving here and going to another country that I didn’t know how to talk, read, or write their language. (And there was no smart phones out there to help with translation


And then to add to that is the prejudice that they must have faced. Because let’s be real…the society here is situated for a white male. People of color are looked down upon and have so many stereotypes and stigma that they must endure.

Reading about the Kwen and the treatment they face is only too similar to racism here.

Anyways, my heart hurts but I hope we will do better and that as a society we will be better.

This book caught me by surprise. The world-building is immaculate. Such a unique premise. The underlying themes of racism and sexism were handled with SUCH finesse. Surprising turn after turn and I couldn't put it down. I hope to read more from M.L. Wang as this book was such a win.

Perhaps closer to 2.5 than 3

SPOILERS, MANY SPOILERS, BIG SPOILERS

This plot has been done before, and better than it is done here.

I have a few major issues with this book. What the people of Tiran are doing to the people outside their city is truly truly terrible. Yet we are expected to believe that no one of Tiran, no one except our heroine Sciona, understands that? Even after she reveals the terrible secret to the whole population? I do not buy that. Otherwise the whole city deserves to burn. There are always "God says we deserve this" people, but there are also people who are not so sure.

What the people of Tiran are doing to the people and landscapes outside the city is truly, truly harmful. How have they not destroyed the entire world outside Tiran by now? They use a ton of magic, and the magic does terrible damage every single time. Look what we’ve done to our own planet in a short period of time, and our terrible practices are less destructive than Tiran’s. The math doesn’t work.

Also, Girl Power! Bad men! The messaging is not subtle.

If you are a Hunger Games fan, imagine that Plutarch Heavensbee is the hero, and Katniss and Peta provide a little assistance but that is it. If you are a Harry Potter fan, imagine that Hermione never becomes friends with Harry and Ron and she and she alone frees the House Elves. The focus is on the wrong character, and I cannot believe no one else helps tackle the terrible magic problem. The strength in many similar works is in people pulling together to end injustice. The people with the power must be involved, but so must the people suffering the injustice.

There is some good writing here, but as a story this book did not work for me. The first chapter is strong. Thomil and Carra should have been the main characters. Chapter 21 is also strong. The author does make a bold choice in killing her main character and in not pursuing the romance.

I read an advance reader copy from Netgalley.

This is a masterpiece.

Going in, I was expecting a dark academia fantasy. Now, that is technically what this book is, but I feel like I would be doing it a disservice if I belittled it to just a story. This was just so much more. It encompasses so many topics that are so unfortunately prevalent in the real world: Imperialism. Classism. Racism. Sexism. Capitalism. Religion. Morality. Ego. And much, much more.

Overall, I thought the way that these complicated topics were introduced and the way that the characters reacted was realistic, albeit extremely upsetting. Reading this was such an emotional experience for me, and I left this book sobbing my eyes out not only for the characters, but more importantly for all of the hatred and injustice in the world. M.L. Wang’s ability to deliver this information is unmatched and this is a story that I think everyone should read, as it simply isn’t just a story, but a reflection of our own society. Stories like this are so important.

‘Blood Over Bright Haven’ is so entertaining and well written. The way that M.L. Wang managed to deliver such dense and intricate world-building information in an easily digestible manner is genuinely a talent. I was blown away from the first paragraph because the writing style is just so elegant, yet engaging. I’ve struggled to connect to the characters in my past couple of reads, and that instantly changed during the first chapters in this book.

The FMC, Sciona, is a very dedicated person. She has worked her entire life to get to the point of being able to test to become a highmage, where she would be the first female highmage in Tiran. I wanted to root for her as a woman in a “world of men”, but she is basically the embodiment of white feminism. She has a lot of misguided, harmful views at the beginning of the book and is a very self-centered and, at least I think, intentionally unlikeable character. I feel like the development could’ve gone south, headed towards “white savior”, but M.L. Wang didn’t allow that and constantly held Sciona accountable for her actions and views throughout the story. We see all sides of her very complex character and the development that she goes through. I, personally, really appreciated where her story ended up going and the message on accountability.

However, although we were mainly in Sciona’s point of view, M.L. Wang managed to portray development and character description at an impecable level for the other main and supporting characters. The realizations that the MMC, Thomil, goes through were heartbreaking and, while I wouldn’t say he was a character who needed as much development and self-awareness as others due to the adversity he’s faced, no one is perfect, and his growth was also very beautiful to read about.

I could never hope to encapsulate everything that this story stands for in a short review, but I heavily urge you to read this book for yourself.

It is getting trad-published and releases October 29th, 2024.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC of this book!

History is written and controlled by those in power…and what you don’t know won’t hurt you, right?

This book is devastating. ML Wang does what ML Wang does…every single time. I have not been so absorbed in every single page of a book as I was with this, and Sword of Kaigen.

It’s beautifully written and beautifully tragic. The plot twist made me scream alongside the characters.

Book of the year.

Huge thank you to Del Rey and PRH for allowing me to receive an advance copy via NetGalley!

Y’ALL. I don’t know what I was expecting but this was so. Much. Better. I sacrificed an entire night of sleep because I couldn’t put this one down.

Blood Over Bright Haven centers on two main characters. Sciona, orphaned at the age of 4 and brought up by her aunt, has aspirations to become the first female highmage in the history of their city of Tiran. Thomil is a Kwen janitor who was condescendingly assigned to be her lab assistant by her misogynistic peers. The Kwen are viewed as an inferior race, and only those regarded as “useful” are allowed to remain in the city. This unlikely pair must then work together to not only solve a magical puzzle that has stumped even the most revered mages, but also break down the hard set prejudices and barriers that set them apart. They face many ethical dilemmas along the way, all culminating in what I can only describe as a mind-blowing masterpiece of an ending.

The world-building in this novel is the best I’ve read, bar none. I was fascinated by the detailed descriptions of magic and how mages perform their work. What could have easily seemed more like a college lecture was instead absolutely spellbinding (pun intended). I fell in love with the badass FMC that is Sciona, and the wisdom and strength Thomil shows in the face of staggering racism and unjust treatment.

I could probably write my own novel about how much I loved this novel. I wish this wasn’t a standalone, but the ending is so well done that I’m not too upset about it. M. L. Wang is officially one of my auto-buy authors, and I’ll be recommending this book until the end of time.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the gifted ARC!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the advanced ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I thought Blood Over Bright Haven was a fantastic book from start to finish. This was the first book I've read by M.L. Wang and it will not be the last. This is a dark academia, sci-fi and fantasy book that follows Sciona, the first woman admitted to the High Magistry, and Thomil, a janitor who survived the dangerous crossing of Tiran's magical barrier. Together they unravel a mystery that could disrupt the city of Tiran as they know it.

I absolutely loved the world building and magic in this book. I found it so fascinating and unique. Just when I thought I knew where the book was heading, I was thrown an unexpected curveball that left me speechless with my jaw to the floor. I felt so many different emotions reading the book, some were very unpleasant and uncomfortable, but I do believe that was the author's intent.

I haven't read anything like Blood Over Bright Haven and feel so lucky that I was selected for an advanced copy. I do plan on buying the physical book because I just loved it that much. This is one of my favorite books that I have read this year!

YALLLLLLLLL you need to read this book!!!!! It's fantastic!!!! Thomil is such a deep, great character. The world building is dark with a complex magic system. It's perfect for spooky time too! I have to share this little quote “The worthwhile run is never the short one. You know we're not running from oblivion, Thomil. We're running toward hope.” I'm crying seriously. The ending is gut wrenching. Please prepare yourselves!

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the opportunity to read early in exchange for a honest review. I honestly LOVED THIS BOOK. This book is everything you want a stand-alone fantasy to be. Also, did I mention stand-alone already?! I know many people that struggle to get into secondary books, but love fantasy and this book is perfect for them! The beginning of this book SUCKS you in right away wanting to know more and to keep turning pages. Extremely well-written, beautifully developed characters. I truly don't know how M.L. Wang does it, but I'm ready to read everything she writes!

“Truth over delusion. Growth over comfort.”

Wow, I think this is my book of the year. Do yourself a favor and preorder this now.

I thought this was just going to be a good old fashioned dark academia book, but I was wrong it’s so much more than that. The vibes are a mix of Babel, The Poppy War, and Sword of Kaigen with a sprinkling of Scythe. The city of Tiran is protected from the blight by a magical barrier, but the city is becoming too big for the barrier to hold. Our FMC, Sciona, is the first female mage to enter the High Magistry (the highest order in their society). Here the men on her floor pair her with a Khen janitor, Thomil, to research magic for their border expansion project. In this society Khen are akin to slaves, so the men don’t expect Sciona to succeed, but the two form a unique relationship and uncover world changing secrets. What unfolds in this novel is a beautifully aching take on sexism, colonialism, racism, greed, racism complicity, and putting “God” and men before all beings.

There is a unique magic system at play here, and how Wang describes it to the reader is fantastic. It did not feel heavy and dreadful as some fantasy books world building can be, it was digestible and almost felt interactive from the first page. All of the characters in this are deeply flawed, Sciona is selfish, egotistical, and cold to others, while Thomil is quietly raging, straining to be free from his oppressors. The main characters challenge each other in ways that often don’t work in a fantasy novel but did here. The readers get to see in real time their belief systems ripped from under their feet and how they manage that. The themes of guilt and hope seep from these pages and make the reader anxious to see how everything panes out. The last 30% of the book was so good that I couldn’t put it down. I think the ending is a perfect conclusion to the story told and leaves the reader with hope. I can’t wait to my physical copy and reread already. Thank you NetGalley and Random House for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Intense, bold, and the kind of deep world building and explorations of power I can't get enough of. M.L. Wang was already becoming a name in fantasy but I wouldn't be surprised if this really blows up. Joining the chorus of people saying that I read the book in just over a day- for a book that's over 500 pages it just shows how propulsive it is.

Brilliantly written. M.L. Wang is the best-kept secret in fantasy. This book is perfect for all of the dark academia fans out there!

This book will stick with me forever. I’m having trouble finding the right words at this very moment and will add comments later. It’s dark academia with sci-fi elements for those looking for a mix of both genres. Just know it’s amazing and will rip your heart out. Just incredible.

I think this is the best book I have read this year.

Sciona is a brilliant female mage in a world of men who don't believe that a woman can hold the same role. Raised by hardworking women, she pushed to forge a new path for herself and create a legacy of greatness. When given a "lesser" Khen janitor as her assistant, Sciona find secrets long kept quiet and lies about their entire existence that are enough to break even the best minds. Sciona and Thomil work together to piece together amazing plans to show the truth and right the world.

This book was devastating and beautiful. It resonates strongly with so much of our human history and how we treat each other and looks into how hard those ingrained beliefs can be to break.

The world building was absolutely top tier and the character development felt so incredibly realistic. I just highly recommend this story.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for allowing me to read this early!

I was already a fan of M.L. Wang’s writing but this solidified it for me! The story telling, characters and world building are absolutely incredible and always leave the reader in awe! The book tackles some challenging subjects and does it in such an eloquent way. This is a book that you can’t miss!

"Truth over Delusion. Growth over Comfort. God over all."

-NO SPOILERS-

Blood Over Bright Haven is a dark, twisty, thought-provoking standalone fantasy novel. When the first female enters an order of mages, a story of family, heritage, women's rights, a warped caste vs class system, faith and hope come together to make this lovely reading experience.

I enjoyed many things about this book. I liked reading about this different magic system (though at times, pretty complex) and that there was action from the very first chapter! Our main female character, Sciona, is not your typical female character. I found myself rooting for her, then not liking her at all, then rooting for her again. I found myself asking, "How will I leave my mark?"

I would have enjoyed a little more background (details) on Sciona's history to really understand some of her early decisions, thought processes, and confidence.

If you enjoy a solid fantasy standalone with a super unique, detailed magic system, then this one is for you!!

Plot: 5
Characters: 4
World Building: 4
Magic System: 5
Themes: 5